chapter two: small world

Frankie followed Kilmer into the Vault and stopped at the top of the stairs, looking around. She smiled; yes, she'd missed this. She walked down the stairs and immediately found herself on the receiving end of her coworkers' well wishes. Lark and Holly had visited her often in the hospital. Mo and Tim had come when they could, though they'd spent most of the last three weeks chasing the bomber Nathalie Argeneau around Europe. The team knew she was planning to blow up The Hague, but they didn't know when.

Tyler, one of the decryption experts, gave Frankie a hug and shyly held out a cup of coffee. "It's good to have you back."

She smiled, slightly overwhelmed by all the attention. "Thanks, guys."

Atkins arrived then. He gave Frankie a hug as well, welcoming her back and saying, "We missed you. Maybe now things can get back to normal."

It felt like a homecoming of sorts, though there was still some tension between Frankie and Angel. Frankie had long since accepted that Angel was no threat to her relationship with Kilmer, but she realized that Angel was still uncomfortable in her presence.

Frankie was quiet during the briefing. There was a lot she had to catch up on but Kilmer had told her in no uncertain terms that she had to take it easy for the first week or so. She'd smiled at his concern, and promised not to push herself.

"Hey, who ate my crackers?" Tyler surveyed the room suspiciously.

Angel raised her hand. "Sorry! I had the munchies. I'll make it up to you."

Frankie watched the interplay, and thought Angel and Tyler would make a good couple. She couldn't help it; now that she was in a relationship, it was natural to play matchmaker. She chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Kilmer leaned close to her, his hand in the small of her back.

She shook her head. "I was just thinking, I'm turning into your mother."

Kilmer followed her gaze and broke into a smile. "Ah, playing matchmaker?"

"Thinking about it."

"I don't really think she's his type."

"She's exactly his type. He needs someone outgoing."

Kilmer's voice was low, giving Frankie goosebumps. "What about you, Mrs. Kilmer?"

"Oh, I think I'll stick with what I've got."

"Good to know." Kilmer lowered his head as if to kiss her, then seemed to realize where they were. He chuckled. "You know, there were days when I sat here and all I wanted to do was kiss you. The only thing that stopped me was knowing you'd slap me for even thinking it."

Frankie hid her smile. "Really."

"Yeah. But now I know you're not going to hurt me, keeping my hands off you is going to be that much harder." With that, he winked and left to talk to Jelani.

Kilmer sat on the edge of Frankie's bed. Though the bathroom door was closed, he could hear the shower running. He was tempted to join her – how long had it been since he'd seen a wet, naked Frankie? – but he forced himself to stay where he was. There would be time enough to seduce his wife. Tonight it was Bella's birthday party, and Frankie would kill him if they were late. He'd been worried that Frankie's attachment to the little girl would only end in heartbreak, but Bella had got her miracle.

And he had got his, Kilmer thought as Frankie exited the bathroom clad only in a towel. She smiled at him. He tilted his head, silently asking her permission to stay. A heartbeat later, she shrugged and walked past him to the closet.

Her necklace was on the bedside table. Kilmer picked it up so he wasn't tempted to watch Frankie get dressed. He noticed her rings were on the chain and turned to face her. By then, she was pulling on a pair of pants so Kilmer didn't feel like too much of a peeping tom. She put a turtleneck sweater on then turned around. Catching Kilmer looking at her, she raised an eyebrow.

"No, I wasn't—" He held up the chain. "Come here."

Frankie sat next to him, lifting her hair so he could put it on for her. When he didn't, she looked at him curiously. "John?"

His heart beating double-time, he asked, "What's stopping you from wearing these on your finger?"

"John, I—"

"Trust me, Frankie. Trust us."

Frankie extended her left hand and nodded. Kilmer took the rings from the chain and slid them on. He kept her hand in his and leaned in to kiss her. "We're going to have to see about making this legal again."

Frankie shook her head and her tone was light when she said, "So much for the romance."

Kilmer dropped to one knee. "Frankie, will you marry me?"

She smiled.

Frankie should have known that Bella's party wouldn't have been an ordinary birthday party considering her father was Congressman Alex Ryan. It was a combination birthday/celebration party, and Frankie recognized quite a few people with important government positions.

Bella was in the living room, the center of attention, and loving every minute of it. She was still pale and her hair was cropped close to her head, but she looked much healthier since Frankie had last seen her. When she saw Frankie and Kilmer, her face lit up.

"Mommy! Frankie's here!"

Cathy Ryan smiled at them across the room. Frankie noticed that she was also looking much better. She waved.

Frankie made her way through the throng of people and sat on the arm of the couch. "Happy birthday, Bella."

Bella got to her knees and pointed at a colored girl with braided hair. "That's Nakeisha. My bestest friend."

Nakeisha looked up and smiled, then went back to playing with her doll.

"Are you having a good time so far?" Frankie asked.

Bella nodded. "Uh huh. I've got lots of presents. And there's cake. I hope it's chocolate. I love chocolate."

Kilmer lifted an enormous orange cat from the couch and sat down. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gift-wrapped box. "This is from the two of us."

"Thank you, thank you!" Bella kissed Kilmer's cheek, then blushed bright red. Suddenly shy, she opened the gift. It was a bracelet made from amber beads. "Aw, it's so pretty."

"Not as pretty as you," Kilmer said.

Bella hid her face in Frankie's side. She was about to comment that Bella was far too young for Kilmer, when she spotted Angel talking to someone across the room. Angel must have realized she was being watched; she glanced in Frankie's direction, then smiled.

"John, Frankie," she said when she reached them. "Cathy said you'd be here."

"I didn't realize you were friends of the Ryans." Kilmer's tone was curious.

"Oh, Cathy and I were at school together. Small world, huh?"

"Aunt Angel, look what Frankie and John got me." Bella held out her wrist, displaying her gift.

"Wow, that's lovely. I hope you said thank you."

Bella nodded. "Uh huh."

Someone else caught Angel's attention. She excused herself, and left, maneuvering across the room on a single crutch.

"Aunt Angel hurt her leg in Morococo," Bella said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. "She was chasing bad guys."

Frankie looked at Kilmer and smiled. She didn't tell Bella that Kilmer had been with Angel at the time, or that he'd carried her halfway back to Marrakech. She saw an odd expression cross Kilmer's face and turned to see who he was looking at.

"Michael, hi." Frankie hadn't realized Michael Watson was friendly with the Ryans either, but she shouldn't have been that surprised; Michael loved politics. He'd been Kilmer's partner in the Bureau for a while, and had asked Frankie out not long after she separated from Kilmer. Neither she nor Kilmer cared much for him.

"Frankie, Johnny. What a nice surprise. I heard you two were working together. Can't imagine why, considering."

Kilmer stood, moving possessively to Frankie's side. He put his hand on her shoulder. She reached up to cover it with hers, and noticed the instant that Michael saw her wedding ring.

"I didn't realize you two were back together." Michael's voice was oddly tight.

Kilmer smiled. "We're working things out."

"That's good to hear." Michael glanced around the room. "Please, excuse me. Good seeing you two."

When he'd gone, Kilmer looked down at Frankie. "He used to have a thing for you, you know."

Frankie nodded. "I think it was more wanting what you had than wanting me for myself."

"Perceptive, aren't you?"

She chuckled. "It's my job."

Kilmer walked Frankie to her door, claiming a kiss before he let her go inside. She gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "I feel ridiculous saying this, but I'm, uh, a little scared of the dark and I don't really want to be here alone."

Kilmer's eyes were dark with an emotion she couldn't read. "Is that the only reason you want me to stay?"

Trapped in his gaze, Frankie blinked but was unable to look away. She reached for him, pulling him closer. Their faces just inches apart, she moistened her lips and, finally, found her voice. "No."

"Good answer, Mrs. Kilmer." Kilmer kicked the door closed behind them, pausing only to make sure it latched shut. He lifted Frankie and carried her to the bedroom.