She suddenly saw a flicker of anger cross Kris' face but it was gone in a second, replaced by the stoic look that Kris donned when fully tense and alert. Shelby studied Earl's face carefully for any indication of what had caused her partner's anger, frustrated that she couldn't hear the conversation.



*  *  *

Earl stared at Kris, shocked and stunned by what he'd just heard, trying to maintain his composure and not allow the sudden anger of betrayal he felt to surface. This was one of the Company's top operatives. He'd trained her, mentored her and supported her, only to learn that she was a mole.

He tried to analyze the idea of her being a Russian logically, but he was having difficulty doing so. Earl liked and respected Blue, making her revelation so much harder to take because an enemy agent was an enemy agent regardless of how he felt about her.

He looked up when a low, bitter voice interrupted his tumultuous thoughts.

"Tell me this, Earl. What if you were stolen from your mother as a child, thrown into a training facility for moles, sent to an enemy land and then grew to love the country you were supposed to hate? How would you feel; what would you have done?"

The director gazed into the frustrated, angry blue eyes glaring at him. What would I have done? She's in a no win situation. Blue had been a loyal operative for almost ten years and she needed his support. He suddenly knew she was telling the truth and could be trusted to deliver exactly what she'd promised. It was the fallout afterward that he was much more worried about.

Making his decision, Earl knew he would most likely face a board of inquiry for not forwarding this information to his higher ups immediately. He made one last attempt to do it the Company way, although his heart wasn't in it.

"I need to take you into custody." When he saw her eyes narrow, he quickly added, "You'll be in on the whole operation. I know we can't set it up without you. You will remain with me, directing the agents. Once we rescue your mother, we'll arrest Sergei and take Gregor into protective custody."

Kris leaned across the table, irritated at Earl's suggested compromise. "No way! My mother is in there, and I'm going in. No disrespect intended, but I have a lot better chance of getting her out safely than your team would."

Earl eyed her impassively, giving no outward indication of what he was thinking.

Kris quietly reminded her boss what was at stake. "I'm giving you one of Russia's top spies, another that wants political asylum, a double agent and a traitor. In return, all I'm asking is to participate in the operation, and for you to request political asylum and immunity for me."

Earl sighed and with a touch of acidity, asked, "Anything else?"

"You arrange for my mother to stay in the country and get a green card. Sergei has powerful friends and she'd be dead within minutes of getting off the plane back in Russia. I want her dropped off at Shelby's apartment. She's agreed to let her stay there temporarily. Now that's the deal, or I'm outta here. Up to you."

Earl met Kris' pointed gaze. "You don't want much, do you? Let's see if I've got this right." He ticked off each point on a finger as he enumerated. "You're a mole, you want a green card for your mother, you refuse to turn yourself in until your mother is rescued, you refuse to allow me to assign another operative to Shelby, you've brainwashed Shelby into helping you..."

Kris let the comment about brainwashing Shelby slide. It would help protect her partner from any potential fallout. Once she gave her statement, she intended to exonerate Shelby anyway.

Interrupting Earl, she repeated, "You get Sergei, Gregor, Michael and Maggie. I think that should count for something. Besides, I know who we're up against. I have a lot better chance of protecting Shelby before the bust and my mother during the bust than any of the other operatives. All I'm asking for is a deal for me and safety for my mother and Shelby."

"So I should risk my career by not taking you into custody now. I don't have the authority to agree to this deal and you know it."

"Just until after the rescue and bust. Then I'll turn myself in." Kris sighed. "If you had the authority, would you grant me a deal?"

Earl studied the woman sitting across from him and nodded his head. "Yes. I don't doubt your loyalty." He sat back, considering. "Okay. You call me with the time and place and I'll have a team there."

Kris nodded, inwardly sighing with relief, and stood up. She paused when Earl spoke again.

"For whatever it's worth - I'll go to bat for you."

The operative watched in stunned disbelief as Earl rose and walked away. She'd known he didn't have the authority to grant her immunity, but he was willing to risk his reputation on her, and that was more than she'd ever hoped for.

Shelby waited impatiently for Kris to get in the car. "What did he say?"

"He agreed to send in a team with the understanding I turn myself in after the bust." Kris glanced at Shelby, to gauge her reaction. "He said he'd go to bat for me when it was all over. I don't know how much good it'll do, but it was nice to hear."

Her face guarded, the analyst met Kris' eyes. "I knew he'd help you." However, Shelby was really worried about what would happen after Kris was taken into custody. What if Earl's support wasn't enough? What if they wouldn't let her go free, or put her in jail, or even sent her back to Russia?

Kris could see the worry in her partner's eyes and it was mirrored by her own doubts. There was nothing she could say to reassure her partner, so she started the car and merged into the traffic.



*  *  *

Shelby sat on the couch nestled against Kris, absorbing the feel and odor that was uniquely her partner's, wishing that time could stand still. Neither of them had talked much since they had returned to the apartment, and even Stormy purring on her lap didn't bring the analyst the pleasure that it usually did.

Kris had arranged the meet with Sergei for 8pm that evening and it was approaching way too fast for Shelby. There was nothing she wanted more than for her partner's mother to be rescued, but the thought of never seeing Kris again once she walked out the door quelled any feeling of satisfaction that might have been derived from the ensuing rescue operation.

Gregor had called and told Kris he would be picking her up at 7:30pm and that Markov would be driving. Shelby listened resolutely as Kris passed the information on to Earl, her emotions seesawing between hope for the future and despair. She'd wanted to go, but Kris had told her she couldn't protect both her and her mother in what could become a shootout, and begged her to remain behind. Shelby agreed, knowing what her partner said made sense, but sitting here waiting would unbearable.

The operative's mind was attuned to the smaller woman sitting against her, even as she ran various scenarios through her mind, trying to mentally prepare herself for any surprises Sergei might have in store. Setting her thoughts of the meet aside, she tightened her hold on Shelby.

There was one important thing from her past that she hadn't been able to share with Shelby, and was now glad she hadn't. What she'd hoped was her ace in the hole had refused to materialize, and Kris was glad that she hadn't given her partner any false hope.

The operative thought about the two messages she'd sent off, the last one on Thursday, but neither had been acknowledged. She was on her own. Only fate knew what the future held. She picked up Shelby's hand in her lap and squeezed it.

Kris began speaking haltingly. "No matter what happens, remember that I love you. I don't know what's going to happen - but you are the most important thing in my life - and if...if I can't come back..." That train of thought was so dismal that her soul shriveled at the very notion of never returning to the woman she loved.

Knowing she had to be strong for her partner, she struggled to escape the incipient depression. "You will always be first in my heart. No matter where I am, or what I'm doing, whether we're together...or apart. I just need you to know that."

A tear slid down Shelby's cheek. Kris had to be a lot more worried about the outcome than she'd been letting on, because that was as close to a farewell as she could get without actually mentioning those hated words...good bye.

She tried to smile as Kris wiped the wetness from her face with a thumb. "I'm just worried."

"You've got good reason to be." Kris could feel her partner's pain. If only she could reassure her, say anything to alleviate Shelby's doubts and fears, but she couldn't lie to her. And it tore at the operative's heart to see the sadness in those beautiful green eyes.

Shelby's troubled eyes gazed into vivid blue ones. "They owe you, Kris. You've been just as loyal as a native born citizen, and risked your life time and again for this country. They've just got to take that into consideration."

Kris smiled ruefully. "Hopefully, they will." She was counting on the government of the country she had come to love as her own, and hoped that what she was offering would persuade even the most paranoid official of her fealty. She glanced at her watch, knowing they only had minutes before the two agents arrived to guard Shelby.

She leaned down and placed her hand under Shelby's chin urging it up, then brought her lips down to meet her partner's mouth - savoring the feel, wondering if it would be the last one she would ever share with Shelby, and memorizing each sensation.