Chapter 18: Belly

“And these are the paper records.” Kenneth opened the door to the room and Brooklyn walked inside, nodding approvingly. Nothing was piled in haphazard paper towers nor was the room dark and unwelcoming.

“Does Eisenhower keep the records for MCRC here as well?” Brooklyn asked as she made a note for Jack on her clipboard.

“Indeed.” Kenneth nodded. “Everything for MCRC are in files A-S, the rest are for The Galleria. Everything is scanned into the computer for easier access of course.”

“Wonderful.” Brooklyn smiled at him. “You're being very helpful, Kenneth.”

“Thank you, Brook.” he smiled back, pleased with the compliment.

Brooklyn opened her mouth to ask about where he would like her to start her employee interviews when the sound of laughter behind them stopped her. Kenneth and Brooklyn both turned to see Warren doubling over from laughter while Eisenhower stuttered out around his own guffaws, “'...34 and you still believe in leprechauns?'!”

Warren laughed harder at hearing the line making Brooklyn shake her head.

“I do apologize, Miss Meyers.” Kenneth said formally. “I truly hope you don't hold Eisenhower's off color humor against the rest of us.”

“It's all right, Kenneth.” Brooklyn told him calmly. “I've known Eisenhower a long time, this isn't unexpected. Besides, it looks like you have things pretty well in hand around here.”

“I do my best.” Kenneth's spine went straight in pride. “The Galleria is a special project of mine and I do enjoy working for MCRC. It's a very fulfilling role.”

Brooklyn nodded in agreement.

“You know any good Man from Nantucket jokes?” Warren asked, still chuckling.

“Are you kidding?” Eisenhower laughed, putting his arm around Warren's shoulder. “I practically invented them. Hold onto your sides for these, War.”

“War?” Brooklyn repeated incredulously but neither man paid attention to her.

“I hope you are enjoying your statue.” Kenneth said, turning her away from the two men behind her and walking her away from them. As a gentleman, he couldn't bring himself to let her hear the vulgar Nantucket jokes that Eisenhower was beginning to recite at the top of his lungs.

“It's very lovely.” Brooklyn assured him as they left Warren and Eisenhower behind. “I can't wait to get it home and put it in a good spot.”

“I recommend a place that gets a good deal of sunlight.” Kenneth smiled. “You should see the way it refracts a sunrise at just the right angle...beautiful.”

“I've no doubt.” Brooklyn nodded. “How long have you been working with Eisenhower, Kenneth?”

“Just a few years.” he smiled. “I was brought in shortly after Eisenhower was made division head. I handle the more...mundane tasks of operation.”

Just from the way he said it, Brooklyn knew that he paraphrasing Eisenhower. “They may not be terribly exciting by they are incredibly important.”

Kenneth smiled down at her thankfully. “I do hope you are enjoying your trip to New York.”

“Very much.” Brooklyn went with the subject change without comment. She would be sure to put in a word to Victor about Mr. Holt's loyalty and dedication. Personally, she felt he was already a better head than Eisenhower, it was only a matter of making it official.

“If you ever find yourself seeking entertainment while here, I would be quite happy to point out some nice locations.” he said.

Brooklyn looked over at him and decided that he wasn't trying to flirt with her, he was just being nice. “Thank you, I was thinking about taking in a show while I was here. My life can't be all about work.”

“Eisenhower informed me that you would be attending his party this weekend with Mr. Tuuri.”

“Yes, me and Warren we invited.” Brooklyn smiled at Warren's last name. She wasn't used to hearing it. “Will I be seeing you there, Kenneth?”

“No, no.” Kenneth shook his head with a laugh. “I'm afraid I'm more interested in quiet museums than loud parties.

“I understand that.” Brooklyn nodded, realizing, probably too late, that Kenneth should probably be a suspect. Eisenhower's assistants were a total bust, Brooklyn couldn't even be around the ditzy bimbos for long periods of time and she really wished there was a better way to refer to them. At least, she thought to herself, that she didn't use Warren's nickname for them. Apt as it was, it was rather rude.

Kenneth, however, was clearly far into the business. She looked back over at him as they walked and made a mental note to have his own background looked into. She didn't want to think such a nice guy could be guilty but, as Jack and Warren insisted, there was no one who should be overlooked in their search.

“Brooklyn.” Victor smiled at her as he turned at a corner.

“Victor.” Brooklyn looked surprised. “You were supposed to be in meetings all day today.”

“My last appointment canceled.” he explained. “I came to see how things were progressing.”

“Kenneth and I are doing the cursory examination right now.” Brooklyn explained. “Would you like to join us?”

“Of course.” Victor turned his charming grin onto Kenneth. “I was also thinking about buying that painting downstairs, the abstract storm? It is marvelous.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Ozera.” Kenneth bowed his head slightly as the three started walking away.

XXXXXXXXXX

“This is great.” Keith looked around excitedly.

Beside him, Crispin nodded with a smile on his face. The kid, who was barely into his twenties, was looking around the criminal office with a huge grin on his face. Crispin expected that it was a great change from the quiet library he was used to. The air was filled with voices calling out, phones ringing, people hurrying back and forth their hands weighted down with paperwork, coffee, or small non-humanoid mythics.

Keith, the boy who had once been Brooklyn's assistant, had been officially transferred to criminal. Crispin, after discovering the boy had a basic knowledge of sign language, volunteered to show him around. He would just be an intern for a while, working hard to just earn a place in the division. After talking to him, Crispin could understand why Brooklyn had assured Jack that the kid was good for criminal. He had an eager mind, he wasn't afraid to work, and he didn't have any qualms that he wouldn't be earning money at the job.

Crispin had finished the tour and was looking around for the floor manager to pass Keith onto. Crispin, while at ease knowing that the boy was going to do fine, really had to return to his own work. He had thought he had found something in Eisenhower's financials but Jack had called him away before he could confirm his suspicions.

It was known to Jack and, by extension, Crispin that Eisenhower had a rather colorful background. One of that colors, disturbingly enough, had been embezzling funds from his last job. Victor had hired him on regardless, Jack had protested when he found out. Jack hadn't been head as long as the others, but he had checked up on them the moment he had been promoted and the others pasts had raised some questions.

Because Victor was his boss and Jack's hands were tied, there was nothing he could do about Eisenhower. He simply had to place his trust in Victor.

However, Crispin, while digging through the mess that was Eisenhower's purchases, expenditures, and profits had found that money was going to mysterious places quite often. None of it went through Eisenhower's personal accounts, but that meant little. If Crispin was siphoning money, he wouldn't put it into his own accounts either. He had already told Jack of his suspicions and had received orders to follow the path of the money to where it ended up or, if he couldn't do it himself, have Ilia do it. Though he doubted very much he wanted Ilia to do it as she was protesting everything Jack asked for not giving her her self imposed vacation.

Crispin finally spotted the man he was looking for and waved him over.

“Ah! Our new intern.” the man said as he walked hurriedly over to Keith. “Good. Here, go make me five copies of this.” Without preamble, the man shoved a small stack of papers into Keith's hand and turned to give something else his attention.

“Awesome.” Keith went to go do as he was told eagerly. At just the last moment, he turned back and waved thanks to Crispin before continuing on.

Crispin waved back then left, his mind already on other things.

XXXXXXXXXX

Joe giggled as Kai found the sweet spot on her neck that she loved to have him kiss. Her fingers were buried in his hair, his were on her hips stroking the place where, under her pants, she had gills tattooed into her skin. They were at work, Joe leaning against the wall of the warehouse across from the last room of the underwater base. They were supposed to be pulling it apart, looking through it like the others for any signs or clues. However, they had gotten distracted and had been necking and kissing for the last half hour.

“Kyma, my heart.” Kai whispered into her ear in Greek, his native tongue.

Joe purred at the words, she loved it when he spoke Greek.

“And here I thought you two were hard at work.” an amused voice broke the mood.

Joe jumped and flushed guiltily but Kai leaned away slowly, glaring at the intruder with his hands still on Joe's hips.

“Hey, Ray.” Joe laughed sheepishly. “We were just taking a break.”

Ray made a knowing sound in his throat. “I remember when me and the misses used to take breaks like that. Imagine if Jack had caught you.”

“We were working.” Joe tried to say as she walked out of Kai's embrace. “Did you need something?”

“Yeah, you asked me to look at a lock box?” he reminded her with a grin.

“Oh, right.” Joe blushed as she turned to the items that had been inside the room.

Most of everything that hadn't been bolted down had been pulled up months ago but, while digging around inside the room, Joe had found a hunk of metal that hadn't been a part of the base. It looked like it had once been a metal storage box but the crippling pressure of the sea floor had mashed it almost beyond recognition.

She picked it up and let her fingers roll over the dented, abused metal. “I was hoping you could open it, see if there was anything inside.”

“They were careful about cleaning this place out.” Ray shook his head but he took the box from her. “I can't imagine they left anything useful.”

“They cleaned the place out quickly.” Kai reminded him. “If we're lucky, that made them a little careless.”

Ray nodded once in agreement. As he turned the box over in his hands. “It shouldn't take me long to open it. If there's anything inside, I'll give you a call. Even if there is, though, I doubt it survived.”

“Anything you can find, Ray.” Joe smiled at her old friend. “Me and Kai are going to finish going over the room.”

“Uh-huh.” Ray winked at her. “I'll let you two get back to 'work' then.”

“Ray!” Joe blushed red as Ray left, laughing good naturedly.

Kai put his hands back around her waist from behind and pulled her into his chest. “Shall we get back to 'work'?”

“If Jack finds out, we are in so much trouble.” Joe shook her head but she laughed and turned back to face Kai, his lips meeting hers almost immediately.

XXXXXXXXXX

Warren watched Brooklyn work without comment. Eisenhower hadn't even bothered to come into work that day so Warren got to just watch her go through the records. They hadn't even needed to come up with an excuse as to why Warren was continually with Brooklyn and not with Victor who was at a business luncheon. She was typing away at a computer while he sat in a waiting chair, waiting.

“You're being awfully quiet.” Brooklyn said without looking up.

“Just thinking.” Warren shrugged.

“It must be an important thought.” Brooklyn smiled at him. An invitation to speak or not as he chose.

Warren gave her a half smile back but didn't speak. She turned back to the records without pressing. The employees at the Galleria had yet to be interviewed by Brooklyn. She was saving that, she told him. Unlike Cohen and Fontane, Eisenhower's employees were ready for them and were on their best behavior. Brooklyn wanted to wait for a little while for them to get comfortable with her before she began her interviews and going through their files.

Warren, at Brooklyn's request, had asked Jack to look into Kenneth Holt. Jack had agreed to put Crispin on it, Warren would have the files as soon as Crispin was done following a lead of his own. Jack had refused to tell Warren what the lead was but Warren wasn't all that concerned. If it was important to him, Jack would have let him know what it was.

Which meant that Warren was finding himself, once again, just watching Brooklyn work. A great deal of this 'spy' business was spent waiting, it could actually get boring. Then again, watching Brooklyn was never boring.

He realized the other day, when she had been in the tiny kitchen of their hotel putting together a 'home' cooked meal for them that he had never told her that she was his vaki. It was knowledge, he thought now, she should probably know. She had been dicing vegetables and had cut herself. The nick had been tiny, barely a drop of blood had come out, but Warren had worried.

Warren really was a pathetic excuse for a guardian. He could feel that same old depression and self-loathing threatening to swallow him up again. Two times, she had been forced to face down an attacker on her own. Twice, Warren had failed her, one of the times he had been right there and had found himself in the horrible position of not being able to do anything.

He smiled because he knew she would want him to, he tried not to act over protective because he couldn't imagine she would approve of that, and he had yet to tell she was the new center of his universe.

Yes, he had already told her that he loved her but this was different. She was his world now, his entire being centered around protecting her. And he was an enormous failure at that. He had failed and he had failed so badly that he couldn't even bring himself to show it. There was no apologizing for his shame, all he could do now was try harder and hope to redeem himself.

It was that desire, the desire to never again fail, that lifted him from his depression. He couldn't allow himself to lose himself to self-hatred when that might impede his ability to protect his woman. His vaki.

“I love you.” he said suddenly turning Brooklyn's surprised face to him.

She smiled slowly. “I love you as well.”

“I want...” Warren hesitated. He wanted to tell her, but somehow it just didn't seem like the right place. “When this is over, I want to talk to you.”

“Of course.” Brooklyn grinned. “We have the rest of our lives. We are getting married.”

Warren laughed humorlessly. “I can see why Ilia left now. I've got this weird desire to just run away.”

“We can't.” Brooklyn said immediately, looking shocked. “We have a job and Jack wouldn't forgive us for just abandoning everything.”

“You can't just dream for a moment, Brook?” Warren asked hopelessly. “We could run away where we would never have to worry about MCRC or Intrebari again. We could have as many babies as you want, we wouldn't ever have to worry about anything.”

Brooklyn stood up slowly walked over to him, searching his face. “What brought this on?”

“I don't know.” Warren smiled up at her as he took her hips in his hands and pulled her close. He placed his head again her stomach and smiled at the thought of his child growing in the womb just under her skin. “It's a great mental image though, isn't it?”

“I suppose.” Brooklyn said cautiously as she put her hands on his shoulders. “But no one has ever solved a problem by running away from it. We have a duty to the people who lost their lives to Intrebari, we have a duty to Jack and MCRC. We can't leave all that no matter how nice the mental image might be. I don't understand how Ilia did.”

“Logical.” Warren said simply, it didn't sound like a compliment to her.

“Warren...” Brooklyn started then hesitated. She was never certain what was supposed to be said in a situation like this. The idea of running just wasn't a good one to her.

“It's alright, Brook.” Warren nuzzled her stomach. “We're not really going to run. Hm...”

“What?” Brooklyn asked. “What 'hm...'?”

Warren pulled back a bit and stroked her stomach. Without a word but with a puzzled expression on his face, he began moving his hands around her belly, around her hips.

“Warren, what?” Brooklyn demanded, confused almost even worried. The sudden change in his expression, in his attention, was strange to her.

“I might be wrong but...Brook, I think you're getting bigger.” Warren felt around her belly some more.

“Really?!” Brooklyn beamed excitedly as she tried to feel her own belly. “You think so?”

“Yeah.” Warren smiled up at her. “Do you think we should get a test?”

“I-wait.” Brooklyn looked him over suspiciously. “Are you trying to change the subject?”

“Not at all, my love.” Warren nuzzled her stomach adoringly. “I just noticed your belly is pushing out a bit. It's not much but you're so skinny it's enough for me to feel.”

“Maybe I'm getting fat.” Brooklyn suggested but she couldn't help but be excited.

“Absolutely not.” Warren stood, enveloping her in his arms as he did so.

Brooklyn ran her fingers over her belly as well but she couldn't feel a difference. Maybe because it was her own body but she didn't notice anything different.

“Do you really think I might be pregnant already?” Brooklyn asked, surprised to find her voice shaking. She had to work harder than normal to suppress her natural stutter.

“Are you nervous?” Warren asking laughing slightly.

“Well...” Brooklyn buried her face in his chest. It was one thing to claim she wanted one and that it was time to start making one, it was another thing entirely to actually think she might actually have a baby inside of her.

“Good.” Warren pulled her hands into his own and she was surprised to see them shaking. “I am too.”

Brooklyn beamed then laughed making him laugh with her. Suddenly, they were holding each other laughing and smiling.

“I'll get a test soon.” Brooklyn said into his chest as he nuzzled the top of her head when the laughter finally faded. “I can't believe this is actually happening.”

“I can.” Warren said nervously. “What else could make me feel like this?”

Brooklyn looked up at him, the smile still spread wide across her face. He leaned down to kiss her and she accepted it without ever letting her grin fade.

XXXXXXXXXX

He was in such trouble.

Of course he was, he had deliberately disobeyed orders, why wouldn't he be in trouble?

His boss had finally found out what he had done. The hit man, he had been told, had been a ridiculous idea. He was a moron for trying it, he was jeopardizing everything because he couldn't be patient.

He had been given strict orders to call off his hit man. The hit man might have seen something, there was no assurance that he wouldn't tell everything if he was caught, he had been stupid for hiring him.