Scorpio Ranch
Making their way to the flower-bedecked dais, Mac patted Robert's shoulder. "How can you be nervous?"
"I'm not," said Robert. "Where is my drink?"
At that moment, Andrew came up to them a fizzing drink in a glass in one hand. "Your order - one Red Bull."
Robert gulped the drink down. He surveyed the arriving guests who were finding their seats. They were family friends who lived in the area and a cluster of distant relations. The rest of the ranch team were on perimeter patrol.
At the villa, the guests munched on appetizers in the living and wandered through the living room. There were more people now and the festive air was evident. Plus, the wine had already begun to flow.
"Nervous about the wedding night, Robert?" asked Sean. His image appeared on a monitor set up on the dais.
"Absolutely not," said Robert. "It's unexpected guests that have me concerned."
"Everything is going to go on rails, Robbie," said Mac. "Stay positive."
"You do remember my last wedding?" asked Robert.
"You've left instructions to shoot on sight if Faison shows up. Relax will you?"
"Back up! What about Faison?" asked Sean.
"The cockroach is supposedly on his way here," replied Robert.
"How did he find out? This thing wasn't announced publicly."
Robert said, "There was a mole. Sent word to Faison but we found out about it."
"Then why have the wedding there? There's better security here," said Sean.
"Time, Sean. There's no perfect time. You have to make the time or lose that window of opportunity. I'm tired of falling behind," said Robert. "Besides, the kids are both here. If I delayed, who knows if Robin would have been around."
Tiffany's face entered the picture. "What? Robin's not coming home?"
"Now she is but it was touch and go for a while," said Robert.
"Honey," said Tiffany. "Anna wants to talk to you before the ceremony. In the study."
"I'll be back, Robert." Sean and Tiffany's images left the monitor to be replaced by a view of the living room and the laughing guests.
Andrew added quietly. "Father, Salim's secured at the other ranch. A tranquilizer has been given. I should not expect problems from him."
"There better not be any problems," said Robert. He looked hard at his son. "After the wedding, we're going to talk about Salim. There has to be something we can do for him."
"I won't … can't do anything for him. Perhaps a specialist," replied Andrew. "Can't he stay home to Calais and be with his family. We can cut off all network access and-"
"If Salim was a lone person, I would be fine with returning him home but he's not one man," said Robert. "He's got a large family and leads a large and skillful sect. That sect will obey his orders to the letter. It's not right to do nothing for Salim. He wants to be helped. He asked to be helped."
In the background, the music began to play.
"Wait, isn't that early?" asked Robert.
"The musicians are just setting up," called out Paster Everson walking up the center aisle. "Don't worry, Robert. Enjoy the day!"
"From your lips to up there," muttered Robert.
"Okay, bro, let's have a seat," said Mac. "You'd think you'd be used to this by now."
"I'll feel better after the ceremony."
Genji came running phone in hand. "Robert! It's Andre."
Robert took the phone and turned off the speakerphone. He put the phone to his ear. "Andre?"
Not able to hear the other end of the conversation, Mac and Andrew could only wait and worry.
"Talk about bad timing," said Robert. "I'll talk to him here. Can you confirm the, uh, problem? You know what to do. Bye, Andre."
Robert handed the phone back to Genji and said, "Expect Frisco and Vincent via helicopter. They're on the way here. Possibly with trouble right behind them." Robert looked at his brother and son. "Is it too much to expect a trouble-free wedding?"
Anna shooed everyone out of the bedroom. Sean waited on the monitor. This was one conversation she wanted to have in private.
She faced the monitor and said, "Hi from your least favorite person."
"Never that," said Sean with forced casualness. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I wanted to apologize about blowing up at you and … and keeping you out of things," said Anna. "No way to treat a friend."
"We've never been shy about expressing ourselves have we?" asked Sean. "I remember the first time you lost your temper with me."
Anna laughed. "I thought it was part of my training, you dolt! Lucky I didn't get caught for shoplifting."
"I was pulling your leg. How was I to know that you'd take it as a challenge?"
"Well, I had no sense of humor about my WSB training."
"Try grim."
"It was my chance to have a better life. I wasn't going to blow it."
"You know you didn't," said Sean. "You tackled anything I threw your way. I didn't always like your methods but the results were … spectacular. The good old days, eh."
"Old and not always good," said Anna. "Speaking of the past, I, ah, made a promise to Robert. No more secrets."
Sean nodded. "The Pax Scorpio? Yeah, we all know about it."
"I don't want anything to come between us ever again and that … that includes you," said Anna.
"Me?"
"I want to tell him why I … I became a double agent. The real reason and-"
"No. Let it lie." Sean added, "How much do you remember about the job?"
"I forced myself to forget as much as I can. Then the amnesia and the reprogramming brought a lot back - my childhood, training and all of that. But it's in pieces and I think out of order," confessed Anna.
"Like a patchwork quilt?"
"Yeah."
"Have you told anyone else?"
"Of course not," said Anna. "I don't WANT to remember any of it."
"Then I don't see any reason to dredge it all up," said Sean. "What difference could it make now? How likely is Robert going to ask about the past? You two have moved on."
"This is our third chance. I can't … won't let anything pull us apart. And you know what Robert is like about secrets," said Anna. "So, I'm asking you as my former boss to let me tell him what I know."
"Oh, Anna! Think! He's going to dig and dig until he gets all the answers," said Sean.
"You're not giving him enough credit. How many WSB secrets is still in HIS head? Or yours? None of us has ever revealed half of what we know," said Anna. "Besides, it's an old operation. I didn't finish it, did I? What harm could it do to current WSB operations? Nothing!"
"No. That's final, Anna," insisted Sean. "Trust me. Let it rest in the past. Forget any of it ever happened."
Anna persisted, "Please, Sean, I'm begging you. For once, I'm thinking of MY personal happiness. You told me over and over to separate my personal feelings from my job. I've done that. Until now. I was in the field. I don't know much anyway."
"But I do, Anna. Robert will come to me for answers that I can't … won't give him. Ever."
"My early missions aren't even in the system. I checked," said Anna.
"Not everything is in the system," said Sean.
"So what? The missions are over," said Anna not letting the matter slide.
"NO! You will not tell him anything. He's accepted the story this far," said Sean. "Why are we even having this conversation? Get married and enjoy your life, Anna. You've more than earned it."
"What are you hiding?" asked Anna studying Sean's every expression.
"I'm trying to give you good advice as one friend to another," said Sean. His expression hardened. "As your former superior, my advice is to take your friend's advice."
"You know I hate it when people try to stall."
"You are the most infuriating woman!" roared Sean.
There came a knock on the door. Tiffany's voice came through loud and clear, "Honey! Are you all right in there?"
"Yeah, just peachy," said Sean. "I'll be done in a minute, sweetheart." He jerked a thumb at the door. "For the sake of MY personal happiness, do you think I would tell her everything? You, me and Robert are the lucky ones. We got out and we have families and people we love. The WSB is … is a whole different world than what we have now. I prefer this world." He sighed. "Think of it this way. You were doing a job. The job is done. You've got another job. You don't need the extra baggage. No one else needs to know how you got rid of the luggage."
Guests peered and squinted into the afternoon sky as the helicopter swept over them and hovered on the lawn. Frisco and Vincent stepped out. Two men carried out a stretcher. Mac met them and led them into the study. On the stretcher, Ivan dozed under heavy sedation. He was taken to an upstairs bedroom. The helicopter with its two passengers left as quickly as it had arrived.
"Always one for an entrance," said a grinning Robert as he clasped Frisco's hand and pulled him close for hug. "Good to see you."
"A little more gray than last time," said Frisco. "We left a mess at the hospital."
"Why was it imperative we bring Ivan here?" asked Vincent.
"What the heck is going on?" asked Frisco.
Robert checked his watch. "More details later. For now, getting you three here was the only thing to do."
"Robert, I cannot stay. I have to-" began Vincent.
"To see a Mr. Skinner," said Robert.
"Yes."
Robert smiled. "You're looking at him."
"Am I going to need an aspirin?" asked Frisco.
Robert continued, "Vincent, I've sent people to see to your mother and sister immediate safety. If necessary, they will be taken to a … a safer location. Ava's timing has always been impeccable. But this time, it's ridiculous. Why does she want an extraction now?"
"I'm not sure. All she would say is that Faison knew … knew something. She had a delivery for you," said Vincent.
"A delivery? Her exact words?"
"Yes," said Vincent. "How do you know her?"
"That's a long story."
"Another one? Great," said Frisco.
"Faison's on his way here. We think anyway. No firm reports of his whereabouts have come in. I have to assume he'll cause some kind of trouble," said Robert. "Frisco, check in with Anna. She hasn't see you in forever."
"I'm prepared to be overwhelmed," said Frisco with a grin.
"Vincent, I promise a better explanation after I get married," said Robert.
"Do you have contact with MY mother, Robert?" asked Vincent.
"Ah, I'd rather not say right now," said Robert. "Look, help my daughter out on checking the preparations before she drives everyone crazy." He gripped Vincent's shoulder. "You know that I take care of my own, right?"
Vincent nodded. "I should assume that Ivan's mother and sister will be fine?"
"That would be a good bet to make if I was a betting man."
RAP. RAP
"There's the daughter," said Robert as he opened the door.
"Are they here?!" asked Robin excitedly barging through the door. "Frisco!" She ran into her godfather's open arms.
"The one and only!" said Frisco. His arms tightened around the woman he's known from childhood. "You're really here."
"People keep saying that today," said Robin.
"We … we went through quite a scare, sweetheart," said Frisco. His brows went up as he watched Robin give Vincent a brief but obviously territorial kiss. "People don't tell me anything."
"Maybe you just don't listen," said Robert.
Robin put a hand each on Frisco and Vincent. "Mom is waiting for you upstairs, Frisco. C'mon!"
Robert watched as the room emptied. Once alone, he closed and locked the door. He contacted Andre. "Point of no return?"
"I would say so," came Andre's voice.
"When do you have extraction timed for?"
"Sometime in the next eight hours."
"That long?"
"Heloise wants to be on site to run the operation."
"Not you?"
"With Conclave imminent and Nikolas here at the estate, we felt that running their security was a higher priority so I stayed."
"She doesn't want you in the field," said Robert. "Not with all the rumors flying about."
"It has to be Charlotte or Helena or both," said Andre. "We've given them too much rope and too much time."
"Agreed," said Robert. "It's time we paid attention to outstanding business."
Andre chuckled. "Uh, don't forget to get married first."
"My kids are excellent minders. They've got this thing planned in fifteen minute increments," said Robert. "Third time's the charm. I know it is."
Frisco returned Anna's embrace with equal enthusiasm. "Almost seems like the old days."
"Almost. So good to see you. It's been ages. Literally," said Anna with a beaming smile. She took him by the hand and led him to the sofa. A quick glance told her the monitor and camera were off. "Sit down."
Frisco sat down. He was studying her as she was him.
"First, I want to thank you, Frisco. For helping Robert find me, looking out for me when I couldn't and for looking after Andrew," said Anna.
"You'd do the same for me and more," said Frisco. "I mean you and Robert and Sean looked out for Felicia and the baby when I wasn't around. And Mac, god, I can't even look him in the eye for everything he's done. But I'm coming home and somehow I hope that I can make amends."
"You are? Finally?"
Frisco nodded. "I gotta stop running some time."
"Is that what you were doing?"
"At first it was the job then Andrew and now it's time for me and Felicia," said Frisco. "Maybe I finally grew up like everyone else does."
"The Bureau is rather selfish. It uses up agents and leaves them little for themselves," said Anna. "Don't look back, Frisco. Once you leave, that's it."
"I'm going to try. But I haven't had good role models for that," said Frisco. "It gets in the blood and stays there."
Anna smiled ruefully. "I know."
"Felicia's been there for me. No matter what she stuck to me, to us," said Frisco. "And I promised her I'd try with … with Maxie. It's past time. I'll just have to duck when she starts throwing things."
"I think you'll be surprised, Frisco. Maxie's changed a lot," said Anna.
"Good or bad?"
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise," said Anna. "Be patient with her."
"Got the rest of my life," replied Frisco. "Felicia says that they're getting along better."
Anna nodded. "I think so."
"Good. As long as Felicia's happy, I'm happy."
"I remember when you started at the Bureau. You and Felicia were so … so positive that you two would make it. Sean, Robert and I hoped you would but we knew what a strain the service puts on marriages no matter how strong or committed."
"Lot of bumps along the way but I never doubted what I felt for Felicia. That feeling never left," said Frisco. "Same thing that you and Robert have."
RAP. RAP.
Robin ducked her head in and said, "Twenty minutes, Mom."
"Okay!" said Anna. "Frisco, can you help me down? Clear the way."
"Sure," said Frisco. "Who's giving you away? Andrew?"
"No. He's standing with Robert and Mac."
"Since Sean did the honors last time, it's my turn."
Anna beamed. "I would love it."
"Shall we?" asked Frisco offering his arm.