As per usual, this story is based on characters created by the superbly talented Martha Williamson. They are most definitely not mine.

This story is based on Higher Ground but it's a difficult episode to condense into one chapter. So, there will be quite a few. Please be patient with me. I really hope you guys like it. As you will notice I don't like Steve and I certainly don't enjoy writing about him, but he is a necessary evil and in the end he helps us to appreciate Oliver even more.

Again, my sincere thanks go to my dear friend Rhonda Leighton Wronski for her amazing support and input.

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Higher Ground - Part I

Steve arrived for work Friday at his normal time of 8am. Immediately he felt something was not quite right. Everybody seemed on edge and there were quite a few new faces running around. The sense of urgency of all those quickly moving around the office was palpable. His superior, Mr. McGee walked towards him with a grim expression. He just nodded at Steve and walked right past him.

Isabella, a pretty petite brunette, who was covering maternity leave for Shannon, Mr. McGee's assistant, greeted him with her usual smile. Steve asked, "What's happening here Isabella?" "Oh, hi Steve, Mr. McGee is making the rounds letting everybody know what's going on. He'll stop in and see you soon to explain everything." He nodded to Isabella and made his way to his office. There was no point in trying to guess what was happening. He'd find out soon enough.

He cleared out his email inbox and made some phone calls. By the time he was ready to grab a cup of coffee; McGee entered his office and placed a large folder on his desk. McGee was a very tall and thin man. Standing at 6'5", his nickname among the younger staff was "Map of Chile". He had no sense of humour though, so whether he knew his nickname or not, he simply had no time for frivolity.

He sat on the chair facing Steve and started: "Marek, we're facing a serious crises that have affected all areas of our government. Our intelligence team informs us there's no time to waste. We need an elite team from all fronts that can stand up to the heat in this situation." Steve nodded, "Do you want me to put together a list?"

McGee stated, "Yes. We require at least 3 people who know the ins and outs of USPS. Computer experts, preferably hackers, who will not question our methods and follow orders without hesitation. Steve looked him in the eye and went on, "I know exactly what you mean. I know of at least one person who will be perfect for the job and this situation. She won't be asking any questions." McGee nodded and stood up wasting no extra time. "I will leave this with you then. Take a good look and familiarise yourself with everything, you have 36 hours to put the team together. Have them all ready to go by tomorrow at 22 hundred hours."

Steve just couldn't believe his luck. He had been wracking his brain since Shane left Washington DC after Lieutenant Amidon's return from Afghanistan, trying to come up with a way to get Shane back into his life. This situation, dropping in his lap like this, was the most perfect ploy to get her back. He would appeal to her patriotism, knowing she would serve her country if asked. He was sure everything else would play second fiddle to that. The plan was set! He would have Shane wrapped tightly around his finger by tomorrow night... Goodbye Oliver O'Toole!

Oliver couldn't wait to take Shane out on their first official date on Saturday. He'd had a close scrape with death when he went hiking with his dad in the

mountains a couple of weeks ago. He was now convinced that God had sent him a message not to waste anymore time.

Despite their efforts during the week to find the latest letter writer, Gabe or its recipient Hattie, the POstables finished the week without much success locating them. They had been talking about the Jazz club Hattie owned in New Orleans. The conversation inspired Oliver to take Shane to the Ephlat Lounge Jazz Club as the first stop on their date before heading to a romantic dinner at Montaldo's.

As he ascended the steps to her front door, he could hardly contain his excitement skipping every second step to the top. He rang the bell. While he waited, he dusted off the seat of the porch swing with his handkerchief and smiled to himself as he thought, "Hi there my dear friend, you will be very useful later on tonight".

When Shane came out, Oliver was taken aback with her beauty and radiant smile, and now, finally he was ready to tell her how beautiful she looked. She was so sweet; she even noticed he had done the knot on his tie differently.

At the club, they talked and laughed together as a couple deeply in love would do. Their eyes never left each other's faces and it felt like they were the only two people in the room. They were oblivious to anything or anyone else, including losing track of the time. By the time Oliver remembered to check his pocket watch he realised they had missed their reservation at Montaldo's. Neither of them seemed heartbroken about it, as they really enjoyed the intimacy of the jazz club much more than what they would have at Montaldo's. After Shane doodled on a napkin trying to explain to Oliver the difference between jazz and blues, she kept his pen. He took the napkin she doodled on, folded it and slid it into his inside pocket right over his heart.

On the way out heading towards the stairs just outside the main entrance, Shane tripped and almost twisted her ankle. Oliver quickly grabbed hold of her hands, preventing her from falling. Oliver could see his desire to kiss her mirrored in her own eyes and he took a step forward towards her. But the everyday, city noise seemed to trespass in that perfect intimate moment ruining it. It was not the right time or place. But she never released his hand and as he led her up the stairs, she wouldn't be denied. She stopped and pulled him gently. He turned and looked at her face, smiling and full of love. He walked back down and stopped in front of her. Time and space stood still; everything else fell away. Their lips met in the most anticipated and gentlest of kisses. There was nothing in heaven or earth that would keep them from that lovely, sweet kiss. They had waited for this moment, for this kiss for over two years. It was made all the sweeter because of the waiting, longing and dreaming about it. However, where they stood was not the most appropriate place for kissing, the kiss was all too brief. Once it was over, they continued up the stairs, remaining quiet, as they kept revelling in that sweet moment and feeling absolutely giddy. They both were privately glad they were holding on to each other because both felt like they were floating. The date could not be any more perfect.

As they approached Shane's house, they stopped and turned towards each other. Oliver had been holding her hand resting over his arm ever since they left the club. They had been reminiscing about the many times that Shane had attempted to quit the DLO and Shane was about to tell him why she never successfully managed to quit when they heard a squeak coming from Shane's porch.

They were so lost in each other's eyes that they never noticed the dark presence standing by their porch swing like a malevolent spirit.

Steve could hear them coming down the street before he could see them. He closed his hands into fists and ground his teeth. When he finally saw them, the expression on their faces almost made him lose control. He breathed in hard. He wanted nothing more than to pound Oliver into a pulp. He stopped himself because he knew of another way that would probably be more effective. He pushed the porch swing forward and it made a terrible squeak, making both of them turn from each other and look up to the front porch. "You have a squeak in this thing." He said trying to sound nonchalant. Shane was shocked to see and hear Steve, standing on her front porch, no less! Oliver was stunned into silence! They had both imagined all sorts of scenarios of how this evening would end, but neither of them could have foreseen Steve barging his way into their romantic date.

Shane was the first one to speak: "What are you doing here, Steve?" Steve eyed her and said, "Could I speak with you in private?" He answered by not answering her question. Shane thought how rude this man was! "No!" She said curtly. Steve realised this was going to be a little harder than he had anticipated. "This is not a personal visit, Shane; I need you in DC now, well tonight. We have a crisis situation and I need somebody who knows USPS." Shane gasped. "What? Are you crazy?" She said starting to feel panicky. Oliver decided it was time he said something, "Have we been hacked?" Steve just looked at him and Oliver knew he wasn't going to get an explanation. Shane asked how long this assignment would last, to which Steve said a few weeks maybe.

Oliver, to his own horror heard himself saying: "Ms. McInerney, you're the best at what you do…" Why was he encouraging her to go? They were all three wondering...

She called him aside and said: "I really loved our walk." "Me too", he responded with a sugestive smile. "I'll be back". Oliver gently smiled and said "Of course". She asked him to look after her roses. She finished by getting him to promise to find Gabe and tell him not to be too hard on himself, Hattie knew that he loved her. She repeated it pointedly: "She knew!"

And with that she disappeared inside her house and from his life; no contact… only God knew for how long.