Kate spent long and very uncomfortable hours with her boss on the aircraft. He would look at her with disappointment from time to time and then go back to the book he was reading. Kate used her time on the flight to write some reports and study the new case NCIS team was working on. Yes, there was nothing for her and DIA team there, but she wanted to know. At least it could be useful as dinner conversation. She had no idea what she was walking into with Lucy now. She informed her that she was not taking the job so that made their situation even more real and complicated. Now they really had to work for it. Now they would be at the same place, at the same time and at the place that makes Lucy happy. Now Lucy didn't have an excuse of DC being toxic for their marriage. If things go down in flames, it has nothing to do with city being toxic, but two of them.

Lucy was with Ernie when she got message from Kate that she landed and was on the way to the office. She was nervous and excited to see her at the same time. She wanted to know about the job offer and why she said no and also she wanted nothing to know about anything DC related. That city was her nightmare and she hated thinking about it.

''You are distracted.''

''I am just tired.''

''Fun night…''

''No, I would call it confusing rather than fun.''

''Oh… Do tell…''

''I can't, not yet.''

Ernie sensed there is a story there and as he turned to say something to Lucy, he noticed her rings.

''This is the story I have to hear.''

He took her hand and admired the emerald.

''This looks expensive… You could give Whistler run for her money with this ring. Show her that not only her wife has money.''

Lucy just rolled her eyes at that comment.

''I will have you know that her ring is more expensive, but I think mine is prettier.''

Ernie looked at her a bit suspicious. He heard Jessie speak about Lucy's crush on Whistler. He found it a bit ridiculous for Lucy to ask around the price of Whistler's ring. That is borderline obsession, and not crush.

''How do you know the cost of her ring?''

Shit! She had to think fast.

''I am a girl…I may not often look the part, but I do know a thing or two about expensive jewelry.''

Ernie just looked at her with a smirk.

''Fine, I will tell you, but not a word to anyone. I don't like talking about it.''

He had a huge grin. They spoke at the same time.

''You are sleeping with Whistler!''

'' I am a child of oil mogul…''

And then looked at one another shocked by what was said.

''What?!''

Ernie didn't expect it. Lucy Tara was actually rich.

''Sleeping with Whistler? Where did that come from?''

''Well, you are crushing on her. We are all starting to believe something is going on.''

''We are not sleeping together.''

''Good… Now, explain the rings.''

''Do you really need an explanation, aside from the obvious?''

''So, you are married?''

It was very weird talking about it.

''Yes, I am…''

''And where is the…?''

''Wife… I have a wife… Gay, gold star…. both me and Mrs.''

''So, where is the wife?''

''Here…''

''In the building or Hawaii?''

Lucy just gave him a look.

''Will we ever meet her?''

''We are…Things are complicated at the time, so it will take a minute.''

''Is she pretty?''

Lucy just smirked. And Ernie smirked back.

''Someone is smitten by the complicated wife.''

''Ernie, let's go back to the case. We have plenty of work that doesn't involve my marriage.''

Ernie was about to turn to his computer when Lucy spoke.

''Did you love your wife when you got a divorce?''

That got him by surprise.

''Hm…''

''I am sorry… I shouldn't have asked.''

''No, it's ok… I just haven't spoken of her for so long that you got me by surprise.''

It took a moment for Ernie to put the puzzle in his head before he gave the answer to Lucy.

''I still love her… And I never really got over our divorce. I blamed her for leaving and not understanding why my work was important to me. But now, from some distance, I think we gave up. We didn't try to fix things before we ended it. I think she expected me to ask her to stay and I expected she would do the same. It is a mistake we will both regret.''

''So, why don't you contact her again?''

''She remarried. She has a normal life. Her husband works in construction company as an architect. He has two kids from the marriage before her. His wife died of cancer and Dina is a good mom to them. I could never break up her life and home for what if?''

''I just don't know what to do with my marriage.''

''Do you love her?''

''Yes…''

''Does she love you back?''

''She says she does.''

''So, what happened?''

''I got the job offer and I expected her to follow me to Hawaii, like I followed her to all the places she went…and she never did. She didn't even think about coming with me. She kept saying that she is working on something important and that made me feel small and not important to her. I would drop my life for her any time and she never did for me.''

''Was it really that important to risk your marriage?''

''It turned out to be… But I learned that after two years. Two years in Hawaii and she just shows up out of nowhere.''

''So, her work stopped being important?''

''No, she found a way to do her job here. According to her story, she learned of the position here, packed a bag and took the job that was demotion compared to what she was doing back in…Well, home.''

''Sounds to me that she picked you.''

''I don't know anymore.''

''Well, I can't help you without knowing more and I have a feeling you are not ready to share.''

Lucy just smiled at him.

''Someday, I will tell you the details you need.''

Lucy wanted to say something, but Ernie stopped her.

''As much as I want to know stuff, you better stop talking. Elsa is coming.''

''Whistler?''

''Yes…''

''How do you know?''

''Heels… That clicking…That is Whistler…''

A moment later, door opened and Whistler entered in all her perfectly dressed glory.

''Ernie… Lucy…''

''Whistler…''

''What brings you here?''

Whistler had no idea why she came… Well, that was a lie. She came to see Lucy, but she didn't think of an excuse she would use in front of Ernie.

''I needed to speak to you, special agent Tara. I just need a minute.''

''Oh, ok… Lead the way…''

Ernie noticed some weird tension. They left Ernie's office and Kate walked to the secluded part of the hallway.

''What is going on Kate?''

''I just wanted to see if you know when you would be done with work?''

''I have no idea. Why?''

''I spoke to the therapist. She can see us at six.''

''Therapist? Today?''

''Yes, we spoke about seeing someone and I've contacted one that Tennant mentioned.''

''She is divorced, you know.''

Kate smirked.

''That point was made to her, but Tennant said she helped her and her husband.''

''Do we have to go today?''

''Lucy, I think it would be best to start as soon as possible.''

She exhaled and just covered her eyes with a hand….

''Ok…Ok… You are right…I will clear things with Tennant so I can leave at five thirty.''

''I'll text you the address...''

''Ok… See you there.''

With that, Kate went to her office and Lucy went back to Ernie's.

''What did you do now?''

''What?''

''Well, the teacher called you to speak alone… So, that usually means you screwed something up… Knowing you, you got on her nerves for putting the pen at the wrong place.''

Lucy smirked.

''She is not that uptight…''

Ernie just looked at her.

''You clear your desk when she comes to the bullpen…''

''Mind your own business.''

''I don't have my own business.''

''What happened to the art teacher?''

''She wants someone who actually shows up for the dates and doesn't leave in the middle of them.''

''Ah…''

''I don't know how Jessie does it.''

''Heather married him when he was in police. She knows the drill. PD and NCIS are not that different.''

''I guess you are right.''

''And how does your wife react to your job?''

''She…She knows what my job is and has no issues with me doing this. She knows all the things I've ever done and she was there when I was going from job to job.''

''So, you've been together for a long time?''

''Yes, and stop fishing. I am not talking about her. I told you!''

''You can't blame me for trying to find out more.''

''Please, don't do what I think you will do. Please, let me do this in my own time.''

''What do you think I would do?''

''I know you will try to learn who she is the moment I leave this room. Please, I need you to let me do this in my own time and when I am ready.''

''What are you afraid of?''

''Everything.''

Ernie wanted to try to dig through Lucy's life and learn who the Mrs. is but for now he was going to let Lucy tell him on her own.

Kate spent most of her day working on some documents that were not related to their case. She had about thirty of them to redact and reread before she gives them to the other team she started working with. Bullpen was hectic so she put in her earbuds and played some classical music. Lucy always teased her that she had work playlist with her favorite piano pieces. She set the alarm to five thirty and when it rung she locked the documents in the vault and packed up her things. She saw Lucy and Jessie sitting on their desks.

''I am leaving. I'll see you tomorrow.''

''Have a nice evening Whistler.''

''You too special agent Boone. Special agent Tara…''

''DIA officer Whistler.''

She left the office and Lucy kept looking at the door she just walked out of. Jessie watched his friend and he finally addressed the elephant on her finger that has been bothering him.

''I had no idea you were married…''

''You knew there is a complicated person in my life…''

''Yes, but I was sure it was an ex… You always spoke of her as ex.''

''No, YOU spoke of her as an ex. I just never corrected you because it was easier. Less questions.''

''So, will you tell me something about your wife?''

''Something about her… Like what?''

''What is her name…?''

''K…''

Jessie was waiting for her to say it…

''Her name is Katherine.''

''Tara?''

Saying yes was not a lie… Kate did have two last names…as did she…

''Yes, Tara…''

'' How does she look like?''

Lucy smiled.

''She is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.''

''And how long have you been married?''

''Long time…Over ten years.''

''Wow! You were young…''

''We were nineteen… We went to college married…''

''Wow… So, you missed all the college experience of having plenty of sex and partying.''

He put his arm around her and continued teasing her.

''Did you start watching polite people bake bread then when you were with her?'' Or maybe you spent all the time with your nose in the book? Or cleaning bathroom or something like that. Some of the excuses you used when you were trying to avoid dates I arranged for you.''

''No, we had a lot of sex. She is a major nerd, so sometimes I had to compete with books for her attention, but when I got the attention, it was only mine…''

She winked at him. Jessie was stunned by the answer he got. He didn't expect Lucy to tell him that. She didn't speak about the Mrs. at all, so he was grateful he even got this little.

''We didn't waste our time together on shows or parties… We could manage by ourselves.''

She went to her desk and picked up her things.

''I'm out… See you tomorrow.''

''See you…''

Lucy parked in front of the building where the therapist's office was and took a moment to pull herself together before she got out of the car. She was very nervous about this. This will be the moment that would make them or break them.

Kate was sitting in the waiting room and looking at her watch. Their session was about to start, and Lucy was not there. For a moment she was sure that her wife changed her mind and she was thinking about her options. Part of her wanted to stay and talk to the therapist to resolve issues she had regarding the marriage and situation and part of her believed that she and Lucy had to do this together. Door opened and Lucy walked in.

''Sorry I am late… We had something last minute.''

''It's ok… What matters is that you are here.''

''Yeah.''

She took a seat beside Kate and all they could do was wait.