Bobby lightly shook Tara's shoulders. "Hmm?" She squinted against the light, even though it was dim. A cool breeze floated in the air, through the open passenger door. She turned her head to see blue eyes staring back at her.
"We're at the safe house, Tare," Bobby whispered as he offered his hand for her to except.
Tara nodded her understanding and gratefully wrapped her fingers through his as Bobby supported her as she stepped out of the vehicle. Murmuring her thanks she shut the door and leaned against the car, giving her body time to wake up. Bobby carefully opened the door and surrounded Chloe's body in his arms as he picked her up. Together they slowly walked to their temporary home. Only seconds later Jack and Sue joined them, Levi attached to his leash.
Braden and Joel took out their flashlights and quickly walked around the house, making sure that there was no uninvited guests lurking in the shadows, returning a few minutes later. "It's all good." Joel said, the Texan accent heavy in his voice.
"Looks like a nice place, from what I can see." Sue squinted her eyes, attempting to get an overall view of the place, although that was proven futile; the only light offered was given by the moon and stars, both of which were blanketed by grey clouds hovering high above their heads.
Jack nodded, knowing that even he got her attention Sue would not be able to read his lips, and if he signed 'yes' Jack would still go misunderstood. The five of them stood at the bottom of the porch while the two Marshals unlocked the front door and inspected the cabin. "Come on in," Braden said, sticking his head out the door.
Bobby led the way, still carrying Chloe in his arms. Next, Jack stepped aside, bringing his arm out in front of him, allowing Tara and Sue to go ahead of him. Levi barked his approval, causing a tired smirk to form on Jack's lips.
Jack squinted against the sudden light as he closed and locked the door behind him. He sat down on the couch next to Sue and Levi, who were also looking around the considerably large cabin. The high wooden, walls were decorated with paintings of forests, black and white sunsets, and forests creatures. The large fireplace on the west wall, opposite of the door, was already glowing with a shimmering fire.
There were three seating options in the room which was centered around the fireplace; the first: the dark brown couch which conveniently faced the fireplace, a wooden coffee table placed between the two. The second a black loveseat resting against the south wall, and lastly a recliner, which was also black, created an imaginary wall between the living room and the hall that led to the other rooms.
Bobby laid Chloe down on the loveseat and pulled the long, brown drapes shut behind them. He sat on the armrest as Tara wandered toward him, trying to absorb her new surroundings. Bobby tugged Tara towards him and she complied, sitting comfortably on his lap.
"Alright," Braden said, clapping his hands together, "Joel and I are gonna take shifts, we've decided that I'll take the night shifts. If either of you three want to go outside," he said to the 'family', "you take one of us with you. The bedroom doors are to remain unlocked at all times. The outside doors locked at all times. Each of you will have a key – all the locks are the same. You will have it on a bracelet around your wrists…at all times."
Jack smirked and lightly touched Sue's arm, he signed, 'Didn't see that one coming'.
Sue tried to ignore Jacks contagious smile and playfully slapped him on the arm. 'Be nice, Jack'.
Joel handed a key attached to a band of leather, much like a watch, to Bobby, and two to Tara – one for herself, the other for Chloe. Tara's and Chloe's were slimmer; Chloe's was even hot pink. Bobby's was a thick black one.
Joel continued for Braden, "This is just in case you lock yourselves out of the house – which better not happen," he added sternly. "If it seems as though we are being strict, you're right, we are being strict. But it's for your own safety. We are not here to become friends, even though it may happen anyways, we are here to make sure you live to see another day." The dark haired man stepped back. "Any questions?"
The room was silent, save for Chloe's light breathing.
"Good." Joel said. "Now, if y'all don't mind, I'd like to get a bit of shuteye before mornin'."
"'Night, buddy," Braden called after him. He showed each of them their rooms, Sue and Jack – who were only staying the one night – were staying in simple guest rooms that looked much alike; a queen sized bed in the center of the room, a dressed across from it on the south side, a night table on each side of the bed.
Chloe's between Bobby and Tara's didn't seem like it belonged in the cabin. Its light pink walls matched the walls that of a Barbie house – mansion – in the corner of the room. The poster bed was a glossy white; the fluffy sheets were also pink with a lace hem.
Tara pulled back the sheets and stepped aside, giving Bobby room to lightly let her down on the most likely expensive bed. He covered her body with the blankets until they were touching her chin and kissed her on the cheek goodnight. Tara did the same.
Braden led then led Tara and Bobby to their rooms, Tara's first. It had a high ceiling with two large skylights above the bed. Covered in yellow sheets with a daisy pattern an inch from the bottom, the bed itself held a very tempting offer to just jump in right then and there, forgetting about the two men who were still standing in the doorway.
Tara yawned and took a few steps into the room. Nodding, she smirked, "I think I can survive living in here for a while." She wandered around the large room, running her hand along the soft bedspread, then on the clean end table, which held an alarm clock, a simple bouquet of pink and yellow flowers. Tara bent down and inhaled the sweet incense pouring from the vegetation.
Sensing that he should leave, Braden said to Bobby, "Your room is the one across from Chloe's. Two doors down the hall is the bathroom. I'll be around the house and outside if you need anything. Just page us if something feels wrong." Bobby nodded his thanks and Braden left.
Bobby took a nearly cautious step into the room, his dreamy gaze following Tara. "It's nice."
"Yeah," she gaped, admiring the colorful artwork, hanging perfectly on the wall. At the silence that followed her mind drifted off to places she would rather not visit. Everything had changed so drastically; her life for one. Even her family had changed in a sense; if anyone asked, she was a mother to a beautiful girl, a wife to a gorgeous man.
Even her job was different; she was now a 'stay at cabin' mom. In the words of Bobby Manning a sarcastic 'woohoo' pretty much summed it up. Tara didn't want to be cooped up like a hamster with a drug addict who was unconscious half the time and forgot to let her out once and a while. It's not that Tara didn't love Chloe, she did, but sometimes she wished that she could have Chloe and her work.
She loved her job, and this guy who was trying to…'terminate' her and Chloe for a lack of better words, was really starting to piss her off. Tara missed the pressure to find better info faster, she missed the feeling of her fingers flying over the keyboard. She even missed Myles' annoying sarcastic remarks. I must be really homesick, she thought distastefully.
Really, there was nothing quite like working for the FBI. That was all there was to it, and she wanted back in. Tara sighed inwardly, she knew that that wasn't going to happen anytime soon unless either Don Taylor found them here or the rest of the team found him; and that was proving to be slow business. His daughter – who obviously isn't completely faithful – wasn't at Dons farmhouse when the police had arrived, so there went that little itty-bitty ounce of hope.
Out of the corner of her eye, Tara noticed Bobby watching her. What she did to deserve him…it was beyond her. Bobby was…well, perfect, really. He was eccentric in the most amazing way, incredibly funny – no, hilarious. The most charming and engaging man she had ever known, charismatic, even when he bickered with Myles Bobby was attractive. And he was sensitive, Bobby wasn't one of those 'muhahaha, bow down to me' kind of guys; and she had known quite a few. He actually cared about real things in real life, he cared about her. "How much do you think a place like this costs?" Tara incredulously wondered aloud.
"Wouldn't know."
His simple and curt reply caused Tara to stop and turn around to face Bobby. With a frown she walked up to him, only inches away. "Something bothering you?"
He reassuringly rubbed Tara's arms with smooth movements. "I just wish that 'we' could've happened under different circumstances. You know…normal circumstances."
Tara smiled, letting out a soft chuckle, "I know how you feel, Bobby. But, doesn't this whole situation almost make our relationship more surreal and magical?"
Bobby frowned. "Having your life in danger doesn't exactly incline me to jump for joy."
Tara rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I guess I do," Bobby tried to force sincerity into his voice; he failed.
Tara cupped his cheek in her hand and caressed his jaw. "Why don't you tell me what's really bothering you?"
He was silent for a moment, but grateful that Tara was a woman with unwavering patience. "I-I can't help but feel responsible for everything that's happening to you and Chloe. I know there's nothin' I could've done, but, no matter what I tell myself I get a guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach."
Tara enveloped Bobby in her arms, linking her fingers around his back. "You're right about one thing," Tara said, her words slurring together, her cheek against his broad chest. "There's nothing you could've done. But when you're faced with an obstacle like this, all you can do is wait it out and learn from it in the end."
Bobby pulled back slightly and grinned admiringly, "Has anyone told you that you're a genius?"
"Oh all the time," Tara replied smoothly, a casual but mischievous smile playing at her lips. Bobby bent his head forward and covered those lips with his, resting his hand on her collar bone, sliding his thumb across the exposed skin sending sweet sensations throughout Tara's body.
Bobby forced himself to pull back from the dreamlike kiss. "Good night, Tara." He pecked her on the tip of her nose before turning away.
He was at the threshold when Tara called, "How on earth am I supposed to fall asleep after that?"
Bobby threw a grin over his shoulder, "Love ya, too!"
"Bobby!" But he was gone. She let out a frustrated sigh, "Ugh," Tara muttered, "love you, too."
A/N: hope you all enjoyed! please review and let me know how i'm doing! one more thing, there has been a slight change in plans, instead of having two parts focusing on bobby and tara i've decided it would be wiser to skip part two and simply conclude this story in this part. in the next part - which is Hidden Desire - there will still be part of bobby and tara's story but mostly Jack and Sue. Part three is now Charred Devotion, a Myles and Lucy fic. I just wanted to let you know since i had previously informed you otherwise. any questions feel free to ask! i will explain my actions more in part two, then i can do more without giving anything away. thanx!