Chapter 6

"I spoke to the girls and they're happy we're heading home. Damien Stark called; Ana's en route to CO. The only think I want to know is why aren't we continuing negotiations here?" Tank asked as he shut the door to the guest room his boss, and friend, was using at Escala.

Alex only looked over to him from where he was packing his briefcase: "you catch the picture hanging in Grey's office?"

"Taken by a college friend of Ana's and the she-devil," Tank advised as he sat on the edge of the bed, then laughed at the look he was given: "what? Surprised that I know who took the photo? Wenn's used him a few times for promotions. He got his start in part due to the six portraits that Grey bought; although they were never included in his portfolio- I reviewed his information when I realized I recognized the technique."

"I was actually amused at your description of Kavanagh. You being able to find out more about that portrait is as much of a surprise as Barbra getting the latest couture outfit for one of our girls," Alex shot back with a smile. "Why didn't a connection to Grey show up when you did the background check on Ana?"

"Had to have been more than five years ago," Tank admitted, and then clarified: "She's not a threat, you know."

"I know… " he sighed, "I just don't like having to deal with unknowns, especially when threats are coming at us from other sides."

"And you think I do?" Tank responded good naturedly while rubbing unconsciously at the area on his chest where he carried the wound of an unhinged man's attempt on his fiancée's life.

"No comment," Alex replied as he turned and sank into one of the chairs arranged around the room. "So what do you think the real reason is he wants to move things to NY?" Tank raised an eyebrow, causing Alex to laugh: "OK, aside from my interest in the picture?"

"Taylor claims that he wants to make the move because it will give him a chance to see the future Mrs. Wenn in action, and that he believes that she knows more about this deal and its inception than you do."

"And you think it's something different?"

"Gideon was looking into who was helping to cover some bills for Ana."

"What bills?"

"Familial- and from what I could find out I think that Ana thought the she-devil was covering them."

Alex exhaled and ran his hand down his face tiredly: "do I even care at this point?"

"Rhetorical?"

"Ya think?" Alex sighed as he pushed to his feet: "you think she was one of his…"

"In the same way that Jen…"

"Don't go there," Alex snapped.

"Just stating a fact. She's not the type to be one of his contract girls. Not that he's had one in years…"

"At least to our knowledge."

"He cut Lincoln loose years ago," Tank pointed out, and then grinned slightly: "Of course that was only supposition."

"There were a lot of rumors about that woman," Alex remarked and put up a hand to forestall his security chief's comment: "and I'd prefer if they stayed that way.
She was friends with my parents… I don't even want to entertain the thought…'

"If it's true than he could've been…" Tank mused, his voice dropping off in implication.

"Would've preferred not to think of that, but you have a point.
Check to see if you can find the connection between him and Ana- just to make sure that Elena's not a threat to the girls. Let Angus know…"

"Already have, and Scot will be happy to allow him in as long as there aren't any other appointments."

"Gideon isn't going to let him off easily…"

"You would?"

Alex smirked: "I'll play from the sidelines. I just want a couple of months without a serious threat to our safety."

"Try to relax a bit, Boss and call Jen. You're maudlin."

"I've gotten used to her traveling with me," he admitted. "I never thought I'd have this again… and it's even more, that's why I can't risk losing her."

Tank nodded: "you're worried she's still pissed?"

"She doesn't like it any more than I do…" he shrugged. "I'll call her."

Ana smiled as Ray slipped into the empty chair across from her: "You look good kid," he said simply.

"I'm getting there," she replied as she put her journal to the side. "I've missed you."

"Feeling's mutual, Annie. I just need some time to get back to where I was."

"You know I love you right?" Ana asked quickly. "That I only want what's best for you?"

"What's brought this on?" Ray asked with a bemused expression.

Ana shrugged: "Sometimes I just don't think I ever told you how important you are too me, or that if I did it wasn't enough."

"I've always known. Besides I thought I was the one who didn't do the whole communication thing well. You're the one who loves to read and write. Speaking of… writing anything interesting?"

"Just a story, Daddy."

Ray smiled at that: "I'm happy to hear that. And I hope you know how proud of you I am," he said as he placed his hand over hers on the table top. "I remember when you were just a little girl, most of the other kids in the neighborhood were out riding their bikes, but you were sitting in the garden reading to your teddy bear or making up stories you were telling it."

"I did that? I mean, I remember the reading the stories to it, but I made them up as well?"

Ray laughed: "honey, you were 5 and just starting to read. You made up stories to go with the pictures, and as you could read more words spun the tales with the handful of words you recognized on the page."

"Oh."

"And then on raining days you used to want to use your mother's big mug. I'd fill it with milk or hot chocolate for you and you'd sit by the window and read to yourself…"

"I still like to sit with a big mug and read at the window, especially when it's raining."

"I'm glad somethings never change, Annie," Ray said simply, then went to say something else as Ana's phone started to ring.

"That's the ringtone for Mom," she quickly explained. "I kinda have to take it. She's been making not so subtle hints about her and the latest boyfriend."

"I'll wait," Ray said easily, then added at Ana's torn look: "I'm not going anywhere…"

Ana jerked as the phone rang again, and quickly moved to answer it, knocking her journal to the floor: "hello?" she asked groggily.

"Ana, honey, its mom. I'm not interrupting something, am in?" Carla asked.

Shaking her head, Ana looked around the cabin of the airplane as sadness descended on her. "No, Mom, I just fell asleep. What's up?" she asked as she pushed herself to her feet and started to walk to the bedroom at the rear of the plane.

"What's this I hear about you quitting Kavanagh and moving out? And why am I only hearing it because I'm standing outside of Kate's building, with my bags, I might add, because I was going to surprise you with a visit and couldn't find you. And why doesn't she know where you are?"

"I quit because I wasn't happy there."

"Ana, it's a good job…"

"I was a flunky. I did what I was told and I wasn't going to move anywhere in the position. Christ! I haven't moved in my position in the 10 years I was there."

"Kate said if you just applied yourself a little more instead of having your head in the clouds…"

"I did, Mom, I really did. My supervisor stole my ideas and…" Ana said as she stood outside of the bedroom and sighed.

"Not this again. Ana, I thought you worked through that with the doctor you were seeing!"

Ana exhaled in a huff, she didn't want or need to go there with her mother. Carla never quite understood what had been going on with Ana. She didn't want to or need to. Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression where not something she wanted to know about or to admit her daughter had- and even if she did, she didn't think it was something that she should be talking to some stranger about. "I have been, Mom, but it's not something that just goes away."

"You have to start seeing things how they really are not as you perceive them to be."

"Mom, my supervisor using my ideas to further his career is not something that I made up. It is not an irrational idea when you have proof- like the e-mails with the details of the campaigns he passed off as his own," Ana defended, trying to keep her anxiety from rising. "As for the moving out, I wanted to try something new."

"Fine. Where are you? I'd prefer to have this talk with you in person."

"I'm moving out of the city, Mom. I'm… I don't even know how close to where I'm going…"

"Oh for pity's sake, Ana! How irresponsible can you be?"

"Me? Irresponsible? Funny you didn't think I was the irresponsible one when I was a kid taking care of you. When I was the one paying for your divorce from Bob! When I help set you up in an apartment after it."

"That was before, Ana."

"Right. Before… before I got treatment for things that bothered me," Ana sighed. "Look, I still have a week or so on the apartment. You can stay there or…"

"I'll find a hotel. No need for you to put yourself out."

"Fine. I need to go now."

"Of course you do."

Ana rolled her eyes as she ended the call and then slowly opened the door to the bed room. She looked first to the bed and ray's prone form, wishing he could talk to her. Then she slowly took in the machines around him and looked over to the nurse sitting a nearby chair and smiled sadly as the other woman looked over to her: "he's resting comfortably and his vitals are good. There should be no ill effects from the trip."

Ana nodded: "can I sit with him a while?"

"Of course. I'll be over there, should you need anything," she said as she indicated a corner chair that would allow Ana some privacy with her father and still have the nurse there if he should need her.

"Thank you," Ana replied as she took the nurse's seat and then cupped Ray's hand in both of hers. "I wish you could tell me what to do, Daddy. That you were here in more than body, I need you so much…" she whispered, long sense used to a medical staff member's presence when with her father. "Please come back to me, daddy. I need you so much…."