"When did you get here?"

Jonathan hid his irritation at her tone of voice. "About an hour ago. I was really surprised you were gone. The boys said you practically ran out the door, telling them you were going to the hospital and would call from there. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Lisa looked at Jonathan pointedly. "I thought you were going to wait until I called you to come over."

"I had some errands to run, so I came by when I was done. Since I didn't see Shelby's car in the driveway, I didn't think you'd mind." He shrugged. "So what's the problem? Why are you giving me the third degree? And why were you at the hospital?"

"Where'd you go shopping?"

"What does that have to do with anything? Now, quit playing games and tell me what this is all about."

Lisa looked at her ex-husband pointedly. "Shelby was shot shortly after she left here this evening. You knew she was coming over."

Jonathan's face reflected surprise. "What? That's terrible!" His brow furrowed at the implication of her words. "Surely you don't think...? Lisa, I would never hurt our daughter. It's that damn job of hers."

Lisa gazed at him, torn, but she wanted to clear one thing up. "Shelby is not your daughter. I turned a blind eye to your brutality once. It'll never happen again."

"Lisa, please," Jonathan begged. "I hate myself for what I did to her and Anne. I don't blame you for suspecting me." He dropped his head, gazing at the floor. "I know I was wrong. How can I convince you that I've changed? I'll do whatever you want."

Looking at the forlorn man, Lisa's heart softened. She wanted to believe him, but did she dare? Shelby insisted he'd threatened her at the trial, yet he'd never admitted to that. Could she trust Jonathan now? She needed some time to think.

"I think I'd like a little space right now. I just don't know what to think. I think we should wait a little longer before you move in here."

Jonathan's voice choked. "I love you, Lisa. I would never hurt Shelby. Please believe me."

It took every bit of Lisa's rapidly diminishing resolve to stick to her course of action. "I love you, too. I don't think you were responsible for Shelby getting shot. There's just so much going on right now. I need a few days to make sure we're making the right decision for the right reasons."

Lisa's words rocked Jonathan. He'd never expected this and felt his anger begin to build. That damn little bitch had been lucky again and it was costing him dearly. His countenance, however, reflected a profound sadness. "Whatever you want, babe. All I care about is making you happy. I'll be sitting by my phone, waiting to hear from you." He moved to the door with slumped shoulders. "Bye, babe."

Lisa walked over and fleetingly kissed him. "I'll call you in a couple of days, okay?"

Nodding, Jonathan departed. Lisa tracked his progress to his car and watched him drive away until she could no longer see the car. She sank into one of the kitchen chairs and sighed audibly. I don't know what to do.

Lisa's eyes widened. Jonathan had never even asked how Shelby was.



*  *  *

Shelby chuckled and patted the couch next to her. "Would you please sit down? You're making me crazy."

"You sure you don't need anything else? Want some more iced tea?"

The younger woman started to rise, and Kris moved to her side. "What do you need? I'll get it."

Shelby grasped the operative's forearm with her right hand and said, "You - next to me."

Kris smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"Well, what are you waiting for, then?"

Shelby was touched by Kris' attentiveness since they'd arrived back at the apartment. The tall woman had made them turkey breast sandwiches, served with potato chips and iced tea, cleaned up their mess, arranged the couch so that Shelby could rest her arm on the pillows, and for the last several minutes had been hovering over her, not knowing what else to do.

Searching for an answer, Kris muttered, "Um...I just..."

Shelby smiled warmly. "I know, sweetheart. You've been wonderful, but you need to take a break."

Once the analyst had sat back down, Kris carefully lowered herself next to Shelby, not wanting to jar her.

"Will you relax? I won't break." Placing her hand gently on Kris' stomach, she asked, "How are you doing?"

"Fine." Kris quirked a half-smile at the disbelieving look on her partner's face. "Well, it is a little sore."

"Somehow, I have a feeling it's more than a little sore. Did you take some Aleve?"

"Yeah, last time I went into the bathroom."

"Good. Now, let's talk."

Kris gazed into the somber green eyes, puzzled. "Okay."

"You're still blaming yourself."

The operative looked away. She felt so damned guilty. Why couldn't she have been the one shot, not Shelby? Her partner didn't deserve that. She didn't belong in the dark world of subterfuge and double crosses, where every shadow held a new threat.

Shelby laid her hand on Kris' thigh. "I don't blame you."

Kris' eyes were haunted. "I still feel I should've sensed something, been more observant, just something..."

"You love me, right?"

Blue eyes gazed deeply into green ones. "More than anything."

Shelby reached for Kris' hand and gripped it firmly. "Please stop beating yourself up over this. Promise me you'll let it go. Would you do that for me?"

Kris glanced around the room, vaguely aware of the TV droning in the background and Stormy sleeping on the back of the couch. What Shelby was asking seemed so simple on the surface, but it required her to forgive herself. "I'd do anything for you. But..."

"No buts. Okay?" Shelby released Kris' hand and shifted so she was directly facing her. She brushed the operative's longish bangs to the side, gazing into the vivid blue eyes. "It would really make me happy."

Kris slowly nodded embraced by the love emanating from her partner, understanding that her self-condemnation was hurting Shelby. "Okay. I'll try."

The analyst grinned. "Great. Could we seal it with a kiss?"

Smiling, the tall woman shifted sideways and bent down, meeting Shelby's soft lips with her own. It was a sweet, lingering kiss, full of promises yet to be fulfilled.



*  *  *

Earl had summoned Kris and Shelby shortly after their arrival the following morning, and they were sitting in his office, along with Jeb and Dennis.

The Director of Covert Operations had listened intently as Kris provided a detailed run down of the events up to and after the attack. He directed his eyes toward Shelby. "I want you to move to a safe house until we figure out who is behind the attacks. You've been lucky so far. You might not be so fortunate the next time."

Shelby shook her head. "I don't think the attacks are related to my job. I wouldn't feel right about using tax payers' money for a personal matter."

"How about letting me be the judge of that?"

The analyst looked at Kris for help, only to find her looking down at the floor. She narrowed her eyes, and her demeanor subtly changed. Kris was going to hear about this later. "I don't want to move into a safe house. I think my stepfather could be responsible, and that is not Company business. If you feel I need more protection, then assign some agents for outside surveillance."

Earl clearly read the body language and remembered her threat last time they had tried to force her to comply with their wishes. "At least think about it." When Shelby nodded, he continued, "I've called the local police, and they're sending two officers out to question Whiteman. I'll call you when I get a report."

The two women stood up and departed.

Shelby walked along side of Kris, trying to contain her anger. "I can't believe you. You didn't even support me in there. What's with that?" Shelby had spoken quietly, but her words were fraught with tension.

Kris sighed. The last thing she wanted was for Shelby to be angry with her, but she was concerned about her safety. "I wish you would reconsider. If it is Jonathan, you'd be a lot more secure in a safe house."

Shelby glanced at Kris. "And what if it isn't? You said yourself there was a leak. So, now, all of a sudden, you're on their side. What about you, Kris? You don't need my help anymore?"

Kris' stomach dropped at the hurt in her partner's voice. "Yes, I do, but your safety is more important to me. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you. I shouldn't have dragged you into this."

Shelby shook her head. "Well, I am in it, and I plan to see it through. And next time you have a brainstorm like this, how about talking to me first? Or don't my feelings matter?"

"Of course they do!" Kris said vehemently. "I've just been thinking and whoever fired that shot had to be damn good. Spending a few years in the military and going hunting are very different from targeting a moving vehicle."

Shelby turned the corner with Kris as they entered the corridor her office was in. "Deer don't stand still and wait for you to shoot them."

"Well, yes, they do, sort of. It's only when you don't get a clean shot that you end up chasing through the woods after them. Something just doesn't feel right about this whole thing."

"Why didn't you say something before now?" Shelby slowed her step, watching Kris intently.

Matching her partner's stride, Kris admitted, "I'm just speculating and if you'd agreed to move into a safe house..."

Shelby stopped in the hallway and faced her partner. "If I agreed to move into a safe house, Earl would've insisted you did, too, and your mother would be good as dead."