This is a moden day, Young Riders/Without a Trace crossover. All of your favorite characters (and a few not so favorite) are here, and alive and well. The non familiar characters don't belong to us (with the exception of the resort staff and the name of Tag's youngest daughter), they belong to the creators of Without a Trace. Feedback is more than welcome! The story is finished, we're just posting it in sections because it's so long. A/N: Special thanks to our Betas Hanny & Lisa on this one. And thanks to Kathleen and Ellie for encouraging us to continue. From Jen: To the other half of our brain, thanks for letting me burrow inside and keep me sane. You took my original idea, told me how bad it sucked, and helped me make it eve better than I could imagine! And thanks for convincing me no matter how much we drank and how the inspiration for an upcoming chapter was in the other room, the muses and Vegas just don't mix! Also thanks to the gang who went with me to the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival during the reunion. If we didn't go, we'd have never found Ike's cafe! What a shame it was closed! Chapter 1 Special Agent Tag Kiddings sat at the his computer in the New York City FBI Office trying to put the events of the weekend out of his mind. Naomi, his wife, had moved out, taking their two daughters with her. There had been no warnings, he had thought their life was perfect. But when he came home from work Friday night, she had been wearing skin-tight jeans and halter while she packed up the Mini Van. "It's over Tag, I'm sorry," she said before picking up another box to load in the van. He stood there dumbfounded, the woman he'd been in love with since their first week at college, the only woman he ever loved was leaving him. He reached out and placed his hand on her arm stopping her. "Why? Is it something I did? Something I can change? Naomi please, tell me what to do." She shook her head. "It's not you, it's me." She took a deep breath and turned away from him. "There's someone else. Someone I met through work." "Another lawyer?" He asked before she shook her head. "A client?" "Tag, please. Don't make this any harder for us." "After ten years together, you can just walk away?" Naomi finally turned to look at him, "I'm sorry. Maybe if we hadn't been rushed into things..." Tag cupped her face and looked lovingly into his wife's eyes. "We both knew it was only a matter of time before we got engaged, Charlotte comin' just sped things up a bit." "Really? We were young, barely done with our first year in college. You were a small town kid moving to the big city and I was looking for someone who..." "Naomi, there was never anyone but you for me. I thought you felt the same." "At the time, I did. But when I met Simon..." Tag noticed how excited her eyes got as she spoke of the man; it was something that had been missing when she spoke about him since their youngest, Emma was born four years ago. It had been a very difficult pregnancy, another unplanned one, and he'd almost lost them both. To spare her from ever going through that again, he had taken precautions, but things in that department were never the same. "The girls?" He asked cautiously. "They're at my folks place. I'll bring them by on Sunday and we can explain to them what's going on," she said as she loaded the last box in the van and shut the cargo door. "How can I when I don't even know what's going on?" He asked shaking his head. He was confused by the whole situation and just couldn't figure out why this was happening. Naomi went to the driver's side door and Tag opened it for her. She smiled at his thoughtfulness. It was one of the hardest things about leaving him. Not too many men still opened door for women these days. Especially in New York. She slid into the driver's seat and turned to look at him. She ran the palm of her hand down his face and sighed. "One of these days, you're gonna meet a woman who's just right for you. I'm sorry it couldn't be me," she said before shutting the door and starting the engine. Tag was brought back to his senses as he heard the computer lab's door open and smelled his favorite brew of coffee. He looked up to see Agent Vivian Johnson walking towards him with a bag in her hand. "If you're bringing me the breakfast of champions again, you must want something," he said with a smile as she stood next to him and placed the bag down on his desk. He grabbed the chocolate glazed doughnut and took a huge bite. Vivian laughed as she watched him. "No, there's nothing I want right now, I came by to see how my favorite nerd was doing." Tag looked up at her and frowned at her expression. "Word sure does travel fast around here," he said putting the doughnut down. He'd suddenly lost his appetite. "I haven't been here more than an hour and you already know. I haven't even told anyone yet, dare I ask how you know?" Vivian shrugged her shoulders. "You know how it is. Marcus and I took Reggie to go see "Wicked" yesterday and we ran into Naomi and the girls." Tag snorted at the reminder. He had tried calling Naomi's cell all weekend so they could discuss what to say to the girls, but she never called back. When she finally did, it was to tell him that Simon had been able to get tickets for them to see "Wicked", the one play Charlotte had wanted to see, but that he'd been unable to get tickets for. "You know, I know someone who'd be perfect for you. She's done some work with us before and I think..." "You've got to be kidding. Naomi left me three days ago and you're already trying to set me up with someone? That's low, Vivian. Even for you." "Hey, I'm just saying." Vivian looked at the photo of Naomi and the girls on his desk and picked it up. "I never really did like her, you know. Last year at the Christmas party, she hit on Marcus right in front of me. And that had been before she started drinking." Tag groaned. "This is the first I've heard about that, where was I?" Vivian immediately realized he had no idea how his wife really was. "I uhm... My look at the time, I need to go meet Jack for a briefing," she said as she put the picture down and headed towards the door. "Vivian, wait," he called after her. "Did everyone know what she was like but me?" As she left, his friend and co-worker, Cody walked in. "Talking about Naomi? Oh yeah, she's been passed around more than an All Points Bulletin." Tag groaned and threw his empty coffee cup at his friend, "and I call you my friend. Why didn't you ever tell me?" Cody laughed and shrugged as he sat at this desk. "I figured you knew. Look, after work tonight, come with me and Jimmy over to O'Dunne's. We'll kick back some drinks..." "Isn't that the bar over on Fifth where the O on the neon sign is always flickering?" Cody beamed. "That's the one. So what do you say? Are you in?" Tag nodded. "Sure why not, it's not like I have anything else to do tonight." Chapter 2 "Sorry, we thought you knew." Jimmy said as he, Cody and Tag entered a popular after work hangout. "I mean how could you not know she was hitting on me at your wedding? I told you it wouldn't last." Tag shook his head. "I guess I was too blind to see it. How could she say she loved me and stay married to me for almost ten years if she was sleeping with everyone else?" Cody found a table in the corner of the bar and everyone sat down. He put his hand on his friends' shoulder and shook his head. "Now I don't know if she was actually sleeping with anyone else, she was more of a flirt. And she did hit on me and a lot of other guys last year at the Christmas party." Jimmy nodded. "I think deep down she did love you in her own way, but you two were too young. I doubt it would've lasted if it hadn't been for Charlotte..." Tag blushed at the reminder. Jimmy had been his roommate in college and knew him all to well. He and their friends had teased him endlessly when they learned the quiet southerner had gotten his girlfriend pregnant and how he felt the need to marry her immediately. "You ain't helpin', Jimmy." Jimmy chuckled. "I'm going for drinks, what'll everyone have?" "Just a diet coke for me," Tag replied. Cody groaned, "Come on, no reason not to drink tonight. Not like you have any reason to go home sober, now is there?" Tag shook his head. Cody knew all to well that he didn't drink because his father had been an alcoholic and ran off after beating his mother to death in a drunken rage a week before Tags high school graduation. "Diet coke, that's it." Jimmy nodded. "Cody, what will it be?" "Well since he's our designated driver, get me a shot of Yaegermister." Jimmy nodded and headed towards the bar, glad to see his favorite bartender on duty. "Heya, Rachel. How's things goin'?" Rachel turned and smiled at the familiar voice. "Jimmy! Good to see you. Doing good and yourself?" Jimmy took a seat on one of the barstools and smiled. "Doing good. Cody and I got Tag to come out for the night, we're celebrating his independence." Rachel looked over towards the table the trio had been sitting at and smiled. "Naomi finally left him?" Jimmy nodded. "Good for him. I knew that girl was nothing but trouble since the moment she moved into my dorm." Jimmy chuckled. Rachel had been their dorm mother back when they were all in college. A few years ago, she met an Irishman named Henry, and she left to open the pub with him and later married him. "Yeah, well he's still having a hard time accepting it." Rachel nodded. "He was always a fool in love when it came to her. But oh well, he'll be better off in the long run, I just feel bad for his two precious little girls." Jimmy nodded in agreement. "So what can I get for you boys?" Jimmy placed his order and absent mindedly ran his finger through a sweat stain someone's drink had left. Suddenly he felt an arm on his shoulder and he tensed. "Buy a lady a drink?" Came the sultry voice. "No ma'am, thanks." He said before turning around to see who it was. His eyes nearly popped out of his head in surprise. "Lou?" She chuckled at his reaction. "How do I look?" Jimmy shook his head and tried not to look at his friend's chest which even though was small, seemed to be hanging out of the tight halter she was wearing. He grinned, "Definitely missed your callin'. Tell me they got you workin' undercover. I don't think I can handle knowing you'd wear that here otherwise." Lou's smile suddenly disappeared as she sat down on the stool next to him. "Had a rough day, lost another one." Jimmy nodded. Working as a sharp-shooter for the FBI SWAT team, he knew what that was like all to well. He and Lou had dated off and on for five years when they were both fresh out of the police academy, but she broke it off after her mother died and she chose to raise her younger brother and sister instead of allowing them to go in the foster care system. Since then, she'd returned to the force and was now one of their best undercover officers. "Where's Jeremiah and Teresa?" He asked wondering who was watching over her brother and sister. He knew even on her roughest days on the force, she'd never leave them alone. "Jeremiah is over at his friends' house studying and Teresa is helping Emily and Ike decorate the nursery. Ike's gonna pick Jeremiah up when he's done and they'll both stay the night there." Jimmy nodded. Ike had been on the police force with them until he was rendered permanently speechless when he was injured in the line of duty. He'd met Emily while doing physical therapy and it was love at first site. Two months later they were married, opened a cafe and were now expecting their first child. "They're almost sixteen, Lou. Don't you think it's time to cut the cords and let them stay by themselves?" "Not in this city. I've seen the trouble kids their age can get into. They enjoy spending time with Ike and Emily, and I feel better knowing they're safe." Jimmy knew by the tone of her voice it was better to let things go. "So did you come by yourself? I don't know if I like you bein' alone dressed like that," he grinned still trying to believe that the woman beside him who was dressed like a hooker, was actually a very shy and quiet person. She shook her head. "Clara and Amanda brought me out. I didn't want to but you know how they are." Jimmy nodded. "They care about you, just like we do, and knew you shouldn't be left alone." "Hey, Lou," Rachel said handing Jimmy his order. "Here ya go Jimmy." "Thanks, Rachel," he said taking a few bills out of his wallet and putting them on the bar. "Why don't you girls come join us? Cody's with me and we brought Tag out with us." Lou smiled as she looked over towards the table. "I thought he looked familiar and was wonderin' who that handsome guy was. He's still kinda cute." Jimmy laughed. "He's also kinda available now. His wife left him a few days ago." Lou shook her head. "What a shame. How could anyone leave someone as hunky as him? Lemme go tell the girls and we'll be over shortly." Jimmy took the drinks and headed back towards their table. He handed everyone their drinks and then sat down, taking a long swig of his beer. Cody having downed his shot as soon as he had it plunked the glass down on the table and smiled. "Jimmy, tell me that wasn't who I thought it was at the bar with you?" Jimmy nodded. "And she's coming over with Amanda and Clara in a few minutes." Cody shook his head. "How did you ever let her get away? I've never seen her lookin' like that before." Jimmy chucked. "Trust me, if she'd dressed like that when we were goin' out, I'd have fought to stay together." Tag looked confused. He'd been lost in thought while Jimmy had gone to get the drinks, and missed who they were talking about. "Who are you talking about?" He asked trying to scan the room for someone that was Jimmy's type. "You remember Lou. She was my date to your wedding." "Jimmy, I'd need a copy of the phone book to keep track of all your dates since we've known each other. I think I vaguely remember her. The petite, tomboy looking girl?" Jimmy nodded. "She's not your usual type." Jimmy shrugged. "True, but she's a good friend. Was good on a horse too. Shame when she left the force for awhile. When she came back they took her off mounted duty and put her on an undercover task force." "You're just jealous I never mounted you," Lou said laughing as she approached the table with her friends. Cody looked up at the company and smiled. "I think I've died and gone to heaven, because you three look like angels." Jimmy, Tag, and Lou all rolled their eyes at his comment. They were use to his bad lines when he was around the ladies. "Cody, does that comment ever work?" Clara said before sitting in Jimmy's lap. She kissed Jimmy on the cheek and smiled. "Hey, it's about time you showed up." Jimmy rubbed her back and smiled. "Sorry, Tag had a change of heart right after work, we had to convince him to come out instead of going home to brood." Lou and Amanda pulled up chairs and sat between Tag and Cody, respectively. "To catch everyone up to speed," Jimmy started. "Girls, this is the infamous Tag you've heard me and Cody talk about. Tag, you already know Clara, next to Cody is Amanda, and in case you've forgotten, the lovely lady next to you is Lou." Lou looked over at Tag and smiled. "It's good to see you again. I'm sorry to hear about you and your wife." Tag nodded, still trying to believe that the girl sitting next to him was the same one Jimmy had brought to his wedding. Even though he'd only seen her briefly that day, she had been dressed in a simple pantsuit that did nothing to show off the figure he couldn't help but notice today. Stop thinking about her, he thought. Look at the way she's dressed. She's just like Naomi, and it's too soon to be thinking things like this about another woman. "Good to see you too," he said nonchalantly. He took a sip of his drink and started drawing figures on the condensation that had formed on the glass. He was uncomfortable and watching Jimmy with Clara and Cody with Amanda, made him feel like a third wheel. "Oh I love this song!" Clara exclaimed as the first beats of "Friends in Low Places" started playing on the jukebox. "Come on Jimmy, let's dance!" She stood up and grabbed his hand leading him to the dance floor. "Uh-uh," Jimmy tried to protest. "I'm not goin' up there alone. You guys come with me." He said looking at Tag and Cody for support. "Sure, why not." Cody said standing up. He looked at Amanda and gave a little bow. "Shall we?" he asked grinning playfully and holding out his hand. "Of course," she said taking his hand. Amanda looked back at Tag and Lou. "Are you guys gonna join us or just sit there all night?" "Sure," Lou replied standing up and looked at Tag. "Comin'?" Tag shook his head. "I'm not big on dancing, thanks anyway." "Oh come on, just get out there and enjoy yourself," she said grabbing both his arms and pulled him up. The force of the pull brought him nose to nose with her and both stood there momentarily gazing into each other's eyes. Lou finally looked away and led him by the hand to the dance floor. The three couples enjoyed dancing as a group, and even joined in singing along to all the good parts of the song. Tag found himself enjoying the company of Lou and after the song ended, a slow song came on the jukebox; "Next Time I Fall". Despite his better judgment, he found himself asking, "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" Lou was surprised and smiled at him. "Uhm, you may." Tag pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist as she wrapped hers around his neck and laid her head against his chest. Both were lost in each other's arms, and the lyrics of the song seemed to echo what he was trying so hard not to be thinking. Now as I look into your eyes Well I wonder if its wise To hold you like I've wanted to before Tonight I was thinking that you might Be the one who breathes life in this heart of mine After a few moments, she finally spoke. "This is nice." Tag had been lost in thought and was surprised when he heard her speak. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" Lou pulled back and looked at his crystal blue eyes. "I was saying how nice this is." "Yeah, I guess it is," he agreed. "Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind." Lou nodded. "Don't worry about it. It must be hard for you. Look, I know it ain't any of my business, but from what Jimmy's told me, you deserve a lot better." Kid nodded and looked down at her. He had a sudden urge to kiss her, but that thought frightened him. Deciding the best thing to do was to leave, he pulled away from her. "I'm sorry, I need to go," he said walking off the dance floor, grabbing his jacket from the table and then walked out the door, leaving a confused Lou standing on the dance floor as the song ended. Chapter 3 The next few days kept everybody busy, and except for Cody at work, Tag wasn't able to talk with his friends. But the fact that he had had an urge to kiss Lou on the dance floor Monday night kept running through his mind and no matter what, he couldn't stop thinking about her. "Ike wants me to tell you, to smile. You're bringing the other customers down." A voice startled Tag. He looked up to see a heavily pregnant Emily and smiled. He'd gone across the street from the FBI headquarters to his favorite lunch spot because normally his friends kept to themselves, but he should've known better. "Well you tell him that he should know better than to let his wife wait tables when she should be kicking back and taking a break," he teased. Emily handed him his chicken salad pita and smiled. "Well not every husband pampers and spoils their pregnant wife..." She stopped and shook her head when she realized what she was saying. "I'm sorry. As usual I didn't think before opening my mouth." Tag shrugged, "It's all right," he said sounding a bit down and playing with his food. "Her lawyer served me with the separation papers to sign this morning," he said very quietly. "She expects me to just sign the last ten years away and be done with it. She won't even return my calls and I haven't even talked to the girls since the morning she left." Emily sat down at the extra chair at his table and placed her hand over his. "I'm sorry, is there anything we can do?" Tag shook his head. "You know, I can accept the fact she doesn't love me anymore. But I can't accept her keeping me from my daughters." "It's not right, that's for sure. Look why don't you..." "Hey Em," someone called from the counter. "Ike says stop talkin' and start walkin'. It's the lunch rush and the place is booked." Emily laughed, "Yeah I'd love for Ike to say that to my face. Look, I know things look bad right now, but they will get better. And someday you'll find someone who loves you as much as you love her. Someone who..." She was about to say more when the counter girl called out again. "I'm coming," she hollered back. "You know Ike and I are here if you need us." Tag nodded. "Thanks, Em. Tell Ike I said to let you take it easy. I don't want my godchild waiting tables as soon as he or she is born." Emily grinned and walked back to the counter leaving him alone with his thoughts once more. A few minutes later, Tag looked up as he heard a familiar voice. Looking around, he couldn't see where it was coming from and was about to finish his lunch when she turned around. It took him a moment to realize it was Lou as she walked towards him with a take out bag. She wasn't wearing the heavy make-up and tight clothes he saw her in Monday night. Instead she had little if any make-up on and was wearing a pair of loose fitting jeans and an NYPD sweatshirt. "Looking for a place to sit?" He asked as she walked by. Lou turned and smiled as she saw Tag and then shook her head. "I saw how crowded it was so got my order to go," she said holding up her bag. Tag gestured to the chair Emily had sat in earlier. "Since I'm all alone, feel free to join me." Lou looked hesitant for a moment. "You gonna run off on me again?" Tag shook his head. "I'm sorry about that. I don't know what came over me Monday night," he lied. Lou smiled and sat down and opened her bagged lunch. "Don't worry about it. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable by bringing up your ex-wife." Tag just shrugged and then smiled as she pulled out the same sandwich he had. He looked away and went back to moving his food around on the plate. He was scared if he said anything that she would know it had been her that had made him uncomfortable; but not in a bad way. Lou watched as he moved his food around. She studied his features and tried to remember how he looked like at his wedding. His blue eyes didn't seem as bright, and she didn't remember the silver streaks at his temples that were nestled in his dark hair, but they made him look older, more handsome and sophisticated. His tight black FBI turtleneck made her wonder what was underneath it, as well as how he would look if his jeans were any tighter. She blushed and looked away as she realized he was watching her. Tag looked up and saw her looking at him intently and wondered what she was thinking. "So what brings you over this way?" "I had the day off so I decided to stop in and talk to Sam and Vivian about a case we're working on." "The Boggs case?" Lou's eyes grew big and her head snapped up at the name. "How do you know about that case?" Tag thought he heard a slight hint of anger in her voice and wondered what would cause it. "I've been workin' on some of the computers they seized when they executed the warrant." Lou nodded, "Guess that makes sense. Find anything?" Tag shook his head. "Not enough to nail the bastard. He may think he's good when it comes to wiping his hard drives," he looked at her with a cocky grin, "but I'm better at retrieving it." Lou loved his smile, and wondered if circumstances were different, if he'd go out with someone like her. "So how did you get involved working with the bureau?" Tag shook his head. "You really don't want to hear about that, it's a short but boring story." Lou grinned, "I'm sure there's nothing about you either short or boring." Is she flirting with me? Tag thought at her response. "The summer between my freshman and sophomore year at Hudson, I was doing some freelance work for one of my professors. I was working on a program for him, and realized with a few minor changes, it could be a serious illegal Trojan. When I showed him, without thinking I executed the program. By the time I fixed it, the FBI was banging down my dorm room door, and instead of arresting me, offered me a job." "I just can't see you doing some illegal hacking. You don't seem the type." Tag nodded, "It wasn't intentional that's for sure. But I'm glad it happened. Naomi had just told me about Charlotte and I saw it as a way to provide for my family. So I dropped out of school and went to the academy." "You mean you and Naomi had to..." Tag nodded and Lou looked shocked; the man before he just didn't seem the type. "Well, I'm learning you're just full of surprises," she said grinning. Tag was about to say something when they were interrupted. "Is everything good here?" Emily asked coming up to the table. She grinned earlier as she had watched her two friends together and told Ike she was going over there. ** Don't even think about matchmaking, Emily. You know Tag won't like it. ** Ike warned her. "But they're perfect for each other. Look how they both ordered the chicken salad pita." Ike shook his head, ** It was the special today, Em. A lot of people ordered it. ** Emily turned towards her husband with an exasperated look. "Ike McSwain, don't you dare tell me you can't see the sparks flying between them. I know that accident took your voice, but I didn't think it took your eyesight too." With that she grabbed two slices of her special cherry pie and headed towards the table. Lou licked her lips and smiled as she saw Emily's homemade pie. "If one of those slices are for me, Em, then everything is great here!" Emily handed each of them a slice. "Couldn't let the godparents of my child go hungry." "Godparents?" Tag asked puzzled. He looked at Lou and smiled, "Hey god mom." Lou's smile suddenly faded at his words. She quickly recovered and looked at Emily. "No, but you can tell Ike that the godmother is about to take the mother-to-be into protective custody if he doesn't let her off her feet." Emily giggled at Lou's good hearted joking. "Which reminds me, Ike wanted to know if anyone took a picture of you Monday night. Jimmy came in here for lunch on Tuesday and Ike just can't believe how you were dressed. I can't either." Lou blushed. "Ike's seen me in my undercover clothes before." "But nothing in the way Jimmy described. Tell me Tag, you were there, did she look hot?" Tag nearly choked on his mouthful of pie at the question. "What?" he asked hoping he heard her wrong. "Emily!" Lou scolded. "You're embarrassing him. Tell Ike I'm sure Jimmy exaggerated. And tell him I'll find out if he goes through Rachel's security tapes." Emily nodded before heading back to the counter where Ike was waiting for her. "You were undercover Monday night?" Tag asked curious. "No, I was undercover Monday afternoon. I had a rough day and Amanda and Clara decided I needed a night on the town and wouldn't even let me go home and change clothes." Lou noticed the relief on Tags face and grew slightly angry. "You thought I dressed like that normally?" Tag blushed, "I wasn't sure. I mean no offense, but the way you're dressed today, you don't seem like Jimmy's type. Monday night, you did." Lou threw her napkin on the table and started to leave. "Just because one woman may look or act like a slut, doesn't mean we all are." "Lou, wait." Tag called out to her. "I didn't mean it like that." Lou stopped and turned around. She wasn't sure why, but she was drawn back to the table. She stopped at a now empty table and grabbed a saltshaker. "Here," she said handing it to him. Tag looked at the salt and then at her puzzled. "What's this for?" With a straight face, Lou replied, "Figured that foot in your mouth might taste better with some salt." Tag grinned and Lou started laughing as they sat back down at the table. "I'm sorry about what I thought. I only heard bits and pieces of when Jimmy and Cody were talking that night. They were talking about how you looked but didn't mention that you were working undercover. I guess I just thought with the way they were talking about when you and Jimmy were together..." Lou shook her head and looked down at the table. "Jimmy and I were never together," she said quietly. "We dated off and on." Tag nodded. "He said you ended it when your mother died?" "I left the force, I had to take care of the twins. They were only ten at the time and I was all they had left in the world. After a few years, they told me they knew how much working on the force meant to me, and convinced me to go back." "How'd you decide to become a cop?" Lou chewed on her bottom lip as she thought of her answer. After a few moments, she finally spoke. "It's what I wanted for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I saw too many kids getting abused and I wanted to help them. I didn't want them to go through what I... I didn't them to suffer." Tag smiled and found himself intrigued by her. Naomi had refused to quit law school or even slow down during both pregnancies, and here was a woman who'd quit her job just to take care of her brother and sister. "How do the guys you date feel about that? They must be intimidated by a female cop, not to mention one who puts their brother and sister first." Lou took a sip of her coffee and shook her head. "You're assuming I date. Actually, between my job and Teresa and Jeremiah, I'm not exactly the most dateable woman around." Tag shook his head, "You mean someone as pretty as you doesn't have a man in her life? I find that hard to believe." Lou blushed at the compliment, "Just haven't found that someone special. Someone who makes me want to give it all up just for them. Besides, most guys take off as soon as they learn I'm an undercover cop, and those that don't usually do when they find out I'm a thirty-one year old, raising two teenagers." Tag was about to say something when once again they were interrupted. "Well, well," Vivian said approaching the table. "Just the two people I was looking for. Didn't think I'd find you both together though." "Hey, Vivian." Lou said smiling. Tag looked at his watch, "I didn't realize how late it was. Why were you looking for me? Does Jack need me?" Vivian shook her head, "No, no, relax. They're still bringing computers over from the warehouse we raided." Vivian smiled. "I see you've already met Lou." Tag shook his head. "We've met before and then saw each other again Monday night." By the look on Vivian's face, Tag realized Lou was probably the girl Vivian had mentioned on Monday. "You mean Lou was the one..." Vivian nodded. "Amazing how things work out. Anyway, I'll let you two finish up. Jack would like to meet with both of you around three. He wants to bring everyone working on the case up to speed with the new developments." "I'll be there," Lou replied and Tag nodded. "Same here." "Well, I'll let you two finish up. Have a good day," she said before winking and walking to the counter. "You know," Tag started. "I'm surprised with as many friends we have in common, we haven't seen each other more often. Why weren't you at Ike and Emily's wedding?" Lou nodded. "I had just come off a really hard case and then Teresa got real sick. Besides, you probably wanted to spend more time with your wife and kids then hanging out with us." Tag shook his head, "After all that's happened lately, I'm beginning to wonder if it was worth it. Everyone seems to be right, we were too young, we barely knew each other. And I guess the love I had for her wasn't enough." "If you ask me, Naomi is a fool. She didn't deserve someone like you. Well I better get going." Tag stood up as she did, "I better go too. I was wondering..." Lou turned and looked at him, "Unless I'm in the field, I usually eat here around one everyday for lunch." Is this his way of saying he'd like to see me again? Lou wondered. "Then I guess I may just have to start coming here more often. Jack and Vivian may be bringing me on the case full time, if so, I'd love to eat lunch with you." Tag blushed as they threw away their trash and walked towards the door. Tag beat her to the door and opened it for her. "Good. Well, I guess I'll see you this afternoon," he said looking at her. "See you then," she said fighting the sudden urge to kiss him goodbye. She turned and walked away, and Tag couldn't help but notice that even in her loose jeans, she was still nice to look at. Chapter 4 Tag knew he was late for the three o'clock briefing, but he hoped Jack would understand the reason why. By the time he reached the computer labs after lunch, he went to work trying to retrieve any information of the computers found at Boggs warehouse. He found more than they ever expected, and although it wasn't complete, it was a lot more than what they had when this investigation started a few months ago. He entered the meeting quietly and sat down at the only available seat; next to Lou. She smiled a greeting and he blushed, as Special Agent Jack Malone continued on his train of thought. "Glad you could make it, Agent Kiddings," Jack said, hating the interruption. He couldn't stand tardiness. "I hope you have a good reason for being almost forty-five minutes late." Tag nodded, "Yes sir, and I'm sorry. While searching one of the computers that were brought over from the warehouse this morning, I found a lot of information we didn't previously have, that I feel will be a great asset to this investigation." "Well, let's hear it then." Tag opened the folder he had with him and began passing out photocopies of some of the files he had been able to retrieve. "As you can see, it appears that Boggs is involved in a lot more activity then we originally believed. Unfortunately, none of it has been here in New York, but in Atlantic City. We've discovered he does have a partner, and although no name could be found, we believe he is the one who deals with the activities in New York. These activities include prostitution, child pornography, kidnapping and murder." "After reading the file that is printed on the third page, I became curious and ran a preliminary background check on Boggs with this new information. Apparently he was married and had a daughter. They both disappeared before his wife, Teresa Marie, was scheduled to testify in front of a Grand Jury. Both she and her daughter, Penelope Louise had been offered protection, but the trail is cold on their whereabouts, if they are even still alive. This was over sixteen years ago." Lou stiffened when Tag mentioned the names of Boggs' wife and daughter and Jack glanced at her quickly to check her reaction. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Jack wondered if he made the right decision allowing her to continue to participate in this investigation. "Maybe someone should try and see if they can pick up any new leads on the wife and daughter?" Agent Samantha Spade asked. Jack shook his head, "Don't waste a lot of time searching for people who Boggs probably had one of his men get to before she could testify." Tag noticed Lou was suddenly very still and staring intently at the pile of papers before her and he wondered what she was thinking. "Good work Agent Kiddings." Jack congratulated him. "There's one last thing before we end this meeting. You guys all know Louise McCloud, she's worked with us before on a few cases, and we're bringing her in full time on this one. She was the one who brought Boggs's activities to the FBI, and her help has been invaluable. Once we find a way to infiltrate Boggs's organization, her undercover expertise will come in handy. So if that's it," he paused waiting to see if anyone had anything to add. "Then this meeting is over. Unless there are any new developments, we'll meet again on Wednesday." The meeting broke up and before long, Lou and Tag were the only ones left in the conference room. "Tag, I was wondering," Lou said. "Are you doing anything tonight?" Tag blushed amazed she was asking him out. You're still married, don't even think about it. He thought. "Look, Lou, I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but right now..." Lou chuckled, "I'm not asking you out, if that's what you're thinkin'. I was wondering if you'd come by my place tonight. I have some things about the case I want you to see." Tag felt like a fool, but yet was slightly disappointed. He couldn't help it, but he was finding himself attracted to her and it was scaring him. "Why your place? Couldn't we meet somewhere else? Maybe Ike's or..." Lou shook her head. "It's easier just to meet at my place," she smiled at his obvious discomfort. "If it makes you feel any better, Jeremiah and Teresa will be there to chaperone us." "What time should I be there?" Lou smiled and wrote down her address and phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "How does six sound?" "Sounds good. Should I bring anything? Dinner maybe?" "We usually do Thai on Thursday nights, so if you'd like, you're more than welcome to join us." Tag nodded and smiled. "I'd like that very much. I'll see you at six then." Lou watched as he left the room and silently cursed herself for acting so obvious. Even though she knew she didn't have the right, she couldn't help finding herself more and more attracted to him. And that thought scared her more than anything. ~~ *~* ~~ Tag stood outside her apartment building wondering how she could afford to live in a place on Park Avenue on a cop's salary. Then again, she was turning out to be full of surprises. After he finished working on the seized computers, he waited until Cody and the others were gone for the day, and for some reason, decided to run a background check on her. There seemed to be no records of her anywhere in the United States before she was eighteen, and those started when she applied to the Police Academy here in New York. It was as if she didn't exist before then, and he wasn't sure what to think of it. He knew there had to be more records, there was no way she would've been able to apply to the Police Academy let alone work with the FBI without them. He hoped to find some answers tonight. A little voice in the back of his head had warned him that if it was just him, he'd let things go. But he had two little girls that came first, and if things by some chance, someday progressed with Lou, he'd do anything to protect them. As he stood outside her apartment door, he felt foolish almost coming over empty handed. He had thought about bringing a bottle of wine, but since he didn't drink and she had two teenagers in the house, he decided against it. He thought briefly about bringing flowers, but decided against that as well; not wanting to give her the wrong idea. So instead on his way over, he stopped by Ike's and picked up the last fresh cherry pie of the day. He remembered how much Lou liked it, and hoped it was a good idea. Taking a deep breath and wondering for the hundredth time if this was a mistake, he was about to knock on the door when it flew open and a younger, blonde version of Lou literally ran right in to him, almost knocking him down. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." "You must be Teresa," he said and she nodded. "Don't worry about it. I'm use to being knocked over by girls. I have two small ones of my own." Teresa looked annoyed at being compared to a little kid. She was about to protest that she wasn't a little girl, but a grown woman, when she was interrupted. "Tess, what's goin' on? Who's..." Lou walked out from the kitchen to see her sister and Tag in the hallway. "Sorry about that. Tess, are you just gonna let him stand in the hallway or are you going to remember your manners and invite him in?" Teresa stood back and let Tag enter the apartment. "I'm going to wait downstairs for the delivery guy. See ya in a bit," she said shutting the door behind her. Lou shook her head. "Sorry about that, Teresa isn't use to my having company over. Sometimes she forgets her manners. And it seems I'm forgetting mine," she said blushing as she led him to the living room. "Can I get you something to drink? I have beer, wine, soda, water... Is that Emily's cherry pie?" she asked noticing the bakery box he was carrying. Tag barely heard her speak as he took in the apartment. It was huge, much larger than he could of imagined and the view overlooking Central Park was breathtaking. Both the living room and dining room were decorated in a western style, and it looked comfortable, lived in; a home. Naomi had always insisted on decorating their home as a show piece. He had hated living in a place where his girls had to watch where they sat or had to remove their shoes at the door. "Tag?" Lou asked noticing he was looking around at her apartment. "What did you want to drink?" Tag turned towards her voice, "I'm sorry, I was just admiring the view. Uhm, I'll have a soda if you don't mind. Oh, yeah I thought I'd grab dessert since you were kind enough to get dinner. I remember how much you enjoyed it at lunch." "That's very sweet of you." Lou blushed as he set the pie on the counter. She turned and opened the refrigerator, and removing two cans of soda. "Would you prefer a glass or is the can fine?" "The can works for me. Do you want to start talking about the case now?" Lou brought the drinks over to him and sat down on the couch. Tag sat down next to her, took his drink and opened it. "If you don't mind, I'd rather wait until after dinner and Teresa and Jeremiah are in their rooms doing their homework." "Where is Jeremiah?" Tag asked after taking a sip of his soda. "In his room playing some new video game. He'll come out as soon as he smells the food." Tag chuckled. "Sounds like Cody." Lou giggled. "Cody is a man trapped in a teenage boy's body." Tag stood up and crossed towards the mantle above the fireplace. There were rows and rows of frames containing pictures of Teresa and Jeremiah growing up, and only a handful of semi recent photos of Lou. "Don't you have any pictures of you growing up?" Lou shook her head. "We lost them before we moved to New York." She was getting nervous as she always did when someone asked about her past. She knew that Tag would probably learn the truth when he saw the information she had, but it was the only way, and she felt she could trust him with one of her most guarded secrets. "When you were eighteen?" Tag asked walking back towards the couch and sitting down next to Lou as she nodded. "Where'd you live before New York?" Lou wondered how he knew she moved here when she was eighteen, but figured maybe he'd asked Jimmy or another one of their friends. She looked down at her hands and her voice grew low. "We moved around a lot. Never were in one place very long." Tag looked over at her and saw pain and sadness in her soft brown eyes, and he felt the sudden urge to kiss her; to be the one to remove that look in her eyes. She looked up and he leaned forward slightly and noticed she moved slightly forward as well. With their lips less than an inch apart, Tag closed his eyes. "Food's here," Teresa called out opening the front door. Lou jumped at the noise, silently cursing her sister's timing. "Tess, why don't you go and tell Jeremiah dinner's here and both of you wash up." "I already know dinner is here," Jeremiah said coming out of his room and crossing to the counter where his sister had placed the bags. Lou got up and crossed the room. "Jeremiah, this is Tag, the guy I was telling you both about earlier, that I'll be working on the case with." "Nice to meet ya," he mumbled while grabbing a plate from the cabinet, and not paying attention to what his older sister was saying. Lou slapped her brother's hand away. "What do you think you're doin?" "Eatin'," he said reaching into a bag of food again. "Not before you wash up, Jeremiah." "Tess and Tag don't mind." He noticed the look on her face and put his plate and the food down and walked over to the kitchen sink to wash his hands. Tess followed him. "We don't stand on ceremony here. If you see something you want, grab it. If you don't, ask." Lou said as she reached into the cabinet and handed him a plate. Tag nodded and soon everyone sat around the table eating and getting to know each other. "So you work for the FBI?" Jeremiah asked. "Have you ever had to killed someone?" "Jeremiah!" Lou scolded. Tag shook his head. "I work in the computer labs. Don't get much of a chance to kill someone unless I'm playing War of Worldcraft." "Cool," Jeremiah said excitedly. "You two have a lot in common," Lou said. "Both of you are computer nerds and both like to play Worldcraft." Everyone laughed and dinner pretty much continued with light banter and playfulness. After desert, Lou got serious again. "All right you two, time to go finish your homework and let me and Tag get some work done." "What about the dishes? It's my night to do them." Teresa reminded her. Lou shook her head, "They can wait or I'll do them later. You have that Calculus test tomorrow don't you?" Teresa nodded and her and Jeremiah left to go to their rooms to study. "Calculus her sophomore year? She must be very smart." Lou nodded. "They both are, just Jeremiah would rather spend his time playing games than studying. As long as his grades are good, I don't complain too much." "I was the same way in school. So, do you want me to help you with the dishes, or should we get to work?" Lou shook her head, "You're a guest, I wouldn't think of having you help with the dishes." Lou took a deep breath. This was the moment she had been dreading. "Why don't we go to my room so I can show you everything." Tag suddenly looked very uncomfortable at the thought of going into her bedroom. "Can't you bring it out here?" Lou shook her head, "It's easier this way" she said grinning. "If it makes you feel better, we can leave the door partly open and both feet on the floor." Tag nodded and wondered what she had to show him as he followed her into her bedroom. Maybe it's her notes from the case. Surely if it was something important, she would hand it over to Jack, he thought. He saw a chair by the desk and sat in it as Lou lay at the foot of the bed. He looked away as he realized her T-shirt hung loosely and he could see down it. "What's in that?" he asked curiously as she reached in her pocket and pulled out a key. Within moments she opened the footlocker at the foot of the bed and started pulling out file folders, notebooks and binders and setting them nearby. Tag noticed that most of them were labeled with a date or location. She finally handed him a small steno notebook and he flipped it open to see a series of numbers and codes next to it. "What is this? What does this stuff have to do with the Boggs case?" "Lou," Teresa said walking into her sister's room. "Did you get the chance to iron the shirt I wanted to wear tomorrow? You said you would do it when you ironed your clothes." "No, Teresa," she said frustrated at the interruption. "Not yet. Have you seen me do any ironing since you got home from school?" Teresa shook her head. "And you know you're suppose to knock before coming into my room." "Sorry. I was finished with my homework and wanted to get my stuff ready for school tomorrow. Do you think you could do it now" "You're old enough that you can do it yourself if you want the shirt so bad, I'm trying to work here." Teresa nodded and turned to leave, slightly shutting the door behind her. "Sorry about that," she said to Tag. "Where were we?" "You were about to tell me what all this has to do with the Boggs case," he reminded her. Lou crossed her feet under her on the couch and started twisting her hands in nervousness. "That is a list of many of his computers and their serial numbers as well as their passwords. Some of those computers may be in your lab, and I figured maybe you could use the passwords to try and see if there's more information." Tag was puzzled as he started flipping some more of the information she had. Some had names, dates, and locations, others contained detailed information of Boggs and his organization. "Where did you get all this? There's no way you could get this information just by working undercover." When she didn't answer, a thought entered his mind. "Does Jack know?" Lou looked up, "Know what?" "How involved with Boggs you are. Did you use to work for him? Maybe you were his lover?" "His lover?!" Lou said angrily and Tag instantly regretted his accusation. "I'm sorry, I'm just trying to figure out how you got all this. You must have been involved with him in some way. I didn't mean to suggest that you would..." "It's okay." Lou interrupted him. "You're right, this is personal for me; and Jack knows some of it. He knew my mother when they were younger and as much as he doesn't like it, he knows I'm probably one of the best people to work on this case because of what I know..." She looked up at him and took a deep breath. "Because of what I grew up learning." "Because of what you grew up leaning? I don't understand, I..." finally Tag realized what she meant and he thought back to the background check he'd run earlier, and all the missing information. "Boggs is your father? You're Penelope?" Lou shuddered at the way he said her name. It brought back long ago, forgotten memories and feelings. She looked him straight in the eyes, "Don't ever call me that, please." "That would explain why there are no records of you until you moved to New York." "You ran a background check on me?" Lou asked as Tag nodded. She wasn't sure if she should be angry or not. She felt violated, but yet curious as to why he would do that. "Why?" "Because I can't help but wantin' to know more about you," he said blushing. "But the file I uncovered said he only had one child. What about Teresa and Jeremiah?" Lou grew silent for a moment wondering how much to reveal to him. "My mom was pregnant when we left and he doesn't know about them." "What happened? Why did she leave?" "She knew what he was doing, but she was in love with him. There were some things she was suspicious about, but she could never prove it. One day when she found the proof and how deep he was in and what Wicks had done..." Lou stopped and bit her lower lip. "Wicks?" Tag asked. Lou reached back into the footlocker and pulled out the largest binder yet. "Lyle Wicks, his unnamed business partner." "Lou, you need to turn this over to Jack. He needs to see..." Lou shook her head. "If Jack knew just how much info I actually have, how much personal time I've put into this case, he'd say I was too involved. The only reason he's letting me on it now is because he doesn't know just how much I do know." "Maybe he should, you're too involved in this case." "Look, when my mom died, she made me promise I'd make sure they were brought to justice. This is the only way I know how." "What about when your mom was going to testify? Couldn't they maybe use some of that if it goes to trial?" Lou shook her head as the tears she'd been holding back finally started to flow. "You don't understand." Tag stood and crossed the room to sit next to her on the bed. He rubbed her back lovingly as she cried it out. "Make me understand Lou. Tell me what happened." Lou wiped her tears away and sat up scooting away from Tag. She could get lost in his backrub, and the fact he was making her feel this way worried her more than anything. She swore she would never let anyone get close to her, wouldn't give anyone a chance to hurt her again. "I was fifteen when my mom left him. She had enough proof to nail Boggs and Wicks and took it to the FBI. She promised to turn it over only if they would give us protection. You have to understand, my father is one of the most powerful men in Atlantic City. He has the police as well as politicians in his pocket. The only way we could be safe was if we just disappeared." "Why didn't she testify? The files I found said you two just disappeared." "Lou?" Jeremiah asked interrupting them as he entered the room. "What Jeremiah?" she snapped getting up and crossing the room to her door. "Have you seen my iPod? I just downloaded some new songs and wanted to add them on there." "Last time I saw it, it was on the coffee table under your John Sable comics." "Thanks sis. Good night," he said leaving the room and the door wide open. Lou shut the door completely, knowing that the twins knew they were not allowed to enter her room unless it was a life or death emergency if the door was shut. She crossed back to the bed and sat down. "Do they know about their father?" Tag asked figuring that they didn't because of her behavior. Lou shook her head. "When they were old enough to ask questions, Mom told them that he died before they were born and that he had been a good man who would've loved them very much." Tag nodded in understanding but didn't like that she was lying to them. But they were her brother and sister, and he could only hope if they did learn the truth someday, they knew she had done it to protect them. "So why didn't your mom testify against Boggs?" he asked again in case she had forgotten what he'd asked before in the interruption. "They realized they didn't have enough evidence to convict either of them. My mom could've given them more, but she was trying to protect me. She refused to give them what they needed, and we ran." "What did she refuse to tell them? Lou, what are you hiding?" Lou bit her lip and shook her head, "I'm really not sure what else she knew." She hated lying to him, but she just couldn't trust him that completely although she hoped one day she could. Tag gut told him she knew more, but let it go. Hopefully, she'll tell me when she's ready. "What happened when your mom died?" "She was visiting me with the twins and went to the store on the corner from I was living. It was made to look like a random hit and run." "You don't think so?" "When I got to the hospital, she told me she recognized the driver. It was one of Wicks men. They somehow knew she was back in the city and she believed a hit was put on her. She made me promise to keep the twins safe and to make sure my father or Wicks never hurt them or anyone else like they hurt us. She told me to find Jack and he could help me." "Why didn't you? Why did you quit the force?" "I had to take care of the twins. My mom had saved enough money and it allowed me to quit work and move here instead of the one room rat hole I was livin' in. After a few weeks, I began to get bored, so I started going through some of the stuff my mom had packed in the attic at her place in St. Joe, Missouri. I started remembering certain things and started researching while they were in school." "This is stuff you've gathered from the past five years?" Lou nodded. "After awhile, it started consuming me and I knew I had to go back to the force. By then Teresa and Jeremiah were settled in and were well adjusted so I felt as long as I wasn't working when they were home, it would be all right." "How does Jack fit in to all of this?" "When I decided to go back to the force, I contacted him to see if he could help me get into the FBI academy. But with my past..." Tag nodded, "Look, you need to turn all this over to Jack." "I can't, he'll get rid of me for sure. Tag, you can't tell," she pleaded. "Just take some of this stuff to work with you and tell him it was stuff you found from the computers." "What if it goes to trial? How will I explain where the evidence came from?" "We'll cross that bridge when it comes to that. Tag, please." Tag found himself nodding. "I guess you've got a right to make your own way. I won't tell, I give you my word. I guess I can use the info to try to find it on the hard drives. But I can't use anything I can't find somewhere else." Lou released the breath she was holding and smiled. "Thank you," she said leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. Tag turned his head and kissed her on the lips. Lou shivered at the feelings she was experiencing. She pulled back after a few moments when she felt his tongue seeking access to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." he stumbled as he blushed. Kissing her had been the last thing on his mind earlier in the evening, but now that he had, he couldn't help but to want more. Lou reached over and down on the floor for some of the notes she had and brought them back on the bed. "Here. Start looking through these now, I don't want them to go anywhere and if you have any questions, you can ask me." Tag nodded as he started flipping through the notebooks. He was amazed at how detailed each file was. There was everything from names and phone numbers of anyone that might be involved with either Boggs or Wicks to crude layout drawings of the hotel and casino Boggs ran his organization from. He sat back against her headboard and settled in for a long night of research. ~~ *~* ~~ Still half asleep, Lou reached over to hit the snooze alarm and froze as she encountered someone in the bed next to her. Flashbacks ran through her mind and she tensed as she tried to remember what happened. She opened her eyes to see Tag lying on his side, fully clothed, watching her and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Good morning," he said grinning. He had been surprised when he woke up in a strange place and even more surprised when he realized he was in bed with a woman other than his wife. But as he watched Lou sleep, he began to wonder what it would be like to wake up with her more often; if things were different. "Mornin'," Lou mumbled. "Guess we fell asleep huh?" Tag nodded. "I better get going, I don't think it's a good idea that Teresa and Jeremiah..." "Lou, you didn't iron my..." Teresa hollered throwing the bedroom door wide open. She stopped cold when she saw the scene before her. "What's going on in here?" Lou groaned and her voice grew angry. "Teresa Marie McCloud, what is the rule?" her younger sister shrugged. "You know that when my bedroom door is shut you are not to come in here under any circumstances. Am I right?" "But you didn't iron my shirt, I thought maybe you'd overslept so I came to make sure you were up." Lou shook her head. "It doesn't matter, you broke the rules. You should have at least knocked first." Tag stood up, feeling uncomfortable at being caught in the middle of the argument. "I better go." Lou nodded. "I'm sorry, Tag." "I'll call you later," he said leaving the room. Lou nodded and watched him leave. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down before she continued the argument with her sister. Finally she heard the front door open and close, and she finally spoke. "Before you say anything, nothing happened last night. We fell asleep while talking about the case." Teresa grinned and crossed the room and plopped down on the bed next to her older sister. "Why not? It's about time you had some fun. You never bring anyone by anymore, hardly ever go out on a date..." "Last night was not a date. And who I see or what I do is none of your business," she scolded. "He's kinda cute," Teresa said trying to lighten the mood. "It's okay if you do want to date him." Lou knew Teresa was trying to make her forget the reason she was upset, but it wasn't going to work. "Well you won't be going out on dates or anything else anytime soon. You're grounded for the next two weeks." "But Lou," she protested. "No buts, Teresa. You broke the rules and now you have to take the punishment." "But I'll miss Emily's baby shower next weekend." "I'm sorry, but that's not my fault. Maybe next time you'll think before you break a rule." Teresa jumped off the bed. "It's not fair! If I hadn't walked in on you and your boyfriend..." "Enough. I suggest you leave the room before I ground you for two more weeks." "I hate you!" she said slamming the bedroom door on her way out. Lou threw her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes tight hoping to avoid the threatening tears from falling. She knew Teresa didn't mean what she said, but Lou couldn't help but remembering a time when she'd said those same words to her mother. Chapter 5 By the time Tag reached his home on Long Island, showered, changed and drove back into the city, he was almost two hours late. When he walked into his office, he expected Cody to give him grief about being left with all the work that he had been left to do, the last thing he expected was Naomi. "Tag, there you are," she said in a sing song voice as he entered the computer lab. "Where have you been?" "Naomi, what are you doing here?" "I went by the house last night, but you weren't there." Immediate guilt for spending the night at Lou's overwhelmed Tag. Even though nothing happened other than the chaste kiss, he'd had to remind himself that he was still married; that he still loved his wife and wanted to try and work things out. He heard a noise and looked over at Cody who was listening intently to the conversation. "Cody, do you mind?" "Don't mind at all," he said grinning before taking a big bite out of an apple. He placed his legs on the desk, crossing them, and leaned back to watch the fight he was hoping for. Tag ignored him and pulled Naomi over to the far end of the office. "Why didn't you call me?" "Do I need to call you before I bring the girls over? I thought you'd been wanting to see them, so we drove over. We waited for over an hour, but when you didn't show we just grabbed some more of their things. And you didn't answer the question, where were you?" Tag sighed at the missed chance of seeing his girls; his guilt increasing even more. "I was out in the field working on a case," he said knowing it was only partially true. "What case was that?" Cody asked across the room. "I didn't know anything about it." "Yes, Tag, what case?" Naomi looked at him curiously. She could tell something was going on and she wanted to know what it was. "You know I can't discuss that, Naomi. You make it sound like somethin' else happened." "Sounds like it to me," Cody said biting into the apple again. Tag cringed at the sound and realized that Cody was going to hear every word. "You ain't helping much, Cody. Could you please leave?" Cody held his hands up, "Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." He stood and left the room. Tag turned his attention to Naomi. "You should've called my cell. I would've come right over." Naomi shook her head. "You never left in the middle of work before, why would I think you would start now?" "That's not fair, Naomi. You know I've been wanting to see them. How are they doing?" "Disappointed that you weren't home, but other than that they're fine." "Let me have them this weekend. You can bring them over tonight and..." Naomi shook her head. "Simon and I are taking them to the Jersey shore this weekend. He has some business to attend to, and I figured they would enjoy the trip." "You're spending the weekend with him, and we're still married?" "That's part of the reason why I stopped by with these separation papers. Once they're signed we'll both be free to do what we want." "And what about the girls?" Tag shook his head, still unable to grasp how quickly this was all happening. "I don't like the idea of them spending all weekend with some guy I don't even know." "Well, I know him and that should be good enough." "At least tell me this Simon's full name." "So you and your friends can run a background check on him, I don't think so." She glared at him angrily, on the verge of losing her patience with him. "Next thing you know, you'll be trying to find reasons to take the girls away from me." "I'd never do that." Tag crossed and put his hands on her face. "I know you love them and want what's best for them. But don't you think all of us together as a family is best?" "Tag, please don't. Just sign the papers." Tag shook his head. "Naomi, I don't want to sign those papers. I want to try and work things out. Maybe we could try counseling, or..." Naomi ran her hand down his cheek and shook her head. "I'm sorry Tag, but you need to just let me go. To be honest, I was never really happy, and I can't keep pretending otherwise anymore. We both deserve better than that. Look, I have a copy of the papers with me. Just sign them and..." Tag pulled Naomi in his arms and kissed her passionately. He wanted to remind her that no matter what she said, he could make her happy. That they were happy at one time, and could still be that way. But as much as he wanted the sparks to be there, Tag realized she was right. The surge of electricity that used to run through him when they kissed had disappeared. Ironically, he recalled a more intense sensation kissing Lou but had figured it was from the excitement of a first kiss, now he wondered if it was more. ~~ *~* ~~ Lou had decided to stop by Tags' office and talk to him about what happened, as well as see how things were going with the investigation now that she had given him some good places to start. She also wanted to check to see if he was still planning on meeting her for lunch, she hoped he was. "Hey, Lou," Cody said as he passed her on his way to the vending machines. "What are you doing down here in the dungeons? Tell me that coffee is for me?" Lou shook her head. "Mornin' Cody. I came by to see Tag, is he in?" "Yep, he just got here about ten minutes ago." "Thanks, Cody," she said continuing to walk down the hallway. As she approached his glass walled office, she was shocked to see Tag kissing a woman, she assumed was Naomi. She quickly turned away and walked back towards Cody. "Here you go," she said handing him the two cups of coffee she was carrying. "Lou wait, what's wrong?" he asked concerned. Lou had looked so happy only moments earlier, but now she looked like she had lost her best friend. "Talk to me, Lou." Lou shook her head. "I just realized I needed to be somewhere else. I uhm, I'll stop by and talk to Tag later. It wasn't really that important." Cody had known Lou long enough to know when she was lying, but let it go as he continued to the vending machines. As Lou stepped off the elevator onto the main floor, she ran into Jack. "Louise, good morning," he said. "Morning, Jack. How's it going?" "I was about to ask you the same thing. I noticed your reaction yesterday when Agent Kiddings mentioned you and your mother." "I'm sorry about that, Jack. It just really surprised me. I just didn't realize how good he really is." "Do you think you can remain objective on this case? You know I still have some doubts." "I know, Jack. I promise you it won't happen again. You know you can't remove me from this case, I've brought to much into it for you guys to lose all of that now." Jack nodded, "I know, just don't make me regret my decision. Your mom meant a lot to me when we were growing up, and the only reason I'm allowing this is because I want to see Boggs brought to justice. Your mother would want that." "Thank you," she said as Jack nodded. Jack watched her leave the FBI offices before he walked into the elevator and headed down to where the computer crime labs were. He wanted to talk to Agent Kiddings and see if he was able to pull up any more information. As he approached the office, he saw Naomi coming out and groaned. Jack was not in the mood to deal with her flirting because it had always made him uncomfortable, and he was glad to have heard that she and Agent Kiddings were ending their marriage. He only hoped their custody arrangements turned out to be smoother than his own had. "Good morning, Jack," she said smiling as she walked past him. "Morning, Naomi," he replied back continuing to the office. He knocked and saw Agent Kiddings wave him in. "How are you doing Tag? Is everything all right?" Tag nodded. "Naomi just brought by the separation papers for me to sign." "I'm sorry, I know this must be hard for you..." "Actually, I'm glad. I've begun to realize I had no idea who she really was. I signed the papers and we're going to try to find some middle ground where the girls are concerned." "Good," he said nodding. "I know it's going to be hard, just remember I've been through the same thing. If you need any help..." "Thanks, Jack. So what brings you down here to the dungeons? Any more information on the Boggs case?" "Well I saw Officer McCloud upstairs and thought maybe she had been by to talk to you this morning." Tag shook his head. "I haven't seen her, she didn't stop by here." Cody opened the door and grinned. "I take it the tramp left?" Tag nodded. "Good," he said handing his friend one of the cups of coffee he was holding. "Cody, Lou didn't come by before I got here this morning, did she?" Cody shook his head, "No, but I ran into her in the hall about ten minutes ago. She was heading this way and suddenly stopped and the she acted like she couldn't get out of here quick enough." Tag groaned as he realized she must have seen him kissing Naomi. "Did she say anything?" "At first she said she wanted to talk to you, but when she was leaving, she said she'd catch up with you later." "Good," Jack said. "Between the two of you, I'm sure we'll soon have enough information to nail Boggs and his partner. If you guys find anything else out from those computers, let me know immediately." Cody and Tag nodded. "Back to work then." Tag watched as Jack left the room. "So, where were you last night?" "You heard what I told Naomi, I was out in the field working." Cody chuckled, "Without signing out any equipment? Seriously, where were you?" Tag blushed, "Drop it, Cody. It's none of your business." "You're already seein' someone aren't you? I'll be damned! Never expected you to hop into another woman's bed..." "Back off, Cody!" Tag snapped. "It wasn't like that," Tag blushed as he realized what he'd said. "So you were with a girl last night. Who is she?" "Knock it off, I'm not saying anything else, now get back to work. This case isn't gonna solve itself." ~~ *~* ~~ Tag decided to head over to Ike's for lunch hoping to see Lou there. He was relieved to find her there and sitting next to an empty barstool at the counter. "Hey, Lou," he said coming up beside her. "Mind if I sit here?" "Suit yourself," she said nonchalantly. Lou couldn't even look at him. She couldn't believe she had thought there might have been something between them last night when he'd kissed her. She knew he was married, and she felt like a fool for allowing him to make her feel like she had. Tag sat down beside her and looked at her smiling. He stopped when he noticed the sad look on her face and somehow knew he was the one that caused it. "Look, about this morning," he started. "I don't know what you're talking about. Teresa overreacted, I'm sorry she was so rude..." Tag turned her face to look at him. "I'm talking about what you saw." "Oh, that." Lou paused as he nodded. She took a deep breath before she continued. "I'm happy you and Naomi are going to try and work things out. I know how much you love her and your girls, and that it's what you wanted." She looked down at the counter, not wanting to allow him to see the pain in her eyes. Tag shook his head and lifted her head with his finger. "We aren't working things out. I did want to but now I realize that I was just deluding myself." Lou looked up and saw the anguish on his face. "How? It's only been a week or so?" "According to Naomi, she was never really happy. She was staying out of obligation to the children, but then she met someone and said she just couldn't do it any more." He lowered his head. "I'm sorry." Lou put her hand on his. "So what are you going to do?" "I signed the separation papers, which I guess means we are both free to pursue other... interests." He looked into her eyes and felt the same spark he felt last night when they kissed. Lou gave him her best poker face, not wanting to reveal the happiness and excitement his announcement brought. "What about the girls?" "We still have to work that out. She's supposed to bring them by to spend a few nights with me next week. She'd brought them by last night apparently, but I wasn't home." "Oh, no." Lou put her hand on over her mouth in shock. "I'm so sorry." "It's not your fault." "If you hadn't come over to my place, you would've seen your daughters." Tag shook his head. "Naomi knows how my job is, she should've called to let me know." "Still, if I hadn't have asked..." "And how are the baby's godparents doing today?" Emily greeted as she walked up to them, not realizing she was interrupting. "Well, our friend Tag here isn't having the best of days," Lou explained as she patted him on the shoulder, "So I'm buying him lunch." "No, Lou you got dinner..." He tried to protest. "Dinner?" Emily looked at them curiously. "We were working, Emily." Lou gave her a look that warned her not to say anything else about it. Emily nodded, although she was convinced there had to be more to the story. "Well, what can I get for you two? The Turkey Club is the special today." "Sounds good to me." Tag said. "Me, too." Lou agreed. "Two Turkey Clubs coming right up." She smiled and started to turn, but then stopped. "You both want iced tea as usual to drink?" They both nodded, suddenly wondering how they never seemed to notice each other before now. "Lou, I was wondering," Tag turned to look at her. "If you aren't doing anything this weekend, would you like to maybe go to a movie or something?" "Tag, I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression last night or at the bar the other night," Lou said softly. As much as she wanted to tell him yes, the feelings he stirred in her scared her and she wasn't ready to face them. "You are a really great guy, but I know you're in a vulnerable place right now with you marriage breaking up, and then with us working together. I think maybe it's best if we just be friends right now." Tag was a bit taken aback by her response. He could have sworn that the attraction was mutual, but he also knew that what she was saying made a lot of sense. He reminded himself that she didn't turn him down flat out, maybe she just didn't think it was a good idea while they were working so closely together on this case. It was never a good idea to get involved romantically with someone on the same team. He thought about how Agent Samantha Spade was still learning that office romances aren't good in this profession. "I guess you're right." "I just think maybe you should give yourself time to get over things." "How long am I supposed to brood over something that wasn't meant to be?" Tags voice revealed the hurt and anguish he was trying desperately to hide. "I just think..." "My wife is a cheating skank. She hit on anything with two legs and a penis. Hell, according to Samantha, the latter isn't even required." "She hit on Sam?" Lou looked at him in disbelief. "At her baby shower even." Tag mumbled. "Glad she's not invited to Emily's," Lou sighed. Tag couldn't help but chuckle at the comment, picturing his ravenous wife hitting on a very pregnant Emily right in front of Ike. "I don't know, Ike might enjoy that." Lou started giggling right as Emily walked up with their drinks. "Ike might enjoy what?" Both blushed and tried to hide their chuckles, but it only made their laughter heavier. Emily looked at them and wondered why these two seemed to be taking so long to figure out that they belonged together. "What about Ike?" "Oh, it's nothing," Lou said as she regained her composure. "We were just talking about Ike enjoying your baby shower since it's co-ed." "Oh, that reminds me. I'm afraid the shower has been cancelled." Emily said, trying to hide her disappointment. "What? Why?" Lou looked at her friend. "You know that my friend Sarah from the physical therapy clinic was supposed to host it?" Lou nodded. "Well, her son, Joey, just came down with the chicken pox," Emily explained as she rubbed her belly. "So I guess we'll just have to wait until the little one is here to..." "Oh no you won't!" Lou looked at her. "My place is big enough, we'll have it there." "Lou, you don't have to..." "I know I don't have to, I want to. You're my friend and my former partner's wife, I'm not about to let you not have a baby shower!" "I know you're busy with this case for the FBI." "Teresa can help me, and she'll be thrilled to since she's grounded and wasn't going to be able to go. Since the shower will be out our place now, she won't miss it." Lou gave her friend a look that said her mind was made up. "Thank you!" Emily did her best to lean across the counter to hug Lou. "I promise when it's your turn, I'm gonna throw you the biggest shower this city's ever seen. Now, I'm going to check on those sandwiches." Lou sighed softly as Emily disappeared into the kitchen. She wondered if she'd ever have what her friend had, a husband that adored her and the excitement of a new baby on the way. Tag watched her. He smiled as if he read her thoughts. She turned and noticed he was watching intently. "What?" "That was very sweet of you." Lou blushed. "It's nothing. Ike and Emily have been too good of friends to me over the years." "Yeah," He said as Emily returned with their food. "Thanks, Em. Now, tell Ike you are taking a long break." "He already said the same thing," she sighed. "So if ya'll want desert, you'd better tell me now." "Two slices of your famous cherry pie, then." Tag said. "Desert is on me." "Oh no it's not. Your meals are on the house." Emily grinned. "And I don't want an argument out of either of you about it!" "I don't know how they stay in business when Emily keeps comping our meals." Lou joked as Emily went to go get their desert. Tag nodded and watched as Lou attacked her food as if it was the first meal she'd had in days. He smiled as he thought of how different she was from Naomi. Often when they had gone out, she would only pick at her food, not really eating it. Now as he watched Lou seductively lick the mayonnaise from her lips, he felt himself being turned on. Lou noticed Tag watching her and she blushed. "Sorry," she said putting the sandwich back down on the plate. "I can get a little crazy when it comes to Ike's cooking." Tag nodded as he started on his fries. "It is good." "I'll let him know you guys think that," Emily said coming back with their desert. "I swear I lucked out finding a man who can cook as well as he does." "Yeah, the precinct barbeques aren't the same without him there grilling the best burgers and dogs we ever had." Lou joked. "Well, your loss was my gain; in more ways than one. So if that's everything, I'm heading home." Tag and Lou nodded. "I'll call you next week about the shower?" "Sure," Lou replied. "Now go home and relax. Make sure Ike treats you well this weekend." Emily nodded and removed her apron. "Have a good weekend yourselves." Tag and Lou continued eating their meals in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Both chuckled as they reached for the saltshaker at the same time. Lou jerked her hand back at the sensations the simple touch caused. "Have you had any luck with recovering anything this morning?" Lou asked. Tag shook his head. "No, but I was hoping you could help me with a hard drive problem I'm having." Lou's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she choked on her tea. "What?" Kid blushed as he realized what the comment must have sounded like. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean... I meant that with me being late and then Naomi showing up, I haven't had enough time to search through all the computers. We did recover a couple of them you had on the list, but they had different passwords." "I guess I didn't think about if they changed them, I guess all that information I gave you may be useless after all." Tag heard the disappointment in her voice and turned to look at her. "No, what you've given me will help us find the break we need to nail him. I know how much this case means to you, and I promise to do all I can." Lou nodded. "Look," he continued. "Why don't we finish up here and then head back to the dungeons. An extra set of eyes may be just what Cody and I need to find something and you seem to be familiar with the systems." "Sure, as long as I'm home by three." "Why?" Tag asked flashing her a cute grin. "Turn in to a pumpkin?" Lou nearly melted at his smile but shook her head. "No, Teresa's grounded and I just want to make sure she gets home and stays there." Tag nodded and stood up reaching into his pocket. Lou placed his hand on his. "Emily said it was on the house, remember?" "True," he said placing several bills on the counter. "But she didn't say anything about the tip." The two walked back across the street to the FBI offices and headed down to the computer labs. Tag was relieved to see Cody was still out to lunch as they entered the lab. Lou looked around, her eyes growing huge as she realized just about every available surface was covered in computer and electronic equipment. "Is this all from the warehouse?" Lou asked walking towards the huge shelving unit full of computers. Tag looked up from signing onto his workstation and nodded. He watched her as she ran her fingers over some of the older models. "I can't believe he's kept these for so long." "Are you sure they're the same ones?" Lou nodded. "See the drawing on this one?" Tag nodded. "I did it when I was ten. I had no idea what a computer was, and I heard him talking about some pictures he was trying to see on them. So one night, I went down to his office and drew a picture on the computer." She chuckled at the memory and then grew serious. "He was so mad at me for doing it and I was never allowed in that room again." Tag heard the sadness in her voice and longed to do something about it. "Did you know what he did back then?" Lou shook her head and continued moving through the room. "I didn't find out until I was older." "Look Lou, if this is too hard for you..." Lou shook her head as she crossed the room to where Tag was sitting. He pulled up an extra chair and she sat down beside him. "No. The sooner we wrap up this case, the sooner I can move on with my life." "I'm just saying, maybe we could continue this tonight at my place. I'll even make dinner. I'm not as good as Ike, but I can grill up some burgers." "I don't know," Lou said apprehensively. She was worried he was trying to take things to fast. She refused to be the rebound girlfriend and as much as she would like to pursue things with him, she was even more cautious. "I really should just stay home. Make sure Teresa is where she's supposed to be. Normally we just do take out or have something delivered; I'm not much of a cook." "Do you have a grill?" "Just one of those indoor George Foreman grills." "That works, I have one myself for when it's too cold to grill outside. I'll bring the makings enough for all of us. Please, Lou." Lou heard the plea in his voice but it still sounded like a date to her. She still remembered when they'd kissed last night, and then how it felt to wake up with him next to her. Tag obviously knew what she was thinking and tried to ease her doubts. "I promise not to sleep with you again until you're ready," he joked smiling ear to ear. "What?" Cody exclaimed walking into the room. "You were the girl he spent the night with last night?" "Cody, it's not what you think," Tag tried to explain. "She had some information..." "Hey, I'm glad for you both. If two people deserved some happiness, it's you guys." Cody sat down smiling. Ever since the week before when he saw them at the bar, he could tell there was chemistry between them. "Cody," Lou warned with her tone. "We were working on a case late and we just fell asleep. Nothing happened." Cody looked like he didn't believe them. "Sure, whatever you say," he said grinning. "I've known you long enough to know you'd have to defend her honor." "Enough!" Tag snapped. "Cody if you know what's good for you, you'll back off." Cody raised his hands in surrender. "All right, all right, I believe you, now let's get to work." Tag shook his head and whispered to Lou, "You know how Cody is. Once he gets something inside of his head, it's useless to try and change it." Lou giggled at Tags comment as the three friends started back to work. Chapter 6 Lou arrived home a little later than expected. After checking to make sure Teresa was home like she was supposed to be, she jumped into the shower and as she dressed she turned on her iPod which she had docked to her stereo system. Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" began playing and brought a smile to Lou's face. She started rummaging through her closet looking for something to wear. Although she made it clear that this wasn't a date, she still wanted to look nice for Tag tonight. She decided to put one of her more form-fitting pairs of jeans and a chocolate colored knit v-knit top that enhanced her bust. She hummed a long to the music as she put on her make-up and combed her almost shoulder length brown hair, which she had recently started growing out after wearing short for the last ten years. "Lou?" Teresa knocked the open door to her sister's bedroom. "I'm in the here, Tess. You can come in." She called from her bathroom. The teenager crossed the room to stand in the doorway to the master bathroom. "Do you have a date tonight?" "Nope, I just felt like getting a little dressed up is all." "Oh, he's coming over again tonight." Teresa frowned at the thought. "If by he you mean, Agent Kiddings, yes." She paused to put on some lipstick. "I expect you to be polite, he's offered to fix dinner for us. Afterwards, as long as you stay in the house and leave us alone, you can do what you want." "Can I order a movie On Demand?" "I suppose. Just remember not to interrupt us tonight unless it's important, Tag and I have a lot of work to do." "That's why you're putting on make-up?" "Just because I want to look nice doesn't mean anything, Tessa." She reminded her as she walked past her back into her room. She paused her iPod and unhooked it, before walking down the hall into the living room. Teresa followed her sister and watched as she hooked her player to the stereo system, before crossing to the kitchen. "You sure are in a good mood." Teresa sighed. "It's Friday. I've been placed on this case full time and it looks like we are finally making headway, why wouldn't I be in a good mood?" She asked as she pulled out a bottle of White Zinfandel from the refrigerator. "Wine? I thought you said this wasn't a date?" The girl questioned as she watched Lou pour herself a glass and take a sip. "Like I said, it's the weekend, we are just going through some files for the case we're working on. I thought the wine would help us relax, Tag could use it after the week he's had." "What's so special about this case?" "You know I can't talk about that," Lou reminded her as she dug through a bottom cabinet looking for her indoor grill. She smiled when she found it buried under her underused pots and pans. "It's the same one you've been working on since before you started back on the force, isn't it?" "What are you talking about?" Lou's face turned white with panic as she set the grill on the counter. "I know you've been working on something with all those files Mama had." "What do you know about that? Have you been in my room going through my stuff?" Lou looked her in the eyes. She knew her mother had kept the files locked just as Lou did, and she never said a word to either of the twins about them either. "No, I just saw you and Tag going through them last night. I wouldn't go through your work stuff. It's just," Teresa turned overcome with emotion. "What is it Tessie?" Lou put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Isn't that why Mama died? Because of those files? If something happens to you..." She chocked on her words as Lou wrapped her arms around her. "No, Sweetheart. Mama was killed in a hit and run, that's it. There's nothing more to it." Lou prayed that her sister would forgive her if one day she did learn the truth. "And I know I have a dangerous job, but I know how to take care of myself. You and Jeremiah are my world." "I love you, Louise." Teresa cried into her sister's chest. "I don't know what I'd do without you." Lou kissed her sister's forehead. "I love you, too, Tessie Bear." A knock at the door interrupted the tender sisterly moment. Teresa frowned, "Wonder who that could be?" "Be nice, the poor guy's wife left him last weekend." From the looks he was giving you last night, he's already forgotten all about her, Teresa thought as Lou opened the door. "Hey there." Lou smiled as she opened the door for Tag who was struggling to carry three large paper grocery bags. "Here let me help you with those. It looks like you either bought grocery's for the week, or you're planning on cooking for the entire East Side." "Well," he explained as Lou took one of the bags from him and they walked into the kitchen. "I wasn't sure if you had what I needed so I figured I'd go ahead and get everything that way we're all set for next time." "Next time?" Teresa looked at him. "If you spend every night having dinner with single women it's no wonder your wife left you." "Teresa!" Lou snapped. "I can't believe you just said that. Apologize this instant!" "I'm sorry, Agent Kiddings. That was very rude of me." "It's okay, Teresa. Please call me, Tag." He smiled understanding the girl's uneasiness towards him. "For the record, I've never been to a single female co-workers house before this." "If you say so." Teresa rolled her eyes as if she didn't believe him. "Why don't you go study while we get dinner going?" Lou glared Teresa, unable to understand the girl's sudden change in attitude. "Study? On a Friday night?" "Fine, don't study, just stay out of trouble until dinner." Teresa nodded silently and stomped off to her bedroom. "I'm so sorry, Tag. I don't know what's gotten into her," Lou said as she helped him unpack the grocery bags. "It's okay, fifteen is an awkward age. Add to it that her sole guardian has brought the same strange man over two nights in a row and she's probably feels a little bit threatened." "I was just telling her how she and Jeremiah are the most important people in my life." She sighed. Tag nodded as he pulled the meat out of the bag. Lou looked at him curiously. "Steak? I thought we were grilling burgers?" "Well, I didn't like the look of the ground beef they had and these beauties were on special." "Tag, you shouldn't have." "Why not? I'm just returning the favor. I promise I'm not trying to win your heart through my cooking." He winked at her. "Then again, you haven't had my famous twice baked potatoes yet." Lou watched him preheat the over before washing the potatoes. "Jimmy never told me you were the next Bobby Flay." "So you've talked about me with Jimmy?" Tag glanced up from preparing dinner to look at her. "Let's just say he's mentioned you on several occasions." Lou smiled as she took a sip of wine and then remembered she'd forgotten to pour one for Tag. "I'm so sorry. Would like some wine?" She reached into the cupboard to pull out another glass. "That's okay, I'll just have a soda," he said as he put the potatoes in the oven. Lou pulled a can out of the refrigerator. She crossed the kitchen to hand it to him. "You're not worried about me getting you drunk and taking advantage of you?" "No," he chuckled. "I just don't drink. But if I did, I might just take you up on that offer." "You don't drink at all?" "Nope." He shook his head. "I'm sorry I didn't know." She closed the bottle and put it back in the fridge. She took her glass to the sink. "I'll just pour the rest of this out then." "I didn't say you couldn't drink." He crossed to the sink and grabbed her hand to stop her. "Just that I don't." "I don't want to offend you." She looked up at him with sincerity. "Unless you're planning on getting trashed, you aren't going to offend me." He paused to look into her eyes. "If I was offended by drinking, I wouldn't have gone to O'Dunne's the other night, would I?" "Are you sure you don't mind?" "I'd be more upset that you threw away something you were enjoying on account of me." "Okay, then." She smiled bashfully. "What can I help you with?" "How are you with making salad?" "Pretty good actually." She pulled out a large bowl, before rinsing the greens. "You know I can cook, I just usually don't have time." "Lou?" Jeremiah called out as he walked in the room. "Oh, hey Tag." "Hi Jeremiah. How's it going?" Tag asked as he checked on the potatoes. "Pretty good. I just made it to the next level of Worldcraft this afternoon." "Cool! Did you try that new maneuver I told you about?' "Yeah, it worked great! Thanks." "No problem." Lou looked at him, a little annoyed with his interruption. "Did you need me for something?" "Oh, right I almost forgot. Jesse and some of the guys are going to a movie tonight, can I go?" "Daisy not going?" Jeremiah blushed at the mention of his girlfriend. "She and some of her friends said they might be there." "Did you clean your room like you were supposed to?" He nodded. "Even vacuumed the carpet." "Okay, but what about your dinner? Tag is cooking for us." "We were gonna grab something on the way, but I can stay home if you want." "Lou, it's no problem." Tag looked at her. "We can save his for later. He'll probably be hungry when he gets home, you know how teenage boys are." "Okay, but make sure you have your phone with you. Just put it on silent in the theater." "Thanks Sis!" Jeremiah hugged her. There was a loud knock on the door. "Pizza delivery!" The delivery boy yelled out. "Who ordered a pizza?" Lou asked to no one in particular as she checked the peep hole before opening the door. "I'm sorry, you must have the wrong apartment. We didn't order a pizza." "Teresa McCloud? Extra large double pepperoni with extra cheese." The young man pulled out the order slip and double checked the address. "Teresa Marie McCloud," Lou yelled at the top of her lungs. "Get out here this instant!" "What did I do now?" The girl whined as she walked back into the family room. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the pizza delivery guy. "Oh." "Did you order a pizza?" Lou looked at the girl in disbelief. "Oh, yeah. It was before I knew Tag was coming over. We always do pizza on Fridays." She turned and glared at Tag. "Well, at least we used to." "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt." The delivery guy said. "Is somebody going to pay for this? I've got three other pies in here that need to be delivered." Lou saw Tag reach for his wallet. "Don't you dare even think about it." Tag sighed as she grabbed her purse off the coffee table. She pulled out her wallet and crossed to the door. "How much?" "$15.86." Lou pulled out a twenty dollar bill and handed it to him. "Here, sorry for your trouble. You can keep the change." "Thanks, ma'am." He smiled as he handed Lou the pie. "Enjoy." After closing the door, Lou whipped around and glared at Teresa. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't give all this to Jeremiah to take to his friends." "Lou, if she wants to have pizza..." Tag started but the look Lou gave him reminded him he shouldn't interfere in the matter. "I told you I ordered it before Tag..." "Stop right there. You'd better rethink what you are gonna say, this order slip says the time you called." "It does?" Teresa lowered her head in shame. "I just was hungry and didn't know when dinner would be ready, and I had really been looking forward to our pizza night." "This is coming out of your allowance." Lou handed her the box. "No pay-preview movie now." "I understand." "And if you pull something like this again, it will be a long time before you eat another pizza." "Yes, Lou. I promise it won't happen again. I'm sorry Tag." "You are walking on thin ice, Teresa." Lou sighed. "Go grab a plate and anything else you need and go eat it that in your room. Jeremiah, help yourself to some, too. When is Jesse's dad picking you up?" "He said they'd leave as soon as I'm ready." "Well, call him and then go get ready." Lou watched both twins each grabbed a soda and a couple of slices of pizza before heading to their rooms. She turned to Tag, "I'm so sorry." "Why?" He asked as they walked back into the kitchen. "I'm not." "You went to all this trouble to make dinner for four and now it's just the two of us," Lou sighed before she took a long sip of her wine. "So you'll have a couple of steaks in the freezer, it's no big deal." After he checked on the food, he crossed to her. He took her glass from her and set it down on the counter, then put his hand on her waist. "Dinner for two can be kind of nice, too." She smiled, "I suppose it could." He leaned his head forward and kissed her softly on the lips. Lou tried to protest, putting her hands on his chest to push away. "Um, I think we'd better check on the food." "I just did. It's fine. The grill's still preheating," he said before pulling her back into his arms and resuming their kiss. As their tongues entwined, Lou felt her resistance melting. She knew she was treading in dangerous waters but there was something about Tag that made her feel safe, and that was something she hadn't felt in a long time, if ever. She moaned slightly as his mouth left hers to explore her neck. She felt her body arc in natural response to his touch and it made her panic. No, this is too fast. She tried to make herself push him away, but her body was enjoying the sensations of his kisses too much. "Tag, please." "Yes, Lou?" He asked, unsure if she was asking him to stop or to continue. "Please stop." She pulled away just as Jeremiah came running down the hall. "Jesse called, they're a block away, I'm going on down so they don't have to try to find a place to park." "Have fun." She nodded before quickly polishing off her glass of wine. "See ya' Tag!" The boy waved as he ran out the door. "You, too, Jeremiah." He turned to see Lou pouring herself another glass of wine. He could tell she was shaken by their kissing. "Lou, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." Tag put his hand on her shoulder. "It's just you bring out something in me that I haven't felt in a long time." "Tag, I saw you kissing her this morning." Lou lowered her head. "But it wasn't the same." "You're just thinking that right now because you're hurting." "No, Lou, I'm not." He turned her to look at him. "I admit it. I kissed Naomi hoping to prove to her that there was still something between us. But I was wrong, when I kissed her I felt nothing. It was like I was kissing a complete stranger." "But with me you practically are." "We may just now be getting to know each other, but we have known of each other for years." "You know what I mean. Besides, it's more than that Tag." She shook her head. "Is it because of the case? If we were assigned to the same team permanently, I'd understand, but you aren't even FBI. We may never work together again after this case." "Tag, it's not just the case." She paused. "You are a really great guy, in fact you're too good for someone like me." "I think you're selling yourself short." "Am I?" She turned to face him. "I'm a thirty-one year old raising two teenagers." "And I'm about to be a divorced twenty-nine year old with two little girls." "Twenty-nine?" She groaned. "You're even younger than me!" "By a little over a year. My birthday's in a little over a month." He smiled as he took her in his arms and kissed her forehead. "I really like you Lou." She groaned as she pulled away and crossed the room to look down the hall to make sure Teresa was in her room. Alanis Morissette's "Head Over Feet" started playing and Tag pulled her to him to coerce her into dancing with him. "She's fine. It's not like were doing anything wrong. We're both single adults." "You're married." "As of eleven o'clock this morning, legally separated," he reminded her as he showed her that he'd taken off his wedding ring. "This can't work," she argued. "Give me one good reason." "My life is a lie. I'm the daughter of a dangerous gangster. I'm having to lie to Jeremiah and Teresa to keep them safe. I can't expect someone, especially someone who has his own children to deal with this." She tried to pull away but he refused to let go. "It's just a dance, Lou." She sighed in defeat as she gave into the urge to lean her head against his chest as they danced. Tags hand gently caressed her back, sending a tingling sensation up and down her spine. Lou found herself relaxing in his arms as if their bodies were meant to be together. Stop this, she chided herself. You've thought that before and look where it got you. You can't afford to fall in love, let alone with a guy who is clearly on the rebound. The phone rang and Lou eagerly used it as an excuse to end their dance. She crossed back to the kitchen and she picked up the phone. "Hello?" Tag sighed in disappointment as he followed behind her to check on the grill. As he put the steaks on he couldn't help but overhear her. "Hey handsome! How are you?...I'm good. Missed seeing you around though...Yes, I'm really looking forward to it...Oh, that's so sweet of you...Yes, it will be a blast!" His smile dropped when he realized she must be on the phone with another man, Making a date too, it sounds like. He remembered that she said she didn't have a boyfriend, but she didn't say she didn't date. Whoever this guy is, he sure is lucky. "You know I'll hold you to that," she giggled. "Are you serious?...Oh, that's wonderful!...Of course I'd be happy to...Okay, noon on Monday at Ike's, got it. I can't wait to see you!" Yep, that's definitely a date, Tag sulked. "Bye," Lou said before hanging up the phone. She turned to Tag, "Sorry about that. Buck and I can get a little carried away when we're talking. Especially since we don't get to see each much since I left the mounted squad." "Buck Cross?" he asked. "Ike's last partner?" "That's him. He was at the Academy with us. He and Ike were assigned together after I left the force." "He's a good guy." Tags heart dropped. He remembered Naomi going on about how irresistible his Native American features were. He suddenly thought of all the times his wife commented on other men. He'd always thought she was just doing it to toy with him and make him jealous, but now he realized she was probably serious. "That he is and great with the horses." Lou crossed to peek at the steaks. "Those smell great." "Thanks, I forgot to ask how you like yours cooked?" "Medium rare." "Perfect. Me too," he said half-heartedly as he flipped the steaks. He couldn't help but wonder what was bringing on this bad luck streak with women. "What's wrong?" Lou asked, noticing his gloomy expression. "It's nothing." "Doesn't look like nothing to me." She put her hand on his shoulder. "Just thinking about stuff is all." "Oh, you mean Naomi." "Not just her, but the girls too." He turned to look at her. "Fridays were like a family night for us. I'd grill up something and we'd play games, maybe watch a movie." "I'm sorry. Maybe tonight wasn't such a good idea." She went to the table and sat down. "No, I'd rather be here than alone in that empty house," he reminded her as he plated the food and brought it to the table. "And you are a lot nicer to look at than the television." "That's sweet Tag," she said softly. "But I think I'm beginning to understand what you meant this afternoon about taking some time to adjust." He sat down and couldn't help but see that Lou seemed a bit relieved and disappointed. "I see." "I doesn't mean I'm not still interested ya know." He blushed as he taped his fork on the table. "I just think you're right about taking things one step at a time." "I'd like that." She smiled softly. "I guess I'm just worried about this being a rebound thing for you. I just can't handle something like that." "I understand. That's the last thing I'd want, too." He looked into her eyes, trying to figure out how to tell her that she was already much more than that, but he knew she was right. He needed time to deal with all the changes in his life. Still, he couldn't help but feel that his recent separation was not the only reason she was trying to keep him at arms length. He wondered if she had feelings for someone else. ~~ *~* ~~ As they ate silently, Tag thought back to her conversation on the phone with Buck. He remembered how excited and flirtatious she seemed. He would give anything to make her feel that way. She must be in love with him, he sulked with jealousy. "This is delicious," Lou finally spoke. "Thanks," Tag said softly as he tried to concentrate on his food, and fight his urge to ask her about Buck. "So, what are your girls like?" Tag smiled at her interest in his daughters. "Charlotte just turned ten. She's my little drama queen. She loves ballet and talking about starring on Broadway one day. She even tried to talk us into letting her try auditioning for some roles, but we keep trying to tell her she needs to take it one step at a time." "What about your youngest?" "Emma, she is the exact opposite. She's very shy and keeps to herself a lot. I know she's only four, but I swear she's going to an inventor or engineer or something like that. She'll spend hours looking at her toys, trying to figure out everything works." "Sounds like she has her daddy's brains." "For her sake, I hope she doesn't end up a nerd like me." "Well, being popular isn't always that great either." Lou blurted out. "Why did I know you were one of the cool ones?" "Well, yeah, before we left my dad, I was popular but I never had any true friends. People wanted to be around me because of my family's money and stuff. I would have rather have had one real best friend, than a dozen of the fair weather ones that were always around me." "You didn't have a best friend?" Lou shook her head. "There was this one guy I was really close to, but I found out he was only using me because of my father." She paused for a moment, fighting the tears she felt forming. "I guess that's why my friends are so important to me now. I never imagined that one day I'd have so many great friends." "I hope that includes me." Kid took her hand. "It does." She blushed. "Lou?" Teresa peeked her head around the corner. "Why are you doing out of your room?" Lou eyed the girl suspiciously. "I was wondering if I could make some popcorn?" "You'd better not have ordered a movie." "No. One of the cable channels is showing U.S. Seals." She grinned, "That movie has some real hotties in it." "Okay, you can make some popcorn." "Are you sure I'm not interrupting your date, I mean dinner." She glared at Tag as she put the popcorn bag in the microwave, noting that he was still holding Lou's hand. "Just make your popcorn," Lou said with annoyance before turning back to Tag. "Where were we?" "Making goo-goo faces at each other while he molested you hand." Teresa mumbled under her breath as she pulled out another soda while waiting for the popcorn to finish popping. "What did you say?" Lou got up and crossed into the kitchen to confront the teenager. "Nothing," Teresa smirked. "Tessie, what has gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?" The microwave beeped indicating that the popcorn was ready and Teresa grabbed the bag. "I don't know what you're talking about." "What is with your attitude tonight?" "My attitude? I get grounded because I find out you slept with some guy you just met and you're wondering why I'm upset?" Teresa brushed past her sister to make her way out of the kitchen. "Teresa!" Lou called out. "I told you nothing happened, we just fell asleep working." "Yeah right. And this certainly doesn't look like a date either with the music, wine, holding hands, and don't forget how he was undressing you with his eyes." Lou's jaw dropped open, unable to respond to her allegations so she just stood there speechless as Teresa storm off back to her room and slam the door. She didn't understand why the girl was so threatened by Tags presence. She knew that there had to be some other cause for her recent rebelliousness, but she didn't know what. Teresa's behavior reminded her so much of herself at that age, and that scared Lou to death. "You okay?" Tag asked as he walked up to Lou, who still stood at the hall entrance in shock. "I just don't understand what's gotten into her, she's not usually like this." She turned to face him. "I'm so sorry." "It's not your fault," he reminded her. "I'll understand if you don't want to come over anymore," Lou said meekly, hoping that wasn't the case. Although they'd just started working together and she insisted it's better for them to just be friends, she thoroughly enjoyed their time alone together and did not want it to end. "Only if you don't want me to." "I have stuff here that you need to see, but I'm not ready to bring them into the office for Jack to see." "What about your sister?" Tag looked at her with concern. "I don't want to be the cause of friction between you two." "If she doesn't want to see you, she can stay in her room while you're here. Teresa is old enough to know she can't dictate whom I can or cannot see. She needs to learn to accept you as someone in my life, whether she likes it or not." "So I'm someone in your life now?" Tag teased as they sat back down to finish dinner. "You are one of my friends." Lou grinned. After dinner, they went to Lou's room to go through more files. Lou made a point of keeping her door wide open and was careful not speak of her personal connection to the case in the event teenage ears were listening. To her disappointment, Tag purposely sat down in the desk chair to avoid the temptation to kiss her again. He felt his attraction to her growing every minute they spent together and the thought that she was in love with Buck ripped at his heart. He couldn't understand how he could be so jealous over someone he's just getting to know. After all he hadn't even felt this jealous when Naomi told him about Simon, it was more of a shock and numbness from her taking their girls away. He realized that he must not have loved Naomi as much as he thought he did, that maybe it was more of the idea of her, than actually her that he loved. They had met only a few short months after his mother's death. He had felt empty inside and Naomi filled that void, and for that, he would always be grateful. But now he was starting to understand what his wife meant about never truly being happy. If he had been, would he willingly pursue Lou so soon? Maybe this is just a rebound attraction, he thought. He tried to shake off all thoughts of his personal life and focus on the case. He had to fight to keep his thoughts off Lou though. He tried desperately not to study every little thing about her - the way her hands fidgeted when she talked about certain things in the case, the little crease she'd get between her eyebrows when she was focusing hard on something, and most of all just her presence all together. For a petite woman, Lou could be very intimidating with her spunky attitude and cantankerous spirit. However, Tag knew that underneath her independent exterior there was a vulnerable soul who'd had a harsh life. Although Lou was relieved that he understood her concern and agreed that they should focus on their new friendship, a part of her was disappointed that once they entered her bedroom, Tag went straight to the business of going through her files and said little that didn't involve the case. She was grateful that he didn't mention her personal involvement in case Teresa was listening in. Yet she was hurt that he seemed to show no interest now in her previous life. She tried to tell herself that it was for the best. She allowed herself once again to become totally absorbed in the case, this time taking Tag with her. After a few hours, Tags stomach grumbled, causing Lou to giggle. "Why don't I make us some coffee? And I think there's still a few slices of that pie left too." "Sounds great," Tag said as he followed her to the kitchen. After starting the coffee pot, Lou rummaged through the refrigerator looking for the pie. "I don't believe this." "What?" "There was almost half of it left this morning now I can't find it. Jeremiah and Jesse must have gotten into this afternoon when they got home from school." "It's okay. Probably shouldn't be eating it this late anyways." Tag said as he glanced at his watch uncertain of just how late it was. His eyes did a double take when they read the time. "What's wrong?" Lou looked at him. "It's almost 2 AM." "You're kidding?" He shook his head. "Nope, I guess we got so busy going over your research that we lost track of time." "What a way for a couple of workaholics to spend a Friday night, huh?" Lou grinned. "Yeah," Tag smiled back. "But I'd better go before the twins realize I'm still here. I don't want to cause in more trouble between you and Teresa." "It's not your fault, but I understand." Lou nodded as she walked him to the door, feeling like a teenage girl saying goodnight on her first date. "Thanks again for dinner, Tag. I really enjoyed it. I'm sorry the twins skipped out on it." "Why? I'm not." Tag paused, realizing his words came out wrong. "I mean I really enjoyed getting to know them last night, but it was really nice just spending time alone with you tonight." Lou opened the door for him. "Yes, it was nice." Tag walked out and turned to face her, intending to just say goodbye, but when their eyes locked he couldn't help himself. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on her lips. Tags soft kiss made Lou feel like she was drifting on a cloud. She wanted to pull him to her and deepen the kiss, but to her surprise, Tag broke away. "Goodnight," he said softly before he started down the hall. "Goodnight," Lou replied. Desperate to know when she might see him again. She called out before he started down the stairs, "Tag?" "Yes, Lou?" "Um, I'm gonna probably be working on the case all weekend. You're welcome to join me if you like, I mean, if you don't have other plans." "Nope, just maybe playing a little Worldcraft is all. I'll call you when I wake up." "Goodnight." She nodded. "Goodnight, Lou." The next two evenings Tag came over again to work, much to Teresa's dismay. She would eat silently before darting off to her room. Lou tried to talk to her about her behavior, but she refused to discuss it. At least Jeremiah has really taken to Tag, Lou thought. After dinner, Tag and Lou would go to her bedroom and work quietly through the evening. At least once a night though, Lou would get a call from another man and it would only contribute more to Tags desire to be with her. His heart sank when he'd hear her chat cheerfully with the other man. How he longed to be that man. Tag did his best to shake off his jealousy, reminding himself that he wasn't even dating Lou. He tried to stay focused on the case, but at the end of every night he couldn't help but kiss Lou goodnight. He was pleased that she seemed to expect it too and clearly enjoyed it. By Monday, Tag couldn't control the jealousy he was feeling when it came to Lou. He constantly chided himself, saying it was just a phone call, that even though it sounded like a date, it didn't necessarily mean it was. But now he found himself walking across the street to Ike's half an hour later than the time Buck and Lou were supposed to be meeting. "Hey, Tag," Emily said as he sat down at his regular table and handed him a menu. "How's it going today?" "Had better days," he said looking at the menu, even though he wasn't hungry. "I'm sorry. Anything I can do to help? Maybe some of my apple pie?" Tag shook his head. "I'll give you a few minutes then, but I'll bring over your tea." "Thanks, Em," he said as he looked around the cafe for Buck and Lou, his heart stopping when he saw them sitting close to each other in a quiet corner. Wishing he was close enough to hear them, he just sat there and watched them as talked and joked around. Every time he heard her giggle, his heart broke a little more. But the final straw was when he saw Buck present her with a ring and Lou became giddy with excitement. "Are you ready to order," Emily said coming back to Tags table and handing him his tea. Tag shook his head. "I'm suddenly not very hungry," he said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a five. "I'll probably just grab something from the vending machine later. Thanks, Emily. Tell Ike I said let you go home and relax." Emily watched as her friend walked out of the restaurant and wondered what was wrong. She headed over to the table Buck and Lou were sitting at. "And why do you two just look like you won the lottery?" "Show her," Lou encouraged Buck as she noticed him blushing. When he didn't move, Lou finally let Emily in on the secret. "Looks like Ike's not the only one ready to settle down." Emily's mouth fell open. "Buck Cross, you sly devil! It's about time you asked Jenny to marry you. Wait until I tell Ike." "Come on Emily, you know Ike will never let me live it down. You remember how much we teased him when he proposed to you." Lou and Emily started laughing. "Exactly," she said. "It's time to face the music." Lou looked at her watch and then around the cafe and sighed when she didn't see Tag. "Lou, if you keep staring at your watch, you're gonna go cross eyed." "Sorry, Buck. I was looking for someone who usually eats lunch around now." "Tag?" Emily asked. Lou nodded. "He was here for about five minutes. Had a tea and then left suddenly." "Oh," Lou said disappointed. "Is the spinster McCloud in love?" Buck joked. "Are we going to finally get a chance to tease you when the time comes?" Lou shot Buck a deadly glance causing him and Emily to laugh. "We're just friends," she said very quietly looking down at the table. Emily and Buck shot each other a knowing look and grinned. "That's how it always starts," Buck answered