Saturday, August 2, 2014

SIXTY-FIVE

She stared at the screen, her mind turning over its prompt.  Cate hadn't spoken with Gus in the last few days, but that wasn't really a surprise.  It had been a weekend, after all, and at last check-in Gus had said Cupid had kept to his usual routine.  The junior agent was probably calling now to update his partner on an uneventful weekend.

Her finger remained poised over the green circle as her phone continued to vibrate in her hand.  Silently she counted the rings... Three.... Four.... Five... The buzzing and movement halted as the call was redirected to her mailbox.  Cate sighed lightly and slipped the device back into her pocket.  Gus could leave his update on her voicemail; if he had something important to tell her he would call again, or text her.

Her lips curved gently as her gaze returned to the figures on the beach.  Cate watched Jon and his boys play, her heart warm and her soul content.

Maybe it would be enough, if their child came.

Maybe.

Another short buzz in her pocket alerted Cate to the new voice message.  This time she didn't bother to reach for her phone, her gaze not wavering from the view out her window.  She could listen to the message later, after enjoying a relaxed evening with her family and friends.

After a few more minutes of quiet reflection Cate turned away from the window and wandered toward the kitchen.  She hummed softly as she checked on the oven's contents, then began removing dishes from the cupboards to set the table. 

By the time three breathless, windblown Bongiovi males burst through the door Cate had readied the house for their evening.  Jon smiled broadly as his blue eyes swept the room, taking in the festive table and the appetizers and drinks set out on the kitchen island. 

"You were busy."  He moved close to Cate and brushed a kiss over her mouth before giving her behind a light smack.

"Somebody had to do the work," she countered playfully.  "Dinner wasn't gonna cook itself."

Jon chuckled and took a deep breath.  A tantalizing aroma filled his senses.  "Mmmm.  What did you decide to make outta your cart full of gourmet ingredients from the Piggly-Wiggly?"

Cate giggled at his sarcasm.  "Food snob," she chastised, reciprocating his playful spank.  "The best meals are the simplest.  And sometimes they even come from the Piggly-Wiggly."

"Whatever it is, it smells delicious."

"Chicken marsala.  Danny's favorite."  Cate smiled, then quickly added a caveat before Jon could remind her.  "And plain oven-fried chicken tenders for Romeo.  With ranch dip."

Jon chuckled.  "You're a good Mama, taking care of your picky eater."

His comment caught her by surprise.  "I... uh...you mean StepMama," she corrected awkwardly.

"No."

Cate took a breath, her mind immediately flashing to Dorothea.  She wasn't sure Jon's ex-wife would appreciate him equalizing her role in their children's care.

"Jon..."

"You need to get used to that title."  He smiled warmly.

"But your Boys... Dorothea's their mother."

"And so are you."

"I..." Cate paused, not knowing how to respond to his simple logic.  "No, she's the one...."

Before she could fully formulate a reply Jon redirected his attention to the living room, where Jacob and Romeo had sprawled on the couch.  "Hey!  You Chuckleheads!  Get your grimy butts off that sofa before you get it all dirty!"  He rolled his eyes at Cate before continuing his command.  "Go get washed up and put on some clean clothes for dinner!" 

Jacob ignored his father's order as he was focused on poking at the television remote, trying to decipher its workings.  Romeo sat up and looked hopefully at his father, his tousled head popping into view over the sofa's back.  "Is it time to eat?  I'm starving!"

"Not yet.  But it would be nice if you two were party-clean before our guests get here."  Jon's scold was playfully sarcastic. 

Recovering from her momentary awkwardness, Cate echoed Jon's instruction.  "Romeo, after you wash you can have some fruit and cheese.  I put some out on the counter."

"What kinda cheese?"

"Cheddar and mozzarella."

"And what kinda fruit?"

"Berries, melon, grapes..."

Jon interrupted.  "Jesus, Romey!  It doesn't matter what kind of fruit and cheese!  GO WASH UP!"  He gave an exasperated sigh before looking at Cate, shaking his tawny head disbelievingly.  "I swear, that one's got lawyer written all over him.  Everything's gotta be a Goddamned negotiation!"

Cate chuckled and patted her husband's arm before stepping away to respond to the urgent beeping of the oven's expired timer.  "Wonder where he gets that?"

"Not from me."

"Uh huh.  Sure."

"I don't negotiate.  I say 'this is the way it's gonna be,' and that's that."

Cate snickered.  "And if you don't like it, what?  You get whacked?"

Her sarcastic counter made Jon grin.  He crossed the little kitchen in two strides, capturing his bride by the waist as she turned away from the oven.  Jon growled playfully as he pulled her close, his arms banding around her middle and anchoring her hips against his.

"Oh, so now you're crackin' wise, huh?"  His silky voice was accented with heavy Jersey as his blue eyes sparkled. When she smirked back at him his fingers curled against her sides.  Immediately Cate squeaked, attempting to wiggle from his grasp.

"Jon!  Stop it!"  Cate's protest came out as a breathy squeal of laughter. "QUIT!"  She pushed against his chest, then grabbed at his hands in a desperate attempt to still his wriggling fingers. 

"You asked for it, Smartass."  Jon didn't stop tickling her as he chuckled his response. "That's what you get for makin' fun of me."

"STOP!!!!!!!"  Another peal of laughter shrieked from Cate's lips as she squirmed in his unyielding grasp.  "JON!"

"You gonna apologize?"  His fingers paused mid-tickle.

Cate gasped for breath, her blue eyes meeting his.  She blew a puff of air upward, dislodging an errant chestnut strand that had fallen across her face.  She smirked mischievously.  "No."

"Then I ain't gonna stop."  Jon countered in a faux-snarl.  His fingers again wiggled against the thin t-shirt cotton covering her midsection. 

"JONNNNN!!!!!  AAAAAGH!"  Cate's cry was a high-pitched, full-throated shriek that dissolved into hysterical giggles as she tried in vain to escape his torment.  Jon just grinned and held on tight.  Her unbridled laughter was something he had rarely heard in recent months.  It was intoxicating.

"DAD!  What are you DOING?"  Romeo's gleeful shout interrupted the torture.  "Leave Cate alone!"

Jon paused long enough to turn his sandy head.  He gave his youngest son a mischievous wink.  "Your StepMama was a Bad Girl.  She deserves to be tickled."

"What did she do?"

"She made fun of me."

"What did she say?" 

"Something very, very bad.  She accused me of being in the freakin'.... Hey, did you wash your hands?  And that's the same shirt you were wearing...."

Romeo's head swiveled toward the granite-topped island as he noticed the appetizer tray.  The boy tuned out his father's voice as he reached for a cube of cheese.  He had been promised food in exchange for his compliance with hygiene demands.  And he had in fact washed his hands... which was close enough, in his book. 

The boy popped the piece of cheese into his mouth and grabbed a handful of strawberries.  As for what was going on in the kitchen when he arrived, Romeo didn't really care what his Stepmother had said to draw his father's playful ire.  They were obviously goofing around.  Again.  And it would probably end up with kissing. 

"... and use a plate!"  Though he had stopped listening to his father's blather, Romeo comprehended the order.  He dropped the fistful of fruit onto the top appetizer plate of the stack, then slid the dish closer to the tray.  He munched eagerly as he dragged a cluster of grapes and a pile of cheese cubes to join the berries.

"Can I have another soda?"  Romeo turned back to the adults with his request. He sighed, realizing they hadn't heard him.  They were too busy kissing.  Again.

"DAD!  Can I have another SODA?"  Romeo repeated his request more loudly and succinctly.

"NO."  Jon pulled his lips away from Cate's long enough for the denial.

"But I'm thirsty!"

"Water."  Jon pointed toward the sink as he gave Cate one more smacking smooch. 

"I need a glass."

Cate turned her head, her cheeks pink with self-consciousness.  She always felt a little embarrassed when one of Jon's children witnessed their affection.   "There are glasses right there on the counter, Romeo.  Beside the napkins."  She nodded toward the island.

Romeo followed her gesture, turning to see a row of glassware beyond the fruit tray.  "Oh."  He picked up a goblet and carried it to the sink.

Jon rolled his eyes and grinned when Cate looked back at him.  Silently each nodded agreement to what the other was thinking: "And that's why we call them Chuckleheads."

After Romeo filled his glass Jon turned to look toward the living room.  He noticed the television screen had illuminated with moving images, which meant his elder son had figured out the remote.  Jon couldn't see the couch over the half-wall that separated the living room and kitchen, so he called out his query.  "Jake?"

"Huh?"

"Are you still laying around in there?"

"Yeah."

"GO get cleaned up!  NOW!"

"Okay." 

Cate chuckled softly, still held tight in Jon's embrace.  Like him, her gaze was fixed on the seemingly empty living room, awaiting movement.  Seconds later Jacob's dirty-blonde head appeared as he dragged himself off the couch and slouched toward the hallway.  Almost immediately Romeo's darker head bobbed into view.

"Hey!  Who said you could eat in there?"  Jon barked his disapproval. 

Holding a plate loaded with fruit and cheese in one hand and his glass of water in the other, Romeo turned to give the adults a look of mild surprise.  "Cate, can I watch TV?"

"Yes, Romey.  Just put your plate and glass on the coffee table, okay?  And use a coaster under your glass.  They're on the side table."

"Okay."  Romeo's head disappeared.  Seconds later the image on the television screen flashed through a number of scenes, finally pausing on a cartoon.

Jon's sigh next to her ear made Cate giggle.  She turned back to smile at her husband.  "It's all good, Baby.  He's a kid.  They're both gonna eat dinner in there anyway, since my table only seats four."

Jon's voice was soft, confining his words to their private space.  "I know.  They're my boys and I love 'em dearly, but in all honesty... I'm gonna be glad to give 'em back to Dorothea on Friday."

"That's understandable.  You've spent pretty much every minute of the last few weeks with them."

"I know.  And I love doing the Dad stuff.  All of it, even the frustrating part.  But Jesus..."  He sighed heavily and shook his head.

"It's been a long two weeks," Cate agreed gently.  "You need a break.  All parents do eventually."

"I don't know how Dorothea does it, handling those two full-time."

"She does have help, Jon.  And you spend a lot of time with them too.  More than a lot of Dads would."

"I know, but still..." Jon smiled sheepishly.  "I'm looking forward to it being just us again, at least for a couple days.  That's why I told Dorothea I'll drop them off Friday.  So we can have the weekend to ourselves before we both have to go back to work on Monday.  Selfish, huh?"

Cate gave her head a little shake, accompanied by an understanding smile.  "Not at all.  And thanks."

"For...?"

"For thinking of us.  You and me.  Just us."

Jon tipped his head toward Cate's, his smile relaxing as he rubbed his nose affectionately against hers.  "You don't have to thank me.  It's for me as much as you.  I just think we need a couple days to settle back into life, before it gets crazy again.  And we need to talk about what's coming up with the doc...."

"Shhh."  Cate cut him off with a quiet hiss and a firm shake of her head.  "Not now.  The boys..."

Jon chuckled.  "They're not paying attention to what we say.  Hell, they don't hear me when I yell at them."

Cate arched a brow.  "Maybe they don't seem to listen, but I guarantee you they hear more than you think."

"Okay, okay.  But you know what I mean."  Jon's mouth curved again.  "Anyway, I was thinkin' we'd go out to the Jersey house, putter around town, just do nothing much.  Talk.  Think about the next couple months, the summer...."  His voice dropped to a quieter croon.  "And be naked.  Maybe for the whole weekend."  He smirked an waggled an eyebrow.

Cate choked on a giggle.  "The whole weekend?  Don't think we can do that the whole weekend.  We'd attract a little attention walking around town in the Full Monty, don'tcha think?"  She patted his chest.

"So we'll just stay in.  We can have our own little nudist colony, right there on the river."

"You better warn the staff, then."

"I'll give 'em the weekend off."

Cate's chuckle was muffled by Jon's lips.  She smiled against the kiss as her mind turned over his proposition.  An entire weekend of just the two of them sounded wonderful.  Naked or otherwise.

An electronic vibration interrupted the moment, sending a jolt between their bodies.

"Mmmm.  You or me?"  Cate tunneled her fingers into her jeans pocket, searching for her phone.  It was still under her fingertips when a second signal buzzed against her body.

Jon wrapped his hand around Cate's, tugging it from her pocket.  "Don't answer it."

Cate chortled.  "Okay.  No problem, since it's you."

Jon pulled Cate's hand to his chest.  His other arm remained curved around Cate's waist as he smiled down at her.  He swayed slightly, pulling her with him in a gentle little dance.  "Good."

Another buzz tickled Cate's hip.  "Aren't you gonna answer?  Or at least see who it is?"

"Nope."

"What if it's important?"

"It's probably just Ma.  And if not, whoever it is can leave a message."  Jon leaned close, brushing another kiss across Cate's cheek.  "I'm busy."  He started to turn in a slow circle, guiding Cate to follow him. 

Cate sighed contentedly, letting Jon lead in their silent slow-dance.  Her lips curved in a smug little private grin.

"What's that all about?"  His voice was closer to her ear, then his softly-stubbled cheek rubbed against her smooth skin.

"What?"

"That little cat-who-ate-the-canary smirk."

Cate chuckled.  "Just thinking."

"About...?"

"About how you'd be proud of me."

"Why's that?"

Cate grinned.  "Because earlier I ignored a call too.  From work."

Jon's chuckle in her ear made her tingle.  "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?"

She giggled softly.  "It was Gus.  Probably just checking in."

"Ah.  And what made you decide to blow off a chat with your partner?"

"You." 

"Me?  I didn't even know about it."

"Yeah, but..." Cate sighed softly.  "I don't know.  I just... you were playing on the beach with the boys, I was watching from the window.  Thinking about our... family.  And it was just... peaceful, I guess.  Happy.  I didn't want to interrupt that.  So, when Gus called I let it go to voicemail."

"What did his message say?"

"I don't know.  I'll listen to it later."

Jon stopped moving, pulling his face back to give his wife a long look.  His eyes glowed deep azure as the corners of his mouth curved.  "Well that's quite a breakthrough."

Cate felt her cheeks heat as her gaze dropped from his.  The way he was looking at her, with such... pride.  She just couldn't...

She shrugged.  "It's not a breakthrough, Jon.  It was just a dodged phone call.  Not like I've never done it before.  I let calls go to voicemail all the time, when I'm busy, in a meeting...."  Her justification tumbled out of her mouth in a breathy rush.  For some reason she needed to explain, to minimize her husband's overreaction to this mundane occurrance.  "It was actually kinda.... selfish."

"Why?  Because you  ignored a work call during your vacation?"

"No." Cate felt herself squirm involuntarily.  "Because I'm not just Gus' partner, I'm his trainer.  And his friend.  Maybe he needed my advice or my guidance."

"Gus is a big boy.  And a good agent.  He can figure things out himself.  Plus he has a whole office full of cops to bounce stuff off."  Jon's mouth twisted into a gentle half-frown.  "Do you feel guilty about not taking his call?"

"A little, yeah."

"Baby...."  Jon reached up to stroke a lock of auburn hair behind Cate's ear.  "If it was urgent he woulda called you back.  Right?"

"Yes.  Or texted me."

Jon smiled.  "So don't worry about it.  You don't have to be on call twenty-four-seven."

"Actually, I do.  That's part of the job."

"For emergencies.  Not for case updates or check-in's or how-ya-doin's or whatever the fuck this was."  Jon grinned and his voice deepened, filled again with a comical thick Jersey accent.  "Just... Fuhgeddaboudit."

Cate giggled, relieved he had lightened the moment.  "And there's the repressed Wiseguy again.  Isn't that what got us into this position in the first place?"

"Nothin' wrong with this position, Baby.  At ALL."  Jon squeezed her against him and spun her around before nuzzling at her cheek. 

Again the buzz vibrated between their bodies.

Jon frowned and growled his displeasure at the interruption.  "Ahhhhhh....FUCK."

Cate cocked an eyebrow.  "You gonna answer it?"  Her question was a light tease, daring him to practice what he preached.

Jon gave her a playful sneer.  "Yeah, yeah... call me a hypocrite, but I gotta at least check it."  He sighed and slipped a hand to his hip where his holstered phone buzzed again.  "Maybe it's Dorothea, or Steph or Jess."

"I'm teasing, Jon.  Answer it."

"We'll see."  Jon pulled the phone from his belt and flipped open its leather cover.  His brow creased with puzzlement as he regarded the incoming number.  "What the fuck....?"

"What?"

"It's a private number, 202 area code.  That's D.C., right?"  Jon turned the phone so Cate could see the display.  She nodded.

"Maybe..."

Before Cate could finish her thought Jon raised the phone to his ear.  "Hello?"

Cate watched Jon's jaw tighten and his eyes narrow as he listened.  Gently she disengaged herself from his loosened embrace, sliding his arm from around her waist and stepping back to give him space.  After a few seconds his tense countenance relaxed.

"Well hey, Man.  It's been awhile."  A friendly grin split Jon's face as he replied to the caller.  "How have you been?  Busy as Hell, I'm sure."

Cate crossed her arms over her chest, an amused smile playing across her lips.  When Jon looked at her she cocked her head inquisitively.  He didn't respond, intent on listening to the voice at the other end of the connection.

"You did, huh?"  Jon chuckled.  "All good, I hope."  There was another pause, then he laughed heartily.  "Well, if that's the worst they said, I guess I'm okay."  Jon took a step and leaned back against the island, his denim-covered derriere impacting the countertop.  Shifting his weight to one leg, Jon crossed one sneakered foot over the other.

Taking Jon's relaxed posture as a cue, Cate moved toward the stove.  She picked up the pot she had placed earlier on the cooktop and carried it to the sink, moving as quietly as possible so as not to interrupt Jon's call.  After filling the pot with water she returned it to the stove where it would sit until Danny and Charity arrived.  Then Cate stepped over to the opposite side of the kitchen where she busied herself putting away the few dishes she had washed and left in the drainer to dry.

"Sure... Sure.  Of course you can count on us."  As Cate slipped past Jon to return a bowl to the shelf under the island, she gave him a curious glance.  He reached out to give her arm a squeeze of reply.  "Yeah, a little over four years now.  Cate."

At her name Cate turned to arch a brow at Jon.  He grinned and winked while continuing his side of the conversation.

"Thanks."  Jon chuckled again.  "You mean you didn't hear the story?  Jesus, I think life in outer fucking space heard the story.  It was all over the press and tabloids for months, Man.  Yeah, we met when I was preparing for that cop movie I did.  She was my trainer."

Cate gave Jon a little poke in the ribs as she moved past him on her way to the pantry.  It was obvious he was speaking to someone she didn't know, since the caller apparently didn't realize Jon had remarried.

"What can I say?  She's a tough chick, but she couldn't resist me."  Jon ducked when Cate playfully flicked a dishtowel in his direction.  He stuck out his tongue at her before continuing.  "Hey, I'm the total package, Man."  He chuckled self-depricatingly.  "Though I'm pretty sure she'd tell you I'm just a typical slob husband.  I don't put my socks in the hamper, I leave empty milk cartons in the fridge, I fart in bed..."

Cate rolled her eyes at Jon's description of his marital qualities.  He was playing off the conversation as much for her benefit as for the caller's entertainment.  She turned her back to him, busying herself with running hot water into the sink.

"Still working on it, but things are looking positive.  Yes.... Uh... I can't really say.  I'm sure you know the League requires nondisclosure agreements from all prospectives.... Sure.  No, no problem." 

Cate chuckled at Jon's modest handling of what was probably his favorite topic of discussion, his continued quest for NFL team ownership.  She nodded to herself, approving of his cautious tactic.  A long silence followed, Jon's caller obviously doing all the talking.

"Absolutely.  We'd be honored.  What time frame are you looking at?"  There was another pause as Jon listened, frowning as he tried to recall his calendar.  "Yeah, I think that will work... Listen, I'm on Spring Break with my kids right now, so I can't tell you for sure.... No, No!  It's fine!  We're just hanging out today.... Nah, it's all good.  Tell ya what, give Gretchen a call tomorrow.  You have her number?.... Okay, good.  She has my calendar in front of her all the time, and can give you a couple dates.  She'll also be the one to coordinate all the details -- catering, music, tents, yadda yadda....   Sure.  Oh yeah, she's done it a couple times.  She's great.  Can handle this kinda stuff in her sleep."

Cate turned off the faucet and reached for a towel.  As she dried her hands she turned to face Jon, now even more curious about his conversation.  From what she could ascertain from the snippets she had overheard, Jon had agreed to some sort of philanthropic event.  She laid the towel on the counter and settled back against its edge, quietly listening to Jon's closing dialogue.

"Of course....  Definitely.  Please pass on my best regards.....  All right....... yes, you too.  I look forward to it.  Good to hear from you, Grant.  We'll talk soon...... Okay.  Goodbye."

Jon chortled softly as he tapped the screen of his phone, then dropped it onto the island's top.  He gave his wife a knowing smirk.

"So, guess who that was?"

"Grant."

"Grant who?"

"I have no idea.  But apparently it was someone you haven't spoken to in awhile, if he didn't know about us."  Cate raised a brow to accent her point.

Jon nodded, his smirk evolving to a grin.  "That was Grant Burton.  He used to be the Appointments Director in the New Jersey Governor's office."

Cate's lips pursed as she considered the name.  It didn't ring a bell, though through her recent investigative work she had become quite familiar with the hierarchy of state public officials.

"How long ago was that?  I don't know the name..."

Jon shook his head.  "A long time ago.  Probably, oh.... ten, twelve years ago?  Anyway, he's held several other positions in the party.  For the past couple years he was with the national Democratic party, but he came back to Jersey to join the last gubenatorial campaign."

Cate frowned, confused.  "He's with the State, but he's calling from D.C.?"

Jon chuckled.  She never missed a detail, that wife of his.  "He's in D.C. for meetings.  Grant's still involved in national Party business, especially on behalf of this Governor."

Cate nodded slowly.  The sitting New Jersey Chief Executive had for several years been on a "watch list" of possible Presidential hopefuls.  Though she generally avoided press speculation and punditry, Cate's work kept her fully informed of political activity -- both legal and illegal -- in her adopted home state. 

"And... he just called you to say Hello?"  Cate delivered her query with a wry smile.  Jon was clearly toying with her.

"He called me...." Jon paused as he pushed away from his lean against the island.  He strolled three steps over to Cate and stood close in front of her.  "...to ask a favor."

"Ahhh."  Cate nodded sagely, then chuckled.  That explained the conversation about Jon's personal life.  "Imagine that.  A politico asking a rich celebrity for a favor.  And what would that be?"

"We..."  Jon reached up to playfully tap the tip of Cate's nose. "...are going..."  He lightly tapped her chin.  "... to host a party."

Cate's smile faded.  "A party?  What kind of party?"

"A fundraising dinner, at the Jersey house.  I've done it a couple times in the past."  Jon smiled and tapped Cate's nose again.  "And before you protest that you don't have time to throw a big-ass party.... you won't have to lift a finger.  I promise.  We'll hire somebody to put it all together."

"I don't care about that."  Cate shook her head, frowning.  "What I care about is..."

"I know, I know..." Jon interrupted her with a dismissive wave of his hand.  "You're a federal cop, you can't take a public partisan stance, blah blah blah.  But Baby, this is state politics.  And for the party, not for a candidate."

"Will the Governor attend?"

"Probably."

Cate shook her head again.  "Then I can't.  I can't, Jon.  It's not appropriate under our ethics rules.  The Governor is a potential Presidential candidate, which is a federal nexus."

"Hell, Cate.  I'm a potential Presidential candidate, if you ask some people.  So I don't see how that..."

"You know what I mean, Jon."  Cate clipped Jon's rebuttal.

Jon lowered his chin as his expression sobered.  He could see his wife wasn't going to back down, but he wasn't either.  He had already made the commitment.

"Cate.  Listen to what I'm saying.  It's a party fundraiser.  In exchange for a couple grand or whatever people get to come eat fancy catered food, rub elbows with Jersey politicos, and see the inside of my house.  Which is usually what they really want, anyway...  they could care less about the food or the windbag politicians."  Jon chuckled ironically. 

"The money goes to the general party fund, not to any specific candidate.  That can't possibly be a conflict of interest for you."  He cocked an eyebrow.  "In fact, I'm pretty damned sure that, under the Constitution of these United States, you have the right to express your political opinion any way you see fit, regardless of your job."

Cate crossed her arms and lowered her chin, mirroring her husband's defensive posture.  "Technically that's true.  But practically, and professionally, it's not.  I work public corruption cases, Jon.  Involving federal and state officials.  Whether it's my 'right' to host a political fundraiser or not isn't the issue.  The issue is that I won't give even an inkling of a perception that I might be somehow susceptible to political bias."

Jon sighed, smiling in spite of himself.  Despite her protestations to the contrary, his wife was exactly like him in many ways.  Smart, passionate, stubborn... but there was one area in which he held the upper hand.  Persuasion.

"Okay, so you won't host a dinner at your house, where money is raised for a political cause.  What do your ethics rules say about attending a political fundraiser or dinner?"

Cate blinked.  He knew he had her.  Her mouth twitched involuntarily upward.

"There is no prohibition on simple attendance. BUT... we should make every effort to keep a low profile."  Her answer was calm, almost begrudging.

"So that means you can be my date.  Right?  As long as you don't talk to any press?  Give any statements?  Say anything near somebody holding up a smartphone?"  Jon waggled his brows and gave her a smug little smirk.

"You can't call somebody who lives in your house your 'date' to a party at your house."

"Why not?  Couples have 'date night' all the time.  So we dump the kids off on somebody else and decide to stay in instead of go out.  You can't tell me other parents haven't done that.  And that's effectively what this would be.  Except for the dumping of the kids part."

She couldn't stop her wry smile.  Dammit.

"I... you're assuming I even want to be your date."  Cate tried to sound haughty, but couldn't pull it off.

"I never assume, Baby.  You know what they say about that."  Jon chuckled.  "Though I'm pretty sure you think I have the 'ASS' part fully covered right now."

"You're not wrong."

Jon chortled again, reaching for her hips.  She didn't resist when he pulled her to him.

"Listen, I  get it.  I'll make it crystal clear that the invitations can't say 'Mister and Missus Jon  Bon Jovi request the pleasure of your company...', okay?  We'll make it all politically correct.  Hell, we won't say anything about you being there at all if that's what you want.  This will be my Big-Ego Rock Star Deal... which is what all the conservative press will shout anyway." 

Jon gave Cate his sweetest smile, the one he saved for her.  "And all you have to do is be there.  Just be your usual gorgeous, smart, charming self."

Cate sighed begrudgingly.  "Baby, that's still walking a fine line..."

Jon gave her a direct look, his gleaming blue eyes boring into her.  "Cate.  I know you're a cop, and I respect the Hell out of that.  I do.  But you're my wife.  And I need you to be there, by my side.  Okay?"

Her heart melted.  She sighed again before nodding, her smile gentling.  "Oh...Okay."

"Good.  Now lighten up.  Your friends are gonna be here soon."  Jon dropped another kiss against her lips, then slid his hand down to pat her rump.  "It's party time."

Cate chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah.  It'll be quite a party... dinner and board games on a Tuesday night with a couple pre-teens and a middle-aged couple."

"I'm gonna tell Charity you called her 'middle-aged'."  Jon playfully needled his wife.  

"Fine.  A middle aged Dude and his knocked-up trophy wife."  Cate felt a little jealous twinge as she made the playful barb about Danny's bride. 

Jon chuckled.  "Yep, gonna be one helluva party.  Better get out the bail money."  He squeezed Cate's behind and gave a playful leer.  "What time are they coming?"

Cate glanced at the clock.  "In about fifteen minutes."

"Mmmm.... So we've got time for a quickie, huh?" 

"Yeah, sure.  Right here in the kitchen, with your kids around the corner."  Cate snorted sarcastically.  "And that's just what every girl dreams of... that her man can finish the whole deal in well under fifteen minutes."

Jon grinned and moved his mouth closer to her ear.  "Baby, you know I can go longer than that.  This is just an appetizer.  The main course will be later.  And I'm..."  He nipped at her lobe before breathing the last word.  "Hungry...."

Cate shivered as a tingle flushed through her body.  She murmured her response, concealing it from the boy in the next room.  "Jeez, Baby.  It's only been three days."  She shivered again at the delicious memory of their naughty night at the Grand Floridian.

"Three days too fucking long.  I need a fix."  Jon's other hand dropped to Cate's ass, cupping the taut globe of denim-wrapped flesh.

"Sorry to say, Baby... you're gonna have to suffer.  At least for tonight."

"Dammit," Jon crooned, without venom.  "Guess I'll have to settle for a little pillow-talk tonight, huh?  Then tomorrow night we can get freaky, when the boys are tormenting Danny."

His proposal made Cate snort a laugh.  Hearing Jon mix the terms "pillow talk" and "get freaky" in the same sentence was just too much.

"Pillow talk, sure.  We'll see about... freaky... tomorrow.  But tonight it's strictly PG-rated."

"I can do that."  A smirk curled Jon's lips as he lowered his mouth to Cate's.  She sighed as his kiss turned sultry, letting her body melt against his.  Their tongues twined languidly, savoring each other's taste.  At least they could steal this moment, before they resumed playing the Responsible Parent game.

And then the doorbell rang.

*****

"Two... three... four... Awww.... Shit."

"YES!"  Romeo's triumphant shout was accompanied by a fist-pump before he pointed gleefully at Jon.  "Boardwalk!  You owe...."  He gloated over the blue-topped game board space, crowded with small plastic boxes, before giving his partner a wide-eyed, puzzled look.  "How much does he owe us?"

Charity laughed softly and picked up the deed card.  "Here.  Let's add it up together."  She pointed a pink-tipped finger at the lines of text while guiding the boy through their calculations.  "And now we double that because we own Park Place too...."

"Six thousand eight hundred dollars!"  Romeo announced after a moment of thought.  He grinned again at his father and held out his hand, palm up.  "Pay up, Chump!"

"Hey!  Who you callin' a Chump, Chump?" Jon protested.  He shook his head and pulled an exaggerated grimace as he thumbed through a multicolored stack of play money.  "I don't know if I have it..."

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Romeo cackled wickedly.  "Come on, Dad!  You gotta pay the rent!"  He wiggled his fingers expectantly.

"Thirty-five, thirty six.... Oh... Hell with it."  Jon sighed dramatically and tossed the pile of notes at his son.  The paper fluttered through the air, showering the giggling boy with multi-colored fake tender.  "I'm out.  Bankrupt.  Kaput."

"Gimme all your cards, then!"  Romeo demanded, pointing to the small array of property deeds on the table in front of his father.

"Fine."  Jon picked up the cards and tossed them onto the game board.  "Happy?"

"Yeah."

Jon chortled and picked up his wine glass.  He gave Cate a wry sidelong smirk. "Told ya that one's gonna be a lawyer.  He's already a shark."

"Great idea, partnering up the shark with the IRS cop," Danny countered sarcastically.  "We were all screwed from the start." 

Charity wrinkled her nose and smiled sweetly at her husband.  "You had your chance to be my partner.  But Nooooo, Mister Big Man wanted to go it alone..." 

"Bite me," Danny mumbled over the rim of his own glass.

Cate chuckled at the playful exchange.  When she had first met Charity she assumed the striking brunette would be just one in a long line of her best friend's temporary companions.  But the woman had quickly proven she could hold her own against Danny's stubborn, sarcastic, sometimes-playful petulance.  Marriage and pregnancy seemed to have enhanced her powers.

"Should we all throw in the towel, so Jon won't feel like a loser all by himself?"  Cate's question was in the form of a tease but she was serious in the sentiment.  They had been playing Monopoly for more than two hours, and Cate had never been a fan of the tedious game.  She had grown weary of if an hour ago, but had remained silent and engaged because her husband and stepsons were obviously having a ball.

"Yeah, I'm done."  Danny flicked his game piece across the board.  "I was probably the next one to go bankrupt anyway."  He gathered his Monopoly money and handed it to Jake.  "Here ya go, Banker.  Don't spend it all in one place."

"What, no tip?" Jake grinned sarcastically.  "Sheesh.  Way to stiff a guy."  He sorted the bills into their slots before reaching for Cate's stack.

"I got a tip for ya.  Don't eat yellow snow."  Danny gave the boy a playful punch on the arm.  Jake giggled softly, his grin widening.

Cate and Jon exchanged a little smile, acknowledging their shared thought.  Jacob had been a veritable chatterbox this evening, sharing jokes and anecdotes with Danny.  It was obvious the boy was a little in awe of his "unofficial uncle." 

"Alright Chuckleheads.  Get your butts ready for bed.  We're gonna have a long day tomorrow."  Jon made the announcement as he reached over to give Romeo a playful push.

"We can't go to bed yet," the boy informed his father, pushing him back.

"Why not?"   

" DUH, Dad!  'Cause you're sitting on it!"  Romeo rolled his eyes.

"Oh, yeah."  Jon gave Cate a wink.  "I forgot.  You get to sleep with your brother tonight."

"Yeah, Great," Jacob commented sarcastically.  "I've been looking forward to that this whole trip."

"Oh, poor you."  Jon snorted playfully.  "You know, when I was a kid and the family went to visit my Nonna in Pennsylvania, your Uncle Tony and I both had to sleep on her lumpy old pull-out sofa.  So  it's family tradition, Kid.  Suck it up."

"Hell, I had to sleep with two of my brothers when we went to my Gramma's," Danny added.  "And they farted.  All the time."

That made Jon chuckle along with his boys.  "You have two brothers too, Danny?"

"I have four.  I'm in the middle, two older, two younger."

"Your poor mother," Charity observed, patting Danny's thigh before rising from her seat on the upholstered ottoman.  "That woman should be sainted."

Cate chuckled and followed Charity's lead, getting up from the couch.  "Oh, Alice could hold her own against all those boys. Trust me on that."  She picked up her empty glass and followed Charity into the kitchen.

"I don't doubt it.  I know what my Ma went through, and she's still standing."  Jon downed the last swallow of wine and reached to set the footed glass on the table.  He redirected his comments to his sons, who had made no move in obeyance of their father's command.  "Alright, now.  Seriously.  Go brush your teeth and get ready for bed."

"Can't we stay up a little later?" Jacob implored.

"We're heading out too, Jake,"  Danny answered, reading the subtext in the boy's plea.  "You need to get some rest.  I'm gonna make you work tomorrow."

Jake grinned.  "Fine by me.  What are we doing first?"

"Well, we'll do a quick tour of the office, then go over to the gym.  Maybe do a little workout, then I'll suit you up and let you and your brother pound on each other for awhile."

"Awesome!"  Romeo interjected.  "I'm gonna smash Jakey's face in, and he won't be able to do anything about it!"

"Yeah, we'll see about that, Kiddo," Jon chortled.

Danny grinned before continuing.  "Then we'll go check out the defensive driving track, then lunch.  After lunch we'll go shoot some targets, 'kay?"

"Cool."  Jacob nodded. 

The wide smile on his son's face warmed Jon's heart.  "This is gonna be the best day of the whole trip for you, huh Jake?"

"Yeah, probably."  Jacob shrugged.  "But NASA was cool too."

Danny nodded, giving the boy a fatherly smile.  "Jack -- my boy -- loved going to Disney until he was about Romeo's age.  Then it was more about cars and sports and space and stuff like that.  He's a Marine now."

Jake nodded.  "I still like Disney, but more the Epcot stuff.  Not the little-kid stuff from the movies."

Danny chuckled, leaning closer to Jake for a fake-whisper.  "I like Disney too.  Especially Space Mountain.  Space Mountain will always be cool."

Jake grinned wider and nodded his agreement.  "Yeah."

Jon watched the exchange with an amused smile.  He could understand Jacob's reaction to Danny; after being stuck with only his brother, father, and grandfather to hang around with the past couple weeks the boy was obviously relieved to have another male to bond with.  And it was apparent from Danny's expression that Jacob reminded him of his own now-grown son.

"Alright, Jake.  Seriously -- you and your brother, get ready for bed.  We're cleaning up, then I'll help you pull out the couch and put the linens on.  Then it's lights out, for everybody."

Jake nodded slowly, giving Danny a sidelong glance.  When Danny nodded his agreement with Jon's command, Jake moved.  "Okay.  C'mon, Romey."

"I'm gonna put the game away."

"We got it, Romeo,"  Jon reached for the Monopoly box lid.  "Go."

The younger boy sighed.  "Oh all RIGHT."  He slumped dramatically and slouched after his older brother, his arms swinging lifelessly and his head lolling to one side.

Danny chuckled.  "You're gonna have your hands full with that one."

"What do you mean 'gonna?'  We already do."  Jon chortled softly.

"Ah, they're good boys.  Enjoy 'em while you can.  Before you know it they'll be men."  Danny nodded sagely and took another drink from his wine glass.

"Tell me about it.  I blinked and Jesse's in college."

"Notre Dame, no less.  And playing football."  Danny gave Jon a half-smirk.  "The boy obviously got his Mother's brains."

Jon chuckled.  "Damn straight.  And her athletic ability."  His smile gentled.  "Hopefully the next one will take after her Mama too."

Danny glanced toward the hallway, where Jacob and Romeo had exited moments before.  Even though the boys had left the room he lowered his voice.  "Everything okay with that?"

Jon's reply was also quiet.  "Yeah.  I don't know what she's told you, but the latest is we... we're starting IVF."

"She didn't tell me.  But we haven't really spoken much since Philly, either.  I've been TDY."

"Yeah, well.  Our Doc thinks it's time we move on.  We've kind of exhausted the other options."  Jon sighed softly.  "I think it's time too.  Cate's gone through so much with all the shots and the pills and the exams and the pregnancy tests... She just... well, we're putting it in the hands of the doctors now.  No more uncontrolled factors."

Danny gave Jon a long look before nodding slowly.  "Modern medicine is an impressive thing.  But it's still not a hundred percent, you know."

"I know.  But it's our best shot.  And we'll know what's actually happening, step by step.  We'll be able to see the egg being fertilized.  Actually watch the moment of conception.  That's..." Jon paused, his mouth curving slightly.  "Kinda mind-blowing, ya know?"

"Yeah, it is, actually." Danny smiled weakly.  "And hopefully they'll survive when they're implanted.  In Cate's... womb." He tried not to grimace as he said the word.  He didn't know why, but it just felt strange to describe his friend's uterus using such a maternal term.

"Hopefully.  Dr. Klein thinks chances are good at least one will."  Jon gave Danny a serious look.  "Look, I know you and Cate are both skeptics by nature. I get it.  But with this... we're trying to stay positive."

Danny nodded.  "I am too.  Believe me, Jon.  I hope with all my heart that IVF is the answer for you.  But I also know that if it's not... she'll be okay.  It may take awhile, but she will be.  You will be too."

"I know."

"Good."  Danny sighed and rubbed his hands over his thighs.  "Alright, time to head out, so you can get those two little felons to bed."  He pushed himself up out of his chair with a weary groan, then gave Jon a grin.  "Thanks for dinner.  And entertainment."

Jon accepted Danny's proffered hand, giving it a firm shake.  "Welcome.  Thanks for getting all this set up for us."  He clapped a hand over Danny's shoulder as the men turned toward the kitchen.

"My pleasure.  Always good to have her home."

"Yeah."

Jon collected their guests' jackets from the hall closet while Cate chatted with Danny and Charity about the next day's plans.  Once everything was arranged the Bongiovis bid their friends farewell.  After the couple had departed Cate finished cleaning up the kitchen while Jon helped Jake and Romeo prepare the couch for their slumber. 

It was almost an hour later when all the chores were completed and the house was quiet.  Jon had not only confiscated the remote controls but had also unplugged the television to prevent unauthorized nighttime viewing.  Romeo had fallen asleep almost immediately, but Jacob spent nearly a half hour reading before Cate gently told him to turn off the light.  Soon the older boy's breathing was shallow and rhythmic in slumber.

Quietly Cate traversed the short hall toward the master bedroom at the back of the house, to which Jon had retired.  Through the stillness she could hear the faint roar of the ocean.  Her lips curved at the soothing sound; it had been a long time since she had heard that lovely lullaby. 

Cate paused outside the bedroom door, then reversed her direction.  She padded back down the hallway to the tiny foyer.  Stealthily she unlocked first the deadbolt then the doorknob and eased the front door open.  Cate pushed open the glass storm door and slipped outside, being careful to close both doors behind her. 

She stood on the little porch and breathed deeply.  The aroma of sand and surf and pine and roses and camelias filled her senses, taking her back to the time when this little cottage was her only home, her refuge and shelter, her private little corner of the world.  It was the one place she could find serenity, whether it be from the harsh realities of her job or the trials of her heart.

Turning her gaze skyward, Cate noted the carpet of twinkling stars against an inky blue-black sky.  A swirling breeze ruffled her hair, blowing inland from the beach that was just yards away, behind her house.  Close enough for a peaceful moonlit walk before sleep.

She stepped off the porch and onto the narrow stone path that led around the side of the cottage.  Cate hesitated, remembering she was not the only one here as she once had been.  Jon was probably waiting up for her and would wonder where she had gone when he didn't hear her moving around the house.  She should let him know where she was going.

Cate reached in her jeans pocket for her phone and raised it to her face.  The illuminated screen made her squint, then frown.  It was filled with notifications of missed calls and messages.  She had turned her ringer off when Danny & Charity arrived, not wanting to be distracted during their visit.  Apparently that had been a mistake.

Unconsciously Cate pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she scanned the notices, then tapped the screen to open her message application for more details.  The ignored call from Gus had come in over four hours ago; he had neither left her a message nor called again.  However, over the course of the next several hours five more calls had been attempted, two from a nondescript number Cate recognized as her office's central line and three from her supervisor's personal mobile number. 

Cate's stomach tightened as she tapped open a text message from the Senior Agent in Charge.

Cate-- call me ASAP, even late.  Home or cell. - Al

"Shit," Cate muttered, closing the message.  She was just ready to dial Al's number when she noticed an alert in the voicemail icon.  She tapped that button and held the phone to her ear.  As she suspected, the message was from her office.

Agent Sullivan, this is Agent Marenko.  Please contact the Operations Center when you receive this message.  If possible, use a secure line.  If you must call unsecure, call the Main Desk.  Thank You.

Cate's pulse raced, an adrenalized reaction to the unexpected contact.  Though both the text from Al and the message from the Duty Agent had been nonspecific, she knew from experience something significant had happened.  There was no other reason both her boss and the Operations Center would try to contact her when she was on approved leave.

She lowered the phone and forced herself to take a deep breath, then another.  When Cate had tamed her physical response she turned back to her tiny front porch.  She sat on the concrete step before dialing Al's number.  She would rather speak directly to him than contact the Operations Center, especially since she was calling from her personal smartphone.  It wasn't like the Duty Officer would be able to tell her anything of substance over an unsecure line anyway.

There was only one ring before the gruff voice answered.

"Hello."

"Al... it's Cate.  I'm sorry for the delay in contacting you... I just now got your message.  We were..."

"It's okay."  The senior agent cut off her apology. "I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation, Cate, but I have some bad news."

Cate's pulse kicked up again.  She swallowed hard.  "What?"

"Gus is on emergency leave.  His father had a stroke.  It doesn't sound good."

Tears sprang to Cate's eyes.  That must have been why her partner had tried to reach her earlier, and only once.  Goddammit, she should have answered...

"Do... is... is he there now?"

"We got him on the first flight out of LaGuardia.  He should have landed by now.  I haven't heard anything more from him or the Watch, so I presume he's still getting settled.  He said he'd let me know when he's there and how his Dad is doing."

Cate could hardly speak past the lump in her throat.  "I... I missed a call from him..."

"He probably tried to call you from the airport.  I told him I'd take care of it."

"I... I should call..."

"Cate, not tonight.  Let him do what he needs to do, then maybe talk to him tomorrow.  Text him if you want, but he's going to have a lot on his plate the next few hours."

"Oh... yes, of course."  Cate swallowed hard, then cleared her throat.  "Thanks for letting me know, Al.  Is that why the Ops Center called me too?  I have a message from them, to call secure."

"It's related. I told them I would contact you tonight about Gus, and we can handle the other stuff tomorrow.   Can you get access to a secure line?"

Cate nodded though her boss couldn't see her.  "I'm in Georgia, at the Center.  We left Orlando yesterday and drove up to visit friends.  Tomorrow we're taking Jon's sons on a tour of the training facilities."

"Good.  Are you going to your old office?"

"Yes.  I can call you from there."

"That works.  I'll be in a meeting until nine; call me at nine-thirty.  That will give me time to get caught up on real-time ops status."

"Yes sir."

Al's voice softened.  "Cate, I'm sorry, but I think your vacation is over."

"Understood.  Whatever you need, Al."

"I'll fill you in tomorrow.  Get some sleep."   

"You too."

"Good night, Cate."

" 'Night."

Cate dropped the phone to her lap and swiped her hand across her eyes.  A pair of guilty tears tumbled down her cheeks.  Dammit.  I should have answered.

She sat for a few more minutes, forcing herself to breathe, ordering her thoughts.  Then she bowed her head, blinking moisture from her eyes before opening a new text message on her phone.  She typed carefully, trying to put her feelings into words, trying to communicate her support to her young partner.

Ten minutes later she finally hit the "send" button.  Then she stood, swiped away the remnants of her tears, and climbed back up onto the porch.  She paused for another minute, breathing in the salty-sweet night air.  There would be no walk on the beach tonight.  Her vacation was done.

Now she had to figure out how to tell Jon.