I don't own Silver Lake nor the Conference Center. It belongs to the UCC and I'm just putting it in here because, well, I like it.

Chapter Three: Improbability

I drive home the long way and stop at a lake along the way . I get out and go sit down on the edge of the water. It reminds me of Silver Lake. I used to love to go sit down by the lake for hours.

I watch as a boat comes by with men fishing. I watch as one of the men casts his pole. He doesn't catch anyone and they move the boat a little bit further.

My summers at the Lake come flying back to me. The laughter, the jokes, the fun but also the hard work and the tiredness.

This assignment is killing me. I don't know if I'm willing to give up my life for this mission. I thought that when I left the F.B.I., I was done with dangerous assignments. But yet, I want to serve my country. I would be willing to die for my country and do the job that I was trained to do.

I need to go home to talk to Andy about this. Not only is my life being turned upside down but his life too.

Pulling into the driveway, I see Andy is sitting on the front porch with Shadow. He smiles at me when I get out of the car when I get out of the car and go sit next to him on the steps.

"Sorry it took me so long to come home." I say, reaching out to pet Shadow.

"It's okay, Jules." He says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"I just don't what to do, Donny." I say, using my nickname for him.

"Follow your gut, Julia. It's probably right."

"My gutt's telling me to take this assignment. But something is holding me back."

"Me right?"

"Yeah." I whisper, "We have something special, Andy. I don't want to lose you."

"Who says you have to lose me?"

"I'm going undercover for who knows how long. I might die and I don't want to leave you all alone."

"Then marry me."

"What?"

"Marry me, Julia."

"Andy, why are you asking me this? Are we ready for the next step?"

"Jules, I don't want to lose you. You are part of my life and I want to be in my life forever."

"I don't want you to marry me because of this assignment. I want you to marry me because you love me."

"I'll be right back." Andy says, getting up and going into the house. He comes back a few minutes later holding an envelope, "Here." He says and hands it to me.

I open it up to find a letter. I look questioningly at Andy, who says, "Just read it."

The letter, written in Andy's neat handwriting is about a page long.

'Dear Julia,

Will you love me eternally

If I pledge a home forever

Live in a peace together

Laugh at all of my jokes

You are the light of my world

Our destiny is determined to be together

Until the end of the time

Make me the happiest man alive

All of our history and all of our future

Remember the bad 'cause we survived

Relive the good and all of the laughs

You are the rose in my thorns

Make our separate lives become one

Eternal love for you.'

(Author's Note: It's supposed to spell Will you marry me but I'm not sure how the lettering will come through)

I look with tears in my eyes at Andy, who gets down one on knee and pulls out a beautiful diamond ring, "Julia, will you marry me?"

"Yes." I whisper. Andy slips the diamond ring onto my finger. He stands up and kisses me. "I love you." I whisper.

"I love you too." He says, pulling me into the house.

Three hours later, I wander down to the kitchen to find something to eat. Shadow's lying on the floor, apparently asleep. I smile at him and grab a beer out of the fridge and grab some hamburger meat.

Andy comes down, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, "Making dinner?"

"Yeah. Want a beer?"

"Sure." He says as I hand him one and then ask him to fire up the grill.

"Does this mean that you're accepting the mission? You only like hamburgers when something's bothering you."

"Yes."

"Okay. You gonna tell Lewis tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I'll go after school. You don't want to come with me, right?"

"Sorry, Jules, but I have to go in."

"That's okay. It's not like I haven't gone to and F.B.I. building before."

Andy laughs, "You're probably right."

"Thank you." I say, washing my hands. I hand the plate to Andy, "Go cook."

"Why don't you?" he asks, handing the plate back to me.

"'Cause I have to make the salad."

"I'll make the salad, you cook the burgers."

"Fine but no mushrooms in my salad!" I say, opening the sliding door.

"No Swiss cheese on my burger!" Andy calls as Shadow follows me, a ball in her mouth.

Sue's POV

I walk into the bullpen to find the bulletin board has a new picture on it. Stowing my purse and Levi's leash in my bottom desk drawer, I ask Jack, "What happened?"

"We got a new name."

"Who?"
"Olga Mensichov. She's a known Russian fugitive. But there's something even more interesting."

"What's that?"

"She associated with the Chechen rebel group that took the Russian school hostage back in September." Jack says, a grim look on his face.

"Did you say Chechen?" I ask.

"Yes." He says, finger spelling it for me.

I thank him and sigh, "This case just got a lot bigger."

"It sure did." Bobby says.

"Do we know when Agent Williams is coming in?"

"I hope this afternoon. We need her even more." Jack says, "But, Sue, maybe you can help us with this. We have a tape of this woman talking to someone. Can you look at it and see if you can get anything out of it?" Jack asks, nods to Tara.

"I don't speak much Russian, Jack."

"I know. But just look at it and see if you can get anything. We caught her coming in last night through BWI."

"So we now have Chechen rebels walking the streets of D.C. Makes me feel safe." Bobby says.

I spend most of the morning in the conference room, going through the tape over and over again but I don't get anything. Levi jumps up on me and I turn around to find Jack standing there, a bag of food in his hand and a smile on his face.

"Hi." I say, still a bit shy as to where our relationship is going.

"Hey." He leans and kisses my cheek, "I brought you lunch. I hope that a chicken salad is okay."

"It's fine." I say and smile at him.

"How's it going?" he asks, pulling out the salad and handing it to me. He also pulls out a salad but it's a plain chef's salad, with Ranch dressing, I bet.

"I can't get anything." I say, opening up my salad and pouring the Caesar dressing on it. Boy, does he know me well. I always take my chicken salads with Caesar dressing.

"It's okay. If Agent Williams comes today, I'll see if she can look at it."

"She understands Russian." I say and smile.

"Did you take a foreign language in school?" Jack signs to me.

"I had enough trouble understanding English. What about you?"

"Spanish."

"Do you remember much?"

"Not really. I can say a few words but that's it." Jack says and reaches over to take my hand, "Will you have dinner with me tonight?"

"Of course. But let's go someplace fun."

"What do you suggest?"
"Let's go bowling." I say and smile at him.

"Bowling?"
"What's wrong with bowling?"

"Nothing. I just didn't expect that you would like bowling."

"I love bowling."

"Alright, I'll pick you up at six."

"Good and bring a flashlight." I say smiling at him before taking a bite of my salad.

Someone must have come in because I feel Jack's hand on my shoulder. I look up and he leans down to kiss me.

I lean into the kiss and then pull away, "Jack…"

"I know. I know. Just wait for bowling tonight."

"I have to go. Someone's here to see me."

"Go then. I'll see you at six."

I finish my salad and collect my things from the conference room before heading back the bullpen. I spend most of the afternoon working with Tara and Lucy when Lucy taps me. I look up to see Agent Williams in the bullpen.

I hope it's a good sign.

End Chapter Three.

Got a question. Would you guys like to see Julia and Andy to go to Julia's parents' house for the weekend or would you like me to continue with the case. It doesn't matter to me. But please let me know what you would like. Oh, by the way, I don't know how Jack or Sue like their salads so please forgive and/or correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks!