Chapter 26

Traffic was light on the roads that late at night. The drive to the small northern Virginia town normally took more than thirty minutes. However, the cab driver was able to make it in less than twenty.

Directing him down the narrow dirt lane leading to their intended destination, Myles couldn't help the feeling of peace settling over him. He realized they weren't expected but after the years of coming here to visit, he knew they'd be welcomed. She was just that way, he smiled fondly to himself.

Feeling Hannah shift next to him, Myles glanced down seeing her brown hair illuminated in the headlights of a passing car. Her head rested on his shoulder only inches from his cheek while he held her close to his side, his hand lying softly on her slender hip. The position seemed so natural despite the circumstances.

All Myles could think about on the drive to the house was the woman beside him. He chastised himself repeatedly, because he couldn't afford to let himself get distracted from the real threat they faced. However, her touch made him forget everything but the kiss they'd shared.

STOP IT MYLES! he admonished quietly. She's a fellow agent! Myles persisted, knowing that in the back of his mind it was more.

He forced himself to concentrate on the case, the bomber, and not the woman in his arms. Myles knew it was an impossible task but he had to do it. Despite all her bravado and talk of fate, he knew her current condition was his fault.

When he saw the man at the nightclub, he knew something was wrong, but he didn't call in back up. Instead, Myles had taken it upon himself to check it out, play the hero, and it ended up getting them both hurt. And destroyed her life, he thought sadly, knowing that her FBI career was over.

Well, I'm not going to make that same mistake twice, Myles vowed silently, tightening his arm around Hannah's waist.

"Myles?" Hannah's quiet voice penetrated his thoughts as she lifted her head. Even in the darkness, he could almost see her trying uselessly to search his face for some clue as to his sudden tension. "What's wrong?" she asked almost breathless, another passing car briefly lighting her face as she looked up at him.

"N-Nothing," Myles stammered, surprised at what he thought he saw in her unseeing eyes. Behind their blank stare, he sensed a trust and loyalty he didn't think he deserved.

Not once did Hannah question his need for leaving the hospital so quickly without even contacting Jack. Though Myles was glad she didn't because he wasn't sure if he could explain it to himself. All he knew they weren't safe there, and he didn't want to put anyone else in danger.

If the shooting at the hospital was related to the bombings, Myles wondered if they had missed something in the profile of the bomber. It just wasn't making sense, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong. He knew with time he'd figure it out, but how much time he had was anyone's guess.

"Myles?" Hannah lifted her hand to his cheek, her fingers soft against the stubble that had grown. Myles felt himself getting lost in her tender touch, one hand pressing her closer as the other almost involuntarily rose to the side of her face. As his fingers ran through her hair, he found himself regretting the bulky cast prevented him from feeling her silky tresses. Even so, he lowered his head towards hers in the darkness, feeling her breath on his face as he leaned closer.

"We're here." The driver's terse comment broke the spell between them as Myles felt the cab come to an abrupt stop in front of the familiar house.

"Ah, um, thank you," Myles muttered, groaning as he reached into his pocket for some cash to pay the man.

Hannah had already shifted in the seat, running her hands across the door as she searched for the handle. She was only a few feet from him when she slowly stretched her legs out of the door, but Myles suddenly felt so lonely.

A moment later, the front screen of the house creaked open, the porch light igniting the yard in a bright glow, and Myles heard a recognizable woman's voice. "What's this? Who's there?"

"It's Myles, Mom." He tried to keep his voice level as he gingerly pulled himself out of the cab. He didn't want to frighten the older woman any more than he already had. "I have someone with me. We need some place to stay."

The elderly woman wasted no time with questions or exclamations of surprise, as if it was an every day occurrence for the tall Bostonian to bring visitors in the middle of the night. With amazing agility, she hurried across the lawn down to the cab, stopping beside him.

"We're in Boston?" Hannah turned to Myles in amazement.

"Non, enfant. You're in Virginie," the woman replied sharply, her distinctive Cajun accent evident.

Even in his pain, Myles wanted to laugh at the confused expression on the young agent's face. Even now, she won't question, he thought with a smirk.

"Mom, this is a co-worker of mine, Special Agent Hannah Starr," Myles explained briefly. "Hannah, this is Ms. Ruth Bergeron, an old friend."

"Pas aussi vieux que je ne peux pas vous maintenir dans la ligne, mon cher garcon," Ruth scolded adoringly.

"That is true," Myles agreed with a grim smile, a soft moan escaping his lips as he tried to stand. Swiftly, Hannah wrapped her arms around his waist, helping him to his feet.

"Mon Dieu! Myles, you're burning with fever," the older woman gasped, feeling his flushed cheek. "We need to get you inside, mon enfant," she insisted, moving to other his side quickly.

"I'm okay, Mom," Myles lied, trying to brace his legs under him as the two women struggled to propel him forward down the sidewalk. He failed, knees buckling as he cursed himself angrily.

"This way, ma chère," Ruth pointed, not realizing Hannah couldn't see. "We'll put you in your old room so you can stay together," she indicated, leading them that way when Hannah hesitated.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Myles glanced down at Hannah when she didn't reply. While he was glad she wasn't grilling him, he was beginning to be concerned that she was so quiet. He wanted to ask but needed to wait until they were alone to talk to her.

When they reached the bedroom Myles pulled her close, angling her body through the opening so he didn't have to let go of her. As Ruth flicked the light switch next to the door, the room was illuminated in a dim glow.

"Gently!" the old woman cautioned softly as they lowered Myles on the mattress in the room he'd spent so many nights. As he sank heavily into the linen sheets, Hannah lost her balance falling into him. He brushed his lips over her cheek, his unshaven skin rasping against hers.

"I've had women fall for me before but that's a bit much Agent Starr," he grinned cheekily.

On the other side of him, the old woman chuckled. "L'homme still got enough life in him to flirt with a pretty girl…he gon' be just fine after a good night sleep."

Myles sighed as Hannah wriggled free of his grasp. The faint tinge of pink on her cheeks told him that she was embarrassed by the fact that Ruth had overheard his remark.

"Le petit, you take his shoulders, and I get the feet," Ruth instructed briskly before Hannah could move away. "Now you lay him back. Slowly, ma chère," she added as the younger woman's hands shook.

Myles grimaced as he lay back against the pillow. His gaze shifted from the older woman to Hannah. He knew she wanted to bolt as soon as she could, but was thankful her vision loss prevented her from getting very far on her own.

"Now, ma chère, if you'll just get me the aspirin from the bathroom, I'll go get Myles some water," Ruth directed as she pulled the comforter up over the tall blonde agent. "I can wait until morning for an explanation," she told them.

Moving toward the door, the old woman missed the look of apprehension and fear crossing Hannah's face. However, it didn't skip Myles' watchful eyes as he reached out to take her hand in his reassuringly.

"Mom," Myles called out before the other woman could leave the room, his eyes never leaving Hannah's face. "Hannah won't be able to find the aspirin," he hesitated seeing her stiffen beside him.

"Pourquoi pas?" Ruth asked curiously as she stepped back toward the bed, her eyes going to the young brunette's face. "Mon Dieu! Elle est aveugle!" she gasped as realization sunk in.

Hannah didn't have to know French to understand what the woman said. Myles saw the comprehension on her face as she turned her head away. It will be alright, Hannah, he promised silent as she blinked back the tears the threatened. That was one vow he swore he'd keep even if it killed him.

French Translations:

Non, enfant. (No, child.)

Virginie (Virginia)

Pas aussi vieux que je ne peux pas vous maintenir dans la ligne, mon cher garcon (Not so old I can't still keep you in line, dear boy)

Mon Dieu! (My God!)

mon enfant (my child)

ma chère (my dear (female))

L'homme (The man)

Le petit (Little one)

Pourquoi pas (Why not?)

Mon Dieu! Elle est aveugle! (My God! She's blind!)