****
Shay's voice trailed off as she 'Jackie' sat up and gave everyone a look at her for the very first time. "Oh sweet Jesus…"
"He's here, having an illicit affair with his wife." Frankie grinned mischievously at Shay's expression.
Jake ducked his head to keep from laughing at them all as recognition registered on their faces at hearing 'Jackie's' voice. "I tried to tell you ALL that you had no idea what was going on." He reached out a hand and helped Frankie up from her position on the couch. "It's been her all along. She surprised me that first night." He zipped up the back of her dress as Frankie slid the straps over her shoulders. He pressed a loving kiss to the nape of her neck and said softly, "I kind of like her with red hair."
Frankie slid her arm around Jake's waist and hugged him tight to her. "He's been cheating on his wife, with his wife… and Shay, you REALLY should have a little more faith in him than what you've had." At the puzzled expression on her face, Frankie almost cried. "I had some help with the inside information. Oh, don't look at me like that. Katie was doing her fair share for keeping two lovebirds together against all odds. Quite an amazing woman you married there Cody. She's got a knack for secrets like you've got for computers. She slipped me some information here and there, helped me make it look like I was gone out of town."
"Oh, for Christmas' sake! And of course you couldn't tell me for fear I'd let it slip to Frank that you were messing in his UC op," Shay interjected more than just a little embarrassed for her actions and very hurt over their little dress-up game. "God...I'm really sorry Jake...I mean...for...ah..."
Frank swallowed a grin and embraced her from behind. "Hey...you didn't know. We were all furious. You just....acted on it."
"Uh, yeah..." Jake commented. "But please...if you ever feel the need to punish me again...make me listen to Opera or Country Music or something a bit less violent."
Shay smiled hesitantly. "I'm really sorry Jake. As for you, Frankie...if this wasn't such a clever idea and the fact I can wholeheartedly understand that depression from my ordeal in Peoria I would be so mad at you right now."
"Where's Jessie?" Frank asked suddenly, squeezing Shay in a fierce hug. She probably felt lower than a snake at the moment even though her reaction to Jake's "adultery" was understandable. "Oh, wait…"
"Yes, Uncle Frank. Jessie with her Gammy Dee." Frankie sighed and sat down on the arm of the couch. Her posture changed dramatically. "I was so desperate to see Jake, that I came up with Jackie Hennessy – which I'm terribly surprised that none of you caught on to it in the beginning. Really, and you call yourselves Federal Agents. Jake's favorite brandy and NONE of you put it together? Anyways, I was so desperate to see him that Katie helped me with the information. Deirdre was in a meeting and couldn't meet us at the airport. So, while she was gone, I colored my hair. She never knew what was going on. I met Deirdre for dinner that night and gave her Jessie, feigning illness to give myself some time to fly here and meet Jake."
Frank looked at Jake and began to scowl.
"Frank! No, he didn't know anything about it. Honest!! He told me afterwards that it was wrong and that I shouldn't have done this. He tried to tell me the second time too that I could get hurt. Unfortunately, since the apartment was tapped, he couldn't come out and call me by name and he had to keep in character. It was meant only to be a one time thing, a one night stand to help satisfy both of our horrible depressions… but, I never could keep my hands off of this man for too long." She cracked a lopsided and endearing grin as Jake snuggled up to her and she wrapped her arms around his waist. Frankie rested her head against his chest for a moment. "I'm sorry guys, for deceiving you all into thinking I was under a doctor's prescription and on Valium and -"
"Speaking of doctors young lady…" Shay growled softly.
Frankie smiled weakly up at her. She knew what was coming next. "Now, Shay, give me a minute. Frank, if I had come to you and said I needed one night with Jake, you'd have sent me home with a swat on the rump. Besides, I had played my trump card with you over a year ago when I was pregnant with Jessie."
Frank was about to say something when Jake stepped back. "Just WHAT was that trump card, anyway? I've been meaning to ask you about it for over two years now."
Frankie burst out laughing. "I threatened to burst out in a pregnant woman's hissy fit of tears of he tried to tell me no."
"Frankie!"
Everyone turned to Frank. Frankie sighed and nodded her head.
"Baby? What's going on?"
"Well, while I was in D.C., I kind of took ill." She looked up at Jake and smiled secretively.
"Oh, is that so?" He returned her smile.
Behind them, all four Agents were grumbling and both Frank and Shay were waiting for an answer.
"Well, then I guess we better explain to them what made you take ill." He turned to Frank and Shay. "Bossman, I need to make sure that I not take anymore undercover assignments for the next year." Jake deadpanned.
"Huh?" all four exclaimed at once.
Frankie smiled and hugged Jake again as he beamed proudly at his fellow agents. He stroked her hair lovingly for a moment before he knelt down in front of her and kissed her flat belly.
"I'm gonna be a daddy again."
--
- finis.