by C Paradee
Megan walked over and hugged her friend. "That's just great. You've waited so long to find a place over there."
"Boy, don't I know it," David grinned back. "You guys will come to our house warming, right?"
"We wouldn't miss it. How long before you close?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe a month. " David answered, a wide smile firmly in place. I better go clean up," he said, turning to go back to the autopsy suite
Megan was working on the preliminary reports of the 2 autopsies she had done that morning, when the teasing, "Hey, Doc," drifted to her ears
Looking up at Mark, she said, "Hi. What's up?"
"I just met with the FBI agent assigned to the Shadow case. The FBI is releasing a statement, sort of like a message to the Shadow killer. They believe the killer is some kind of deranged control freak, a bona fide sociopath who can't exist normally in society. Do you have any comments you'd like to add? Is that what you think too? Or is this just maybe a ruse by the FBI to get the killer to make a mistake?"
Megan thought quickly. Tony obviously hadn't wasted any time on acting on her suggestion. She also had not let the reporter in on the ruse. Well that did make sense. The less people that knew the better
"Yes, I think I'd have to agree with their assessment," she told Mark. Anyway it wasn't a lie because she actually thought whoever was doing it had to be a monster
"Do you mind if I quote you as agreeing with them?" Mark asked
"I don't mind, but I think my boss would probably have a coronary. So let's keep my comments off the record, ok?"
"Sure, no problem. I've got plenty for the story anyway. I better get to work on it. See ya later."
"See you Mark."
She was looking forward to an evening out. It was the first time they were really going out. Megan smiled at the thought. No matter that she had tried to deny it, she finally acknowledged that she had treated their night in the Flats as a date, privately, in her own mind.
"I'd sure like to hear a song," she hinted. Tony smiled sparing a quick look at her partner before turning back to the traffic. "See if you can find something on the radio you like."
Megan began flipping through the channels stopping on the soft rock oldies channel. Tony knew the song and joined in. When she finished, Megan said, "I love listening to you. How did you ever learn to sing like that?"
"I don't know. I just always could," Tony replied self-consciously
Megan had made reservations for 7pm. She went to take a shower while Tony went to the closet in the spare bedroom and pulled out her favorite dress. It was a simple black dress with spaghetti straps, moderately low cut, designed to tastefully outline the curves it covered before gaining width and ending above the knees. She got the accessories she wanted out and waited for Megan to finish showering
Megan began looking through her dresses. Her choice was somewhat limited because she had steered away from more than casual dates and hadn't felt the need to waste money on things she wouldn't use. Smiling, she thought she just might have to do some clothes shopping soon. She pulled out a white dress with thin straps, the top stylishly suggestive, fitting snugly at the waist before gradually becoming full and ending above the knee
Tony finished in the shower and noticed Megan had closed the bedroom door. Thinking, I guess we're dressing separately today, she walked down the hall to the guest room
Unknowingly, each woman's actions mirrored the other. Both dressed with care, expertly applying makeup, taking the extra time required to make sure their hair was perfect, adding jewelry and taking that last look in the mirror, satisfied.
Tony finished first and went to the living room to wait for Megan. A short time later Megan appeared. Their eyes widened simultaneously, each taking in the other's appearance. Both started to talk at the same time, and they began laughing. Tony said, "You are so beautiful."
Megan blushed at the intensity of Tony's words, and smiled. "Thanks. But you know, since you took the words right out of my mouth, I guess I'll have to settle for telling you how gorgeous you are," she said playfully but meaning every word of the compliment. She watched the red creep up on Tony's face as she voiced her thanks for the compliment. Tony decided she had blushed more in the past two weeks than she had in her whole life. She knew the reason was because it had never mattered before what anyone thought; but now, the plain truth was, it mattered very much what the small woman standing in front of her thought
Megan and Tony were led to their seats out on the balcony overlooking the lake. Following the waiter, they were both aware of the appreciative looks cast their way by other patrons in the crowded restaurant. Tony was used to it. Megan was not
"Everyone's looking at us," Megan said quietly, once they were seated
Tony smiled sassily, winked, and said, "That's cuz you look so good."
"I don't think I'm the only one they're looking at," she said answering Tony with an equally alluring smile deciding two could play this game
Tony looked at Megan and decided if they were going to stay for dinner she had better change the subject because the way the woman she loved, who just happened to be dressed to kill, was sitting across the table smiling at her was quickly flaming a different appetite.
"What are you going to have?" she asked, conceding to Megan
Megan never missed a beat and said, "They've got really good salmon here. I think I'll have that," unable to keep a teasing smile from appearing on her face
Tony just raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I think I'll have the same."
Megan and Tony enjoyed the leisurely dinner. They were constantly learning things about each other and with each new discovery there came greater understanding and insight into the inner self of the other. They returned home, tired but relaxed
Tony had always been an early riser, but that had taken on a new attraction lately. The past few mornings she woke up enveloped in a sense of well being with the weight of her partner resting across her. She relished the comfort she found in their closeness and would wait for her to wake up. She loved to watch Megan open her eyes and smile lazily up at her
Megan woke to the sound of Tony's heart beating a steady rhythm in her ear. She knew the blue orbs were watching her, and knew the love she felt was reflected back in them. She slowly lifted her head to meet the eyes watching her. With a sultry smile, she traced her finger slowly along Tony's cheek and down her neck, feeling the quickening of her partner's pulse. Meeting Tony's eyes she began a languid exploration, feeling Tony's quick intake of breath. Tony kissed her and she knew her, not so subtle, invitation was being enthusiastically accepted
Tony was nervous. Ever since Megan had told her Ashley wanted to meet her and was coming over for dinner, she had been uneasy. This was Megan's sister. Her favorite sister. What if she didn't like her? She knew Megan had told her about them. But this was important. She didn't want their relationship to make things difficult for Megan. She wryly laughed at herself. Normally Tony didn't give a damn about what people thought of her
Megan walked over and sat down beside Tony. She could tell Tony was uncomfortable and knew she was worried about meeting Ashley. "Hey, relax," she said putting her hand on Tony's thigh. "You'll like her, and I know she'll like you." Grinning mischievously, Megan said, "She knows I have good taste." The last prompted a smile from Tony
"You need any more help?"
"You know everything's done," Megan said. "Come mere," she urged Tony's head down for a kiss. Megan tucked herself up against Tony's side while they waited for Ashley to arrive. Tony relaxed, comforted by the small woman leaning against her side
When Megan answered the door, she drew her sister into a quick hug. Leading her in to the apartment, she introduced her to Tony. .Ashley had the usual reaction of people meeting Tony for the first time, awe, surprise, and an awareness of a dangerous, yet sensuous aura surrounding the tall woman. Smiling to herself, she could certainly understand why her sister was so taken with this tall appealing woman
"
So Tony, Megan tells me you're an FBI agent. What's it like?"
"It's really just like any other job. You spend a great deal of time behind a desk, or doing leg work researching leads which usually don't pan out. It's not nearly as glamorous as TV portrays it to be." Tony said, down playing her role.
Megan changed the direction of the conversation at this point, knowing how much Tony hated to be the topic of conversation. "Ashley, did you guys go the Grand Prix today?"
"No, John took the kids to his Mom's house for the day. I had to finish up a project for work, so I decided to let them go on alone."
Tony quietly studied Megan's sister. Ashley was taller than Megan, about 5'6" and had golden brown hair and brown eyes. She seemed to be very easy going and smiled a lot. The rapport between her and Megan was obvious by their bantering back and forth
It wasn't long before Tony's uneasiness subsided and she was drawn into the conversation. Megan and Ashley were both very gregarious and she relaxed and started enjoying herself
Ashley decided she liked the tall dark woman. She seemed rather quiet, but Ashley had not missed how her eyes followed every move Megan made and the love projected from them. It was very obvious to her this woman was devoted to Megan. She also sensed they shared something very special and was happy with that knowledge
Later that night, a memory wove its way through Tony's mind. Wistfully, she examined it... a happy time... so long ago... and she brutally forced it away, knowing she didn't deserve it and that it had only been brought on by the interaction she'd seen between Megan and her sister.
Megan looked over at Tony and saw a distant expression on her face. "What are ya thinking about?"
Tony pulled back from her ruminations and said, "You really don't want to know."
"Tony... I really do," Megan said meaningfully patting the spot on the bed next to her. "Please?" Tony looked at Megan and realized the simple word was more than a quest for knowledge, it was a plea for trust. Apprehensively she acquiesced to Megan's request hoping she wasn't about to lose her respect
"Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you," her blue eyes glittering darkly, she joined Megan on the bed. Megan just took her hand in hers and held it
"You wanted to know what my mother was like," Tony began, her thoughts going far back in time. As the memories filtered out she began voicing her thoughts aloud
"My mother ran the family with an iron hand. But we were a close knit family and there was plenty of love to go around. We didn't have a lot, but there was always food on the table and a roof over our heads. Mom worked two jobs to keep us in clothes and other necessities. She worked really hard. You gotta give her a lot of credit, raising three children alone, but she refused to accept government aid."
When Tony stopped talking, Megan said, "She sounds pretty special."
"Yeah. She is. I think I was probably her biggest trial. I was always in trouble. I had an almost unerring ability to find it, usually dragging my brothers along. Mom was always having to come to school to pick me up. She tried her best, but most of our clothes were from Goodwill or the Salvation Army. The kids were pretty cruel. They were always making fun of us. So I retaliated. It didn't matter whether they targeted me or my brothers, I made them pay. So she got called. A lot. She used to tell me, "Tony, just ignore them. Words can't hurt you." But, the one thing I had learned from her already was pride. She was proud of us. She never let anyone talk down to her and I guess that's why I just refused to be looked down on."
Megan saw several emotions cross Tony's face as she related the story of a happy family and a home full of love. "Do you get to see her very often with all the traveling you do?"
Megan saw an expression of pain cover her lover's face. Squeezing her hand gently, she offered her support. The support gave Tony renewed strength to face the haunting memories, and she let her thoughts speak aloud once again
The figures moved stealthily amidst the trees. The object of their hunt obscured in the branches of a tall tree, watching.
All of a sudden they heard gun fire. As the four on the ground quickly stopped and looked around, Tony exited the tree, landing softly near them. She put up a hand indicating silence, and slowly began to make her way toward the gunfire. The others began to follow and she stopped telling them to go back to the cabin. At George and Joey's protests, she told them she just wanted to see what was going on and then she'd meet them back there
She waited until the other four began to make their way toward the cabin before continuing. On the streets of Boston she had often heard rumors of paramilitary groups operating in the mountains, but had never believed them. Tony knew she should just go back to the cabin with the others, but curiosity spurned her on. Unbeknownst to her, Joey and George had told Vinnie and Sharon that they we going to go with their sister and to go ahead to the cabin. They'd just come back with Tony. Since George was the oldest present, no one questioned his decision
The boys began backtracking, careful to make sure they followed a route different from the one Tony had taken. Her temper was infamous and neither wanted to incur it. They figured they'd just meet up with her a little further on and then she'd have to let them come with her
The gun fire grew louder, and she moved up in to the thick trees. From her vantage point, she saw a staggered group of eleven men moving through the woods. They seemed to be chasing something, but she couldn't make out what it was. Watching the group move toward her, a man suddenly came into sight bleeding from wounds to his leg and arm. Her first instinct was to help him, but the group of men following were approaching too quickly. They passed beneath her hiding place closing the gap on the wounded man
Tony decided it was time to go back to the cabin and get help. There was no telephone, but they did have a ham radio. As she began to make her way down the tree, there were loud shouts by some of the men and the staccato clatter of machine guns once again filled the air. Scrambling back up the tree, what she saw froze the blood in her veins. The gunfire had abruptly stopped and the men were standing around two still bodies. The still forms wore the clothes of her brothers. The image burned into her mind as she watched frozen in horror
The sounds of cursing, and bits of phrases drifted through the air, "You idiots... look what you've done... they're nothing but kids. At an unspoken command, the men began to haul ass away from the scene of carnage
Tony never remembered exiting the tree or the mad dash to her brothers. She knelt first next to one and then the other and as the realization hit her that they were dead... and that she'd never hear their voices again, never join them in fun, never laugh with them, never tease them, or hug them, never nothing... ever again... and when the finality of their death ripped through her, she screamed, so full of hurt and anguish that it rocked her back on her heels. Her heart breaking, she choked out one last desperate plea, "No God... please God... no." She lifted each brother's head into her lap, caressing their faces, tears rolling down her face. The enormity of her role in this tragedy then began unfolding in her mind draping a mantle of guilt over her shoulders. Numbness soon followed.. This was her fault. She should have just gone back to the cabin with them. She hardly felt the hand that grasped her shoulder, not caring that she might be in danger, knowing she deserved any fate that may come her way
"Kid, come on," said a man's voice as he put a hand on her shoulder. "We gotta get out of here. They could come back."
She never acknowledged the man, and couldn't have cared less if they came back. She deserved it. She had led her brothers to their death
Desperate, the man walked around, leaned over the still forms cradled in front of her, grasped her shoulders in his hands and shook her. "Come on, kid. Now."
"I'm not leaving them," she said quietly, daring him to defy her
The man sat down near her, his left trouser leg covered with blood, stanched by a tourniquet.. "You can't help them now. The only thing we can do is try to get who was responsible for this. If they come back and we don't get out of here,
the same thing may happen to someone else. Please."
At his words anger began to build inside her. Her mind had grasped the words, 'get who was responsible for this.' She gently moved each brother's head from her lap, and stood. Looking at the man, whose arm was still dripping blood, she unsnapped the first aid pack at her waist and field dressed the wound. Never saying a word, she began to walk toward the cabin
The man was Chuck Parker. He was an FBI agent who had infiltrated the paramilitary group that had killed Tony's brothers. He had been betrayed. Once they arrived back at the cabin, he called for help and it came in the way of an FBI team. Tony was airlifted out along with her brothers' remains
Tony couldn't bear to see the pain in her mother's eyes. She had caused it. She had led her brothers into danger. Her mother turned away from her in her grief, and knowing she was responsible, she turned away from her mother. She accepted the blame for her mother's pain, shouldering it along with the already enormous burden she had taken on. When the double funeral was over. She left.
The only life line offered was from Chuck Parker. As he befriended her, she learned all she could about the FBI and what she must do to become an agent. With a focus that was to become legendary, she threw herself into her college work. Working part time to support herself and taking courses full time, she had no time left for the mind numbing grief. She buried it deep inside, her only thoughts those of revenge
Megan had pulled Tony's head against her when the telling of the story had lent silent tears to her face. Her heart cried out at the palpable pain emanating from her lover and she offered her support through the comfort of her contact. As the tortured eyes met hers, Megan listened to words so filled with self loathing, she almost shuddered at the intensity of them, "So what do you think of me now? I led my brothers to their death