"Hey! Anybody home?" Ian called as he entered the house. It was quiet and there were no toys scattered on the floor like usual. He was used to coming home and having to tiptoe around the toys the kids didn't pick up. It wasn't like Lucy to be gone this late, and he was spoiled by the fact that Lucy tried to be there when he came in, no matter what his schedule was that week. He walked through the house, and looked out back, but they weren't playing outside either. After checking the upstairs bedrooms, he returned to the living room and checked the answering machine.

"Ian…I'm sorry but we're going to be late getting home. I guess everyone else is doing their Thanksgiving shopping today, too, and it's taking longer than we thought. When you get this message, why don't you order some pizza delivery and we'll try to enjoy one last quiet evening before the guests descend. I love you!" said Lucy's voice on the recording.

"I love you, too. Well, that's a job I can do," Ian said to himself. Lucy's voice sounded just a bit on edge, and he was wondering if it had been such a good idea to let her plan the elaborate holiday celebration. After all, Caroline was not yet three months old; maybe it was too much for her. He didn't want to annoy her by voicing his concerns, so he had said nothing. He had ordered the pizza, kicked off his shoes and gone into the kitchen to snag a beer when the doorbell rang. He grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and pulled out his wallet before answering the door.

"That was quick. I didn't…" Ian said before looking at his visitors. "Uh, hello there. To what do I owe the…uh… pleasure?"

Agent Limm showed his teeth in an attempt at smiling, but it came across more like a sneer, "Just checking in. Remember, we told you that we would be dropping by unannounced."

"Aye, that you did. I was just expecting a pizza. Won't you come in, uh, officers?" Ian answered slowly.

The agents entered the empty house, and looked around the living room, "Where is your family Dr. Thornhart?"

"They're out shopping still, we're having guests through the holidays and it takes a lot to get ready, you know. I'm sure that you have more pressing business, though. What can I answer for you today?" Ian said.

Although they had not been visiting the house, he knew that he was still under investigation. He had heard from administration at the hospital and from Kevin about their questions. Although he had made light of it to his friends, he was concerned. He had also noticed the same non-descript government vehicle parked outside the house some days when he left for work and outside the hospital when he finished his shift. The longer he was under surveillance, the more sure he was that something was amiss in his citizenship application. He just wished he knew what was happening, but felt that acting as normal as possible was his best defense. Fortunately, Lucy hadn't noticed anything and he wanted to keep it that way.

"Would you like a beer? Or… I guess you're on duty… maybe a soft drink?" He asked the agents. They both shook their heads and seated themselves on the sofa without it being offered.

"I see, well, it looks like I'm doing all the talking here," Ian said and he just sat down on a chair, waiting for one of them to make the next move.

Agent Heckart broke the silence, "Have you spoken to your brother lately?"

The subject of Patrick was not one that Ian cared to discuss. Although he had mentioned the INS agents to him, Patrick told him not to worry about anything and just be honest with them. However, Ian knew something had happened with Patrick—something he had never shared—that had caused him to move back to Ireland with his family. Ian knew enough about his own anger and hatred for the man they blamed for Grainne's death to fear what Patrick may have done in her name. Ian would have enjoyed killing the man himself if he hadn't been studying out of the country. When they were younger, the Thornhart lads had been terrors. They were always getting into fights and letting their tempers get the best of them—and poor Grainne never had a chance between her two self-appointed bodyguards. It wasn't any wonder that she didn't turn to them until she got into trouble—she was too afraid of what they might do. But now Ian was certain that Patrick had a secret that was causing trouble for his brother—a secret he had no intention of sharing.

"I spoke with him the other night, if you must know," Ian answered the agent. "But then again, maybe you did already know that?"

"If you're implying that we've tapped your phone lines, you are incorrect. However, we do check on any international numbers that you might be calling," Agent Limm admitted.

"Then why didn't you just come out and ask what we discussed," snapped Ian. "If you expect me to be honest with you, it'd be nice if you did the same!"

"Are you planning any trips to Ireland in the near future, Doctor?" Agent Heckart asked him.

"No, my brother and his family are coming here to spend Christmas. He has to visit with his New York publisher and decided to make it a family visit. He wants to meet our daughter. Is that a problem?" Ian said trying to control his temper.

"How nice for you. Please tell your wife that we're very sorry to have missed her, hopefully she'll be here the next time we stop by," said Agent Limm with another sneer. "That is if you see her before then."

Ian rose from the chair and raised his voice, "Now what's that supposed to mean, Boyo! You can get the bloody hell out of my house if you're just coming here to insult me!"

"Don't you mean your wife's house?" scoffed the agent.

"We were just leaving, Dr. Thornhart," Agent Heckart answered politely. "I would advise you to be more careful of your temper though, it doesn't leave a very good impression."

After the agents left, Ian downed his beer and decided to switch to whiskey… a sure sign that he was troubled about something. Lucy came to that conclusion when she realized that she hadn't needed to replenish the whiskey in months. He went into the kitchen to prepare a salad and bread to go with the pizza, which arrived about ten minutes after the agents left. When Lucy and the children got home from shopping, he met them at the car and helped carry in their bags.

Lucy immediately noticed the glass of whiskey on the counter and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Ian put his arm around her shoulders, "Yeah… sure, it's just been a bloody long week, you know?"

Lucy nodded in agreement, "You've done a great job with dinner, thank you." She kissed him on the lips and he helped her corral the kids for their meal. He noticed that she looked tired and tense, and almost mentioned it to her, but he thought back to their argument at the hospital and decided not to broach the subject.