Author's note: I had way too many people begging for this, and then it begged to be written...


Chapter 13: You Are My Home


Bullpen, Hoover Building

Monday, 14 February 2005

5 p.m.

A shower of red foil hearts brought Tara's head up fast from the program she was debugging— had been working on for the last month, in fact. It hadn't exactly been a slow month, just no "impending doom" scenarios. FBI "business as usual" tended more toward tamer stuff, fraud and environmental violations, bureaucratic nonsense that meant a lot of legwork and paperwork, but little adrenalin. Though, after the past year, she thought with a wry smile, all of our adrenal glands could use a recharge.

Now she looked up into the twinkling green eyes of her best friend and laughed. "You know, I'm starting to think it was better when you weren't a consultant. You couldn't sneak up on me."

Elizabeth laughed in return and tossed another small shower of hearts on her. "Not having to be escorted does have its advantages. What are you working on, or is it classified?"

"Nothing too major," Tara replied. "It's a spyware program that Tech was having problems with, so they asked me to take a look at it." She rolled her eyes. "I think it was originally written by Jim Carrey."

A deep chuckle penetrated the conversation as Myles came over to give Elizabeth a quick kiss on the cheek. "Or Bobby."

"I heard that, mate." The Aussie was putting on his coat. "Lucky for you I'm almost late to pick up Darcy, or we'd have paper clips at twelve paces." Laughter rolled around the room as he went out the door.

"You here on a case?" Myles asked his fiancée. "Or could you just not stay away from me?"

The psychologist smiled up at him. "I can never stay away from you; you know that. But I do have another reason for being here. I came to kidnap Tara."

"Kidnap me? Why?" Suddenly Tara's eyes narrowed, and she aimed a glare at Myles, who had picked up a file from her desk and was now studying it intently. "What's he up to?"

"Who?" The fact that his eyes were on the page couldn't hide the blue-grey twinkle that appeared.

Tara grabbed the file and turned it around so that he'd be reading it right-side-up. "Your twin, that's who. I just realized you've been two steps from grinning at me all day today, and now Liz is here to kidnap me. It's Valentine's Day, and Sam is notorious for taking holidays to the next galaxy and back. What's going on?"

Elizabeth saved him by placing a hand on Tara's arm. "He doesn't know; or, doesn't know any more than his own part in it later. You're just going to have to trust me. Get your coat, and let's go."

Tara gave Myles one last glare, which he returned with a shrug and his most innocent look. Then she saved her work quickly and got her coat. She didn't notice the several sets of eyes following her as she did so.

Elizabeth turned and faced the group after Tara walked out. READY SEVEN PM. WE YOU MEET. Then she flashed an I-LOVE-YOU at Myles and hurried to catch Tara at the elevator.


&
Dillingham Residence, Georgetown

Monday, 6 pm

"You're kidding me." Tara looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head. "This is… what is this all about?"

Elizabeth adjusted the veil that hung from the hat, so that it flowed nicely over the shoulders of the wool surcoat. "You just relax and enjoy a little escape into another time. I'm sure you already know where this is headed, anyway."

"I look like a poster child for the Renaissance Festival." She glanced down at the rich purple of the surcoat, and the cream of the dress beneath that peeked out where the surcoat buttons ended at her waist.

"You're supposed to." Elizabeth finished fussing with Tara's hat and stepped back, smoothing down her own dress, which was forest green and considerably less ornate than her friend's. "You're a medieval princess who's about to get swept off her feet by a dashing knight. And," the psychologist added, shaking a finger at the agent, "I was informed to get your most solemn word that the phrase 'This is too much' will not cross your lips tonight. Sam has spent a great deal of—"

"Money."

"— thought on this, and he's having a blast. Let him."

Tara smiled shyly. "Like I have a choice. But okay— you have my word. So how come I get all the fancy embroidery and you don't?"

"Ladies-in-waiting should never outshine their lady." Elizabeth finished pinning her hair up under her own hat, and glanced at the clock. "Come on, we're going to be late. And Myles is letting us use the Jag tonight. I don't want to waste a moment of that."

Tara laughed. "Heaven forbid. Let's go."


&
On the road between Georgetown and Silver Spring, MD

6:45 pm

"Where are we going, anyway?" Tara asked. It had been thirty minutes since they drove out of DC and into the Maryland countryside.

Elizabeth glanced over at her. "This is supposed to be an evening of surprises. You really think I should tell you?"

"Okay, okay," Tara surrendered. "Just hush up and enjoy. I get it."

The psychologist laughed. "Ever hear of a place called Le Château Royale, in Silver Spring?"

"The Renaissance dinner theater place? Sure. I've always wanted to go there." Her eyes widened. "You mean…?"

"Sam bought the whole place out for this evening. Well, one of their big spaces, anyway. It's a popular place on Valentine's Day."

Suddenly, the smooth ride of the Jaguar was interrupted by a sputter in the engine. Within moments, the sleek sports car was silent on the shoulder.

"Uh-oh." Elizabeth popped the hood, and both ladies got out to look at the engine.

"You know anything about cars?" Tara asked her friend.

The psychologist sighed. "I can change a tire and my spark plug wires; that's about it. And I haven't had to do that in over a year, since Myles did it for me last time." She shone the flashlight into the engine compartment. "I don't even see them in this piece of British engineering. We're only a mile from the dinner theater; it'll be a cold walk, though."

Tara opened her purse. "I left my cell phone at your place. Jack's gonna kill me if we get a call."

"You can use mine. They know we're traveling together." Elizabeth pulled her own phone out, and groaned. "Oh, no; my battery's dead."

They'd about decided to walk when a strange sound behind them made both ladies turn. Elizabeth smiled. "I think we just got rescued."

"Well, now, what have we here? A couple of damsels in distress?"

Tara stared; there really wasn't much that could strike her speechless, but the sight of Bobby Manning, in full medieval costume, swinging down from the driver's seat of an elegant horse-drawn carriage topped that list.

Her lips quirked as she tried desperately to restrain a laugh; the opulent white plume in his hat dipped and swayed into his face with every move. A dark blue tunic with silver embroidery, over a white shirt, fell to just below his knees, which were covered in…

She raised a brow; behind her, Elizabeth took one look at him and ducked her head back under the hood of the Jaguar, shaking with silent laughter.

"Love the tights." Tara cocked one hand on her hip and gave Bobby a wide grin. "And how much did you milk Sam for before you agreed to wear them?"

"They are not tights." The Aussie's chin went up slightly. "The proper term for them is chausses, there's not a thread of Spandex in them, and I'll have you know they're quite comfortable." Then he dropped back into character. "Now, would milady care for a ride, or would you rather stay out here all night?"

Tara eyed the gilt carriage and shook her head in surrender. "I've already promised to not log a single complaint about this evening, so I guess we're riding."

Elizabeth smiled. "You go ahead; I'm going to call for a tow truck. Myles would kill me if I left his precious Jag out here unattended."

"How did I just know you were going to say that? I'm sure I'll see you shortly, then." Tara grinned again and turned back to Bobby, waving an arm toward the carriage. "'Lead on, MacDuff.'"

He opened the door with a flourish and offered a hand to help her in. "It's a bit drafty. There's a heavy robe or cape or something in there you can toss around you."

She glanced at it. "As long as you swear to me that's not genuine ermine, I'll take you up on that."

Bobby chuckled as he swung back up into the driver's seat. "No animals were harmed in the production of this evening, I promise you. And consider yourself lucky my price was less than Jack's— he can't drive one of these things to save his life. Or that of any passenger."

The carriage took off down the road; as soon as it rounded a bend up ahead, Elizabeth turned and called softly toward the trees. "All clear."

"I'm really glad I had a camera for that." Howie was chortling as Elizabeth turned to see him and Otis walking out of the nearby woods. "I could make a fortune on e-Bay."

Elizabeth laughed. "Just undo your handiwork here so I can get up there before Tara does. We have more work to do."

Otis Washington reached into the engine and removed a small device from the carburetor; he then reattached the hose that had been disconnected when the tiny charge went off. "All set; you can tell Myles his baby's none the worse for wear. I ain't never seen anyone worry so much about a car before."

The psychologist smiled as she closed the hood of the Jaguar. "He doesn't get to use it very often, so he makes sure it's in perfect condition for when he does get a chance. Now, I need to get going. I'll see you up there."

"Liz." Howie reached out to stop her. "Look, uh… thanks for including us in all this. Tara's a good friend."

"You're part of their team, Howie," Elizabeth replied. "Both of you. It's only right you should be here now. And that didn't come only from me."


&
Le Château Royale Renaissance Center

Silver Spring, MD

7 p.m.

Le Château Royale was known all along the Eastern seaboard as the finest Renaissance-style venue of its kind. As the carriage pulled up in front of the imposing stone castle, Tara realized that all the research she'd done in the hope of one day visiting it paled in comparison to the real thing.

She knew that it was not a replica, but an actual 14th-Century Scottish castle that had been moved, stone by stone, to its new home on a hill overlooking several acres of lush Maryland horse country. The catch phrase around the place, word had it, was authenticity; modern conveniences might be there, but they were carefully shrouded in period materials.

Bobby pulled the horse to a halt and jumped down to open the door for her; as he helped her down the single step, she looked up, awed by the stunning combination of dark grey stone and rich tapestry banners. "Wow."

"You don't know the half of it," the Aussie replied, the plume on his hat bouncing into his face again. "Wait'll you see inside. You're to go through those doors and up the stairway to the right. At the end of the hall, knock on the door."

"You're not coming in?" She looked a little intimidated at the thought of braving the place alone.

Bobby grinned. "I'll be along. Old Mingo here would rather go hang out in a nice, warm, stall."

"Smart horse," Tara quipped. "By the way, Bobby; I think the plume is supposed to go at the back of your hat."

He glanced up at his hat, then reached up and flipped it around. "I thought it felt a little funny. See you in a bit." He hopped back into the driver's seat of the carriage and headed around one side of the castle.

Tara stared after him for a moment, a smile quirking her lips; then, shivering, she decided it was time to go see what else Sam had dreamed up. Her heart pounding, she pulled open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside.

The entry was well-lit, but there wasn't a bulb in the place over 15 watts; it gave the feeling of candlelight very vividly. Tara walked up the stairs, marveling at the ancient strength of stone once again. She remembered to lift her long skirt slightly only after she nearly tripped onto the hard surface.

The upper hallway was dimmer, the timbers hulking and left visible. At the end of the hall was a door, and she faintly heard music coming from behind it. Drawing in a breath, she knocked on the heavy door.

"Ah, Lady Williams. Welcome."

The door swung open to reveal Dimitrius, dressed in a dark red tunic and grey chausses; the embroidery on his indicated he was the "lord of the manor" she was visiting. He smiled and took her hand as she stepped into the room, then bowed over it in a very courtly manner.

"You grace us with your presence," he said, amusement in his dark eyes. "One of my knights has been most anxious for your arrival this evening."

She couldn't help but smile in return; her friends were all throwing themselves into this, and having a blast, by the reactions she'd seen so far. May as well join them, she thought. "I thank you, good sir. I eagerly await the entertainments this evening will bring."

"You won't be disappointed," he chuckled as he led her into the room.

A heavy wooden table was set with pewter and fine linens; platters piled high with fruit added color around white candles. Congregated at one end of the table were several chairs, and an animated conversation was going on in both speech and sign.

Donna Gans' dress matched the color of her husband's tunic; she rose as Tara came over to the table. "Welcome, milady," she said. "Will you take wine with us?"

Tara laughed. "Am I going to need it?"

"Most likely." Myles had risen to his feet when she came in, and now greeted her as the other men had, bowing very properly over her hand.

She stared at him as well. "You just walked off the cover of a Harlequin Historical, didn't you? I think this beats the 'Italian Beach Boy' look by a mile."

He raised a brow, and looked down at his jade-green tunic and darker chausses. "You think so?"

"Please, don't encourage him." Lucy grinned as she brought Tara a goblet of wine. Her dress was a deep coral that offset her ebony skin beautifully. "We've been subjected to a history lesson ever since he showed up."

"Lucy, let the woman at least sit down before you start griping," Myles answered amiably, extending a hand to seat Tara.

Elizabeth, Darcy and Sue had been chatting, and all three turned as the rest of the group resumed their seats. Tara eyed the psychologist with a smirk. "That must have been some fast tow-truck service, 'Doc.' Even if I was traveling under literal horse power."

"Yes… how did Bobby do?" Darcy asked, smoothing the royal blue of her dress. "Will the poor horse ever be the same again?"

"I heard that, sheila." Bobby walked in with Howie and Otis right behind him.

Brows shot up all over at the sight of Otis in medieval dress, even though his outfit was a tame grey in contrast to Howie's burnt orange. The big man scowled. "Remind me to send your brother a bill, Myles. I don't do 'Holy Grail' unless there's some large green to be had."

"Aw, come on, 'Big O,'" Howie piped in. "Where's your sense of adventure? Besides, it's for Tara."

"My sense of adventure is limited to this century."

"Otis, the only green you agreed to out of this little enterprise was hands-on concerning my Jaguar," Myles responded calmly. "And I assume that my car is in the same pristine condition I left it in?"

"Quit worryin' about your wheels. It's fine. I do good work, and leave no traces."

Tara leaned over to Sue. "Are you following any of this?"

The blonde woman smiled. "It helps that Liz is interpreting." She was dressed in a deep turquoise dress that highlighted her dark eyes.

Tara laughed. "I see even Levi got into the theme tonight." She reached over to pet the large Golden Retriever, who was sporting a bright red "archer" hat, circa Robin Hood. "Okay, so everyone's accounted for, except Sam, who I assume will be making a grand entrance at some point, and Jack. Where is our illustrious unit-leader, anyway?"

Several sets of eyes rolled toward the ceiling.

"What?" Tara asked. "Don't tell me Sam managed to get him into a suit of armor."

"No," Bobby replied. "In fact, ol' Sparky couldn't be persuaded to even go as far as the rest of us did."

PARTY POOPER, Sue signed with a smile.

"It wasn't for lack of effort on Sam's part," Myles commented. "I think he gave up when the 'incentive' was about to reach five figures. We all tried to convince Jack that if Bobby could be persuaded that chausses wouldn't leave a permanent 'blight on his manhood,' it certainly couldn't be all that bad."

"But he is here, isn't he?" Tara didn't think her unit leader would go so far as to stay away completely.

"Yes, I'm here."

Jack Hudson walked out from behind one of the nearby tapestries, which apparently was hung on a screen that held it out from the wall. Modern dark trousers and a plain white oxford offset a shirt-length, unadorned black tunic; it could have been merely a fashion trend, except that he did sweep off a plumed hat similar to Bobby's as he entered. The plume was considerably smaller, though. "I was helping set something up for later."

Tara looked him over, then grinned at Sue. "How do you sign 'party pooper' again?"

HA HA, he signed in reply. "Just because I chose not to show off my legs…"

"Aw, come on, Sparky," Bobby teased. "You just knew you'd get shown up by the rest of us. Even Myles."

Laughter rolled around the room as Jack rolled his eyes. "Since I chose not to dress up like a scene from Henry V, I volunteered to capture this evening for posterity." He produced a camera. "There's a video camera running, too."

Otis grimaced. "Dude, you take my picture with that, and I'll—"

"You will conduct yourself with the decorum befitting your attire." Myles glared at him. "And we will make sure the only place the pictures end up is in Tara and Sam's photo album, thus saving your 'street image.' Fair enough?"

Otis said nothing and took a long drink of his wine.

"So where is Sam?" Tara asked. Then she grinned. "Wait; let me guess. He's out slaying a dragon, right?"

"Chevalier Leland is on an errand at the moment," Dimitrius said mysteriously. "He should be joining us shortly."

"On a white horse, and scaling the castle wall, no doubt."

Laughter floated around at Tara's comment, and Elizabeth reached over to take Myles' hand as she answered. "The manager here wouldn't let him scale the wall; he thought about it. In the meantime, there's something he wanted you to hear before he arrived." She glanced over at Myles and signed READY?

The tall agent nodded, letting his breath out as if to gear up for something. Then he stood, drawing Elizabeth up with him, and stepped over to where a small panel was hidden behind a tapestry. The others moved their chairs back to form a half-circle, with Tara at the center of it. When they were settled, Myles removed a wireless microphone from a hook on the panel, along with a headset microphone, which he handed one to Elizabeth.

"Wait a sec," Lucy leaned over to Bobby. "He's going to sing?" Neither the Aussie nor anyone else bothered to answer her.

"Tara," Myles said, "Sam spent about two weeks going through my CD collection, looking for the perfect song to tell you what's in his heart. He knows that you've been afraid about the differences in your backgrounds, and that you think he's settling. He finally found a duet from the Broadway production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. This is his message to you." He pressed a button on the panel, and the strains of a ballad filled the room. After the introduction, his baritone mingled with Elizabeth's alto, and she signed the words at the same time…

There is a child inside my heart tonight.

No one can see that child but you.

If I hold on to you too tight,

You understand, you hold me too.

You are the one who reaches through the dark.

When I'm afraid, you warm the air.

And when I close my eyes to sleep,

You are my peace, you are my prayer.

You are my home,

You make me strong.

And in this world of strangers,

I belong to someone.

You are all I know,

You're all I have,

I won't let go.

Others may leave, but you will still be there,

Touching the tears that fill my eyes.

When I am lost, you are my light.

You are the love that never dies.

You are my home,

You make me strong.

And in this world of strangers,

I belong to someone.

You are all I know,

You're all I have,

I need you so.

I will not walk away from you!

I will not let you go!

You're the only home I'll ever know!

You are my home,

You make me strong.

And in this world of strangers,

I belong to someone.

You are all I know,

You're all I have,

You are my home.

(You Are My Home, from The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Tara's cheeks weren't the only ones wet when they finished; the silence that followed was a perfect backdrop for the soft footsteps that sounded behind them. Dimitrius immediately stood and took Tara's hand, drawing her to her feet. He then gestured behind them. She turned.

Sam Leland stood there, in the richly embroidered tunic of a count's own knight; the color matched his eyes and brightened the pale gold of his hair. Black chausses and boots completed the look. At his hip was a sheathed sword, the hilt jeweled with sapphires. A navy cloak, pinned at his throat with a silver clasp, only emphasized his height and the breadth of his shoulders. In his hand was a single red rose.

Her eyes were wide as he stepped around the group to face her, then dropped to one knee in front of her. "My lady," he murmured as he pressed a kiss on the back of her hand. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting long."

She took the rose he offered with a smile. "Not at all, Chevalier." The words caught in her throat slightly, and the rest came out in a whisper meant only for his ears. "Just long enough for me to fall in love all over again."

He looked up at her, the blue eyes wide with surprise, then melting into an affection she could feel on her skin. "Then my arrival is most timely. If I may, my lady, I have a small gift I wish to bestow on you."

Tara stroked his cheek tenderly. "I promised not to argue tonight, so you may."

Sam laughed softly, and pulled a box from under his cloak. It was too big to be a ring, unless he'd gone and purchased the Hope Diamond. Tara lifted the lid on it, and gasped. Then she glared at Elizabeth and started giggling. "You didn't," she said to her friend.

The psychologist shrugged innocently, then also started laughing as Tara removed a beautiful tiara from the box. Examining it closely, the petite agent discovered that the jewel in the middle wasn't a jewel at all.

WHAT? Sue asked, though hers wasn't the only puzzled look.

Bobby leaned over Tara's shoulder. "There's a camera hidden in it."

Tara caught her breath. "A couple of weeks ago, Liz and I were talking about how I could mesh my world and Sam's. She was lecturing me for worrying about it, and we decided that I could be both a spy and a princess. And I told her that if that was the case, then I wanted a hidden camera in my tiara."

"You have but to ask." Sam was still on one knee in front of her, and now he pulled a second, smaller box out of a pocket in his tunic; her face stilled, and she looked at him with such love that he had to swallow once before he could continue, his voice deep with emotion. "Tara, you truly are my home. Not only do you tolerate all my varied antics, you joyfully throw yourself in at my side or hold me until the façade goes away and I can function again. Whether you're creaming me at MarioKart or thwarting would-be terrorists and jewel thieves, you are fun, and caring, and a lady to your toes, and I can't think of anyone else I want to spend the rest of my life with." He opened the box to reveal a beautiful solitaire. "Will you marry me?"

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Tara found she could only nod.

"Excuse me?" Myles intoned. "I don't believe the rest of us heard that."

Her breath came out in a laugh, and she found her voice. "Yes, Sam," she said, pulling him to his feet. "Yes."

He swept her up in his arms and twirled her around as applause broke out. Their mouths met in a long kiss, and then he set her down gently. Slipping the ring onto her finger, he murmured in her ear. "So do you really want to run the Bureau?"

Tara laughed merrily, and kissed him again. "Nah. Replacing Bobby's cars alone would break us in a year."


&
After a dinner fit for royalty, the others wandered off to explore the castle, leaving Sam and Tara alone. He led her over to the small balcony that overlooked the grounds. A half-moon lit the countryside with a soft glow of silver that matched her tiara and the white-gold of her ring.

She slipped her arms around his waist and looked up at him, the love in his eyes making her tremble slightly. "You have a way of making my life so exciting. Thank you."

He smiled. "Like you need any more excitement. But you're welcome. I don't know as I'm completely ready for the big step, but I wanted you to know that I wasn't going anywhere."

"We can wait as long as you need," she whispered. "I'm not going anywhere either."

He started to respond, but the words caught in his throat and he opted for a gentle, lingering kiss instead. Her fingers found their way into his hair, and he found himself getting a little lost until she pulled back gently.

His breath came out in a laugh. "Okay, I think I'm gonna quit giving 'Bro and Liz a hard time. I just figured out that this really can fry your brain."

Tara laughed. "Such a romantic."

Sam chuckled in return. "Hey, I'm still learning. You're the only lady I've ever had to practice on." He dropped a kiss on the end of her nose. "And the only lady I ever want to practice on. Don't you forget that."

"I won't," she replied softly. "Anyone who would go to this length to convince me that I'm the only one in his heart deserves my trust. And you have it; I'm just sorry it took me so long."

"S'ok; hey, it took me twenty-some years to trust my own family again, including my twin. Besides," he added, brushing the tears from her cheek with his fingertips, "this was all worth it to see the look on your face, and Bobby in tights."

She laughed and tilted her chin up in an imitation of the Aussie earlier. "They're not tights."

Sam's laughter echoed off the stone walls and down onto the grounds. "Yeah, right. We just told him that so he'd go through with this. Otherwise, he was ready to about murder me again. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to razz him."

He drew her close as they both laughed, enjoying the moonlight and the promises of many more joys ahead.