************
Jake sat in the patrol car while Pete questioned one of his many informants. This time it was Cherry, and Jake had a feeling "questioning" her was the last thing that was going on. Cherry was a five foot nothing buxom brunette with lips so sensual, she could get a man hard just from her smile.
While he waited he went over the interview Jace had earlier with Detective McKendry. Even in the privacy of the captain's office, neither had indicated that they shared a background. There was nothing between them except the uneasiness between an accused officer and IA agent.
He had surprised himself at the amount of animosity he felt toward her. In the back of his mind he kept reign on the feelings that he had for her, only letting show those feelings that Jace would exude. He came close to hating Brenna McKendry, in the sense that she threatened his partner's status with the department.
Now, deliberately dropping the UC persona, he hated himself for his feelings. He was sent under to trap Brunell within the web of deceit he created, but instead he found himself actually liking the man. It was Sonny and Quito all over again. He was losing Jake Shaw to Jace Parker. He prayed the end of this assignment would come soon, before he sank even deeper.
His only departure from this UC stint was going home to his wife. He was still unsure how Frankie had convinced Donovan that she would be the right choice to go under as his wife. Alex was perfectly capable of handling the job. Not that he was complaining. He had not been looking forward to being separated from Frankie for any length of time. He might have found himself having trouble keeping his mind focused on the task at hand knowing his wife, now eight months pregnant, could go into labor when he was no where to be found.
As if on cue, his cell phone rang. "Parker."
"Hello M'Lover." The Irish accent threw him for all of two seconds.
"Hello baby. You OK?"
"Oh, I'm right as the rain. How's me husband doin', that's the question."
Jake had to cover a laugh. Since she'd convinced Frank to let her play the part of Colleen Parker, Frankie had perfected a true to life Irish accent. She even kept it up while in the privacy of their newly bought house.
"He's had better days beloved."
"Oh dear. Well, who do I need to deal with then, hm? Can't have me husband being in a fit when he gets home."
"I'll be fine Colleen. You sure that you're doing OK? No pains or anything?"
"I'm having a baby, Jace, no' runnin' the bleedin' Boston Marathon. Tho' I think I'd rather be doin' tha' instead," she chuckled softly. "What time do ye think ye'll be home t'night?"
"Depends."
"On wha'?
"What's for dinner?"
"Oh, I'd say something filling," her voice took on a huskier tone. The Irish accent just sent Jake spiraling into the depths of arousal hell. "With a sweet dessert afterwards. Failing that, I happened to make up a batch of stew." Colleen laughed sweetly as Jake grumbled about teases.
"Then, I'll be home as soon as my shift is over."
"Jace? When do I get to meet your new partner?"
Jake froze for a moment. Did he want to risk letting Brunell into his home, near his wife?
"Jace?" Her voice grew more insistent. It seemed that along with the Irish accent she'd perfected, 'Colleen' perfected the fabled Irish Temper to match.
"If it's alright, I'll ask him over lunch when he'd like to come to dinner. I'll let you know, OK baby?"
"That'd be fine M'Lover. Be Safe and come home soon."
Jake said his 'love you's' and hung up the phone. Jake let go of his troubled thoughts as he noticed Brunell exit Cherry's apartment and head his way. "Find out what you needed to know?" he asked as Brunell slid in behind the wheel of the patrol car.
"Almost," he smirked. "Let's grab a bite to eat, huh? And you can fill me in on your meeting with that gorgeous IA detective."
Jace nodded and scowled. "She's a cold bitch," he commented, staring out the window.
"Looked pretty hot to me," he replied. "I meet with her tomorrow and I need to know what cards they're holding."
Jace nodded but did not answer right away. The car stopped in front of a local diner and Pete called in a Code 7 - out to lunch. Inside, they found a quiet corner booth and ordered the special - open-faced roast beef.
"What do they know?" Pete asked again as the waitress sauntered away from the table after pouring two cups of coffee.
"She said they have witnesses that saw you plant the knife."
"Goddammit," he cussed lowly. "And the bitch believes that? How could she take the word of the scum that lives in that area against two well-decorated cops?"
"Exactly the point I made." Jace grimaced. "IAD...nothing but a bunch of candy-asses looking for a quick promotion. She wants to nail your ass, Pete."
"I'll nail her ass first," he threatened.
The hackles rose on Jace's neck. Pete was not making an idle threat. "What do you have in mind?"
"Nothing at the moment. I need to feel her out first...literally."
"Well, before I forget...can you make it to dinner tomorrow night? Colleen is anxious to meet my partner."
"Sounds good, buddy. What time?"
Jake/Jace kept up the easy banter with his partner, but he had not missed the implied insinuation of the statement that Brunell made about Shay. He silently warred with himself over her welfare. No matter how he felt about Brunell himself, he would make sure Frank knew of Brunell's implied threat. That much he was sure of.
************
The phone ringing at 3a.m. woke him from a light sleep. Ariel continued to fuss and it took him a good two hours to rock and lull her to sleep. He had finally crawled into bed around midnight. Three hours sleep. Sure. No problem.
"This had better be good," he growled into the phone.
"Well it's no picnic for me either," Cody growled back.
Frank let out an exasperated breath. Cody had lost his humor weeks ago. Frank decided maybe having a significant other was the worse thing that could have happened to Cody. He was having a hard time dealing with his separation from Katie. Who you kiddin', Donovan? You're not exactly at your best either.
"Jake just checked in and was hoping to talk to you. He said to tell you that Brunell made a remark about Shay...something about her ass," he said sleepily.
"WHAT?"
"Dammit...I mean, nailing her ass; like he's going to go after her if she makes things ugly for him," Cody explained.
Frank nodded silently. That did not come as a big surprise. He had already had the talk with Shay about that scenario. "Okay, Cody. Message received; loud and clear."
"See you in a few hours," Cody replied with a yawn.
Frank hung up the phone and moved over to the window seat. He gazed up at the stars and wondered if Shay was sleeping, or if she, too, was watching the stars light the night sky.
He sighed and rested his forehead on the pane of glass. What a mess. If he could get paid by the worry, he would be a rich man. Not only did he have his wife to worry about, but there was Jake...and Frankie, too. He still was not quite sure why he had agreed to let her go UC with Jake. Temporary insanity was the likely reason.
Standing at the bottom of the staircase to Donovan's office, Frankie frowned in irritation. Six months pregnant and, although thankful the weight she gained was all baby and was only about twenty pounds, she still hated waddling up stairs.
Hearing someone approaching the door, Frank looked up from the endless pile of paperwork he waded through. "Hello, Frankie. To what do I owe this honor?" He stood and held out a chair for her while also holding back a chuckle as she ungracefully eased herself into it.
She looked up at him thoughtfully. This was going to be a hard sell, but she was adamant she would have her way. "Jake tells me you're sending him undercover," she began.
Frank raised an eyebrow as he observed her. "Yes."
"Who's going in with him?"
"Not exactly with him, but...Shay."
Frankie could read what little feelings he let through his tough facade. Donovan was scared. Not as an agent or the head of a UC unit, but as a husband. Jake was going in as the would-be friend and confidant. Shay was going in as the enemy.
Frankie nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "If I may make a suggestion?"
"Of course."
"Send me in."
Frank laughed insensitively. Was she out of her mind? "Even if I wanted to send a six month pregnant civilian in undercover, it's not my choice. Director Burkholtz and the PPD Commissioner will only accept Shay as the IA detective."
Frank's laughter did not sit well with Frankie, but she let it slide. To rile his anger with her own would defeat her purpose. "Let me ask you...sending Jake in married to?...oh...Alex? Cody?" She paused her sarcastic spiel long enough to smile at Frank's irritated grimace. "And...oh, back home sits his real wife. Distraction. Oh. She's pregnant. Bigger distraction. Hey...here's a plus--you need him to appear desperate for money? Desperate enough to bend the laws he swore to uphold? What kind of financial strain would a pregnant, out-of-work wife put on a man's financial situation?"
Frank sat, quietly listening, while Frankie went through her list of reasons why she should go UC with Jake. He did not know why he was listening or even letting her waste her time, but he found himself agreeing with some of her points. A wife with a baby on the way would put a strain on a cop's finances.
Distraction. There could be none. It was not only Jake he had to worry about, but also Shay. One slip, just the slightest, and Jake could put her life in danger. Not a chance he was willing to take.
Frankie was Jake's anchor; that much was easy to see. She had worked a calming sort of spell over his unpredictable nature. Yes, he was much more deliberate and focused in his work since they had gotten together.
He remembered well the anxious moments he went through during Shay's pregnancy with Ariel. There was the close call she had early on when the doctors feared she would not be able to carry her full-term. Spotting during the fourth month started the scare and Shay was put under strict guidelines of physical activities. With the care and pampering she received from the entire team, he included, she made it to full-term and Ariel was born a healthy, happy little Donovan.
He almost laughed remembering how he would panic or run to Shay's side with every little moan or groan. He nearly fell out of his chair the first time she squealed. He tripped his way down the stairs to happily discover that she had felt his baby kick for the first time. He had waited patiently for the next kick and when he felt the bump to Shay's stomach, he laughed like a little boy, who had received his most prized wish, until he thought he might cry.
"Hellloooo!" Frankie called, waiving her hand in front of his face. "Earth to Donovan."
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "You have made some valid points, Frankie, but it's still not worth putting you at risk," he reasoned.
"Look - I'm going to be housebound, basically. Unless you bring the fight to me, I'll be nothing more than window dressing. I can handle this, Frank. And I can help my husband," she pleaded her case calmly. "And it will help me, too, during this part of my pregnancy not to wonder if he's made it home safely every night."
He read the determination in her eyes. He knew Frankie well enough to know she would not put herself and her unborn child in this situation if she was not confident she could handle it. Maybe he was a fool for this, but, "I'll have to clear it with Burkholtz," he sighed, resigning himself to his decision.
"Thank you, Frank. You saved me from having to hold your head in the toilet; or worse yet, start crying like a pregnant woman." Frankie grinned.
Frank shook his head and chuckled. "Go down and meet with Shay to work out your profile."
************
To be continued...