Chapter 17 --- The New Boss

Kyle absently put his arm around Fran, something he had never done at work before, "How are they?"

"The baby's perfect, Diane should be coming out of the anesthetic anytime now, but Jake's a mess."

"What do you mean?" He asks glancing down at her PDA.

"Look at Jake. That's fear and elation rolled into one very good man."

Through the glass wall in her lab they watch Jake sitting beside Diane holding her hand with one hand and the other on the crib his daughter sleeps in. : If this goes on very long he might split like Agent Fox."

"Why was she put all the way under?"

"It was her decision at the last minute. She was scared and didn't want the nanites to be aggressive."

"How will this affect future… you know children?"

"Not a problem. They can have as many as they wish. Has Jake talked about wanting more?"

"No, has Diane?"

"Fran?"

"Fran!" Kyle gives her a little shake.

"Just between you and me?"

"Of course."

"She may not fully have a choice. Her sacral spinal cord sends out parasympathetic impulses at an abnormally rapid rate."

Arching an eyebrow, Kyle asks, "Could we have that in English please?"

"She is easily aroused, very easily."

"Is it the nanites?"

"I don't know, the variables are… It could be natural, combined with her Catholic upbringing; it could explain her social ineptitude. You know the two sides warring with each other. I just don't know."

"You can do better than that."

"Yes I can. However, I doubt she or Jake would want… They are happy with each other and I haven't heard any complaints, so I don't have any reason to investigate."

"She's going to start training in earnest as an agent."

"That's a waste!"

"I agree, she doesn't have it in her."

"I think she'll be a fine agent. However, her new insights into nanotechnology are impressive now that she has first hand experience."

"I hadn't thought of it that way. My concern is when she's put into a fife or death situation. How will she react? Cab she take a life?"

"Jake wouldn't let her…"

"Unless I miss my guess, Diane will be put in the situation as soon as Director Warner can arrange it."

"Oh!" Fran exclaimed softly.

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It was 2am and Jake was watching Diane nurse little Nora Lee. His entire world is in this room with his beautiful baby daughter and his exciting wife. She dislikes that description, preferring lovely, graceful, queen of al he holds dear. He prefers it when she blushes to being called "Blessing".

Looking up with a wide smile for her husband, she asks, "Did you get any sleep?"

"Not much. I called mom and dad, then mom and dad and Jerry. Your sister's moved again, hopefully she'll call soon. Kevin was in a talking mood, then I had to recount everything to Jenny."

"How are they?"

"Doing good. Next month Jenny has a meeting with her lawyers in DC, something about her fathers' estate. Kevin's going to come along and spent a couple of days with us."

"Where will we put them? The house is full."

"Jenny still has her father's Brownstone, she let's her mother use it on her frequent trip here."

"She still husband hunting?"

"When is she not?"

"Remember when she met Kyle?"

Jake smiles remembering the day Kyle had picked him up from 'Louie's On The Green' for some national emergency. "I thought only LaFortunada had the power to scare him."

Laying Nora Lee in her crib, Diane stretched and climbed into bed. Jake walked over and looked down at their daughter, smiling.

"Jake?"

Turning, he looked at his wife who was patting the bed beside her. "Come to bed, it's been a long time since I've been able to snuggle up with you."

Climbing into bed beside her, "You're not too sore?"

"No, it's been 36 hours, I've mostly healed. But all I want is a cuddle."

"Why Mrs. Foley, in front of the kid?"

"I think we can risk it." She says wrapping her arms around him and stretching out along Jake's body. "I've missed this." She said laying her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes.

Jake turns his head, inhaling her freshly washed scent of jasmine and Dove soap. "You're amazing Diane."

She opens one eye and looks up at Jake.

"It's true! You're brilliant, beautiful and loving. If I wasn't nanite enhanced my heart would explode." Jake closes his eyes and curls his arm around Diane; not noticing that her eyes are wide open staring at him.

Two hours later she's rocking Nora Lee back to sleep, still looking at her husband in awe. She's still not used to being loved as completely unconditionally as Jake does. Looking down at little Nora Lee, "Your mother is silly little girl. Yes she is. Yes she is. You have the best daddy in the whole world. He loves us and will protect us. Yes he will. Yes he will." She cooed gently. "We really are lucky little bambino." Laying her child in the crib and turning, she sees Jake staring at her; he picks the covers up so she can slide in next to him. Letting him pull her close she hears him softly say, "Thank you."

XxxxxxxxxxxxX

Sarah was drawn to the kitchen by a wonderful aroma, coffee and cinnamon rolls; so what if the coffee was decaf or that the cinnamon rolls came from a can. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she stepped out of the shower and smelled the rolls baking. Quickly throwing in warmups and flip-flops, she headed toward the kitchen.

Diane was seated at the table with a steaming cup of coffee with her head bowed. At first Sarah thought that Diane was praying, until a soft snore reached her ears. Seeing that the oven timer was about to expire, Sarah turned it off and removed the cinnamon rolls from the oven. Transferring the rolls from the jelly roll pan to a plate, she placed it on the table and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Diane stirred and stared at the plate of cinnamon rolls that had appeared in front of her.

"Good morning." Sarah said giving Diane a start. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

Giving Sarah a tired smile, Diane yawned. "It's Ok; I didn't realize how tired I was."

"Didn't Nora sleep?"

"A couple of hours at a time, but that's not why I'm tired."

"What's wrong?"

"Jake…"

When Diane couldn't finish, Sarah asked, "Where is he and what did he do?"

"Jake was called in to work about five, but he said something…"

"What is it? What did he say to upset you?"

Tears grew in her eyes. "He… I… It's…"

"Diane, what's wrong?" She asked taking Diane's hand in hers.

Covering Sarah's hand with her own, Diane pushed through her emotions. "Jake… I… I'm happy!" With a nod from Sarah, she continued. "He gives… He loves me more than I thought was possible. I'm blessed to have him as my husband. He loves me with no expectations, no strings, completely unconditionally and he appreciates me!"

"All that and a beautiful baby; is there something I can do?"

Diane smiles and offers Sarah a cinnamon roll.

XxxxxxxxxxxxX

Next: Making Love The Old Fashioned Way

6