Jack Malone reread the memo on his desk twice. Washington had requested one of his agents for a special Homeland Security team out of D.C. There was no question that Vivian deserved the promotion, but it provided her with one other person from his team and he wasn't sure that being down two people on a team that only had six people was something he could live with. Not that he had a choice. What Washington wanted, Washington got, and he wasn't exactly in a position to fight. "Come in." He didn't look up.

Lily walked into Jack's office with her trademark smile three weeks after she left Martin's apartment. "I see you got the notification out of my office."

"This nonsense was sent by you? Lily, you know better than anyone else in D.C. that I can not spare two agents."

She sat down and crossed her legs. "Jack, you know better than anyone else in New York that nothing happens in D.C. without there being an ulterior motive. I have my own Homeland Security team assigned to my office that is made up of two agents from each agency and the agents rotate every six months. It just happens that next month the current rotation is up and someone somewhere at some level wanted to give Vivian her own team. I just made the request that she bring one person with her that she can trust because I don't have time or patience to deal with learning curves and comfort zones."

"You know that she's going to pick Martin as soon as she sees that it's for your office." He leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "Wouldn't have just been easier to put in your request for him?"

"Interesting theory, Jack, but I don't choose who gets assigned. That's up to the powers that be at each agency. I don't care who I get as long as they are the best."

"I have to tell you, Lily, I don't like that I'm losing two agents for six months."

She laughed. "You make it seem as though this is about your happiness." It was meant to be as cutting as it was though she delivered it with a smile. "This really is about throwing agents into the middle of the Colorado River and seeing if they can swim the Grand Canyon. Just point me in the direction of Agent Johnson, a conference room, and be happy that it's not you."

Unwilling to admit that she was right, he showed her into a conference room, and walked into the bullpen. "Viv, come with me for a minute."

"What's up?" Vivian did as she was told, but didn't like when she saw the same congressional legal attaché she'd worked with the previous year. "Ms. Anderson, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"Thank you." Lily gestured for the agent to take a seat after they shook hands. "I don't know what Jack told you, but I am here to offer you a position."

"Jack actually didn't tell me anything."

"Well, then," she pulled out a file from her briefcase, "I assure you that this file has a lot more pronouns visible." Her comment was able to place the agent at ease. "Agent Johnson, your leadership ability has not gone unnoticed. Between your own taskforce, heading this unit for a time, and working for me last year, you have made quite an impression on some people down in Washington. That goodwill has led to your name being suggested to head my DHS team for the next six months." The agent across from her only nodded. "Agent Johnson, please, feel free to speak freely. This is a completely voluntary assignment and I'd like to get your opinion."

"I have to be honest, Ms. Anderson. It doesn't feel voluntary."

"I've heard that from almost every agent who has been offered this position." Her smile widened. "Why don't I lay out what the job entails and then you can ask me any question you want until you feel comfortable?"

"That sounds fair."

"I'm glad because, I have to say, I've read your file and I agree with the decision out of the Hoover Building." Lily smiled her trademark smile again and crossed her legs as she leaned back slightly in her chair, acutely aware of her body language, and attempting to place Vivian at ease. "As you know, I am the legal attaché to the Judicial Subcommittee of Congress. I have two attorneys under me and we all have cases that come across our desks that require investigation. That is why the Department of Homeland Security assigns my office a special team of agents. In the interest of national security, this team is made up of six agents that rotate every six months. There are two from the FBI, two from ATF, and two from DHS. Each agency's higher-ups assigns the two agents based on merit and the supervision cycles. Beginning next month, it is the FBI and your name was on the top of the list that landed on my desk last week." The agent was actually listening intently. "The investigations that originate out of my office are incredibly sensitive. Sometimes they turn into major cases and sometimes they are bogus reports by paranoid civilians. Either way, I need agents who I can trust to make that distinction and a supervisory agent who knows how much manpower to allocate to each case. It will not be like you have it here. There will not be one case at a time. At any given time, I have five to ten cases on my desk awaiting a report and each of my attorneys have from three to six. Before I move on, does that sound like something you can handle?"

Vivian sat back and crossed her legs. "Would I be required to lead each simultaneous investigation?"

"Absolutely not, but you would be required to stay on top of each of them and know when to pull the plug and when to jump in to steer it down the proper path."

"That sounds reasonable."

"Now for the perks of working for a congressional subcommittee. You would be based out of Washington for these six months with housing provided for you and your family for the length of your term, but, it has been my experience that agents rarely move their families since you will rarely see the inside of your apartment. The position requires a lot of travel, though you are allowed to return home for at least one week a month. The summer does allow for more time off, but we will get into the schedule during orientation." She watched Vivian becoming more and more intrigued. "Please feel free to interview Agents Taylor, Spade, and Fitzgerald, and chose one to join you on your team. I must remind you, though, that technically my office does not exist. My position and my attorneys are on the books as being legal researchers. Can I trust you to keep this discreet?"

"Of course."

"Do you have any questions for me?"

"Just one. Do I really have a choice of agents or are the interviews just for show and I will be required to pick Agent Fitzgerald?"

Lily laughed. "It is quite amusing that here in New York I have the stigma of being Martin's fiancé and in Washington I had to overcome being Ambassador Anderson's daughter. Agent Johnson, when you get to know me, you will realize that I am my own woman. I made the request that you be allowed to take Agents Taylor, Spade, or Fitzgerald so you would have at least one friendly face that is used to your leadership skills not because I wanted an excuse to reassign Martin. The choice is yours, but I must request that Agents Malone and Delgado not be considered. Jack because of his past indiscretions and Agent Delgado because she is just too new and her ex-husband poses a risk that I am just not willing to take."

"OK, that's understandable. How long do I have to decide?"

"To make the decision or choose the team member?"

"Both, I guess."

"I am only going to be in New York until tomorrow at three in the afternoon so I need to have your decision by then. As for your team member, I can wait until Tuesday, but no later than Wednesday because I need to start the paperwork increasing your security clearances."

"I'll let you know by then."

"Thank you." She stood up as Vivian did. "I feel I need to tell you this, Agent Johnson. Your work really is exemplary and there are a lot of people who have gone to bat to get your name at the top of my list." They shook hands. "I'll look forward to speaking with you tomorrow."