"Oh, oh this is wonderful!" Rosemary exclaimed, her eyes brimming with excitement. "Tell me absolutely everything! I need details!"

Elizabehth laughed, her heart full. "There aren't a lot of details, Rosie. We were at his desk in the police station, just him and me, and we were talking about Billy. Nathan brought up that Billy mentioned him as my boyfriend, though of course at the time Billy meant it as an insult."

Rosemary made a "psh"-ing sound. "As if him being your boyfriend could possibly be a bad thing!"

Elizabeth nodded. "I thought the same thing. But when Billy said it, my heart started racing at the thought. Then Nathan brought it up, and I couldn't form a coherent sentence!"

Rosemary laughed. "No! You were at a loss for words?"

"Strange, isn't it?" Elizabeth giggled. "Then he straight out said he'd like to be my boyfriend if that was what I wanted."

Rosemary leaned back, looking more satisfied than a cat that had caught a mouse. "I do believe I got this whole thing started. You're welcome."

Laughing, Elizabeth protested. "Technically, I was attracted to him from the moment we met. At the police station. In fact, Lee was the one who actually brought us together." Mischief glistened in her eyes. "Or even Billy, for that matter. If he hadn't knocked me down, I never would have met Nathan."

Rosemary grunted. "I'll give you that, but nothing would have come of it if you hadn't met at our house for game night, and you know it!"

"I know," Elizabeth said, smiling at her friend. "And I appreciate it so much more than you could know."

"I think I have an inkling," Rosemary said, her smile lighting her face.

At that moment, Jesse came bolting into the room. "Mom, Clara won't wake up! She keeps saying it's still nap time and to leave her alone!"

Rosemary rolled her eyes, but smiled at her son. "Jesse, honey, let Clara sleep. You were both up late last night, and she needs the rest."

"But I don't need the rest!"

Elizabeth hid a smile as Rosemary put an arm around Jesse. "Sweetie, you might not, but your sister does."

"But what am I supposed to do until she wakes us?" Jesse asked plaintively.

"Why don't you try looking at some books or building with your blocks?" Rosemary suggested, taking a sip of her coffee.

Jesse pouted briefly, then looked up at Elizabeth with hopeful eyes. "Will you help me build a tower, Auntie Elizabeth?"

Grinning, Elizabeth moved to the floor. "Of course I will! That sounds like fun!"

"Goodie!" Jesse hollered, racing for the playroom to get his blocks. Within a minute he was back, lugging a large box. He plopped them on the floor next to Elizabeth and sat next to her. They set to work building a fancy tower while Rosemary watched with a smile.

"Look, Mom," Jesse said enthusiastically, pointing to the finished tower. "Auntie Elizabeth and I made it!"

Rosemary laughed. "I see that, honey. You both did a beautiful job."

Jesse stacked another block on top, tipping the balance point. The tower came tumbling down. Jesse shrieked with delight, clapping his little hands. "Again, again!" He and Elizabeth carefully made another tower, this one more elaborate than the first. The second tower came down when Jesse pushed it, chortling with glee. Clara walked into the room, rubbing her eyes.

"Hi, Auntie Elizabeth," she said, settling herself in Elizabeth's lap. "What are you doing here?"

"We're having game night, and I wanted to talk with your mommy before everyone else got here. And," she said, leaning down and whispering conspiratorially, "I have cookies to bake for everyone tonight."

Clara's eyes lit up. "Yay! Your cookies are the best!"

"Which ones are you making, Auntie?" Jesse asked, bouncing up and down.

"Raspberry chocolate chip," Elizabeth answered.

"Yum!" the twins shouted in unison.

Rosemary laughed. "Alright, you two, Auntie Elizabeth needs to get started on those cookies. Why don't you two build a castle together while we go to the kitchen?"

With the twins happily occupied, Elizabeth and Rosemary went to the kitchen to start their respective preparations. Rosemary was in charge of dinner and bustled around gathering ingredients. Elizabeth put some butter in a mixing bowl then poured two kinds of sugar on top. Turning on her mixer, she beat them together until they were fluffy.

"So, is Nathan coming tonight?" Rosemary asked, glancing at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nodded, her thoughts at once far away at the mention of Nathan, a sudden fear growing in her stomach. A fear she'd been trying to push away since she heard the plan to catch Spurlock.

Rosemary turned toward her, a hand on her hip. "What's wrong, Elizabeth?"

"Huh?" Elizabeth blinked back to the present. "Oh, nothing."

"Nothing, my foot," Rosemary said with raised brows. "You have something bothering you."

Elizabeth sighed, leaning against the counter. "I'm just worried for Nathan and Lee. They're going to be in danger tomorrow night, and I'm afraid something bad could happen."

"Don't borrow trouble for tomorrow, Elizabeth," Rosemary said, her eyes softening. "They will probably be just fine. Both of them have been on more dangerous missions than you know and have come out of them unscathed."

"My head knows that," Elizabeth said, letting out her breath. "But my heart can't help remembering the last time someone I cared about went on a mission...and never came back." Tears filled her eyes. "I'm so scared that will happen to Nathan too."

Rosemary took her hands. "Elizabeth, I understand your fear. But Nathan is not Jack. This is a different situation, and you know he will be well prepared and take extra precautions." She squeezed her hands gently. "All you can do is pray and trust that he will be fine."

A tear slipped down Elizabeth's cheek, but she smiled. "You're right, Rosie. I need to trust." She took a deep breath, then let it out with a whoosh. Straightening her shoulders, she turned back to the batter, cracking in the eggs. "What would I do without you, Rosemary?"

Putting on her sassiest smile, Rosemary fluttered her lashes. "I have absolutely no idea!"


Nathan and Elizabeth arrived back at his house at the same time after game night. Nathan could tell something was on Elizabeth's mind. She'd been quieter than usual all night, and he had caught her looking at him with a strange expression several times. She got out of her car, pushing the door shut with more force than she usually used.

Unsure of what had happened to rattle her, Nathan closed his own car door and then offered his arm to her. She smiled and accepted it as they walked up the porch steps. Nathan unlocked the door and ushered her in.

Colleen and Allie were watching a movie on the couch. "Hi!" Allie said with a big grin when she saw them. "Do you want to watch with us? It's Singin' in the Rain!"

"Actually," Nathan said, glancing at Elizabeth standing quietly next to him, "I think Auntie Elizabeth and I need to talk, but after that maybe we'll join you." He ruffled Allie's hair. "Okay?"

"Okay!" she said brightly, turning her attention back to the screen.

Colleen simply smiled, her gaze traveling from Nathan to Elizabeth. He could tell his sister sensed something was going on too. "There's some popcorn in the kitchen if you'd like something to snack on while you talk," she said lightly.

"Thanks, Colleen," Elizabeth said, heading for the kitchen. Nathan followed. Elizabeth took the large popcorn bowl and placed it on the kitchen table, sitting on a chair. Nathan sat next to her, watching as she munched on a few bites before saying anything.

"What's wrong, Elizabeth?" he asked gently. "I can tell something is bothering you, but I don't know what it is."

She smiled at him, the first full smile he'd seen from her that evening. "I love that you can read me," she said softly. "I thought I was being pretty good about hiding how I was feeling."

Nathan chuckled. "No, ma'am. Your sunny disposition has been glaringly absent tonight."

"This is why you're a detective," she said with another smile, before it faded and a thoughtful look crossed her face. "To be honest with you, Nathan, I'm worried about tomorrow's mission. I'm afraid something bad will happen to you."

Ah, so that's what was bothering her. "Elizabeth, I'll be fine. We take a lot of precautions, and we're going to be surprising Spurlock. He won't know it's coming."

Tears filled Elizabeth's eyes. "That just means he'll feel cornered. And it's the cornered ones that are the most dangerous." She sniffled, looking down. "What if you don't come back?"

"I'll always come back to you, Elizabeth," Nathan said, taking her hand.

A small sob escaped her. "That's what Jack said to me right before he died," she said, her voice broken. "Don't make a promise you don't know you'll be able to keep, Nathan."

Nathan let out a breath. She was right. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. You're right. I shouldn't say things I can't one hundred percent guarantee." He lifted her chin with his finger. "But know this. I will do everything in my power to make sure I can come back here to you. Always."

She surprised him by leaning forward and wrapping him tightly in a hug. "Please do," she whispered, right before pressing her lips to his. Her passion washed over him, but he could feel the desperation in her kiss. She was scared, and with good reason. He brought his arms around her, returning her kiss with a gentleness that he hoped reassured her. When they finally broke apart, Elizabeth leaned her head on his shoulder, remaining in the circle of his arms. He could feel her tears soaking into the fabric of his shirt, and he just held her, hoping his very presence would comfort her in some small way.

Eventually her tears lessened and she took a shuddering sigh. Leaning back, she smiled at him wryly. "Sorry. Didn't mean to cry all over you."

He chuckled, running a knuckle gently under her eye to dry away the tears. "You can cry on me anytime, Elizabeth." Cupping her cheek, he looked deeply into her eyes. "Are you alright?"

She nodded slowly, letting out a breath. "Yes." She grinned suddenly. "Rosemary told me all I could do was pray and trust that you'll be okay. And I think she's right."

Nathan chuckled. "I'll take all the prayers I can get. Thank you."

"Anytime." He was glad to see her smiling again. "So, should we go watch the rest of the movie?"


The next evening, Nathan and Lee sat outside an old abandoned bunker, watching for any movement. Billy was in the backseat, shuffling nervously. It was still ten minutes until 10:00 pm, the time Billy said Spurlock told him to meet there.

Nathan adjusted his vest. Lee kept an eye on the bunker with night vision binoculars. Hickam and Bill were in another cruiser about thirty yards away. With Lee on watcher duty for the moment, Nathan let his mind drift back to his parting with Elizabeth this morning.

Colleen and Allie had already left for school, and Nathan knew Elizabeth was going to be leaving for the hospital soon. He'd come up behind her in the kitchen as she was washing some dishes and put his arms around her, placing his chin on her shoulder. She looked back at him with a smile, and he planted a warm kiss on her upturned lips. She turned in his arms, putting her arms around him too. The warm dish water soaked into his shirt from her hands, but he barely noticed. He let himself get lost in their kiss, focusing solely on her.

After a while Nathan drew back slightly, pressing his forehead against hers, their noses almost touching. Elizabeth's hands curled, bunching the fabric of his shirt in them. "You come back to me, Nathan," she whispered, eyes closed. "Please come back to me."

He shook himself back to the present, still feeling her warmth and the pleading in her voice. He was determined to fulfill her wish.

"Do you see anything?" he asked Lee in a hushed voice.

"Nothing," Lee said, the binoculars still pressed to his eyes. "It's quiet as can be."

Nathan glanced back at Billy. "You're sure Spurlock has no surveillance cameras anywhere?"

Billy shook his head. "He thinks that the more abandoned a place looks, the safer it is for his operation."

Looking at his watch, Nathan nodded. "That's good for us." He raised a brow at Billy. "Are you ready for this?"

"Define 'ready'," Billy said, looking a little less nervous but still shaking slightly. "This is dangerous. Spurlock is a nasty man."

"That's why we're doing this," Nathan said. "And your help is going to get you out of a lot of trouble."

"Then I guess I'm ready as I'll ever be," Billy muttered. He put the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. "Let's do this." He got out of the car. Nathan and Lee waited until Billy opened the front door, then quietly slipped out and followed him, guns drawn. Bill and Hickam approached slowly, surveying the area as they walked. The agreement was for Nathan and Lee to follow Billy and wait for an opportune moment to nab Spurlock. Bill and Hickam would wait by the front door as backup. Billy had assured them there was no other door in the bunker.

Nathan quietly crept after Billy into the bunker, Lee two steps behind him. They watched as Billy walked down the stairs, not trying to be quiet. They had all agreed for him to act as he normally would, and he said he usually walked loudly down the stairs to alert Spurlock to his presence. Once Billy was at the bottom of the stairs, Nathan descended the stairs slowly one by one, careful not to make a sound. Reaching in his pocket, he pushed a button on his recording device.

A deep voice greeted Billy. "Right on time, sonny. Ready for your next assignment?"

"Yes, sir," Billy said. Nathan noted with some relief that there was no tremor in Billy's voice. He sounded like a cocksure young man again. "What do you have for me?"

Nathan peered around the corner cautiously. Billy was facing a man who was sitting in a chair next to an old-school box computer. Nathan could see Spurlock's profile. His shiny black hair was slicked back and hung to his neck. A shadowy beard stood in stark contrast to his pale skin. He had a cold air that Nathan could feel from the door. He had a sense that Billy was right: this man was not afraid to hurt others.

"You know the bank in town?" Spurlock said, his voice cold and even.

"Yes," Billy answered.

"We're going to hit it in two days. I need you to be ready. And this time, wear this." He tossed a black ski mask at Billy. "We can't have you being seen again." His voice became icier. "If you're recognized again, something is going to have to happen to dear old Grandpa. Understood?"

Nathan felt a chill go through him. He'd never heard a colder voice, one so completely devoid of compassion or empathy. Just pure, cold evil intent.

Billy trembled at his words. Nathan wondered if Billy was that good of an actor or if he was truly terrified. Even knowing his grandfather was safe, he had to wonder if he feared for his own safety.

Spurlock stood slowly, his eyes locked on Billy. "Don't mess this up, Billy. We're very close to getting where we need to be." He snapped his fingers. "And once we're done, your money troubles will be history."

A crash sounded upstairs. Nathan jerked back and looked up sharply. What was that?

He could hear Spurlock walking toward the staircase. Nathan pressed himself against the wall, gun ready. Spurlock's steps stopped. Nathan waited, holding his breath. Lee appeared at the top of the stairs, an apologetic look on his face.

"You're not alone," Spurlock said, turning to face Billy. Nathan couldn't see his face, but he saw the look of fear on Billy's. Spurlock reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun, training it on Billy. "Who did you bring?" he shouted.

Lee quickly and silently descended the stairs as Nathan stepped into the room, gun aimed at Spurlock. "Police! Drop your weapon!"

Spurlock glanced back, his gaze hard. Nathan was struck by the ruthlessness in his dark eyes. "Or what, detective? Looks like it's prison for me anyways. What do I have to lose?"

He fired his gun, the bullet striking Billy in the chest. Billy fell to the floor, a hand over his heart.

Nathan lunged, tackling Spurlock to the ground. Spurlock's gun went flying, but he wasn't going down without a fight. The man fought, a punch hitting Nathan right in the eye and sending him reeling backwards. Spurlock tried to get up, but Nathan hooked his leg and sent him sprawling back to the ground. Recovering his gun, Nathan pressed a knee into Spurlock's chest, putting the gun to his heart. "It's over."

Lee was standing over both of them, his gun also trained on Spurlock. "Cuff him, Coulter," Nathan said, hauling Spurlock to his feet. "And read him his rights."

"Charles Spurlock, you're under arrest…" Lee began, listing off the familiar words. Nathan holstered his gun and hurried over to Billy as Lee muscled Spurlock up the stairs.

"Billy!" Nathan said, shaking him slightly. "Billy, are you okay?"

Billy groaned, sitting up. "He shot me!" He looked indignant. "In the heart!"

Nathan chuckled, glad to see Billy was okay. "Good thing you were wearing that bulletproof vest. Looks like nothing worse happened than you getting the wind knocked out of you." He pulled Billy to his feet and slapped him on the back. "Let's get back to the station. We have a deal to figure out for you."

And then he had to get home to Elizabeth.


Elizabeth paced the floor, her robe wrapped tightly around her, arms folded across her anxious stomach. Colleen watched her go back and forth. "Elizabeth, he's going to be okay. These things just take some time."

Looking at the clock, Elizabeth let out a breath, her arms crossing even tighter against her stomach. "It's one in the morning, Colleen! They were supposed to meet at 10:00. What could possibly be taking so long?"

Colleen took a sip of tea, looking entirely too calm. "Elizabeth, I've seen this before. Even if an arrest goes quickly, there's paperwork that needs to be done and processed. It could be six in the morning before Nathan gets home."

Headlights briefly flooded the living room, then went dark. A car door opened and shut. Holding her breath, Elizabeth froze. Was it Nathan? Or was it someone else with news she wouldn't want to hear?

A key turned in the lock, and Nathan appeared. Elizabeth let out a cry, rushing to him and flinging herself into his arms.

"Whoa!" Nathan said, trying to keep his balance. His arms came around her, and suddenly Elizabeth's angst and fear melted away.

"You came home!" she breathed, looking up at him, flooded with relief. Colleen smiled and discretely left the room. Elizabeth frowned, reaching up to touch the skin around Nathan's eye. It was an ugly purple that was clearly going to turn black and blue by morning. "What happened?"

Nathan smiled gently. "I got on the wrong end of a fist," he said with a chuckle. "But all things considered, it's not too bad. Poor Billy took a bullet to the heart. Thankfully he was wearing a vest. As was I, and as was Lee," he said, answering her unspoken question.

She sighed, leaning her head against his chest. "I'm so glad you're home and safe."

He leaned his head against hers, holding her tightly. "Me too, Elizabeth. And most of all I'm glad I was able to come home to you."