Chapter 13

With the location of their temporary house, Bobby had the longer commute on Monday morning to his new office in Austin. However, Tara still woke almost an hour before she needed to, in order to see him off. He'd been surprised to come out of the shower and find that she'd made breakfast for him, just like a wife would for a husband going to work.

Just like a real wife, he mused sadly as he pulled the car into an empty parking space at the Austin field office. Even though they'd had an enjoyable weekend, that one fact sill hung over them. Bobby wanted to explore their relationship, while she pulled away any time he mentioned the subject.

He worried about her alone at the other office, but knew that she'd handle things competently, confidently – and cautiously. The same way she played miniature golf, Bobby thought with a suppressed laugh. She'd slaughtered him at the game, even though she'd sworn it was her first time.

"I swear it was just luck," Tara insisted as they made their way back to their car after playing miniature golf.

"Luck?"

"Well, actually simple geometry mixed with a little physics," she explained. When you take into account the angles to get to the hole, modified by the slope of the green, you just have to allot for the force of your swing, and everything else is simple."

"For you maybe, but just that conversation went over my head," Bobby admitted, enjoying her laughter as it mixed with his.

Though he wanted to throw caution aside, Bobby knew Tara was probably right in saying that it wouldn't work. He couldn't make a relationship work with Darcy, who had to be one of the most liberal open-minded women he'd ever met.

Darcy never objected to his work, or to spending time with just the guys, but eventually they'd grown apart. He knew part of it was her dedication to her job. Even so, Bobby couldn't provide her with what she needed and wasn't sure if he could provide any woman that. I've made so many mistakes in my life that maybe it's better if I just stay alone, he sighed.

"Can I help you?" Blinking, Bobby realized he'd made it all the way inside the building and was standing before the receptionist, who'd obviously asked him that question more than once.

"Special Agent Bobby Manning, I'm transferring from the DC office," he stated quickly, knowing the Bureau took security in their offices serious.

"ID?" the woman questioned stiffly, holding her hand out as Bobby dug it out of is pocket. He felt like he was standing in front of the principal, waiting for his punishment to be handed out. "Agent Starr is expecting you, Agent Manning," she finally said, returning his badge and ID. "Room 16, third door on the right," she pointed briefly down the hallway to her left before returning to her paperwork.

"Thank you," he muttered, a little surprised by her abruptness. Most of the people he'd met in Texas had been overly friendly. I guess she's just having a bad morning, he thought.

Sauntering down the hallway she indicated, Bobby took the time to admire the architecture of the building the field office was located. He actually wondered how old the facility was since it obviously had some very extensive, well-done renovations over the years.

"Here goes nothing," Bobby grumbled quietly as he pushed open the door to Room 16. He never liked starting new assignments, and even though he knew this was just temporary, he still dreaded it.

"Whoa!" a female voice cried out from just inside the door.

Bobby reacted just in time to catch the figure as she fell from the chair next to the door, the banner she'd been trying to mount over the door fluttering to the floor. Surprised and a little shocked, he looked down to ask her if she was okay, only to be mesmerized by the biggest pair of expressive light brown eyes he'd ever seen.

"Ah, ah," Bobby stammered. Wow, he thought as he continued to hold her in his arms.

Chapter 14

Quickly setting her on her feet and stepping away, Bobby ran his hand threw his hair, giving the brunette woman a sheepish grin. He couldn't believe how much her eyes reminded him of Darcy's. It's creepy, he thought. I hope we don't have to work too much together, his mind drifting to the overwhelming green flakes he grown accustomed to in Tara eyes.

"Sorry about that, shelia." Bobby shook his head slightly to get the image of those hazel eyes that had preoccupied his thoughts for so long out of his mind. "Didn't mean to knock you off your perch there, darling," he smiled, pushing his suit coat back as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Well, next time it might help if you knock," the woman stated, straightening her beige suit as she moved around behind the desk by the window. "Since you're in here now, what can I do for you?" she questioned, looking up at the tall Aussie.

"Uh," Bobby stammered, a little taken back that his normal charm wasn't working. "Special Agent Bobby Manning. I'm transferring from the DC office and was looking for Agent Starr," he told her.

"Well, you found her," the young brunette stated. "They didn't tell me when my partner got transferred that I'd get some foreign bloke who can't tell time," she muttered, sitting down as she picked up some files from her desk and started loading her briefcase.

"Huh?"

"You're fifteen minutes late, Agent Manning." Agent Starr barely glanced up at him as she spoke. "While that might be fine in DC, I take our office hours seriously and 8:00 means 8:00. As senior agent, I expect you to be here on time tomorrow," she stated, standing up again as she headed for the door. "I guess we better get going."

"Okay, so what kind of case are we working on?" Bobby questioned as he began following her to the door, almost stumbling over her as suddenly stopped.

"Case?" Agent Starr turned to look up at him, raising her eyebrows. "They didn't tell you what your assignment here entails?"

"No," he looked at her uncertainly. "What should I have been told?"

"You and I don't work on cases, Manning," the brunette stated. "We're in charge of the COPS Program here in Austin. Well, the F.B.I. portion."

"COPS?"

"You know. Help create community crime prevention programs. Work with local schools…" she started

"I know what it is," Bobby interrupted, running a hand across the back of his neck. "I'm SWAT trained. I've dealt with drug dealers, terrorists, you name it, and now I'm stuck babysitting a bunch of little ankle biters all day."

"Life's just not fair, sweetheart," the woman grinned. "Come on. We've got a presentation at the elementary school in an hour." She grabbed her coat and opened the door before pausing. "By the way, you can call me Hannah," she offered before stepping through, leaving him gawking after her.

I sure hope Tara's having a better day that I am, Bobby mused, groaning inwardly before resolving to his fate and following her out the door.

Chapter 15

The state-of-the-art computer sitting in front of her seemed a little strange - a good strange, but strange nonetheless. No longer did Tara feel unique being the only computer specialist on the team, since members of her new Cyber Crime team were all specialists to varying degrees.

Every time Tara looked up, she expected to see Jack, Sue, and the others, but it definitely wasn't her long-time friends scurrying around the office. Jeans and boots appeared to be normal fair in the office, even for the women, she noticed. She actually felt a little out of place in her nice, gray twill pants, but she was comfortable.

Maybe tomorrow I can wear my jeans, Tara decided, thinking it would help her blend in more. I just wish I had a pair of boots, she sighed, knowing she didn't have the money in her meager checking account for something she probably wouldn't be able to wear once she got home.

"So how are you settling in?"

Startled at the sound of her voice, Tara looked up to find a tall, dark-haired woman standing at her shoulder. She'd met Katrina Hooper in the elevator on the way up to the bullpen that morning. The two had joked about their common childhood, Kat having grown up on a ranch just over the Canadian border.

"Oh, hi, Kat," Tara smiled. "I think everything is coming together. Just trying to go through some of the files left by Brad Morgan to see where we stand," she mentioned, indicating the files she'd been reviewing.

"Yeah, we went through those when Brad and Denise first disappeared, but we really haven't had time to do much else with them," Kat acknowledged, picking up some of the files and thumbing through them.

"Any information on what happened to them?" Tara asked, already knowing the answer, but wanting to see what the other woman would tell her.

"Nothing definitive," Kat sighed, tossing the files back down on the desk. "We got a few minor leads from some of the cases he was working on, but nothing panned out."

"What about a past case or someone how had a grudge against them?" Tara inquired.

"He got along with just about everyone," Kat told her. "Well, except Franklin that is. They'd had words more than once, but always seemed to get over it easy enough," she clarified grimacing.

"Franklin?" Tara's interest was peaked, learning that the missing agent and Special Agent in Charge had several disagreements. Before Kat could explain further, the only other woman on the team walked up to join their conversation.

With the two women standing next to each other, Tara noticed how they could have passed as sisters. However, where Kat was more carefree, letting her hair hang loose, Shanna McMahon wore a more conservative style with her hair pulled back, held by a barrette at the nape of her neck.

"Sorry to interrupt, but the men were suggesting that perhaps Tara would like to join us for lunch, to celebrate her joining the team?" Shanna offered, looking at Tara questioningly. "That way we can all get to know each other a little better, since we'll be working together," she smiled sweetly.

"I'd love too," Tara grinned, noticing the way the three men that completed her team were looking at her expectantly. Some things never change, she thought of Jack, D, Myles, and Bobby. The way to their hearts appeared to be through their stomachs also, she concluded.

"You haven't eaten until you've been to the Stone Werks Café," Shanna informed her as Tara stood up, grabbing her purse as everyone headed for the door.

"It's to die for," Kat agreed, causing everyone go laugh.

Tara followed the others out the door, not caring where they were eating. She just saw this as a perfect opportunity to get more information out of the others about the Morgans, without being too obvious.

And we all speak the same language, Tara smirked, knowing they were all techno geeks, so maybe this won't be so bad after all.

Chapter 16

Bobby couldn't believe after all his experience with chasing terrorists, defusing bombs and everything else he'd done over the years that he'd found himself in this situation. None of his training in SWAT or at Quantico ever prepared him for this, and he didn't think anything ever could.

If Jack and Myles could see me now, I'd never be able to live it down, Bobby thought, dreading the knowledge that his co-workers would be joining them in a week. Maybe they'll stay with Tara since I didn't get assigned to Kerrville where Denise Morgan worked, he hoped, reminding himself that he needed to see if Hannah knew anything about the Morgans' disappearance.

"How long does training take?"

Bobby looked over at Becca, the young girl who'd asked him yet another question. Curious little shelia, he smiled.

"Well, all Special Agents get sixteen weeks of intensive training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia," Bobby started. "But that's not all the training we get. Just to be eligible you have to have a Bachelor's Degree," he told them.

"Ah, man," Emi sighed. "You mean you have to go to college?"

"Bummer, it's not like you use any of this stuff they teach you in school anyway, and now you're saying we have to go four more years," Nikki moaned. "That sucks," she grumbled, and the others agreed.

"Actually, shelia, what they teach you in school is very important, and going to college gives you an opportunity to learn even more, maybe even specialize in something," Bobby corrected gently. "My best bud went to law school, so he knows all the legal stuff we need to know to take down a terrorist or other criminal, and make sure they go to jail for a long time. You'd hate for someone to blow up a building, and then get off because of some legal detail, right?" he questioned.

"Well, yeah," Nikki agreed.

"And then there's another guy that knows all these foreign languages, so he can help if someone is planning an attack, but doesn't speak English," Bobby told them, watching their eyes widen.

"But what about girls?" Becca asked frowning.

"Oh, yes, the women from my unit…uh, my old unit," Bobby sighed. He hated having to think of the team that way, but for his safety, and Tara's safety, during the case he had to play up their temporary assignment as permanent. "Only one was really an agent, but we had an analyst that worked with us on a lot of cases. Oh, and don't forget that even a rotor position is important to special agents since the rotor helps keep the office running while they're out," he explained.

"But it's the guys that do all the work, right?" Carson questioned smugly before getting elbowed in the side by his sister, Emi.

"Actually, no," Bobby shook his head, recalling some of the cases in which Tara's and Sue's work actually saved the day. "There has been many times that the work done by the ladies on our team have broken the case so we've been able to catch the person faster," he confessed. "Women are just as important to the Bureau as men, buddy," he admonished, smiling as the girls teased the youngster for his statement.

"Excuse me, girls and boys," the kids' teacher interrupted. "I think we've taken up enough of Agent Manning's day. Let's tell him thank you," she instructed.

"THANK YOU, AGENT MANNING!" the children called in unison, causing Bobby to chuckle.

"You're welcome," he grinned back before following the teacher to the door.

"Thank you so much, Agent Manning for coming today. The kids had a wonderful time," she smiled up at the tall agent.

"It was a pleasure, Ms. Meg." Bobby shook her hand. "I hope I get to come back next month," he told her, surprised that he actually meant it.

"Ready to go," Hannah came up behind him just as he was turning from the room.

"Whenever you are, shelia," Bobby smiled, settling in beside her as they headed down the hallway towards the front door.

"Well, it sounds like you adapted pretty well," Hannah mentioned, slightly startled. "It took Nick several weeks before he was that comfortable with them."

"Heh," Bobby smirked. If that was comfortable, I should become an actor, he thought. But when you're good, you're good, he grinned to himself. "Was Nick your last partner?" he asked, holding the door for her as they exited into the bright sunlight.

"Yeah, Franklin didn't want the new guy stuck at Kerrville, so instead, I got stuck with you," Hannah teased, enjoying wiping the conceited look from his face. "The sacrifices I make for my country," she grinned, unable to hold in her laughter anymore.

"Hey," Bobby cried, realizing he'd been had. "Just for that, shelia, you can buy your own lunch," he told her as he opened the car door for her.

"Like you would have bought it for me," Hannah scoffed as she got in.

"Well, now you'll never know," Bobby shut the door and circled the car. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, he thought smiling. Now if we can just find out what happened to the Morgans. That is what we are here to do, he reminded himself as he slid behind the wheel.