Adding the Network: Chapter Two

-NDHB-

Bess looked up as the doorbell rang. I really don't want to get up, she thought even as she rolled off the couch. Bess thought it would be Nancy and Frank coming to say goodbye, so she was surprised when opening the door revealed a tall, athletic young woman. "George," Bess cried hugging her.

"Hey, Bess," George returned, "I'm back."

"Oh, George. Come in. Do you want anything to drink or eat? I have everything," Bess babbled.

"I'm fine. I actually came to…uh…help with the case." She explained, "Kip convinced me to come back, so it was the least I could do."

"So are you helping Joe, Nan, and Frank?"

George was not surprised Bess knew about the case. "Yeah, are you giving us profiles as needed?" she asked.

Bess smiled, but was interrupted from her reply as the garage door went up. "Joe just got home," she explained instead.

A few seconds later, Joe walked into the living room followed by Nancy and Frank. "Hey, Bess, I'm ho…George! Hey!" he rushed forward to hug George and kiss Bess. Nancy and Frank also took turns welcoming George.

-NDHB-

At the airport, Kip carried Michaela through security into the private hangers. He had an hour before Nancy and Frank would join him. It was a good thing to, as he needed that time to think.

George has been weird since we got here. I wonder if it really was a good idea to bring her. Maybe I should have waited longer. Kip knew, though, that George would have to come back. Her family was here and they would help her get through this. It has been four months, Kip reasoned.

He gently placed Michaela on a seat. The female agent who was the copilot secured Michaela's car seat to the airplane seat. "Hey Agent Coles," she said in a whisper as the baby was asleep.

"Agent Carson," Kip nodded, "how have you been?"

"Good. I got the file for Nancy and Frank here," she answered. "Does Nancy know about her mom, or…"

Kip shook his head, "No. And don't mention anything about her mother to her. She was never told. It's in the plan for her to find out soon."

Kathryn Carson looked a little mad as her lips tightened together. Before replying she let out a long breath, "Why does there have to be a plan? Don't you think it would be better if things happened naturally?"

Kip looked slightly surprised, "You think the plan would happen naturally? I think it would take too long if we tried to let them figure it out themselves."

"So, we're forcing them basically into marriage and a baby. Nancy should at least…" Kathryn stopped as she saw the lead agent at the doorway. "Agent Pierce, hello."

Kip spun around, "Hey, Agent Pierce. Nancy and Frank should be here anytime now. You wanted to tell Nancy the truth tomorrow, correct?"

The lead agent pushed her shoulder-length, strawberry blonde hair out of her eyes and answered, "Yes, I'll tell her tomorrow. You're trying to suggest I get out of here. I just stopped by quickly to make sure my granddaughter was okay. God, that makes me feel old."

It was a quick fifteen minutes later when Nancy and Frank were shown to the plane. "Kip," Frank greeted.

"Guys," Kip returned. "This is Agent Kathryn Carson: she's the copilot. She will also be your main contact there. I have to go."

"You're not coming to Washington?" Nancy asked, surprised.

"No, I'm staying here with Joe. Don't worry you guys are in great hands with Katie," he assured them.

As Kip left the plane, Kathryn came up and handed them each a large folder that would be their identity until they found Michaela's father. "You guys need to read up on these. They're pretty much the same as you guys had in Vegas. But, you still need to look over them. …Oh, it's nice to meet you," she said disappearing into the cockpit.

Nancy sat down beside Michaela. Frank saw the look in her eyes, "Nancy you can't keep her."

"I know," Nancy looked at the baby. I wish…why can't I? There is no rule saying I couldn't adopt her. Nancy however, remained silent

"Go over your folder, Nancy," Frank could easily read her thoughts; a distraction was needed.

-NDHB-

Joe looked over at Bess and George. It was odd seeing George again. It had been four months and he thought she looked like she needed more time away. "So, how have you been, George? Have you been spending a lot of time with Kip?"

"You're trying to ask how long I've known he worked for the Network. I've known for about three months. It was Kip's secret to tell, so I never said anything," she answered.

Bess watched George's face. She looks so sad, Bess thought. Losing Ross really tore her up. I hope Kip is helping. "So do you like your job in Vegas?" Bess asked.

"Yeah, the hospital is great. They have me working at a smaller branch so, it's relatively calm," George replied. "Vegas has been great for learning new techniques."

"Learning?" Bess questioned, "Why would you want to learn new things all the time? My brain would explode."

-NDHB-

Carson Drew locked his car door and headed toward his office. He was stopped a moment later by the woman standing at his office door. "What do you want?"

Her only reply was "I'm sorry."

"What do you mean 'I'm sorry'?" Carson said.

"I mean…I'm sorry I had to die. I had to protect you and Nancy, Carson. I couldn't have you die because of me. So, I staged my death," the woman replied. "I had to protect you and Nancy."

"From what," he demanded.

"I worked-work-with the Network. I made enemies, Carson. Too many enemies. They threatened you and Nancy. I had to protect you. I love you both so much. You don't understand how hard it was to give up this perfect life, Carson. I had to, though. To protect you," she explained.

Nancy Drew's father looked at the woman in front of him. Nancy looked so much like her. "Do you know how hard it was to bury the love of my life with this little girl-who would never see her mother again-counting on me to take care of her?"

"I want to be back in her life, Carson. She'll need my help with this assignment they have her working on. I want your permission to tell her who I am."

"This might hurt her. Do you know that?" demanded Carson.

"Carson, everything is planned out. If you see Nancy, tell her. I can't and don't want to hurt her, so I need you to tell her the next time you see her." She turned to leave, then paused, "I wanted to protect you both: I never meant to hurt you."

Life had been hard, but maybe being without a mother had made Nancy a stronger woman. "So you dying… was that part of the plan, or what?"

She glanced around and walked back to him, "The plan was Vegas. We get to be grandparents. Nancy and Frank can adopt Michaela if they want and knowing how Nancy acted with Michaela in Vegas…she will make a great mom."

"She has enemies too. What if they come after her?"

"Nancy has Frank, me, you, and the entire Network behind her. Besides it can't be worse then having who came after me come after them. …I missed talking to you. You don't know how many mistakes I could have avoided," she murmured.

"Like leaving your husband and three-year-old daughter," he accused.

"Carson, you have no idea how much I wish I could take that back. But, I can't. It probably made Nancy the strong woman she is today, anyway. All I want is your permission to tell her," the woman-his legally dead wife and Nancy's mom-begged.

-NDHB-

Sophia laid back on the bed. Jail sucks. I wonder who the new cellmate is. I hope she can hold her own, Sophia thought. The last girl was so…urgh! I wish my Ned and I could share a cell.

She was awakened half an hour later as the guard slammed the cell door shut, effectively trapping Sophia with her new cellmate. "So why are you here," she asked.

"Kidnapping. I'm Melinda," she stuck out her hand.

Sophia shook her head, "No need to shake. I'm Sophia, kidnapping and murder. Trying to get me on terrorism: I worked with Ned Nickerson." Her tone was bragging.

Melinda stared at her, afraid really for her life. Then she remembered the details of that case, "Didn't Nancy Drew and Frank Hardy get you stuck in here then?"

"Yeah," Sophia replied, "With Frank's idiot brother Joe. Why?"

"They're the reason I'm in here too."

-NDHB-

Nancy stretched her arms over her head. The folders lay forgotten. It was the same information as the Vegas case. For the past half hour Nancy had been catching up on sleep while Frank did his e-mail. "Frank, do you want kids?'

Frank looked up, a little surprised at the abrupt topic change, "Yeah, someday."

She didn't meet his eyes, "You know I can't have kids so, we'd have to adopt, right?"

Frank looked up from his computer, now completely focused on Nancy, "Yeah, What are you thinking…" he trailed off as it came to him. "Nancy, I don't think-"

"But, Frank," Nancy almost pleaded, "look at her. She needs parents. You'd be a great dad, Frank. You've already taken care of Michaela; you know she'd be a great-" she was cut off at Frank's look. "I want her."

Frank laughed, "I can tell, Nan. We can try to adopt her. Right now, however, we need to focus on the case."

"All right, Frank. If you were Ned and I was Michaela's mom and I cheated on you with some guy what would you do?" she hypothetically questioned.

"Well, you would be dead…"

"Always good to know. And for the record: you cheat on me…well, things will be cut off and you will die," Nancy clarified.

"Thanks for the information. Then, I'd be hunting him down to find out what he thought he was doing. …with maybe a little torture thrown in," added Frank.

"We both think the idiot's dead. But, we're trying to find him so, if you wanted to torture him, where would you hide him?" she questioned.

"I don't know Washington well enough to guess. We'll look around while we're there," Frank replied. "Nancy, you know Ned might try to escape. He will want to find this guy personally."

Nancy grimaced, "I'm trying not to think like that, Frank. Positive thoughts, like adopting Michaela."

"We can try," Frank sighed.

Nancy slid onto his lap. She gently kissed him, "Thank you." She picked Michaela up from the seat beside Frank. "Don't you think we'll make a great family?"

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115

~ladybug1115