A/N: Weird things are happening fast around Aubrey and Jessica as they try to draw connections between all of the players in our story. Do they know who they can trust? Read on to find out.

It was an early Friday for Aubrey as he slowly got himself around for work after crawling out of bed at 5:30. He had a long day planned to make up for being home the day before, but the only thing he really wanted was to be alone with his girlfriend. Unfortunately, with their latest case, those times outside of work would be few and far between over the next few weeks.

Securing his sidearm as he came down the stairs, he saw that Jessica was already up and working on breakfast in the kitchen. As grateful as he was for the meal, he also felt guilty.

"Jess...why are you up at…" He paused as he checked the kitchen radio's clock. "...6:12 in the morning making breakfast? It's your day off. You don't need to feed me every day, you know. I'm a big boy...I can make my own meals."

Jessica poured some scrambled eggs onto a plate and added some bacon and rye toast. Putting the plate, a cup of coffee, and a small bowl of fruit in front of her boyfriend, she fixed another plate for herself. "Yeah, it's my day off, but I don't mind cooking since I'm up."

"But I kept you up late…", Aubrey trailed off. '...because I was crying like a little bitch about my bad father…'

"Aubrey, I kept myself up late, and for a good reason. You needed me." Jessica stabbed her eggs and took a bite. "That's what you do when your significant other is upset."

"But…"

"James Aubrey...shut up and let me help you instead of pushing me away again. We've come too far for you to put up walls." Jessica took a breath and focused on the plate in front of her. "Now eat your food. I didn't get up early just for you to let it all get cold so you could eat donuts for breakfast."

Aubrey smirked before picking up his fork. "You think you can just boss me around, woman?"

"When you're being silly, yes, I can." Jessica sipped her coffee. "I'm not just your girlfriend, but also your lover...the one who does fun things in bed you like, so that gives me the right."

Holding up his hand, he wiggled his fingers while arching his eyebrows. "I do a thing or two you enjoy also, Ms. Warren."

"Touche', Agent Aubrey. Now eat your breakfast."

"Yes, ma'am." Chuckling, the agent took a bite of his breakfast. "Very good."

"Thank you. Now I've packed some of last night's leftovers for your lunch today." Jessica bit into her toast. "When you get home and after we get some dinner, we can finish going through those boxes if you're up to it."

"That would be great, thank you."

"You're welcome."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

By 12:30, Aubrey was able to finally break away for lunch after a morning of catching up paperwork and dodging phone calls from two US Senators' offices. Pulling his leftovers from his mini fridge, the agent was giggling like a small child as he briskly walked down the hall and then raced into the 4th floor break room. Opening the insulated bag Jessica had packed for him, he grew giddy again as he spotted the large container of pasta with extra puttanesca sauce along with a separate side of crumbled hot italian sausage. Quickly putting both dishes in the microwave along with the garlic knots she'd also packed, he found the spinach salad with a small container of bacon vinaigrette as well.

"Oh, she loves me…", Aubrey said as he took a large bottle of water from the fridge. Pulling his lunch out of the microwave, he had barely made it back to his office before Genny trotted in and shut the door.

"Boss...got that info about Warden Brinton." Genny saw Aubrey looking at his food forlornly. "I can talk while you eat."

Aubrey exhaled in relief. "Thank you. I've been playing catch up all morning and I haven't eaten since I had an egg sandwich from the diner a few hours ago."

Giggling as her boss dove right into the large container of pasta, she told him what she'd found out. She wasn't surprised when he stopped eating mid bite at her last bit of information.

"Seriously? That many times?", he asked in surprise with a full mouth.

"That many times." Genny crossed her arms and shrugged. "No wonder he went into corrections, right?"

"Well, you can't say he wasn't determined." Wiping his mouth, Aubrey sipped his water. "Anything on Andrea Clark and their connection?"

"Yeah...you could say that." Genny held out a folder to her boss. "I found this when I was researching her and her family in Morgantown."

Aubrey opened it, and read the papers in it before scanning again. "You're serious?"

"Yep. Interesting, huh? I did some research on his employment history with the Board of Prisons and found a couple interesting tidbits about our esteemed warden." Before Genny could go further, Aubrey's phone rang. "Want to just call me when you're done?"

"No, it can wait. This case is too important. I'll let it go to voicemail."

When the phone stopped ringing and the light came on, Aubrey quickly checked the message. Genny watched her boss's eyebrows furrow. When he hung up and remained quiet, she grew concerned. "Boss, what's wrong?"

"That was Senator Andrews from West Virginia again. This is the third message from him requesting to have lunch with me today or dinner tonight…" Aubrey's phone rang again. "US Capitol again...I'm putting this one on speaker phone. Maybe then they'll leave me alone." Pressing a button on the phone, he answered. "Aubrey?"

"Hello, this is the secretary for Senator Thoms' office. Is this Special Agent in Charge James Aubrey?"

Genny rolled her eyes silently as Aubrey smirked. "Yes...how can I help you?"

"Senator Thoms asked me to call you to set up a time for you to have lunch with him in his office next week. Now he is available Monday, Wednesday-"

"Can I ask why the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee wants to meet with me?"

There was silence for a moment before the secretary coughed softly. "Does the senator need a reason to meet with you? Usually when he asks someone to dine with him, it's considered an honor. Now, he's free Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. What day works better for you?"

"None of them...I'm busy all next week." Aubrey's expression told Genny that he had a bad feeling about the call. "My division has several open cases at this point in time, and I need to oversee the investigations…"

"Agent Aubrey, I'm asking on behalf of Senator Thoms of the Finance Committee. He wants to have a meeting with you and he's not one to take 'no' for an answer. I'm sure you must realize how important the Finance Committee is to the FBI's funding and the Senator is interested in discussing your future with the FBI. Now, what times are you free for lunch Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday?"

"He will have to take 'no' for an answer, ma'am, because I also have a busy schedule. However, if he wants to meet with my assistant, ASAC Genevieve Shaw, I can send you to her. She's as well versed as I am about how this department is funded."

"He's requesting your presence-"

"Have a nice day. Goodbye." Aubrey hung up the phone. "Ugh…"

Genny groaned. "Someone sniffed us out, Aubrey. They're onto us."

"Yeah, probably." Aubrey scratched his chin. "I'll email both Booth and Stark quick, since I'm sure she'll call one of them to complain about me turning down the senator, and then you can tell me what you've got on Brinton."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Several hours later, Aubrey and Jessica were going through more of Rachael Aubrey's boxes in the den. "Seriously, Superman? He flunked that many times?"

"Yep." Aubrey made a pile from items he had taken out of a box. "He took the New York Bar Exam for the first time in January 1979, a few months after Andrea Clark started attending Baruch College. He proceeded it take it three more times, the last time in 1982. After Ms. Clark returned home to Morgantown in May of 1983, he took the West Virginia Bar two months later and then again in February 1985."

"Wow...I'm sure it hard, and I get flunking once or twice, but...wow…"

"I don't know about West Virginia's but the New York Bar is considered to be one of the hardest in the country, although they're now using the Uniform Bar Exam. I lived, breathed, and ate nothing but law for three months before I took that exam, Jess. I guess maybe Brinton didn't want to give up, especially after spending so much money on that fancy law program at Washington and Lee."

"I think it's more like he was in love with Andrea Clark and wanted to be near her. I'm sure it was hard for him when his girlfriend graduated and left him behind."

"From Genny's research into Andrea Clark, I'm not sure if she was Brinton's girlfriend per se, except maybe in his own little world. It seems that while she was at Washington and Lee, Ms. Clark spent a great deal of time with a Todd Winters, who also attended their law school and graduated with her. After graduation, he joined her in New York and got a job at a big time criminal defense law firm."

"Jock, rich boy type?" Jessica nodded. "Like maybe a trophy husband?"

"That he is. Genny also found a 1983 wedding announcement in the Morgantown Dominion News along with a certificate of marriage for Todd Winters and Andrea Clark for July 12, 1983." Aubrey sat down. "Brinton was no jock nor a rich boy. My guess is that she used him when he was convenient for her purposes, and when he tried to follow her, she pushed him aside as he was no longer needed."

"Because she graduated and had a better deal with Mr. Rich Boy Jock..."

Aubrey nodded. "Who is also currently West Virginia's Attorney General and is rumored to be running for governor in 2020."

Jessica sat down on the futon to take a break. "So he wastes time chasing her for years before realizing she didn't give a damn about him, which is sad, but the cousin thing…"

Aubrey looked at his girlfriend. "I know, Jess. Skeezes me out, too."

"It's serious yucky that his wife Nancy is also Andrea Clark's cousin." Jessica shuddered at the thought. "So...wrong...like when Dr. B went on that date with Booth's brother..."

Surprised, Aubrey stopped what he was doing. "What are you talking about?"

Jessica made an 'oops' face and turned back to her box. "Uh, never mind."

Aubrey walked over and turned her to face him. "Oh, no, no...I want to hear all about this, Jess. Booth has never told me about that."

"Just something Dr. B mentioned once. Not a big deal…"

"Come on, Jessica, this is good shit. Booth never tells me the fun stuff like Dr. B does with you…come on, Honey...I love you…"

"Superman, quit buttering me up! We have more important things to talk about right now. Let it go...or no naughty showers for a month."

'No…no…', Aubrey grumbled. "Ugh...fine. You're no fun."

"Yes. I am...and you know it." Jessica considered for a moment. "As for the warden, it's almost like he got with her as a second choice. Not cool."

"Well, whether it's genuine love or some fucked up way to stay close to Andrea, they've been married for almost thirty years and have two children...a son in the Navy and their daughter, who attends West Virginia University in Morgantown. Nancy is apparently a poorer relation who's from the other side of the tracks."

"Well, I hope it's the former." Jessica found another box. "Do you all think he's being bribed or being used somehow?"

"Either he's the unluckiest man in the world or he's in this deep somehow. However, we can't find any money trail. His bank accounts don't show any sudden deposits, and there's no evidence of a pattern of large sums of money going in the accounts either."

"So how did he get into Corrections, anyway?"

"Well, I think he realized how futile it was to keep paying a fee to take an exam and flunk it each time. According to his employment history, he graduated with his Bachelors in Criminal Justice in 1988 from West Virginia State University." Aubrey sat back, frowning slightly. "He was hired into the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1990 and almost immediately got placed at Hazelton as a supervising guard, moving up to deputy warden in 1999 before being promoted to the top spot in 2003. Funny thing, he ran both the medium security and penitentiary parts until two years ago when BOP decided to split up the leadership and bring in Warden Thomas from one of the prisons in California in 2015. Rumor has it he wasn't a happy man...at all."

"I would think he would be relieved at the smaller workload. It sounds really stressful. Did you find out why the BOP split the leadership.? Usually the government tries to cut back on expenses by consolidating."

"I thought the same thing since the other complexes have one warden, but I couldn't find anything to determine why." Grabbing his beer, Aubrey took a drink. "However, his personnel file notes that he had been counseled by the regional BOP superintendent after Warden Thomas complained about Brinton throwing his weight around at the medium security facility as if he still ran it. He was also constantly around trying to 'help' the new warden, who didn't appreciate the 'assistance' according to the reports."

"Sounds like he didn't want to let go…"

"The best part was some of the personnel at the medium security unit complained about Brinton trying to 'stir the pot' and get people on edge about the new warden, including trying to recruit the new guy's secretary to report to him about Thomas' comings and goings. Brinton denied it, of course, but there was a note put in his jacket."

Jessica looked at her boyfriend with a faint smile. "You think he had something going on there, don't you?"

"Maybe...maybe not. It's interesting, though." Aubrey got back up and found another box to search. "Something is just off about him. When he find out what that is, then perhaps another piece of the puzzle will come together."

He waited until she went back to work, but couldn't delay it any longer. "Um...this is gonna seem like a weird segue, but in the event of full disclosure, I should let you know that two US Senators called me today to discuss my future."

"Your future?" Stopping what she was doing, Jessica turned around to her boyfriend. "Do you mean transfering to another field office?"

Aubrey saw the fear in her eyes and moved to reassure her. "No, I promise...nothing like that. Stark told me recently that they want to keep me here in DC as long as they can have me. Besides, I made a promise to you that if I was offered any future promotions you were the first one I would speak with and I plan to keep it. Besides, I won't consider anything until after you graduate."

Jessica relaxed and then suddenly stiffened again. "You think that someone caught us sniffing around the Vacchio case?"

"...and that whomever wants us to stop digging put the senators onto me?" Aubrey exhaled softly. "I wouldn't be surprised in the least. They're too smart to do that with Booth, but I'm sure they have some sort of plan for him as well."

"Did you talk to Booth about it?"

"Yeah, and I went to Stark, too, because the calls were getting on my nerves, and honestly...it was putting me on edge. It was a good thing I said something, because one of the senators called to complain about my turning down offers for lunch dates, probably to force my hand. However, Stark said it was my right not to go see them and he wouldn't force me. He said if it happened again to tell him so he could take it to the Director."

"Wow...do you think someone may try to tank your career, Aubrey, for snooping into this case?"

"Yeah, but I'm not worried. I'm sure Stark has my back. He's not my favorite guy, but I know he's not a politician...he doesn't play those games." Aubrey looked at his girlfriend with concern. "I'm more worried about them possibly trying to mess with you or with the lab. I should also talk to Genny, too, about taking precautions with Danny.

Jessica saw her boyfriend's intensity and grew concerned. "Aubrey...do you think it will get that far? That they'll try to go after one of us to scare you, Booth, and Genny off?"

"I don't know...maybe I'm just being paranoid, but just be careful this weekend, all right?"

Jessica knew better than to argue. "Okay."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Saturday morning was announced with the buzzing of Jessica's phone at 6:20 AM. Both she and her bedmate groaned before she hit the snooze button and put her head back on Aubrey's chest.

"I need five more minutes…"

"I need five more hours…", Aubrey muttered. "Maybe even five more days…"

The next ten minutes consisted of the couple quickly falling back into a deep sleep with Skinner at the end of their bed. However, their peaceful bliss was interrupted when the alarm went off again. Shutting off her alarm, the redhead groaned. "I have to get up, Superman. I need to go to work."

"Okay…going back to sleep now…", Aubrey turned over and closed his eyes.

Making a face at her boyfriend, Jessica stumbled into the bathroom, quickly stripped off her night clothes and got into the shower. Yawning, she found her shampoo and was about to squirt some in her hand when she heard the shower door slide open.

"Decided to stumble out of bed too, huh?", she giggled.

Aubrey took the shampoo and squeezed some out of the bottle before washing Jessica's hair. "Well, considering I kept you up until after midnight going through all those boxes, I guess I can get up when you get up."

Jessica finished rinsing her hair and glanced down towards his waist. "And you're horny…"

"Maybe a little…" He groaned as she ran her hands over his erection. "Okay, maybe a lot, but…"

"I see. Well, I'm working until 3:00 today, but how about we have a nice, quiet, romantic dinner tonight at Rigoletto's?"

"Sounds great. I'll make the reservation when they open this afternoon." Aubrey smiled as Jessica's pert breasts were in his direct vision. "A nice quiet dinner together…and maybe a more…fun night afterwards….albeit with adequate sleep time for you since you work tomorrow."

Jessica smiled. "That sounds really good."

"So how about an early morning appetizer?" Wearing a silly grin, Aubrey pulled his girlfriend close and slowly pushed her against the wall.

"I think that can be arranged." Jessica's laugh turned into a happy sigh as her boyfriend's magic fingers went to work.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Around 2:30, Aubrey was wrapping up his work for the day so he could be home when Jessica got back from the lab. He had just put his coat on when his cell rang. "Hello? Hey, Hunter...what's up?"

The agent listened and became more excited. "Seriously...an anonymous tip, huh? Do you think it's credible? Hey, I'll take anything at this point. Pixler would be the best initial target, but we go where the evidence leads us...yeah, keep me posted. Bye."

Aubrey ended the call and smirked as he left his office. "Oh yeah, baby."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

At 6:00 pm, the couple was seated in a secluded corner table lit with candles. In front of them was an appetizer plate of raw oysters and a bottle of Barbera wine stood nearby.

"This was the best idea you've had in a long time, Aubrey...not counting this morning's shower, of course." Jessica sipped her wine and grinned at him. "After the crazy week we've had, this is heaven."

"It is, and we've only had appetizers so far." Aubrey smirked as he picked up an oyster shell. "I'll be enjoying my favorite appetizers later this evening when we're home. That's why I'm tanking up on these babies, you know..."

"Because they're considered to be an aphrodisiac...not that you need any help in that department." Jessica blushed furiously as he licked his lips suggestively and arched his eyebrow. "Superman, you're such a horny man.."

"Hey, we live together, but we haven't done more than copping a feel here and there since we did it on Thursday morning. A man has needs, you know…and I know how much you like it when I give you a good workout."

"That's true…" Jessica thought she heard a familiar voice and turned to see who had walked in. She groaned softly as her fears were realized. "Shit, it's Daisy, Beau, and his father...and his mother."

Aubrey was surprised at who else he saw. "With both his parents? I thought they weren't speaking to her."

"That's what I thought." Jessica glanced over at Mrs. Pixler, who didn't seem to be very happy. "Wow, she looks pissed."

Aubrey sipped his wine. "Well, if she's with them, then maybe they're patching things up with his mother as well."

"Well then, Denise doesn't look happy to be making up…but it's either that or lose her only son." Jessica put her wine glass down. "We should go say hi…"

Aubrey put his hand on hers. "Jess, no."

"Why not?"

"Because we're investigating Martin Pixler right now. We need to avoid the Pixlers as much as possible. We can't do anything that might compromise the case."

Jessica sighed. "When I mentioned to Daisy earlier that we were coming here tonight, I didn't anticipate seeing her.

"You told her we were coming here?", Aubrey admonished. "Jess…why?"

"She sent me a text asking what we were up to tonight and I said you and I were coming here for dinner and then spending a quiet night at home. Then she said we were invited to dinner with her, Beau and her in-laws, but I told her no thank you." Jessica played with the stem on her wine glass. "Now that we're investigating her father-in-law, it's hard to hang out with her without lying."

"Hopefully, this will be cleared up sooner than later." Aubrey felt bad about the spot that Jessica was in. "I'm sorry that you're upset. I'm sure it's hard on you right now."

"It is, but if Mr. Pixler did something wrong we have to bring him to justice." Jessica glanced back over at the table across the room. "What if they come over here?"

"Then we'll be polite but brief. Hopefully, they won't come over anytime soon." Aubrey saw that Daisy had recognized them. "Shit…"

Daisy and Beau were all smiles as they walked over to the table. "Hi, you two…having a romantic dinner tonight, huh?", the linebacker asked.

'We have candlelight, wine, and oysters. What the hell do you think we're doing, playing chess?', Aubrey thought but bit his tongue. "Yeah, out for a nice quiet dinner tonight."

Jessica finally mentioned the elephant in the room. "I see you're here with your mom, Beau. Are you all working things out?"

"Yeah, we'll see." Beau exhaled slowly. "My folks came by the condo this afternoon and not only did my mom apologize to Daisy for being so mean to her, she also wanted to take us out to a nice dinner at Le Diplomate so we could start over."

"Then she wanted me to call you two up to join us. That's why I asked what you were up to tonight." Daisy said. "When I let her know that you had other plans, she wanted me to call and insist on you two joining us at Le Diplomate."

"When Daisy said no because you probably wanted some alone time with Aubrey, my mom got mad again before deciding she wanted Italian and pushed for us to come here instead.", Beau said. "Very insistent."

Daisy glanced at Jessica. "Denise also said she wanted to take the two of us out to lunch next week."

'I barely know the woman and she wants to hang out with me.' Jessica saw the daggers Denise was shooting over in their direction. "That's…good."

"Hey, you two should come join us at our table. Denise would be happy.", Daisy asked, her voice almost tinged with desperation. "The more the merrier tonight."

"Babe, just like I told my mom when she kept asking you to call and invite them to eat with us instead. I'm sure they want to be alone." Beau turned back to Aubrey and Jessica. "You're sure welcome, though, if you want to."

Seeing the woman's continued stare at her and Daisy, Jessica began to feel unnerved. "Um, it sounds like it's a family dinner, and we don't want to intrude."

"Beau, why don't you see if the waiter has come by yet?", Daisy asked. When Beau was out of earshot, the anthropologist began to beg. "Please have dinner with us tonight. It is so awkward…"

"What do you mean?" Jessica looked past Daisy, trying to figure out what was going on. "It's just a meal together, right?"

"Denise has been acting all nice to me today until I refused to nag you about joining us tonight. She called you ungrateful and said you were acting holier than thou to her, which was nuts. Once I told her to stifle it or we were leaving, she stopped." Daisy exhaled slowly. "She's behaving herself again for now...but we'll see for how long. She's just being really odd, you know."

"She's still mad at me about your bridal shower, isn't she?" Jessica shook her head. "It's not my fault she was trying to be a show off and got caught."

"Oh, don't worry about her. She acts all 'society matron', but she's more like 'former trailer park matron'. She's always acting like she's better than anyone else, especially when she tries to one up Melinda Maxwell. Those little scenes are always fun to watch because Mrs. Maxwell just ignores her since she has more class." Daisy clasped her hands together. "Are you sure you don't want to have dinner with us? It'll be fun…"

Aubrey saw the stiffness of Beau's mother and 'fun' was not the term he would use. Nodding at Jessica, he smiled. "Usually I would say yes, but I've barely seen this woman all week and I would like to spend some quiet time with her tonight. You understand, right, Daisy? I mean, you and Beau must be busy getting reacquainted."

"Yeah, yeah, we are, except for Martin's frequent visits. He's been to dinner with us almost every night this week and he's also just acting...weird. Oh well, if you change your mind, there's plenty of room at our table."

"We'll keep that in mind, Daisy." Aubrey pointed at the table. "The waiter is there…"

"Oh, I so need a bottle of Merlot to get through the next couple of hours with my mother-in-law. Drop by before you leave…please.", Daisy pleaded before walking away.

"Well, that was awkward.", Aubrey said. "His mother wants to reconcile all of a sudden and is treating Daisy with respect. Even more, she wants to spend time with you and me."

"No, she doesn't. She was giving dirty looks behind her back, Superman. Either she's sucking it up for Beau or Mr. Pixler is forcing the issue. As for wanting dinner with us, honestly, I'm not sure why she would. Every time we talk I get the sense that she thinks of me as just some annoying flake and I think she resents where I came from as compared to her. Daisy said Denise's family was poor growing up."

"You mentioned Daisy's bridal shower. What was that all about?"

Jessica chuckled. "Well, it was a fancy affair at their estate. I guess she'd invited some society people, including Mrs. Maxwell. Ironically, only Mrs. Maxwell and a couple of others showed up. The catering was super fancy and she served Saoirse Finn's new rose' wine, bragging to the guests about how she was a close friend of the owners of the winery and how she was in negotiations to buy the company as a possible side business to Pixler's…Andie almost choked on her wine when we heard that."

Aubrey laughed. "You're kidding me. Does your family know her?"

"Nope…" Jessica laughed again. "Daisy then said, 'Oh I didn't know you knew Jessica's family?' Denise was like, 'Excuse me?', so I jumped in and told her that it was my family's winery and that she must be mistaking the company for another one since it's not for sale. There were some...snickers and the society people there were giving her looks, so it was obvious I blew a hole in her lie. Since then, she's coolly polite to me…and only speaks to me when she has to for the sake of propriety."

"Well, that's what she gets." Aubrey ate another oyster. "I find it interesting that Martin has visited them almost every day this week. He really wants to reconcile, it seems."

"You don't think there may be something more besides a genuine want to get past their difficulties, do you?"

"Well, something is up, Jess." Aubrey sipped his wine as he saw Mr. Pixler sipping his drink and staring at the wall. "He looks like he's got a lot on his mind."

"If Mr. Pixler is involved, I hope Daisy and Beau don't get hurt in the process." Jessica exhaled softly. "Now, let's concentrate on us...at least until our dinner arrives."

"Great idea."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Aubrey and Jessica were halfway through their dinners as they discussed the case. "So you didn't find much today, Jess?"

"I did look, but Michelle Stafford, the junior intern I had with me today, had so many questions about the remains she was assigned today, and I couldn't get anything else done. As a senior intern, part of my job is helping the juniors but she was really needy today."

"I'm sorry, Jess…"

"It's fine. I'm sure it was because this is her first weekend shift and she was nervous. I'm hoping to get more time tomorrow to look over the Vacchio case."

"Well, Hunter said the tip was a credible one so hopefully, Hunter's friend at the IRS, Agent Matney, can find justification for them to audit Histavark and Pixler's books. If there's anything there connects back to Vacchio, then we can talk to Stark and reopen…oh, that's interesting."

Jessica turned and saw Denise Pixler walking over to their table with an artificial smile. "Superman, that smile is…eeeehhhh…"

"Let's find out what she wants…hello, Mrs. Pixler. How are you this evening?", Aubrey asked pleasantly.

"Doing very well now that we've settled the…difficulties with our son. How about you two?"

"Fine, thank you. I'm glad that you and Daisy have settled things.", Jessica said pointedly, not missing the quick flash of anger before the older woman's facial expression changed back into congeniality.

"Yes…we've come to an understanding since she values her…career so much. She is who Beau chose, so I have to...accept that.", Denise said with barely concealed sarcasm. "So, I've come by to ask you two to join us for dessert and drinks."

"Actually, we're still eating dinner, Mrs. Pixler, but thank you.", Jessica said politely.

Not easily deterred, Denise gave an airy wave. "We're going to be here for a while so that's not an issue, and I insist that you join us. You both are good friends to my son and his…wife. I would be honored to have an esteemed agent such as yourself, Mr. Aubrey at my table. Excuse me, Agent Aubrey."

Seeing that they weren't going to able to exit gracefully, Aubrey finally gave in, ignoring her attempts at flattery. "Well, we have dessert planned, but we can join you for a drink before we leave."

"Excellent. I'll let the waiter know to expect you."

The woman walked away and Jessica shook her head. "Superman, I thought we were going to try sneaking out."

"That was the plan, but Beau's mother was insistent that we have drinks with them. I'm finding that I'm curious as to why. Aren't you?"

"No, because she's a superficial, social climbing bitch." Jessica then realized what her boyfriend was saying. "Wait...do you think they suspect something and they're going to fish for info?"

"Not sure yet, but I'm game, if you are."

Jessica nodded. "I admit that I'm curious myself, and besides, it'll make Daisy happy."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Forty-five minutes later, Aubrey and Jessica settled their bill before joining the Pixler family at their table, chatting politely as Denise ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon. No one missed the surprise on Martin's face at the order. "Denise…"

"I do enjoy your family's champagne, Jessica, but I find I'm in the mood for something extraordinary as opposed to ordinary, as we're celebrating this evening. Do you mind?"

'I guess if you need a $500 bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate, no skin off my nose.'l Jessica thought, ignoring the subtle slap at her family. "No, of course not, Mrs. Pixler."

After the champagne had been opened and poured, the topics of discussion were very general, ranging from Beau's position with the Redskins to Martin's latest news on Pixler's Pig Out Palace. Then, suddenly, the fun began.

"So, Agent Aubrey…any new and interesting cases lately?", Denise asked before sipping her champagne. "As a Special Agent in Charge, I'm sure you must have seen it all."

"Well, the Major Crimes Division takes on cases that are complicated, like bank robberies, fraud...murder connected to another crime...you know, things like that. Sometimes my division shares cases with other divisions, such as Special Agent Booth's Homicide Division." Aubrey sipped his champagne, waiting to see if his hunch was correct.

"I recall from what Daisy told us that you and that Agent Booth worked that murder of the SEC agent last fall…Valkyrie…Vason…Vacchio. Yes, that was his name. A very dreadful murder…and you were shot by the killer, weren't you?"

Aubrey hesitated, pursing his lips slightly. "Yes, Booth and myself were shot at by someone over 24 hours after my ASAC and an SEC agent were shot at by a trader at Histavark's DC office."

Denise ran her finger around the rim of her glass. "Has there been anymore news about that case? Or anything regarding the Maxwells?"

The SAC hid his smile as he shrugged slightly. "No, the Gerald Maxwell cases and Vacchio cases are closed, although if we get new evidence we would probably re-open them. The FBI always wants to see justice done, no matter how much time has past."

"So, do you work with the IRS and SEC on a lot of cases? Or with any other federal agencies?" The older woman wrinkled her nose as she sipped her alcoholic drink. "I know you must think I'm being frightfully nosy, but I find your work quite fascinating. Unfortunately, Daisy works with a lot of what she calls cold cases so I can't get good tidbits out of her."

"We have partnered with both agencies in the past.", Aubrey said. "Depending on what's going on...like maybe for a RICO case...something like that."

"Have any new and interesting cases on the horizon that you may involve your division partnering up with them?", Denise asked before subtly bending forward, exposing a generous amount of cleavage. "Or any new cases or old ones you've reopened?"

'Wow…sorry, Mrs. PIxler. I don't like cleavage overkill. I like just enough to fit in my hand, like Jessica's. No more…no less…you are so desperate.' Aubrey smiled slightly. "No, nothing like that of late. Of course, you never can tell when something might come up..."

A look of frustration on her face, Denise smiled, drank, and moved on. "So, my husband knows, and is friends with several US Senators…"

"Denise, I don't think Aubrey really—", Daisy started but was cut off.

"Of course, he does. I know he cares. He's obviously an ambitious young man if he's already a Special Agent in Charge." Denise turned back to Aubrey. "I'm sure Mr. Aubrey would be interested in knowing that several powerful people are watching him and his career at the FBI. If he's careful and doesn't upset people who could benefit him, he could be looking at a possible career in the US Senate in the next ten years or so, and since he has his juris doctorate, it would only be a few years more before he'd be a federal judge..."

Aubrey smirked to hide the concern he had at that moment. "I'm flattered, Mrs. Pixler, but I have enough friends, thank you. Besides, I'm perfectly happy being a Special Agent in Charge at this time in my life."

"No one can have too many friends, James.", Denise purred. "May I call you James?"

"Sure, Mrs. Pixler.", Aubrey responded. 'Seriously, she's flirting with me with her husband next to her and my girlfriend next to me? Wow…'

"Oh, call me Denise, please...we are practically family, after all." She ran her hand down his arm, giggling slightly. "As I was saying, my husband and his friends know influential people at the SEC and the IRS, as well as in the Justice Department. Like I've said, they are watching you. Just play your cards right, young man, and you'll go places…I can even introduce you to them one day soon."

Sensing there was imminent danger, Aubrey carefully phrased his next words. "Well, I'll be sure to continue to do the good work I'm doing then."

"Of course, James…" Denise traced her finger on his hand. "My best advice is to put your focus on your present issues and leave resolved cases alone. You should be concentrating on your future."

Aubrey saw Martin put his head in his hand and shake it subtly. Next he saw Daisy's mouth drop, but Beau continued to eat his dessert without a care in the world. Looking at his girlfriend, whose face was contorted in concern, he glanced back at Denise Pixler, who was smiling like the cat that had eaten the canary.

He coughed quietly. "Well, it's good that there are people who are looking out for my future…"

"I'm so glad to hear that, James. Now, tell the truth…anything interesting come up lately from the IRS or SEC, like the possible opening of a closed case? There are friends of mine concerned that resources will be wasted for no reason, and I'm sure you don't mind if I reassure them." Denise sipped her wine in victory, arching an eyebrow at her new best friend.

'You dumb bitch.' Jessica saw the smirk on Aubrey's face and held back a laugh at what she knew was coming. Of course, she wasn't disappointed.

"No, nothing new, Mrs. Pixler, just like I told you a few minutes ago, if a person...or a company isn't committing a crime, the FBI is not concerned. You can reassure your friends that it's only when people…or companies believe they're above the law that we become suspicious."

Aubrey smiled at the daggers he got from the woman across the table. Finishing his champagne, he saw that his girlfriend had already done the same. "Jess, are you ready to go?"

"I am." Jessica picked up her purse. "Good night, everyone."

"Oh, Jessica…" Denise waited for the redhead to turn around. "I had lunch with Melinda Maxwell yesterday. She sends her regards and hopes you have recovered from your dreadful ordeal. It's just odd that Gerald attacked everyone like that. Usually one would have to be provoked to go that far."

Jessica saw Aubrey's eyes cloud over, so she stepped in to stop the eruption. "Tell her I said thank you, and I'm doing much better. However, if she truly wants to help someone, Oliver Wells could probably use help with some of his medical bills. Her assistance would go a long way to demonstrate that she's a compassionate person."

Not appreciating the tables being turned, Denise grew red. "Oh, I—"

"As for what happened with her son, I don't blame myself. I think his previous record with women stands on its own merit. Gerald was an entitled brat who thought the world owed him something when, in fact, the opposite is true." Jessica leaned in slightly. "Too bad his father, Harold didn't teach him that."

The couple kept a straight face as Denise gave them a dirty look. "Good night, Mrs. Pixler. Aubrey and I enjoyed our drinks with you."

They took three steps away before the redhead stopped and turned around. "Oh, by the way, I'll tell my brother and his partner at the winery you said hi."

Aubrey couldn't hold back his laugh as Denise's mouth dropped while Daisy and even Martin and Beau chuckled slightly. Leaving the dining room, they got their coats from the coat check and he guided her out the door. Walking to the parking garage two blocks away, Jessica snuggled close to her boyfriend.

"Aubrey, she was flirting with you…right in front of her husband."

"I know…" Aubrey turned to his girlfriend with a smirk. "Jealous?"

"No." Jessica smacked his arm. "Seriously, she was also pumping you for info…then was trying to almost…bribe you."

"I know. She was smart to not mention specifics…plus with the two Senators calling, it's either a coincidence or they sicced her on me." Aubrey was interrupted by his phone ringing. "Aubrey?...hey Hunter…" The agent listened and grew excited. "That's awesome…tell your friend we owe him one…thanks…bye."

"Superman, what was that about?"

"Hunter said his friend did some digging and found that Pixler's company was served a notice yesterday that there would be an upcoming field audit at the company headquarters."

"That explains Mr. Pixler looking so worried...and Mrs. Pixler wanting to have dinner with us tonight. Do you think someone tipped them off?"

The couple found their vehicle and got in. "I don't know, Jess. Either they are paranoid after what happened last fall or just as you said, someone tipped them off that we've been looking around. Unfortunately, if there is someone at the IRS or SEC giving them a heads up…then we must be on our toes. Hopefully, Hunter's contact isn't dirty."

"Oh, I hope so, too." Jessica waited for Aubrey to pull out of the garage. "What else did he have to say?"

"Hunter's friend is a regional supervisor with the IRS Criminal Investigations division, and he used his access to delve further and discovered that there were other 'tips' in the past that were never followed up on."

"Like somehow they, 'flew through the cracks' of bureaucracy?", Jessica said with quotation marks for emphasis.

"Yep. According to Hunter, Agent Matney called his boss, who called his boss' boss at the IRS, who is very big on busting on people breaking the tax code. He was concerned enough that he called SAC Miller of Financial and SAC Dexter of the Cyber Divisions. Between them, they approved a surprise visit to both locations simultaneously on Monday morning by a joint team of Hunter and the SEC, FBI, and the IRS."

"Wow...this is getting big."

"Yeah it is…" Aubrey made a left turn and continued to down the street. "If we don't find anything at either location, then...we will never be able to reopen the Vacchio case."

Jessica noticed that her boyfriend instead of turning left on Massachusetts Ave, continued to go straight. "Superman, you missed our turn to get back home…"

"I know, Jessica. We're not going home, though."

Jessica saw his face and recognized the expression instantly. "You have your Agent Aubrey face on. Where are we going?"

"First, we're going to the Hoover, and we're going to write down everything that happened tonight in a memo to cover our asses. Then we're calling Booth and Dr. B, along with Genny, to let them know what happened tonight. If they're going to try this crap with me, they'll try it with them, too, although that would be a bad mistake." Aubrey looked at his girlfriend with a sad smile. "It may be a late night. I'm sorry that our romantic night didn't turn out the way we planned."

Jessica moved her hand down his thigh. "It's okay, Aubrey. Perhaps if we set the alarm for 5:30, you can help me wake up with a morning workout in bed."

Aubrey cleared his throat. "Oh, it's on, Jessica. It's on…"