Frank and Elaina returned to the hotel after spending the day at the ranch. They heard laughter coming from the main room as they walked in. Sarah giggled and squealed as she did when she was excited. They looked to see her and Becky on top of Derek, tickling him.
"What is going on in here?" Frank asked, over the laughter.
"Daddy, Momma, home," Sarah squealed. She got off Derek and ran over to them. "I tickled, Bubby."
"So we heard. So what did he do to deserve that?" Elaina looked at Becky as she signed for Sarah.
"He tickled her, so I told her I'd help her get him back," Becky explained. "Why do you still sign to Sarah?" Becky asked Elaina.
"Mostly out of habit and it's good for her to keep it up, even when her grandfather isn't here," Elaina explained, kneeling down in front of Sarah.
"Oh. I thought maybe she had a hearing problem that I didn't know about."
"We wouldn't keep that from you, she loves to sign to people so we do the same for her," Elaina said.
"Well, we need to get showers and take you guys out to eat," Frank said.
"We have to work tonight. We'll eat when we get there," Derek told them.
"Ok, you can do that. We'll take care of Sarah tonight. How about we call room service and stay in tonight? You like that idea, Sarah?" Elaina asked her.
"Okie. Gonna get Momma," Sarah said, starting to tickle Elaina.
"Hey, watch it you, I'm gonna get you back," Elaina said, tickling her as they sat in the floor together.
"Since she has you occupied, I get the shower first," Frank said, going in the bedroom.
"Well, that wasn't nice. Did you and Daddy plan that?" Elaina asked, holding her from tickling her anymore.
"No," Sarah answered. "Love you Momma." Sarah hugged her as the phone rang.
Derek answered it as Elaina got up with Sarah. "Mom, it's Maria. She says it's urgent," Derek said, calling her to the phone.
"What's up Maria?" Elaina asked and then listened to what Maria had to tell her. "We'll be there as soon as we can." Elaina hung up. "You two may have to take Sarah with you tonight, I'll explain when I get out."
Elaina went in the bedroom and locked the door. She started to undress as she made her way to the bathroom. Frank was already in the shower when she got in with him.
"Hey, this is a pleasant surprise. I would've waited if I had known you were going to join me," Frank said moving to give her room.
"Sorry Babe, this is for convenience only. We need to get to the hospital ASAP."
"Something happen with Jake?" Frank asked as she handed him the shampoo to wash her hair.
"No, everyone is ok. Alex's car blew up in the parking lot. She has auto start on it, she hit it and it blew. She was shaken up but not hurt."
"I'm glad she got that option with her car," Frank said.
"I'm sure she's grateful, too," Elaina said, rinsing her hair.
They finished with their shower and quickly got dressed. While Elaina was finishing, getting dressed, Frank went out to talk to Derek.
"We'll pick up Sarah as soon as we can, I know this is a lot to ask you, since you're working but we don't have anyone else to look after her at the moment," Frank told Derek.
"It's ok, Dad. I understand. We'll take good care of her. I'm worried about you and Mom. What if they try to come after you two again?"
"We'll be ok. We watch out for each other," Elaina said, coming out of the bedroom. "I'm ready, if you are."
"Let's go before Sarah notices we're leaving," Frank told her.
**********
Cody and Sab arrived the same time as Frank and Elaina. As they went up in the elevator, Frank and Cody discussed the case as Sab talked to Elaina.
"I need to talk to you about the transfer and a few other things," Sab told her, quietly.
"I told you, the transfer would be ready by the end of the week. We can talk about it and anything else then," Elaina said to her, coldly.
"Are you mad at me yet, because I want the transfer or because of my treatment of Maria?"
"I have more important matters on my mind than your petty argument with Maria," Elaina said as they got off the elevator.
They all went into Jake's room Elaina looked over to Sab sitting down with Cody. She walked over and took Sab outside. "You wait out hear you aren't a member of the team anymore."
"But I am a friend. Why can't I be in there? Sonny is in there," Sab countered.
"We're going to be talking about the case, you stay out here. Sonny will be out here in a minute to keep you company," Elaina told her.
"This isn't fair Elaina, besides I'm not sure I want to go through with the transfer. We really need to talk."
"Not now, in case you didn't notice your favorite person is in there. I won't have a repeat performance of this morning. You'll stay out here," Elaina ordered her and then went back in. "Sonny, will you keep Sabrina, company please?"
"Sure," Sonny told her. He walked out to find Sab pacing back and forth talking to herself quietly.
"Hey! What has you steamed?" Sonny asked.
"Elaina, she refuses to talk to me," Sab snapped.
"I thought you two were best friends?"
"That's what I thought but I guess blood is thicker than friendship," Sab said.
"Why is she mad at you?" Sonny asked.
"I had a disagreement with her and Frank today about Maria."
"Still feuding with her? I thought all of you settled that?"
"Yes. I promised Elaina that I'd try to be professional around her but I just can't seem to keep that promise. When I look at Maria, I see the conniving bitch that tried to sleep with Cody. I can't see her as anything else."
"So you told Elaina, what, today that has the two of you at odds?"
"I told her I wanted a transfer. I just need to talk to her and I'm sure she'll help me make the right decision. But I need to talk to her as my friend, not as Agent Blakely."
"How do you keep it straight as to which Elaina you are talking to?" Sonny wondered.
"I have ways of knowing. Like right now, she's Agent Blakely. She's being a bit of a bitch and that's when you can tell the most. When she's Elaina my friend she's consoling and says the right thing when I need to hear it."
"The two of you seem to know each other really well," Sonny said, watching Sab pacing again.
Sab stopped pacing to face him. "I don't think I know her well enough though or I'd know why she wants me to forgive Maria."
"Is that what she told you?"
"Not in so many words. But she does want us to get over the past and I just can't seem to do that," Sab said as Elaina came back out of the room.
"You two can come back in now," Elaina told them. "Sabrina, we can talk when we're through here if you want."
"The sooner the better." Sab smiled at her as they walked back in.
"Sonny, we have a proposition for you," Frank said, facing Sonny.
"What would that be?" Sonny inquired.
"We want you to join the team and help us out," Jake told him.
"What kind of drugs do they have you on? You want me to become a Fed?" Sonny thought they were joking.
"Listen Sonny, we need someone here with Jake. Plus we need to work the case and look out for ourselves. We need every person we can get to help with this. Bea and her agents are on another case and they can't help. That means we have to be bodyguards for each other. We really could use your help," Elaina explained.
"Whose idea was this?" Sonny asked Elaina.
"Frank and Jake came up with it. Why?" Elaina wondered.
"Just curious. What about Sabrina? Can't she help?"
"She'll be helping," Elaina said, turning to Sab. "I'm rescinding the order I gave you about not being around HQ. We need your help and besides we don't know if the person is after the whole team or just a select few. We need to watch over you as well as the rest of the team."
"Thank you. I promise to be as professional as I can," Sab told her.
"I can give you a bullet to bite, if you want," Elaina whispered to her.
Sab looked at Elaina and they both giggled. Frank looked over at them. "You two find something amusing about this case?" Frank asked, looking sternly at them.
"No, we're just talking about something else. Sir," Elaina said, smiling.
"Well Sonny. What's your answer? Are you joining us or not?" Frank asked.
"I'll guard Jake for you, I'm not doing anything right now," Sonny said.
"Thanks. We appreciate it," Frank told him. "We better get out of here and let Jake rest. I'll see all of you first thing in the morning."
"Frank. Sab and I need to have a private talk. Can you and Cody go pick up Sarah?" Elaina said as they walked out into the hall.
"What does she want to talk about that can't wait until this is all over?" Frank said, putting his arms around her.
"I don't know. I guess I'll find out when we talk," Elaina said, kissing him. "We'll see you back at the hotel." Elaina walked to the elevator with Sab.
"What are they going to talk about, do you know?" Frank asked Cody.
"Not really sure. Sab is still in need of some answers about something," Cody told him.
"That tells me a lot," Frank said, walking down the hall with Cody.
*******
"Ok. We're alone and back at the hotel, are you going to actually talk to me now?" Elaina asked having tried to get Sab to talk to her on the way there.
"Well, it's a subject that you may not want to discuss with me," Sab said being mysterious.
"Well that shines a lot of light on the subject. NOT! Spit it out. What are you wanting to know?" Elaina asked, a little bugged by her beating around the bush.
"You mentioned a couple of time that you had experienced the same thing as I did with Maria. I was just wondering what you meant exactly," Sab said, coming to the point.
"I meant just that. I have only my situation was far worse than what you saw happen," Elaina told her.
"So, Frank did have an affair, you found out about it, what happened then?"
"Frank didn't have an affair. You're right I don't want to discuss this." Elaina picked up Sarah's toys as they talked.
"Have you forgiven the other woman you saw Frank with?" Sab asked.
"I never said I saw Frank with another woman." Elaina sat down on the couch with Sab.
"Then what the hell happened, that was so much like what I went through? Or were you just making that up?"
"Sabrina, I promised Frank I wouldn't talk about it. So please stop with the questions," Elaina begged her.
"How can I believe you, when you won't tell me what happened?" Sab asked. "I just need to know if you forgave the other woman. I think you did and that's why you think I should forgive Maria."
"There's no way I can tell you without telling you what happened," Elaina knew Frank would be mad if she told.
"I'd never tell another sole," Sab promised.
"But what about the promise I made to my husband? Do you know what you're asking me to do?"
"Frank doesn't have to find out that you told me."
"Yes he does. I won't keep it from him. He'll be really pissed but I guess I can handle him. You breath one word of this to anyone, I'll personally cut your tongue out and nail it to the wall." Elaina looked her dead in the eyes.
"I promise on mine and Cody's life," Sab vowed.
"When I was having my cancer treatments, Frank was with me day in and day out, taking care of me and the kids," Elaina started explaining. "Reese and Miranda came by to see us and Reese said that Frank needed to get out for one night, at least. Miranda stayed with me, Reese took him out to a bar. Frank and Reese both got really drunk, so drunk, that they called Hank to drive them home." Elaina got up and paced as she talked.
"I'm surprised he left you to go out," Sab said.
"We all talked him into it. He really didn't want to go. Anyway, Reese took Frank to the Safe room so he wouldn't wake me up. They were talking loud and Miranda went down to tell them to be quiet." Elaina was becoming agitated but she continued. "I had arrested Miranda and her boyfriend a few months prior to her visit. She was still angry with me."
"Wait, are you saying what I think? Miranda and Frank?" Sab asked, surprised.
"Yes, she did it to have revenge on me. Turned out not to work the way she thought."
"Frank never knew it was her, he was so drunk he thought it was me he was making love to."
"I don't understand," Sab told her.
"Miranda told me that Frank called her by my name."
"That was a lie, wasn't it? You told me that Frank rarely called you Elaina, unless someone was around."
"Rarely, does not mean never. There are times when we're intimate that he calls me, Elaina."
"So you believe that he didn't know it wasn't you?" Sab asked.
"Yes, because I know him that well. He cannot lie to me, when I look him directly in the eyes. He may have been successful in hiding what happened but he can't lie about it."
"How long did he hide it from you?" Sab wondered.
"Remember when the team was asked not to come by the ranch last year?" Elaina asked.
"That's when you found out?"
"Ok. Now you know. Does this help you in any way?"
"Not until you tell me how you can forgive Miranda for doing that," Sab said to her.
"I haven't forgiven that specific act. We never discuss it. We all know it happened and we've dealt with it. I love my sister and I need her in my life, that's why we're back as family and friends."
"And you think since you're back with Miranda, I should make up with Maria?"
Elaina sighed deeply sitting back down beside Sab. "I just know that Frank and Miranda, went a hell of a lot further than Cody and Maria. If I can make amends with Miranda, you should be able to get past what happened with Maria knowing nothing happened between them."
"I guess I need to think about it. I do see your point. I'll try to be kinder to Maria, as a start."
"That would be a good start. Just remember you can't tell a sole, what I told you, not even Cody."
"I'll keep my word. No one will find out from me," Sab promised as Frank came in with Sarah and Cody.
"Sabeana!" Sarah ran over and hugged her.
"Hello, Sarah. It's been a while since I've seen you. Have you been a good girl?" Sab asked, also signing to her.
"Yep. Daddy say I am," Sarah told her.
"Well, if he says it, you must be. Daddy doesn't lie," Elaina said to her.
"Sab, are you ready to go?" Cody asked.
"Sure, we're done with our girl talk. Thanks for answering my questions." Sab got up and walked over to Cody.
"You don't have to rush off, stay and talk awhile," Elaina suggested.
"I'm really beat from all the research I've done today. Maybe some other time," Cody said, then opened the door to leave.
"Bye. Sarah. See ya soon," Sab said, going out the door as Sarah waved to her.
"Lady, are you ready to eat?" Frank said, putting the food out on the table.
"Sure, has Sarah eaten yet?" Elaina asked walking over.
"Yeah, she ate with Derek and Becky. They fed her if your wondering why she's so clean."
"I was wondering, you becoming a mind reader?" Elaina wondered.
"No, you just glanced at her and I knew you'd mention it."
"So I'm getting predictable. I better change my habits a little." Elaina smiled sitting down at the small table. "This is cozy. We have to sit close to one another," Elaina said, putting her legs around his under the table.
"I like cozy," Frank said as Sarah climb in Elaina's lap.
"What are you doing up here? Daddy said you've already ate."
"Milk please," Sarah said, looking at her Mom.
"I'll call room service," Frank said getting up.
"Good, my lap is full." Elaina gave Sarah a hug and kiss, then started eating.
"Be here in a few minutes," Frank said, sitting back down to eat. "I ordered some wine for us, so eat slow."
"You can, I'm starving," Elaina told him, giving Sarah a green bean she was reaching for.
"So what did you and Sabrina talk about?"
"I'll tell you later," Elaina said, evading the subject. There was a knock on the door; it was room service bringing their drinks. The phone rang and Elaina put Sarah down to go answer it. "Hello. This is Mrs. Donovan." Elaina listened to the person at the other end. "Thank you for the report." Elaina hung up and went to sit back down.
"Who was that?" Frank asked, helping Sarah hold her glass of milk.
"The fire marshal. He said they have prints and they match Todd Brannigan."
"How did they get his prints?"
"Seems he was printed as a child in a school safety program and they were on file at the police department."
"Well that's one less worry. We know the person hasn't made an attempt on us."
"But they still could," Elaina said.
*********
After they ate Elaina put Sarah to bed and got ready to go to bed too. Frank was looking through some files he had brought with him. "Are you ready to tell me what Sabrina wanted?"
"I'm not sure I want to tell you right now," Elaina said, getting in bed beside him. "Why don't you get into something more comfortable and get under the covers." Elaina kissed him and rubbed the back of his neck.
"What did you tell Sabrina? I can tell its something, I'm not going to like. You're trying to seduce me when you don't have to."
"What do you mean I don't have to?" Elaina asked, innocently.
"I'm willing to get under the covers with you. I was just waiting for Sarah to be asleep," Frank told her.
"Oh." Elaina moved away from him. She sighed heavily knowing she had to tell him the truth. "I told Sabrina a secret of our."
"What secret?" Frank wondered, hoping it was harmless.
"I told her about you and Miranda," Elaina said, wincing knowing he was going to be upset.
"WHAT? How could you do that we swore to one another never to tell anyone." Frank was very angry. He threw the files on the floor and got off the bed.
"I'm sorry but she needed to know…"
"Like hell, she needed to know. That was something she never needed to know," Frank said, yelling.
"Please lower your voice, you'll scare Sarah," Elaina told him.
"I want to know exactly why, you had to tell her our darkest secret." Frank's eyes seemed to burn a whole in her.
"She figured it out for the most part, that sometime in our marriage you had, had an affair."
"It wasn't an affair," Frank snapped at her.
"I told her you didn't have an affair, that it wasn't anything like that. She kept asking questions and eventually I had to tell her. She promised not to say anything to anyone, not even Cody."
"You made that promise and look what happened. I can't believe you broke your word to me, not to mention my trust in you," Frank said in anger.
"Frank, I'd never had done it, if I didn't think it would help her."
"Help her. How is the hell, did telling her help her sort out her career problems?" Frank asked, confused.
"This had nothing to do with the transfer exactly. It had to do with her getting along with Maria."
"Ok, I'm totally confused now," Frank said, sitting on the bed with his head in his hands trying to calm down.
"She wanted to know how I could possibly forgive another woman being with you. I told her it was difficult but we were working through it. I hadn't forgiven her for that act but that we just don't discuss it."
"Exactly we don't discuss it. That was the one secret we should've kept in the family but you just couldn't keep your mouth shut. But wait you think of her as family so why not tell her. Is that the way you thought about it?" Frank asked her.
"No, that isn't the way I thought about it. I do care about her. She has become my true best friend. I know she won't say anything to anyone else."
"If I hear her say one word to me about this, I'll not be responsible for my actions," Frank pledged to her.
"Don't you dare threaten Sab, be angry with me not her," Elaina said getting in his face.
"Believe me, I'm more angry with you. I do blame her a little. She came to you wanting to know what happened because you almost let it slip before. You're mostly to blame for telling her. You've carried this friendship way too far."
"It's not like we've not told anyone about it or are you forgetting we told Allison and Miranda has told Maria?"
"That is totally different she's our therapist we had to tell her. She's bound by confidentiality not to tell anyone, Sabrina isn't. You just assume she can keep her mouth shut about it. No one can control Miranda but I though you'd be able to control yourself. "
"She won't tell anyone, I believe her promise. I'm sorry I told her but there's nothing we can do about it now." Elaina held his hand but he pulled away from her.
"I believed you, too. I'm getting out of here." Frank went out of the bedroom and Elaina followed.
"Frank, don't leave we need to talk more about this."
"You have thrown me out of our bedroom and walked away from me when I wanted to talk in the past. Now you can see how it feels," Frank said then went out the door, slamming it.
"Oh God! What have I done?" Elaina sat down and cried.