Irina slipped out of the phone booth and immediately spotted the tail. This time she had made her call from a large hotel. She quickly ran down possible avenues of escape. The hotel was not yet busy and her movements were too easily spotted. Moving down the long hallway to the convention area, she spotted an empty conference room and formulated her plan. The room was part of a larger ballroom, but the paneling had been pulled out for smaller breakout sessions. When not in use, the paneling folded back into a nook in the wall.
As she had hoped, a panel matching the rest of the walls disguised the nook. It was visible only if the person was actually looking for it. If her luck held, the man following her would think she'd gone through to the kitchen and disappeared out the back. She slid behind the panel and waited, the sound of her beating heart almost drowning out the click as the conference room door opened. Her breathing shallowed, waiting for his next move. A sound came from the door leading to the kitchens and she heard him move quickly toward the noise. Another click. Had he gone out? Irina slid to the floor, her prudent nature deciding to wait it out.
The cell phone she had 'borrowed' would have to be turned in to the lost and found later. In the meantime, she pulled the battery off the case. This would have to be her last call to Jack for a while. It was getting too risky. She hated being half a world away from him. Hated that she wasn't sitting at his side watching their family videos together. He had been watching her 'teacher of the year' speech with Sydney. The whole week before the day of that speech had been miserable. It was one of very few times an argument lasted longer than a day.
Jack had been gone for two weeks when the awards committee called with the news. When he left on the assignment he'd told her it would take about a month, so she wasn't expecting him back in time for the presentation. Ordinarily, Jack couldn't get home soon enough for her, but this time she was glad he wouldn't be there. There would be a dance following the ceremony and all participants were required to attend. That was the crux of her problem. She had attended several of the college's faculty parties, all without Jack. After the first party, she made sure the only ones she signed up for were when he was out of town.
This time, though, he had arrived home ten days early, thanks to the generosity of the CIA. Someone must have informed them of the award.
He had been angry all week, ever since she told him to go back to his assignment. She hadn't meant it to come out the way it did. Before she could explain, he had stormed out of the house, not returning until very late, long after she had already gone to bed. She waited for him to come to their bedroom. He didn't. The next morning, she found him asleep in their guest room. She had been prepared to give a full explanation the night before, but knowing he had chosen not to sleep with her made her angry and stubborn. He slept in the guest room for the next three nights.
Jack would leave for work early and arrive home late. During the evenings, they were chillingly polite with each other. Even at four, Sydney sensed that all was not right between her parents. Their daughter had grown more tense as each day passed. On the fifth day, Sydney cried through dinner, refusing to eat anything. Jack, giving her an accusatory glance, picked up his daughter and readied her for bed.
Prepared for another evening alone, Laura cleaned up the kitchen and headed to their bedroom. She was surprised to see Jack waiting for her. He stood by the window seemingly lost in thought. She moved to his side, hoping he'd gotten control of his anger. He turned, eyes blazing and her heart sank.
"What is it Laura? Are you so ashamed of me, you don't want me around your college buddies? Or are you having an affair and you're afraid I'll find out? Is that it?"
Without thinking, her hand slapped against his face. Her body shook with anger at the accusation. "How dare you say such a thing. How dare you even think such a thing!"
"Then why, Laura?" She sensed his hurt, it was in his eyes when he finally he looked at her. Seeing his pain, she couldn't be angry with him anymore.
"Jack." She reached for his hand and caressed it softly, willing him to understand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you by not having you come with me." He tried to pull away, but she held fast. "I don't want to share." There, she had said it.
"Share? I don't want to share your award. I just want to be a part of you receiving it."
"No, sweetheart. Not the award. There's a dance following the presentation. You'll have to dance with all the women and I don't want you to."
"Laura, you're telling me that we've been fighting because you don't want me to dance with a few women?"
"Don't say you haven't been warned."
"Laura?" She moved closer, answering his question with a kiss. He pulled her tightly against him, deepening the kiss. "God, I've missed you."
"If you ever sleep in the guest room again it will be the last time, because I swear you won't live to see another day."
.....................................................
"Laura, you were wonderful." She was standing backstage, accepting the congratulations of her associates. She smiled in acknowledgment of each compliment, but in truth, she only half listened. Jack would be making his way to her and she wanted them to have at least a few moments alone before braving the dance. "Thanks, Denise."
"Will you get a load of the guy coming down the hallway. Yummm. Look at those hands." Laura turned, knowing exactly who Denise was looking at. She had hoped to keep Jack a safe distance from Denise, whose nickname was 'The Dragonslayer'.
"Hey, Denise, if he comes to the dance, you can check out that theory." This from Anna, one of Denise's best friends and fellow slayer. Laura had watched the two in action at several of the faculty parties and vowed never to let Jack within ten feet of them. And now, here he was, heading straight for the two people she least wanted him to meet. Well, she couldn't fault his timing.
"Hey, honey." Jack pulled her close and kissed her. "Sorry I took so long getting back here. I took the video camera to the car."
He looked at her two companions and she sighed inwardly, realizing they were not going away until introduced. "Jack, this is Denise Fineman and Anna Smith. They work in the Languages department. My husband, Jack Bristow."
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, no," Denise purred, throwing Laura a wicked grin. "The pleasure is all mine. You're coming to the dance?" At Jack's nod, "Oh good, well you must save one for me."
"Me, too, Jack," said Anna, not wanting to be outdone. "You don't mind if I call you Jack?" Laura did, but Jack responded politely. She stared at them pointedly and they finally took the hint.
Jack watched a moment as they retreated to a side room and then looked down at Laura. "Is my fly open?"
Laura checked, making sure she gave him a light brush with her hand. It didn't hurt to remind him that he was hers. "No, why?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. They kept staring...er, nevermind. Shall we go to the dance?"
......................................................................................
They strolled arm in arm to the campus building used for large functions. When they walked through the doors, Laura saw with dismay that Denise and Anna had already spread the word about Jack. Liliana Daws, head of the English department whisked Jack from her before proper introductions could be made.
Laura watched, amused, as Jack was passed from one woman faculty member to another. He finally broke free after the sixth one and headed to her side.
"Are you ready to leave?" Jack asked, a hint of anxiety in his voice.
"No, dear. I'm having far too much fun."
"Fun?" said Jack, missing the sarcasm. " You haven't danced yet. Speaking of which, we haven't danced yet." He took her arm, pulling her to the dance floor, but was stopped when Denise tapped his shoulder.
"My turn, Laura."
Jack gave her a pleading look, but she stepped aside. She let him dance with a few more ladies before finally stepping in. This of course had nothing to do with spotting Denise and Anna moving in for a second round.
"Thank God." Jack whispered in her ear. "Are they always like this?"
"Only if the guy is good looking and can dance. Sometimes, even if he can't dance." She laughed up at him, "Was it bad?"
"I think I've been groped by professionals. I swear one of them managed to unzip my fly."
Laura's eyes narrowed. "Which one?"
"I don't know. I lost track. Can we go home now?"
Irina leaned against the wall. Remembering brought with it a flush of longing. She missed the feel of his skin against hers, the sound of his breathing, and the beat of his heart in her ear as she slept. She missed making up and making love. Especially making love. Soon, she promised herself, soon all would be right and Jack would be hers once more. The sound of people entering the room interrupted her thoughts. It was time to leave.
She headed back to headquarters, nodding at Sloane as she entered the secure area. He had Jane tied down to a chair and appeared to be questioning her.
Jane looked up as Irina entered the room.
"You! I should have known."
