Chapter 20 --- Life And Death

The house was dark and Nora Lee was sleeping. Jake stood in the doorway to the den, illuminated by the menu screen of a movie he was glad he missed. His smile was a reflection of the mileage he was going to get teasing Diane with what he was witnessing, Diane spooning Sarah.

"Diane?" He 'thinks' to his sleeping wife, "Have I been replaced?"

"Bottles in the fridge," Diane mumbles, "wanna' sleep."

"Nora Lees fine sweetheart." Jake continues to 'think' at Diane. "I'm concerned about us."

Diane nuzzles Sarah's neck and says, "I'm going to eat you alive."

Sarah giggles and opens her eyes to see a laughing Jake. Turning her head to identify her nuzzler, she promptly fell off the couch.

"Jake," Diane mumbles as she reaches for the missing body, "where'd you go?"

"I'm right here sweetheart, go back to sleep."

"Mmm… Ok."

Sarah kept looking back and forth between her friends, when Jake put his finger to his lips and waved for her to follow him; she gets up from the floor and followed him.

"Jake," she asked in the kitchen, "What…"

At her pause he smiled, "Diane is clingy when she sleeps and she must be more tired than I thought. When I called her name she thought you were me."

"And you laughed."

"It was funny."

"You have a warped sense of humor."

"It's been a dark day."

"You liked it."

"Do I like her dreaming about me? You bet. Do I like her physically seeking me when she's asleep? Very much. She's not usually talkative, but she's must have been stressing out more than I had thought; judging from how chatty she was."

"She should relax now that your parents have gone."

"Sarah…" Jake looked down then up into her eyes, "…Diane's family has a history of SID's."

Her face clouds over then shifts to determination, reaching over she takes his hand. "It happened to my cousin; she hasn't been the same since."

"Are you close?"

"Her daughter's name was Sara," She allowed that to be her answer. "Anything you need, just ask, anything."

Diane stood in the door watching Sarah give Jake a hug. "You can have him for a cup of coffee."

Stepping back, Sarah opened her mouth to protest, but Diane's advanced and gave her a hug. "I heard what you were talking about. I'm sorry for your and your cousin's loss."

"Thank you."

"Before it gets any later," Jake announces, "I need to tell you two something, then Diane and I need to talk."

Both women look at the serious expression on Jake's face and turn their attention to him.

"Early this morning a drunk driver killed Executive Director Warner and an unidentified male in West Virginia."

Diane gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Sarah, misunderstanding, puts an arm around her friend. Diane 'thinks' at Jake, "Is this good news?"

Responding to her with a small shrug, Jake continues, "Monday morning there will be a memorial at Fort Mead. Attendance is strongly recommended. Sarah, that includes you."

"What about Nora Lee?" Diane demands.

"Kyle called me early enough that I was able to ask Mom and Dad to stay in DC."

"Where are they?" Diane asked, reflexedly looking around.

'Since they were going to New York City for a few days, Dad wanted to spend tonight and tomorrow at a hotel, taking in a few sights. They will come here Monday morning and leave Wednesday for," taking her by the arms, "Bar Harbor."

A confused Diane jerked almost away, "Why are they going there?"

Jake turns his head, "Sarah, would you excuse us."

"Of course, I'll grab a book and go sit with Nora."

"Thank you." Jake said turning his attention back to his wife. "With the sudden death of Warner, there are going to be swift and sudden changes. Lou thinks we can use the confusion to hide what we are, to some extent. I've been into Warner's files; she hated us and would have settled for nothing less than total control of us. So we have an opportunity we cannot pass up. Besides, with all the possible changes we need to 'circle our wagons', according to Kyle. So all leaves are cancelled for the core of our team."

"What about your parents going to Bar Harbor?"

Jake sat down and pulled his visibly shaken wife onto his lap. "Sweetheart, they will take all the photographs and videos we can give them, along with their stories of Nora Lee. I… I hope your parents will understand. Mom practically volunteered, something about Grannies sticking together. I know your parents want to be here; maybe this gesture will show them how much we wish they could come here."

"I'll call Mom tomorrow and fill her in on what's happening."

"We may have to change our anniversary cabin in Virginia to one in Maine."

Putting her arm around him, with her free hand, Diane pulls his head down for a kiss. "Thank you Jake. I'm glad my heart chose you."

Leaning over, Jake places a kiss over her heart, "Thank you heart, you are very wise."

Giggling, Diane lays her head on his shoulder. "What are you going to do?"

"'Fight the good fight' and 'keep proving our worth'. On the subject of nanite enhanced agents, what happened to the three agents nanites were introduced to?"

Leaning back, Diane looks at Jake's reactions; "There were five. The first two lost their sanity while interfaced with electronics." She notices Jake's increasing respiration, "The third enjoyed the powers so much he literally ran until his energy was depleted, completely; he died. The fourth tried to sell his nanites, Kyle dispatched him. The fifth wasn't ready for the field and was murdered when he couldn't take a life."

"I've seen your recommendations for agents, why haven't the directors taken you seriously?"

Receiving one of his wife's patented glares and hears her 'think' at him, "When do they ever listen." No question intended.

"You're right, I'm sorry."

Snuggling back up to Jake, Diane asks, "Can we get free?"

"It's a step. Skerrit can't last forever, and if Lou gets promoted, we'll at least be treated fairly."

"Think she'll get Warner's post?"

"No. Kyle thinks maybe she'll get the next opening."

"Still, slim hopes."

"That's why we need to take advantage of the situation. There are files to be erased and renamed, warning systems to bypass and set up, false trails to set up, real trails to follow, logic bombs to establish and bypass. Don't count on seeing me tomorrow. In fact, I should take my suit with me."

"I don't want you spending the night there."

"You really think I'd trade the mother of my child for a mother board?"

"Is Carver going to be there?"

"What's she got to do with anything?"

"According to my sources, she's decided you're not completely useless."

"I don't understand?"

"She wants you."

"I'll tell you what, if she propositions me, I'll tell her you're away and when we get her you can pound her brown roots back into her skull."

"Deal!"

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Next: Deceptions And The Mrs.

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