Kutee: How? It's a special skill. I devote hours upon hours of my day to discovering new ways to keep you readers on the very edge of your seat. It's a hobby. You are much too nice to me, but thank you.

Asma: Thanks!

AMCGL7: Merci, mademoiselle. Miranda certainly is a Kane woman. Think Frankie stands a chance with all these Kane women? You know Frankie doesn't stand a chance against Bianca. Glad you like how the Frankie/Maggie sistership is progressing. Frankie and Mimo? When those two interact, even I get super happy. Oh, and congrats on being my 100th review for this fic! You're great! All of the readers are.


The bedroom was dark as the couple stepped inside. The pale moonlight showed through the cracks in the blinds, bathing the room in its soft glow. Closing the door behind them, Frankie and Bianca slowly walked up to the bed. With the ease of familiarity, they shed their clothes and slipped into the bed, huddling under the blankets. Bianca pressed up against Frankie's back, the length of their bodies melding together. She carefully wrapped her arms around the agent and tucked her head into the crook of Frankie's neck.

Frankie stared out into the blackness. Her body and mind were exhausted, yet adrenaline thrummed in her veins. Her brain went through moments of clear lucidity and absolute tiredness. So much had happened. So much more needed to be done. She had to focus on what was going to be accomplished. So many questions needed answering. Reese Williams had to be both protected and interrogated. She wondered about the rotation schedule for the cars in the neighborhood. In between each of these thoughts flashes of the past twenty-four hours blinked like haunting ghosts. Moreno's grinning face as she talked about her brother's birthday melted into a scarred deathly remain. Agent Carson entering the SUV turned into his head being thrown back as a shot rang in the air. Reese Williams' voice wailed about her love for her daughter Gabrielle. Dr. Young's heeled shoe dangled above the floor along with the rest of her body. The pictures of her family scattered in a drawer, taken by a cold blooded killer.

Guilt ate at Frankie. Fear nipped at her and gleefully mixed with nervousness and worry. What had she done? How could she have been so stupid and reckless? Carrington had known all along. He knew what she was doing and going to do. He was one step ahead the entire time. She was fruitlessly playing catch up with a man who wanted to murder the people she loved. Had she compromised their safety? Was her inability to see what was right in front of her eyes going to lead to their deaths? She already was responsible for so much pain. The transport was her call. She was in charge. They died because of her. Moreno never should have been involved. Young…Young did her job for Carrington. She messed up her mind so badly she couldn't do anything but cause suffering for those she cared about and allow Carrington to do what he wanted.

He watched her family! He had followed each and every one of them, snapping photos of precious giggles and brilliant smiles. She never knew. She never suspected it. She failed. She messed up, and it could cost her everything.

Bianca could feel the rush of emotions circulating through her lover. She wondered helplessly about what could cause this. What was the reason for Frankie's fear? For her loss of control? She was scared to learn, but she needed to know. What Jones told her wasn't enough. She needed to help Frankie. It was clichéd, but when her love hurt so did she. It broke her heart to see her girlfriend in such a state. The way Frankie had so gently touched Gabrielle when the child slept in her crib, the whispered words from Miranda about Frankie's cuts and bruises, each action Frankie took since bursting into the hotel room, it all made her fearful and concerned. Something was very wrong, but she didn't know what. Frankie hadn't said. The way the agent lost control, though, was telling. Frankie never truly lost control like that when it came to her job. In Paris, she could be the epitome of cool and calm. Her very presence was able to soothe Bianca's worries and doubts. She hadn't been able to control it this time. The frantic gleam in her eyes was very much visible to the world. What could make her lose it like that?

Bianca could only think of one thing.

"Sweetheart?" Bianca pressed her lips to Frankie's temple.

Frankie shifted but didn't respond.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Oh no, "Frankie,"

"Go to sleep, Bianca."

She could feel the invisible wall Frankie constructed over her lifetime build itself up. It was the same wall Bianca hated with a passion. Frankie was regaining that control she tended to have. "Don't shut down on me." This form of control, though, involved shutting out anyone who tried to get close. It meant secrets and bottling of feelings.

Frankie sighed and blinked away the threatening wetness, "Just go to sleep."

"I will when you tell me why you're crying."

She couldn't be able to see the tears in the dark, "I'm not."

Bianca trailed a palm smoothly down Frankie's side, sliding it over her belly until she came into contact with familiar calloused skin. She threaded their fingers together and raised them to Frankie's cheek. She tenderly traced the backs of their joined fingers under Frankie's eyes and captured a drop. Her mouth brushed against her ear, "I know every time a tear falls from these gorgeous eyes."

Frankie bit her suddenly trembling bottom lip, "Allergies."

"You don't have any." Bianca kissed her earlobe, "Besides, I've used that before."

Frankie shuddered as another kiss hit her jaw then her neck. Bianca folded her body around her, holding her so close Frankie could feel the younger woman's strong heartbeat against her back. She fought to keep in her emotions. She couldn't burden Bianca with this. It was her's to deal with. It was her problem, her mistakes.

"Tell me."

"Tell you what?" Frankie closed her eyes against the soft touches.

"Why you're scared."

"I-I'm not." Frankie inhaled deeply, "Just drop it."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"The same reason you can't drop it when it's me." Bianca dragged their tangled hands to cover Frankie's heart, "Because I love you."

"Bianca, please…"

"It's ok, baby." Bianca assured her, "It's just you and me. You and me, honey."

Frankie shook her head. She swallowed harshly against the lump forming in her throat. She couldn't tell her it was all her fault. That people died because she was too lost in her own problems to see what she needed to. That she failed.

Bianca felt Frankie shift in her arms. Her muscles strained as she held down the agent. Frankie cursed quietly and jerked against the grasp, "Bianca,"

"You're not going anywhere." Bianca interrupted.

"I have to go check on some things."

"No, you don't." she was not getting out of this.

Frankie sniffed and willed the tears to not fall. Not now. "Bianca,"

"What happened?"

Frankie bent her head to hide the slipping tears, "Stop it."

She pressed her mouth to the back of Frankie's neck, "I'm right here, Franks. Just tell me."

"I-I…"

She squeezed her hand, "I'm here."

"I messed up." slipped out before she could think to stop it. The second the words hit the air, she cursed herself. Why did she say that? She didn't want to say that.

"Messed up how?" Bianca coaxed gently, praying Frankie didn't clam up. When no response came, she tried again, "Sweetheart, messed up how?"

Bianca gasped as Frankie glanced over her shoulder, face covered with tears. "I should have seen it." Frankie's voice broke. "It's my fault."

The guilt and despair in those brown orbs was heartbreaking, "What is?"

Frankie faced away from her again, "I did it. It was my case. My damn case." She clenched her jaw so tight her teeth hurt. Bianca waited patiently for her to continue. Voice thick with tears and pain, Frankie spoke haltingly, "They…I was stupid. I-I messed it all up. I did it."

"Did what?"

"I got them killed." Frankie confessed. Every death was on her.

"Who?"

"All of them."

Bianca burrowed her nose in the side of Frankie's neck and whispered, "Tell me."

"I was so stupid."

"Stop saying that. You are not stupid."

"I should have seen it. How did I not see it?"

"You couldn't. No one could."

Frankie refused to believe that, "This is what I do."

"Frankie,"

Frankie choked out, "If he hurts you, I'll never forgive myself."

"Hey, whoa." Bianca said, "Stop right there." She knew where this was going.

"There were pictures, Bianca. Pictures! He's been watching you, and I didn't know it. He could have killed you and I wouldn't know it until…" her voice died at the thought.

"Shh, it's not your fault. You're doing what you can." Bianca sighed, "You can't keep this up, Frankie. You have to stop worrying. Thinking about this isn't helping you. Stop blaming yourself for something you couldn't stop. Just stop."

"You're in danger. The kids are in danger."

"And you can't be stressed." Bianca rubbed her nose along the length of Frankie's neck, "I know your heart is bothering you."

"I'm fine."

"How long has it been hurting?"

"Not important."

Bianca stared at her, "Yes, it is."

"Bianca, people want to kill you…"

"And we'll stop them. I'm terrified about that, Frankie. I am. I never want anything to happen to my children." She kissed her skin, "And I never want anything to happen to you. You have to be careful. Your heart…it's serious. And these people…they want you dead, too. You can't do something crazy. I can't lose you. You almost died today."

"Bianca,"

"You're in this family now. You have to be here." Bianca sniffled. "You have to take Miranda to piano and watch cartoons with her. You have to take Gabby to the park and hold her hand when we take her to school for the first time. You have to go to boring corporate parties on holidays with me and make love to me when the kids are asleep."

Frankie squeezed her eyelids shut. "I want to. You know that."

"I know. Wanting it isn't enough, though." Bianca exhaled, "Miranda doesn't want you going back to work."

"It's not just work anymore, Bianca. It's my life. All that stuff you just said…I can't have it if I don't get this done. If Carrington is still out there…"

"I know you, Frankie. I know you would give up everything for us. But, I don't want you to. I've never wanted you to give up your life for me." Not before and not now.

"What am I supposed to do? I have to catch him." For you. For me. For the kids. For Moreno and all the other agents.

"You will. He will be arrested and thrown in jail. But, you have to still be here after it happens, all of you."

"All of me, huh?" Frankie coughed. She forced her mind to stop thinking about the attack, Carrington, and Reese.

"All of you. I need all of you."

Frankie turned in her arms, subtly wiping at her cheeks and eyes on the way, "You Kane women are demanding."

"You knew I was before you started dating me." hearing Frankie joke was one of the best things in the world. It made her feel like the world was ok.

"I was distracted by your other…qualities."

"Oh?" Bianca couldn't stop the forming grin as Frankie pushed closer.

Frankie hummed, "Like your…cookie making skills."

"My cookie making skills?" Bianca laughed.

"Ya got mad skills, babe." Frankie cupped her cheek.

"Miranda's playgroup thinks so, too."

"Stop, you're making me jealous." Their lips neared each other.

Mouths a hairs-breath away, Bianca murmured, "Stay with me."

"You know I can't leave you." Their noses brushed lightly.

"Don't go back. Stay here."

Their lips met.

Bianca felt an icy hot chill race up her spine and wrapped her arm tighter around Frankie. Their joined hands cupped her cheek and Frankie guided their mouths together again and again in long slow hot kisses.

"Frankie," Bianca gasped for air.

Frankie dove back in, eliciting a throaty moan from her lover with a swipe of her tongue. Bianca unconsciously arched into her. Their hips bumped and legs tangled together. Frankie caressed her face and slid her mouth harder against Bianca's supple lips.

"Sweetheart," Bianca groaned, "what?"

Frankie nibbled the shell of her ear, "Kids….are asleep. Just doing what I'm supposed to."

Bianca rolled her eyes at the cheeky answer but slammed them shut when hungry lips sucked at her pulse point, "You…we need…talk."

"I have to touch you." There was a tiny tremor in Frankie's voice. She'd never fully admit how scared she was the moment she saw those photos. For one second, she was certain Bianca was dead. "Let me be with you." She had to feel the heated body so full of life.

"You are."

Frankie twisted till their gazes met, "I love you, Bianca'la. So much."

Bianca melted completely, "Love you."

Frankie kissed her.

"Your heart." Bianca broke away.

"It can go a few rounds."

Bianca gazed into her eyes. She knew there were fears still lurking in their depths, but the eager desire shining through mesmerized her. "Just a few?"

Frankie smirked. "For tonight."

"Will you be with me tomorrow?"

"I'm always gonna be with you."

Their lips connected and the outside world faded away.