Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of UC Undercover. I borrow them for
while. No infringement is intended. All other characters are mine and Sab's
or are friends of ours and we have permission to use their names.
I Don't, I Will, I Do
There was a full moon that night but you wouldn't have known it to look out. It was overcast and very quiet after a brief storm. The team was at a small farmhouse in southern Indiana, they were using it as a safe house for a federal witness. The witness, Brad Wheaton, was to testify tomorrow morning against his one time partner, Walter Duncan, for committing fraud through illegal banking procedures.
Things were going good for the team until the power was cut and a few of Duncan's friends showed up unexpectedly. Frank was near the back part of the house watching there and Alex and Jake were at the front windows watching. Monica and Cody were in the van out in back of the house trying to get help for them.
"Alex, do you see anyone out there?" Frank asked over the headset.
"No! It's pitch black and I don't have my night vision."
"If Cody or Monica can get back in, maybe they can bring it," Jake said, hoping they were listening.
"If you think I'm going to risk my butt, you're crazy, this is one time Cody stays with the van," Cody informed them.
"Cody, if I order you to bring it, you will. But for now you and Monica stay there. You're more help there, than in here, at the moment," Frank told them.
"Swat should be here within the next half hour," Monica told them since Cody didn't. "They might've wanted to know that bit of information," Monica scolded him.
The moon came out from under the clouds to light up the night. "Oh shit! Donovan, they have a grenade launcher pointed this way! Let's get out of here." Jake and Alex ran to the back part of the house. They see Frank looking back to make sure they were getting out too.
As Alex and Jake get a few feet from the house, they hear the explosion as the house goes up. Monica had heard them and had moved the van further back away from the house, so it wouldn't explode too from the heat.
"Where's Donovan and Wheaton?" Jake asked.
"I don't know. I was concentrating on us getting out, he was going out, as we hit the kitchen." Alex looked around but saw no sign of the two men. Gunfire erupted and they ran for the van as cover hoping that's where the other two were.
"Donovan!" Jake called out to his boss. There was no answer and he became worried.
"Jake, Alex." They heard Wheaton call out to them. He was a few yards away from them behind a tree. "Donovan is hurt, he was hit by debris when the house went up."
"Cody, get an ambulance started too, Donovan is down," Alex ordered.
"Will do," Cody responded.
Jake made his way over to where his boss was laying out cold. "How bad is he?"
"Got hit in the back of the head and in his side. I removed the debris from his side. He's not bleeding, too much." "That could be good or it could be bad." Jake ducked down as gunfire erupted again. Jake saw the persons firing, he took aim at one of them, hitting his target, and the other person ran for cover. "Cody, how much longer before help gets here?"
"I'll find out," Cody said.
Frank started to wake up wondering at first where he was. "What happened?"
"House went up. You got hit by debris," Jake informed him.
"I guess that explains the headache and the pain in my side." Frank was trying to see his wound but gave up as dark as it was.
"We need to get you both to the van," Jake said, looking for any more gunmen. He heard and saw the flash from Alex's gun. He looked ahead of her to see a man fall.
"Now seems like a good time. Cover us Alex, we're going to the van," Jake told her.
"Go on three," Alex replied, then she counted out, "One. Two." Alex saw they were ready. "Three." Alex fired a few rounds as Wheaton and Jake helped Frank get to the van.
Jake put Frank and Wheaton in, then he went back to help Alex. They were about to be overrun by the shooters when the Swat team showed up. "Great, the cavalry has arrived," Alex said. "Cody, the ambulance is coming too," Alex added, hearing the siren.
******
The phone rang waking Elaina from a dream. She glanced at the clock and saw how late it was. "Hello."
"Elaina, its Alex. Frank was injured tonight."
"How bad?" Elaina sat up in bed.
"He'll be ok. The safe house blew up. He was hit in the head and side with debris," Alex explained.
"Where is he and how is the witness?" Elaina asked, being worried.
"He's getting stitched up at a small clinic here. We'll be back early in the morning." Alex hoped she wouldn't worry too much. "Wheaton is safe.
"Thanks for calling, Alex. I know he probably didn't want you too."
"No, he didn't. He wanted to tell you when he got home."
"Typical. He figures I don't worry about him, if I don't know what's going on."
"It's a man thing, Elaina."
"No, it's a Frank Donovan thing." Elaina laughed. "Tell him this doesn't get him out of the wedding."
"I will. Bye." Alex giggled.
"Bye, Alex."
Elaina lay back down and went to sleep only to be awakened a few minutes later by her daughter screaming. Elaina rushed out of her room and in with her daughter. Megan had gotten there first.
"Momma, Momma," Sarah cried.
"I'm here baby girl. You must've had another really bad dream."
"Something scared her that's for sure." Megan patted Sarah on her back as Elaina held her. Sarah was so scared she had a death grip on Elaina's robe.
"Sweetie, Momma's gonna hold you and rock you until you fall asleep." Elaina tried to comfort her.
"What happened?" Derek asked as he walked in.
"Bad dream we think," Megan answered.
"Go on back to bed. We can handle her," Elaina told him. Derek came over to kiss his little sister.
"Mommy will keep you safe, Sarah don't worry." Derek gave his mom a kiss and left the room.
Elaina sat down in the rocker, with Sarah still clutching her tight and crying. "Sarah, I wish you could tell me what scared you?"
"I don't think she would want to tell you as scared as she is," Megan observed.
"Rocking doesn't seem to be calming her. I'll take her to my room, Frank won't be back until morning."
"Here's her bear, it might help calm her." Megan squeezed the bear in next to Sarah as Elaina got up to go in her room.
"Ok, we'll lay here in Mommy and Daddy's bed. You'll be safe from those bad dreams." Elaina tried to loosen Sarah's grip but couldn't, so she kept her robe on and lay down.
Sarah was still crying lightly, fighting sleep. Elaina got a tissue and wiped Sarah's eyes and nose. She rubbed her back and she finally started to relax, to fell asleep again. Sarah's grip loosened as she slept and Elaina managed to remove Sarah's hands and take her robe off. She then moved Sarah to the middle of the bed. She sat up and watched her sleep. 'I wish I knew why you where having these dreams.' She thought to herself.
*****
It was almost 7am when Frank came home. He quietly walked in the bedroom. He saw Sarah curled up next to Elaina. He went over to the chair by the window to sit down to take his shoes off.
Elaina saw him come in but didn't move. "I hope you're my husband. I have a gun if you're not."
"I have a gun too. What's wrong with Sarah." Frank walked over to the bed and sat down carefully.
"She's been having some bad dreams the last few days while you've been gone," Elaina informed him.
"How bad?" Frank wondered.
"She screams, very loudly and then only wants me to hold her."
"It could be she's remembering seeing you when you collapsed, she saw us doing CPR on you."
"Why didn't you tell me she saw that? I could've talked to her about it. No wonder she's having nightmares." Elaina picked the little girl up and held her.
"She seems to be sleeping pretty sound now." He brushed a curl from her face. "I should've told you, I'm sorry. We'll talk to her together about what happened." Frank moved wrong and felt the stitches pull in his side. He let out a small groan.
"I heard that. Let me see your side." She tugged at his shirt.
"I'm fine, I just moved wrong." He pulled his shirt off, knowing she wasn't going to be kept from looking.
"I can see how that would hurt," She said as she looked under the bandage. "Here, lay down." Elaina moved, still holding Sarah.
"You're going to wake her up," Frank told her as he lay down on the bed.
"She's ok. Once she's calm, she sleeps like a log. It's about time for her to wake up for breakfast anyway."
"Don't let me sleep over a couple of hours. I still have work to do." Frank closed his eyes.
"If you say so, I think you should stay and." Elaina was interrupted.
"No, so drop it," Frank told her.
"Stubborn," Elaina said as she took Sarah back to her room.
Elaina put her in bed and then went over to lay her clothes out. Megan walked into the room with her.
"I thought I heard someone in here. I left the baby monitor on."
"I'm surprised it didn't deafen you, when she screamed," Elaina stated.
"Her screams really scare me, they're so loud for a tiny girl."
"She's not that tiny, she does have very healthy lungs." Elaina smiled. "Frank thinks her nightmares may be from when I collapsed."
"Could be. Someone that young, it's hard to tell what they think when they see something like that. Or when it will effect them."
"I know. I wish I could keep all the bad things away from her but that's being totally unrealistic." Elaina noticed Sarah was waking up. "Good morning, Sweetie."
"Momma." Sarah smiled at her.
"I suppose you want breakfast," Elaina said and signed it. Sarah signed yes.
"I'll take her down and feed her." Megan picked her up from the bed.
"Thanks, I need to shower and change for work." Elaina walked out with them and went back to her room.
Frank was asleep, she went to the bathroom to shower, when she finished she came out and curled up next to him.
"I have another hour yet," Frank said, turning over carefully to face her.
"I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to be next to you for a while, before we go back to work. You have been too busy to make it home and I've missed you." She kissed him.
"I missed you too." He returned the kiss. "I'm not that tired. I can hold you for a while."
"You have to be tired. You're just in denial." She ran her hand through his hair.
"If you're wanting to." Frank was interrupted when kissed him again.
"That's not what I want. I want to talk about the wedding since you're home."
"What about it?"
"Have you picked a best man yet?"
Frank sighed loudly. "No, I've been a bit busy."
"So have I but I have my maid of honor picked out and the bride's maids."
"You haven't been as busy as me. You had a few weeks off to plan, plus you started planning before you asked me, if we could get remarried." Frank was being defensive.
"Are you mad at me for wanting to get married again?" Elaina wondered.
"No, I'm not mad at you. I just don't have a lot of time right now." He propped his head up leaning on his elbow.
"You want to postpone it?" Elaina was ticked at his attitude.
"It would help if we could but you've already sent out invitations."
"No, I haven't." Elaina turned away from him.
"You set the date for two weeks from now and you haven't sent out invitations? Why not?"
"Because of you for one. You really don't want to do this. You've dragged your feet every chance you get in making decisions about it." She was nearly to tears but she didn't want him to know.
"I told you I wasn't going to help," Frank reminded her.
"Fine! We don't have to do it. Just get me a damn wedding ring to replace the old one. The hell with the wedding." Elaina got up and went to the closet to get her clothes.
Frank walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm."
Elaina turned around sharply and cut him off. "Don't say you're sorry because I know that to be a lie. Just get ready and go back to work and leave me alone."
****** Frank arrived at HQ, everyone was there, including Bea and her team.
"Bea, do we have another case to work together?" Frank asked.
"Not that I know of. We were just summoned here, we'd all find out together."
"By whom?" Frank inquired.
"By me Agent Donovan. I don't have a case for you but I do have some news that concerns all of you." Elaina stared at Frank the whole time.
"That look means trouble," Monica whispered to Paula.
"I've seen that look a couple of times from her, scary." Paula shivered.
Elaina continued with her news. "The wedding I was planning is cancelled."
"Why? What changed your mind?" Alex voice showed the shock of everyone.
"I have to go to Quantico for a few weeks. I've been asked to train another special ops group."
"That's great, yet not so great," Sab said, disappointed by the cancellation.
"Why did you say yes, couldn't they find someone else?" Bea asked.
"I volunteered. I have my reasons." Elaina was still staring at Frank.
"Why cancel the wedding? Why not just postpone it?" Cody wondered.
"Like I said, Cody. I have my reasons. I have to go now." Elaina started to leave but was stopped.
"Agent Blakely. I'd like to talk to you, privately." Frank had her by the arm, when she glared at him he released it.
"I'm in a hurry, it can wait." She walked past him.
"No, it can't." He grabbed her by the arm again and pulled her to the stairs.
"Let go of me." Elaina pulled against him.
"We're going to talk in my office, now." He pushed her to go up the stairs. Elaina went up the steps and into the office. Everyone downstairs was watching them.
"Why didn't I tell you this morning, am I right?" Elaina guessed.
Frank didn't answer her, he just walked to his desk and sat down. They stared at each other for the longest time. "I'm waiting for your answer, since you know the question."
"I didn't tell you, because I decided after I went to work."
"Convenient. What about Sarah and her nightmares? You're going to run off from her, when she needs you."
"She and Megan can come with me I'll be staying in Maria's apartment she has there."
"No they won't, I want her to stay here. Besides Megan just started classes. You're only doing this because of our fight this morning. A fight that was more or less one sided." Frank told her. "I love the idea that we renew our vows, but I want to do the asking. I don't want to feel rushed. Call it old fashion or whatever but I think I should ask you to marry me, not the other way around."
"Then ask me," Elaina snapped at him.
"Not like this and not here and now. Just say you'll stay here in town give me some time." Frank walked around the desk to sit next to her.
"How much time?" Elaina was still angry. "I don't know exactly, a few days."
"I'll see if I can get out of going. If not you'll have a few weeks." She got up to leave.
"Wait a minute." Frank stopped her from opening the door.
"No Frank, I won't wait. We've said enough for now. I'll see you at home." Elaina walked out and left.
*****
Elaina was busy reading over reports when her secretary buzzed her. "Agent Blakely. Miss Gaines is here to see you."
"Send her in." Elaina closed the reports as Allison walked in.
"Hi, this isn't a bad time is it?" Allison asked.
"No. I'm thankful for the interruption. I'm just reading weekly reports," Elaina said, taking her glasses off.
"From what Jake has told me, their reports can be quite entertaining." Allison sat down in the chair facing the desk.
"They are since they got to know me. They love making remarks about Frank and each other." Elaina laughed. "So do you like being here closer to your son?"
"I love getting to know him better. I just hope I'm not interfering with his social life."
"I doubt that. I imagine Jake still has a social life," Elaina said, smiling.
"He has been teasing me when I start asking him questions. He says I'm analyzing him."
"Professional hazard." Elaina smiled.
"Yeah, at times it does come in handy."
"How about doing some psycho analyzing on me?"
"What's wrong?" Allison asked, worried about her friend.
"Frank and I fought about the renewal of our vows." Her voice became sad.
"I got the message that it was cancel. I just didn't want to bring it up. Sabrina called me she's a little upset."
"She didn't waste any time. She had been looking forward to it, so was I. But Frank, isn't as thrilled."
"Has he told you why?" Allison used her professional tone in asking her questions.
"He said he wanted to be the one to ask me to remarry him. Said he was old fashion."
"I think it's sweet that he wants to ask you. I'd think you would too."
"Why couldn't he have told me this when I brought it up weeks ago? Why wait until now?" Elaina was really upset.
"He has been rather busy according to you, when we talked yesterday."
"He wasn't busy when I first brought it up. He said nothing. We talked just about every night he could've said something then."
"Elaina don't get angry but you did ask me to analyze you. I think the problem, is you."
"I'm the problem? How's that?" Elaina was getting defensive.
"You're trying to control this whole situation the same way you do everything else. Everything has to be done on your timeline; the way you want it. It has to be your idea, your dream wedding, you even set the date."
"He had his type of wedding in Vegas," Elaina sneered.
"Are you sure he did?" Allison asked.
Elaina thought about what she had said. "If it wasn't his type of wedding, why did he do it then?"
"From what I know about it, Derek asked the two of you to get married there. I'd say the two of you did it because you wanted to make Derek happy."
"That maybe true but still he could've said something to me." Elaina realized that she kept saying I and me too often. "I guess I have a small problem with my attitude and a few control issues." Elaina confessed. "I have a tendency to."
"Throw a tantrum, like a little kid, when things don't go your way." Allison completed the sentence for her.
"Allison, I don't throw tantrums," Elaina insisted.
"Oh really? What happened during the fight that caused you to cancel the wedding?" Allison asked, wanting to know more.
"Frank's attitude, he wanted more time before the wedding. He just doesn't want to do it."
"Which brings us back to you trying to control everything. You threw a tantrum and canceled the wedding when he told you he wanted more time." Allison smiled at her knowing she was right.
"Yes. Doctor Gaines. That's what happened. So tell me how do I fix it?" Elaina asked.
"You told me he wanted it to be his idea. He wants to ask you, so let him. He may involve himself with the plans then. It's not like you aren't married. Nothing is going to change that, unless you two decide to get divorced over who asks who to marry them."
"Do you really think that will work?" Elaina asked.
"Yes. Are you going to do as I suggested?"
"I think I'm going to pout and think about what you said, then apologize to Frank."
"Why pout?"
"Having to give in. I know, get over the control issue and things will be better," Elaina added, quickly so Allison wouldn't.
"We should talk more about this. The three of us."
"Frank in therapy? You've got to be kidding."
"I think he'd do it, if you'd ask him."
"What planet are you from? Frank has a degree in psychology. He analyzes himself."
"Ask him, Elaina. I'm serious. The two of you need a referee and I'm volunteering," Allison told her.
"Gutsy woman. Ok, I'll ask him, but don't be surprised if he says no," Elaina warned her.
"I better let you get back to work." Allison got up to leave.
"Allison, who ask you to come here?" Elaina wondered if it was Frank.
"Actually Bea, Jake, and Sab all called me this morning. They all care about the two of you."
"They're just worried about how the workplace will be, if something serious was to happen. I should've never broken our rule of keeping private and work lives separate."
"We can talk about that together too. I'll see you soon. I hope." Allison opened the door to leave.
"I'll call in a day or two after Frank and I talk," Elaina assured her.
******
Elaina went to the restaurant, Songbird's Nest to see Maria. Maria had asked her to come by and have lunch with her. Elaina hoped that they'd have a pleasant talk for once. Lately they always seemed to be fighting about the same thing each time, Maria's therapy or lack of it. As she entered, Maria was singing the last part of a song. Elaina sat down at one of the front tables, when Maria was finished she came off stage to join her.
"Hello, cousin. I'm glad you could make it." Maria was sounding very relaxed and pleasant.
"I needed the break, thanks for the invite."
"I need a favor from you." Maria decided to get right to the point.
"Sure what can I do for you?"
"I need you to look after my place, pick up the mail and water my plants for a few weeks," Maria said to her.
"Going on vacation or an assignment, I don't know about?"
"Neither. I'm going to have some work done on my face, reconstruction actually." Maria knew Elaina would be shocked.
"Why would you want to do that?" Elaina asked, being puzzled by this revelation.
"To get away from you." Maria's tone changed, becoming bitter and flippant.
"To get away from me? What are you talking about?"
"I'm tired of looking like you. I'm tired of pretending to be you. I've been in your shadow long enough I want to look in the mirror and see me, not you."
"Maria, why are you doing this now? We've always looked alike. It never seemed to bother you before."
"The hell it didn't! I have always been compared to you with family, friends and coworkers. I'm sick of it. Every time I work with someone that knows you they say: 'Boy you really look like Elaina Blakely any relation? You could pass for her twin.' I want to look different I want a face of my own," Maria was almost yelling at her.
"I admit, our family did play on that fact but you always thought it was a good thing. You'd swear it was me that did whatever you did wrong. I had more punishments for things, that you did to last a life time."
"You never told them the truth. You just took the punishment. I'm grateful for that," Maria said with a smirk.
"I'm sure you are. You never take the blame for anything you do. It's always someone else's fault. You've been doing that for years. I think its time you take responsibility for your actions." Elaina told her. "I think you should reconsider going back into therapy. You're teenage pranks and these fits of anger and bitterness toward me, makes me think you need therapy very badly."
"My therapy is none of your business. Since you sort of brought her into this. Why the hell, did you pick that little bitch, Sabrina, as your Maid of Honor over me?" I'm family and you shut me out of the wedding."
"I want you to be part of the wedding, just not the wedding party. I didn't want you as part of the wedding party in case Frank picked Cody or Jake as his best man. I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable walking with you down the isle. That really doesn't matter now anyway, because it's been cancelled."
"Frank, finally get smart?" Maria jeered.
"No! I decided to cancel it." With Maria's attitude she wasn't going to tell her the real reason.
"Oh well. I don't see Jake's problem. I told him I was sorry for the Sab and Cody thing. I was truthful with him on our relationship. I told him it wasn't permanent." Maria actually sounded hurt that Jake didn't like her anymore. "Why can't everyone just get over what happened, I have?"
"You had nothing to get over, Maria. You weren't the injured party in that situation. You're the one that hurt people; no one hurt you. You had the opportunity to be friends with both Cody and Sab, you turned it into a vicious game."
"I'm tired of poor, Sabrina. The bitch punched me in the face, so yes, I was hurt too!" Maria screamed.
"You don't think you deserved it, after what you did to her. Believe me cousin, if I had been there when it happened you would've known what the word hurt meant. I'd have laid you out for a week. Just let me warn you if you ever, try to do that again and I find out, you'll answer to me." Elaina was deadly serious.
"I'm not scared of you. I don't need your approval or disapproval for that matter. Just forget about the damn favor. I don't want or need you in my life anymore. Get the hell away from me and stay away. You're no longer wanted as a customer here, either, so stay out." Maria walked away.
"Maria!" Elaina grabbed her arm. "Please, get the help you need before you destroy everything in your life including yourself. Think of everything that's happened to you and deal with it. Stop running away or blaming someone else for your problems. It's time you start taking the blame and deal with everything."
Maria let her have her say and then slapped her across the face. "I said leave." Maria turned and left her standing alone.
I Don't, I Will, I Do
There was a full moon that night but you wouldn't have known it to look out. It was overcast and very quiet after a brief storm. The team was at a small farmhouse in southern Indiana, they were using it as a safe house for a federal witness. The witness, Brad Wheaton, was to testify tomorrow morning against his one time partner, Walter Duncan, for committing fraud through illegal banking procedures.
Things were going good for the team until the power was cut and a few of Duncan's friends showed up unexpectedly. Frank was near the back part of the house watching there and Alex and Jake were at the front windows watching. Monica and Cody were in the van out in back of the house trying to get help for them.
"Alex, do you see anyone out there?" Frank asked over the headset.
"No! It's pitch black and I don't have my night vision."
"If Cody or Monica can get back in, maybe they can bring it," Jake said, hoping they were listening.
"If you think I'm going to risk my butt, you're crazy, this is one time Cody stays with the van," Cody informed them.
"Cody, if I order you to bring it, you will. But for now you and Monica stay there. You're more help there, than in here, at the moment," Frank told them.
"Swat should be here within the next half hour," Monica told them since Cody didn't. "They might've wanted to know that bit of information," Monica scolded him.
The moon came out from under the clouds to light up the night. "Oh shit! Donovan, they have a grenade launcher pointed this way! Let's get out of here." Jake and Alex ran to the back part of the house. They see Frank looking back to make sure they were getting out too.
As Alex and Jake get a few feet from the house, they hear the explosion as the house goes up. Monica had heard them and had moved the van further back away from the house, so it wouldn't explode too from the heat.
"Where's Donovan and Wheaton?" Jake asked.
"I don't know. I was concentrating on us getting out, he was going out, as we hit the kitchen." Alex looked around but saw no sign of the two men. Gunfire erupted and they ran for the van as cover hoping that's where the other two were.
"Donovan!" Jake called out to his boss. There was no answer and he became worried.
"Jake, Alex." They heard Wheaton call out to them. He was a few yards away from them behind a tree. "Donovan is hurt, he was hit by debris when the house went up."
"Cody, get an ambulance started too, Donovan is down," Alex ordered.
"Will do," Cody responded.
Jake made his way over to where his boss was laying out cold. "How bad is he?"
"Got hit in the back of the head and in his side. I removed the debris from his side. He's not bleeding, too much." "That could be good or it could be bad." Jake ducked down as gunfire erupted again. Jake saw the persons firing, he took aim at one of them, hitting his target, and the other person ran for cover. "Cody, how much longer before help gets here?"
"I'll find out," Cody said.
Frank started to wake up wondering at first where he was. "What happened?"
"House went up. You got hit by debris," Jake informed him.
"I guess that explains the headache and the pain in my side." Frank was trying to see his wound but gave up as dark as it was.
"We need to get you both to the van," Jake said, looking for any more gunmen. He heard and saw the flash from Alex's gun. He looked ahead of her to see a man fall.
"Now seems like a good time. Cover us Alex, we're going to the van," Jake told her.
"Go on three," Alex replied, then she counted out, "One. Two." Alex saw they were ready. "Three." Alex fired a few rounds as Wheaton and Jake helped Frank get to the van.
Jake put Frank and Wheaton in, then he went back to help Alex. They were about to be overrun by the shooters when the Swat team showed up. "Great, the cavalry has arrived," Alex said. "Cody, the ambulance is coming too," Alex added, hearing the siren.
******
The phone rang waking Elaina from a dream. She glanced at the clock and saw how late it was. "Hello."
"Elaina, its Alex. Frank was injured tonight."
"How bad?" Elaina sat up in bed.
"He'll be ok. The safe house blew up. He was hit in the head and side with debris," Alex explained.
"Where is he and how is the witness?" Elaina asked, being worried.
"He's getting stitched up at a small clinic here. We'll be back early in the morning." Alex hoped she wouldn't worry too much. "Wheaton is safe.
"Thanks for calling, Alex. I know he probably didn't want you too."
"No, he didn't. He wanted to tell you when he got home."
"Typical. He figures I don't worry about him, if I don't know what's going on."
"It's a man thing, Elaina."
"No, it's a Frank Donovan thing." Elaina laughed. "Tell him this doesn't get him out of the wedding."
"I will. Bye." Alex giggled.
"Bye, Alex."
Elaina lay back down and went to sleep only to be awakened a few minutes later by her daughter screaming. Elaina rushed out of her room and in with her daughter. Megan had gotten there first.
"Momma, Momma," Sarah cried.
"I'm here baby girl. You must've had another really bad dream."
"Something scared her that's for sure." Megan patted Sarah on her back as Elaina held her. Sarah was so scared she had a death grip on Elaina's robe.
"Sweetie, Momma's gonna hold you and rock you until you fall asleep." Elaina tried to comfort her.
"What happened?" Derek asked as he walked in.
"Bad dream we think," Megan answered.
"Go on back to bed. We can handle her," Elaina told him. Derek came over to kiss his little sister.
"Mommy will keep you safe, Sarah don't worry." Derek gave his mom a kiss and left the room.
Elaina sat down in the rocker, with Sarah still clutching her tight and crying. "Sarah, I wish you could tell me what scared you?"
"I don't think she would want to tell you as scared as she is," Megan observed.
"Rocking doesn't seem to be calming her. I'll take her to my room, Frank won't be back until morning."
"Here's her bear, it might help calm her." Megan squeezed the bear in next to Sarah as Elaina got up to go in her room.
"Ok, we'll lay here in Mommy and Daddy's bed. You'll be safe from those bad dreams." Elaina tried to loosen Sarah's grip but couldn't, so she kept her robe on and lay down.
Sarah was still crying lightly, fighting sleep. Elaina got a tissue and wiped Sarah's eyes and nose. She rubbed her back and she finally started to relax, to fell asleep again. Sarah's grip loosened as she slept and Elaina managed to remove Sarah's hands and take her robe off. She then moved Sarah to the middle of the bed. She sat up and watched her sleep. 'I wish I knew why you where having these dreams.' She thought to herself.
*****
It was almost 7am when Frank came home. He quietly walked in the bedroom. He saw Sarah curled up next to Elaina. He went over to the chair by the window to sit down to take his shoes off.
Elaina saw him come in but didn't move. "I hope you're my husband. I have a gun if you're not."
"I have a gun too. What's wrong with Sarah." Frank walked over to the bed and sat down carefully.
"She's been having some bad dreams the last few days while you've been gone," Elaina informed him.
"How bad?" Frank wondered.
"She screams, very loudly and then only wants me to hold her."
"It could be she's remembering seeing you when you collapsed, she saw us doing CPR on you."
"Why didn't you tell me she saw that? I could've talked to her about it. No wonder she's having nightmares." Elaina picked the little girl up and held her.
"She seems to be sleeping pretty sound now." He brushed a curl from her face. "I should've told you, I'm sorry. We'll talk to her together about what happened." Frank moved wrong and felt the stitches pull in his side. He let out a small groan.
"I heard that. Let me see your side." She tugged at his shirt.
"I'm fine, I just moved wrong." He pulled his shirt off, knowing she wasn't going to be kept from looking.
"I can see how that would hurt," She said as she looked under the bandage. "Here, lay down." Elaina moved, still holding Sarah.
"You're going to wake her up," Frank told her as he lay down on the bed.
"She's ok. Once she's calm, she sleeps like a log. It's about time for her to wake up for breakfast anyway."
"Don't let me sleep over a couple of hours. I still have work to do." Frank closed his eyes.
"If you say so, I think you should stay and." Elaina was interrupted.
"No, so drop it," Frank told her.
"Stubborn," Elaina said as she took Sarah back to her room.
Elaina put her in bed and then went over to lay her clothes out. Megan walked into the room with her.
"I thought I heard someone in here. I left the baby monitor on."
"I'm surprised it didn't deafen you, when she screamed," Elaina stated.
"Her screams really scare me, they're so loud for a tiny girl."
"She's not that tiny, she does have very healthy lungs." Elaina smiled. "Frank thinks her nightmares may be from when I collapsed."
"Could be. Someone that young, it's hard to tell what they think when they see something like that. Or when it will effect them."
"I know. I wish I could keep all the bad things away from her but that's being totally unrealistic." Elaina noticed Sarah was waking up. "Good morning, Sweetie."
"Momma." Sarah smiled at her.
"I suppose you want breakfast," Elaina said and signed it. Sarah signed yes.
"I'll take her down and feed her." Megan picked her up from the bed.
"Thanks, I need to shower and change for work." Elaina walked out with them and went back to her room.
Frank was asleep, she went to the bathroom to shower, when she finished she came out and curled up next to him.
"I have another hour yet," Frank said, turning over carefully to face her.
"I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to be next to you for a while, before we go back to work. You have been too busy to make it home and I've missed you." She kissed him.
"I missed you too." He returned the kiss. "I'm not that tired. I can hold you for a while."
"You have to be tired. You're just in denial." She ran her hand through his hair.
"If you're wanting to." Frank was interrupted when kissed him again.
"That's not what I want. I want to talk about the wedding since you're home."
"What about it?"
"Have you picked a best man yet?"
Frank sighed loudly. "No, I've been a bit busy."
"So have I but I have my maid of honor picked out and the bride's maids."
"You haven't been as busy as me. You had a few weeks off to plan, plus you started planning before you asked me, if we could get remarried." Frank was being defensive.
"Are you mad at me for wanting to get married again?" Elaina wondered.
"No, I'm not mad at you. I just don't have a lot of time right now." He propped his head up leaning on his elbow.
"You want to postpone it?" Elaina was ticked at his attitude.
"It would help if we could but you've already sent out invitations."
"No, I haven't." Elaina turned away from him.
"You set the date for two weeks from now and you haven't sent out invitations? Why not?"
"Because of you for one. You really don't want to do this. You've dragged your feet every chance you get in making decisions about it." She was nearly to tears but she didn't want him to know.
"I told you I wasn't going to help," Frank reminded her.
"Fine! We don't have to do it. Just get me a damn wedding ring to replace the old one. The hell with the wedding." Elaina got up and went to the closet to get her clothes.
Frank walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm."
Elaina turned around sharply and cut him off. "Don't say you're sorry because I know that to be a lie. Just get ready and go back to work and leave me alone."
****** Frank arrived at HQ, everyone was there, including Bea and her team.
"Bea, do we have another case to work together?" Frank asked.
"Not that I know of. We were just summoned here, we'd all find out together."
"By whom?" Frank inquired.
"By me Agent Donovan. I don't have a case for you but I do have some news that concerns all of you." Elaina stared at Frank the whole time.
"That look means trouble," Monica whispered to Paula.
"I've seen that look a couple of times from her, scary." Paula shivered.
Elaina continued with her news. "The wedding I was planning is cancelled."
"Why? What changed your mind?" Alex voice showed the shock of everyone.
"I have to go to Quantico for a few weeks. I've been asked to train another special ops group."
"That's great, yet not so great," Sab said, disappointed by the cancellation.
"Why did you say yes, couldn't they find someone else?" Bea asked.
"I volunteered. I have my reasons." Elaina was still staring at Frank.
"Why cancel the wedding? Why not just postpone it?" Cody wondered.
"Like I said, Cody. I have my reasons. I have to go now." Elaina started to leave but was stopped.
"Agent Blakely. I'd like to talk to you, privately." Frank had her by the arm, when she glared at him he released it.
"I'm in a hurry, it can wait." She walked past him.
"No, it can't." He grabbed her by the arm again and pulled her to the stairs.
"Let go of me." Elaina pulled against him.
"We're going to talk in my office, now." He pushed her to go up the stairs. Elaina went up the steps and into the office. Everyone downstairs was watching them.
"Why didn't I tell you this morning, am I right?" Elaina guessed.
Frank didn't answer her, he just walked to his desk and sat down. They stared at each other for the longest time. "I'm waiting for your answer, since you know the question."
"I didn't tell you, because I decided after I went to work."
"Convenient. What about Sarah and her nightmares? You're going to run off from her, when she needs you."
"She and Megan can come with me I'll be staying in Maria's apartment she has there."
"No they won't, I want her to stay here. Besides Megan just started classes. You're only doing this because of our fight this morning. A fight that was more or less one sided." Frank told her. "I love the idea that we renew our vows, but I want to do the asking. I don't want to feel rushed. Call it old fashion or whatever but I think I should ask you to marry me, not the other way around."
"Then ask me," Elaina snapped at him.
"Not like this and not here and now. Just say you'll stay here in town give me some time." Frank walked around the desk to sit next to her.
"How much time?" Elaina was still angry. "I don't know exactly, a few days."
"I'll see if I can get out of going. If not you'll have a few weeks." She got up to leave.
"Wait a minute." Frank stopped her from opening the door.
"No Frank, I won't wait. We've said enough for now. I'll see you at home." Elaina walked out and left.
*****
Elaina was busy reading over reports when her secretary buzzed her. "Agent Blakely. Miss Gaines is here to see you."
"Send her in." Elaina closed the reports as Allison walked in.
"Hi, this isn't a bad time is it?" Allison asked.
"No. I'm thankful for the interruption. I'm just reading weekly reports," Elaina said, taking her glasses off.
"From what Jake has told me, their reports can be quite entertaining." Allison sat down in the chair facing the desk.
"They are since they got to know me. They love making remarks about Frank and each other." Elaina laughed. "So do you like being here closer to your son?"
"I love getting to know him better. I just hope I'm not interfering with his social life."
"I doubt that. I imagine Jake still has a social life," Elaina said, smiling.
"He has been teasing me when I start asking him questions. He says I'm analyzing him."
"Professional hazard." Elaina smiled.
"Yeah, at times it does come in handy."
"How about doing some psycho analyzing on me?"
"What's wrong?" Allison asked, worried about her friend.
"Frank and I fought about the renewal of our vows." Her voice became sad.
"I got the message that it was cancel. I just didn't want to bring it up. Sabrina called me she's a little upset."
"She didn't waste any time. She had been looking forward to it, so was I. But Frank, isn't as thrilled."
"Has he told you why?" Allison used her professional tone in asking her questions.
"He said he wanted to be the one to ask me to remarry him. Said he was old fashion."
"I think it's sweet that he wants to ask you. I'd think you would too."
"Why couldn't he have told me this when I brought it up weeks ago? Why wait until now?" Elaina was really upset.
"He has been rather busy according to you, when we talked yesterday."
"He wasn't busy when I first brought it up. He said nothing. We talked just about every night he could've said something then."
"Elaina don't get angry but you did ask me to analyze you. I think the problem, is you."
"I'm the problem? How's that?" Elaina was getting defensive.
"You're trying to control this whole situation the same way you do everything else. Everything has to be done on your timeline; the way you want it. It has to be your idea, your dream wedding, you even set the date."
"He had his type of wedding in Vegas," Elaina sneered.
"Are you sure he did?" Allison asked.
Elaina thought about what she had said. "If it wasn't his type of wedding, why did he do it then?"
"From what I know about it, Derek asked the two of you to get married there. I'd say the two of you did it because you wanted to make Derek happy."
"That maybe true but still he could've said something to me." Elaina realized that she kept saying I and me too often. "I guess I have a small problem with my attitude and a few control issues." Elaina confessed. "I have a tendency to."
"Throw a tantrum, like a little kid, when things don't go your way." Allison completed the sentence for her.
"Allison, I don't throw tantrums," Elaina insisted.
"Oh really? What happened during the fight that caused you to cancel the wedding?" Allison asked, wanting to know more.
"Frank's attitude, he wanted more time before the wedding. He just doesn't want to do it."
"Which brings us back to you trying to control everything. You threw a tantrum and canceled the wedding when he told you he wanted more time." Allison smiled at her knowing she was right.
"Yes. Doctor Gaines. That's what happened. So tell me how do I fix it?" Elaina asked.
"You told me he wanted it to be his idea. He wants to ask you, so let him. He may involve himself with the plans then. It's not like you aren't married. Nothing is going to change that, unless you two decide to get divorced over who asks who to marry them."
"Do you really think that will work?" Elaina asked.
"Yes. Are you going to do as I suggested?"
"I think I'm going to pout and think about what you said, then apologize to Frank."
"Why pout?"
"Having to give in. I know, get over the control issue and things will be better," Elaina added, quickly so Allison wouldn't.
"We should talk more about this. The three of us."
"Frank in therapy? You've got to be kidding."
"I think he'd do it, if you'd ask him."
"What planet are you from? Frank has a degree in psychology. He analyzes himself."
"Ask him, Elaina. I'm serious. The two of you need a referee and I'm volunteering," Allison told her.
"Gutsy woman. Ok, I'll ask him, but don't be surprised if he says no," Elaina warned her.
"I better let you get back to work." Allison got up to leave.
"Allison, who ask you to come here?" Elaina wondered if it was Frank.
"Actually Bea, Jake, and Sab all called me this morning. They all care about the two of you."
"They're just worried about how the workplace will be, if something serious was to happen. I should've never broken our rule of keeping private and work lives separate."
"We can talk about that together too. I'll see you soon. I hope." Allison opened the door to leave.
"I'll call in a day or two after Frank and I talk," Elaina assured her.
******
Elaina went to the restaurant, Songbird's Nest to see Maria. Maria had asked her to come by and have lunch with her. Elaina hoped that they'd have a pleasant talk for once. Lately they always seemed to be fighting about the same thing each time, Maria's therapy or lack of it. As she entered, Maria was singing the last part of a song. Elaina sat down at one of the front tables, when Maria was finished she came off stage to join her.
"Hello, cousin. I'm glad you could make it." Maria was sounding very relaxed and pleasant.
"I needed the break, thanks for the invite."
"I need a favor from you." Maria decided to get right to the point.
"Sure what can I do for you?"
"I need you to look after my place, pick up the mail and water my plants for a few weeks," Maria said to her.
"Going on vacation or an assignment, I don't know about?"
"Neither. I'm going to have some work done on my face, reconstruction actually." Maria knew Elaina would be shocked.
"Why would you want to do that?" Elaina asked, being puzzled by this revelation.
"To get away from you." Maria's tone changed, becoming bitter and flippant.
"To get away from me? What are you talking about?"
"I'm tired of looking like you. I'm tired of pretending to be you. I've been in your shadow long enough I want to look in the mirror and see me, not you."
"Maria, why are you doing this now? We've always looked alike. It never seemed to bother you before."
"The hell it didn't! I have always been compared to you with family, friends and coworkers. I'm sick of it. Every time I work with someone that knows you they say: 'Boy you really look like Elaina Blakely any relation? You could pass for her twin.' I want to look different I want a face of my own," Maria was almost yelling at her.
"I admit, our family did play on that fact but you always thought it was a good thing. You'd swear it was me that did whatever you did wrong. I had more punishments for things, that you did to last a life time."
"You never told them the truth. You just took the punishment. I'm grateful for that," Maria said with a smirk.
"I'm sure you are. You never take the blame for anything you do. It's always someone else's fault. You've been doing that for years. I think its time you take responsibility for your actions." Elaina told her. "I think you should reconsider going back into therapy. You're teenage pranks and these fits of anger and bitterness toward me, makes me think you need therapy very badly."
"My therapy is none of your business. Since you sort of brought her into this. Why the hell, did you pick that little bitch, Sabrina, as your Maid of Honor over me?" I'm family and you shut me out of the wedding."
"I want you to be part of the wedding, just not the wedding party. I didn't want you as part of the wedding party in case Frank picked Cody or Jake as his best man. I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable walking with you down the isle. That really doesn't matter now anyway, because it's been cancelled."
"Frank, finally get smart?" Maria jeered.
"No! I decided to cancel it." With Maria's attitude she wasn't going to tell her the real reason.
"Oh well. I don't see Jake's problem. I told him I was sorry for the Sab and Cody thing. I was truthful with him on our relationship. I told him it wasn't permanent." Maria actually sounded hurt that Jake didn't like her anymore. "Why can't everyone just get over what happened, I have?"
"You had nothing to get over, Maria. You weren't the injured party in that situation. You're the one that hurt people; no one hurt you. You had the opportunity to be friends with both Cody and Sab, you turned it into a vicious game."
"I'm tired of poor, Sabrina. The bitch punched me in the face, so yes, I was hurt too!" Maria screamed.
"You don't think you deserved it, after what you did to her. Believe me cousin, if I had been there when it happened you would've known what the word hurt meant. I'd have laid you out for a week. Just let me warn you if you ever, try to do that again and I find out, you'll answer to me." Elaina was deadly serious.
"I'm not scared of you. I don't need your approval or disapproval for that matter. Just forget about the damn favor. I don't want or need you in my life anymore. Get the hell away from me and stay away. You're no longer wanted as a customer here, either, so stay out." Maria walked away.
"Maria!" Elaina grabbed her arm. "Please, get the help you need before you destroy everything in your life including yourself. Think of everything that's happened to you and deal with it. Stop running away or blaming someone else for your problems. It's time you start taking the blame and deal with everything."
Maria let her have her say and then slapped her across the face. "I said leave." Maria turned and left her standing alone.
