The house they lived in was almost an hour from the city and it was already dark when they returned. It was a condominium that had a large green area, swimming pool, sports court. They knew they had made a good choice when they bought the house, as it was a great place to watch the family grow, and it was not far from the city.

The day was hectic, but they managed to gather much of the evidence they needed for the case they were working on. They had an office set up at home, but much of the work was done downtown in a small room they rented. They had a secretary and some consultants who helped them when they needed to be away.

- Did you talk to Iza today? He asked as they took off their coat and put away the things they brought.

- I spoke yesterday. She would arrive in Morocco today, so due to the time difference, I still haven't found a better time to call. - Natasha explained. - I just left a message in the morning.

Iza, the oldest daughter, at twenty-five years old, worked for the CIA. The girl had always been determined and since she was a little girl she knew what she wanted. Her parents tried to convince her to pursue another profession, but she was determined and stubborn, and nothing they said would change her mind. So she went to college for three years and in the fourth year she did some tests and got the job at the agency.

She had been traveling the world for more than three years, much of it in training, but she had already completed some missions. Natasha was always worried about her daughter who spent days without giving notice, but soon called as if nothing had happened and spent hours telling her what she was doing. She looked happy and did what she liked. That was the most important thing.

Miguel was the opposite of Iza. Calm, patient. Very connected to the family. He was married and had two children. He was a partner in a law firm and was fulfilled. He gave his all to his wife and children. Iza, in turn, had a few boyfriends, but none that really won her heart. She was from the world. He had a free spirit. She remembered her mother a lot when she was younger.

Natasha could understand perfectly the difference between the two children. For that was how she always compared herself to Reade. So different from her. The two were so opposed, but they got along well in their differences, in fact they couldn't stay away from each other for a long time, and if they stayed homesick it was unbearable.

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

- Reade? Tasha asked, startled to see him.

She did not know where he was and did not understand why he was in front of her. Tasha tried to get up, but her head hurt and she felt dizzy. You should be seeing things.

- Calm! Calm! You were drugged. - She heard Reade speak as he helped her to her feet.

- Where we are? - Natasha studied the environment around her. They were in a kind of cage, and the door was locked with chains and padlocks.

- Still do not know. I woke up about an hour ago. - He explained. - I heard the guards speaking Spanish outside. Our cell has plenty of water. So they must be planning to leave us here for a while. Good. That's what I understood. - Reade finished with a shrug.

- It's good to see you. Even though she was kidnapped. - Reade handed him a bottle. - I can't believe it's been a year. - Tasha said while drinking the water.

- Not so long ago. - Reade said as he seemed to do the mental calculations.

- I completed 365 days at the CIA. You haven't spoken to me since I left. It's been a year. - She concluded.

Tasha knew perfectly well how long she hadn't seen him. The months, the days, and maybe even the hours. She had never forgotten him since he left. She had the last image of him in her mind at the end of that day.

One year ago

While removing her things from the closet the brunette saw him standing at the door watching her. She wasn't sure how long he had been there when she saw him. Natasha had let the tears wash over her face and when she heard that he was watching her cry she was very ill. She didn't want him to see her in that state. I didn't want him to think that she didn't know what she was doing. She tried to show security when she resigned. But now, allowing him to see her crying made her feel even worse for making that decision.

He said nothing while looking at her, nor did she say anything. He just picked up the box of his things and passed him at the door.

Current days

That day, Tasha thought she left everything behind. For a year she immersed herself in her new job. He put all his focus on the training received, and there were many lessons learned. The work was hard and the trips were long. She had traveled to virtually every continent during this period, and was grateful to have the opportunity.

But what she couldn't deny was that during the time she was away she expected a call from him. Late at night she checked her mailbox hoping to find something, but there was nothing. The brunette didn't have the courage to call. She was proud of her being and thought that after all it was he who should look for her.

And now he was in front of you. Without the jacket, but with a tie and vest. It was beautiful, as always. Tasha felt his chest tighten, and felt an overwhelming urge to hug him. Willingness to hug your friend. Embrace the love of your life.

- Remember how they got you? Where? When? - Reade asked taking her out of her reverie.

- It's ok! They turned when they heard Patterson yelling at the guards as he was being brought into the cell.

- Did they catch you too? Oh no! - The blonde came talking.

- We were drugged. - Tasha explained.

- We can be anywhere in the world. - Reade concluded.

- But why did they catch us? - Patterson asked knowing that they would not have an answer to that question - Why us?

- What? Tasha asked when she saw the look Reade gave her.

- Kidnap, drug and take it to another country? Clearly a CIA thing. - Reade said pointing to Tasha.

- Do you think we did that? - Tasha spoke upset with his assumption.

- You or someone you pissed off in one of your suspicious operations.

- The three of us were kidnapped, genius! Do you think it's a coincidence? No, it certainly has something to do with our time at the FBI. I don't know what you're implying, but ...

- Right! We can find out who was to blame after we left here. Patterson interrupted them.

Some men came in carrying a safe.

- Open or die. - One of the men spoke while throwing a tool bag on the floor and the others put the safe in the middle of the cell. - Your time has started.

The men walked away, closing the door again and leaving them with this suicidal task.

- We can't open this. - Reade starts talking.

- I mean. It's an embassy safe. - Patterson explains. - So it is not very difficult to decipher. It's not easy, but ...

- I'm talking about protocol, Patterson. - Reade tries to look at the side of the law. - We are government officials in the USA. We do not negotiate with terrorists.

- You have to stop seeing things in black and white. - Tasha scolds him.

- I don't see things in black and white. - Reade denies what Tasha just said about him.

- Do you want a moral victory, or do you want to get us out of here? - Tasha speaks in a changed voice. - If we don't open this soon they will kill us.

- We don't know what's inside. Opening it can put more lives at risk. Maybe it doesn't bother you, but it sure does. - Reade continues.

- If you think that because I'm a CIA now I don't want to save lives ...

- Stop it! Stop it! - Patterson shouts interrupting them. - This has nothing to do with the safe, you know. - The blonde continued with a changed voice. - You're mad because she went to the CIA. She looked at Reade angrily. - And you are angry that he ignored you since you left. - Complete addressing Tasha.

Tasha crossed her arms over her chest and turned sideways with a serious expression. Reade was silent, pondering everything he had just heard.

- Guys, everything was different after Weller and Jane left. We all feel and deal with it in our own way. You two are not mad at each other. You miss them. - Tasha looked at Reade again in an attempt to see if she could decipher a little of what Patterson said in his expression. He looked at her a little more calmly now. Yeah, maybe he missed her too. - I missed you too. Reade, Zapata is right. If we do nothing, they will kill us, and then they will find someone who does what they want. We have to find a way to buy time while we think of a way to escape. Are you with me or not?

Tasha and Reade looked at each other, thinking about everything Patterson had just said. She was right. The two were angry, because they missed each other and found no better way to demonstrate this, except spitting out harsh words.

- It's all right. - They both agreed.

After a few hours of working in the safe, they were tired. They found out they were in Venezuela. Patterson was still trying to crack the code. Tasha and Reade were sitting on the floor propped up on a pillar. They made fun of the food and they were both clearly more relaxed. Tasha felt good about being close to Reade, even in the circumstances they were in. It was good to see you again.

Patterson managed to open the safe, but they didn't think they should deliver the contents to them. They had an idea to blow up all its contents after the six hours that the men promised to wait.

The three mounted a small bomb and when the guards returned they let them fire the bomb and took the opportunity to surrender them and take the weapons. Everything went so crazy that when they left outside Jane and Kurt were waiting for them with a battle tank.

Patterson, Tasha and Reade climbed into the tank and found their friends again. Everyone went back to New York. Some members of the terrorist group that they destroyed in the past were reported to have returned to active duty and were working on new attacks worldwide, but with a greater focus on the United States.

Hirst, FBI director, Keaton, CIA director, and Edgar Reade, assistant director of the FBI, got into a discussion about how they should act from there.

Keaton and Hirst did not agree on how to work together to investigate what was going on.

- Hey! Look! - Reade caught their attention. - The point is that we need to work together here. Listen. This is very complicated for both sides, so I propose a joint task force.

"Ah, what is it?" Keaton complained.

- Listen. To counteract this threat, we have to pool our resources. We may not enjoy working together. But I think I'm right. - Reade explained.

- Do you want to do this job, or recover your old partner? - Keaton was very direct in asking Edgar.

- You take care of the CIA side, right? Choose the agents you prefer. I just suggest that it is someone with experience in this matter.

Reade clearly wanted Tasha to be part of the task force. He missed his business partner, he couldn't deny it, but he also missed his friend and confidant. They had been away for a year, and a lot had changed. Having the opportunity to work together again could be good for getting closer and trying to regain the friendship they have always had.

- What do you think, Hirst? - Reade asked his boss.

- If you think it is the best decision, I support you. - Hirst replied. - But I'll blame you if something goes wrong. - She finished very straight.

- Guys, let's set up a joint task force. - Reade spoke approaching the rest of the team that was waiting for their decision.

- Let's go after these terrorists! - Kurt intervened.

- Yes! I can't force you to participate, but ...

- I'm in. - Kurt replied immediately.

- Me too. - Tasha agreed.

Everyone looked at Patterson, who remained silent.

- Many people count on me in California.

- What's up, Patterson? You know I can reinstate it in a heartbeat. - Reade said addressing the blonde.

- I'm going to help them get organized, but then I'm leaving. - She agreed after some thought. Patterson knew there was no way out, due to the looks that friends put on her.

- It's all right. We accept. - Reade spoke.

Tasha felt her chest fill with joy when she knew they would work together again. Your old team. The place where it all started. And being close to Reade again. How do you know she would finally find the courage to open her heart? She felt it could be different this time. The brunette no longer wanted to leave her happiness behind. It is about making the right decisions that would make you feel full.

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

- Tasha, come watch the game! - He called her from the living room. - I already brought the beers.

- I'm going. Just finishing answering Miguel's message. - She replied approaching. - Did you see the video of the children they sent?

The two found themselves watching Luca and Bia playing in the pool. It was a hot day and the parents made the children feel at ease. Natasha already missed them. They reminded him of his children when they were young.