C. Paradee - Deep Cover

Shelby pursed her lips, glaring at Earl, and biting off a retort. She didn't want to do anything to jeopardize Kris' mother.

"You did a good job on this case. Michael was the assassin. It was your astute observation that was the catalyst in breaking this case. Congratulations."

Any other time, Shelby would've been thrilled to receive such high praise from a Director, but it was meaningless now. Still angry, she said curtly, "Thank you."

Earl sighed, his hands tied. "Do you have any other questions?"

Knowing they wouldn't be answered, Shelby said, "No," and left the office, unshed tears of frustration springing to her eyes. She knew she should feel some satisfaction that Michael had been apprehended, but it was diminished because her partner remained in custody as well.

Irritated, Shelby tossed down the newspaper. She stood up and started pacing, ending up in the dining room in front of her cabinet of mythical figures. She glanced over at Masha who was watching TV.

It was Saturday, a full two weeks since she'd last seen Kris, and her patience had run out. Reviewing her limited options, she decided to request a meeting with Earl and Dennis on Monday and threaten to leak the case to the newspapers. Silence was not helping her partner's cause, and considering the CIA's fear of bad publicity, threatening to go public just might.

Shelby had agonized over this final, long-shot plan to free Kris, well aware that it could mean the end of her career. She'd searched for other viable options, but, stymied at every turn, she knew that if the choice came to Kris or her career, there was no choice. She could find a new line of work...she would never find another Kris, and her heart wouldn't allow her to give up until she'd exhausted every avenue.

The analyst shuddered as she reflected that the CIA could make her partner disappear. Shelby realized she had no other choice except to exploit their paranoia about another public scandal and hope for the best.

She absently gazed at the knickknacks, wistfully longing for her childhood certitude in the power of magic. Kris' absence was a constant ache, a reminder that nothing could ever fill her heart and life as the operative had. Dark circles had formed beneath her eyes, the result of too many sleepless nights filled with unending tears rolling from anguished eyes.

Masha studied the young woman gazing into the cabinet. She had come to care deeply for Shelby during the two weeks they had shared the apartment. The American was a stranger, yet she had opened her home to her and shown her nothing but kindness.

She knew Shelby had a deep bond with her daughter and had extended that friendship to include her. She'd had two weeks to do little but wonder at the generosity shown her, even as she worried what the future held for both herself and her daughter.

Would she ever see Natasha again or would she be sent back to Russia? If she did return to her homeland, would she be branded a traitor? Would she ever have the chance to establish a relationship with her only child? What kind of person had her daughter become? Would she want her mother back in her life? Shelby seemed to think she would, but Masha needed to talk to Natasha and draw her own conclusions.

The questions were endless, and only time would provide the answers to them. As she gazed at Shelby, Masha knew her priority right now rested with trying to raise the younger woman's spirits.

She walked up behind Shelby, laid her hand on the blonde's shoulder and spoke with conviction. "No be sad. Natasha good job."

Pulled from her reverie, Shelby nodded, then turned and hugged Masha appreciating her unfailing support.

"I know. I'm just worried."

Now, she walked over to the couch with Masha and sat down. It was time for the news and she watched it religiously each day, vacillating between the hope of hearing something that might signal Kris' release and the fear of what she might actually see. She reached over and gently squeezed the Russian's hand. "Maybe today."

When the news ended without any mention of Kris or the Russian embassy, Masha lifted Stormy from her lap and turned to face Shelby. Even though she didn't understand all the words, she could see the resignation in the younger woman's face. "We go see Lisa?"

The analyst smiled and nodded. "Yes." She picked up the phone and punched in the numbers, waiting for Lisa to answer.

"Hi, Mom. Mind if Masha and I stop over a little later?"

Lisa laughed. "Of course not."

"Okay, we'll see you in a bit. Bye."

Shelby picked up the newspaper from its resting place on the coffee table and beckoned for Masha to move closer. In a combination of recently learned Russian words, English, and gestures, she painstakingly explained her plan to try and get Kris released.

Listening carefully, Masha nodded her understanding. When Shelby finished speaking, she said, "You make enemies."

Sighing, Shelby replied, "Yes, but..."

Masha gently interrupted. "I love Natasha."

Shelby smiled. "I know you do. She loves you, too."

Masha gestured at Shelby. "You love her."

Momentarily caught off guard, Shelby agreed, "Yes, I do."

The Russian looked around the apartment. "She stay here with you?"

"Yes. She," Shelby searched for a simple word to explain that Kris had been protecting her, "guarded me."

"She sleep in your bed?"

Shelby was unable to stop a blush from creeping over her face, as the kind, wise eyes gazed at her.

Masha smiled and displayed her new knowledge of casual English. "Okay."

"Okay?" Shelby wasn't quite sure how to take that.

Reaching for Shelby's hand, Masha nodded. "Okay."

She squeezed the older woman's hand, sharing their common love of the absent woman.

A short time later, they departed for Lisa's house.

Lisa opened the door, expecting to see Shelby. Her daughter and Kris' mother had visited several times during the past few weeks, but the profound sadness she could see on her daughter's face broke her heart.

She'd asked about the case, but Shelby had told her it was over and that she couldn't discuss it. The biggest surprise had been when she learned that Masha was staying with her daughter, but when she'd asked after Kris, Shelby would only say she was away.

The only time Lisa had heard any enthusiasm in her daughter's voice was when she'd told Shelby that she was going to start attending a support group for battered wives.

Lisa was jerked to the present by the unexpected figure in her doorway.

Smiling, Jonathan said, "Hey, babe. I've missed you."

"Jonathan, I told you I needed some time and would call you. So why are you here?"

His smiled faded. "You talked to Shelby, didn't you?"

Lisa crossed her arms, blocking the entrance. "Do you mean about how you grabbed her arm where she'd been shot, and threatened her again? Is that what you're talking about?"

Sorrowfully, he said, "Yes, I did do that, but please let me explain."

After meeting with Kim, and following up with phone conversations, Lisa was beginning to understand that she had been at fault too, for not leaving Jonathan and for allowing the abuse to continue against both herself and her children. She would never doubt anything Shelby told her again, but she decided to let her former husband dig himself into a deeper hole. She had heard a full accounting from her daughter and wanted to see how closely the man would stick to the truth.

When Lisa remained silent, Jonathan pleaded, "Please babe?"

"Okay, explain."

He leaned against the doorframe, hoping Lisa would invite him in. "I was minding my own business when there was a knock on the door. It was the cops. I knew I hadn't done anything, but they asked me all sorts of questions about where I was the night before. And then it hit me. Shelby must have turned me into the cops for shooting her." He looked up at Lisa sadly. "I would never do anything like that. Can you imagine how I felt?"