Chapter 21: Return

Warren took a deep, relaxing breath as he stepped off of the plane. Just behind him, carrying only her small carry on, Brooklyn was looking around the Paradise Falls Airport happily.

“I can't believe how much I've missed home in just two months.” he said looking around eagerly. He was pulling her luggage and carrying his own and led the way through the terminal.

“It feels great to be back home.” Brooklyn agreed, absentmindedly stroking her stomach.

It was a habit she had gotten into a great deal lately. Not that he could blame her, he spent more than one night sleeping with his head either on or by her belly just so that he could be that much closer to their child.

The remaining two and a half weeks had passed in New York relatively uneventfully. The employee interviews Brooklyn had done had gone very smoothly except for Eisenhower. He had dithered, he had changed the subject, he had kept trying to find ways to avoid answering Brooklyn's very standard questions. It was completely in-character for him to do so and had Warren wondering if he had adopted that attitude just so it wouldn't seem strange for him when he did it while really nervous and under question. Then again, maybe Eisenhower was just a better liar than he had given him credit for.

In secret, they celebrated her pregnancy together. They didn't want to tell anyone yet but it had been hard for Warren to hid his glee at the news. They would have to tell Jack, he knew as he led the way from the airport. Jack would probably suspect something without Warren telling him but he did need to be told. Brooklyn, Warren was determined, would spend the rest of her pregnancy safely in her library. In fact, he decided as he hailed a cab, she would be spending the rest of her life safely in her library or somewhere safer if he could have his way.

Mr. Ozera wasn't with them. With their inspections finished, Brooklyn had no reason to stay by him any longer. She was being replaced by his real secretary and Warren by his real bodyguard. He had needed to stay in New York a bit longer but he had promised to join them in Paradise Falls for their reports soon.

Reports, Warren decided as he told the cab driver Brooklyn's address, that could very well wait until the next day to be compiled.

“I can't wait to get back to the cottage.” Brooklyn said, putting her hand in his. She wondered when her nesting instincts would start kicking in. She couldn't wait for it to happen, it would be interesting to observe the change in her behavior.

She had already called the contractor. He had gone out to her house a week ago to take his measurements and make his notes. She had asked Crispin to take him around, apologizing for asking him when she knew Jack would be keeping him so busy. His responding text had simply read 'don't worry about it' followed by a smiley face. He hadn't even asked why she wanted an extra room on her house. She had a feeling that he, and by extension Jack, already knew very well why.

The contractor and his people were scheduled to begin work on her house the day after tomorrow. It would take anywhere from two to three weeks after that before the room would be finished and ready for Warren and Brooklyn to paint it and get it ready for their baby.

A baby whose gender they would keep a surprise after much late night discussion. Brooklyn had insisted it would be more practical to know but Warren wanted dearly to keep it a surprise. Because she loved him, she had reluctantly agreed. She would have to be careful about the things she bought but she had eventually caught onto his enthusiasm about the surprise and was planning accordingly.

Once construction began on her house, it would be rather loud there so they would be spending those weeks at Warren's house. They would be packing up his things while she mentally decided where his things would go into her – their – house. She knew that his things weren't all antique and hand-me-downs but she had no problem agreeing to putting them in her space.

For now, however, they were going home to her – their – cottage.

“So I say, first, we make love in our house.” Warren told Brooklyn, nuzzling her neck. “And we can put off unpacking for about a week.”

“It would be better to unpack immediately.” Brooklyn laughed as he tickled her neck and ear.

“I beg to differ.” Warren whispered into her ear.

“We're in a cab, Warren.” Brooklyn tried to push him away but he just pulled her closer.

“He's seen worse.” Warren said, completely sure.

Brooklyn laughed but used her hand to block his lips from reaching her. He merely kissed her fingers instead. “Wait until we get home.”

“As you command, my queen.” Warren agreed amiably though his lips never left her skin.

Brooklyn sighed but let him do as he pleased.

XXXXXXXXX

“There are still too many variables.” Jack mumbled, displeased as he looked over Warren's reports on the three heads and their assistants. “The only ones Warren truly discredits are Eisenhower's assistants.”

“And I'm inclined to agree.” Crispin signed from the other side of his desk.

“Let's start from the beginning then.” Jack declared, leaning back in his chair and looking away from the reports. He fixed his calmly smiling assistant with a hard stare and asked, “What evidence do we have on Dr. Fontane?”

“A propensity to disregard the lives of others,” Crispin answered immediately, “as well as a great deal of research on human/mythic breading and demi conception.”

“Have we found his sources for that paper yet?” Jack asked remembering the research paper. It had been incredibly insightful, very detailed, and he hadn't found a single reference to another scientific work. Such a thing in a scientific paper would discredit the paper immediately and the only way Jack could think of that he could have gotten that information was through direct experimentation.

Crispin shook his head. Jack nodded, knowing the answer but asking it again gave him a new idea. “I want you to go through the list of the dead we found in the base and compare them to the subjects used in the paper. Bring me any similarities.”

Crispin nodded once without complaint.

“How about Cohen?” Jack asked next.

“We have the least on her.” Crispin admitted. “All we have is an empty locked drawer and her reaction at seeing Warren in it. It's not exactly damning.”

“True.” Jack thought of the wicked Cohen. She was a lawyer at the heart of it, she knew the law better than anyone. He doubted, if she did anything wrong, that she would be careless enough to leave behind evidence of any kind much less damning. “We're going to have to ignore her unless something better comes up. How about Eisenhower?”

At saying his name, Crispin noticed Jack's fists tighten in anger. “Embezzling and money laundering; traitor or not he isn't going to stay around. As far as the money goes, I haven't been able to trace down it's origins or where it's going after Eisenhower gives it away. It could be Intrebari, they would need an enormous amount of funds, but then again he could be working for a drug cartel. In fact, thinking on it, the drug cartel seems the more likely of the options considering his hobbies.”

Jack scoffed at the word 'hobbies' but forced himself to relax. He would deal with Eisenhower in due time. He had other problems. “What about the assistants?”

“Melody is unlikely to be anything other than the kicked dog she is now.” Crispin responded immediately. “However, Brooklyn and Warren both agree that Robert is a likely candidate. Brooklyn described him as a politician. Slick as a snake and charming but completely unhelpful.”

“That just leaves you.” Jack said earning a calm smile. The men stared at each other for a minute, hard stare meeting pleasant grin. Then Jack sat back, satisfied. “We both know it wasn't you though. Alright then, give me the report on Joe and Kai.”

“The base has been officially picked clean as of last night.” Crispin signed immediately. He hadn't been disturbed by Jack's accusation or even surprised. “All they found was the hard drive.”

“Which Ilia has agreed to recover.” Jack finished for him. “She's still refusing to take my calls to follow the money trail on Eisenhower. We might have to wait a while to ask her.”

Crispin merely smiled because he knew Jack wouldn't wait more than a day or two.

“Dallas said he'll try to talk her into it though.” Jack continued. “So I might not have to.”

“Which leaves us with only one problem.” Crispin signed with a smile. “Brooklyn and Warren.”

“She's ordered an addition on her house.” Jack said simply.

“It's going to be a very nice addition.” Crispin signed easily. “The contractor promises it won't clash with the rest of her house.”

“She picked a hell of a time to be putting in additions.” Jack grumbled without any real anger. Brooklyn did things in her own time in her own way. “Warren and Brooklyn are...?”

“In the library.” Crispin signed. “Brooklyn is looking up information on demi pregnancies.”

“It seems to be going around.” Jack shook his head. “Joe told me yesterday that she and Kai wanted to start their family soon.”

“How wonderful.” Crispin beamed. “They're finished with the assignment, why not give them some time off to do so?”

“I was planning on it.” Jack answered. “That would mean all my best people are out making families though.”

Crispin chuckled silently. “I guess it's something in the water. At least Ilia isn't.”

“Yet.” Jack added. “Knowing her, when she does decide to have a family it's going to be just as big as hers. I'm going to need some new best people soon.”

“That boy Kieth is doing well.” Crispin signed. “Brooklyn was right to transfer him. He's eager to work, follows orders well, doesn't mind the tedium.”

“In a few years, he'll be a hell of an investigator.” Jack agreed. “For now though, I'm short hands because of additions.”

Crispin laughed silently.

XXXXXXXXX

“Welcome back!”

Brooklyn jumped in surprise as all three of her assistants called out in unison as she walked through the door of her library. “Guys! You scared me.”

“How was New York?” Merida asked immediately. “Was it awesome?”

“It was New York.” Brooklyn said simply as she continued into the library Warren a step behind her. “Are you guys supposed to be yelling in the library?”

“There's no one here.” Cid, her oldest assistant, shrugged. “Who are we going to disturb?”

“I'll go put your stuff in your office.” Warren stroked her shoulder lovingly as he moved around her to take her purse and laptop back.

“We have a surprise for you.” Lidia, a happy mother of two and Brooklyn's calmest assistant, told her.

“Oh yeah?” Brooklyn asked, looking around at her assistants happily. “What is it?”

“It's me!” Kieth called out poking out his head from around a bookshelf.

“Kieth!” Brooklyn cried happily as her once favorite assistant came forward and enveloped her in a large hug. “I thought you were in criminal?”

“It's my day off.” he explained, letting her go. “I decided to come see my favorite boss for her welcome home party.”

“That's so sweet.” Brooklyn beamed. “This is a lovely surprise.”

“And now, we party!” Merida declared happily. “We have cake. Coffee cake and coffee!”

“We'd have gotten you a real cake,” Lidia explained calmly, “but none of us could decide on the flavor.”

“Well, I'd love some coffee cake,” Brooklyn assured them, “but I'm going to have to say no to coffee. I'm afraid I won't be able to drink so much caffeine for a while.”

Lidia was the first to understand. Her eyes brightened as Warren walked back into the room. Cid, who had five grandchildren already, caught on next followed by Merida. Finally, all that was left was Kieth standing there, looking confused.

“Why not, Miss B?” he asked. “You on a health kick or something? You don't need one, I promise.”

“Ah, to be young and naive.” Cid laughed, clasping Kieth's shoulder and Merida and Lidia descended on Brooklyn eagerly, each one asked questions so fast Brooklyn couldn't answer them all. After a moment of watching them, it finally dawned on Kieth.

“Oh!” he called out. Then grinned. “Well, well, Miss B. This is news. We don't have enough coffee cake for an announcement like this.”

“I thought we were going to wait.” Warren said happily, grabbing Brooklyn from behind and holding her close.

“We were.” Brooklyn nodded. “But I just got so excited I couldn't wait to let everyone know.”

“Fine, but I get to tell the next batch of people.” Warren insisted.

Brooklyn was pulled away from him then by Lidia and Merida who were eager to give advice and ask questions respectively while Warren was congratulated by Cid and Kieth.

Merida broke out the coffee cake and, after a quick run to the corner store, Kieth passed out juice for everyone to toast the happy couple with.

Just as the party was getting into full swing, someone walked into the library and Cid excused himself to help him. The rest of them excused themselves to Brooklyn's office and continued their celebration.

XXXXXXXXXX

You couldn't undo what had been done.

That's what his boss had said. He had practically whispered it to him while looking down at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. His boss was never more dangerous than when he was so calm.

The hit man had been a stupid idea, he had been told. He should have called him off when he was told. Now they had a problem.

The hit man was fixated on the woman who was, once again, safely within the MCRC complex. Fixation led to desperation and with desperation came mistakes. When he was caught, as his boss was invariably sure he would be, the man would be questioned. Jack would get him to talk, one way or another, and he needed only point to the man who hired him to turn Jack's focus onto him. And if Jack focused on him, it was just a matter of time before he found the boss.

“I'm going to have to clean up your mess.” his boss told him coldly. “I would rather have not needed to interfere but you leave me no choice.”

“Dragul meu, please, let me-”

“Hush.” he cut off Dora's plea coldly. “After your last mistake you dare to speak without permission? You have also made a mess I'm going to have to clean.”

“If I may, sir?” Alin stepped forward. He waited until he had been given a nod to continue. “Might I recommend we clean everything completely?”

“You want me to scrap everything?” his boss asked calmly, his voice all the more deadly for it.

“Not everything, of course.” Alin said easily, if he was affected by his boss's anger, he didn't show it. “Your experiments are, of course, going to be kept. But, you said yourself, everything else is easily enough replaced.”

“A complete clean up.” his boss repeated contemplatively. “The idea has merit. I have grown a bit bored with these pretenses. What would you suggest, Alin?”

“The hit man has fixated on Brook.” the man who cowered before his boss answered immediately. “I say let him just finish her off. That takes care of her for us.”

“I did not give you permission to speak.” his boss said calmly making him flinch. “Alin?”

“I wouldn't recommend letting him finish her off.” Alin answered easily. “I have just gotten word that the woman is pregnant with Warren's child.”

“Is she now?” his boss grinned for the first time and, somehow, it was even more terrifying than his clam demeanor. “That is good news.”

“If the hit man were to kill her, we would lose the opportunity to study her.” Alin continued. “I know how you hate to waste and how disappointed you were to lose the fairy.”

“It would calm me down to have a new subject.” his boss agreed as if they were discussing the weather. “And your recommendation for the others?”

“Kill them all.” Alin answered immediately without a blink. “From Jack through the rest. If we kill them all, we can clean every mistake that has been made. Jack, Crispin, Joanne, Kai, Dallas, and Ilia. All of them gone with Brook and Warren. All of our problems would be settled then.”

“So they would.” his boss agreed. “Very well, try to stop the hit man if you can. Have the woman brought to me. Dora?”

“Yes?” the woman behind him asked eagerly, prepared to please.

“This moron here has put our operation in danger.” he looked down at the man on the floor who was trembling. “We will start our cleaning with him.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“That was nice of everyone.” Warren said to Brooklyn as he helped pick up the mess her office had become.

“It was.” Brooklyn nodded happily. The room smelled of coffee, coffee cake, and fruit juice. She could still hear the echo of everyone's laughter around her though everyone was already gone.

Cid had a doctors appointment in the morning and had left first followed by Lidia who had had to put her children to bed. Merida and Kieth had ended up flirting outrageously for an hour or so after that before Merida left ahead of him. Kieth was staying around to close up the library for Brooklyn while she and Warren cleaned up after the party.

“It occurred to me the today that we still haven't met each others families.” Warren said as he dumped some trash into the can by her desk.

“We'll have to when we tell everyone that we're having a baby and getting married.” Brooklyn smiled. “My mother will love you.”

“And I know you'll love my parents.” Warren pulled Brooklyn into his arms and kissed her head lovingly. “You ready to go home?”

“Your place or mine?” Brooklyn asked with a grin.

“Mine's closer.” Warren grinned back making her laugh.

“Your place it is.” Brooklyn stood up on her toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “But we better get this place cleaned up first.”

“Better hurry then.” Warren winked. He leaned down and picked up the trash bag from her can and looked around for anything he might have missed. “I'm going to take this out. I don't want to cleaning staff to get mad at us for leaving a mess.”

“Alright.” Brooklyn nodded as she got her purse from her desk drawer and set it on top of her desk. “I'll wait here then we'll go, okay?”

“I'll hurry back.” Warren caressed her chin before walking out, whistling happily.

Brooklyn smiled. Her first baby party and it had been simple and fun. She hoped the others would end up just as fun. She had to think of a fun way to tell their parents, she decided as she straightened the chairs. She was pretty sure that telling your parents in a fun way was a sort of tradition these days.

“Hey, Miss B!” she heard Kieth call out. “You want me to put up the return books before I leave?”

“That's okay.” Brooklyn walked out of her office. “I can handle it. Why don't you go home?”

“It's cool.” Kieth grinned from behind the welcome desk as he began grabbing the books from the return bin and setting them on a cart. “I don't mind. I kind of miss the library.”

Brooklyn shook her head happily. “Well, if you're going to volunteer I won't complain. I have to grab a book in the back real quick, can you get a computer ready for checkout?”

“No problem, boss.” Kieth winked at her as he got to work checking the books back in.