Intersection (38 page)

lex dropped her partner at his hotel and headed back for Cassidy’s. The expected call still had not come and it was Friday afternoon. She pulled onto Cherry Circle and smiled. It wasn’t very long ago that the destination at the end of the street was something she anticipated with antipathy. Now, the drive was comforting. She was looking forward to seeing Cassidy and Dylan. Pulling into the driveway the agent looked up at the large colonial and felt a deep sense of satisfaction knowing who would be awaiting her return, and that someone was waiting for her to return. She had just turned the key off in the ignition when the phone rang, 4:35 pm, she noted the time and answered. “Agent Alex Toles,” she identified herself. Her face fell, back to reality. “I understand…..yes…..I will be….yes, Sir.” That was it. The agent took a deep breath and readied herself to face the occupants of 1215 Cherry Circle.

Cassidy was in the kitchen which did not surprise the agent. She could hear the clanking of pans and was certain that her lover was in the process of making dinner. She peeked in the living room and saw Dylan sitting at the coffee table with two of his action figures. The agent stopped and watched him act out a battle between Batman and some figure she could not identify. Dylan was adorable. He had his mother’s charm and a little bit of a mischievous streak. The agent could feel her eyes getting misty. She looked forward to seeing him in the morning and watching Cassidy tuck him in each evening. A hand on
her back startled her slightly. “Oh… Rose,” Alex choked back a tear. “I was just…”

Rose’s expression conveyed immediately to the agent that Cassidy had spoken with her. The older woman’s eyes were full of both compassion and reassurance. Before Rose could speak a small body thumped into the agent. “Alex! You’re home!”

“Looks that way, huh?”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the large room. Alex looked back and Rose gave her a wink. “LOOK!” On the floor the boy had built some structure from Legos. “It’s the Batcave, Alex!”

“That is quite the building, Speed Racer, look at that.” The agent felt him cling slightly to her neck and she smiled. Rose McCollum kept a watchful eye on the duo for a few moments before making her way out the front door. Alex had already taken a seat on the floor and was smiling broadly and studying with great interest every detail Rose’s grandson pointed out to her. Cassidy’s mother felt a wave of happiness take her over. Cassidy needn’t worry. She could see it as plain as day. There might be things to fear; losing the tall agent was not one of them. “Hey…I’ve got to go see your mom for a while, okay?”

“Okay,” the small voice answered. “Will you help me build a car after?” Dylan asked excitedly.

“You got it, Speed Racer,” Alex said pulling herself up and taking in a large breath as she headed to the kitchen.

Cassidy was in front of the counter with a large pan in front of her. Alex walked up quietly and put her hands on the woman’s waist. Cassidy turned slowly to face the agent and knew in an instant that the call had come. Alex’s eyes were a dead giveaway. “When?” Cassidy asked.

“Monday morning,” the answer came. The smaller woman tried to still her emotions. Alex could tell she had been crying by the puffiness in her eyes. The agent pulled the teacher closer and Cassidy’s tears began to flow again. “Don’t cry, Cass.” Cassidy
buried her face in Alex’s chest trying to speak but unable to form words. She had promised herself that she would not let Alex see her this way. The more time she had to think about things after Alex had left that morning; the more afraid, guilty and lonely she felt. Alex just pulled her close. “It’s not forever, Cassidy, come on,” the agent lifted the woman’s face with her hands. “Stop. We have two days before I have to leave. Let’s try not to dwell…come on,” Alex kissed Cassidy’s forehead. The teacher had seemed much calmer earlier that day and Alex wondered what had changed between the time she had left and now.

Cassidy took another minute to slow her breathing and put her hands on Alex’s chest, looking straight forward, afraid that eye contact would only erupt another wave of emotion. “Let me finish the lasagna.”

“Cass…”

“Alex, I can’t…not now…I don’t want to upset Dylan.”

Alex took a deep breath and kissed the top of the woman’s head. “Okay.” The agent thought for a moment before releasing the teacher to her task. “I love you, Cass,” she whispered, “I hope you know that.”

“I do.”

Dinner had been fairly quiet. Alex wandered off with Dylan and gave Cassidy a little space to clean up. The agent suggested a movie and by nine o’clock a small form had fallen asleep between two larger ones on the couch; two hands joined softly on his back. “I’ll get him,” Alex said as she scooped Dylan up and headed to his room. They hadn’t told him anything yet. In fact, they hadn’t spoken about Alex’s departure since their brief exchange before dinner.

Cassidy watched as the agent tucked the small boy in and stood over him, fiddling with the blanket. There was no doubt
that Alex loved Dylan at least as much as he had fallen in love with the agent. “He’ll be there in the morning,” Cassidy said, feeling a sudden sense of calm as she witnessed Alex’s affection for her son.

“I know,” Alex said.

The teacher put her hand on Alex’s back, “Come on…I need you.” Alex turned and looked at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She understood this was a roadblock for them. She had spent endless hours mulling over what she could have done. She should be more focused on Fisher. She should have kept a professional distance; she should, she should. It was hopeless. Alex loved Cassidy and right now that was all that was on her mind or in her heart. The agent complied with the teacher’s request and followed her to the bedroom.

Cassidy didn’t want to talk, not yet. She needed to feel Alex. She reached up and gently ran the back of her hand down the side of the agent’s cheek, looking deeply into the clear blue eyes that seemed just a tiny bit darker tonight. Alex opened her mouth to speak but any words were quickly quelled by the pressing of two fingers to her lips and the smaller woman in her arms pulling her into a soft kiss, no words. Cassidy undressed the agent slowly. Her touch was so tender that Alex could not keep her eyes open. She could barely let a sigh escape as she looked briefly into the brilliant green eyes that remained slightly red from the many tears that had fallen earlier. Still, they were the most magnificent eyes Alex had ever seen. The feel of the smaller woman in her arms, completely taking the agent over was mind numbing for Alex. She breathed Cassidy in as she felt the woman’s hands and lips slowly discover every inch of her. “Cass,” she whispered as a tear fell down her cheek. She never wanted to leave, never. Alex could hardly form a coherent thought. The only clear thought passing through her mind left her wondering how she could feel so wonderful and so heartbroken at the same moment. She let herself go and held Cassidy’s hands as her body released all of her emotions
physically. Struggling to fill her lungs she whispered her words, “always… Cass.”

The pair stayed wrapped in each other’s warmth in total silence for what seemed like hours. Cassidy resumed her normal unconscious habit of tracing small circles with her fingers across the agent’s skin. “What will they do?” The teacher finally asked.

“I don’t know. I imagine it will be a suspension pending an investigation.”

“Alex, how long?”

Alex swallowed hard. “I won’t be gone long, Cassidy.”

“But if you’re….”

Alex tried to gather her thoughts. “Please, just trust me…I won’t be gone long, no matter what they say.”

“What are you saying?” Cassidy propped herself up. Alex just stared at her. “Alex you can’t quit; that’s not what you’re saying… Alex?”

The agent wasn’t certain how to answer. “Let’s just see what happens Monday.”

Cassidy collapsed back onto the agent. “Alex, I don’t want to ruin…”

The strong agent tightened her grip on the woman in her arms. “Don’t say it. Don’t think it. I know you were crying before I got home today, Cassidy. I’m not leaving you, not ever. Not for good, and the only thing you ruined was my habit of eating macaroni and cheese nightly. Well, that and constant back pain from running so much.” Cassidy giggled. “Go to sleep. I love you,” Alex encouraged, stroking the soft blonde hair that cascaded over her.

“I’m sorry I am such a…”

Alex stopped the thought with a soft kiss. “You are perfect.”

“I love you, Alex.”

“I know. Sleep. It will look better tomorrow.”

The morning was progressing as Alex had hoped. She was not looking forward to telling Dylan that she would be away for a while. She and Cassidy had not spoken about Alex’s departure again and the agent knew that there were things that still needed to be said. Right now, Alex thought that perhaps an afternoon away would be good for all three. She was hoping she might hear something from Pete Ferro or Steven Brady, but she didn’t anticipate they would need to see her. The agent still wasn’t certain what had gotten her lover so upset the day before; though she suspected it was a mixture of all of the changes and realities pressing down on them both. She wanted Cassidy to be assured that she and Dylan would be safe and moreover that Alex would be back.” Are you going to tell me what you are planning?” Cassidy asked sipping her coffee as Alex entered from the deck, hanging up her cell phone.

“You’ll see.”

“Umm hum….”

“I just think getting away from here for a bit might be a good idea,” Alex smiled. “Just get Dylan ready and we’ll leave by ten, okay?” The teacher shook her head and shrugged stretching up on her toes to peck Alex on the cheek before turning to corral her son. The agent kissed her lover’s head and inhaled. She had no intention of talking about the case with Cassidy, the FBI, or her departure until evening. She turned her nose slightly at the feel of her phone buzzing in her pocket. “Agent Toles,” she answered.

“Alex…”

“John?” Alex was surprised to hear President John Merrow’s voice on the other end.

“How are you doing?” The president asked.

“I’m all right. I assume there is a reason for your call, though.”

“I’m sorry, Alex.” Alex took a deep breath and sighed. “It’s out of my hands,” he continued.

“I know that,” the agent replied.

“How are Cassidy and Dylan?” He asked and Alex noted the concern in his voice.

The agent listened to the voices in the other room as Cassidy attempted to wrangle up Dylan and pry him from his new Batcave to get dressed. The sound of his laughter lifted her spirits and she couldn’t help but smile to herself. “We’re fine, John.”

“Good. Listen, Alex,” he paused. “I received some more information. I thought you should know that there is a DOD presence involved.”

“I know.”

John Merrow sat down at the large desk in his private office and took a sip from the glass of scotch he had placed there earlier that morning. “Why does that not surprise me?” He mused. “Taylor?” He inquired.

“I didn’t want to involve you,” Alex explained.

“I appreciate that.”

“Why is the DOD in my old case files?”

“Can’t answer that. Perhaps just because you were assigned the O’Brien case,” he offered. “Yeah… well,” Alex paused listening as Cassidy followed Dylan up the stairs before continuing. “That ‘presence’ as you call it….Brackett, she’s met with Fisher.”