Hannah shook her head in sympathy. She remembered how distraught Robin had been when she thought Don was cheating on her. She wondered if she would have been strong enough to stay away from Colby and raise a son alone if it had been her in Reggie's situation.
"What is it?" Colby asked, curious because he couldn't read the expressions flitting across her face. He didn't usually have a problem.
"Are you sure you don't have any by-blows hiding in the bushes, just waiting to jump out at us?" Hannah asked tartly, but she was smiling.
He laughed, "Other than Cindra in college, you're the only other long term relationship I've had."
"It only takes one time, Colby!"
"I know, I know," he said soberly. "But I think I would have known by now. They were all amicable break ups. And no one disappeared that I know of."
"ALL of them were amicable?" Hannah looked surprised.
Colby grinned, "Women love me, what can I say?" He laughed when she punched his arm and rolled over on him to nibble on his neck. He smacked her bottom playfully, "You know what's going to happen next if you keep doing that."
Hannah laughed, a soft and sensual rumble low in her throat, "I'm counting on it." She burst into a fit of giggles when he tickled her as he got up off the couch with her over his shoulder.
-----
Maggie didn't quite know what to say. Don and Robin had just broken the news to her about Pierre. "Mom, are you alright?" Maggie asked awkwardly. She didn't meet her father's eyes.
Robin smiled gently at her. "Your father and I worked things out between us about Reggie a long time ago. But I'm not sure what to think about her grown son. He seems like a good man."
"I don't expect your relationship with Pierre to be like what Charlie is to me," Don said cautiously. He wasn't comfortable that she had yet to speak directly to him. "But I would like to include him as part of the family. He's still my son, and I want to get to know him."
"Did you love her?" Maggie asked sharply. "What were you going to do if you found her?"
"Yes, I loved her. But life has to go on. Your mother and I agreed to face it together if Reggie ever came back. But she never did, and that was partly because she knew your mother and I had married." Don watched Maggie closely. He was worried now. He hadn't been sure how Maggie would take it but this curtness was unexpected.
Maggie sighed, "I don't know how to deal with it. I like working with Pierre. He's a great agent, and I think he would have been a good friend. But I don't know how to deal with the fact that he's my half-brother."
"Then just be his friend, Maggie," Robin said quietly. "I doubt he's asking for more. Let the future take care of itself." She held her arms out to Maggie, and embraced her.
"I'll do the best I can, Dad."
"That's all I can ask for." But Don was hurt when Maggie left without another word.
"Give her time, honey," Robin said gently.
-----
"Pierre," Maggie said softly.
He looked up at her. "I'm sorry, Maggie, I didn't know."
She smiled uncertainly, "It's not your fault. I don't know how to deal with this. Do you?"
"Just one day at a time. That's all I know."
She nodded, "Fair enough. Good thing we already get along."
He grinned, "Yes, and you're a lead agent while I'm a long way from it. So you can boss me around."
Maggie laughed, "I guess I can at that." She looked at him curiously.
"What?"
"Just trying to see if you look anything like my Dad, and why I never noticed it if you do."
"And?"
She shook her head smiling, "No, I don't see it. You must look like your mother."
"I really don't. She says I look like her father. I was always disappointed about that, I loved her grey eyes. And you, you're beautiful, like your mother."
Maggie looked surprised, "Do you really think so? I always thought I looked like Dad."
Pierre shook his head in amusement, "You do have his jaw, especially when you tilt your head a certain way. But you mostly look like her."
"Alright, alright, break it up," Nick Felton was laughing as he came in. "Pierre still works for me and he's on duty."
"Yeah, yeah, give the man a title, and he goes all feudal lord on you," but Maggie was laughing. She smiled at Pierre as he headed out the door laughing. "Thanks, Nick," she said softly.
"Anytime, Maggie, you know that. He's a good guy, you could do worse for a brother."
"Yeah," she said, snickering at him, "It could be you."
-----
"I need to get this signed off by Director Eppes before morning," Erin said to Cameron when he picked her up for dinner a few evenings later. "Would you mind if we stop by their home before dinner?"
Cam smiled, "Anything for you, sweetheart."
Erin's eyes glowed with happiness, she still half expected to wake up only to discover that dating Cameron had just been a dream. "It's at..."
"I know where it is, love," Cameron grinned, "We used to go there a lot."
She smiled at that. She had forgotten how close the families had been while the children were growing up. "Oh! Have you heard about Pierre Sagesse being Don's son? From a previous girlfriend?"
"Tyler mentioned something about it, but he didn't really know the details."
"I wonder how Maggie's taking it," Erin murmured. "I'm not sure that I would be able to handle it. What about you, Cameron?"
He was quiet for a moment, and Erin wondered if he would answer. There were topics she'd learned to stay away from because he would close up, or avoid answering by distracting her. She smiled to herself, often with a kiss.
"I don't know, Erin," he finally answered.
They were cautious about approaching the house, making sure their hands were away from their pockets. Erin had to flash her ID, and Maggie had to come to the door before Cameron was allowed in the house. "No riff raff allowed, huh?" he said in amusement.
Maggie smiled, it always cheered her up to see Cameron. "Your dad's in the den, if you're looking for him."
"I really wasn't. Erin was looking for your dad. I expect they're all in the den?"
"Yes," Maggie said softly. "Why don't you go in there with Erin for a few minutes? Then if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you. I'll be in the kitchen."
Cameron raised an eyebrow, but she shook her head, and left them at the den.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Megan drawled in amusement. "The prodigal son."
"Just like dear old dad," Cameron retorted, laughing at the disgusted look Colby threw him. "I'm going to raid the refrigerator for a drink, so you can go on talking about whatever top secret thing you were talking about when I came in." He wandered into the kitchen looking for Maggie and found her sitting at the kitchen table just gazing into space. "What's up, Eppes?" he asked, using the childhood nickname that had annoyed her.
Maggie laughed. "I used to hate that."
He grinned, "I know."
"I took that name for granted," she said softly, almost regretfully.
Cameron gave her a few more minutes of silence, "What's on your mind, Maggie? I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a hot date with the most beautiful woman in the world."
She smiled at him, "You know, that almost redeems you in my eyes. She's wonderful, but I don't know many men who would have recognized that." She looked at him curiously when a small, enigmatic smile crossed his face. "You're quite the dark horse, aren't you? Half the time no one knows what you're thinking."
"Did you ask me in here to quiz me?"
"No. I need someone to talk to."
Cam eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Almost sadly, she continued, "I just need someone who would be impartial. I don't quite know how to handle this situation. I feel like my dad's been holding out on me. And I can't seem to forgive him for it. I hadn't had problems working with Pierre before this, but now, I feel really uncomfortable with him." She looked at him and sighed. "I just wondered what you would do."
"Erin asked me the same thing on the way over here. And I have the same answer for you that I had for her. I don't know, Maggie. I really don't." Cameron paused. He looked at the unhappiness in Maggie's eyes and softened, "But I do know this. I spent a lot of years staying away from Mama and Dad, and the sibs, because I felt they were better off without me. And I wish I could get those years back. They love me, God only knows why, and I regret the the years I wasted. From that standpoint, I say get over it. Do what you have to do to forgive your father, and get on with life. Nothing's worth losing time with your family. And that includes Pierre now." Then grinning wryly, he said, "Just like I have to include Tyler."
Maggie laughed at that last quip, as he had intended. She looked at him curiously, "Friend to friend, would an underground railroad really be able to provide a brand new identity for someone? Help them totally disappear?" She barely caught the fleeting change of expression on Cameron's face.
He replied mildly, "I guess you'd have to ask someone who could tell you. Now, if you don't mind, I need to rescue my woman from being overworked by the dread lord." Cameron moved away smoothly and Maggie smiled ruefully. She should have known he wouldn't trust her enough. He trusted very few people.
Cameron strolled into the den, inwardly discomforted by Maggie's question. Then his eyes widened ever so slightly when he stopped as Rafe blocked his path. He gazed silently at the agent.
A slight flare of his nostrils was the only indication that anything was amiss, but Rafe felt as though he'd been punched in the solar plexus.
"Cameron Granger," Cam introduced himself, holding out his hand.
"Rafe Kenyon," was the quiet reply, as he gripped Cameron's hand firmly.
Megan watched the two men and wondered what had passed between the two. She saw Colby's lips twitch slightly in amusement before settling into his usual sardonic expression. David raised his eyebrows at her and she shrugged. But she was going to find out if that was the last thing she did.
"Milady, your chariot awaits," Cameron said breezily to Erin.
Don grinned, "I guess that's my hint to get on with it?"
Cam smiled sweetly, "Would I ever be quite so disrespectful to the great Director of the FBI?"
Colby laughed, he couldn't help it.
"Cam's definitely your son, Colby," Don said dryly. "You're free to go, Erin. I'll take care of these." His eyes widened in surprise when Erin flashed him a smile. He glanced at Cam, impressed at his perspicacity.
"I'll walk you out, son," Colby said mildly.
"You didn't tell me," Cameron said softly to his father.
"I figured you'd meet eventually. Besides, there's nothing to tell. Is there?" Colby's sharp eyes probed deeply into Cameron's. Then he said quietly, "He has an exemplary record with the Navy. And he's a good man and agent."
Cam relaxed fractionally. "Thanks, Dad."
Colby smiled faintly, "I didn't do anything for you I wouldn't have done for anyone else."
That got a laugh from Cameron, "If you say so, old man."
"Take your lovely lady out and show her a good time. And get her home by ten." Colby smiled at Erin. She returned his smile shyly. She was only just beginning to get comfortable with him.
Cameron grinned wickedly, "I'll get her home by ten, alright. Might be my home though!"
"Are you going to tell me what that was all about, Cam?" Erin asked when they drove off.
He looked thoughtful, "Not yet, Erin, but soon, I promise."
-----
Note:
Cindra Ashford appeared briefly in Dirty Laundry