Kate felt annoyed when Graver dropped her and Frank off miles away from her apartment without any transportation waiting. They sat side by side on the front step of the building attached to the hangar, waiting for a cab to arrive. At least Graver had given them money for that.
"I wish he hadn't missed," Kate lamented, her elbows resting on her knees. She was still in her dress.
"You and me both," Frank sighed. "But, we'll be ready when he comes."
"How so?"
"We'll make it easy for him, and when he shows up thinking it's an easy kill, we'll be there," Frank explained.
"You know a lot about this sort of thing," Kate reasoned.
"I used to be in the SAS," Frank replied. "It's just planning is all."
"Really? SAS?" she asked.
"Yea."
"I can see it," she nodded, smiling a little as she looked at him. "You'd look very sharp in a uniform."
"Is that so?" he asked, teasing. She blushed and looked away, and he couldn't help but grin a little. Their cab arrived, and he went to open the door for her in the back. He climbed in after her, and they started to drive away. Kate felt a bit jittery as they drove to her apartment. The plan was to wait there until they heard Fernando was in the States. Then they'd create the illusion that she was feeling secure and safe with her guard down so that they could entrap Fernando. She still couldn't believe that she, By the Books Kate, was doing this kind of operation.
When they arrived at her apartment, she briefly wondered how clean she had left it. She unlocked her door with the spare key from the landlord and went inside. Frank looked around while she went to check the rooms to ensure they were safe. She came back out feeling relieved. It appeared no one had been in her place.
"The couch does pull out," she said, gesturing.
"Thanks," he nodded.
"Make yourself at home," she encouraged. "I'm going to go shower. You're welcome to as well, if you want."
He looked at her with a raised brow, and she got all tongue tied.
"I mean, not with me," she corrected. "After me. If you want. You don't have to. Shower, I mean." She felt ridiculous and embarrassed now. She could tell he was enjoying it.
"Okay," he said simply when she stopped dithering. She gave a weak smile and went to find a change of clothes first before heading to the bathroom. She felt like an idiot. She stood there looking at herself in the mirror for a moment before turning the shower on. Then there was knocking at the door. She turned her head to look at it, feeling surprised. She went to pull it open, and Frank was standing there. Neither of them said anything, and then Frank stepped into her, grasping her face as he kissed her hard. Kate went with it. She didn't know what made him change his mind, but she wasn't going to question it. She quite enjoyed kissing him. He was very good at it. He also took his time, which she appreciated.
"I have to tell you something," she said a few moments later, when she was catching her breath.
"What's that?" he asked.
"I...I can't have kids," she said. He paused, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"I didn't realize we were at that stage of our relationship already," he commented a little jokingly.
"No, no," she said. "I just...if you want to be with me, there is no chance of having kids. That's all."
He surveyed her carefully and noticed how sad she appeared to be about it. He touched her face gently.
"I choose you as you are," he said. "If that means no kids, then so be it."
"You're really okay with that?" she asked. "Because others have said yes just to have sex with me, and then they leave me after because they really did want kids."
"Kate," Frank said seriously. "I am telling you right now that it is okay with me. 100 percent."
"How do you know?" she asked. Frank chuckled a little. Here was a sign that this was meant to be.
"Because I can't have kids either," he told her.
"You...you can't?" she asked, surprised.
"That's why she left me," he answered softly. Valentina. She had wanted a child so badly. She didn't love him enough to accept him as he was and consider adoption. She wanted her own child.
"Oh, Frank," Kate said sadly.
"So you see? We're both in the same boat," he smiled.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't be," he said. "I wouldn't be here with you if I wasn't broken."
"You are not broken to me," she assured him. He gave her a smile as he reached to shift her hair from her face.
"You have my heart, Kate," he said. "I can't deny that anymore. All I ask is that you don't shatter it into pieces."
"Frank," she whispered, feeling deeply touched. She knew he had been hesitant to move forward. Hearing him say this was a little surprising but moving.
He was looking at her intently, and she rested her fingers on his cheek.
"I will never shatter your heart," she promised. She moved to kiss him softly and get things going again. There might not be a tomorrow or a day after that, so she wanted to live in this moment with Frank. She loved that he was able to laugh and be serious at the same time. She loved his gentleness and tenderness. She loved his asking if she was okay. She was realizing that she was possibly in love with this man, and it didn't scare her.
...
Frank was feeling a little starstruck after his shower with Kate. He had meant what he'd said. It surprised him just as much as it surprised her. He knew he was falling in love with her, though. He was pretty sure he had the moment they'd met. He was standing still in her living room now in his pants and no shirt as she worked on re-dressing his bullet wound. He was happy to see her shoulder wound was healing properly.
"That feel okay?" she asked when she finished, looking up at him.
"Yea," he nodded. "Thanks."
"I remember where I saw a photo of Fernando's house," she said, putting away her kit.
"Where?"
"It was in a file," she answered. "I went through everything after I worked with Graver and Alejandro, and his house was in the file. I just didn't realize whose it was until I saw it in person."
"Is your memory coming back at all from when you were abducted?" he asked.
"Not really," she answered truthfully. "I'm not sure I want it to."
"Was the missing persons case related to him at all?"
"No. Not that I'm aware of, anyway. I think he was just lying in wait for me and caught me when I was off guard."
"Well, he won't catch you off guard again," Frank promised. She gave a half smile in return.
"So we just sit here and wait?" she asked.
"Pretty much."
Rapid knocking on her door made them both turn to look at it. Frank reached for his gun. Kate carefully went to the door and looked through the hole.
"It's Reg," she said. Frank put his gun away as she opened the door.
"Macer!" he exclaimed, grabbing her into a bear hug. "Thank God!"
"Hey, Reg," she said back. He let her go and looked her up and down.
"You look like shit," he commented.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically.
He caught sight of Frank then and looked at Kate quickly for reassurance.
"He's good," Kate promised. "Reg, Frank. Frank, Reg."
"Nice to meet you," Reggie said.
"Likewise," Frank nodded.
"What the hell happened?" Reggie demanded. "You went out to the Wilson house and then suddenly wind up in Mexico? I don't get it."
"I don't either. We think they kidnapped me there to make it look like the same person who took Heather also took me."
Kate seemed surprised that she suddenly remembered the kidnapped victim's name.
"You remembered," Frank said, noticing.
"I did," she nodded slowly.
"You don't remember her?" Reggie asked, confused.
"I barely remember my kidnapping," Kate answered. "They put something in me...I don't know. But yes, I remember her name now. Heather Wilson. Sixteen. Kidnapped from her own bed."
"We still haven't found her," Reggie said quietly. Kate cringed inside. That was never good.
"Did she have any take out in the house?" Frank asked. They both looked at him, confused.
"Um, pizza, I think," Reggie said. "Why?"
"Did any of you talk to the pizza delivery guy?" Frank questioned.
"His alibi checked out," Reggie answered.
"You sure about that?"
"What are you implying?" Kate asked.
"It's sometimes the person we least expect," Frank shrugged. "And he may have had an accomplice. That's all I'm saying."
Reggie looked thoughtful.
"You might be right," he said. "I'll look into it further. Thanks, man."
"You better go," Kate said to him. "I don't want you tangled up in this mess with Fernando."
"All right. You call me if you need anything," he instructed, giving her another hug and then reaching to shake Frank's hand firmly. "Keep our girl safe."
"Will do," Frank agreed. When he was gone, Frank looked at Kate.
"Now what?" she asked. His smile grew on his face slowly, and he moved closer to her.
"We pass the time," he answered, shifting her hair out of the way so he could kiss her neck.
"Oh, all right," she caved, letting him. It seemed like a good use of their time in that moment.
Three Days Later
Kate was beginning to think that perhaps Fernando wasn't going to come for her after all. She'd spent the last three days killing time with Frank and waiting. Nothing happened.
"Don't get caught sleeping," Frank warned as she commented on this.
"I won't," she said a little indignantly.
"He'll come," Frank advised. "He has to."
"Why?"
"It's personal for him now."
Kate thought about this as Frank got up to get a glass of water. She knew he was right. They'd evaded Fernando too many times. Of course he'd make it personal. They hadn't heard from Alejandro. She knew he would take Lesia and disappear. If Graver was doing anything, he was being silent about it. Reggie was still trying to see if there was anyone within the FBI who might have had a helping hand in Kate's kidnapping. So far, there was nothing coming up. It seemed that Fernando really did just kidnap her to find Alejandro.
"Stop frowning," Frank scolded as he rejoined her on the couch. "Your face will stay that way."
She stuck her tongue out at him, and he reached to grab it, making her shriek and then laugh. It was so easy to be around him, and she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way. He smiled now, grabbing her knee and giving it a small shake.
"Are we going to stay holed up in here forever?" she asked him.
"He'll come," Frank said again. "I promise you."
Kate's phone rang, and she saw it was Reggie. She answered it, leaning into Frank as she did so.
"Hey, Reg," she said. "What have you found?"
"Nothing," Reggie sighed. "I'm just calling to let you know the boss wants to talk to you."
"Right now?"
"Yea."
"Fine," Kate agreed. "I'll be there soon." She hung up, and Frank looked at her.
"Going somewhere?" he asked.
"To the FBI office," she answered. "My boss wants to speak with me apparently."
"All right then," Frank said, getting up with her. She looked at him.
"You don't have to come with me," she pointed out.
"The whole point of being your bodyguard is to guard your body at all times," Frank gestured. "So yes, I do have to go with you."
"Okay, okay," she laughed as he moved to pinch her sides playfully. "Come with me."
"I was going to," he advised. She kissed him, holding him close. She reluctantly stopped, knowing her boss would be mad if she was late. They got ready to leave, and she laughed at his obvious discomfort for being in the passenger seat of her car.
"You can't relax, can you?" she asked.
"No," he retorted. "I'm better driving."
"Frank Martin in the passenger seat," Kate laughed, using her phone to take his picture. She caught his face in a half grimace, half "come on" type of expression. He tried to grab her phone, but she kept it out of reach.
"I don't like my picture taken," he said.
"Too bad," she replied. She tucked her phone away, and he just shook his head at her. There was a smile forming on his lips, though. They got to the FBI office easily enough, and Frank followed her inside. Kate greeted her colleagues as she walked down the halls. Frank got some stares, but no one said anything. She knocked on her boss's door, and he looked up at her.
"Kate," he said. "Thanks for coming in. How are you?"
"I'm fine," she answered, sitting down in the chair across from him. Frank stayed standing behind her. Dave Jennings was a good boss. She still felt angry at him for letting Matt Graver use the FBI the way he did, but she had to let it go.
"Who is your friend?" Dave asked, flicking his eyes towards Frank.
"Frank Martin," Kate answered.
"I see," Dave said. "You can sit down, Frank. I don't bite."
"I'm good standing," Frank replied. "Thanks."
"How did you two meet?" Dave asked, looking back and forth between Kate and Frank.
"He saved my life in Mexico," she answered. "He's former SAS."
Dave's eyebrows lifted in surprise slightly, but he kept his face straight. He cleared his throat and wiped at his face briefly.
"I called you in to see what your status was," Dave said. "Are you wanting to come back to work after your leave?"
"I'm still thinking," Kate said truthfully. She could tell Frank was surprised at this. She hadn't talked about it with him, but she was seriously debating leaving the FBI and getting out of dodge to start a new life somewhere else.
"Okay. Well, you let me know as soon as you know," Dave said with a small smile.
"I will," Kate promised. She felt annoyed that this was all he called her in for. They could have had this conversation over the phone.
"Can you go down and see Dr. Hastings briefly?" Dave asked. "She wants to just have a small talk with you."
The shrink. So that's why she was pulled in here.
"Okay," she agreed reluctantly. She stood up then, and Dave did as well. He nodded at Frank before smiling at Kate.
"I'm glad you're okay, Kate," he said.
"Me too."
"Call if you need anything."
"I will."
Kate moved to leave then, and Frank followed behind her. She tipped her head back and groaned slightly when they were out of earshot of Dave's office.
"I don't want to talk to the bloody shrink," Kate complained.
"It might help some of those nightmares," Frank pointed out.
"It won't."
"Not with that attitude," he said, nudging her. She scoffed and shook her head. Frank looked around as they walked. Kate knew he was taking in all the surroundings. She found Dr. Hastings at her desk in her office and paused to knock on the open door. Dr. Hastings looked up at her and smiled.
"Come in, Kate," she said.
"I'll be out here," Frank murmured, touching her arm lightly as she went inside. Kate felt a slight bit of panic at the idea of him not being next to her, but she caught herself. Being dependent on him was not good. She closed the door behind her and sat down across from the psychologist.
"You've had quite the week, haven't you?" Dr. Hastings asked, flipping through papers. Kate assumed this was her file.
"I have," she agreed.
"I know the last place you want to be is in here talking to me," Dr. Hastings smiled. "But I really do care about you, Kate. I want to hear how you're doing."
"I'm doing as well as can be expected," Kate told her. "With all due respect, I don't really feel like sitting here and going through all of it with you right now."
"I understand. We can schedule for a later date to talk," Dr. Hastings nodded.
"Thank you," Kate said, getting up. "I'll be in touch."
Frank looked at her when she came out.
"That was fast," he commented.
"I don't feel like therapy right now," Kate explained. They started to walk out, but Reggie caught up to them.
"Macer," he said, breathless. "Come see this."
"See what?" she asked.
"Come on," he urged. She gave Frank a look before following Reggie. She was surprised to see Evan pop out of a room Reggie went past and start coming down the hall towards them. She didn't think he'd come back to this field office.
"Hi, Kate," he said, stopping in front of her. Reggie kept walking, but after a second, he noticed Kate was no longer behind him. He turned to see her with Evan, and he immediately started gesturing with his hands.
"Evan," she said curtly. Something was clicking into place in her brain, though. It was coming at her hard and fast. She lost her footing, and Frank grabbed her to keep her from falling.
"Had some time in the sun, I hear," Evan said. Kate bristled inside, but then the memory came very clear to her. Her chest grew tight.
Take her to Fernando. He'll finish her off after he questions her. I'll deal with the body. Call the Transporter...he'll bring her back, no questions asked, Evan's voice was playing in her head.
"You," she said.
"Kate," Reggie hissed at the same time. In seconds, Evan had his gun out and against her temple. Kate froze. Reggie pulled out his gun and aimed it at Evan, as did Frank. Kate hadn't realized Frank had come in there armed.
"Bad idea," Frank warned.
"You really don't want to test me," Evan said. Kate saw it then, the bracelet on his arm just under his sleeve. So he was working for the cartel too.
"You kidnapped me," she started.
"Come on," he urged, pushing her forward. "Nice and easy." Kate gave Frank one last look as she was prodded ahead. He and Reggie followed, guns still drawn. It drew the attention of other agents, who had the same reaction.
"Kate?" Dave asked, seeing them as he exited his office. "What's going on?"
"Back inside," Evan ordered him. "Now. And don't try anything funny. I've got this whole place rigged to blow."
Kate felt shock. So this was the mole. Her own ex-husband. It kind of made sense.
"Walk," Evan told her roughly. She didn't know where they were going, but she knew it wasn't going to be good.
"Why?" she asked as they continued towards the exit.
"It was requested of me to deliver you. I knew you had dealings with Alejandro and would probably know where he was. Fernando needed that information to avenge his brother."
"I never saw Alejandro again after he left," Kate insisted. "Let alone knew where he was going next."
"If the idiot hadn't missed, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Evan said, annoyed. "I mean, who misses at point blank?" Kate knew he was talking about Fernando shooting her above her heart and not through it.
"It's not too late," she said. "You don't have to do this."
"I'm getting paid a lot of money to do this," Evan said. "Sorry, love."
"Don't call me that," Kate said irritably.
"Oye! Evan!" a voice shouted. On instinct, Evan turned to look. Kate used this chance to elbow him hard and make a run for it. Bullets flew, and she jumped over a desk to hide behind it. Machine gun fire erupted, and Kate realized that Evan wasn't in there alone. There were others working with him. She spied a gun hidden underneath the desk she was hiding behind. She mentally thanked that agent for being smart. She grabbed it and made sure it was loaded before daring to peek and take a shot. A bullet smashed near her face, and she yelped, falling back down again.
"Find her!" Evan shouted over the noise. Kate felt panic again. She did not want to be found. She gasped when a hand grabbed her.
"It's me," Frank said. "Come on. You know a back way out of this place?"
"Yea," she answered. They carefully made their way out of the firing zone. She saw Reggie take down a masked man as they passed.
"After her!" a voice shouted. Frank and Kate ran faster.
"Down here," she said, out of breath. They made a left and then a right. A masked man holding a rifle appeared suddenly, and they both skidded and burst through the door on their left without even thinking.
"Shit," she said. "That was the last way out."
"There's always a way out," Frank insisted. They kept moving when a blast occurred to their right, rocketing the building and sending them tumbling.
"Frank!" Kate cried. He reached to grab her again, pulling them behind some rubble just as bullets came at them again.
"I'm good," he promised. Another blast went off farther down, and Kate knew that Evan was blowing up the place piece by piece. It would soon collapse on them all.
"This way," she said, remembering a side door. She fired behind her as they ran. The men were still coming after them. They went into a room, and Kate spied two Kevlar vests. She grabbed one and threw the other at Frank, who caught it. They pulled them on as they hurried through the room and into the next one.
"No ammo?" he asked.
"No," she answered. "Sorry."
"It's fine," he said. "I've got some rounds left. Should be enough to get us out of here."
"Me too."
She went to move when Frank saw the gunman. Without thinking, he jumped to shield her. She cried out as Frank landed on her, the bullet having hit his vest hard and knocking him down. He twisted to shoot the gunman, hitting his mark.
"Come on," he said, pulling her up. His chest hurt, but he wasn't dead, so that was a plus. They went to the doorway and stepped into the hall before Frank stopped in his tracks, throwing himself on Kate and pushing them back into the nook by the door as bullets ricocheted around them. Kate realized they were cornered. Frank fired back, taking down two of the men. She took down one coming up behind them. She looked at the window to their right, and she knew that was their best option. She shot the glass out quickly. They were two stories up, but it was the only way. Frank covered her as she went to it and hid behind the nook that was there too. He moved to join her, pressing into her tightly.
"You have to go," he said.
"Not without you," she insisted.
"Just go," he said sharply. She knew better than to argue when his face looked like that.
"I love you," she said, grabbing his face and kissing him hard. She had this fear they weren't going to make it, and she wanted him to know.
"And I love you," he said back after. "Now go."
She moved quick, and he covered her as best as he could. She was out the window and carefully climbing down the ledges to the ground. Once she was on the ground, she looked up. Frank wasn't behind her.
...
Frank ran for it, bullets flying after him. He ached with knowing he probably said goodbye to Kate forever. He felt pretty certain he wasn't getting out of there alive. He fired behind him as he ran, taking down a few more gunmen. He eventually found Evan trying to slink away, and he launched himself onto him.
"Argh!" Evan yelped, going down under Frank's tackle.
"You're not getting away with this one," Frank said, grunting from the effort of trying to keep him down. Evan was quick, though, and he kicked Frank off and got to his feet with Frank right behind him. They started to punch out at each other, Frank landing some blows and Evan getting some shots in as well. Frank didn't move out of the way fast enough at one point, and Evan grabbed him and threw him up over a table hard. Frank crashed down onto the floor, winded.
"You shouldn't have looked in the bag, Frank," Evan said, standing over him. The detonator was in his hand. "She was better off dead."
"That's where I disagree," Frank replied.
"It doesn't matter anyway," Evan went on. "You're the one who's dead now." He pressed the detonator, and then he threw it at Frank before running. Frank scrambled to his feet and looked to see the ceiling start to cave in. He did his best to run.
All he could think about was Kate.
...
"Hello," a voice said, and Kate turned to see Fernando standing there. Without hesitating, she pointed her gun at him. The anger and rage inside of her was building rapidly.
"You should not have come here," she said to him.
"You going to kill me, Kate?" he taunted. "Go ahead. Do it." She aimed and pulled the trigger. Her gun promptly clicked, and nothing happened. She'd run out of bullets.
"Uh oh," Fernando said softly. He pointed his gun at her next. That's when Kate noticed his aim was off, and she realized that it was his vision. He thought he was aiming straight, but he wasn't. That's how she had survived the first time, why he had missed her heart. It had been pure, stupid luck. Her second stroke of luck was when Frank decided to look in the bag and saw she wasn't dead.
"KATE!" Reggie bellowed, making them both jump. Fernando ran for cover as Reggie fired at him. Kate quickly moved to join Reggie.
"Good to see you," Kate added, playfully punching his shoulder. "It's about damn time you showed up."
"Ha, better late to a party than never going," he grinned. They rounded the corner to see agents everywhere and fire coming out the building. Fernando was gone.
"He got away," Reggie growled. "Shit."
Kate had more pressing things to think about. Evan was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Frank, which really worried her.
"I have to find Frank," she said urgently. "I'm going back in."
"I'll come with you," Reggie nodded. They moved back towards the entrance and almost reached the doors when the more explosions occurred. Kate was thrown backwards up into the air, and she landed on her back hard, winded. Reggie landed beside her twisted on his side. For a moment, there was nothing except the ringing in her ears. Then all hell broke loose.
"Target in sight! TARGET IN SIGHT!" someone was shouting. Footsteps and gunshots echoed around them in the dust. Kate managed to get up onto her knees, feeling disoriented. Then she looked at the building and the horror hit her hard followed by the choking sensation in her throat.
"F-Frank," she managed to say. "Frank!" She struggled to her feet.
"Oh, God," Reggie groaned, sitting up. "That was hell."
"FRANK!" Kate shrieked, making Reggie jolt in surprise. He clambered to his feet as Kate ran towards the building, still screaming Frank's name. Reggie caught up behind her and grabbed her around the middle, stopping her from going inside.
"Let me go!" she shouted, pounding on his arms. "FRANK!"
"It's too unstable," Reggie said, bracing his legs as she fought hard. "Kate, I can't let you go in there. It's going to collapse."
"All the more reason to go in there and get him out!" she yelled. "Let me GO!"
"Kate," Reggie said. "I'm sorry. It's too late."
"Frank," Kate kept saying. She was sobbing now as the remainder of the structure started to fall apart in front of her eyes. "Oh my God, Frank." There was no way he would have survived that. Reggie hauled her away to safety, and she cried for the man she had grown to love in the last few days. She had no idea how she was going to move forward without him.