All too soon, Rachel's 1alarm buzzed and she reached out to silence it. Memories of the previous night, of making love with Jacob, washed over her and she smiled contentedly. Her smile broadened as she heard the sound of running footsteps overhead.
A small boy's voice called out, "Uncle Jacob, wake up."
She had been right to insist that Jacob leave her, no, their, bed and sleep in the guest room upstairs. As she had suspected, Owen was up early and anxious to see his uncle. Rachel decided to shower and dress quickly. She hadn't told Jacob about her call to Felix, alerting the Bureau to his location. Last night, Rachel had hoped that she and Felix could salvage the incident Jacob had caused, but after what he had told her she knew that was a futile hope. Rachel expected the FBI descend upon the house by the bay sooner rather than later to deal with their recalcitrant science advisor.
Half an hour later, Rachel was in the kitchen beginning the morning routine. Rachel knew that Owen missed his mother, so she was spoiling him in little ways, with special treats for his breakfast and lunch.
The coffee was perking and she had just finished mixing pancake batter when she heard Owen and Jacob's voices as they came down the stairs. She couldn't make out the words, just Owen's voice, light and high, and Jacob's, husky and smooth. Just the sound of his voice made her breath catch in her throat and her stomach clench as she remembered the way he had whispered how much he wanted her, loved her, as he caressed her, made love to her the night before. As Jacob and Owen entered the kitchen, Rachel smiled at him and suddenly felt shy in his presence
"Hi there," she said softly, seeing him for the first time as Jacob, her lover, not as Hood, her assignment. He looked so damn good standing there, freshly showered, and dressed like her in jeans and a t-shirt, that she just wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him. But Owen was there and for his and Alex's sake, they had to be discreet.
"Good morning," Jacob said. He hesitated momentarily, wanting to touch her so badly, but then he gave her his half smile as their attention was claimed by the small boy standing between them.
"Rachel, Uncle Jacob says he can stay until Mom gets back! And he can come to school with me on Friday for show and tell!"
Rachel laughed at the thought of the confusion Jacob could create in a classroom of second graders.
"Really that's great. I'm sure your teacher will appreciate it."
Owen and Jacob settled down at the table for breakfast. Just then the phone rang. Jacob looked at Rachel apprehensively, as she reached out to answer it.
"Hello, oh hi Mrs. Creighton…Oh, the car… yes, that's Dr. Hood's… you know, Alex's brother? He decided to pay Alex and Owen a surprise visit…yes, it is a shame… no, I couldn't say... Mrs. Creighton, I have to go ... have to get Owen's breakfast…yes, goodbye."
"What was that all about," Jacob asked.
"Neighbors," Rachel answered shortly. "Mrs. Creighton saw a strange car in the driveway on her walk this morning, and she wanted to make sure everything was ok."
"You're kidding?"
Rachel shrugged, "It's a small town, everyone knows everyone's business. Mrs. Creighton is actually the second call about your car this morning." Rachel smiled at the look on Jacob's face. "Been a while since you've lived in a small town?"
Jacob just shook his head. "Coffee ready?" Rachel poured coffee for Jacob and their fingers lingered, lightly caressing each other as she handed him the mug.
Owen was unfazed by the phone call; he kept up his happy chatter. "Guess what's for breakfast Uncle Jacob? Rachel says that since I've been so good while Mom's away that I can have chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream. Maybe she'll make some for you too."
Jacob raised his eyebrows at Rachel, smiling at the thought of her being so domestic.
Rachel raised her eyebrows back at him and replied, "I'm not so sure of that, chocolate chip pancakes are only for good boys, and I have a feeling the FBI doesn't think your uncle qualifies."
Jacob grinned wickedly at Rachel, "Oh, I don't know about that Rachel, I think I've been very, very, good lately. Don't you agree?"
Rachel felt herself beginning to blush and she quickly turned to the stove and busied herself with the pancakes. Jacob laughed softly and devoted himself to entertaining his nephew.
The trio had finished breakfast; Jacob was quizzing Owen for his spelling test as Rachel finished packing his lunch. Jacob looked over at Rachel with a frown as they became aware of the sound of a car; no make that cars, coming up the drive to the house.
Owen dashed from the kitchen and shouted, "Uncle Jacob, Rachel, there are three big black SUV's out front."
Rachel sighed, the moment of truth had arrived, rather sooner than she had expected. "Owen," she called, "why don't you answer the door for me, ok? And show them into the front room"
"Rachel," Jacob growled, "How did they know where to find me?
"Felix called when you first went missing," she explained. "Jacob, he was frantic with worry. I'm sorry, but I had to let him know you were safe."
Jacob slumped in his chair. "I guess I'm in pretty deep trouble, huh"
Rachel ran her fingers lightly across Jacob's cheek, cupping it with her hand, "Yeah, you are," she said gently, "Let's go deal with the fall-out from your little episode."
Jacob turned his head and lightly kissed her palm. "You're right, let's go face the music."
As Jacob and Rachel walked into the room, Rachel's eyes widened as she saw the group waiting for them. Felix Lee and Carson Dilworth she had half expected. She had hoped that the Director and her own boss would send deputies to deal with Hood. But no such luck. Sitting there in the armchairs flanking the fireplace sat Frank Fuller, Director of the FBI and T.C. McGruder, chief of the Executive Protection Detail.
Dilworth, Felix, and an agent Rachel didn't know where ranged behind the two men against the fireplace. Rachel looked at Felix who grimaced and tilted his head subtly toward Dilworth. Rachel figured Dilworth had decided to get his version of the happenings in Boston on the record first. After all, no matter whom you believed, Hood or Dilworth, there had been a serious breach of EPD protocol and it looked like McGruder wanted to deal with it personally.
Rachel interrupted Owen who was busy telling Director Fuller, who was after all something of a family friend, all about how Uncle Jacob was going to be at show and tell on Friday.
"Owen, it's about time for you to catch your bus. Your backpack and lunch are in the kitchen."
As Owen left the room, Rachel faced the Director and said in a low voice, "Please, he'll be out of the house in a few minutes, could we not start this until he's gone? I don't want him upset."
Frank smiled at her and nodded his head. Rachel relaxed fractionally as Owen came back in the room with his school things.
"Uncle Jacob, I'll see you after school, 'kay? Rachel, what did you pack me for lunch? Did you put some of your molasses cookies in again today? I traded one to Cory yesterday and he said they were awesome. Are you gonna walk me to the bus?"
Laughing, Rachel bent down to give the boy a hug. "You'll find out what's in your lunch at lunch, and I better not find out you've been trading my cookies away for junk food. I made them special for you."
The reactions of the men in the room varied from the rapt look Jacob's face to Dilworth's snort of contempt. In jeans and a t-shirt, with her long blond hair falling over her shoulders, he thought she looked more like a soccer mom than a reputedly tough as nails Special Agent.
Frank had watched the exchange between Rachel and Owen with some amusement, now he spoke up. "Tell you what Owen; I came down here to talk to your Uncle Jacob and Rachel. How about I have one of my security detail walk you to the bus instead?"
Owen's eyes grew big and he nodded his head enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, that would be cool."
Frank looked at the third agent in the room, Ian Kendrick, his own bodyguard. "Kendrick, you take Owen. Tell the others to keep an eye on things outside. We'll be here awhile."
"Sure thing, sir," the young agent answered. "Where do you want me when I get back? In or out?"
Frank considered this, glancing at McGruder. At McGruder's nod, he answered, "Out. You, Matthews, and Santos can amuse yourselves by patrolling the perimeter."
Rachel called after them, "Hey, don't just leave him at the stop. You have to wait for the bus!"
Kendrick waved a hand in the air acknowledging her as he and Owen walked from the room.
Frank then turned his attention to Jacob and Rachel. "So, Jacob, Agent Young, have a seat," he said gesturing to the loveseat that faced the chairs.
Jacob and Rachel sat uneasily on the small loveseat, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible.
"Jacob," Frank looked at his old friend with a slight smile on his face. "Have a good night last night, sleep well and all?"
Jacob looked at Frank warily, Rachel's eyes widened slightly, surely he didn't suspect?
"Ah, yeah, I guess so, why?"
The smile left Frank's face and he glared angrily at Jacob. "Because I didn't, damnit! Because from about 3:00 a.m. on I started receiving phone calls! And do you know who called me, first?"
Jacob shrugged his shoulders and tried to answer.
"That was a rhetorical question! I got a call from the Boston Globe. Then CNN and Fox called. Wanting me to confirm the story attributed to our Special Science Advisor. Damnit Jacob, doesn't that confidentiality agreement you signed mean anything to you? You may consider yourself a whistleblower, but the Bureau considers it insubordination."
Jacob tried to explain, "I didn't think anyone.."
"Damnit Jacob! This is a disaster," Frank roared. "I got calls from the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce and the Attorney freaking General first thing this morning. And do you want to know what they all wanted? They all wanted to know what the hell the FBI was doing ordering their people to open up investigations. What in the hell were you thinking?"
Jacob opened his mouth to answer, but Frank waved him off.
"You may be one of my oldest friends but damnit, this is going too far. And to top it off, you assaulted a federal agent. Again, what the hell were you thinking?"
Jacob got to his feet and started pacing the room, hands in his pockets.
"What was I thinking?" he said bitterly, "I'll tell you exactly what I was thinking Frank. I was thinking about all the cases I've worked on for you for almost four years. I was thinking of all the things I've watched the government cover up, classify, all kinds of crap. Like with Cal Rigdon and Ray Wynne. And I was thinking that this time, there was no way I was cooperating. Those bastards up in Boston deserve everything they have coming to them. Marchette, the drug company, the hospital, what they did was beyond unforgivable. They used those people, those babies, as if they were less than human. That's what I was thinking."
Jacob stopped pacing, looking out the front window, shoulders slumped, the picture of dejection. Frank stared at his friend in astonishment. He had never heard Jacob sound so disillusioned.
"Jacob, you know we don't ignore these things, I mean, yeah, we try to keep things quiet, to avoid panic, and yes, sometimes to avoid embarrassing the government. But we don't let people get off scot free. I mean, Wynne's in federal prison and the corporations, the people you've exposed, they've all paid the price."
Jacob snorted in disbelief.
"Really, Jacob, they have. Just because you've never paid attention to the follow-up doesn't mean there wasn't any. But we have to follow channels, we can't just go off half-cocked like you did last night."
Jacob turned to face his friend. "So," he challenged him. "You'd have called all the same people I called last night?"
"Eventually, and well, almost all"
"Why only almost?"
"Well I sure as hell wouldn't have called the press!" Frank retorted. "Why them? What good will that do except stir up bad publicity? Considering that you've brought half the government down on that hospital and that drug company, that should be punishment enough."
"I wanted the publicity Frank, even with all the trouble with government, I was afraid that it would happen quietly. I wanted to make sure," Jacob's voice broke as he turned to look out the window, "I wanted to make sure that those parents found out just why their children died and who was responsible for killing them. They, they deserved to know."
Frank shook his head. "Jacob, sit down."
Jacob rejoined Rachel on the loveseat. "Ok Frank, let's cut to the chase. I'm really in no mood to argue, to justify to you what I did last night. All I can say is that you weren't there, you don't know what it was like. I'm not sorry for what I did, and it can't be undone. So just how much trouble am I in? You gonna to fire me or what?"
Frank and McGruder exchanged glances. In reality, aside from the phone call to the press, all of the other calls would have been made eventually. They just would have gone through the proper channels. But the call to the press? That was intolerable. Not only did it violate Bureau protocol, but it violated the confidentiality agreement Jacob had signed. Friend or no friend, Frank was going to have to deal harshly with him over this.
"I don't know, but yeah, Jacob, you're in big trouble. I'm definitely going to have to suspend you, at least until the inquiry is over. I mean, what you did, calling the press, could be viewed as a violation of federal law. If you're lucky, everything will be …"
He was interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone, his cell phone. Frank frowned when he saw that it was his assistant trying to reach him.
"I thought I told you no calls… what, you're kidding me? ... He didn't? ... He said WHAT? Are you serious? He called the Bureau…" Frank shot a startled look at Jacob. "Are you sure you heard right? …. Oh, you taped it? . . . And you got a transcript? Good, I'm going to need to hear this whole thing. God, this is unbelievable." Frank laughed, "Yeah, I guess that was a poor choice of words. Um, I guess now we'll finish up here pretty soon. Expect me back in about an hour or so."
Frank ended the call and stowed his cell back in his pocket. He sat and looked at Jacob with some amusement.
"So, Jacob, tell me what you know about His Eminence, Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley."
"Umm, not much, why," asked Jacob cautiously.
"He seems to know a lot about you, Enough to give an interview to CNN to praise you in particular and the FBI in general for, now how did Jim say he put it, 'rooting out the evil that was flourishing within an institution meant to heal the afflicted'. He was pleased with you all right. Not just for the evil rooting, but apparently you're a man of conscience, making sure that these wrong-doers got what's coming to them. Praised you to the skies and said the Bureau was working on the side of the angels. He commended the government for not even thinking of a cover-up. He even promised the complete cooperation of the Archdiocese of Boston in any necessary investigation."
Jacob looked pleased. "I'm glad that he took it so well. He seemed pretty upset on the phone last night, but he did promise me he'd look into the situation."
Frank burst out laughing. "I can't believe it, he was one of your late night phone calls?"
"Well, it only seemed right to let him know. I mean, it was a Catholic hospital where all this was going on, I just thought he might be concerned. We actually had a nice talk last night. He, uh, understood how I felt."
Frank shook his head. "Ironic"
"What?"
"I mean, considering how you feel about organized religion, I think it's ironic that your ass just got saved by a Prince of the Catholic Church."
"I don't understand."
"Are you kidding me?" Frank exclaimed, "You've practically been canonized by the Cardinal and the press in Boston for what you've done. The Bureau, for a change, is being shown as a force for goodness and light. If it gets out that we prosecuted you for those same actions, the Bureau would take a huge PR hit. I swear to God, Jacob, you must be living right."
"I take it this means I'm not in trouble?" Jacob asked warily.
Before Frank could answer, McGruder cut in. "Well maybe not for all those phone calls, but we still have to deal with an assault on a federal agent and you ditching your detail."
"Well, how about his assault on me?" Jacob scowled. "Or doesn't what he did to me count?"
McGruder gave Jacob a level look. "Technically, no, it doesn't count as an assault. According to Dilworth, he acted to protect you from getting yourself into a dangerous situation."
Jacob was contemptuous. "Of course he'd say that; the truth is, he just disagreed with my analysis of the situation and decided unilaterally to stop me from doing my job the way it needed to be done!"
McGruder raised his eyebrows. Shortly after Dilworth had returned from Boston, he had requested an audience to file an official complaint against Hood. Dilworth alleged that Young had developed a personal and most likely, intimate, relationship with Hood. That Hood was unused to having to deal with a 'real' bodyguard and handler. While McGruder was skeptical, he couldn't help but remember the parade of handlers who had preceded Young.
Frank shifted in his seat. McGruder had filled him in on Dilworth's allegations on the drive down to Deale. They disturbed him more that he was willing to admit. He had been taken aback when he had originally learned that Young was recuperating from her injury here, but Jacob had glibly assured him that the arrangement was as much for Alex's benefit as Young's. And he wasn't too suspicious when Jacob had turned up in Deale after the debacle that was Boston; after all, it was his home. But he had been surprised and a little concerned when Owen had informed him that Alex in New York. He wondered uneasily if Jacob had been aware of that when he had taken off from Boston.
"McGruder's right Jacob," Frank said. "You've been under the protection of the EPD for almost two years now. What the hell came over you?"
"I was given to understand that I was put under the protection of the EPD because my life was threatened, because that extremist group blew up my car."
McGruder grunted an acknowledgement.
"So," Jacob raised his eyebrows, "when did they gain the authority to decide how I do my job? How I conduct my investigations?"
"You're splitting hairs Jacob and you know it. You know that your bodyguard has final say on the safety of any course of action you take."
"Maybe." Jacob shrugged. "All I know is he manhandled me, refused to let me act as I saw necessary to conduct my investigation, and delayed the identification of the compound needed to create the vaccine. Because of him, three people died needless."
Jacob glared at the men opposite him. "I can't believe that you would consider for a moment that his actions were justified and mine weren't."
