It was a perfect night. Tasha rested as she hadn't done in days. Being in his arms was all she could want. He allowed himself to look asleep for a few minutes, but he knew he needed to get up and get ready, because in less than forty minutes they would need to leave. She approached him from behind and placed kisses on his bare, bare back. His scent intoxicated her even after years. She would never tire of the mornings that she woke up next to him. His hug was the best, the best kiss she had ever experienced. She had made her choice years ago. He had chosen to talk about his feelings and they both chose to grow old together. She would never regret the decisions that led them here.

Natasha sometimes reflected on some things she had done, some decisions she had made and that instead of bringing her closer to the people she loved had driven them away. The brunette always chose the job above all. But in life there are times when we need to think with the heart as well, not just with the mind.

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

That week was tough for Tasha. She offered to infiltrate a penitentiary. They needed to obtain information that would not have been possible otherwise. She needed to meet and befriend a detainee who was part of the terrorist organization they had been chasing for the past few months. Taking that risk had almost cost her life, but she chose to take a chance.

With great effort they managed to arrest a couple from the terrorist group. But they would not easily reveal anything.

- I need to keep trying until he gets tired. Weller approached her, watching the interrogation through the cameras.

- He will never speak. - Tasha spoke discouraged. - Take the cameras and I will get everything out of him in less than a minute.

- If we do that we will be equaling him. - Weller disagreed.

- I dont care.

- Tasha, I know you're angry. You went to hell and came back today ...

- Exactly. I put my life on the line. I want it to be worth it. I can't bear to see him smiling knowing he has the answers.

- Tasha, we have to use the strategy.

- No. We have to change the way we act. Only then will we be able to stay ahead of them.

- We follow our rules. Not theirs.

- There are no rules when it comes to these terrorists! - Natasha's voice was changed. - They tried to kill us and will we keep quiet?

- Still there is a right way and a wrong way, Tasha. - Weller said decidedly.

Tasha knew that this conversation would lead to nothing. The way the FBI worked sometimes pissed her off. See the bandits laughing in their faces. She didn't know how long she could handle working like this, hands tied.

Annoyed she went to Reade's apartment to vent. Since the last time she asked him to drink, she hardly saw him. Their friendship did not seem to be shaken after everything that happened. The brunette's life returned to normal after her menstruation normalized and she was doing everything to get the tightness out of her head. Natasha had made the decision to stifle her love for Reade in the name of their friendship that was too precious to be shaken by something she knew she felt alone.

- Forgive me for not having something stronger to offer you. - Reade said filling two glasses with Bourbon.

- No I'm sorry. You don't even have to listen to me complain about work. - She said. - I was just missing talking to someone.

- You have Weller.

- Can anyone talk to him besides Jane?

- He doesn't give much openness, but he certainly protects us.

- If we want to win the war, we have to change things.

- And how are you thinking of doing that? Reade asked as they drank.

- I just want to say that there is a world where we don't do everything right. - Tasha spoke angrily.

- If this world exists, it's not the FBI. - Reade was categorical.

Tasha left with those words in her head.

A few days later Reade revealed that he did not intend to return to the FBI. He had signed up to work in Quantico. Teach young agents. Tasha felt betrayed by him considering the possibility of leaving everything behind, even after everything he went through and also everything that happened between them.

Weller and Jane had finally been together for a few months. They would get married and move to Colorado to be closer to Bethany, Kurt's baby daughter.

The ceremony was beautiful. Reade had come from Quantico for the ceremony. Tasha decided to enjoy every moment of his company. They drank and had fun, danced together. The brunette considered the possibility of revealing her feelings to him, but restrained herself again. As they danced, she chose to close her eyes and let herself be carried away by the rhythm of the music and the steps he took her. The world didn't seem to exist outside. To be so close to him again, to smell his perfume, to be carried away by his hug. Everything was magical that night.

It was late and she was too drunk to act consciously, so I knew it was time to go. He said goodbye to his friends and Reade.

- Do you want me to take you? - He volunteered.

- You don't have to. Stay and have some more fun.

He pulled her to him and hugged her. The brunette let herself snuggle in him a little more until she lifted her face and looked at him touching his face with affection. Reade came over and placed a soft kiss on her cheek and she was gone.

This was the last closest contact the two had. The following week Kurt and Jane left and Patterson had received a proposal to work with game applications in Silicon Valley. She found herself alone without her friends at the FBI.

That's when the new FBI director called Reade to replace Weller as assistant director and she found herself working with Reade again. But nothing looked like before. He avoided letting her go to the field when she was just trying to do her job, even if for that she went a little too far in interrogations and snatched the suspects' information at any cost.

On a day that she was already very angry and outraged by this situation, the CIA participated in an investigation together with the FBI.

- Have you thought about that proposal? - More than a month ago Keaton asked you to work with him at the CIA. Tasha hadn't given it credit at the time, because she thought it was just a joke.

- Is it an official invitation? - She wanted to know.

- I'm making it official from now on.

- I need to think, Keaton. - She was tempted, but confused about what to decide.

- Listen, Tasha, I already saw how you work, your profile would fit perfectly with the agency's requirements, and here you know that you will always be prevented from showing all your skills.

- I'll think and tell you. Swear. - She promised.

The next day Rich was brought in to help with an investigation and she was irritated with Reade several times during the job. Reade made Tasha stay in the lab working with Rich and Stuart. So she decided to reveal it to him.

- The CIA offered me a job at Langley.

- And you are telling me this now? He asked angrily.

- Look, Reade since you became assistant director confined me to that office. I'm a field agent, that's where I want to do my best.

- So you will accept the proposal? - He asked upset.

- I'm thinking about it.

Later Tasha was interrupted by Reade in the middle of an interrogation.

- She was about to confess everything when you interrupted me. - Tasha exploded when Reade arrived at the laboratory.

- Want to know why I'm not sending you to the field? - He also said annoyed. - You have been reckless all the time. Perhaps you will fit in better with the CIA.

- Are you firing me? - She changed the tone of voice clearly irritated.

- No. If you want to go the decision is yours. - But they both realized that the shit was done.

- Do I have reasons to stay, Reade? - She challenged him.

Reade fell silent. Tasha expected to hear so much from him. I wanted him to ask her to stay. Say it would be okay. That they were both strange because they were not used to being subordinate to each other. She wanted him to say much more than that. She wanted him to say that he loved her, that he wanted her by his side. But he said nothing. Then Tasha knew. They would never be anything but co-workers.

- I'll get my resignation as soon as this case ends. - Tasha

Tasha called Keaton and gave her answer. Then he called Kurt and Jane in Colorado and also Patterson to tell them about his departure from the FBI for the CIA.

The brunette came home and cried like a child. She hadn't considered leaving the FBI before. It looked like he was leaving a part of her behind. Perhaps it was the best thing to do. She was leaving the following week. She didn't call Reade, nor did he call her. Natasha was determined to leave it behind and take it out of her head and heart.

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

The two ate breakfast and got in the car. This week's investigation would demand everything from them and they were both willing to do their best to resolve this case.

Since they started working as private investigators, they have had radical changes in their lives, but it was the best decision and also the best way they found to raise their children.