Don't own the characters.

A/N: Sorry about the wait.

Thanks for the reviews and feedback it helps me figure out what to do next!

-------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------

Melissa awoke the next morning she had heard Carter pacing throughout the night. Walking down the hallway she found him sitting outside on the patio. The same spot she and Ty had been sitting the first time since she had married Ty that Carter had taken him away from her.

"You are up early." She said walking outside after setting the coffee pot to make coffee.

"yeah. Sorry did I wake you up?"

"No is everything ok?"

"Yeah everything is fine." Carter lied again, things were far from fine, but they would get there soon enough. He had faith in Ty and Deans ability the two would be able to handle the change in plans.

"Do you know how much longer Ty is going to be gone?"

"A few more days at least." Carter said wondering if he should take Maynard's advice and promote Ty or move Ty out of the unit. It was hard to look a spouse of a subordinate in the eye and lie to them. It was not like lying to the bad guys. This was harder because there was always the chance that he would be the one to tell her that her loved one would not be coming home ever again. Those speeches were the hardest to give. How did you tell someone that the person they loved is gone? He had that speech once, it was a horrible speech delivered by an intern at the hospital. Someone who had yet to know what it was to lose someone, your soul mate. He never wanted to give anyone that speech. He had to before, and he swore he would never do it again. Maybe it was time for Ty to move on.

"How did your wife take it? How did she deal with you leaving?"

Carter frowned, he did not want to discuss his wife. It caused a pain in his chest that was not caused by any real physical wounds. "I was not working undercover much when she was alive. I did a few missions, but mostly she did not see me because I worked all night."

"How did she deal with that?"

"I don't know. I was a lucky man. She understood for the most part." Carter said the sadness in the memories clear in his voice and in his crystal blue eyes.

"What happened to her? I hope you don't mind me asking."

"I would rather not talk about it." Was all Carter said.

"Fair enough." Melissa couldn't help but remember the video of a different Carter and the woman she assumed was his wife. They looked happy together, in love, like her and Ty. What would she do if Ty died? She didn't think she could go on living without him.

"That was a nice party you had last night." Carter said changing the subject for his own sake.

"It was. I think my father liked you." Melissa said thinking that Jade really liked him.

"He's a good man." Carter said because it was what the situation dictated and he also meant it. Her father was a good guy from what Carter could tell.

"Jade wanted to go out to dinner tonight if you were up to it? She tries to get me to go out when Ty's gone to get my mind off things."

"It's a good idea. But I might have to take a rain check." Carter reminded himself mentally that he needed to stay away from the ambitious professor. There was only trouble he could bring her. She would be better without him, and for him well that was the price he paid for the life he lived.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. I'll leave some take out numbers for you, or I could bring something back." Melissa knew Jade would be disappointed, her friend seemed to genuinely be interested in Carter, which was rare for her friend. Typically, Jade did not connect with people. It was the bullshit that came with social contract that got in the way, and Jade was all business. She had a plan for her life and she was doing what she could do to achieve that plan. Anything else was background noise.

Carter was getting ready to talk again when his phone went off, "Excuse me." He said slowly standing up answering the phone, "Carter."

"It's Jamie. They checked in and were able to talk. I filled Dean in on what is going on. He agrees with you. They both agreed it was best to stay under because there is something else going on."

"Good." Carter said looking through the sliding glass doors at Melissa who was watching him anxiously. He smiled at her trying to assuage her fears.

"Captain Maynard called to. He wanted an update. I told him what was happening. I also told him you had nothing to do with the case."

"Good keep him off my back."

"He asked about you, I think he might stop by Ty's to check in on you."

"How did he get Ty's address?"

"I gave it to him. He asked for it and he's the captain.."

"Damn it he shouldn't come over here." Carter said worried about Ty's cover. His unit was suppose to be deep undercover which meant no contact with police officials if it could be helped. "I need you to come pick me up." Carter said.

"Why?"

"I'll go into see him." Carter said.

"Ok. Are you sure?"

"yes. Be here in about twenty minutes."

"Sure." Jamie answered right before Carter hung up the phone.

------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------- ------------

Dean became more curious about what was behind the door if the family was not the main target. The meth lab was in the warehouse, in the basement. They had seen it the day before when Rick was giving them a tour. The basement was properly ventilated so all of the fumes left the building and did not travel upwards. So what could be behind the door?

Ty was not as curious as Dean, but he was also too busy to be curious. He had been picked to train for a special mission. That was all he knew about it. Despite being busy he was able to think about Melissa and miss her, and he was worried about she and Carter were getting along. By now he was sure that Melissa had murdered Carter in his sleep.

Neither of them had much time to think about their own worries because they were busy helping keep the operation going. Each man proving himself each day with task ranging from driving people around to make drops, fixing guns, and helping in the shipping of products.

Dean saw his moment, he walked up to the door when no one was around and he was about to reach out and grab the door handle to open it when someone called to him, "Hey what are you doing?"

"nothing. Just curious what's behind the door."

"Nothin man don't worry about it. If Sanchez or anyone sees you around here they'll kill you for sure." Rick said smiling at Dean. "come on we are going on a beer run."

"Sure." Dean said leaving the door behind.

On the drive to the market Dean continued his line of questioning, "So what else do you all do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well there's the guns, the meth, and protection. What else?"

"That's about it. You ask a lot of questions."

"I'm a curious guy. I like to know what I'm getting into before it happens."

"Don't worry about it man." Rick said playing with the radio station. "Oh by the way tomorrow you are driving Sanchez around. He was impressed with how you dealt with the situation the other day with the pick up."

"I was just doing my job." Dean answered.

"Yeah most people who have shit themselves if three guys pulled guns on them and they were unarmed."

"You were there, you had a gun."

"Yeah but I can't shoot all three at once."

"no, but you could take out one of them while I took out the other two. You don't always need a gun." Dean smiled remembering the look on the two gun men's face when he took them down to the ground in two swift motions that left neither of them time to fire their gun. They gunmen were not willing to make payment on product that they had gotten on loan from the Patriots. Bad mistake because it ended in them paying more then what they would have had to pay if they had just given the money up to begin with. It also left one of the men severely injured, and possibly dead.

Ty was also making strides in the investigation. He was training with some of the guys. They had a set up like swat teams do, houses where they practice in. Ty was not sure what they had him training for, but something was going to go down soon. He was sure whatever went down was going to be big, big enough to keep him from worrying about going home just yet. And if he was honest part of him liked what he was doing. The excitement of the job always sucked him in. It took time, but eventually he realized how much he liked his job.

"Run it one more time. I want to have the place locked down in ten minutes tops." The leader of the team said from behind his mask.

Everyday was the same, the continued to run the simulation, no one sure when or where the mission would happen. Each man had his part, Ty was apart of the group that would secure the location, while the other group went in search of a target. What the target was, no one but that team knew. Person or thing, Ty was sure that nothing would stop the Patriots from getting what they wanted.

---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------

After Carter got off the phone with Jamie he called Maynard. "What in the hell are you doing?" Carter snapped with the Captain answered the phone, forgetting respect for the moment.

"What do you mean?" Maynard answered noting the clear disrespect and anger in Carters voice. Something rarely pointed at Maynard.

"Working with my team, calling about where they live! They are undercover operatives. If anyone hears what you are talking about, or is following you, their blown! They wouldn't be able to work again."

"Relax Carter." Maynard said his voice holding a note of warning, he would not stand for this, "I'm not stupid I've been using a drop phone the entire time. No way to trace it back to me, and I have been careful about who sees me coming or going when I talk to Jamie or anyone. I also make sure they are covered when they come in."

"No more meetings. If you need something you can go through me. Like we always do."

"Carter you are on medical leave." Maynard reminded him, "You are not suppose to be working. You are suppose to be relaxing and letting yourself heal."

"I've done enough of that. I'll be at your office in an hour." Carter hung the phone up not giving Maynard and chance to argue with him.

It was another thirty minutes before Jamie showed up at Ty's front door. During that time it took Carter the entire thirty minutes to get dressed and put his shoes on. He found himself hissing in pain a few times, but ignoring the signs that he was not ready to go back to work, he opened the door when Jamie knocked.

"you're late."

"You look better." Jamie said ignoring Carters statement. She also noted the paleness of Carters face despite him looking a lot better than last she saw him. S he could tell by his eyes, the way the lines formed around them, and his pale color, that he was in pain.

"Thank you. Let's go."

"Yes boss." Jamie said leading the way to her car.

Carter was happy that she brought her car, even though it would hurt to lower himself into the seat, it would not be as bad as lifting himself into an SUV.

When they reached the station, Carter and Jamie both went up to see Maynard. Jamie wanted to make sure Carter got there, and that way she also could fill in both men with what she knew so far. Reaching his office they were let in right away to minimize their exposure.

"Coffee or water?" Maynard asked both of him.

By the time they reached the office Carter was tired, but he hid it, and he also hid his pain. He looked like he was almost in perfect health he was that good at acting like nothing was wrong.

"Water." Carter said.

"Nothing for me."

Maynard got a bottle of water for Carter and handed it to him. "So what is happening with the case?"

Jamie filled Maynard in on what she knew, both Dean and Ty were undercover attempting to strengthen their covers by gaining trust from people in the organization. The family was not kidnapped. Not the in the sense that they had originally believed. Chances were they were not in danger at all, and this all had been some rouse by the Patriots and the informant. The reason why they were not sure of yet. They were almost positive the phone call made was by the informant and that they Patriots would at some point grab him too. Since negotiations were continuing on the Patriots had no way of knowing that the police had figured out it was all a rouse. But it helped that no one outside of the unit knew about the rouse, other than Maynard. They all agreed to keep it that way until they figured out what the Patriots were up to.

"Sounds good to me. No reason you had to come Carter." Maynard said trying to make a point, "I want you to rest."

"I did." Carter said.

"Jamie will you excuse us." Maynard said .

"Sure I'll go wait out in the car."

"Thank you." Maynard answered. Once she was gone Maynard continued to talk to Carter, "I gave you this unit and the only promise I had you make was that you would not lose your mind in it. You lost everything else to the job it seems. You need to take time off and recover. They unit will still be there."

"I can't not when I have men out in the field."

"Everything is going fine."

"It may not stay that way. I need to be there. Once this is over I will take time off. Hell I'll even go on a vacation if it'll make you happy."

"A real vacation."

"Yes." Carter said, he had been interested in traveling to Africa for awhile, and since he knew he would need more time then he could physically stand, away from the job, the best option was to travel somewhere to take his mind away from the job.

"ok. It'll be two weeks at least!"

"And there will be no undercover operations during that time." Carter said, "The team will take vacation too."

"Fair enough." Maynard said happy they agreed, but he still wished he could convince Carter to not work now. But he knew that was hopeless, not while his people were in danger.

---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------

Melissa returned home, Jade following her because they were going to have a movie night. It was Jades way of being there for Melissa, who she knew was worried sick about Ty and anxious about what to do with Carter. When they walked into the house they could tell it was empty. No sound came from any of the rooms.

"I wonder where Carter went." Melissa said setting her purse and coat on a chair. "What movie do you want to start with?"

"Whatever doesn't matter. I'm going to go make some popcorn."

They two ladies settled down on the couch and were watching Runaway Bride when Carter walked into the house. It was more of a limp then a walk. Jamie was behind him, she had eventually convinced him to go back to Ty's place to get some rest. He had worked nonstop since they reached the safe house. It was hours before he came up for air, forgetting to take his pain killers, he was in a lot of pain when he finally resurfaced.

"Where have you been?" Melissa asked sounding like a worried wife.

If Carter weren't in pain he would have laughed. "At work."

"Aren't you suppose to be resting?"

"I was."

"Oh that's why you look like death warmed over. Come sit down before you collapse." Melissa said getting up, "I'll go get your pills and something to take them with."

Jamie was getting ready to make her exit when Melissa turned to her, "You should have stopped him. You knew he was in no shape to be out."

"Have you ever tried stopping him from doing something?" Jamie said, "And besides he's a grown man."

Melissa realized what she was acting like and smiled sheepishly, "That he is. But men can be stupid sometimes. Thanks Jamie."

"See you all later." Jamie made her exit quickly.

"I sometimes wonder how Ty lives with her." Jade said, "She can take on a mother hen complex."

Carter just smiled at her resting his head back against the chair.

Melissa returned with a pill bottle she collected from the guest room Carter had been staying in, and she also had a bottle of water in her hand. "here."

"Thank you."

Melissa sat back down on the couch with Jade and they continued the movie. Both women would occasionally glance over at Carter, who eventually fell asleep in the chair, softly snoring. The trip and working had taken a lot out of him. He still was not recovered enough to be doing what he had done. He pushed his body too far, and it let him know.

He awoke as the credits began to roll and both women were sipping beer talking about various things.

"Look who's awake." Melissa said smiling. "Feel better?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"I'm going to go get some work done. Jade is going to stay tonight. She's had a bit too much to drink. So you two make yourself at home."

-------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------

He was not sure how he ended up sitting on Ty's patio with Jade, the woman who he could quite possibly date if he were dating material. They both had a beer in their hand and were reclining in chairs. At first, there was a comfortable silence between them, but eventually Carter broke the silence. His curiosity getting the best of him.

"Are you original from LA?"

"No. I moved out here after I got my Phd."

"So work brought you out here?"

"Sort of. I had my option of going anywhere to teach. But I always wanted to live near the ocean. I wanted to be able to get in my car and drive to it whenever I felt like it. So the chance came and I took it. I thought it would be a nice adventure and years later here I still am. How about you?"

"Born and raised here." Carter answered.

"Really, you are a rare breed." They both laughed because it seemed like no one was from LA anymore. LA was full of people who moved there in search of a better life. The little spot in the United States were the American Dream was always on everyone's mind. The new American dream of being reach and famous.

"Where are you originally from?"

"Chicago. And yes I still miss it sometimes. Not so much the cold, but the fact that it was where I lived most of my life. Hard to explain but my roots are there."

"Would you go back there?"

"Maybe. But I don't think I could survive the winter there anymore." She smiled, "What about you ever think about moving away?"

"Once. But this is where I've lived most of my life and it's where I'm comfortable at."

"And yet you like to travel?"

"It's nice to explore new places. New cultures, new people are always interesting."

"Exploring new people would be helpful in your line of work."

'You never know which role you'll have to take on." Carter said a faint smile reaching his face. He knew talking to her about the job was going against his own rules, but he couldn't help but open up to her sometimes. She had something about her that made it hard to shut her out. He was trying because he knew she deserved better, and if he was true with himself he was afraid he would get hurt again. He was sure of one thing, getting attached to someone again would end in pain that may just be the death of him. The little push he would need to go off the deep end.

"You really like your job?"

"Most days. I never have to do the same thing. Everyday is something new."

"And don't forget the tightrope walk with death."

"Not always a bonus."

Jade wanted to scream at that moment. The man had the tortured soul thing about him, that she always found way too attractive. It was like the bad boy archetype, except for her it was the tortured soul not the bad boy she loved. She could tell he had been hurt in his life, his eyes held most of the pain he tried to hide so well. God she hated the man sitting next to her because he was hot, and she wanted to get to know him, to be with him, and he held back. She was not the type to throw herself upon people. She had only one serious relationship in her entire life and it lasted 4 years before one day she left the person because she was bored. Boredom was her main issue, people were boring. The said and did the same thing, it was predictable. In sum, she could never stick with someone for very long, but Carter intrigued her and she knew there was a possibility that she would fall deeply in love with him.

"Your father was a cop too right?" Jade asked trying to focus on the conversation. At least she could get to know him.

"Yeah. Who told you that?"

"Melissa."

"So you asked about me?"

"Sort of." She saw a look on Carters face was it disappointment or fear? She couldn't tell. She continued to explain, "She said you were a great guy but that you were devoted to the job, at least according to Ty. "

Carter didn't look at her, he did not know what to say to her. Explain why the job became his life after his wife died. There was nothing to go home too, and he had drank himself to the bottom of too many bottles. The offer from Maynard saved him from liver failure and death, which would have happened. Not that he didn't still drink himself to sleep at times, or the pills he took were helpful, but he had a purpose now. The purpose of his life had been violently ripped from him. The love of his life gone, and he had nothing left. The job gave him something to hold onto.

Deciding to step over the landmine before him, opening up was a bad idea he decided to deflect, "What about your family?"

"Well my father died when I was a little girl and my mother never quite got over it."

"That must have been hard?"

"Not really. Looking back, I realize my father dying probably is what kept me from going down the path that most of my friends had gone down. I went to college to study and most of my friends went to prison to continue their studies."

"is that why you became a criminologist?"

"Honestly, I just sort of fell into it. I took an intro to crim course and it caught my interest. I get bored easily with subjects, and criminology is a melting pot of so many subjects it allows me to look into many different things so I never truly get bored."

"Do you have any other family members besides your mom?" Carter asked.

"I have an older brother. He works construction and a nephew. My brother is raising him alone. How about you?"

"Only child. And both of my parents are dead."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Carter said taking a drink of his beer, "it was a long time ago."

"So you have no family?"

"Not really. I have a cousin and his family. They try to get me to come to Thanksgiving every year, but I'd rather have my nails ripped out one by one."

Jade laughed, "I know the feeling. Have you ever seen the movie Home for the Holidays? The one Jodi Foster directed, that is so my family at times."

Carter smiled, he had caught bits of the movie at one time. His wife was a big fan of Robert Downey Jr and she would watch that movie every year around Thanksgiving.

---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------