The general made his rounds of the group, stopping and chatting with people as he made his way to his table. Sounds of chairs sliding on the floor as guests seated themselves could be heard, as well as utensils and plates making contact. The sounds of dinner being served and consumed, plus laughter and numerous conversations made it almost impossible to distinguish any pertinent information. The two agents and park director just sat and waited for dinner to be over.

They were brought out of their temporary daydreaming by the tinkling of a utensil on a glass. "Okay, here we go." Dean said as she flipped the recorders on.

"Ladies and gentlemen." General Kasimov bellowed over the group. "The time you have been waiting for is now upon us." He said with a broad smile. "Tonight I am going to present you with an opportunity of a lifetime. There has been a major push by each of your governments to crack down on drug trafficking. A global 'war on drugs' if you will. Although many of you are still competing successfully, many more of you are not. And soon, all governments will begin to win this war through their cooperative efforts. The tide is turning against you."

"Tonight, I am prepared to offer you a new drug for your arsenal that is so potent, so dependable, and so easy to produce and distribute that you may not believe it's potential. Scientists at our national security research division stumbled upon it and discarded it as potentially unstable and destructive. I, however, have rescued this substance and with the help of my personal dedicated staff, have restructured its make-up to make it the most powerful mind control substance this planet has ever or will ever see."

"Think of it my friends. The ability to control anyone's mind, their actions or reactions. The possibilities are limitless. YOU could control your governments! YOU could take over all legitimate or illegitimate businesses in your countries! YOU could become the elite in your country! YOU could become the leaders of your countries! YOU have the potential to become the wealthiest people on this planet!" Kasimov paused for effect as mumbled conversation arose among his guests.

"General!" Called out Johnnie Papp. "Why are you offering this to us. Why don't you take over the planet yourself?" Numerous voices confirmed Johnnie’s question.

"Because, I do not have an army at my command." The general answered. "We are no longer the super power we once were. We have become complacent and soft!" He said with disgust. "Those of you that agree to my terms will become my army. And yes, I intend to 'take over the planet' as you say. But I need your help." He said with a smile and widened his arms to gather in his flock.

Julio Romero stood and asked, "What's it gonna cost us senior?"

"Excellent question Mr. Romero!" The general smiled then continued. "My friends, I am not a greedy man. My cost to you would be the production costs of the drug and a pitiful twenty-five percent of your profits." He said putting all his charm into the offer. "Oh, and I forgot to mention, the cost of production is less than the cost of a pack of American cigarettes, for an amount that would control twenty individuals for one month!" The general beamed.

Lin raised her hand and got the general's attention. "General, you say this is a mind control drug. Just how is it administered and will you be giving a demonstration of it's potential."

"Of course my beautiful lady. You would not marry a man without trying him out first now would you?" He smiled lecherously.

"General, I would not 'try out' a man for any reason." Came the tart response. "Please answer my question."

A bit taken aback, the general continued. "Administration can be accomplished by almost any means. Inhalation, ingestion, injection, or topically, whatever the situation may call for in expediency." He smiled at the oriental woman, then continued. "And yes, I will be providing a demonstration."

"What are your 'terms' other than payment?" Came another question from the back of the room.

"Another excellent question. My terms are that I will select your first targets. After that, you are free to select your own. Your cartel's people will all pledge their alliance to me and will follow my commands without question, and then the matter of payment that we already discussed."

"What's to stop you from using the drug on us?" Shouted another cartel member, this time from Canada.

"Nothing, really. I could have used it on all of you already but I would rather have your voluntary cooperation than a contrived one. It's much cleaner that way you see." Again, he smiled and poured on the charm. "Any other questions?"

There were a few more questions. Concerns about time frames for target selection, delivery of the drug. And of course the 'demonstration.'

"Ah yes, the demonstration." The general became serious as he looked through the group. "There was only one expedient way to prove the effects of this drug." He continued scanning the group intently. "I had requested your superiors to send three of the most trusted individuals in their organization. Three people beyond reproach who could not be swayed by money or power, but were totally dedicated to the cartel."

The group all nodded in agreement. The general looked around the room again then waved a hand across the group.

"You are all dedicated to your organization. No one in this group would consider doing anything that would jeopardize the lives of anyone in their company. Correct?"

Heads nodded in agreement then they started to see where the general was going with this.

"One person in each of your small groups was given this drug. Please understand this is not hypnosis or subliminal transference. I merely need to suggest an action and these individuals will carry out the action. They follow my voice because I had arranged it thusly for this demonstration."

Now the group was becoming a lot more nervous at the implications the general was making.

"In order to manipulate each of the selected individuals, I personally talked to them after they ingested the drug so they would in this situation, respond to only my voice." The general paused for effect. "Mr. Cabini and Mr. Sanchez, please come forward."

The two men immediately stood and came to the generals table. "Gentlemen, please remove your revolvers from your holsters and attach your silencers." The two men did so. "Now place the barrel of your revolver to your temple." They complied once more. "Now… pull the trigger." Immediately two muffled 'pffts' were heard followed by two thuds as the men dropped to the floor, very dead.

Johnnie Papp was the first one to his feet followed closely by Romero.

"Just what the hell are you doing general?" shouted Papp.

"Yeah!" Shouted Romero. "You just blew away two of our own, you bastard!"

"Your own? I think not." The general said calmly as he held up his hands. "Dimitri discovered that these two members of your group were very well placed agents! What better way to demonstrate the power of this drug than on undercover agents, don't you agree?" The general smiled at the two men.

"You're nuts!" cried out Papp. "I've known Tony for five years! What proof have you got?

The general pulled out two miniature communication devices and other items that were immediately recognized as standard FBI issue. "I take it you recognize these?" The general said referring to the devices. "I had Dimitri trace their last communication to the Bureau Headquarters. Luckily he was able to jam the transmission so it could not be received. I would be happy to share a tape of their foiled communication if you wish."

"Holy shit!" Whispered Tracy. "Did you guys know there were FBI agents there?"

The two agents looked at each other shaking their heads.

"We didn’t know we were on the same case, so it doesn't surprise me that the FBI was there too." Dean commented.

"Here's another reason why the agencies should talk to one another. Maybe we could have done something to protect them." Katie said obviously affected by the deaths.

"Don't go there Katie." Dean turned to the young agent and reached out to pull her into a hug. "There's nothing we would have been able to do to stop this. We had no idea what the general was doing with the cartels in the first place."

"I... I know, I just have a difficult time understanding the evil man can do to man. I know it’s there, seen it happen, but still…" Katie said with a sigh.

The women returned their attention back to the lodge as Kasimov began speaking again.

"Now my friends, I suggest you go back to your rooms and consider my offer. Tomorrow, you will contact your superiors with my offer and tomorrow evening I will expect their responses." Kasimov told his guests. "In the meantime, Dimitri will take care of this unpleasantness." He gestured toward the two bodies on the floor.

The next sounds they heard were the sounds of the assembled guests leaving the dining area and ascending the stairs followed by Kasimov's instructions to dump the bodies in the woods at the hunting camp. Then silence.

"Do you suppose we could find their bodies?" Katie asked hopefully. "I If they have families, I’d like them to be able to have their loved one's back and not have them wondering what went wrong, or where they are."

"I suppose we can try to follow Dimitri. I just don't want to jeopardize our assignment."

Dean said hesitantly. "We'll give it a try, but I won't take a chance on being recognized."

"Fair enough, and thank you." The blonde said giving Dean a hug.

"Take the park truck." Tracy offered. "I've been known to wander around the countryside in it checking the parks and such, so if the vehicle is spotted, it won't arouse suspicion."

"Are you sure?" Blue eyes settled on Tracy.

"Yeah, no problem. I'll lock up, you two get going so you don't miss him." Tracy answered as she handed Dean the keys.

"Okay, thanks." Dean quickly put new tapes into the machines then the two agents left to follow Dimitri. Tracy stayed at the office long enough to make sure the building was secure and locked, then headed home herself.

* * * * *

Dean and Katie quickly got into the truck and to the intersection where they hoped to pick up Dimiti's van. They only had to wait a couple of minutes when they spotted the van turning onto Route 17 going east. They followed him discretely as he exited on Route 55 towards the reservoirs. He kept going past the Neversink reservoir then turned off on a county road leading up towards Slide Mountain. There wasn't a lot of traffic to hide in so the agents were forced to hang back quite a distance. They almost missed the dirt road Dimitri took. They were lucky that it hadn't rained since Saturday, so they saw the dust cloud from the vehicle and tail lights in the distance and immediately turned off their headlights. They were about to turn in when they saw the brake lights go on, then the lights went out. Dean drove down the road a ways further before she pulled into a turn off. They quickly exited the truck and covered the distance back to the dirt road in seconds.

"We better stay close to the woods for cover." Dean whispered as she led the way.

Soon they were opposite the van and Dimitri was just returning from the path that led off to the right. He went back into the van and hoisted the other body over his shoulder then headed down the path again.

"He couldn't have gone too far down that path, so let's just wait here until he leaves then we'll go retrieve the bodies. The tall woman whispered.

In a few minutes, Dimitri returned, entered the van, turned it around and headed back down the dirt road. At the end he quickly turned left to return to the lodge.

"The truck is far enough out of sight isn't it?" The blonde was still whispering.

"Yeah, and it was pulled over far enough around the curve there's no way he would have seen it." Dean responded. "I'll go get the truck, you wait here."

In less than five minutes, Dean was back with the truck, backing it up the dirt road to where Katie was waiting. She grabbed a flashlight from the glove box, then met Katie to look for the bodies. It took them nearly twenty minutes to find them. Dimitri had done a good job of hiding them behind several boughs of evergreens. It took them another twenty minutes to get them back to the truck. They covered the bodies in a tarp they found behind the seat.

"What now?" Katie asked.

"We'll take them to my place. I'll put them in the shed then call it in. I'm sure they'll have someone out here before daybreak. Once I get the call in, we'll go back to the office, run through the recordings just in case, then go back to my place and wait for the feds." Dean looked at the young blonde, then added, "If you'd rather go back to your trailer, I'd understand."

"No, I'd rather be with you. After all, retrieving their bodies was my idea." The blonde said sadly. "I wonder if they had families… lovers…" her voice trailed off as the tragedy took its toll. "Oh, Dean," she said between heaves, "I'll never get used to needless, violent death, maybe I should have stayed at Ouantico as an instructor and not have to face these tragedies."

"Mmm," the dark haired woman said as she gathered the blonde into her arms. "I've got you and I'll do my best to protect you. Nothing like this will ever happen to you, I promise. Besides, if you had stayed at Quantico, I never would have met you." Dean knew that with every fiber of her being, she would do her utmost to keep that promise or die trying.

They got back in the truck and headed to Dean's. It didn't take as long to unload the bodies and lock them in the shed. They completed the rest of the tasks and were back in Dean's cabin before midnight.

"I don't think you should be going back to the lodge in the morning." The blue eyes pierced the blonde's emerald ones with determination. "We have what we need, there's no need for you to risk your presence there."

"I don't agree Dean. We still don't know where he keeps the drug and it would be very helpful if we could get our hands on a sample so we could try to come up with something to counteract it." The blonde persisted. "Besides, won't it look suspicious if all of a sudden I quit? It might make him bolt if he thought there were more agents around that Dimitri couldn't find."

"Well, they may be able to tell something from the autopsies." The tall woman offered. "Besides, I think it's too dangerous now."

"No Dean, it's too dangerous if I don't show up. You said he's a sly bastard. He'll figure it out, you know it!" Katie said a bit agitated feeling that the colonel did not think she could handle it. "I can do this! I'm a highly trained professional. Just because I get upset at needless deaths doesn't mean I can't do my job!"

"Hold on," Dean said quickly, "I never said I didn't think you couldn't do your job. I… I just don't want to see anything happen to you." The blue eyes closed and Dean took a deep breath before she continued. "I've seen more than my share of death, Katie. I was the cause of much of it. I have demons of my own to deal with and I don't know what I would do if it were your body I had to drag out of that ravine." She sighed heavily and moved closer to the young woman. "I just can't lose you, not now, not ever."

"Ohh Dean." Katie said softly placing her hands on Dean's cheeks. "I can't lose you either. I'll be careful, and you'll be watching over me the whole time. I promise I'll hightail it right out of there if I get any inkling they may be suspicious." The emerald eyes fell into the pools of blue as both women leaned into each other.

They stood that way for several minutes, just holding each other and enjoying each other's warmth. Finally Dean led the young woman over to the sofa in front of the fireplace. She lit the kindling in the prepared fireplace and watched as it spread to the logs. She stood and walked over to the sofa then quietly sat down next to Katie to wait for the FBI to come claim their own. Katie turned and softly kissed Dean before she stretched out on the sofa putting her head in Dean's lap. The older agent softly stroked the blonde hair until Katie gave in and finally fell asleep.

They were both wakened by a knock on the door at 0230. Three men in a black van were at the door, each holding out their FBI badges. Dean recognized the oldest one. "Hey, Sid." She said with a sad smile. "Sorry to have to run into you like this." She held open the door to allow them in. Sid introduced the other two men then asked where the bodies were. Dean gave them the key to the shed and the two men left to take care of the bodies.

"We really appreciate you recovering them for us." Sid said looking at her with brown sad eyes.

"Yeah, well, I wish we could have gotten them out of there alive." Dean said. "But there was no way to tell what was coming down until it was too late."

Dean introduced the sleepy DEA agent and the two women filled in the lead FBI agent. It took about an hour to update him. "Here, my boss said to give these to you. They’ll give you the blow by blow of what the bastard is doing. At least up till tonight." She said as she gave him a copy of the audio and visual events of the night. "I don't know what he's planning to do yet. We'll keep you informed."

"Thanks." Sid said as he shook her hand, then Katie's. "Their families will appreciate what you did for them." The two women nodded, then Sid went to the van and it slowly left in the dark.

"It's too late to go back to the trailer." Katie said as she was led back into the house. "Mind if I stay the night?"

"No, I was just going to suggest that." Dean said leading the blonde to her room.

* * * * *

Friday, 1100 hours…

The morning had been fairly uneventful. Katie had been assigned similar duties to the day before. Today, she was even more discrete in her visual inspection of the lodge. She did not see Kasimov at all since she got there. Heeding Dean and Tracy's suggestions from the night before, she refrained from pumping El or Ezra. The only communication she had with them was what they offered. Her lack of communication was not noticed since she was kept busy the entire morning so far.

Breakfast was minus a few guests including the two agents from the night before. Katie assumed they were all still contacting their superiors about Kasimov's offer. With fewer people at breakfast, she was already on her rounds with Darla upstairs. As per her plan yesterday, she took the other side of the hall today. Things were going quite well until she got to the last room. It was Lin's room and she was still in it.

Katie knocked on the door and heard Lin say "Come." As soon as she heard Lin's voice she knew she was in trouble. I should have taken this side yesterday, she thought to herself. Now I've got to face this woman! Well, better get this over with!

"Hi!" Katie said as she entered. "I didn't know anyone was here, I'll come back later." She said quickly and turned to leave.

"No. Please, I won't be in your way. I'm just finishing up some Haiku's. Just pretend I'm not here and go about your business." Lin said with a sweet smile.

"Oh… okay, if you don't mind." Katie said a bit hesitantly, then she immediately started cleaning the room.

"Would you mind starting with the bath? Then when you're done in there I can go in and shower and leave you alone."

"Uhh, no problem." Katie went into the bath and started cleaning quickly and vigorously. It took her half the time she normally would have taken. As she exited the bath she was stopped cold in her tracks as she came face to face with a very beautiful and very naked Lin.

"Opps, sorry." Katie said quickly as she blushed in embarrassment. Shit! Her mind screamed. What the hell is this all about! "I'll just… umm… excuse me." Katie stammered as she tried to get past the ex-cop and pull her eyes off the woman's breasts.

"Oh, no need to rush off on my account." Lin said seductively. "Haven't you ever seen a naked woman before?"

Back at the office, Dean nearly started an electrical fire as the tea she had just taken a

large sip of came exploding out of her mouth and all over the console. What the hell? What on earth is she up to this time?

"Well… yeah… it's just that you're a guest, I… uh… I need to get back to work." Katie said once more trying to get around the woman.

Lin continued to block her way. "What's a beautiful young woman like you doing here working for minimum wage? You should be doing something exotic, something adventurous, like being a spy!" Lin said as she began to laugh.

Katie didn't know what to say but she was suddenly glad she was still blushing to cover her astonishment at the suggestion of being a spy.

"No 'ma'am." Katie said quickly. "I just can't wait to marry Billy and have lots of babies. That'll be plenty of excitement for me!" Where the hell did that come from? I sound like some backwoods boob from the Ozarks for gods sake! Then she quickly took advantage of Lin's laughing state and brushed past her. "I'll be back later to clean your room." She said as she picked up her things to leave. Shit, shit shit! Katie said to herself as she contemplated what just expired. Oh Dean! I bet you got an earful on that one, too bad you couldn't see the view! She mused. As she started to clean the tables and statues in the hall, Katie stuck her hand in her apron pocket to get out a tissue but came out with a piece of folded paper instead. That wasn't there before I went in Lin's room, she thought, then quickly put it back in her pocket and pulled out the tissue aware that she may be watched. I'll read it later, much later.

The rest of the afternoon went by without anymore incidents. She was able to go back and finish cleaning Lin's room after the young oriental came out pausing to wink at Katie before heading down the stairs. At 1500 she left the lodge with very little information to add from the day before. By the time she reached the office it was nearly 1530. As she opened the office door, Dean turned around and gave her one of those raised eyebrow 'what in the hell was that all about' looks.

"Sooo…." Dean said trying desperately to keep the blank expression on her face.

"Well," Katie shut the door and took the seat next to Dean. "I had a very uneventful day!" Smiling her own 'cat that ate the canary' look back at Dean. She also noticed the wet spots on the carpet and wondered what had happened.

"Uneventful eh?'" Dean inquired. "So, you run into naked women, excuse me, gorgeous naked women every day huh?" She lifted her eyebrow even higher.

"Oh, it's a regular happening for me." Her emerald eyes twinkled mischieviously. "Guess I just attract that type."

"Yeah, that type and the Billy Bob type!" Dean chuckled. "…marry Billy and have lots of babies…." Dean said in a Katie-ish voice.

"Stop that!" Katie said as she slapped Dean's arm. "It was all I could come up with at the time!" Then added, "she is really beautiful you know."

"Oh… I know alright! That's why I lost my tea all over the console!" Dean confessed.

"So… that's why the carpet is wet." It was Katie's turn to chuckle. "Anyway, it just took me by surprise. I have no clue as to what's in that woman's mind." Then Katie related finding the note in her apron pocket.

"So what's it say?"

"I haven't read it yet. I was afraid I would be caught on camera." Katie explained.

She pulled out the note and began to read it.

"Damn!" Dean smacked her head. "I completely forgot that we used the same necklace on a case in the Philippines. Oh, Katie, I'm sorry, I really put you in jeopardy here."

"Don't be, obviously I'm still alive." Katie said reaching out to touch Dean's arm then she continued reading.

Kasimov is planning on taking over the world with a new mind control drug he has developed. Drug cartel's to become his private army. I'm acting as a representative for the Yakusa… Katie continued reading the note that told pretty much the same story they already knew except that Lin was working as an independent trying to reclaim her family honor by destroying the Yakusa. It ended with Lin asking Katie to contact Major Peterson and to meet her in her room again tomorrow.

"Well, well." Dean said reflecting on this new development. "I’m glad she didn’t turn. I always felt she was good to the core. I just hope they don’t catch on to her and she goes the way of the two FBI agents. "Guess you’ll have to meet her again tomorrow."

"Well, I hope it won’t be under the same circumstances." Katie said starting to blush again.

"Guess you’ll just have to take your chances." Dean said with a broad smile. "Don’t worry, she’s a pro. Just go with whatever she presents you, okay?"

"Yeah, easy for you to say!" Katie said as she stuck her tongue out.

The two women reviewed the new information on camera locations that Katie found today. After that, they reset the tape machines and locked up the office. It was almost 1630 so they decided to get some dinner before they came back for the evenings report to Kasimov from the cartel superiors.

At 1900 hours they were back in the office waiting for the action to begin. Kasimov appeared at 1930 and dinner progressed without any announcements. After dinner drinks were served in the den. That was where he made his initial announcement that he would be taking the group to his quarters to discuss the vote of the cartels, assign initial targets, and discuss the distribution of the drug.

"General," came Lin’s voice over the headphones, "Don’t you think it will be a bit crowded in your quarters? Why not discuss it out here?"

"My dear woman, things are not always what they appear." The General said cryptically. "There will be more than enough room for all of us, and in light of last nights departure of two of our guests, I believe it is the most secure place in this lodge." He concluded as he led the way to his quarters.

"Shit!" The two women said in unison as they watched the ethereal bodies on the screen disappear into the blackness that was Kasimov’s quarters.

"Now what?" Katie said in desperation. "We can’t penetrate that area!"

"Good thing Lin made contact. We’ll have to rely on your meeting with her tomorrow to fill us in." The tall agent replied. "We may as well call it a night. I’m sure he’ll enforce a code of silence on them once they exit his quarters."

"Looks like we have the night off colonel." Katie smiled affectionately at the tall woman.

""You’re place or mine?" Dean asked with a smile.

"Yours." Katie determined. "But after I stop at the trailer for some of my things and take care of the brood."

* * * * *

The evening found the two women curled up on the sofa together in front of a cozy fire. Soft music playing in the background, a bottle of cabernet opened and half consumed sat on the side table. Dean was lightly stroking and playing with Katie’s hair humming along to the tune.

"You really have a great voice." Katie said looking up into Dean’s blue eyes. "I couldn’t carry a tune if it was in a bucket." She chuckled.

"Well, I did say I have ‘special’ skills didn’t I?" The ice blues twinkled back at the emeralds.

"Why do you suppose Lin wanted me to contact you specifically?" The question came out before Katie could call it back. Don’t go there Katie. Let the green eyed monster just go back in his cave! The young blonde thought to herself. I’m sure it’s just for professional reasons…. I hope!

"Don’t know love. Probably because she trusts me." The tall woman answered seemingly unaware of Katie’s concern. "We got into a very tight situation in the Philippine’s and we came to trust each other explicitly."

"How long were you and she…" Katie let the word trail off.

"Lovers?" Dean finished for her. "I was assigned out there for about eighteen months. We were lovers for six of them."

"Why did it end?" Katie asked again then added, "if you want to talk about it that is."

"It’s okay, I don’t mind." Dean admitted. "Actually, I thought about that a lot when I got back to the states. It was her decision, not mine." She continued. "I tried to get her to come back to the States with me, but she had refused, citing her family as her reason. Her family was very traditional in custom. She broke that tradition by joining the police force and felt that she owed it to them to remain there. That was just before all hell broke lose with her brother." The blue eyes became distant as she began again. "Lin really loved her brother. It broke her heart to uncover the truth. Her father was so dishonored he took his own life. Her mother followed shortly after that, more from a broken heart than anything else. Lin’s the last of her line and I can understand her drive to want to redeem her family honor."

"Wow," Katie said softly. "That’s a really tragic story." She paused a long time before she asked the next question. "Are you still in love with her?" Green eyes focused intently on the blues above her.

"No." Came the quiet response. "I was younger then, and Lin was very young too. We were new to the world of women loving women and we rode the waves of passion as though there were no tomorrow." She sighed heavily. "I realize now that it was lust, not love driving our desires for each other, so no, I’m not in love with her."

A wave of relief swamped over Katie’s heart at that moment. She had been wondering about Lin since Dean had first mentioned her. Now she decided to proceed with her next question.

"Do you think you might be in falling in love with me?" The blonde timidly asked as she searched the blue eyes for confirmation.

It was almost an eternity before Dean answered. Then she slowly spoke. "I've been asking myself that same question since I met you." She paused. "I don't know if I have been truly in love with anyone at any time in my life." Again, another pause. "All I know is that when I look at you, my heart smiles. When I touch you, my body sings. And when I make love with you, my spirit soars." Dean's smile broadened as Katie found her confirmation in the blue eyes.

"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard." Katie whispered as tears welled up in her eyes. "And I love you too." She concluded emphasizing each word as she pulled Dean down into a kiss that lingered softly as the young woman surrendered herself to her lover and allowed both their spirits to soar.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Saturday, 0600 hours…

This was Katie's third day of work at the lodge. She and Dean rose early so they could get in a morning run before she had to report to work. Dean had just gotten out of the shower and was drying her long black hair as Katie fixed a quick breakfast of toasted bagels with cream cheese and hot tea.

"Now remember," Dean called from the bathroom. "Let Lin make the contact. Don't try to force the meeting. Let it come naturally."

"Got it!" The young agent called back. "Are you almost ready? I like to get there…"

Her words were lost as she was held from behind in a loving embrace. She turned, and placed a kiss on the waiting lips. "You can move as quiet as a cat, you know that?" The young woman said.

"Yep. It's another of my 'special' skills." The tall agent responded as she snatched a bagel and travel mug of tea. "What are you waiting for, you're gonna be late!" She mock scolded the blonde.

Katie just smiled, then grabbed her bagel and mug of tea as the two women left the house and got into their separate cars. By the time Katie arrived at the lodge Dean was already sitting at the console reviewing the tapes from the evening and night before. "Just as I thought." She spoke to herself. "Nothing here of importance. It was a good night to take off." Then she focused her attention on the sounds from the lodge. It was a foggy morning, so she was using the TDSC unit for video input. Katie’s blue dot appeared to be in the kitchen. This was verified by the voice of El welcoming her.

"Good morning El, Ezra." Katie said as she announced herself.

"Good morning sweetie." Said El returning the salutation. "Coffee’s ready, would you like some? And I’ve got some raisin bran muffins coming out of the oven in about two minutes."

"Boy! That sounds good to me." Katie answered as she put her coat up in the mud room. "I think the weather’s changing. It’s pretty foggy out today."

"Supposed to turn cold and maybe even get snow in the higher elevations tonight." Came the contribution from Ezra. "Winter’ll be here soon." He stood to leave. "Better get more firewood chopped and stacked."

"What’s on my duty list today?" Katie asked El as she poured herself some coffee, then helped her put the muffins on the cooling racks.

"Same as usual sweetie. That Oriental lady asked to have some ginger tea brought to her room. She’s not feeling too well today." El commented, then asked. "Would you mind taking it up to her? Darla’s not here yet."

"No problem." Katie replied. Then she walked over to the counter where El had taken the tray out and placed a small teapot that smelled of ginger tea. She added a teacup and saucer. "Do you use sugar with ginger tea?" She asked El.

"Some do, some don’t. Better take it with you." El answered. "Here, put this nice hot muffin on a plate for her. Maybe the aroma will make her feel like having a bite to eat."

Katie finished fixing the tray then went up the back stairs to the second floor and Lin’s room. Well, that was pretty quick. Katie thought to herself as she ascended the stairs. Okay, just go with the flow. Let her make the first move, like Dean said. She got to Lin's room and knocked twice.

"Maid." She said softly so as not to wake any of the other guests in rooms near Lin's.

"Come." Came the muffled voice from inside the room.

Katie entered and found Lin still in bed. When Lin saw her, she motioned Katie to put the tray on the table by the bed. As Katie did what was requested she noticed that Lin was watching her intently. She's probably wondering if I got and read the note. Katie thought how to let her know, then she came upon an idea.

"Ma'am, are you feeling any better?" She inquired of the Oriental woman, then sat on the bed next to her and gave her a smile and a wink. "I don't have a thermometer, but my Mom would put her cheek on mine to tell if I had a temperature or not. She said using your hands to feel for a temperature didn't work since some people always have hot hands, and other always cold. May I check?" Katie asked quietly.

"Why not, it can't hurt. The ginger tea usually helps though." Replied the ex-cop.

Katie leaned over and placed her cheek on Lin's then whispered ever so softly in her ear. "I got your message and talked with Colonel Peterson. What do you want me to do?" Then added, "Are you really ill?"

Lin whispered back, "Good, come back later with soup or something, not ill."

"Well it doesn't feel like you have a temperature." Katie said out loud. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Not right now, thank you. Perhaps a bit later I could have some broth or soup?" Lin also answered in normal tone. "I'm glad to see I didn't scare you off yesterday." Lin continued with a bit more verve to her voice.

"No ma'am." Katie replied. "Just took me by surprise is all. I'll be back at lunch time with some soup."

The rest of the morning followed the same schedule as the past two days. Katie helped serve breakfast and clean up the dining area, then helped Darla with the room cleaning before lunch. In the kitchen, El prepared the soup and had a tray ready for Katie to take up to the Oriental woman at lunchtime.

* * * * *

Dean spent her morning monitoring the blue dot on the screen and the conversations over the headphones. Whatever happened last night in Kasimov's quarters was not discussed at all. He probably issued a gag order due to the discovery of the two FBI agents. Around 1000 hours there was a soft knock on the door.

"Yes?" Dean said as she switched the camera view to the park. Now who would be here on a Saturday?

"It's just me Dean," replied Linna. "I just thought you might like some tea or coffee or something?"

"Come on in." Dean called to the secretary.

"Thanks." Linna said on entering. "Tracy told me not to disturb you, but I just wanted to say I was sorry for the interruption the other day."

"No problem Linna," the agent responded. "It's just that some times, I need to really focus on the screen so I can re-direct the camera angle. Don't want to miss any opportunities to capture my prey on film." The tall woman concluded in a chuckle.

"Yeah, that's what Tracy said. So, you need anything?" Linna asked hopefully.

"Actually, I need to get up and stretch. Sitting here all day gets really boring." Dean added with a smile. "How about I come out there for some tea?" After a pause she added, "so, what brings you into the office on a Saturday?"

Um… well… I wanted to apologize, but didn't want Tracy to know I bothered you again!" The secretary said smiling. "I brought in some great goodies from the bakery this morning, kind of a peace offering I guess. And thanks for not being upset with me."

The two women left the office and went into the small kitchen area for their morning snack. Linna all the while was sizing up the tall agent in her mind and continued coming up with the same conclusion, this woman was more than she appeared and she was going to get to the truth one way or another. She'd just have to use a different tact to find out.

By 1300, Dean was focusing again on the upcoming meeting with Katie and Lin. Just what is she going to do to pass on the information? Dean kept thinking. What would I do? She continued that thought until she came up with a plausible scenario. Well, lets see if I'm right.

* * * * *

Katie walked into the kitchen and asked El if the tray was ready for the oriental 'lady.'

El had just finished pouring the soup in the bowl and nodded to Katie indicating the tray.

"Now, if she's feeling better, I can make up a sandwich or something real easy." El offered. "That one is too small to miss too many meals. She'll just fade away in no time."

"I'll ask her when I drop this off." Katie said. "I'm going to tidy up her room while I'm there so, I may be a while." She cautioned the elderly cook.

"That'll be fine sweetie. Just take your time. That poor thing probably would like some company after being shut in all morning." The cook offered with a compassionate smile.

"Will do." Katie said over her shoulder as she headed up the back stairs. Yeah, company coming! The young agent thought to herself. Now how are we going to communicate with cameras and listening devices in each room? She arrived at the door and knocked twice.

"It's me Miss. I've brought your soup." Katie said to the door as she waited for a response. Not hearing one, she knocked again and repeated the salutation. Again, there was no response. She then tried the door handle and it was unlocked, so she went in. She could hear the radio playing in the bath and the shower turn on. She went to the bathroom door and knocked loudly.

"It's me… Katie. I've brought your soup. Would you like me to put it on the table or by the bed side?" Over the sounds of the shower and the radio, Lin asked Katie to come into the bathroom. Katie put the tray down on the dresser then went in.

"Yes, ma'am." Katie responded. "Do you need a bath towel?" She asked as she entered the bathroom.

It was beginning to get very steamy from the shower and the radio was even much louder in here. Hmm, Katie thought, good idea, steam up the camera lens and cover our voices with the music! I like it. As she entered, she found Lin, wrapped in a towel.

Lin grabbed another towel from the towel bar and tossed it over her shoulder. Then she approached Katie quickly as the steam continued to build. She leaned in close and whispered to Katie, "Just follow my lead," the oriental whispered, "we don't have much time." With that, she started to unbutton Katie's blouse and unzip her skirt. This action caused Katie to back up until Lin cautioned her again about the camera lens clouding. "Just trust me." The ex-cop whispered.

"Okay." Came the soft response from the young agent. By the time the steam started to reach the camera lens, both women were naked and wrapped in each other's arms.

"Sorry for this approach," whispered Lin "but it's the only way can get close enough to talk to you without being overheard or arousing suspicion. These jerks are well aware of my supposed 'attraction' to you." She continued. "I've made specific remarks and bets regarding you and what I wanted to do with you, after I saw that necklace. I didn't want to take a chance on another note in case they got suspicious and stopped you before you left. Believe me, this way, they won't think anything other than a little tryst is going on."

"Bets? Great, they're taking bets on bedding me? Okay, now what?" Katie whispered back very aware of the naked body next to hers and the lips pressing against her neck.

"We're going to go into the shower." She instructed the young agent. Then we will appear to be 'making love' as I fill you in on last night. You okay with this?" She asked concerned about the stiffness of the body next to her.

"Yeah, I'll survive." She smiled at Lin.

After a brief interlude of 'mild intimacy' in the bathroom, Lin led Katie into the shower. "The steam will keep the lens fogged and the music and shower noise will help cover our conversation, but they will be able to pick up some visual, albeit foggy, so we may have to 'appear' to be a bit more intimate." Lin said in Katie's ear as she pressed Katie against the glass shower door for effect. "Just try to imagine me as your lover, and he's the one doing this. Okay?"

Hmm, Katie mused, wait till she finds out he's a her, and her ex-her to boot! Okay Dean, you're the one who said to go with what she presents me! Then to Lin, she nodded her head and said, "Yeah, got it."

All the while they appeared to be 'new lovers,' Lin filled in Katie on the revelations in Kasimov's quarters. When the exchange of information was complete, Lin and Katie exited the shower and toweled each other off as new lovers would do. They verbalized at that time in regular voice a prearranged script regarding their 'attraction' to each other and promises to meet again. Katie dressed then exited the bathroom. Lin still wrapped in a towel led Katie to the door and gave her a very convincing and seductive kiss as she left the room. All in all, it was quite an afternoon for the young agent. This bizarre way of passing information was nothing compared to the information she acquired. It was going to be difficult for her to finish her shift in her eagerness to get back to Dean. This of course, made the encounter even more realistic for the watchers as Katie's nervous actions were interpreted as the excitement of their encounter.

* * * * *

Dean recognized Katie's ethereal body from the blue dot. She watched it merge off and on with another ethereal body as the scenario played for real in her mind. "Bingo!" Dean exclaimed out loud as she finally was able to decipher the verbal repartee that Katie and Lin scripted for the watchers. "Exactly the tact I would have used! Bravo my old friend." Then she wondered, in more ways than one, how her partner reacted to the ruse. In her career, she had often had to use her body as a means to an end, and hoped the young woman would be okay with what had just happened. No time to worry about that. She chided herself. You've got to learn to trust. Katie will be fine. Right? Right!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Saturday… 1630 hours…

Once Katie arrived at the office, the two agents decided to put the surveillance on tape mode and return to Dean's to discuss the information in more privacy. As they arrived at the cabin, Katie noticed that Dean had company. Inside the cabin stood Sugar, Spice, and Butter. All were meowing vigorously. She tilted her head towards Dean for an explanation.

"Well," the tall agent started, "it just makes sense for you to stay here during the rest of this assignment." She began to blush slightly. "It saves time, and we won't have to worry about Sugar getting her medicine, and… " Her words were stopped by two fingers gently placed on her lips. "It's fine, really. It just surprised me is all." Katie removed the fingers and replaced them with her lips. "Just how did you get them here today?"

"I had Tracy and Colleen move them over while I was at the office watching you... and Lin." Dean said as she raised an eyebrow. "They like cats too and would know better what had to come with them. I asked them to make sure they brought over Sugar's medicine." Dean finished with a slight blush.

"Thank you for thinking of them. They really mean a lot to me. And you're right, things are going to start getting pretty hectic around here." The young blonde bent over to stroke the meowing cats that were now winding in and out of two sets of legs.

"So, what's the story?" Dean asked as she pulled the blonde into the living room and onto the sofa.

"You are not going to believe the evil this bastard has come up with." Then Katie took a deep breath and began to reiterate the information Lin had passed on.

"The General is going to target some group right after the holidays. He didn't tell who his targets were, but promised that it would be a 'grand beginning to level the playing field.' Whatever that's supposed to mean! Then he went on to tell that the drugs are in place and ready for dispersement at the appointed times. He showed the group the canisters that would be used to deploy the drugs." Katie reached over to the coffee table and picked up a pad and pencil then began to sketch. "From what Lin told me they probably look something like this." She showed Dean the pad.

As Dean looked at the pad her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you certain?" She inquired of Katie. "They look like air tanks of some sort with slots in the canister."

"Yeah," Katie said, "that's exactly how she described them. She even drew one on the wall of the shower. Stumped her too."

"The shower wall, huh?" Dean said as she lifted an eyebrow. "Are you okay with what happened?"

"Umm, it was okay. I was a bit nervous at first, but when she started telling me about the meeting, I completely forgot about where we were." The young agent began to blush a bit.

"Umhm?" Came the question from Dean.

"Well, it was a bit embarrassing. I'm not exactly used to strange hands roaming over my body, no matter what the reason." The blonde looked up into affectionate blue eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." The dark haired agent said as she reached for the young woman. "If I could have…"

"No, you couldn't have, and it's really okay. Just another part of the job." Guess it's just one more thing I'll have to get used to if I want to be really successful at this business, the blonde thought silently.

"So, go on… what else happened." The blue eyes encouraged. "Where were the drugs manufactured? Did he say? What did he want from the cartels?" The questions started coming fast and furious.

"Whoa! One question at a time…" the blonde said holding up her hands. "First, the drugs were manufactured right at the lodge. He showed them the lab where they were made. She said there's a veritable maze of rooms down there, kitchens, sleeping rooms, etc. He must have done some heavy duty renovations in those five weeks. She didn't see any scientists around. When she asked, he just smiled and said their work was done for now. Kasimov said the drugs are in a highly concentrated liquid form. One drop could affect hundreds." She shook her head in anger. "Lin said that he claims to have five hundred of those canisters already in place. She figures that each canister holds at least four or five gallons of liquid. That means he plans on drugging millions of people!" Emerald eyes closed as the young body shook in anger. "I don't understand Dean! How could someone be that evil that he would drug millions of people… and why? Who? Where?"

"Now it's you're turn to slow down." The blue eyes gentled. "Did he say what he wanted from the cartels?"

"Yes, in a way." The young agent proceeded. "After he found out who was in. And incidentally, they were all in. He asked them to have each cartel send at least twenty-five of their best men to arrive here between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He cautioned them to make sure they were men that were not known to the authorities. He gave each cartel representative a set of instructions. The one he gave to Ito said to have their men filter through Canada. Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, etc., then cross over the boarder into the U.S. at various ports of entry to avoid suspicion. His people are to stay in various hotels in the Catskills until it's time to meet for final instructions. The selection of port of entry and hotels is totally up to the cartel."

"Great, that doesn't help us one bit. Did the instructions say where or when to meet?" Dean asked hopefully.

"No, just to have everyone in place by December 24th and they would be contacted through their cartel representative here."

"There's so much travel during the holidays… customs will be swamped. Chances are it will be impossible to try to identify them all. We're going to need help." Dean said as she mentally ran through a list of her contacts. "Was there anything else?"

"Not really. Lin said some of the men in the group were tired of being cooped up at the lodge and asked if they could leave for some 'entertainment,' or another hunting trip. She said the General was going to have Natasha make arrangements for another hunting trip in a couple of days, but as far as other 'entertainment' they would have to turn to their own devices. It would be too risky for them to leave and even worse to bring in anyone. He also said he would open the indoor shooting range, gym and pool, if they were interested." Katie added with a sly grin. "Guess it's a good thing I'm already 'spoken' for. I just hope they leave Darla alone. She's very young and very naïve."

"Guess so." Dean smiled as she ruffled Katie's blonde hair. "But you and Lin just be careful. Someone else may want to get a piece of your action."

"Like maybe a tall, dark haired, blue eyed, gorgeous, sexy, Lieutenant Colonel?" Katie said as she slid closer to Dean and began placing tender kisses on the aforementioned colonel's neck, ears, and lips with each descriptive word.

"Mmm, maybe." Was about all Dean got out before she took the blonde in her arms and repositioned her on the couch while she held herself over the beautiful blonde, smiling wickedly.

"Why Colonel… If Ah didn't know better, Ah would think you're trying to take advantage of poor little old me." Katie said in a mock Southern voice then she reached up and took advantage of her position by pulling the tall agent forcefully down on top of her. Lips met lips, and soon the only conversation heard was the voice of ecstasy that ended in gasps of pleasure.

* * * * *

At 1900, Tracy and Colleen arrived at Dean's bearing dinner. Two large supreme pizza's and two six packs of ice cold Molsen's.

"Brrr." Exclaimed Tracy as she and Colleen entered the cabin. "I think it's going to snow tonight. Hope you've got plenty of firewood for the fireplace."

"Yep." Answered Dean as she took their jackets. "Thanks for coming over and bringing dinner."

"Well, just thought it would be a good thing to do, knowing your cooking skills." Tracy quipped back as she and Col chuckled.

"Hey! I've gotten better, really! Just ask Katie!" Dean laughed as she pointed at Katie who was trying to look like she didn't hear a word of the conversation even though she was standing right behind Dean.

They all laughed and went into the kitchen to attack the pizza. Katie had made a spectacular salad to go along with the pizza and by the time they were finished, not a speck of food remained.

"Wow!" Katie said as she held her stomach. "I didn't realize I was that hungry."

"Geez," added Col, "just what have you two been doing that you haven't had time to eat?"

The two agents, looked at each other then quickly looked away and inspected various parts of the ceiling as they both began to blush.

"Never mind! Guess you don't need to answer that question." Colleen said as Tracy joined her in hearty laughter.

Colleen and Katie stayed behind in the kitchen to clean up as Tracy and Dean went into the living room. Dean started a fire, then sat in the love seat next to where Tracy was sitting on the sofa. They both sat there for a bit, neither speaking, just staring into the fireplace as small flames from the kindling licked the larger logs. Soon the fire was progressing nicely and Tracy turned to Dean to ask how the surveillance was going.

"Well, we're at the point now where we're going to have to call in the troops. We're going to need some extra help here to figure out just what that bastard has in mind." Dean informed her old friend. "At least we have a bit of time to work on it. Looks like the timeline is set for Christmas day or later." Dean continued to inform Tracy of the events of the last twenty-four hours, filling her in on Katie's experience with Lin and the status thus far.

"Are you sure you can trust that woman?" Tracy asked in all sincerity. "I mean, she's been with the cartel now for how long?"

"About six years if I figured it right." Stated Dean quietly.

"I don't know, Dean. That's a long time to get exposed to the temptations of a life of crime. Lots of money and unlimited power can sure change people." Her old friend added cautiously. "I don't know if I would be able to put Colleen in that kind of a dangerous situation, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I've thought of that too. But I gotta let her. It's important to her to be recognized as a capable professional. And you know something, deep down in my heart, I know she's better than I am." Dean confided.

"No way Dean!" Tracy protested. "I've seen you do things that I never thought could be done by anyone, and you'd pull them off without even breathing hard!"

"Well, that was then, and this is now. And I'm telling you Trace, she's damn good."

"Anyway, back to the problems at hand." The dark haired agent sighed. "We're going to need someplace to convene and the office isn't big enough, nor, with Linna sulking around, secure enough. Got any ideas?"

Tracy thought quietly for a while as Katie and Colleen came into the room. Colleen sat down next to Tracy then asked if there was something she could help with.

"Were trying to come up with a good place for Dean and Katie to call in the troops." Tracy said as Colleen put her arm around her. "Got any ideas?"

Colleen mulled it over for a while then said, "How about the tennis courts up at Hollinger's? It would be perfect! They could come in dressed as contractors. You know, painters, electricians, etc. Everyone knows the department has been given exclusive rights to the old indoor courts…. and, since the resort is closed down, there's no one up there anyway!"

Tracy looked at Colleen, then gave her a big hug and a kiss. "Perfect!" She said and kissed Col one more time for good measure. "Col's right, that place would be perfect. It's up in the old Hollinger's Resort. It's been closed down since before I came here. The department just negotiated the rights to use the indoor tennis courts, but we need to do some renovations to the place before we can use them. I'll take you up there tomorrow and you can check it out. I'm sure you'll like it." Then she paused and added. "We may have to do something about the heat though. I'm not sure if the old ceiling heaters still work. I understand they were fairly new just before the closure, but who know's now."

"Great!" Dean and Katie said simultaneously. "Katie's off tomorrow so we can both go. What time do you want us to meet you?"

"How about 10:00 AM? That way most folks will be at church services so we'll be less likely to be seen by anyone from the town board or commission members."

"Sounds good Tracy. I don't know what we would have done without you. It was pure luck running into you here, but definitely good luck. Now, how about some poker?"

* * * * *

By the time Tracy and Colleen left, it was nearly midnight. The two women were so exhausted from the stress of the past week that by the time they laid back in bed they found themselves too tired to do anything but talk.

"Dean?" Katie whispered lightly.

"Hmm?" Came the soft reply.

"Have you and Tracy ever…. "

"No, we haven't. We're really just great friends."

"Oh. She just seems to think you walk on water or something." Came the unexpected remark.

"Mmmm, that's because I can!" Came the quick retort. "Ufff! What was that for?" Dean said as she rubber her rib cage.

"Being a smart-ass!" Katie said as she broke into a chuckle. "Seriously, she does think a lot of you."

"And I think the same of her." Dean rolled over onto her side and rested her head in her propped up hand. "She's seen me overcome odds that even I didn't think I could overcome. She's seen me so full of holes that I looked like a sieve. And she's helped me cope with the death and destruction that I have had to face in my job."

"Just what exactly is your job?" Katie asked tentatively. "I know you said you're in army intelligence, but most intelligence officers of your rank aren't in the field, they're back where it's safe and warm, at operations. What's your story?"

Dean closed her eyes and rolled over to her back and her conscience spoke up. Well, it's now or never… and she has a right to know the truth about you. Katie just about gave up on Dean answering her question and was about to speak when Dean began her story.

"I grew up in the mid-west as the daughter of a Baptist minister. My Dad, she began with a disgusted tone, was a very devout man, at least in front of the congregation. They loved him. He'd give them all the fire and brimstone from the pulpit that they craved. Had the congregation just falling all over themselves to repent for their sins. He really had them eating out of the palm of his hand. He was so kind, and caring. So willing to help them and willing to forgive them. I thought he was the best… but I was wrong." Dean said with a bitter smile.

"Why? What happened?" Katie said softly.

"One night he found my brother in the back seat of our Chrysler… with the deacon's daughter. They were just teenagers… you know, hormones raging and all." She said as tears began to well up in her eyes. "I really loved my brother Thad, he was seventeen, I was eighteen. Thought Dad loved us too." She paused before she went on. "I thought he would start doing the scripture thing, you know… the fire and brimstone… then the save the sinner routine… then the forgiveness. But it didn't turn out that way." Dean sniffed then continued. "He told the young girl to go home and confess her sin and weakness to her father… so she did. After she left, he told Thad to get out of the car and go into the barn. Dad was screaming and hitting him over and over. Thad was crying something terrible. He didn't see me at first, not until Mom came out to see what the commotion was. As soon as he saw us he yelled at us to go back in the house. Mom immediately turned and went back, but I stayed outside the barn and listened. Dad was furious. I'd never heard him so angry. By the time it was over and Dad went into the house, I crept into the barn to see if I could comfort Thad." As Dean continued, tears flowed from hr eyes. "When I saw him lying in the hay… all bloody… I lost it! I did what I could for him, but it was too late, Thad died in my arms."

"Oh, my god, Dean. What happened next… what did you do?" Katie reached out and pulled the tall woman into her arms. Dean gratefully slid into Katie's embrace glad for the comfort she felt in the young woman's arms.

"I went into the house, full of rage and covered in Thad's blood, and confronted him. I told him that Thad was dead and it was all his fault. Mom screamed when I went to hit him and that stopped me. I went over to Mom and told her to call the police. She refused, so I went to the phone myself. Before I got the number dialed, he came up behind me and hit me. Next thing I knew I was tied to my bed. I could see the red flashing lights of the police cars outside and could hear muffled voices. After they left, Mom came up and untied me, but asked me not to talk to Dad. The next day I tried to explain to the sheriff what really happened, but Dad spun a yarn about my walking in on the guys that beat up Thad, and that I wasn't 'right' since. Of course, they agreed with him, him being the upstanding minister and all."

"Where's your Mom and Dad now?" The green eyes somehow softening the hurt Dean felt inside.

"Mom's dead. She passed away while I was on one of my missions. Dad, well, he's still out there somewhere for all I know. He left the ministry a few years after Thad's death. Turned to drink and became one of the souls he used to save. Mom stayed with him till she died." Another tear slowly carved a path down Dean's cheek.

"What did you do after Thad's death?" Katie asked as she caught the tear with her thumb and wiped it away.

"I left. The same day I talked to the sheriff. I couldn't stay there and put up with his sanctimonious crap, so I joined the army, and found a release for my rage. I was so good that they put me in a 'special' program, put me through college and officer's training. I became a 'problem solver' for Uncle Sam… and boy, am I good at it!

Dean stopped and turned her head up to face the young agent, hesitating before she continued. "I go in and solve problems that normal political and military channels can't. I'm their 'special' weapon. They wind me up and point me towards the problem and I make it go away. I do whatever is necessary, take out whoever stands in my way, the blood of the innocent and the guilty is on my hands. I'm a very efficient machine." She snarled sarcastically. "My rage at my father started me on this road. I am the fire and brimstone he preached about. I have been judgement day for many souls, evil and innocent. I don’t grieve for the evil… but for the innocents that were felled by my hands. I’ll never know how many there were so now, I live with their ghosts." Dean turned her head away from Katie and paused. "Lately, I've felt them pull at me, begging me to stop, but I don't know if I can. I'm not strong enough to stop, to change my life." She turned back to face Katie and intense blue eyes searched the emerald green ones above her, then she added, "Katie, you deserved to know what I am, and what I've done, and I won't blame you if you decide to get up and leave. I owed you the truth. I'm ruthless and…"

Katie looked down into Dean's sad blue eyes and gently wiped the new tears from her cheeks. "Shhh… you don't owe me anything, Dean. And I seriously doubt if anything you say would cause me to leave you. I don't care what you've done in the past, it's over and can't be changed. You had no way of identifying innocent victim from evil doer, you just did your job the best you could. Millions of people, myself included, are depending on you to keep them safe, keep them from the evil living in the likes of people like Kasimov."

"But, I have my own demons to deal with… I've killed innocent people…" Dean interrupted.

"Did you know they were innocent at the time?" Katie asked her tortured friend. "And we all have our personal demons to live with."

"No… but they couldn't have all been bad, I just go in guns blazing…." She shut her eyes, …and see my father's face, …see Thad's bloody body." She began to cry in earnest this time.

"It's okay love, I've got you. Go ahead, get it out of your system. It's time you grieved for Thad, and… forgiven your father." Katie finished with a whisper. Then she held her friend through her tears and sobs, until they both finally fell asleep. A sleep that for the first time in a very long time held no ghosts for Dean.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PART III

Sunday… 0800 hours

Dean slowly opened first one blue eye then the other. She was amazed to see the sun streaming in the window of her bedroom realizing that it must be fairly late already. She was more amazed to recognize that she had slept nearly seven hours. Seven hours of solid, blissful sleep… a sleep without any nightmares. Dean surveyed the room without moving as she comprehended the second set of heartbeats and breathing that belonged to the beautiful young agent sharing her bed. Well, they say that confession is good for the soul… Dean thought to herself, and Katie… you are definitely the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. I hope last night didn't change how you feel about me. As she concluded that thought, she looked over at the sleeping woman on whom her head was nestled. She extended her senses to memorize the young woman's scent, the sounds of her breathing, and the rhythm of her heart. She found the last two totally in sync with her own breaths and pulse. If only we could stay like this forever… that thought was broken as Katie opened her eyes and turned her head to look into the most awesome blue eyes she had ever seen.

"Hi." Katie said as she lifted her free arm to brush away an errant lock of Dean's hair.

"Hi." Came the response from the dark haired woman.

"Have you been awake long?" Katie inquired.

"Nope. Just been enjoying the sights and sounds." Came the reply followed by a dazzling smile.

"Mmm, sights and sounds huh? Must be that flora and fauna watching is rubbing off on you." The blonde said with her own version of a dazzling smile.

Dean spoke softly. "Thank you."

"For what?" The green eyes widened in wonder.

"For last night." Dean admitted. "For listening, understanding, and especially for being here with me this morning." She shuddered slightly before she continued. "I was afraid that I was going to wake up alone after my life story last night. I've never told anyone about what happened with my brother before or about all the horrible things I've done in my life. Not even Tracy knows the full truth, although I think she may have her suspicions."

"Oh Dean… I love you. There's nothing you could say or do that would keep me from loving you. Your past is your past. It's over. I'm not one to judge you or anyone." The blonde said as she pulled Dean into a gentle hug. "In my heart I know that you're a good person. That the things you have done have been for the good of our country and our allies." She smiled down at her blue eyed lover then continued. "And as far as your hate for your father… it's time you let that go… time to forgive him."

"As I drifted off last night, I think I did forgive him. I remember hearing a soft whisper telling me it was time to forgive him… and I did." She closed her eyes then looked back up into the emerald green ones. "I had my first night of solid sleep in a long time. I met no ghosts from my past, relived no horrors, and experienced no nightmares. Just blessed peaceful sleep."

Katie just smiled at her lover as she realized that it was her whisper that sent the message of forgiveness to Dean. The two women remained in bed in that same position for what seemed to be a long time but actually was only a scant five minutes. It was a five-minute break in their hectic week that they both needed to take advantage of.

Dean was the first to stir. "C'mon love, let's get our run in and a shower before we have breakfast. Then we'll meet Tracy at her place at 1000 hours."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Came the response from Katie. "Gotta run… gotta eat… gotta go. I'll be glad when this is all over so I can sleep in for a change!"

"Sleep in!" Dean sighed. "What do you call this morning…. it's already 0830!" She finished with a chuckle as she pulled the blonde up and into her arms. "Tell ya what, if you beat me back to the cabin… we'll take a long shower… together!" Dean finished the comment with a wink, a smile, and kiss.

"You're on!" Katie said jumping out of bed calling over her shoulder as she very quickly slipped on her sweats, socks and shoes and beat the tall woman out of the house.

Well, we know what gets you up and going don't we? Dean said to herself as she got herself out of bed and hurried to dress and catch up.

* * * * *

Dean was the first one back to the cabin followed by the blonde just seconds behind her.

"No fair!" Called Katie as she entered the cabin on Dean's heels. "You've got longer legs than I have!"

"And the three minute head start was… what?" Dean answered with a snicker. "Ok, I'll give in… see ya in the shower!" Then she headed toward the bathroom, slipping off her sweats as she went and followed by a smiling young blonde who was also stripping as she went.

The shower took a good bit of time, and they would probably have still been in it except for the fact that the hot water heater was only a twenty gallon model. As it was, they had to skip breakfast in order to be at Tracy's in time. As they pulled in her drive, Tracy and Colleen came out and jumped into the SUV.

"Morning!" Tracy and Col said at the same time and were answered in a like response from Dean and Katie.

"Just go back out this street and onto the main drag." Tracy pointed as Dean pulled out of the driveway. "Turn right at the stop sign and go out towards Burp & Freddies."

Dean did as she was instructed and when they arrived at the intersection where the diner was, Tracy told Dean to turn left and go up the hill. As they reached the top of the hill, the road curved to the right and wound around the hill to the back side. A quarter of a mile from the entrance, Tracy indicated the tennis court building and the adjacent parking lot.

"That's it." She said as they pulled in to park. "I'll unlock the main entrance. It's on this side of the building." Tracy indicated the left side as she stepped out.

The rest of the passengers exited the SUV and followed Tracy into the building. The power was on, so Tracy flipped the switches to illuminate the interior of the building. Then she flipped the master switch for the electric heaters and to her amazement they began to click. "Guess we'll see if they produce any heat or not." She said with crossed fingers.

The four women walked through the building noting that there were no windows in the court area but the small office and locker rooms did have glass block windows around to top section of the walls. Inserted at intervals in the glass blocks were narrow ventilation blocks. There was no way anyone would be able to enter through the windows. That left the only security points as the double fire door at the center of the main court building, the fire door in each locker room, the main entrance at the side of the building and an outside door in the office.

Dean stood in the middle of the tennis courts and surveyed the building one more time. There were additional ventilation panels in the ceiling, but they would normally only be open in fair weather. They would be easy enough to lock down for their purposes.

"Looks great Tracy." Dean commented as she turned around one more time, mentally ticking off the five doors and the ceiling vents. "This will work well. That double fire door will allow us to pull in some vehicles too. Keep them out of sight until needed."

Tracy sniffed the air and noted that the smell of long unused heaters was in the air. A definite aroma of hot dust could be perceived. "Looks like the heaters are working." She commented with a smile. "Of course, if Uncle Sam wants to contribute towards the cost of heating and the like while you guys are in here, I certainly wouldn't object." She winked at Dean.

"Yeah, we'll get the Enigma Foundation check processed ASAP. In fact, I think I'll requisition some improvements for you too. Just make a list of what needs to be done and I'll take care of it." Dean said as she winked back at Tracy.

"Cool!" Tracy commented. "That'll make my day!"

Then Dean and Katie made one more tour through the building, noting where things could be set up, where electric outlets were, and what other supplies they would need such as tables and chairs. When they were done the electricity was turned off including the heaters and the building was locked.

"Thanks for coming up with this idea Col." Katie said as she entered the SUV. "It's going to work out great."

"No problem." She answered then said, "Anybody hungry?" Which led to three raised hands. "Great, me too! We didn't have time to eat breakfast today." Two sets of eyes, one emerald, the other sapphire look quizzically at Colleen. "And why were you so busy this morning?" Katie asked with a mischievous tone.

"Uhhh… well… umm… How about the diner up by the reservoir?" Tracy stammered as she and Col started to blush. And with that, there was a round of laughter while the SUV wound it's way back down to the main highway and turned left for the ride out to the Overview Diner.

* * * * *

"This is Agent Shelton." The voice at the other end of the line spoke.

"Hey Sid." Dean said into the secure phone hook-up. "This is Colonel Peterson."

"Hello Dean. What can I do for you?" He said with a slight hesitation in his voice.

"Don't worry Sid, no more bodies, at least not yet." The Colonel replied sensing the apprehension in Sid's voice. "I just called to update you on the latest information and to see if we can get an interagency task force up here to work on this case. I also need to know the status of the autopsies and if the drug has been isolated."

"Sure," he replied with obvious relief in his voice. "What do you have?"

Dean proceeded to update him on the information Katie was able to get regarding the canisters and the potential of millions of people targeted. She also informed him of the men the cartels would be sending between the holidays and the possibility of a deployment date after the holidays. Then she asked him if he could put together an interagency task force of agents, scientists, chemists, anyone the agencies could spare that could help decipher the clues they had so far.

"I'll put in a call to the director right after we hang up. I'm sure he'll be willing to put together a team and contact the other agencies as well. This is one nasty situation isn't it?" He inquired of the Colonel.

"Yeah, it is." Dean replied. "I'll contact the Pentagon and NSA myself, so don't bother with those. Now what do you have on isolating the drug?"

"Well, it took a bit of sleuthing, but they finally found it. It never would have shown up on normal scans, but since you clued us in on its presence they persisted until they found it." The FBI agent informed her. "The doc's say it's a simple compound but a very tricky one. So far, they've been able to determine that its lifecycle after ingestion, is only 96 hours before it dissipates. They don't have an antidote for it yet."

"Well, if it dissipates in 96 hours that shouldn't be a major problem. We really need to know what sets it off and the changes that occur in the mind to allow such control and how to stop the reaction." Dean added. "How are they doing in that area?"

"Zippo!" Sid replied. "They just found it last night, so they haven't had much time to analyze it. They were lucky to find it at all. It was nearly the 96 hour limit when they did. It's a damn good thing you went after the bodies and got them to us so quickly or we'd be batting zero."

"Well, you can thank Katie for that one." Dean told the agent.

"Yeah, do that for me." He said, and she could feel the smile through the phone line.

They finished their conversation and set a time to return calls for an okay on the task force. She told him about the building she arranged for the troops and left him her secure phone number. After she hung up, she called her superior, General John James and updated him. Then she proceeded with her task force request.

"What do you mean a task force!" The general rumbled. "There's no need to involve the other agencies. The army and NSA can handle this."

"General, the other agencies are already involved and they have two dead bodies to prove it." She offered holding her temper, then she softened her tone and added, "besides Jack, when have you ever doubted my judgement?"

"Well, I haven't yet, but there's always a first time." He said as he calmed down some.

Oh… all right! What do you need from us?"

Dean gave him a list of items then broached the 'to do' list for the tennis building. At that the General started to really balk. "C'mon Jack it's not gonna cost that much and it's the least we can do for Tracy helping out like she has." Dean urged the general sweetly.

"Damn, this has been a very one sided phone call, ya know!" He feigned

anger.

"Yeah, but it's for Tracy... " The Colonel persisted. "Remember when she pulled your butt out of the can at Leonard Wood? If your wife had seen you with that nurse you'd still be picking buckshot out of your rump!"

"Okay, okay." The general said resignedly then added, "Just get me my results!" He quipped.

"I always do." Dean said solemnly, then hung up.

Dean put her phone down then went into the second bedroom where Katie was making her phone calls. As she stepped in the room as Katie concluded hers then flopped back on the bed.

"Phew!" The young agent spat out. "You'd think interagency cooperation was the damn plague the way they hem and haw."

"Oh?" Dean teased raising an eyebrow and smiling brightly. "Why I had no problem at all!"

"Ya, right!" The blonde said as she threw a pillow at the tall woman. She suddenly realized that this was probably not the wisest move on her part as it was immediately returned followed by a tall body landing on top of her. The next thing she knew she was being tickled ferociously.

"Eeiiiieee! Uncle! Uncle!" The blonde cried out. Dean stopped and rolled off her partner as Katie brought her breathing back to normal. "You are really quick!" She commented after she regained control.

Dean just smiled and nodded. "Yeah, but you still got the best of me up on the mountain. That was really quite a surprise." She said as she shook her head. "No one, and I mean no one, has ever done that to me before. I must be getting old." She chuckled.

"Oh, sure. Blame it on getting old and not my skills!" The blonde pouted then relented. "You really mean that? About no one?"

Dean rolled over onto her right side facing the blonde and pegged her with her steel blue eyes. "Yes, I do. You're very good. In fact, you're better than me." She reached out and stroked the blonde's cheek. "And I promise never to sneak up on you like that again." She added with a brilliant smile.

* * * * *

By 1700, all the confirmations were made and the task force would be arriving before 0500 in the morning. The requested equipment would all be in place by 1200 and operations would be fully active at that time too. Dean and Katie were named the lead agents on the case and all operations would be run through them.

"I'm glad Tracey and Colleen offered to take care of the cats for the duration. I hope Beau gets along with them. Spice can be a real pistol when she wants to." Katie paused before asking the next question. "Are you going to shut down the surveillance from the P&R office?"

"No, I think I'll leave it up as a back-up." Dean answered as she watched Katie sort the task sheets. "I know Tracy isn't active military anymore, but I value her input. If I take down that console, I'll be cutting her out of the project and I don't want to do that, at least not yet. If it gets too hot, I may have to reconsider."

"I thought you didn't want to involve civilians?" The young agent queried.

"I don't, but Tracy is different. She's been such a help so far… and she is ex-military and all." Dean was beginning to wonder why Katie was asking this. "Why?"

"Don't get me wrong Dean. I like Tracy and value her input too. In fact I want her help. I just don't want anything to blow up in her face so to speak that she'd lose her job over it." Katie smiled at Dean. "You know?"

"Yeah, I thought of that too. I know she'd understand if we had to shut her out, but it would be such a slap in the face to do it now. I'd like to keep this between you and me though. The rest of the team doesn't need to know." Both women nodded their heads in affirmation.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to make sure nothing blows up then!" Katie resolved as she turned and gave Dean a hug. "Okay, what's next on the list?"

"Now…" Dean said as she returned the hug, "we get some rest because from here on out we'll be working on adrenaline. It's a good thing you have off Monday too. It's going to be a busy day. We'll need to meet the team at the courts by 0500 so that means we have a little less than twelve hours to ourselves."

"Mmm, and I know just how I'd like to fill some of that time." The blonde agent remarked as she tugged on the older agent's hand and led her to the bedroom.

* * * * * *

Katie was snuggled into the crook of Dean's shoulder resting her head on the older woman's chest. They were enjoying the quiet and solitude that they knew would be broken in just a few short hours. Dean was gently stroking Katie's hair and admiring the shimmer of each strand as it reflected the light of the moon coming through the bedroom window. "You really are beautiful." Dean whispered into Katie's hair as she pressed her lips to the blonde's forehead.

"Uh huh, and I bet you say that to all the women in your life." Came the adroit response from the beautiful blonde.

"Nah, only the women I happen to be holding at the time." The older woman said with a chuckle before she got serious. "Katie, please be careful the next few days. Kasimov will be on super alert with the holidays only a few days off. He'll be looking for anything out of the ordinary."

"I will Dean, I promise." Katie answered as she lifted her head to look into Deans blue eyes. "We've got to find out what's going down though, before it's too late. I don't ever want to be too late again."

"Why do you say that?" Dean caught the intensity of the emerald eyes peering into hers.

Katie shut her eyes and took a long deep breath, exhaling before she began to talk again. "Remember last night when I said we all have our own demons to deal with?"

"Mmmhmm." Dean replied softly.

"Well about twelve months ago, I was working on this case from another angle." She paused before continuing. "Jerry and I. He was my partner at the time, and I was the senior member. We were working the drug group out of the Chicago area during an undercover op. Jerry was under and I was his contact. He had been under for several months and things were looking pretty good." She shook her head as she began to relive the anguish of a job gone sour. "I kept warning him to be careful, to watch which informants he dealt with, but he was adamant that he knew what he was doing. He did have a great record of busts, but that probably led to his downfall in the end." Katie sighed, then continued. "Anyway, I was working as a waitress in a coffee shop the drug ring used exclusively on the eastside. He'd come in and put the moves on me to pass on information. Everyone thought I was his 'girl' so they pretty much ignored me. During the last three months, we were so close to getting in. We knew there was going to be a huge meeting of all the drug cartels and that each one was sending their three best people. He really thought he'd be one of the chosen to come to this meeting. Everything was pointing in that direction… until he talked to the wrong snitch." She shivered thinking about the last night. "I never liked Emilio… he was a real creep if you know what I mean. I told Jerry not to trust him but I had no reason… no proof. Turned out I was right. The creep was a worm for the cartel working in the land of snitches. His job was to look for troublemakers and people asking too many questions. By the time I got enough proof, I was too late. I found Jerry in his apartment with a knife in his chest and his mouth full of earthworms. He had a note pinned to his chest addressed to the DEA. It said for them to find a better 'worm' next time." Katie was near tears by the time she finished her story. "I was his superior… I was supposed to keep him safe… and I didn't! I was too late! I should have done something sooner." The young agent was very upset now and Dean held her tightly. "I should have stopped him… I…"

"Katie… it's not you fault. You told him not to talk to Emilio and being his superior, he should have followed your command." Dean said as she tried to comfort the young woman. "You can't blame yourself for his blunder… it's over. You just have to live with it and learn from it." Dean cupped Katies chin and turned her face towards her. "It's like the whisper you sent to me last night… it's time to let go… time to stop beating yourself up over it."

"I know that now. I found out later that he wouldn't have listened to me anyway. He was trying to prove that women didn't belong in the agency and especially as lead agent on a case. That's why I vowed I'd never be late with proof again." Katie held onto Dean as though her life depended on it. "I won't let you down Dean. I promise I won't be late!" She said softly as she captured Dean's face with her hands staring purposely into Dean's eyes. Then slowly, gently, she let them slide away from Dean's face.

"I know love." Dean answered her quietly, "I promise I won't be late either."

* * * * * * *

Monday… 0430 hours…

By 0430 the two women where up, showered and on their way to the courts. They dressed in their park uniforms just in case anyone saw them enter or leave the courts building. As they pulled up and parked, Katie asked, "So how are these guys going to show up?"

"They're going to come in a variety of construction and maintenance vehicles. I faxed a list that Tracy gave me of local contractors so they could duplicate their truck styles. To the casual observer, they'll look legitimate enough." The tall agent smiled. "But of course to those particular contractors… they may be doing double takes if they see them. Just a slight chance that would happen at that hour of the morning and you saw how far the court building is from the main road. No one will see the trucks once they’re parked by the building."

"Why not use fictitious company names?" The blonde queried.

"The whole town knows that Tracy uses local contractors whenever possible. It's good for the contractors and good for the department. Stimulates excellent cooperation when she needs it most." Dean answered.

"Pretty smart on Tracy's part. Got to hand it to her Dean, she's a keeper."

"Yeah, and that's just why I want to keep her on board for as long as possible. You never know when one of her connections will turn out to be valuable. In fact, as much as I'd hate to do it, her secretary may prove to be even more valuable." Dean sighed.

"How's that?" Inquisitive emerald eyes captured ice blue ones in a questioning attitude.

"Well… her husband is the mayor of this little burg and also the police commish! Two people you definitely need on your side when push comes to shove." Dean finished.

Katie let out a low whistle. "Well, hopefully we won't get to pushing and shoving!"

They went into the building and turned on the lights and the heaters, then sat back in the small office waiting for the troops to arrive. They didn't have to wait long. At precisely 0500, the first trucks started to arrive. Katie pulled open the double fire door at the back of the building and directed the trucks in. A few were left outside to provide an impression of work in progress on the old building.

On the inside, work was steadily progressing. A second console similar to the one at the P & R office only bigger was set up next to the court office windows that looked out on the courts. Within an hour it was up and operational. The TV screens were 36 inch screens instead of the 19 inch ones back at the P & R building. That really made a big difference in viewing ease. Several long tables were set up and maps of the entire east coast were taped up on the walls around the large room. In addition, there were detail maps of every large city within a two hundred mile range. Every kind of machine to enhance audio or visual input was there along with quite an impressive display of ordnance and the weapons to go with it.

Katie just finished instructing the staff on where the final trucks contents should be set up when she tapped Dean on the shoulder and asked her where she wanted the kitchen sink.

"Very funny!" replied Dean. "Hey, ya never know what you might need. Weren't you ever a scout?" She said as she surveyed the room.

"Umm, claymores?" Katie said raising her arms then shrugging. "I thought those went bye-bye a long time ago."

"Surplus… Jim's just trying to be funny." Dean stated, then shook her head and smiled at the young blonde. "But you will like these little beauties…" She directed Katie over to a table by the office and lifted the lid on a fairly small box the size of a shoe box. "Take a look at this." Dean said as she handed the item over to Katie.

"A pen?" Katie said in disbelief. "You want me to write a letter or something?"

"No, no. Not just a pen," Dean stated as she retrieve it from Katie's hand, "although it does write quite well. Sits in your hand real nice, has a nice smooth writing ba…. Ouch! What was that for?" Dean looked at Katie as she rubbed her shoulder.

"Okay 'Q'… just what else does it do?" Katie said as she put her hands on her hips.

Dean just looked at her in puzzlement for a nano second before she got the reference… "Q… yeah, I like that." The she proceeded. "Well, this black one works like this… if you press the clip down here… " Dean demonstrated the correct placement of her fingers. "it becomes a stun gun with enough voltage to put your attacker down for at least five minutes before they get any feeling back, especially in the muscles you hit. It has a range of eight feet too!" Dean was really getting into this now. "And, it can be used up to five times before it has to be recharged. Cool huh?" Katie just shook her head in amazement as Dean picked up the red pen. "Now this one works the same way, but it contains one dose of knock out gas. Anyone breathing in this stuff will be in la la land for at least and hour. It has a spread three feet wide and a range six feet forward, so make sure your target is within those parameters. At arms length, it shouldn't effect you, but hold your breath anyway, just to be sure."

"Geez Dean, if I was an undercover nerd I could have a whole pocket protector full of these and no one would be the wiser." Katie said chuckling as Dean just shook her head and started to laugh too. "Guess I'll just have to settle for two clipped to my uniform huh?"

"Yeah, guess so." Dean said as she replaced the pens, then pulled the young blonde over to the next box. She pulled out a small jewelry box and opened it to show Katie. "Now these look like a normal pair of black pearl earrings, but if you crush the ball between your fingers like so, and put the crushed material, say… in this lock here, add some moisture, like spit for example…" She did so then moved Katie back from the demonstration. "In about two more seconds…" There was a quiet 'pffft' sound and the lock fell apart and landed smoldering on the floor. Katie reached down to pick up the busted lock but was stopped by Dean's hand. "No, don't touch it. It gets really hot and the residue is very acidic and can cause some nasty burns." She went on to caution Katie not to try crushing the earrings with wet hands.

"Duh!" Katie said smacking her forehead with the palm of her hand after Dean finished the caution remark which earned her a finger wagging by the older woman. "What happens if you're wearing them in the rain… or shower?" Katie asked with raised eyebrows.

"Nothing. They have a coating that protects them until they're crushed." The older agent said with a smile. "Intelligent question though. You've got exemplary insight into potential problems." Dean said obviously proud of her partner's grasp of the possibilities.

"Okay, so what's next?" Katie said beaming at the compliment.

"Next, is the best friend a maid can have!" Dean opened the next box and pulled out a can of furniture polish. It looked just like the cans of Lemon Pledge Katie had been using at the lodge.

"I get to clean the place up eh?" Katie said with a twisted smile on her face.

"Sorta, only don't use this can by accident. See how the top swivels and there's a red dot here and a blue dot on the other side of the neck." Dean pointed these out to Katie.

"Yeah, only the regular cans only have the red dot. You're supposed to make sure the nozzle is pointed in that direction when you use it. Right?"

"Right, only the red dot indicates a knock out gas, so make sure you're holding your breath for at least twenty seconds after you stop pressing the nozzle, if you need to use it. Anyone breathing in the gas will be sleeping for an hour just like the pen gas, so be careful if you use this. The blue dot emits a fine powder spray so you can see laser beams in the dark."

"Not bad," Katie said admiring the little 'toys' in Dean's play box. "Got anything else for me?"

"Yeah, but they haven't arrived yet. Should be here by tonight. Let's go see what's up on the screens. They should be just about ready for breakfast by now." The two women went over to the console and slipped on headphones then toggled them on. The only action so far was in the kitchen between El and Ezra.

"So Ezra, what do you think of all these guests?" Came the cook’s voice.

"Kinda strange to me El, but I really don't care as long as Mr. G gets to keep the place and we get to keep our jobs." Replied her husband.

"Yeah hon, I know what you mean. It'd be tough for us to start over again someplace else and we sure can't afford to retire. I just hope nothing goes wrong for Mr. G and we wind up losing our jobs." El said with a heavy voice before she continued. "Not only that dear, but what about them two kids we got working here too. They need the money too. Darla is expecting a baby in June and that Katie is supporting her family and all."

"Yep, would be tough on all of us. But I'll tell ya somethin'… I just don't like the looks of that Smirnoff fella. And those assistants of his are spooky! That one guy never comes out of the cellar. Why, when that water pipe broke week 'fore last, I thought he was gonna have my hide for goin' down there. I’d tried to go down the main stairs but they was locked so I'd used that old back way from when the cellar was reinforced for a bomb shelter back in the ‘50s. Didn't mean ta scare him or nothin’. He was just watchin' TV and listen' ta headphones. Damn good thing that woman showed up and was able to talk to him in his language. She calmed him down long enough for me to fix the pipe. Don't know why the hell anyone would want to live in the cellar when there's all these nice rooms up here!" Ezra finished his triade with a final "spooky son's a guns if ya ask me!"

"Well, let's get this breakfast out there, they'll be comin' down soon." Came El's soft reply.

Sapphire and emerald eyes locked then Dean spoke. "Well, well, well. We may have a way in after all. And the mystery of penetration is cleared up. Mr. G must be the one responsible for the extra layer of concrete when he reinforced it for a bomb shelter." A wicked gleam came to her eyes as she smiled at Katie. "Wonder if they did anything to block the 'back way' or if Dimitri even knew he came down a back way?"

"Hmmm, I'll see if I can find out some way, if the opportunity ever presents itself." Katie said as she mulled over a few ideas. "Good to know there is one though. May be useful some day."

The two agents went back to their surveillance a bit longer while the rest of the troops finished putting the equipment and gear together. Dean had called for a staff meeting at 1300 so they would have some time to review the previous nights tapes that they picked up from the P & R office before they got to the courts this morning. Breakfast was going per normal, so they set the recorders going and decided to review the tapes from last night. It didn't take them long since the occupants were all asleep. They did note two ethereal bodies moving through the lodge at regular intervals. Perhaps Kasimov brought in some extra help to 'patrol' the lodge. A review of the outside tapes also saw two bodies covering the grounds of the lodge.

"Well, that's a new twist." Commented Katie. "We've never picked up human guards before have we?"

"Nope, first time for everything." Dean replied as she rewound the tapes. "Bet the old general doesn't feel as secure as he'd like so he brought in the extra help."

"Wonder where they're staying and just how many of them are there? Didn't pick up any comments about them from El or Ezra." The young blonde said as she tapped the table top.

"Probably in the cellar with Dimitri so they wouldn't arouse any suspicion. That's what I'd have done in his place. And there's probably only the four. Anymore than that would be hard to keep secret." Guessed Dean as she labeled the tapes. "Well at least we're forewarned about the additional security."

"Might put a crimp in our style though." Thought Katie out loud. "In case we have to go in."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now let's go over the agenda for the staff meeting." Then the two women went into the small office to get ready for the staff meeting.

* * * * *

Linna just finished doing the deposit of registration fees for the department when Tracy came into her office. "Is the deposit ready?" Tracy asked as she sat down in the chair next to Linna's desk.

"All ready for ya boss." She looked up at Tracy then added nonchalantly. "So, where's our scientists today? Taking the day off?"

"Oh, they're probably up on the mountain getting a closer look. They'll probably be here sometime today." The director said as she took the deposit envelope from her secretary. "Don't forget I've got that lunch meeting over at the college today. I'll probably just go straight over there from the bank. Do you want me to stop and bring you back some lunch?"

"Nah, I'm going to run out for lunch myself. Got a few errands to run." Linna said setting up her ploy. "Mind if I take a few extra minutes? I've got a lot of running to do."

"Nope, just make sure you lock up and set the alarm. And don't forget to lock the door to the senior center. Can't have them wandering down here when there's no one around." Tracy instructed as she got up to leave.

"Okay boss. Have a fun meeting!"

"Yeah, right! I love listening to politicians blow their horns." Tracy said as she left the office.

Linna waited a good fifteen minutes just to be sure Tracy didn't come back unexpected. Then she went outside and moved her car around back and out of sight. When she came back in she put the 'out to lunch' sign up indicating the time of return for one hour from now. She then set the alarm, locked the doors and turned the lights off. The last thing she did was unlock the small office that the two women were using. Linna took a final look around, then entered the small office turning on only the lamp on the desk.

"Okay, now what?" She said out loud. "Now try not to disturb anything." She reminded herself. Then she went over to the console and sat down scanning all the equipment and dials. She noted the tape machines were running and the sound indicator was making jumping movements as it recorded. "Okay, everything is recording so don't screw anything up." She told herself. Then she reached up and turned on the TV screen and put the headphones on her head. What the hell is this? It certainly isn't a view of the birds and bees! Linna immediately recognized the view on the first TV screen as the exterior of the Gersch Lodge. Hmmm, I wonder why it's focused there? Maybe the wind storm last night put it off target and they went up to fix it. Then she paid attention to the sound coming from the headphones. Hey, that's El and Ezra's voices. Just what the hell's going on here? As Linna continued to listen she found that she could change the direction of the sound device easily so she began searching out other conversations. The last one she picked up really set her mind whirling.

"Geez Johnnie, I still can’t believe Tony was FBI!"

"Believe it man! That freaken’ general knows his stuff Gary, so just drop it will ya!"

"Ya think anyone will find the bodies?"

"Nah, no way. That spook of his was sure to put them somewhere where they won't turn up until they gotta put the bones in a sack to haul them out. Bears or somethin' will get to 'em first."

"No way… bears around here are herbivores not carnivores." Gary corrected. "I learned that on the Discovery Channel." He said proudly.

"Who the fuck cares, Gary. Point is there won’t be much left of them by the time someone finds them!"

Man, that was really somethin' the way they blew themselves away! Freaken crazy if ya ask me!"

"Well, I'm tellin' ya Gary, ya better stop flappin' 'bout it … or they're liable to make you blow yourself away too. I wouldn't be surprised if this whole place was bugged!"

"OH… MY… GOD…!" Linna exclaimed loudy. Just what on earth are those two women and Tracy into? Scientists? Horse pucky! Man, oh man. Now what do I do? Linna’s mind was racing now as she realized the implications of what she just overheard. Just stay cool Linna. You know that Tracy wouldn't be involved in anything illegal. These women must be undercover agents of some sort. OH… MY… GOD…! This is so bizarre. Wait till I tell Kelly, he'll freak that this stuff is happening in his quiet little town. No, no… on second thought I can't tell him. Can't let him know I know if he knows… huh? Oh Linna, you just had to know didn't you! Shit, shit, shit! Linna looked down at her watch and realized that she had been in the room for nearly fifty minutes. Okay, put everything back to the way it was… huh? Now how was it? Okay, turn off the TV, reset the dial… to where? OH… MY… GOD…! Now what? She did the best she could to put things back then turned off the light and left the room, locking it as she closed the door. She just disarmed the alarm, put the lights back on and took down the 'out to lunch' sign when Tracy opened the outer door and came whistling down the hall to the main office. Oooo, that was too close! Linna said to herself as she greeted Tracy at the door.

"You're back early." Linna said with a big nervous smile.

"Yeah, well, I showed up and let everyone see my face, then I slipped out the back door. I hate listening to politicians." She said shaking her head and walking off to her office. "I didn't even want to stay for the free food after, that's how bad I wanted to leave."

"Umm, if you're hungry we still have some burritos in the freezer." Linna offered while silently trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. "I didn't get a chance to eat either."

"Sure, sounds good to me." Tracy said as she came back out of her office and joined Linna in the small kitchen area.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Monday… 0130 hours…

"Okay, listen up!" Dean called the group together around the tables. She turned on the slide projector and put the first slide up of the local map and began with the location of the lodge. "We know that the lodge is brimming with audio and visual surveillance throughout. General Kasimov has also recently added four armed guards to supplement his laser beam security. He is also using an old ‘speakeasy/bomb shelter’ in the basement of the lodge for his control center. It can’t be penetrated by any of our technology." She produced slides of the lodge layout indicating where this area is located. "We also know that there are at least twenty eight cartel representatives from across the globe currently residing at the lodge. Dean flashed pictures of each and gave their name and cartel representation for each one. She went on to give an overview of General Kasimov’s, Natasha’s, and Dimitri’s role’s, displaying their pictures too. "I’m now going to play the audio tape from the night agent’s Cabini and Sanchez were murdered. Please pay close attention and see if you note anything unusual in the tape." She played the tape then asked for comments. No one noticed anything unusual. "This is Gus Silver. He’s heading up the technology end for us. He’s from NSA and he’ll be working with a team comprised from each of the agencies. Okay Gus, it’s up to you and your boys to tear this tape apart for any abnormalities." She nodded at Gus as she handed him a copy of the tape from the night of the incident. Then Dean discussed the subsequent recovery of the agent’s bodies and the initial autopsy results. After that, she introduced Dr. Beth Berg, from the DEA, who took over the discussion on the current findings regarding the mind control substance.

"What we have to date is very little." Dr. Berg informed the group as she pulled out a drawing of the chemical makeup of the substance. "We know from what General Kasimov inferred that this substance can be ingested, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. We also know that once it is in the system it has a life span of 96 hours. After that it dissipates and becomes innate." She went over to the blackboard and put ‘four methods of administration’ and ‘96 hours’ below it on the board. "We also know that the substance alone will not cause a person to do anything out of their ordinary routine. There has to be a verbal command." She added ‘verbal command’ under the ‘96 hours’ on the blackboard. "Finally, we know that there is something else that triggers the drug to accept the verbal command." She then placed a question mark on the blackboard under the other items. "We need to find out what that question mark represents." She emphasized this statement by circling the question mark. "Perhaps if we can find out what this is," she tapped the chalk on the question mark "we can break the chain of action." She looked over at Dean and then returned to her seat

"Thanks Beth." Katie said as she stood to address the group. "According to our information, this drug of General Kasimov’s has already been placed. We estimate that there is enough of this drug ‘out there’ ready to be released with a potential to affect millions of people." Katie paused for effect then continued. "We just don’t know where it is or the mode of transmission that will be used although it is in liquid form rather than gas." Katie went over to a flip chart and produced a drawing of what the canisters supposedly looked like. "This is an approximate drawing of what the 500 canisters containing the drug looks like."

"Looks like an air tank to me." Commented a middle aged agent named Bruce. "But what are those slots for?"

"The nearest we can figure is that the drug will somehow be released through those slots." Katie said before continuing. "Our informant mentioned that there is some sort of device attached to the top of each tank. It’s not certain if that device is necessary for release of the drug or for filling the canisters or both."

"It may be for both, but my guess is it’s gotta be for the release." Bruce observed. "I was a Navy Seal before I joined the FBI, and have used a lot of air tanks for diving and have seen a lot of chemical warfare canisters. I can’t imagine the General sending out his troops to turn on 500 tanks to disperse the drug. My bet would be it’s either a remote control device or a timed device." He stated. "If it’s a remote, we might have a chance at stopping the relay before it releases the drug. If it’s a timed device we may be in real trouble trying to find all 500 canisters to stop the timers before they open up."

"Thanks Bruce." Katie said as she smiled at him. "I’m sure you’re right and my gut tells me that they’re probably timers then. I can’t imagine the General taking a chance of the signal getting interrupted." The group nodded in agreement. "Now we need to find out where he put 500 canisters as well as who his targets are. If anyone has any theories on this, I’m all ears." She said as she looked around the group. Not getting any response Katie added. "Well, keep this information in mind as you work. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated."

"Okay folks. Time to get to work." Dean said as she stood again. "Dr. Berg, your group will be set up near the locker rooms. The sooner we find out what that question mark represents the better." Dr. Berg nodded. "Bruce, you and your team will work on the maps and possible targets. Also work on possible locations for 500 canisters of drugs." Bruce also nodded in affirmation. "Gus, you and your boys will be set up here by the consoles. Get me what you can from those tapes okay?"

"You bet Colonel." Gus replied.

"All right then… we’ve got just about a month to crack this before we have a massive event that we won’t be able to control. Let’s get to work." With that the task force broke up into their smaller groups and went to work on their respective enigmas.

"Well, that went fairly well." Katie said as she walked over to Dean. "Lets just hope we can get to the bottom of this soon." She looked up into the intense blue eyes of her partner then said. "I don’t want to be late!"

"Me either." Came the soft far off response from Dean. "Me either."

* * * * * *

At 1500 the two women left the court building and headed down to the P & R office to fill in Tracy. They decided that it would be better for them to go there than to have Tracy show up at the courts. As they walked into the office, Linna greeted them with big and somewhat nervous smile. "So how’s the mountain?" Linna added as the two agents entered.

"The mountain?" They answered in unison.

"Yeah, Tracy said you were probably up there today since you didn’t come in to the office." Linna offered.

"Oh… that mountain!" Katie answered as she recovered from the momentary confusion. "It’s fine, just fine. Did a little fine tuning of our equipment then took a nice walk around."

"Um… yeah." Offered Dean. "Just wanted to make sure that wind storm last night didn’t knock anything out of whack."

"Is Tracy in?" The young blonde interjected quickly before Linna could quiz them anymore.

"Yep, but she has the Commission chairperson in with her right now. She’ll only be a bit." Linna said as she got ready to ask another question but was stopped by a ringing telephone.

The two agents took the opportunity to go into their small office to avoid any further conversation. "Did she seem nervous to you?" Katie asked as they sat down in front of the console.

"Nah, I think I just intimidate her." Dean said with a chuckle.

"You have a tendency to do that to a lot of people." Katie replied as she put her set of headphones on. She sat there for a while then looked over at Dean. "Did you reset the voice direction on these this morning? I could have sworn we left it on the dining area and it’s set for the kitchen."

Dean gave her a quizzical look then donned her headphones and listened for a bit. "Nope, I don’t think so, but maybe we’re just confused with the two set ups now. We were listening to El and Ezra this morning at the courts."

"Yeah, you’re probably right." The young agent acknowledged then refocused her attention on the audio device and scanned the lodge for conversations. Most of them were just normal banter then her head exploded with the sound of gunfire. "Shit!" She called out as she ripped off the headphones. "That really hurt!"

"What happened?" Dean asked, her blue eyes showing intense concern.

"I think I just found the shooting range. Either that or the place is under siege with automatic weapon fire!" Katie said as she held her head and tried to shake out the remaining echoes.

Dean unconsciously looked up at the TV monitor then back at Katie. "Guess we need to mark that on the layout map so we don’t stumble on it again without turning the volume down."

"Good idea." Remarked Katie as she lowered the volume, put the headphones back on, and returned to her scanning.

Dean had just started to review the tapes from earlier today when there was a knock on the door. She got up and opened the door to find Tracy grinning back at her. "Hey." Dean said as she opened the door fully to allow the director in.

"How’s it going at the courts?" Tracy inquired as she stepped in closing the door before she spoke.

"Not bad. We’re all set up and the task force is working on their specific angles." She paused then shook her head and added. "I just hope we have enough time to crack this one."

"So aren’t you going to ask me why I’m grinning?" Tracy looked at the two women with the biggest Cheshire cat grin she could muster.

"Okay… we bite… why are you grinning?" Katie said as she took her headphones off.

"I just got a special delivery letter." The director said as she waved it in front their faces. "Want to know what’s in it?" The two women just nodded grinning back at her. "It’s a check for $50,000.00 from the Enigma Foundation!"

"Wow." Dean said with wide eyes. "I didn’t expect Jack to act that fast. Is that why the commissioner was here?"

"Yep. It came addressed to him with a nice little letter informing him that an anonymous donor was impressed with my work here and wanted to help us reach some of our improvement goals so he sent this ‘little’ donation our way…. Cool huh?"

"Definitely cool." Chimed in Katie. "Good cover letter too."

"Yeah, I thought so too. So what’s new?"

They proceeded to update Tracy on the staff briefing including the latest on the autopsy and the canisters. "I hear that Dr. Berg is one of the best in her field. You’re lucky they sent her down." Tracy said when Dean finished her update.

"I asked for her specifically." Katie offered. "We went through training together at Quantico and have been friends ever since. And you’re right, she is the best!"

"That so?" Blue eyes shifted to peer into the emeralds across from her. "Friends, huh?"

The emeralds across from her twinkled as Katie replied, "Yes… just friends."

"So…. " Tracy decided to interrupt the staring match, "do you really think the canisters are on a timer? ‘Cause if they are you’d better concentrate on counter-acting the drug. I can’t imagine having any success in locating and disengaging a timer on 500 canisters!"

"That’s what we thought too." Dean said as she broke off her eye contact with Katie winking as she did so. "Katie thinks that Kasimov wouldn’t leave the release of the drug left to any chance of a signal interruption and I believe she’s right."

"So what are the chances of stopping or counteracting the drug?" Tracy asked while mentally considering the needle in the haystack they were going to have to find.

"Well, I just hope Beth can come up with something… and in time. Then we’ve got to figure out who and where his intended drug victims are and what they’ll be told to do." Katie got up and walked over to Dean and put her hand on Dean’s shoulder. "Then we have to figure out how to stop it all." She said giving a squeeze to Dean’s shoulder.

"Piece of cake!" Dean replied as she reached up and placed her hand over Katie’s.

"Well, ya know if there’s anything I can do, just whistle." Tracy said as she stood to leave.

"You’ve already done more than you should have, but we’ll definitely keep you in mind." Dean sighed, then added. "If you can put up with it, I’d like to keep this surveillance console active as a back up."

"No problemo." Tracy smiled. "I was hoping you would. I know it’s kinda selfish of me, but I’d like to stay in the loop." The two agents smiled and nodded their affirmation as Tracy left the office.

"What say we pack up today’s tapes and take them to Gus’s boys to review?" Dean suggested as she took the tapes out of the machines and replaced them with fresh ones. "Then we can go grab a bite to eat before we check in for the evening briefing?"

"Sounds like a plan." Replied the young blonde as she gave Dean a big hug, then added, "You’re not really upset about Beth are you?"

"Naw… just pulling your leg." Dean said as she bent down to give Katie a very sensual kiss as a simple but effective declaration of her affection for the young woman.

By 1600, they had locked and left the office, thankful that Linna was in Tracy’s office and out of ear shot, thus safe from having to make up any more lies to appease the secretary’s inquisitive nature. Both women really liked Linna, but both agreed that it was best to keep her in the dark. Little did they know that Linna was just as actively trying to avoid the two agents in fear of having been found out.

* * * * * * * * * *

After a quick trip home, a hastily prepared pasta dinner, and a long relaxing and highly sensual pause in the two person Jacuzzi, the two agents were on their way back to the tennis court building for the evening briefing. There were light flurries in the air and they were starting to stick to the ground. The weather forecast was predicting a light ‘dusting’ of snow by morning.

"Let’s hope they’ve got this solved and it’ll be over by the time we get there." Katie said in her most positive voice.

"You are a dreamer aren’t you?" Dean casually held her partners hand then lifted it to her lips as she caressed each of the knuckles with her soft lips.

"Mmmm. Just thinking of better things to be doing right now than meeting with a bunch of stodgy old scientists and super techno twits."

"Techno twits? I don’t think they would appreciate you labeling them techno twits!" Dean mumbled around the knuckles that were still being caressed. "But, I have to agree with you about thinking of better things we could be doing!"

"Well, hopefully they will have gotten a bit closer to solving this mystery." Katie sighed as Dean released her hand to make the turn onto the road leading into the old resort. By the time the SUV had warmed up it was time for them to get out and brave the cold again.

An anxiously pacing Gus met them at the door. "I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news." Gus reported as the two women entered the building.

"Okay," Dean said as she shut the door. "Give me the bad news first."

"The wiring in this place isn’t meant for the juice we’re drawing. We’re gonna to have to shut down the surveillance equipment until we can add more circuits."

Dean shrugged, knowing that the back up system was still on, then asked for the good news.

"Well, just before we lost power to the surveillance unit, your man Kasimov made an announcement, and…" Green and blue eyes pinned the techno wizard and held their breath. "seems he’s leaving in the morning for the Russian Embassy in Washington until the middle of December."

The two women released their held breaths at the same time and looked at each other. "And that’s good news because… ?" Came the question from Katie.

"Well, Bruce was talking it over with his team and they thought they would be able to do a night insertion and examine the control room while Kasimov’s gone." He said not understanding the cool reception to that idea.

"He’ll do no such thing." Came the quick response from Dean. "Kasimov may be leaving, but I’m sure he won’t be taking Dimitri with him." She looked over at Katie and they young agent could see a definite change in coloring in the blue eyes looking back at her. It was as though Dean’s eyes turned to steel blue and her neck and face began getting flushed, she could almost palpate the anger rising in her partner.

"Well. It makes sense that he’s heading for D.C." The blonde murmured. "Especially if he already has the drug canisters in place. And after all, he is the Russian’s Security Director, so why not go to the Embassy? Probably has to put in an appearance so the Russian’s don’t get suspicious."

"Yeah, but don’t believe for a minute that I’ll give a damn about diplomatic immunity if I can catch his sorry butt in the middle of this. We’ll just have to make sure he’s in the thick of it and not hiding at the Embassy. I don’t want to lose him again." Dean’s voice had turned to a very low menacing tone when she spoke, and it alarmed Katie some to see the absolute hatred and anger that emerged whenever Dean discussed the general. She made a mental note to find out why Kasimov pushed Dean’s button’s so easily.

About this time, Bruce came over to the trio and soon found himself the target of Dean’s growing anger as she swiveled her attention towards him. "What make’s you think you can decide to do a night insertion?" She said as she pulled herself up to her full 6’1’ height and bore down on him with her steely blue stare.

"Uh... I thought…" He started to stammer while backing up a bit, unsure as to the cause of this reaction by his superior.

"I’m the one who does the thinking around here!" The dark haired woman growled. "Nobody does anything without my permission, ya got that!"

Bruce began looking back and forth between Katie and Gus, then back to Dean not knowing what brought this mood change about. He was trying desperately to figure out how to get out of this situation with all his parts in working order when Katie stepped up, obviously trying to diffuse the situation before Dean and Bruce came to blows.

"Umm… Dean?" She said softly as she gently placed her hand on a very tense Dean. "I’m sure Bruce wouldn’t have done anything without your permission…" she began as Bruce emphatically nodded his head in agreement.

"No, no… Colonel, of course not." Bruce said as he held up his hands partly in an effort to explain and partly in self-defense. "My team and I were just talking about the possibility… not planning anything… really…"

Steely blue eyes shifted from Bruce to Katie’s entreating emerald eyes, back to Bruce. "Yeah… well, just make sure you pass things through me before you do anything." Came a somewhat less hostile response from Dean before she turned and strode off towards the small office that was her private domain. Katie stayed a moment with Bruce and Gus ensuring them that everything would be all right before she followed Dean to the office.

Katie entered and closed the door quietly behind her, she saw Dean sitting at her desk with her feet propped up and her back to the door, and her arms crossed in front of her chest. As she came around the desk to Dean, she saw Dean’s eyes closed and monitored the contractions of the jaw muscles as the clenched and released, then tightened again. She carefully approached, gently placing her hand on the right shoulder, feeling the tension release some at her touch.

"Dean… are you all right?" Katie spoke softly as she began to gently massage the older agents shoulders.

Dean didn’t answer at first, only inhaling and exhaling deeply a few times before she spoke. "I’m sorry… I just…"

"It’s okay." Katie said as she continued the gently massage noting the relaxation of Dean’s muscles as she did so. "I’m sure you have your reasons… "

"No. It’s not ‘okay.’ I shouldn’t lose control like that." Dean said as she swiveled around to face the young woman.

"Then what happened? What set you off?"

"Kasimov sets me off!" She said as her steely eyes returned to a warmer blue. "I should have taken him out the first time I saw him… the bastard!"

Katie just waited and let Dean settle down. She wanted to know the story behind the anger, but also wanted to give Dean the space and time to tell her story. She only had to wait a few minutes before Dean was composed enough to begin.

"It was just after I made First Lieutenant, about ten years ago, I had an assignment that took me undercover into Russia. I was to meet my Russian contact and swap some stolen U. S. military computer chips for identical, but altered computer chips. The chips that were stolen would compromise our missile guidance capabilities severely. The one’s I had to replace them with were identical except for one small thing… a virus that was implanted in the chip that would destroy their computer guidance systems once they used it. And it worked. They’re still trying to recover from that damage. I got in, made the switch and was home free except for one thing… Kasimov." Dean sighed and closed her eyes once more as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

"What happened?" The young blonde asked as she gently stroked Dean’s cheek and wiped the tear away.

"Somehow, my contact was compromised. I had only met with her twice on the operation, but she was a very likable person. She was full of life, energy and had a terrific sense of humor. And she was very brave. I did my best to try to save her, but it wasn’t enough." Another tear fell. "She led them to believe that the op hadn’t even begun… that it was scheduled for the following week. Kasimov ordered the chips to be moved and installed in their computer systems immediately. As soon as I found out, I went back and tried to get her out. I found her in the interrogation room." Dean’s voice had become raw with emotion as she continued the story. "She was still alive when I found her. Her face was beaten almost beyond recognition. She had been tortured, repeatedly raped by the General himself, and left on the floor to die. I held her in my arms as she told me what the General had done and that the op was safe. She begged me to leave her there, but I couldn’t. I picked her up and was almost in the clear when Kasimov and his men spotted us and opened fire." Katie sucked in a breath as she saw the pain in Dean’s eyes. "I don’t know how I managed to make it to the pick up vehicle. I had been hit seventeen times and passed out as the door to the van closed. Next thing I knew I woke up at General Leonard Wood Army Hospital. That’s where I first met Tracy." Dean blinked away the tears then looked at Katie. "So you see, I too know what it’s like to be too late. Through all the beatings, the torture and the rapes, she didn’t give in and saved the operation. I swore if I ever crossed paths with Kasimov again, I’d even the score for Katarina"

"I understand now why he sets you off so easily." Katie said quietly. "We’ll get him this time."

"Yes we will… if it’s the last thing I do." Then Dean got up and walked to the door.

"Where are you going?" The young agent asked.

"To apologize to Bruce." Came the quiet reply as she left the office to find Bruce and mend some fences.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thursday… 0900 Hours

Dean was back at the Parks & Recreation office doing the audio and visual surveillance until the new circuits were installed in the court building. Oh yeah… Tracy was getting a top notch wiring job on the old building. She’ll have more juice than she’ll ever know what to do with. Dean mused as she idly scanned the rooms for pertinent conversation. They also decided to upgrade the heating system and put in a small kitchen while they were at it. She’s going to be primping her feathers for quite a while after this job is over. Couldn’t have happened to a better person. The tall agent thought to herself. Now all we have to do is get this job over without anyone getting hurt in the process. Dean mentally reviewed the progress of the past two days.

The teams working at the court building weren’t getting very far yet. Dr. Berg had managed to reproduce the drug successfully but has not been able to isolate the one factor that makes it effective. Several of the staff acted as guinea pigs for the process but so far no one jumped when commanded. She went over and over the tape from the night the two agents were killed and tried to put in every possible scenario from the kind of food served, the drinks the two men had before dinner, whether they smoked or not, even down to the after dinner mints on the tables. Still there was no progress in finding the elusive trigger.

Gus on the other hand was tied up with the electrical installation so his job was temporarily on hold. The ETA for completion of the new circuitry was Thursday night at the best so he gave the tape back to Dean to review while at the P & R office.

Bruce and his team were actively working on their project. They were coming up with lists and lists of possible targets and drug deployment tactics but the numbers were starting to stack up against them. They were too numerous for the team to check out and eliminate before another stack of possibilities turned up.

What they all needed was a break. Just a little clue… anything to help them turn onto the right path. Dean and Katie were trying their best to find that clue. But so far they were all batting zero. Katie had been back to the lodge now since Tuesday morning. She managed to have a quick rendezvous with Lin, but even Lin was unable to shed any light. The cartel members were occupying their time with the various amenities provided by the General. The indoor shooting range was constantly in use as were the game room, gym, sauna, TV lounge, and the pool. Several of the ‘guests’ took advantage of the acreage surrounding the lodge and spent time outdoors as well as in. All in all the general attitude of the cartel was that they were on ‘vacation’ until further orders came in so they may as well enjoy themselves even though many of them were getting a bit antsy from all the sitting around. Natasha had scheduled several more hunting trips that would carry them through deer season. And after the time spent in the indoor range, the deer had better head for the hills.

At 1100 Tracy knocked on the door to the surveillance office and stepped in when Dean opened the door. "Hey… how’s it going?" The director asked as she walked over to take a seat at the console.

"All’s quiet on the lodge front." Dean answered as she handed a set of headphones over to Tracy. "They’re still working on the wiring at the courts, Dr. Berg’s still at ground zero, and Bruce is seeing possible scenarios everywhere."

Continued - Part 4

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