"I don't think there is a force on earth that could make that happen anytime soon. Not if Alex has anything to say about it." Jane smiled and placed Ca.s.sidy squarely in front of her. She let out a sigh and smiled. "Loving them...it's hard. They live a different life, Ca.s.sidy. That is who they are." Ca.s.sidy nodded. She had realized that from the moment she met Alex. And, she knew that loving Alex Toles was its own rollercoaster ride. Jane looked over at Alex asleep in the bed. "She loves you. And, Alex," Jane paused and turned back to Ca.s.sidy. "Well, John would have told you that she is the most loyal person he ever met. In that way, they are so much alike." The older woman fought her own tears. She missed her husband. "It makes it difficult not to love them," she chuckled. "They don't give their hearts, though...not easily. You have hers. I could tell the moment I saw her at the hospital that day. I'd never seen that expression on her face." She looked back again at the agent and then patted Ca.s.sidy's hand. "I watched the three of you at the cemetery after John's funeral. Strange. Seems to me you were meant to be together somehow." Jane winked at the teacher. "Go. I'll bet she is still sleeping when you get back. If not; I promise to keep her in that bed."

Ca.s.sidy allowed a quiet laugh to escape her. There was truth in that statement. There was no way Alex was going to want to stay down, or in this place one second longer than she had to. "Thanks," she said to the woman in front of her. "I still don't know why you are so kind to me."

"Oh? Well...love doesn't come with conditions, Ca.s.sidy. Alex means a great to my family. Dylan, well...he is part of that family in his own way and that means you are too."

Ca.s.sidy nodded her head. Jane was truly a remarkable woman and the more time she spent in the former first lady's presence, the more she understood the love affair people had with her. She was controlled, like all good political spouses. But, she was much more, at least when it came to those that she loved. Ca.s.sidy suspected Alex would describe her much the same way; loyal. As she reached the door, Ca.s.sidy turned back to see Jane smiling down at the agent and whispering something. There had been so much loss and so much change for them all. It seemed some days as if years had pa.s.sed within what was only a matter of days. Perhaps, she realized, they too needed a moment.

"I still haven't heard from Brady."

"You're worried," Agent Fallon surmised.

"I am."

"What about Alex?"

Michael Taylor stretched his neck from side to side. "She'll be on her feet before you know it. If I know Alex, before she should be."

Agent Fallon pursed his lips. "What happened?"

"I don't know."

"How did you know she was hurt if Brady didn't..."

Taylor cut off Brian Fallon's questioning. "This is not the FBI, Agent Fallon. It's a different game altogether. I told you that.'

"Interesting that you call it a game." Fallon's voice dripped with disgust.

"Why? What would you call it?" Taylor rose from his chair and paced across the floor. "I have known Alex Toles a long time, Agent. A very long time." He turned back to face the man still seated and brought his hands to a point in front of his face. "What do you know, Agent Fallon? About Agent Toles?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"Mm." Taylor sat on the arm of a large chair, took a deep breath and put his hands on his knees. "Agent Alexis Toles.... when I first met her she was Lieutenant Alexis Toles. I was her captain and the man you know as President John Merrow was our colonel."

"I know that," Fallon replied.

"Yes, but I suspect that is all you know. Alex," he sighed, "Alex is the most intelligent agent I have ever known." Fallon had always considered his partner intuitive and capable. He had to admit he was surprised at the definitive sound in the NSA director's appraisal. "Ahh...that surprises you a bit? Well, Agent, did you know that Alex can speak and translate thirteen languages?" Fallon felt his mouth open slightly. "Uh-huh. Not three, not seven; as she so modestly is reluctant to admit. Thirteen in total." He laughed. "She says seven because it is seven she can interact with as if sitting across from you and I in conversation. She has eidetic memory. Did you know that? She can see things that others will not. She holds degrees in linguistics, psychology and forensic psychology, which I might add she had completed by the age of 29. And that isn't all." Fallon swallowed hard. "Before her injury, she was scouted by the Olympic team. She's as good a sharp shooter as any I have known and I would not want to face her hand to hand. She is the real deal. The s.h.i.t spy movies are made of."

"Okay....But what does that..."

"Alex Toles spent five years at the Pentagon, Fallon. She was placed there by John's predecessor. She continued to work there as an NSA agent into John's presidency. She doesn't even know why; why he wanted her there."

"Why?" Fallon asked the obvious question.

"Because Alex, as smart as she is, as fit mentally and physically as she is, possesses something few people in this field do, Agent Fallon; integrity. He trusted her. She was a barometer for what was wrong and what was right. She helped keep him honest in a job that demanded anything but that. More than that, Agent; John Merrow loved Alex."

"What does that have to do with..."

"It has everything to do with everything, Fallon. To most people in the intelligence community this is a game. It is a game of wits and physical prowess. They lack integrity. They speak of loyalty but they would sell out their own brother for a chance to get ahead. This is all just a challenge to most. Alex is an anomaly. She is loyal and she is humble. It's what made him fall in love with her."

"You are telling me that the president was in love with Agent Toles?" Fallon asked doubtfully.

"I am. She has powerful friends, not just the president. Friends who would give their life for her; for her happiness. It is something she earned. And, it is one of those friends that called me." He thought about the woman who placed the call. "I dare say she may be more powerful than any of us could imagine possible."

"Are you one of those friends, Taylor?"

Michael Taylor smiled. "There are few things I would sacrifice myself for anymore, Agent Fallon. I've seen too much. Alex Toles remains one of them. Whatever we are into here, John wanted us to dig in. It's big. It's dangerous. And Alex is in the thick of it."

"What about Brady?"

Taylor nodded. "Time will tell. If he's not dead, he is laying low somewhere."

"You think he's dead?"

"I don't know. I'm not Alex. I can discover information, she's the one who sees the picture."

"So, what from me?"

"I want you to search through Alex's old NSA case files. And I want you to keep working the congressman's accident," Taylor explained.

"Spying on Alex?"

"No. But, there is a trail. Heard of Advanced Strategic Applications?" Fallon nodded. "I want you to see if it appears in her previous investigations....anywhere. And, I want you to see if it appears beside Jonathan Krause or William Brackett."

"Krause and Brackett I understand. The Russian manufacturer, why?"

"An old friend has some suspicions about the president's death."

"What are you saying?" Taylor laughed at Fallon's innocence. "Are you saying that the a.s.sa.s.sination is somehow linked to O'Brien?"

"It's all linked, Fallon. I just don't know how. I need Alex back for that. Dig. Use whatever resources you have....but make sure they are trustworthy."

"What about Ca.s.sidy?"

"She's with Agent Toles. Book yourself a flight to Connecticut next week, Fallon. You'll feel better when you see them."

"You think I'm...."

"I think," Taylor said as he made his way back to the chair behind his desk, "that Agent Toles has many powerful friends, Agent. She's lucky."

"What about you?"

"I have my own stones to turn over. Go easy with Toles... she'll want to jump right back in."

"Director?"

"Yes, Agent?"

"Do you know? Who shot her, I mean?" Fallon tried to control his anger.

"No. Perhaps Alex will shed some light on that."

Fallon nodded. He couldn't be certain what was really happening. His head was spinning with endless possibilities. Foreign companies, presidents, a.s.sa.s.sinations; how could they all be connected? He shook his head hoping to clear the jumble that had ama.s.sed within it. "Alex, I hope you can make some sense of all of this."

"No. I'll call, Barb."

"Ca.s.sidy, I can call Helen if," Barb Toles said through the phone.

Ca.s.sidy had one more call she needed to make. She had saved it for last and it would be the most difficult yet. Part of her wanted to accept her friend's offer to call Alex's parents, but she felt it was both her place and her responsibility. They were together. They were committed. When the roles had been reversed; Alex had dealt compa.s.sionately with Rose and Dylan. Now it was Ca.s.sidy's turn. "No. I'll call her Barb, but thanks."

"You sound tired. Do you know when..."

"I don't know. You know Alex. She'll want out the minute she wakes up. We'll see what the doctor says."

"Are you alone?" Barb asked.

Ca.s.sidy smiled. "No. One of Alex's friends is with me."

"Okay, you have Rose call us and let us know...we'll..."

"I will."

"We love you both," Barb said.

"We love you too," Ca.s.sidy hung up her phone and took a deep breath. She took hold of Alex's and sighed. Slowly, she allowed her finger to press the contact and she waited for a voice to answer the line.

"Alexis?"

"No..."

"Ca.s.sidy?" Helen Toles asked. "What's wrong? Is it Alexis?"

Ca.s.sidy wasn't certain why but the sound of Alex's mother's voice began to break down her emotions. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "She's okay," she began. She heard Alex's mother release her own sigh of relief. "But, she..."

"Ca.s.sidy?" Helen softly urged. Ca.s.sidy's tears had begun to flow again and in spite of her efforts she could not seem to control them. "It's all right, dear. Tell me what happened."

Ca.s.sidy sniffled and ma.s.saged her forehead, attempting to will her own words. "She was shot."

"Oh dear G.o.d; she's all right though?"

"Yes," the teacher managed through her tears.

"Where are you, dear?"

"We're at a military hospital."

"Is Alex there with you?"

"I just stepped out to call. She's sleeping....they had to remove the..."

"Tell me where you are, Ca.s.sidy."

Ca.s.sidy licked her lips and tried to calm herself. "Hanscome Airforce Base."

"In Bedford?"

"I don't know, Helen...I...."

"Is Dylan there too?" Ca.s.sidy could hear the concern in Helen's voice.

"No, he's with my mom."

"Good. We can be there...."

"No...I don't know how long she will even be here. She won't want to stay when she wakes up."

Helen Toles let out a soft chuckle. It was clear now that her daughter was not in imminent danger. It was also clear that the young woman on the phone was distraught, and moreover that she knew her daughter quite well. "I am certain that's true. What can I do for you?"

"Nothing. I wanted you to know. As soon as I can I will have her call you."

"Well...."

Ca.s.sidy laughed through her tears. "I promise, Helen. I will have her call you."

"I know you will. Right now, I think I am more worried about you, dear."

"I'm all right," Ca.s.sidy said weakly.

"Ca.s.sidy," Helen Toles smiled and shook her head on the other end of the phone. "She is very lucky to have found you."

"I don't know about that, Helen."

"I do. Don't worry too much about arguing with my daughter to call," Helen said, momentarily lightening Ca.s.sidy's mood. "You have Rose call me when you know what is going on. I'll a.s.sume you already spoke with Barb?"

"Well....I did....But I...."

"You don't need to explain. That's how sisters are. I know that is how she thinks of you." Ca.s.sidy smiled. Helen Toles was still a bit of a mystery to her, but Ca.s.sidy was certain of two things; no matter what had happened in the past, Helen loved Alex and Alex, in spite of her protests, loved her parents.

"I'm sorry I had to call with such..."

"I am just glad you are both safe. You've had quite the time."

"Yeah....I guess we have," Ca.s.sidy admitted as her tears began to subside. "I should get back..."

"You tell Alexis we love her."

"I will."

"And Ca.s.sidy?"