The Past Comes Round Again

Spoiler: This story is a continuation of Viva Las Vegas, and You Can Never Escape Your Past
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer I have nothing to do with The Agency and receive no compensation

Chapter 2

Stiles and Terri spent most of Friday just taking it easy and relaxing. Stiles started the morning off with breakfast in bed for Terri. They sat on the couch watching many movies, and ate the leftovers Rick sent home with them.

Saturday morning Terri was ready to go again. "Stiles I want to decorate the house."

"For what?"

"Christmas."

"Really? Isn't it a little early?"

"No it's never too early. I'm gonna call Mom to help us."

"I thought you wanted to just relax this weekend. I even remember you promising me we were going to stay in bed all weekend." Stiles gave her a seductive smile as he walked over and put his arms around her.

"I want us to do this together. Who knows what's going to happen? You could get sent on another mission."

"Do you know something I don't Miss Assistant DCI?" Stiles asked teasing her.

"No, but we're both here today. Please." she kissed him. "Please." she kissed him again "Please." She kissed him again. This time Stiles pulled her in for a very passionate kiss.

"You already know that I can't say no to you. Call Helen."

"Thank you." She kissed him one more time before she picked up the phone. "Mom, are you busy today."

"No honey what do you need?"

"Help decorating the house. I'm going to call Kev and Rick to help Stiles put the lights up outside and you and I can work on inside."

"Terri are you sure you feel up to it? You looked so tired Thursday."

"Yes Mom. Stiles wouldn't let me get out of bed all day yesterday."

"That doesn't mean he let you got any rest." Terri just laughed; Helen really surprised her with that comment. She couldn't believe Helen said that after she got so mad at Kevin and Stiles for what they said. "I'll be over in a little while."

When Helen got there Stiles was up on the ladder hanging the lights. "Be careful up there will you."

"I didn't know you cared Helen." She just laughed. He came down the ladder and kissed her. "I'm glad you could come and help."

"Why does she want this done today?"

"We're both home now. I think she's afraid I'll get sent away for work; I might miss all the fun." He said as he rolled his eyes; Helen just laughed at him.

They finished the outside. Terri wanted a lighted wreath in every window. So Rick and Kevin got to work putting lights in the wreaths. Stiles couldn't believe she had him doing all this. He was not used to all this. Last year he helped her decorate, but he swore this year she had twice as much to put up.

When they finished outside it was just getting dark. Terri couldn't wait to see how it looked. Stiles smiled. "We've got so many lights on, a 747 will probably think we're the airport and land on the house." He shouldn't have made that comment with Terri on one side and Helen on the other they both slapped him. "Ouch." Kevin looked at them and laughed. Stiles turned it on and Terri just smiled. He put his arms around her. "That smile makes it worth all the work."

"Thank you." She told him as she kissed him.

"I love you." Stiles told her. "You know I'll do anything for you."

"A. B. it really does look beautiful." Helen told him. She couldn't help but notice how happy Terri was. Helen kissed Stiles on the cheek.

"What was that for?" Stiles said with a big smile.

"For loving my daughter enough to do all of this for her." Terri just smiled, it really felt good to be married to someone Helen approved of, well most of the time.

They all went in Helen had hot apple cider made with cinnamon sticks. They all sang Christmas carols as they finished up the tree. Helen was a nervous wreck as Terri climbed up the ladder, she insisted on putting the angel on herself.

Sunday Terri and Stiles spent another relaxing day. Terri had a bad feeling about tomorrow. She didn't know what was going to happen, but felt like Stiles was going to be sent away.. She really hated when that happened. She always missed him and was worried.

Monday morning rolled around and Terri didn't want to get up. "Stiles do we really have to go in today?"

"Yeah, I think Carl will kill us if we don't." Terri laughed. "You take the shower first. I'll go make coffee, what do you want for breakfast?"

"Just coffee."

"Terri, I don't want to listen to your mother anymore. I think she finally likes me again."

Terri looked at the pitiful look on his face, "I know. Ok, ok, just cereal and toast then."

"Good." Stiles kissed Terri as he went downstairs and started the coffee. The phone rang. "Yes. Ok. Carl we'll be there right away."

Stiles walked back into the bedroom with Terri's coffee and cereal, he couldn't believe what was going on. Terri came out of the bathroom. "It's all yours." She could tell by his face something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

"I'm leaving for Kabul this afternoon."

"Stiles, what happened?"

"They bombed the Intelligence Ministry we set up last year."

Terri's thoughts went immediately to the people they had worked so closely with, Leyya, she still talked to her occasionally on the phone. Khadir, and Shamsullah. Terri liked all of them very much. "Stiles did anyone get..."

"I don't know. Carl said he'd fill us in when we get there." Stiles kissed Terri and went into take his shower and get ready.

When he came out Terri already had his bag packed for him. "I hate that you're going back there."

"I know."

"Promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise."

Stiles held Terri's hand as they drove in together. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm glad we decorated the house this weekend." Stiles just looked at her. "It will help cheer me up while you're gone." Stiles already knew why she wanted to do everything around the house.

They pulled up the same time as Lex and Joshua. "Good morning you two."

"Morning Joshua. Lex."

"Who's going to Afghanistan?"

"Me." Stiles answered as he took Terri's hand. Joshua regretted bringing it up when he saw the look on Terri's face. "We better get ready for the meeting." Stiles kissed Terri and he went to his office to check on a few things.

Terri put her things down in her office and Carl came in and filled her in about what was going on. "Terri, I know that you, Stiles and Lex worked with these people. Khadir, the one Lex was teaching the computer stuff was killed. As soon as Stiles gets things back on track there we will send Lex to help them and train someone else."

Terri nodded, "How is Manzoor handling it, Khadir was his nephew."

"Manzoor is in the hospital. That's one of the reasons I want Stiles in there right away. Shamsullah was only injured; he was already released from the hospital. He needs help."

"What about Leyya? She's the girl I was working with."

Carl picked up his list. "She's in critical condition. The last I heard." Carl looked at his watch. "Its time for the meeting."

While Terri was talking to Carl, Stiles went to see Joshua. "Mr. Stiles to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I need a favor."

"Anything."

"I'm worried about leaving Terri."

"Stiles she is a big girl. She knows how to take care of herself."

"Joshua, this is going to be a rough one."

"You know what's going on. Is that one of the privileges of being married to the assistant DCI?"

"No Carl told me when he called the house this morning."

"What's going on?"

"The ministry was blown up yesterday. The Taliban has control of it."

"Stiles, that means things in Kabul can't be safe right now."

"Exactly."

"What can I do?"

"Just keep an eye on her. See if she needs anything. You know the drill." Stiles reached in his pocket, and pulled out an envelope. "If anything goes wrong." Stiles paused and Joshua nodded, he knew what Stiles wanted.

"Sure thing Stiles. Take care of yourself. You better not make me have to give this to her. She is just beginning to forgive me, I don't want to bring her bad news."

"I have every intention of coming back here to her. Thanks Joshua. We better get up to the meeting."

They all gathered in the conference room. Stiles was waiting for Terri and Carl to come in. Stiles immediately could tell that Terri had been crying. He walked over to see if she was ok. "Carl told me Leyya is in critical condition."

"I'm sorry Terri, I know you really like her. I'll check in on her when I get there." Stiles put his arm around Terri.

Carl gave them a minute then said. "Let's get started. Stiles do you have everything ready?"

"Yes Sir."

"You'll be meeting with the ground forces and taking back the ministry."

"Yes sir." Stiles looked at Terri. He knew she didn't like this one bit.

"Good. Shamsullah is going to meet you."

"Is he ok?"

"He was wounded but he should be ok."

Carl gave out a few more details then looked at Stiles and then at Terri. "Why don't you and Terri take a few minutes in her office. The van is waiting to drive you to the airport. You've got about ten minutes."

"Thanks Carl." Stiles said as he shook his hand.

"Be careful."

Terri and Stiles went to her office; she just put her arms around him. "I love you." He told her, and then he bent down and put his hand on her stomach. "I love you too, Little A. B. or Little Terri." Terri just smiled at him.

"Please promise me you'll be careful."

"I will."

Terri handed him a few books and magazines. "Give these to Leyya for me."

"Sure thing." Stiles gave Terri one more hug and kiss, smiled at her and grabbed his bag to leave for the airport. Terri sat down at her desk and cried.