Guest: Thank you! This was a story that got really complicated, but it was bound to with being based on the Bourne films. I'm glad you're enjoying the direction the story went!

Lisa: I am so glad you're enjoying the story! Byer will get what's coming to him...eventually.

oOo

It took a week for that drug to clear Marta's system. The day after her rescue, the nausea let off and was replaced with a raging migraine. Aaron, who had spent the night going over the information Jason pulled from Byer's computer, kept a close eye on her throughout the day. As did Landy, Jason, Nicky, and a number of other analysts and agents in Chicago's CIA office. Without trying, Marta had become something of a mascot, the woman who had helped create Outcome 5 and then brought down the organization that hunted him. It made Aaron smile whenever someone neither of them knew offered a small kindness in the form of a cup of coffee or bowl of soup.

When Aaron found Marta curled on the bathroom floor early the third day, shivering and sweating in spite of the cold tile, he drew the line. Overriding her desire to stay close to him, he called Landy's doctor and arranged for her to be transported to the most secure hospital in Chicago. Tom Cronin arranged her security, and Aaron divided his time between the CIA office and Marta's hospital bed. The tox screen on Marta's blood came back showing a very, very potent sedative, and the files the analysts had managed to unravel explained why Marta had such a horrible reaction. The sedative was designed to take down a LARX or Outcome agent, not a normal human. By giving Marta repeat doses, Byer had, in essence, made her an addict and sent her into withdrawals. When he saw the reports, Aaron's fist clenched around the paper as he fought the urge to punch anything close by. Even though he'd gone to ground, Byer was still toying with them using Marta and her health.

During that week, Jason and Nicky spent most of their free hours at the CIA office, freeing Aaron to do things like touching base with Manuel and Bobby. His employees had continued the process of restoring the house they'd started before all of the chaos broke out, and they'd covered admirably for him by telling the owner that Aaron had had a family emergency and was called out of town. He walked onto the job site late the day after Marta was admitted to the hospital, pleased to see progress on the house. Manuel and Bobby welcomed him back, both of them asking where he'd disappeared to. Aaron simply smiled and changed the subject, making Manuel his crew foreman and letting the men know he might disappear again soon if the "family emergency" didn't work out. In reality, he hoped it did, but they'd given him the perfect cover.

Landy understood that Aaron and Jason had a life outside of the CIA that they needed to pick up, especially since it would lull Byer into a false sense of security. She never complained much about what they did on their own time, and they tried to accommodate her as much as possible. Jason and Nicky spent hours at the CIA office. Aaron watched the pair with amusement, wondering just how long they'd dance around the subject before one or the other made a move.

Finally, Marta recovered enough to be sent home. Her skin had returned to a healthier tone, the light no longer caused severe migraines, and she'd regained her appetite. She'd lost weight, though, and Aaron could clearly see the bruising that had blossomed in the intervening week. The day he picked her up from the hospital, he shook Tom Cronin's hand and thanked him for keeping such a close eye on her. Marta insisted on walking out to his truck, and she sighed as the late summer sun hit her face.

Aaron grinned. "Feel better?"

"Yes." She eyed him as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot. "Where are we going?"

"For now? Your apartment." He glanced at her. "Jason and Nicky have been using it as a crash pad, and it's close enough to the office to allow us to get away if we need to."

"Tom told me you'd been hired." During her hospital stay, Marta had become decent friends with Cronin.

"Yeah." Aaron drew out the word. "Marta, Landy wants to hire you as an analyst, as well. The knowledge you have from Outcome would be valuable right now."

"Do I have a choice?"

He nodded. "I think it's a good idea, but yes, you do."

A smile touched her lips, one he hadn't seen in way too long. "Then I don't have to choose right now."

They stayed silent the rest of the drive to her apartment, but Marta reached across the space between them and took his hand. Aaron sent another smile her way as he resisted the urge to kiss her fingers. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, so much they needed to discuss, and so little time. At any moment, one of Byer's employees could slip up, and he'd be gone. Marta didn't need that concern right now, and he resolved to keep the rest of the evening light and stress-free.

At her apartment, he slipped inside and dropped his keys on the counter near the door. Marta immediately crossed the room, opening the windows and letting the early evening light illuminate the hard wood floors and add life to the room. She finished gathering the curtains into pretty puddles on the floor and just stood there, smiling as she looked over Lake Michigan. Aaron understood. Before her kidnapping, she'd been a virtual prisoner in her own home. It had to feel good to enjoy the sun on her face, see her living room light up with the colors of sunset, and know that no one was watching her.

She turned to look at him over her shoulder and caught his smile. "What?"

"Nothing." Aaron reached for the fridge. "Go get cleaned up. I'll make dinner."

She agreed with a nod and headed for her bedroom. A few moments later, he heard the water start and set about making homemade chicken soup. She'd lost so much weight during her hospital stay, and her system still couldn't handle a lot of rich foods. But he wanted to see that healthy glow come back to her face, and it started with decent food. Besides, he could put the soup in the crock pot once the chicken had been cooked and let it simmer for when Jason and Nicky returned.

As he worked, his mind kept him entertained. The sound of the water in the other room also did a number on him, and he pushed away thoughts of Marta in the shower. He needed to be thinking clearly right then, not with his desires. After he'd gotten Marta to safety, she'd said things to him that he honestly doubted. He didn't doubt her intentions at the moment, but he wondered just how much of it she truly remembered. How did he broach the subject that she'd more or less told him she loved him and wanted to build a life with him? At the time, he'd forced himself to think logically. She'd been high as a kite, suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms and the trauma of her captivity. But every time he'd left her at the hospital, she'd uttered the same four words. I love you, Aaron. Almost as if she was trying to reinforce her initial declaration.

With the chicken sauteed, Aaron picked up a knife and started chopping vegetables. He prepared the broth in the crock pot, turning it on low and letting it heat up while he finished with the chicken. Then, he added the meat and stirred it. He'd have to wait and see what Marta said. But he knew they needed to talk that night. And it would be an interesting conversation if he had anything to say about it.

oOo

Marta took her time in the shower, reveling in the feel of the hot water as it washed away the residual smell of the hospital. For someone who had worked in such a sterile environment for most of her professional career, she hated hospitals. They just never smelled right. Besides, the lingering weakness of her ordeal made the entire memory something she'd rather just forget.

But she needed to get her thoughts together before facing Aaron again. She knew what she wanted, and she knew he'd give it just because she asked. But this was about more than a physical release. She craved the same relationship they'd had in Sydney, Australia, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Back then, she and Aaron had been in tune with one another's needs, knowing just when to speak or to keep quiet. They'd been able to read each other so well, and the intimacy of it went beyond any physical relationship. That was what Marta wanted more than anything.

Not coming to any conclusions, Marta turned off the water and took her time dressing. She dried her hair until it shone in the light, the sun having set while she bathed. Then, pulling on comfortable jeans and a fitted t-shirt, she returned to the kitchen.

Aaron stood over a crock pot, stirring soup that smelled incredible even if it wouldn't be ready for another hour. He made it for her every time she got sick, and it always brought a smile to her face. The old cliché about chicken soup was accurate for Marta. Nothing worked better.

Aaron turned and found her staring at him. "Hey."

"Hi." She moved into the kitchen, reaching for a glass and drawing some water. "Thanks for coming to get me from the hospital."

He frowned at her. "No problem."

After an awkward moment, she set the glass down. "Aaron, about what I said at the office."

This time, he put the spoon he'd used to stir the soup on the counter and replaced the crock pot's lid. Crossing the kitchen, he leaned against the counter next to her, putting his left hand close to her hip. "Yeah?"

"I meant it." She met his eyes, not looking away and doing her best not to hide anything. "I remember every word I said, and I meant it. I'm sorry for the way I've treated you in the past—the recent past. And I want to have more with you. I really do want for you to be the priority in my life, and I'm ready to make the changes."

"Marta, I appreciate that." He shook his head. "If I even thought it was a good idea right now, I'd take you up on that offer."

"But. . .?"

"Byer's still out there."

"And he's not bothering us right now." Marta tipped her head to one side, smiling again. "Remember when I wanted to be lost? Byer was still out there, then. What changed?"

He lowered his eyes, thinking. "I almost lost you this time."

"But you didn't."

He blinked at her. "Marta. . . ."

She finally had enough of his objections. Closing the distance between them, she kissed him softly, feeling him respond within seconds. His hand came up to her hair, burying his fingers in it as he returned the kiss that was both gentle and so full of meaning. When he pulled back, she smiled at him. "You think too much."

A different light came into his eyes. "Is that so?" He kept his left hand on the counter but turned to face her, planting his right hand on the other side of her body and effectively trapping her inside his arms. It was a familiar position to Marta, one she hadn't enjoyed for way too long. Before she could answer, Aaron kissed her again, this time tugging her closer to him and letting some of his desperation escape. She knew what came next, and she felt her body shifting to answer his unspoken call. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark, and Marta smiled at his whispered words. "I love you."

It was just like Sydney, only better. Back then, he'd apologized for panicking at her declaration of love, whispering into the breath they'd shared after an equally intense kiss. This time. . . .This time, he didn't hesitate or panic or anything else besides make her smile widen and her heart beat a little faster. Slipping her hands across his shoulders, she pushed his leather jacket back, letting it fall as he caught it. He kissed her again as he tossed the jacket onto the counter, and then he took her hand and tugged her toward the bedroom. It may not have been the exact reunion he'd had in mind, but it worked for Marta. And, as far as either of them were concerned, it was perfect.

oOo

Late that night, Jason unlocked the door to Marta's apartment and stepped quietly inside. Nicky was behind him, exhausted from yet another day at the CIA. Marta had recovered well, and Aaron had promised Landy that he'd speak to her about the job offer. Jason didn't know what Marta would say, but he hoped she'd accept. It gave Aaron the sense of security he needed, keeping Marta safe while allowing him to track Byer.

An under-the-cabinet light brightened a spot in the kitchen, and Jason spied the note. He picked it up and showed it to Nicky. Dinner in the crock pot. Marta's handwriting was as firm as ever, but Jason wasn't all that hungry. Besides, the state of the kitchen struck him and made him smile.

Aaron's leather jacket had been tossed onto a counter, looking for all the world as if someone had shed it and simply forgot it. There were dirty dishes in the sink—something Aaron rarely left—and two wine glasses beside it. A quick glance into the living room proved that Aaron wasn't sleeping in there, and Jason glanced at Nicky. She'd seen the signs as well, based on the way her eyes sparkled and she tried to hide a grin, and Jason unashamedly followed her into her room. Closing the door behind them, he flipped on the light and tried to form a sentence.

Aaron and Marta had been headed for this reunion for a lot longer than just the last week. Jason had seen it some time ago, hence his decision to remodel the guest house. But he'd not anticipated living in the same apartment as the couple when it happened. It left him uncomfortably aware of his own thoughts about Nicky during this past week of watching Aaron balance caring for Marta with the CIA.

Nicky snickered. "Talk about awkward," she said softly.

"Yeah." He stared at her, the uncertainty on her face balanced by the mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Over the week, his mind had repeatedly returned to his relationship with Nicky. The evening she'd spent at his home, telling him things about their shared past, had helped him see her in another light. She was no longer a mysterious part of his life who refused to give him answers he needed. She'd become. . .more. The intrigue that he'd felt then stirred other emotions long buried but freshly remembered.

He had loved her. Though he couldn't say he did now, he wanted to see her happy again. He still cared, perhaps enough to let it blossom back into love, but he had so much to overcome. Treadstone hadn't come close to touching what Jason struggled with now, and he knew Nicky would forever have the memory of Marie hanging over her head. His girlfriend's death remained a sore spot for him, especially when he realized that it had been done to draw him out of hiding. Could he put Nicky in that same position? Just look at what loving Marta had done for Aaron. It made her a pawn for Byer to use.

Then, Jason blinked. He'd never taken the time to truly think about what Aaron and Marta shared, preferring to relegate it to the other man's life and just lump the pair of them together. But it suddenly became a huge epiphany for Jason.

Aaron loved Marta so deeply that she'd never questioned whether or not he would come for her. She just knew he would. No matter what he'd faced, Aaron had been there to get her out, to save her life, and to protect her. That level of trust went deep, and it wasn't earned or even deserved in some cases. Aaron gave that kind of love to Marta, and she trusted it.

Could he ever love Nicky like that? He wanted to. Jason continued to stare at Nicky as he asked those questions of himself. Could he and Nicky share the same relationship that Aaron and Marta had? Of course, they'd be different because their shared history was different, but the trust and respect. . . .That was what Jason wanted.

oOo

Nicky frowned as he continued to stare at her. "Jason?"

His gaze never left her face. "Nicky, do you ever wonder if we could have what we did in Paris?"

She blinked. She'd not expected that question to ever come out of Jason's mouth. "I try not to because. . . ."

"What if we could?" he interrupted. "What if I made it something worth thinking about?"

She stared, her mouth open as if to respond. Nothing came to mind. Jason had always communicated through silence and actions, not words. And after their recent conversations, she'd resigned herself to never sharing what they'd had in Paris.

Finally, she pulled herself together. "Jason, what—why are you asking this?"

He walked to the window and sighed. "Them," he said so quietly she had to strain to hear him as he nodded toward the other end of the house where Aaron and Marta now slept. "What they have. She never doubted he'd come for her, and it made me wonder if we had that."

Nicky relaxed slightly as she finally understood why Jason had asked the question. She perched on the edge of her bed. "I try not to think about it," she said honestly. "You're different now, and it's not fair to hold you to something that you aren't. Besides, I think I'm different, too. And. . . ." She sighed. "It's not that I don't want it, Jason, but I understand that life changed us. You met Marie, and I stayed with Treadstone. I helped hunt you in Berlin, and you lost Marie. Our lives are what they are, and we can't change that."

"But we can change the future." He held her gaze, not letting her look away. "I've been thinking. I care about you, Nicky. And I want to feel the same way about you that Aaron does about Marta. But that takes time, and we haven't exactly used what we had the way we should have."

Nicky dropped her eyes to her hands, which had started shaking. To cover that he'd flustered her, she jumped to her feet and paced a few steps away. Why did she have to react like this to him? He was part of her past, just a friend now who suddenly wanted to be so much more. But could she let him in? Could she risk letting him hurt her again? "Jason. . . ."

He was there when she turned around, having moved across the floor so silently she never heard him. Before she could think or react, he'd slipped one hand along her face and pulled her in for a kiss. This time, however, he was gentle and hesitant, almost asking for her permission. And Nicky couldn't stop him. She melted against him and found herself returning the kiss with the same growing desperation as last time. Only it was different. The passion and fervor were there, but not the anger. Her hands curled into his shirt, and she let herself simply feel.

All too soon, Jason pulled away. He was just as breathless as she was, and he had both his hands in her hair. Not that Nicky cared. She let out a deep breath as he pressed their foreheads together. Her knees shook, and she smoothed his shirt over his shoulders just for something to do so she wouldn't drag him to the bed and finish what he'd started. It wasn't the time. Besides, that first kiss was followed by several shorter ones, just enough to show her that she wasn't the only person struggling to balance her desires with reality.

Jason picked up on her thoughts and pulled back so she could get some air. His eyes were dilated, like hers, and he smirked. "You don't wanna do that," he said when she glanced yet again at the bed.

"I think I do," Nicky replied, grabbing his belt loops to drag him across the room.

He moved his hands from her hips, where they'd been pulling her closer, to her shoulders. He used his superior strength to stop her from what she'd been about to do. "Think about it. Cross has been 'enhanced.' All of his senses were enhanced. Even if he's on the other side of this apartment, he can probably hear every word we say. And even if he can't, do you really want to take the chance?"

Nicky gulped. Jason wasn't putting a stop to this because he didn't want what she'd offered. He simply had more information on their friends and knew she would be thoroughly embarrassed if Aaron overheard them. She glanced at the door and then back to him. "You're sure? A—about Aaron, I mean."

Jason laughed, the first time she'd heard him laugh like that since Paris. It made her smile. "I'm sure," he said. He leaned forward, lowering his voice to whisper in her ear. "When this is over, we'll find somewhere far enough away he can't hear or see or anything, okay?"

Nicky nodded, but the mood had been sufficiently destroyed. Not that she wouldn't have given in to her desires had Jason indicated he wanted more. But the few moments to think about Aaron's hearing and Marta's need for rest had tempered her emotions and reminded her that this was bigger than simply reuniting with Jason. She met his eyes. "I'll hold you to that," she said.

"Good."

She frowned at the way their bodies were still too close together. "I think I'll go. . .uh. . .clean up." She slipped out of Jason's arms and left the room. Just before she closed the door, she glanced back and saw him running his hand through his hair with a frustrated expression on his face. She recognized it. Before he lost his memory, he used to do that when either of them were called away by Conklin. Realizing he was as irritated as she was, she quietly slipped into the bathroom and took a shower. Not lingering since she knew Jason also wanted to clean up before bed, she stood in her room and awkwardly faced him. He had no qualms about what had happened, however, and took the time to kiss her properly before whispering good night.

oOo

Aaron heard the front door to Marta's apartment open and instantly woke. A few seconds of listening told him that Jason and Nicky had returned from their rather long day at the CIA office. Relaxing again, he smiled.

He was lying on his side, his right arm across Marta's waist as she slept on her back. Out of instinct, he'd snuggled his face into the curve between her neck and her shoulder, a position both familiar and instinctive. They'd slept like this almost every night when they'd been on the run. It kept Marta close to him so he could relax and know she was safe, and it helped her feel protected.

A smile touched his lips as he thought about the evening. After their first, almost frantic, reunion, they'd shared dinner and talked openly about what they wanted for the future. Both of them agreed that the house in Arlington Heights fit the bill, as Aaron had hoped it would, and he spent the rest of the evening demonstrating just how much he really did love her.

A sound from the other end of the apartment caught his ear, and he blinked. He'd learned how to filter out voices, his hearing being as sensitive as it was. But he knew those sounds, the shifts in breathing and the way the voices suddenly stopped talking. Blinking at the ceiling, he waited, hoping that Jason put two and two together. He had no problems admitting that he and Marta had been intimate the night before, but they'd been alone in the house. Jason and Nicky were bound to discover the change in their relationship sooner rather than later. But to actually hear those two. . . .

"You don't wanna do that." Jason's soft warning made Aaron sigh with relief.

Nicky's voice was just as low and husky. "I think I do."

After a moment, Jason spoke again. "Think about it. Cross has been 'enhanced.' All of his senses were enhanced. Even if he's on the other side of this place, he can probably hear every word we say. And even if he can't, do you really want to take the chance?"

"You're sure?" Nicky asked. "A—about Aaron, I mean."

Jason chuckled. "I'm sure." The pair fell silent again, and a door opened a few moments later. As the shower came on, Aaron relaxed back into his pillow and let out another sigh.

Marta shifted next to him, having been awakened when he tensed up. "Aaron?" she asked in a warm, sleepy voice.

He kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep." He tightened his hold on her. "I'm right here."

She sighed deeply as she relaxed back into sleep, and Aaron smiled. Even with Byer on the loose, he couldn't bring himself to worry just then. He had Marta, and they had plans for the future. This time, he doubted she'd back out of their agreement as she had when they'd settled in Chicago. Too much had changed, and those changes had been for the better.

~TBC