Chapter 2

Because of the late hours, the streets in Georgetown were virtually deserted. Most residents had already turned in for the night. However, one house still was lit up as the computer hummed in the background, the clicks of the keyboard keeping time.

Glancing at the clock as it tick passed 1:30 a.m., Tara Manning sat back wearily, closing her eyes as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Even though she'd been transferred to another team, most units in the DC office were working on the bomber case, and hers was no exception.

While Tara didn't mind, because it meant she could still see Bobby, and most of her old team, just about every day, she did hate the long hours. Especially since Bobby still hasn't gotten home, she sighed quietly.

Though it had been more than four months, Tara still couldn't believe she was married, but she wouldn't have traded the last several weeks for all the gold in the world. The first couple of weeks after they returned from their assignment in Texas had been a whirlwind of activity.

From changing her name at work and with Social Security to informing their parents and finding a new place to live, she and Bobby had been kept very busy. Fortunately, Hannah transferring from Texas to take over her old position on the team almost a month later helped a lot. Jack and the others had pitched in on moving day and gave her a great 'going away' party at Bennigans, which made the transition so much easier.

Even Myles had shown up, Tara remembered with a grin. Though the fireworks between him and Hannah had been a sight to see, she recalled. If those two don't kill each other, I'd be surprised, she thought, smiling to herself at the memory.

Might as well call it a day, Tara decided, realizing it was now close to 2:00 a.m. Otherwise I won't be any good in the office tomorrow.

"Ug, today!" she muttered aloud. Shoving away from the desk, Tara winced as she rapped her knee sharply on its underside.

"You okay, babe," Bobby asked from the doorway, startling her.

"You're home!" Tara shouted, recovering quickly. Sprinting across the room, she sprung into his outstretched arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as she crushed her mouth down on his.

Bobby stumbled back two full steps at the impact. Every rational thought slipped out of his brain as he shifted her up his body, pulling her closer.

"I'm taking this to mean that you missed me?" Bobby teased as she rained kisses across his face, nipping his jaw before moving to his neck.

"The days are just too long without you sitting across the bullpen from me," Tara gasped, breathlessly between kisses.

"Um," Bobby mumbled, staggering down the hallway to the bedroom. He made it as far as the doorway before he had to brace himself against the jamb. "Just…let me…" He changed the angle of his head, sinking deeper into the kiss until her moans echoed his.

"I taste you all the time," Bobby groaned, scraping his teeth along her throat. "All the time and it drives me crazy."

"Me too," Tara agreed, tugging at his shirt.

"Wait. Slow down," Bobby insisted, stilling her hands.

"Why?" Laughing, Tara did tormenting things to his ear with her tongue.

"Because…oh, bloody h…," Bobby growled, his fingers digging into her hips as he started toward the bed. "It feels like I've waited for centuries to find you. I want to cherish it." He managed to get a handful of her hair to draw her head back until their eyes met.

"I want to…no, I need to savor every moment that I have with you. I want…" Bobby leaned in to nibble her mouth. "To take years to make love with you every night for the rest of our lives. To touch you," he continued as he lowered her to the bed. "Taste you." Gently, he lifted her arms over her head, capturing her hands in his, pinning them to the bed.

"You talk a good game, Mr. Manning," Tara managed, quivering beneath him, "but can you follow through?" she teased.

"Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to show you, huh, Mrs. Manning?" Bobby traced the exposed line of her belly when her sweater rode up, drawing a deep moan from her. He lowered his head towards her mouth, and at the last instant, angled away so his lips rubbed over her jaw.

Her body was taut under his, pumping off energy in almost visible waves. Her hands flexed under his, but she didn't struggle. Her heart pounded against his, and her lips yielded when he asked for them.

Tara had never known a man who would light so many fires with his mouth alone. Even as she yearned for his hands, her bones and muscles melted under the heat. Sighing, she surrendered to it. Her pulse quickened. Her mind blurred.

When he finally released her hands, Tara lifted her arms to frame his face, bringing his mouth back to hers again. Confusion set in when he suddenly pulled away from her, sitting up on the bed.

"Bobby?" Tara whimpered dazed, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Phone," Bobby replied. "I'm sorry, luv, but I've got to get it," he frowned apologetically as he flipped his cell open.

Cursing the timing of it all, Tara smiled in understanding. If anyone can understand, I know I can, she told herself, knowing that the job sometimes had to come first, especially on cases like this.

As he spoke, Tara let her hands roam under his shirt, stroking and caressing his taunt skin as she waited for him to finish. Feeling him tense under he fingers, Tara looked up worried, trying to listen to what he was saying. Unfortunately, after answering, his side of the conversation changed to extremely terse, monosyllable responses.

"What is it, Bobby?" Tara questioned, her heart going out to her husband when he snapped the phone shut, his head sagging.

"That was Jack," Bobby moaned unmoving. "The DC Bomber struck again."

"Oh, no," Tara gasped, her hand covering her mouth. "Was anyone hurt?" she asked, hoping this one would be different

"I don't know," he responded, turning to pull her into his arms. "A nightclub was hit."

"A nightclub? That's not his normal pattern," Tara replied worriedly. Looking into his eyes, she could tell something else was wrong.

"Tare, baby," Bobby started, taking a deep breath "Myles and Hannah have been undercover these last couple of weeks…."

"I know that, but what does it have to do with the nightclub?" she asked, brushing her fingers across his face, wishing she could wipe the worry from his eyes.

"We'd gotten information that some information was being passed at a local nightclub regarding the bombing targets," Bobby breathed hoarsely. "Hannah and Myles went undercover at the nightclub that got hit."

"Oh, my God," Tara gasped, tears filling her eyes. "Please tell me they got out," she begged as he pulled her into his arms comfortingly.

"Jack said the last time Myles checked in was a couple of hours ago," Bobby whispered, his cheek rubbing against her hair. "The bomb went off about the time Hannah's last set should have finished," he continued, holding her to him.

"We have to go," Tara insisted, pushing away from him and jumping off the bed.

"Huh?"

"We have to go to the nightclub and help," Tara repeated as she grabbed her shoes from the closet. "If they're hurt, we've got to find them," she stated firmly, grabbing his hand to pull him out the door. Failure was not an option.