Chapter 33

In less than twenty-four hours, her quiet northern Virginia home had become a whirlwind of activity. Watching the taillights of her most recent visitors disappear down the street, Ruth Bargeron realized just how much she enjoyed the unexpected company. I wish they could have stayed for dinner, she thought as she turned back toward the house.

With a pang of sadness in her heart, Ruth remembered the last time Myles had shown up at her door injured and battle weary. One of the worst nightmares for any mother is to outlive her own children. Not wanting her to be alone when she learned of the raid and subsequent shooting that had taken her only son from her, he'd put aside his own pain to be with her. She would always be thankful for that.

Ruth had first met Myles when he was a cocky, self-centered freshman at Harvard, but had grown to love him just like her own child. Unlikely companions, her son had roomed with the staunch New Englander during their four years of college. They'd formed a bond stronger than brothers that extended even through training at the FBI Academy and their first assignment in Hartford.

No one had ever expected the son of the aristocratic Phillip Leland would tolerate being assigned a black roommate from the wrong side of the tracks. However, Samuel had been able to break through the barrier Myles had created and had gotten to know the true man underneath.

Though Myles had spent many school holidays with her and Samuel, Ruth had really never understood the relationship he had with his own family. His loyalty to her son over the years seemed somehow inconsistent with the brief, sterile phone calls he placed to his parents' home from hers.

The hard persona Myles portrayed around his friends earlier was just something that seemed so out of place. The man he was around them wasn't the same generous, caring person who'd secretly paid for airfare and hotel expenses, so Ruth could fly from Louisiana to see her son graduate.

Even now as she observed the couple sitting in her living room from the privacy of the hallway, Ruth knew there was something different. Though Myles watched the pretty brunette closely, she didn't see the same concern for his co-worker as she did when he'd arranged for her to move here after Samuel's death.

The robust Cajun woman was about to enter when she saw an unmistakable spark in the tall New Englander's eyes. While the young woman couldn't see it, there was an distinctive air about her that said she had no clue about the effect she was having on the man next to her. Maybe it's more than I thought, Ruth thought as she stopped in her tracks, waiting to see who was going to make the first move.

"You should have gone with Jack to the safe house, Hannah," Myles stated stiffly as he shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. Even though the paramedics had tried to get him to return to the hospital, he'd flatly refused.

As fatigued as he was from the exam, they could have easily made him go, but apparently had understood his need to be somewhere he felt safe. Since not even his friends knew of this place and his connection with Ruth, Myles maintained this was the best location for him until he recovered.

Unfortunately for him, Hannah had been just as obstinate. She'd insisted they were better off staying together, pointing out with annoying logic that they'd already gotten out of two potentially life-threatening situations by relying on each other.

"Well, I don't remember you being so keen on the idea either," Hannah countered, running her hands through her hair to push it back from her face.

"But I can't protect you if they find us here," Myles sighed irritated; he'd obviously been expecting a fight. "At least with Jack, you'd be safer," he asserted.

"Ha, protect me? Myles, in your condition, I doubt you could protect yourself from a spider," Hannah laughed outright. "I think I've proven that I can still take care of things. Remember, you wouldn't have made it out of the hospital without me."

"And you'd have a bullet in your heart you never saw coming if it wasn't for me," Myles snapped harshly, immediately regretting his words when he saw her face drop at the memory. Sympathetically, he reached towards her, stopping just short of touching her. "Hannah, I just don't want anything to happen to you…uh, to anyone because of me."

His voice had such a sense of loneliness that Ruth knew Myles was thinking of Samuel, and what he could have done to prevent his death. She wanted to go to him and reassure him again that it wasn't his fault, but as Hannah's face turned in his direction, she knew the young agent had also picked up on something in his tone.

"What happened, Myles?" Hannah asked softly. "Who did you lose?"

Her questioning was so sincere, so soothing that it caught Myles off guard. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, suddenly needing to get out of the room.

Even without her sight, Hannah was quicker and was able catch him before he could push his weight up off the sofa. Her restraining hand on his arm was gentle, but enough to get Myles to stop.

"Don't run from me, Myles," she requested as he turned to look at her. "After all we've been through together in the last couple of days, don't shut me out," Hannah persisted, almost desperate.

Good for you, little one, Ruth smiled as she watched covertly. However, it was up to a very strong, tenacious man whether or not it was going to be effective.

"You really want to know?" Myles snarled as he grabbed her shoulders and thrust his face to within inches of hers. "You really want to hear that I caused the death of three men. That because of me, Mom will never have the opportunity to watch her grandchildren grow up," he snapped angrily, shoving her away from him.

Eyes wide at the rage she saw in him, Ruth watched as he struggled to his feet. Stumbling towards the bedrooms, Myles paused briefly in the doorway. She hoped he was going to come back to the shell-shocked woman he'd left on the sofa, but he didn't turn around.

Ruth almost missed his next words as he ran his hand wearily over his face. "That because of me…the best friend I've ever had is dead," he whispered in anguish, before disappearing down the hallway.

Shocked was the only way Ruth could describe how she felt. Never really one to show his emotions, she'd never suspected that Myles had held that level of guilt inside him all these years. Torn between going after him and reassuring the young woman he'd left behind, she decided it was time to make her presence known.

"What's this?" Ruth called, hoping it sounded cheerful. "You don't have dinner ready yet," she teased as the young woman looked forlornly up at her.

"Uh, um," Hannah stammered nervously.

"Well, come along, ma chère let's get something started," Ruth told her as she took her hand, pulling Hannah to her feet.

"But…but I can't," Hannah muttered, even as she allowed the older woman to lead her towards the kitchen.

"Of course you can," Ruth insisted, stopping in front of the sink. "You've just got to learn where everything is again," she told her.

"Huh?"

"You want to protect him, chère?" Ruth questioned, as she watched Hannah run her hand along the counter next to her. When she suddenly stopped, she knew she'd read the young woman right. "You need to learn this house. He knows this house – 'bout grew up with me after he and my Samuel started school together. Later he ended up spending most of his vacations here," she explained, watching the myriad of emotions crossing the brunette's face. "You want to protect him, you learn this house, you can get there faster than him."

"Myles doesn't need anyone to protect him," Hannah whispered. "He's stubborn, rude, and conceited. He doesn't need anyone," she maintained quietly.

"Sometimes a man is most rude when he aches to have someone most," Ruth answered with a slow nodding of her head. "It is hard for the gentlemen sometimes. Their hearts are telling them one thing and their heads are saying something else. Most confusion for the young ones."

"Myles Leland strikes me as the kind of man who is more than capable of saying exactly what he means," Hannah groaned as she turned away.

"That's what I say," Ruth agreed, silently urging her back. "It's most hard of all for a man like this, an honest soul who has seen much heartache. There's a powerful need in that man – if it don't frighten him off."

"You're speaking in riddles," Hannah frowned, shaking her head in confusion.

"You're not listening, that's all, but I keep my thoughts here," Ruth continued, gently touching the brunette's temple, and then her heart. "He does same, but he needs something more. No matter what he say, he needs you, and it scare him like nothing else."

Ruth waited for the agent to process what she'd just said, hoping she'd gotten through. As the seconds ticked passed, Hannah took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders as she made her decision.

"So where do we start?" Hannah asked, only the slight hitch in her voice giving away her uncertainty.

Though her eyesight wasn't as keen as it once was, Ruth saw more than most expected. It was evident that Hannah wasn't as indifferent to Myles as she wanted people to believe, and the old woman suspected it was mutual.

My poor, beau garcon, Ruth thought with a smile. Myles ain't even know what's hit him is cupid's arrow.