Chloe sat down on the couch, thinking. It had been a week since the call from the police, informing her of Bryan's innocence in vandalizing her truck. She'd called Josh, and he hadn't been able to find a match either. After telling her, he'd warned her to be careful. He knew she wasn't the type to sit around and play the damsel in distress.
Telling Kris that even Josh didn't have any leads had been difficult. Chloe wanted to protect her fiancée, and giving her the news that their stalker had no record was not the way to do so. But she knew Kris would have beaten her up if she'd tried to keep it from her.
The detective Harm had hired hadn't found anything either. Of course, since nothing had happened for the entire week, she didn't exactly have much to go on.
Sighing, Chloe decided to wait for Kris to get home from her meeting with her advisor. The two of them were getting together with Mac and Harm to start looking into their personal pasts, hoping the answers lay there.
Kris opened the door, faking a smile. She knew this week had been as hard on Chloe as it had been on her, and she didn't need to burden the Marine with more troubles. "Hey," she said breezily. "How was your day?"
"Wonderful," Chloe replied, deadpan. "I talked to Pete. He and Marie had a huge fight. So I spent two and a half hours on the phone with him, listening to him bitch and moan. And in the end he just decided to call her." She shook her head. "Mac called. She and Harm will be running a bit late because they have to pick up AJ and Sarah from school for Bud and Harriet. Harriet's out of town visiting her parents, and Bud apparently got called to pull his client out of the brig."
"Oh, good," Kris said, genuinely smiling now. "I haven't seen the kids since Sarah's party." She went in to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of Evian. "You think they'll be here in time for dinner?" she asked, making small talk. "I have a new eggplant recipe I want Harm to taste-test."
"I think so," Chloe nodded. "Although you do realize that AJ and Sarah will gag at the thought of eggplant."
Kris grinned, wandering back into the living room with her water and a cookbook. "They won't know. I'll tell them it's chicken."
Chloe laughed. "Evil woman." She picked up the phone as it rang. "Private Madison." She fell silent. "Yes, sir. I'll be in tomorrow, sir. 0900." Hanging up, she looked at Kris. "I'm meeting with Admiral Current tomorrow morning to discuss my duty station."
"'Kay." Kris sank down on the couch beside Chloe and turned the news on quietly. "I guess we'll finally be able to plan something then, huh?"
Chloe reached over and grasped her hand. "Yup." She paused, considering what to say to reassure her lover. "I'm not worried, lightweight. There aren't enough people wanting to go into law right now. They'll make JAG my duty station while I go to law school at night. Just like they did with Bud."
"Yup." Kris turned her head and smiled an empty smile. "I'm sure that's what they'll do." She paused, glancing at the TV. "Oh, look, the University. What's going on?" She turned her attention back to the set, her eyes going expressionless.
Chloe gently squeezed her hand, casting her a worried look. She replied lightly, "Probably just another bomb threat."
Kris chuckled as the newscaster droned on. "Nope, just budget cuts. Drat. I was hoping for some excitement." Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Chloe rose and opened it, barely managing to step back before being barreled into by an exuberant AJ Roberts. "Hey, kiddo," she grinned, ruffling the boy's hair. She freed an arm to hug Mac, and smiled at Harm and Sarah. "C'mon in."
Kris grinned as she stood. Sarah came running over and pounced her in a hug. "Hi, Kris," Sarah said, wrapping her arms around the woman's waist.
"Hey, Sarah." Kris smiled wistfully. Since meeting Chloe, and especially since getting to know AJ and Sarah, her biological clock had started to tick loud enough for the neighbors to hear. "Hey, guys," she waved at Harm and Mac. "Harm, I was hoping you'd help me with dinner. I have a new recipe I want to try out."
"Sure," Harm replied immediately, following Kris toward the kitchen. "You guys get comfortable," she gestured to the four. "We'll be back in a few minutes." The pair disappeared into the kitchen.
Chloe smiled at AJ and Sarah. "How was school, you guys?"
"Good," AJ answered. "We're going to do a school project on someone we admire. I don't know who I'm going to do yet, though."
"I wish I had a project like that," Sarah complained. "They just have us doing boring kiddie stuff, like writing sentences using the word "fence" and cr--junk," she said, stifling the cuss word as she glanced at Mac. She'd picked up AJ's habit of late. "Oh!" she exclaimed after a second's pause. "I get to go take a special test next week, though!"
"What kind of test?" Chloe asked, amused at the girl's description of school. She remembered those early years all too well. For her, school had been a blessed escape from a wretched home life, but even with that incentive, school had been boring.
Sarah scrunched up her nose. "Gi....gi...." she tried to think of the word. "Gifted!"
"Sounds good," Chloe encouraged. "The gifted program singles out people who are a little bit advanced for what you're learning. If you test right, they'll probably pull you from class for special work."
"Really?" Sarah's eyes brightened. "Cool!"
Chloe smiled at the girl. "Mac, have a seat," she gestured. "You shouldn't be on your feet so much."
Mac wrinkled her nose at Sarah. "She sounds like a mother, doesn't she?" Nonetheless, she took the proffered seat.
Sarah nodded emphatically, then turned to Chloe. "Are you and Kris going to have a baby?" she asked. She had a knack for asking the wrong questions at the right time.
From the kitchen, Sarah could hear Kris giggling madly.
"No," Chloe choked, "we're not planning on it, kiddo."
"Yeah, dummy, they can't," AJ jeered. "You have to--" The boy broke off, his face flaming. "Um, I'm not explaining that one," he mumbled. "Ask Mom."
Sarah rolled her eyes dramatically and crossed her arms defiantly in front of her. "I know how ya do it, jerk. Mom says they can, anyway."
In the kitchen, Kris' face fell and she busied herself stuffing mushrooms. "Hey, Harm, pass me the baking sheet?"
Harm passed the tray over. "Anything else I can do?"
"Start chopping onions."
Fifteen minutes later, dinner was in the oven and Sarah's homework was nearly complete. Kris came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Okay," she said, "dinner's cooking. Let's get down to business."
Chloe glanced up and motioned her fiancée to sit next to her on the love seat. She turned to AJ and Sarah. "Hey, guys, why don't you go into the other room? We got the Sony Playstation Zeo."
"Cool!" AJ cried. "Do you have Final Fantasy XX?"
"In there," Chloe affirmed. "But the two of you have to take turns," she warned as AJ raced for the other room, calling to his sister that he had first turn as he ran.
"You suck!" Sarah was hot on his heels.
Kris sat down, tucking her legs up underneath her. "Any ideas yet?" she asked Chloe.
The Marine pushed back a strand of hair. "Not even one," she replied glumly. She started at the knock on the door. She got up and opened it, laughing in surprise at the two men standing there. "Pete! Josh! C'mon in! We're planning."
Josh Pendry grinned and embraced Chloe. "Hey," he said, waving to Harm.
"Hey, Josh," Harm grinned from his spot next to Mac.
Pete slugged Chloe in the arm gently. "Hey, kiddo, how's everything?" he asked, nodding towards Kris.
"Have a seat, guys," Chloe gestured, rejoining her fiancée, worried that Kris might get upset again.
"Josh," Mac nodded reservedly. She knew the boy had joined the CIA, and she wasn't sure she liked him being friendly with her baby sister. After all, look at all the trouble Webb used to get her and Harm into. She stood, reaching out to shake Pete's hand. "Good to see you again, Private," she said in delight. She had met him after Chloe's graduation. He had an impish streak that reminded her of someone, though she couldn't remember who.
Pete smiled, shaking Mac's hand. "Good to see you, too, ma'am." His grin reflected hers. "Admiral," he said, extending his hand to Harm.
Harm nodded. "Hi, Pete," he said with a polite smile.
"Hey, guys," Kris said quietly, forcing a tiny smile. "Thanks for coming, we need all the brain power we can get." As soon as the late-comers had settled themselves into seats, Kris looked to Chloe.
"Still haven't a clue," she shrugged, lacing her fingers through Kris'. She turned to Josh. "Any leads?"
"Nothing," Josh sighed. "Do either of you have any exes that could be involved? Jilted lovers?" He studied them carefully, loosening his tie.
Kris furrowed her brow. "None that I can think of. I've only had a few...there was that one girl, back in high school in West Virginia, and John, from my first semester in college..." she trailed off.
Josh raised his eyebrows. "John?" he queried. "Let me guess, you told him you couldn't lie to yourself about who you were?" he asked sardonically.
Mac leaped to defend Kris before the girl could open her mouth. "That was uncalled for, Joshua Pendry."
The agent glared at her. "It was necessary, counselor."
"It was cruel," Mac retorted.
"Not at all. I was doing my job," Josh sneered.
"You were probing into something that has no bearing on the case," Mac snapped, shooting to her feet. Swaying, she reached blindly for the couch.
Kris and Harm jumped up at the same time, each of them grabbing an arm and lowering her gently to the couch. Harm crouched down beside her as Kris gently patted her cheek and murmured to her. "Mac, you okay?" she asked, tears filling her eyes.
"I'm fine," Mac reassured her. "Really. I just stood up a little too fast."
Chloe spoke up. "Mac, why don't you lay down for a little while? The bed's actually made, for once."
"No way," Mac protested. "Don't even think about it, kiddo."
"All right, all right." Chloe threw up her hands in defeat. "It was just a suggestion." She said mildly, "Now that you've given us our scare for the evening, why don't we try discussing this rationally?"
Kris squeezed onto the couch beside Mac and reached for her hand like a child. "Josh, that was really rude," she said softly, staring him in the eye. "But it is pertinent, so I'll try to forgive you. Yes, I realized I was gay before going out with John. He was a last-ditch effort...I was trying to make myself be straight. And after a few months, I realized it wasn't working, and broke up with him."
Josh nodded, slightly shame-faced. "Sorry, Kris. I shouldn't have asked like that." He glanced to Harm for help in smoothing over the rough spot.
Harm shook his head slightly, as if he couldn't believe Josh. "Is there anyone else it could be?" he asked Chloe directly. "Anyone you know, maybe?"
"I honestly can't think of anyone except Bryan," Chloe shook her head. She glanced at Pete. "Unless, of course, it's him," she teased. She moved over, crowding onto the couch with Mac, Kris and Harm, facing Josh defiantly.
Impulsively, Kris went to sit on the couch between Pete and Josh, patting Josh's knee. "It's okay," she murmured. "I know you didn't mean it." Aloud, she said, "Well that leaves John, Bryan and Mr. X...some psycho we don't know. Right?"
Josh nodded. "Sums it up as far as I'm concerned. But I really don't think it's Bryan. I mean, he had a rock solid alibi."
Chloe, to her own surprise, agreed with him. "Bryan enjoys harassing people, but I don't think he'd stoop this low."
"And his fingerprints weren't the ones on the car," Harm added. "So he's pretty much out. Josh, can you do some research on this John...what's his last name, Kris?"
"Munkerbutton," Kris chuckled. "Shouldn't be too hard to find, even after all this time."
Chloe choked. "Munkerbutton?" she wheezed.
"Hey, no different than Chegwidden," Mac teased.
Harm chuckled softly. "Well, Josh, check up on him, please?"
"Sure," the agent nodded. "What about the girl?" he inquired. "The one from high school?"
"Carly?" Kris dismissed her with a wave of her hand. "Nothing doing there. I think she moved to California after graduation."
"What about you, Chloe?" Josh asked. "Any exes?"
"Not many," Chloe shook her head. "One from high school. One from college, before I met Kris."
"Names?" Josh prompted.
"In high school...Elisa McCray. She's happily single. Her parents died our senior year, and she's raising her kid brother. She doesn't have time to be a stalker. College was Danielle Sheridan. I doubt it. It was a mutual break-up."
"I'll check them anyway," Josh informed the group.
"There's one more possibility," Kris admitted, her eyes downcast. "A guy from college. He and I had...problems...a few years ago."
Chloe started to protest Kris' putting herself through this agony again, but fell silent at a look from Mac.
Josh's gaze sharpened. "Problems?"
"He accosted me in a parking lot one night. Slapped me around....and threatened to kill me. But he never *did* anything," Kris insisted weakly.
"That's not doing something?" Josh inquired mildly. "What was his name, Kris? We'll check him out."
"I'm not positive." Kris glanced up, drawing strength from Mac's encouraging gaze. "I think his last name was Hasser. I'm sure of it," she said more firmly. "He was on the football team. Class of 2008."
"We'll find him," Josh
vowed.
* * *
Sarah bounced through the door, Kris on her heels. "Hey, Chloe!" She attacked the woman with a hug. "I can't wait for our girl's night!"
"Me either, kiddo," Chloe grinned over the girl's head at her fiancée. "How was school today?"
Kris grinned a little as Sarah climbed up on a stool pulled up to the counter. "It was great! I got to do my first Gifted thing...an art project." She unzipped her backpack and pulled out a slightly crushed papier-mâché duck. "It's for you."
"I like it," Chloe admired the project. "So, what do you want to do tonight?"
"The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world!" Sarah imitated the cartoon character's evil laugh. "Or maybe just ice cream and pizza?"
"Sure. What kind of pizza?" Chloe asked. "And do you want to go out or order in?"
"Why don't you two go pick it up?" Kris suggested. "I'll call California Pizza Kitchen and tell them to have it ready in half an hour. On the way, you can pick up the ice cream," she directed. "I want Rocky Road."
"What kind do you want?" Chloe asked.
Sarah piped up, "Barbecue chicken!"
"Sounds good to me. An extra-large? We can surprise Bob with the leftovers." Kristin grinned. "He hasn't peed on the couch once this week!"
"I'm so proud of him," Chloe said dryly.
Kris made a face and handed Chloe a twenty-dollar bill. "Just get my ice cream and some Oreos. It's PMS week."
"Of course." Chloe smiled down at Sarah. "Ready to go, imp?"
"Imp?" Sarah looked up at Chloe as they headed out into the hallway. "Dad says I'm a fairy."
"I prefer imp," Chloe teased. "Besides, you can have different nicknames from different people. It's kind of special."
"Uh *huh*." She didn't look like she believed Chloe. "Imp doesn't sound like a nickname I want," Sarah protested as they climbed into the car.
"Good. Then that means I'll keep using it...imp."
"Oy." Sarah rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, pretending to be annoyed.
"Oy? You Jewish now, girl? Need a yenta?" Chloe shot back as they headed for California Pizza Kitchen.
"My friend Samantha taught me that word," Sarah responded primly, staring out the window. "It means I'm weary of this train of conversation, bubbala."
"Bubbala?" Chloe choked. "Where on earth did you come up with that one?"
"It means "honey" or "baby". Samantha taught me that, too." Sarah grinned proudly.
"Does your mother know you're spending so much time with this Samantha?" Chloe asked suspiciously. "She sounds like she's having a big impact on you."
Sarah nodded. "Her mom and mine are PTA buddies. She's my new bestest friend."
"Your new bestest friend, huh?" Chloe glanced sideways at the young girl, smiling fondly at the excited expression on her face. She turned her attention back to the traffic on the Key Bridge, heading to Rosslyn. She mulled ruefully on the choice of California Pizza Kitchen. It was Kris' favorite, and Virginia wasn't too far away from D.C., but sometimes she felt it wasn't worth it. Well, she amended silently, at least until she had the first bite of pizza.
Sarah was quiet for a moment before asking quietly, "Why did you sound upset before, when you asked about Mom?"
"It was nothing," Chloe tried to gloss over the situation. "You were hearing something that wasn't there."
Shaking her head, Sarah replied, "Nope, I heard it. You sounded....weirded out or something." She shrugged. "Oh, well, like Uncle Harm says, 'Your problem, not mine.'"
"Yeah, it sure is, kiddo, it sure is," Chloe replied softly. She was silent for a moment. "What kind of ice cream do you want?" she inquired, trying to change the subject.
"Smurf."
"And where would one get smurf ice cream?"
Sarah frowned in thought. "Well, the only place I ever had it was Disney World, so maybe I'll have to settle for Ben and Jerry's Phish Food?"
"That works, too. What on earth is Smurf ice cream?"
"It's this blue stuff with white marshmallows. It's the High Holiness of ice creams," Sarah replied.
"I'll take your word for it," Chloe replied skeptically. "I'm not a big marshmallow fan." She made a face at the line of cars turning into the shopping center. "Parking is going to be a nightmare," she groaned. Finally, she pulled into the garage's top level, whipping into the space just ahead of another car.
"Nice driving!" Sarah's little hand was white-knuckling the armrest.
"Relax, kiddo. I've never been in an accident." Chloe exited the car, reaching for Sarah's hand.
Sarah mumbled as she got out of the car. "There's always a first time." She took Chloe's hand obligingly.
Chloe made a face at the girl, opening the heavy door and stepping onto the escalator. It was three flights down, but the escalators ended up being faster than the slow elevator. That thing was a pain. Once downstairs, she guided Sarah past Best Buy and Borders, opening the door to the restaurant. They bypassed the line waiting to be seated, instead heading for the carry-out line at the bar. Thankfully, it was much shorter.
Sarah slipped her little hand from Chloe and ran to the wide window, peering across at Borders. "I think I see the new Harry Potter book! Number 22!" she cried, her tiny nose pressed to the glass in rapture.
"That's good, Sarah," Chloe replied absently as she moved ahead in the line, shooting a dirty look at the guy who tried to cut in.
Sarah scooted down the window to get a better view, inching further from Chloe without realizing it. After a minute, she turned and found she had lost sight of the woman. "Chloe?" she called over the din of the restaurant.
Suddenly, a large hand clamped down over Sarah's mouth. She wriggled furiously against the larger limb pinning her arms to her sides. "Mmmmph!" she screamed futiley.
Chloe glanced back at the window to get Sarah's attention as she paid for the pizza. "Sarah, we're ready!" Not receiving any response, an edge of fear crept into her voice. "Sarah? Sarah?" She headed for the window, looking for the young girl, praying she'd just run off to look at the new Harry Potter.
Still struggling against the bigger arms around her, Sarah did what came automatically to mind. She worked her teeth around the hand clamped over her mouth and bit down--hard. As her would-be captor took off running, Sarah ran back towards the pizza place. "Chloe!" she screamed.
"Sarah?" Chloe caught sight of the girl, lifting her up into her arms in relief. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Burying her head in Chloe's neck, Sarah gulped out words between sobs. "Somebody...put their hand over my mouth...and tried to steal me."
"Shh...it'll be all right, kiddo," Chloe soothed, rubbing the girl's back. She re-entered the busy restaurant and made her way to the hostess. "Could you find me a security guard? Someone tried to kidnap my little sister."
The hostess nodded immediately. "Is she okay?" she asked as she dialed up the Security Office.
"She'll be fine," Chloe replied, continuing to rub Sarah's back. "We just want to report it. That way security can be on guard."
Sarah raised her head, wiping away the tear-tracks. "I'm okay," she said softly. "That guy was dumb," she giggled. "I bit his hand...he didn't even know that kids do that when they're being kidnapped. Doesn't he go to the movies?"
The hostess spoke softly into the phone and soon two security guards had arrived and were taking Sarah's statement. "You're a smart young lady," one complimented as she finished her story. "You kept your head when you were in jeopardy, and that saved you. You should be real proud of yourself." He stood, offering his hand to Sarah. "Now, why don't you go on and get your pizza? I bet they kept it nice and hot for ya." He winked at her. "Guess that guy doesn't go to the movies very often, or else he'd have known to wear gloves. Metropolitan kids are smart."
"That's what I said!" Sarah grasped Chloe's hand tightly. "Thanks!" she waved as the guards left.
Chloe looked down at the girl. "Ready? We can swing by Ben & Jerry's closer to home. And the grocery store, to get some Rocky Road for Kris."
Sarah nodded, sticking to Chloe's side like white on rice. "Ready."
They re-entered the restaurant and were met by the solicitous hostess. After assuring her once again that Sarah was fine, they accepted their freshly made pizza and headed back to the car. As they climbed in, Chloe locked the doors, thankful that the car they'd rented had automatic locks. It was safer.
Sarah tripled-checked her lock before fastening her seat belt. She sat silently the entire ride to the grocery store, and was extremely quiet, especially for *her*, the rest of the way home.
Chloe was worried, but knew that Sarah needed some time to think about what had happened. She simply flipped on the radio, letting music fill the silence between them. As they entered the apartment building, she asked, "Are you sure you want to stay the night? We can take you home if you'd rather be with your parents."
Thinking about it for a moment, Sarah shook her head. "It's okay, I know you won't let anything bad happen to me." She spoke with utter trust and conviction.
Chloe swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Of course not, kiddo." She fumbled with the keys to the door.
Sarah took the keys and opened the door easily, closing it behind them as they went in.
Chloe set the pizza on the table and placed the ice cream in the freezer. She froze, seeing Bob crossing the floor. "What are you doing out?" she scolded. "You're supposed to be in a cage...rodent."
"Be nice," Kris warned as she came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. She kissed Chloe's cheek quickly. "He was getting a bath."
"Tell me not in the shower," Chloe moaned.
Kris giggled as she scooped Bob up and plunked him back in his cage. "Of course in the shower. Would you have preferred I bathe him in the kitchen sink?"
Chloe gagged. "Please, we're getting ready to eat. Don't ruin my appetite."
Without a word, Kris disappeared into the bedroom and reappeared moments later, clad in a USMC tank top and shorts. Digging in the drawer, she threw the pizza cutter to Chloe. "Cut, Marine," she ordered playfully.
"Yes, ma'am," Chloe replied, opening the pizza box and inhaling the scent of barbecued chicken with onion and cheese on a pizza crust.
Sarah, meanwhile, was at the fridge, rummaging through for something resembling a drink. "What does everybody want to drink?" she asked in a voice that eerily echoed Harriet's.
"I'll take milk, please," Kris said, stifling a loud giggle.
"I've got a bottled water in there if you'll toss it to me," Chloe responded, blinking at the young girl. She turned to her fiancee and mouthed, 'Oh my lord, it's the ghost of Christmas Harriet.'
Kris couldn't contain her laughter any more. "It is!" she whispered, giggling. "She's like a tiny little Sims."
Sarah lugged the gallon of milk and half-liter of Evian to the counter and hoisted them up. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. You're just the spitting image of your mother, imp."
Sarah seemed unaffected by this proclamation and rolled her eyes. "Oy," she said. It seemed to be her new favorite word.
Later, as they watched the Late Show with Amanda Bynes, formerly of Nickelodeon's All That, Chloe said quietly, "What'cha thinkin', Kris? Sarah's okay. She had a scare, but she's going to be fine."
"I'm just thinking that it's my fault," Kris replied quietly. Her hand reached down to stroke the sleeping girl's back. "None of this would've happened if I wasn't here."
"You can't blame yourself for everything that goes wrong, Kristin. She's a good kid, but she ran off in a crowded mall. We don't know if it was connected to the stalker." Chloe reached for her fiancee's hand, gently massaging the palm.
Kris pulled her hand away slowly. "You think it's just a coincidence that the level of things happening around us has been stepping up? First, it's an obscene phone call, or a hang-up once in a while. Then a brick through the window. Then your truck is trashed. Now Sarah was almost kidnapped. You don't see a pattern?" she whispered furiously.
"Of course there's a pattern," Chloe sighed. "I'm just saying that we don't know that it wasn't just a random kidnapping attempt, unfortunately, things like that happen every day. And it's not your fault. That's as much as saying it's all my fault for being here. If we had absolutely no lives and lived as hermits, maybe no one would bother us? I'm not going to live my life like that, and neither are you. We're going to catch this sicko and then we're going to plan Harm and Mac's wedding."
Kris just shook her head. She eased out from under Sarah, picking the little girl up and carrying her into the bedroom slowly. Kris laid Sarah down on the bed, gently tucking the covers around her.
Chloe sat on the couch, frustrated. It seemed like she was doing all the running lately. And she was running...running out of words to convince Kris. It wasn't like her to talk as much as she had in recent weeks. She preferred coming home and picking up a good book. Talking about her day, a bit, but mostly, letting the silence shared be communication enough. Snuggling. Kissing. Watching TV. Dancing. Talking, eloquent words, weren't her style. They had been once, she conceded quietly. As a child, getting big sister Mac into trouble, or embarassing the older woman, teasing her about Harm. Lying to cover up the bruises from her stepfather. Glib explanations to gloss over the broken bones. As she'd grown, she'd tempered a little. Reading, writing...thinking about what it was like to be different in a world that didn't accept differences easily. She leaned her head against the cushions, closing her eyes. This time, maybe she'd wait for Kris to come to her.
Kris bent down and kissed Sarah's head gently. The girl stirred and rolled over, curling up tight. After rubbing her back for a second, Kris slipped out of the room, shutting the door silently. Entering the living room, Kris saw Chloe, quiet on the couch. The TV was off now, the only sounds in the room coming from the occasional gentle dripping of Bob's water bottle onto the floor of his cage and the hum of the refrigerator.
Sighing to herself, Kris started to cross the room to Chloe and stopped mid-step. Kris stared at Chloe's profile, the grave reality of their situation seeping in. Not only was someone stalking them, Kris was making it worse, she realized. She was letting her own fears and issues of self-doubt come between her and Chloe.
A thought flashed through Kris' mind...a mental image, really, of a sleeping Sarah. She remembered in that moment why she'd fallen in love with Chloe in the first place. Her optimistic attitude in the face of overwhelming odds had been one factor. But the other was that Kris simply couldn't imagine life without her. She wanted Chloe to be by her side forever, to have children with her, to grow old with her. And she was throwing that away for some nutjob with a grudge. Kris shook her head and crossed the room, crouching down in front of Chloe. She touched Chloe's knee tentatively. "Chlo?" she said softly. "I love you."
Without opening her eyes, Chloe reached for Kris' hand. "I know," she whispered softly. "I love you, too." She tugged gently, urging Kris up next to her on the couch, opening her eyes. Pulling the redhead into a loose embrace, she asked in a voice that was wracked with pain, "But why can't you believe in us?"
Kris laid her head on Chloe's shoulder, countering her fiancee's question with one of her own. "Did you immediately believe it the first time someone good came into *your* life and offered you the world?"
"No. But Kris, I love you, and it hurts so much when you can't trust in that. We made it through the idiots in college and Bryan, but it's happening all over again and you can't trust that I won't leave."
"I trust you, Chloe," Kris insisted. "It's everyone else I don't trust. Just give me time, okay?"
Chloe nodded, rearranging them on the couch and falling asleep.
Halfway through the night, Kris
untangled herself from Chloe and slipped off the couch. She began to pace
the apartment silently, pausing at the side window to stare out into the
blackness. Behind her, Kris could hear Chloe soft, regular
breathing. She began to form an idea. *We should get away,* Kris
thought. *Somewhere far from Virginia, since the stalker found us even at
Quantico. Just for a few days.* She nodded to herself, somewhat
calmed.
* * *
Kris had finally fallen asleep, curled up in the overstuffed chair that was a prerequisite for any twenty-something couple with their own apartment. She tossed and turned all night, the incident with Sarah bothering her more than anything else had thus far.
She woke about five-thirty the next morning, too distressed to sleep well, and decided it was a decent enough hour to start breakfast. *0530 is decent?* she chided herself. *You're becoming a military wife, McGowan.* Kris tried to be quiet as she got out the frying pan and began cracking eggs for omlettes. Adding onions, mushrooms and sausage, she allowed it to cook as she popped four slices of rye bread in the toaster.
Chloe slowly awoke, her mouth watering at the smell of breakfast being cooked. Knowing her morning run would be put off, or canceled, made her decide that she definitely needed to work out that evening. She couldn't keep skipping like this.
Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she wandered into the kitchen, coming up behind her fiancee and wrapping her arms around her waist. Her head on Kris' shoulder, she mumbled, "Why're you up so early?"
"Omlettes won't make themselves," Kris said softly. "Can you wake Sarah in a few minutes? We have to take her home early, we have a long day ahead of us."
"We do?" Chloe raised her eyebrows as she headed to the bedroom. Gazing down at the small form huddled under the covers, she gently reached down and stroked the small girl's face. "Sarah. It's time to wake up, kiddo."
Sarah whined softly and pushed Chloe's hand away. "Go 'way, s'too early."
"Kris told me to wake you up, and she's bigger than I am," Chloe responded, making a face at the youngster.
"She is not," Sarah protested, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "You're just scared she'll make you sleep on the couch."
"Exactly," Chloe replied. "I rest my case."
Giggling, Sarah rolled out of bed and padded into the living room. She sniffed as she got closer to the kitchen. "Mushrooms and sausage?" she asked Kris, wrapping her arms around the young woman's waist. Sarah stood on tiptoe to peer into the frying pan.
"And onions," Kris added, squeezing Sarah in a one-armed hug. "Will you set the table, please? Chloe, you get the orange juice and glasses, they're too high for Sarah to reach."
"Yes, ma'am," Sarah said automatically, digging through the drawer for the silverware.
"Told ya so," Chloe confided to the young girl as she reached for the glasses and handed them to Sarah. Opening the refrigerator, she stuck her head inside and discovered that there was no orange juice in sight. Sighing, she opened the freezer, hoping to spy a can of frozen junk. Finding it hidden in the back behind the Rocky Road, Phish Food and Peanut Butter Chocolate, she triumphantly pulled it out and dumped it into a plastic pitcher, moving next to the sink to add water.
Kris bumped her hip teasingly against Chloe's. "Told her what?" she whispered. "You been talkin' shit about me, woman?"
"Never. I simply told her the truth...that you scare the shit out of me," Chloe retorted.
Kris laughed aloud, startling Bob, who began to run circles in his cage. "I scare you, my little Marine?" she giggled. "Even the Crucible didn't scare you."
"The Crucible was a series of inanimate objects. You, however, have the power to threaten me...and make me sleep on the couch."
Kris giggled again, scooping the omlettes out of the pan and sliding them onto three plates. "And I can let Bob have your pillow," she warned, smiling. Depositing the frying pan and accoutrements in the sink, Kris carried the plates to the table.
"Yuck," Chloe made a face, carrying the orange juice in as well. Reaching for Sarah's glass, she poured first for the young girl, then for Kris, before finally filling her own glass.
Kris slipped into her seat and picked up her glass. "To friends!" she said, raising it in a toast.
"To sausage," Sarah grinned, raising her plastic cup.
"What the kid said," Chloe contributed, raising her own glass to clink with Sarah and Kris'.
Kris shook her head. "Sometimes you kill me, Chloe," she said. She set the glass down and attacked the omlette like she hadn't seen real food in months.
"Hungry?" Chloe grinned, nodding toward her fiancee's rapidly empyting plate.
Kris swallowed her mouthful and grinned. "Famished. So, Sarah," she added quickly, "after breakfast, we're going to drop you off at home. Chloe and I have to go away for a couple of days."
Chloe shook her head. "Uh, yeah, Sarah. We're going to..." she trailed off, glancing at Kris.
"The Jersey shore," Kris finished for Chloe. "We have some stuff to take care of."
Sarah looked perturbed. "Why are you going away?" she asked, poking at her omlette with her fork. "I don't want you to go."
"We need some time to sort things out, kiddo," Chloe replied gently. "Time away from the big city."
"Sort what out?" Sarah protested.
Kris laid her hand over Sarah's on the table and spoke softly, but firmly. "This is just something we have to do. It's a grown-up thing that's hard to explain. We'll only be gone a couple of days, and we *promise* we won't miss your piano recital. Understand?"
"Absolutely," Chloe contributed, "we wouldn't miss it for the world."
Standing up, she took her plate and Kris', rinsing them in the sink before dropping them in the dishwasher. Smiling at the pair still at the table, she slipped back to the bedroom to take a shower and get dressed.
Sarah smiled at Kris. "You *promise* you'll be at my recital?"
"Cross my heart." Kris made an "X" with her finger over her heart.
"Good." Sarah nodded, satisfied.
When Kris heard the water turn off, she stood up. "I'm going to take a shower. Why don't you put your clothes from yesterday in the bag and get out your clean clothes?"
"Okay." Sarah headed into the bedroom and rummaged in her bag.
Stepping past Sarah and Chloe and into the steamy bathroom, Kris shut the door and let the hot water relax her a little. When she finished, she wrapped a towel around her and poked her head out the door. Chloe and Sarah were nowhere in sight, so she walked into the bedroom and got dressed quickly.
Chloe glanced up when she heard the shower shut off. "Your turn, kiddo," she gestured to Sarah.
Sarah nodded and dashed into the bedroom, speeding past Kris.
"Be careful, the floor's wet!" Kris yelled. She came out into the living room, smiling tensely at Chloe. "I really hope everything's going to die down, pardon the pun, if we go away for a while."
Chloe simply nodded, reaching out to pull Kris down beside her.
Kris side-stepped Chloe's embrace with a little smile. "Come on, we have to pack." She came into the bedroom just as Sarah was pulling her t-shirt over her head. Grabbing a few things for her, Kris tossed them in an overnight bag. Realizing Chloe would take forever, Kris took a minute and packed a bag for her, too. "Okay," she said, carrying the bags out and dropping them beside the door, "we're all packed. Let's head out."
Chloe nodded, picking up the bags and locking the apartment behind them as they headed down to the car. Dropping the bags in the trunk, she opened Kris' door before sliding behind the wheel.
Around noon, Kris pulled the car up in front of the Seaside Heights Inn. She and Chloe had switched and she'd driven the last half of the trip, since her family had vacationed in the area when she was younger, and she knew her way around.
They checked in with no problem and dumped their stuff in the room. "What should we do first?" Kris asked, trying to put DC and all the problems of the past few weeks out of her head.
"Relax on the beach?" Chloe suggested, a grin on her face. "You, in a bikini?"
Kris shook her head, grabbing her swimsuit out of the suitcase. "Do you ever think about anything but sex?"
"Absolutely. I think about you, about watching you, about work, about you, about chocolate, about you, about my friends, about you..."
Rolling her eyes, Kris giggled. "Chocolate sounds good. Oooh, and after the beach, I know this fabulous little seafood restaurant..." she kept chattering all the way to the beach.
End Ch. 5
