Whispered rumors had already started by the time Hunter and McCall got back to the station house from lunch. Their intensity picked up when the two separated and McCall headed over to Juvenile to check in with Lt. Morgan.

McCall knew they had reached a fevered pitch the following Tuesday when Kitty O'Hearn tracked her down in Juvenile and dragged her out for lunch.

"Okay, Dee Dee, dish," Kitty requested. "These rumors are killing me."

McCall was curious. "So, what are the rumors, exactly?"

"That you and Hunter had some huge blowout over that Malone person. That you've been sleeping with Hunter for a while, he finally got you pregnant and now you're getting married. That your going to some FBI program and leaving us city cops behind."

The one about Malone hit her for a loop, if only because she'd briefly felt replaced when she'd come back from Quantico. She hadn't even thought about the married thing yet, if only because she was still wrapping her head around all the changes and marriage would throw one more kink into things.

Kitty was looking at her expectantly.

McCall laughed. "Well, as rumors go, there's a grain of truth in there, somewhere. I am pregnant, with Hunter's baby. We haven't talked about marriage, yet, but that's only because the sleeping together part is recent. Marriage would feel...rushed. And I have applied for the FBI, but if I get in, I wouldn't leave for 11 months."

"Wow," Kitty responded, thunderstruck. "Of the rumors floating around, those aren't the parts I would have expected to be true. How are you doing, really?"

McCall shrugged, "Jumbled. But happy."

McCall's packet to the FBI went in the following week.

The results of the application, which included a very thorough background check, came back a few months later.

Captain Devane held the packet, labeled from the FBI addressed to McCall, care of Captain Devane, in his hands. She hadn't been under his daily command since he'd loaned her over to Juvenile. At least that was how he thought of it. A loan. Her other half he still saw every weekday, and most weekends. Hunter looked happier than Devane had ever seen the man. Hunter still tried to play it tough, but Devane had seen him alone in the store the other day, holding a blue baby outfit in one hand and a frilly pink one in the other as if weighing which one he wanted, the tenderest look on his face. Devane had slipped away before Hunter saw him.

Sighing, he picked up his phone and dialed Lt. Morgan's number. "Hey, Morgan," he greeted, "can you send McCall up here...no, nothing bad. I just have a thick envelope from the FBI for her here...Yeh, looks like. Ok, talk to you later," he hung up the phone.

McCall walked the familiar steps up to Homicide Division. Lt. Morgan had said Captain Devane wanted to see her.

She glanced at Hunter's desk as she entered the squad room. He had his back to her, and was hunched over a report. She headed towards him, and put her hand over his.

Hunter stopped writing and looked up, breaking into a grin.

"Hey, beautiful," he said, looking at his watch. "You're a little early, aren't you? I thought we were going over to your appointment at 2 o'clock?"

"Devane wanted to see me. Lt Morgan said he got something from the FBI. Wanna come with? This probably affects you as much as me."

Hunter nodded, and they headed to Devane's office. McCall knocked, and opened the door at the invitation to come inside.

Devane smiled, and pulled an envelope from his desk.

"It looks like you have news from the FBI. From the thickness, it could be good news. I thought you should have the privilege of opening it. " He handed the envelope to her.

She tore open the top, and pulled out the stack of paper. Reading over the cover letter, she smiled. "I got into the 2nd class. I'd have to arrive a few days early to take a physical fitness test and pass it, since I can't do the test now, but I got in."

Hunter caught her in a bear hug. "Congratulations!"

Devane was smiling broadly when the two looked back at him. "I knew you'd get in, McCall. Good luck at the course. But in the meantime," he added gruffly, not quite hiding his smile, "don't you two have work to do?"

"Actually, boss," Hunter said looking at his watch, "didn't I request the rest of the afternoon off? McCall has this ultrasound appointment, and the doctor may be able to tell us if we're having a boy, a girl, or if it already has a cop's uniform on in there…"

Devane nodded. "Okay, go on," he dismissed them.