A/N: Sorry I've been gone for so long. I had a little bout with bronchitis and pneumonia so I got to spend a few days "relaxing" courtesy of our local hospital. Hope you like the next installment and hope to keep up with the writing now that I'm back and on the mend.

Chapter 37

Raindrops slapped the small glass panes of the bedroom window and lightning illuminated the room, splashing against the plaster walls like an unexpected searchlight. While the strobe effect of the lightning didn't bother the lone occupant of the room, the series of booming, rolling explosions that followed set her teeth on edge.

She knew it was an irrational fear, but Hannah couldn't stop herself from pulling the quilt over her ears. Her heart dancing against her ribs, she squeezed her eyes shut as she waited for the next loud rumbling to shake the room. The storm was getting closer; a little too close for her liking.

The brunette agent hadn't realized the sound of the explosion so many weeks ago had caused such a terror to develop inside her until the sudden storm had come up. While part of her was glad that Ruth and Myles weren't there to witness her childlike behavior, another part wished she didn't have to go through this alone.

They have other people who need them right now, Hannah reminded herself. With a heavy sadness in her heart, she let her mind wander to the events of the day, hoping it would distract her from the raging storm outside. …

Even though she couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong when Ruth told them Bobby and Jack had arrived unexpectedly, Hannah refused to give in. She held out hope until she heard their stiff greetings as she followed Myles into the living room.

"What's wrong, Jack?" she asked, unable to see their faces to read any expressions. Is it the bomber? the brunette wondered as she sank onto the sofa next to Myles. She could feel his warmth next to her, reminding her for a moment of their brief interlude in the garage.

"Um…" The dark-haired agent hesitated, quickly dousing any lingering passion Hannah might have been feeling as he succeeded in heightening her apprehension.

"I could use that drink you offered now, Mrs. Bergeron," Bobby interrupted, as Hannah felt around for Myles' hand. She couldn't have explained it if she tried, but she needed to know he was there, even though she could feel him next to her.

"Hannah, chere…" Ruth started, her hand on the young agent's shoulder as she tried to urge her up and into the kitchen.

However, Myles wasn't having any of that as he clasped her small hand in his reassuringly, keeping her firmly beside him. "Jack, what's going on?" he questioned sharply.

"Uh, Myles," Jack started, the strain in his voice evident. "I think we should talk privately," he offered tentatively.

Hannah could feel a mixture of anger and resentment rising in her as she felt several pair of eyes on her at once. A part of her wanted to lash out, but after everything that had happened, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Uh, I'll just…" she murmured, trying to pull her hand out of Myles' grasp.

"No," Myles insisted, refusing to let go. "If this has anything to do with the bomber, Hannah has the right to be here, too." The defensive tone of his voice was gently softened in her ears by the feel of his thumb caressing the back of her hand

There was a short silence in the room as Hannah struggled to hear some clue as to what was going on around her. A myriad of horrible ideas flashed through her head as she thought of all the things that could have happened to bring her friends here today. However, she never could have imagined the next words out of the dark-haired agent's mouth.

"There was a bomb threat this morning… at Burrell Financial."

"Isn't that where Anne works?" Hannah interrupted, recalling one of the many conversations she'd had with Myles' sister at the hospital. Feeling the tall Bostonian go rigid next to her, she knew she was right, even though he didn't say a word.

"The building was still being evacuated when the bomb went off," Jack continued, only a slight hitch in his voice revealing his internal struggle.

Hannah's gasp seemed to echo in the room as one hand went to her mouth and her other tightened in Myles' grip. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to hear what she knew in her heart was coming next.

"They found Anne about an hour ago, mate." Bobby stepped forward, his tone sympathetic. "She was asking for you when they brought her into the ER."

"She's alive?" Myles whispered, barely audible, as he released her hand, slowly standing.

"She's in serious condition, but yes, she's alive."…

For the next hour, the house was in turmoil as Myles flip-flopped between the need to be with his sister and worrying about leaving Ruth and Hannah alone. They knew the agent in him had difficulty reconciling his responsibilities.

While the tall brunette felt she qualified under the New Englander's professional obligations, Hannah missed the wishful looks he cast her way as he prepared to leave. She desperately wanted to go with him, but readily sacrificed her own desires because she felt she'd just be in the way. He needs to be with his sister, she told herself, wishing she could force herself to believe it.

Though she tried to convince him she would be okay with Ruth, Hannah could sense he was fighting something inside. She figured he'd be more than willing to do whatever it took to get away from her. Why doesn't he just leave? she wondered, but then wanted to cry when he did.

None of them could have anticipated the frantic call Ruth would receive just one short hour later. A close friend's serious fall requiring stitches sent the old woman out into the night, leaving Hannah alone before any indication of the wicked storm.

Hannah had been working with Ruth every waking minute for the past two weeks, becoming more comfortable with her surroundings every day. She'd become more independent in that short period than she thought possible, and was actually looking forward to the possibility of more training.

While the young agent was nervous about being away from her friends and family, Ruth had talked to her about a facility in Georgia that specialized in vocational rehabilitation, and Hannah was strongly considering it. Even though she prayed every day for a miracle that would bring her vision back, she knew she had to be realistic and couldn't live her life being dependent on others. That just wasn't her.

Thunder cracked again, and Hannah fisted the sheet tightly in both hands. Every time the walls rattled around her, it set her nerves on edge. The time between booming crashes grew increasingly shorter, even as she prayed the core of the storm would miss her.

Another bang sounded, and Hannah's eyes flew open to stare unseeingly at the dark ceiling above her as she strained to listen. Was that a car door? she wondered, concerned that Ruth might have tried to weather the raging storm so the brunette agent wouldn't be alone. I hope she's okay.

Swinging her legs off the bed, Hannah stood up and moved cautiously towards the door. Running her hands across the chair she knew was next to the bed, she plucked her robe from the back of the rocker and shrugged into it as she went.

Stopping just steps from the entrance to the living room, Hannah felt a wave of uneasiness wash over her as her pulse kicked up a notch. The wide pine planks in the hallway were cool and reassuring beneath her feet, but a low, anxious trembling hummed to life in her belly that she couldn't ignore.

While the rain had intensified against the old tin roof, Hannah could hear the now-familiar squeak of the screen door in the kitchen. Why would Ruth be coming through the back? she questioned as a sudden panic filled her.

The weather was too severe for anyone to choose the back door instead of the door nearest the driveway, at least not willingly. As her gut twisted nervously, thoughts of the bomber flashed through her mind before Hannah could stop herself.