Author's Note:

I have to extend a very huge thanks to Jan, whose help in the kitchen provided just the right seasoning to give this chapter the flavor that I was looking for but could not quite obtain.

LOL, there is no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen.

Thank you so much Jan!

CHAPTER 25

Even after her husband had left, Jeannie Melrose had not been able to return to a peaceful sleep. She had tossed and she had turned. Finally, in frustration, even though the sun had yet to make an appearance in the still darkened skies before morning, Jeannie climbed out of bed.

"Darkened skies," she murmured while sipping her coffee.

"How appropriate."

Jeannie flitted about the already immaculate kitchen, wiping at spots that didn't really exist on the counter tops. For some reason, she had the urge to stay busy, as though activity of some sort would keep away whatever had reared its ugly head within her husband's world.

But, then the phone rang in the uneasy silence that existed between the twilight and the dawn, and, as she listened to her husband's words, a cold realization dawned upon her. Jeannie Melrose came to understand that it was far worse than she could possibly have imagined.

For, in the black skies of the night, a terror had arrived to roost at the Agency. A terror that had a mission, a mission to stay and grow, nesting within a home that it had not been welcomed into.

It was while William was informing her that an Agency doctor would be coming over to begin the series of precautionary antibiotics that an idea began to form in her mind.

She did not want to stay quarantined in her own house.

This time, Jeannie Melrose wanted to do something and so, she quite firmly told her husband as much.

And then, wise wife that she was, Jeannie held the phone away from her ear while he ranted in that booming voice of his, the one that she knew demanded respect from his agents. But, she was no agent and so, she listened quietly until his ranting ceased.

Then, Jeannie used her calm voice of reasoning, until finally, his male mind bent to her reasonable female logic.

Her husband was going to need the help and she simply couldn't stay home and do nothing.

Jeannie knew some of the agents, and those that she didn't, well Billy's tales had made them seem like family anyhow.

Despite all the textbook mumbo jumbo that she knew the Agency spouted with regard to personal relationships, Jeannie Melrose knew one thing.

Her husband always knew when one of his agents was in trouble and, despite the mumbo jumbo, she knew that he cared.

"It would seem that this time, dear husband of mine, the entire family tree is in trouble."

And with that, the debate ended and her decision made, Jeannie went upstairs to pack a few things. She hoped to arrive before the sun had risen and, for once, she was going to do her part to help chase away the darkened skies that now clouded the horizon of those who so bravely protected in the name of freedom.