The Greens of Jericho

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the television show Jericho or any part of it. The characters are not mine in any way. I am not affiliated with CBS, the television show Jericho or the writers of Jericho.    I am borrowing them for a while and I promise to give them back.

Special thanks to Marzee, Nightsky and JT.    They are great to work with.   JT, that holster is all for you!!!  

AUTHOR'S NOTE:   THERE MIGHT BE A FEW PARTS THAT ARE A PG-13 OR BETTER RATING.   FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) YOU HAVE BEEN DUELY WARNED.

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

Dawn was breaking when Jake heard the insistent cry of a baby. He pulled the sleeping bag over his head but it didn't completely block it out. He reached over and gently shook Heather.
"Heather? Babe?" Jake said, trying not to completely wake up, "Wake up. I'm really tired. Can you get the baby? He's crying. I don't think he's going to go back to sleep."

"Sure," Heather said, yawning, barely awake, she sat up, pushed the sleeping bag back and reached for the denim shirt that had been discarded earlier in the evening. It hit her what Jake had said and she gasped, waking up fully. She shook Jake, trying to wake him up, "Baby? What baby? Jake, wake up!"

Jake jerked awake and sat up, "What's wrong? Are you alright??"

"You told me to get the baby. What baby?"

"What are you talking about?" Jake asked, confused. "Are you dreaming? What baby?"

Suddenly, they both heard it, the sound of crying in either fear or pain. It was the loneliest, saddest cry Heather had ever heard and it broke her heart.

Heather looked around, "Oh, God Jake!!!  The baby!!" she screamed pointing at the dock.

Jake looked where she was pointing and saw a small child standing at the end of the dock, inches from falling into the lake.    

"Oh, shit," he muttered.   He shoved the sleeping bag off and took off running,   Jake swept a very dirty toddler into his arms before it could fall into the lake. The child started screaming hysterically.

Jake ran back to the cabin with Heather on his heels. She lit the lantern and brought it to the counter where Jake was looking at the child. Heather saw a very dirty, red haired toddler dressed in pink footed pajamas sobbing uncontrollably.

"Try and calm her down?" Jake asked, pulling on jeans and shoes. "I'm gonna go look around outside." He grabbed two pistols from the bedroom closet, made sure they were loaded, laid one on the counter beside Heather and put the other in his waistband. "Lock this door behind me," he said, walking out the back door.

Heather picked the little girl up, walked around the room bouncing and patting her back and humming softly.   When the child finally stopped crying, Heather sat her down on the counter and attempted to clean her up.   The little girl was so muddy, Heather sat her in the sink and gave her a quick bath.   After the bath, she wrapped her in a quilt and sat down in the rocking chair to wait for Jake.

"Do you want a drink?" Heather asked, not expecting an answer.

"Nink."

Heather reached over to the counter, grabbed a bottle of water and slowly gave the little girl some water.
Jake knocked on the cabin door thirty minutes later, "Heather, it's me. Open the door." Heather opened the door holding a much cleaner child wrapped in a quilt.

"Is she alright?" Jake asked, touching her red curls.

"She seems to be. A few scratches and a little sunburned but that's all. She was filthy. I tried to clean her up but I don't have any idea what to use for a diaper or clothes. I just wrapped her up to keep her warm."

Jake closed the door and locked it. He walked into the bathroom and brought back a towel. He starting going thru the drawers in the kitchen. "Bring her here." He quickly had a towel diaper taped with silver duct tape on the baby.

"JAKE!  She's a baby, not a garden hose!  Duct tape?"

"Well, she leaks doesn't she?" Jake said, winking.    He smiled sheepishly at Heather and added,  "We occasionally ran out of diapers when Jacob was a baby. I learned to improvise.   Grab one of my t-shirts and she's all set."

Heather came out of the bedroom to see Jake sitting in the rocking chair. "What's your name? Where did you come from?" he asked quietly, rocking her and rubbing her back.

"How old do you think she is?" Heather asked, handing Jake the shirt. He stopped rocking and put the shirt on the baby and then put her back on his shoulder and started rocking her again.

"Probably between one and two. Heather, we need to get packed up and get back to town, now."

"Why? Her parents might come looking for her."

"No, they won't," Jake said.    He looked at Heather, took her hand and took a deep breath,  "Babe, her parents, at least I'm assuming that's who it is, are dead in a cabin about a mile down the lake. It's a fresh kill. Probably sometime last night. We need to go," Jake said, standing up and hugging Heather tightly with one arm and kissing the little girl's still wet curls,  "Now."

Jake handed the baby to Heather, ran into the bedroom and started shoving clothes into a duffel bag. He threw the bag into the living room and threw the little bit of food left into a box. Jake picked up the pistol and took the bag and box to the car. Within 15 minutes he, Heather and the baby were packed and ready to go.    The little girl clung to Heather.

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

"What are we gonna do, Heather?   We've got to decide," Jake said, driving away from the lake.

When Heather started rocking the baby as much as the car seat would allow.   The little girl smiled sleepily, cuddled into her and instantly fell asleep. Heather continued to rock and hum lullabies even after the little girl was sound asleep. Her mind wandered back to the lake. Those poor people. That poor mother, dying and not knowing what happened to her little girl. No one was going to claim this child. She was an orphan. She had no family. Heather teared up for the first time in a long time thinking about the fact that she was an orphan too. Heather realized at that moment that she had fallen in love with this little girl. She kissed the little girl's forehead and hugged her.

"We're going to keep her.   We're both orphans.   We need each other.   I found a family and she needs one," Heather said, looking at Jake fiercely.

"Are you sure?   I mean absolutely sure.    You're going from no kids to two and pregnant.   How do you feel about that?"

"Absolutely, positively sure.   Jake, I've always wanted a big family.   You know that."

"Heather," Jake said, reaching over and laying his hand on her thigh, "we've got to come up with a story for her.   With the paranoia in Jericho, we can't talk about how we found her.   Gray'll have her at the Rogue River FEMA camp in hours."

"What kind of story?" Heather asked hesitantly.

Jake was quiet for a minute, driving carefully thru a series of S-curves.

"We could say she's my daughter," he said, pulling in to an abandoned and looted Chevron station.   "All most people in town know is that I was gone for 5 years.   I came back with one kid, after all.   I could've had ten kids and no one would know....or be too surprised."

Heather looked at him, raised her eyebrows and chuckled.

Jake smirked, "I don't.   I happen to have been essentially monogamous for the past several years and now I  have absolutely no interest in any other woman besides you."

"I didn't say a word," Heather said, laughing.   "And I know you're committed to me."    She squeezed his hand.   "Jake, there'll be ugly gossip about you."

"I'm not worried about me.   Will you be alright with it?"

"Jake, I'm an adult.   I think I can weather the gossip."

"Okay then, how's this, we drove south to Mexico and picked her up?"

"That is absolutely ridiculous," Heather said, shaking her head.   She sat quietly, stroking the baby's hair for a minute.   Suddenly she smiled, "I've got it.   Almost 2 years ago, I was visiting my Aunt Caroline for Thanksgiving break.   I got appendicitis and had to have emergency surgery.   I was out of school for a month.   I wasn't able to go back until the start of the new semester.   We could say that was a lie and I actually had a baby.   I'm a respectable married woman now so we went to my Aunt's house before we went to the lake and picked up my daughter."

"Now that's a story," Jake said smiling and laughing.   "Do you actually have an Aunt Caroline?"

"I didn't get an A+ in Creative Writing for nothing.   Yes, I did have an Aunt Caroline.   She passed away last summer."

"You want to talk about gossip, there will be clucking in the old biddy circle about that.    The sweet, innocent, single school teacher had an illegitimate baby."

"That's what makes it perfect, Jake," Heather said, grinning.   "I had to sign a morality clause for my teaching job.   I could have lost my job if anyone knew about her."

"When did you have this surgery?"  Jake asked.

"End of November, almost 18 months ago," Heather said, smiling.   "And something else, right after my surgery I lost almost 20 pounds.   I was so sick.   It was days before I was able to eat."

"Alright then, who's her father?"

"Now that's hard.   Everybody in town knows I haven't dated much," Heather said, sucking her bottom lip in.    Suddenly she smiled, "Tommy."

"Tommy? Who's this Tommy person?? Huh?" Jake said, smiling.

"Jake, I hate to disillusion you but there was life before Jake Green," Heather said, laughing, kissing her fingers and pressing them to Jake's lips.   "Tommy Christopher.   I grew up with him.   I know everything about him.   And no one in Jericho knows him.  We went to the prom together....as friends.   We had a pact....if neither of us had gotten married by the time we were 30, we were going to get married so we wouldn't be old maids.   If he got married , the next on my list was Russell," Heather said, laughing sadly.     "Tommy moved to Denver several years ago.  He was a Headmaster of an all boys school there.  His birthday is the same as mine.   He didn't have any family.   It's perfect."  

"It just might work," Jake said, reaching up and stroking her cheek.

"Are you going to tell your parents the truth?"

"I don't know.   Heather?  Do you realize the pressure this is going to put on you?   Do you understand how bad people are going to talk about you?   It could get really ugly for you."

"We'll be fine," Heather said, kissing the little girl, shifting her to the other shoulder, laced her fingers with Jake's and squeezed his hand.   She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "If this is what we have to do to keep her safe, we'll be fine."

"What do you want to name her?  And we need to figure out when her birthday is."

Heather looked at her, kissed her head and smiled, "Her name is Molly Erin, after my grandmother who had hair every bit as red as this.    My surgery was right after Thanksgiving so maybe the first part of December sometime?"

"Molly Erin Lisinski was born December 2, 2005 at 9am.   Her father is Thomas Christopher of Denver, Colorado.  She was 5 pounds even and 18 inches long.  She's tiny as it is, and a small baby would explain why no one noticed the third grade teacher was pregnant.  Does that sound about right?" Jake asked, chewing on the corner of his thumbnail.    When Heather didn't answer he looked over and saw her eyes were closed and she was rocking her new daughter.   "Heather?  Does that sound alright?"

"Sounds perfect," Heather said, hugging her daughter tightly.

****************************
Jake pulled the Roadrunner to a stop in front of clinic. "Take her in and let Kenchy take a look at her. I'll go tell Mom and Dad we're back. I'll send them here. I'm going to get Hawkins and we're going to go back to that cabin and look around."

"Jake," Heather said worriedly, "it's too dangerous!!"

He squeezed her hand and kissed her temple, "I'm taking Robert Hawkins with me. We'll be fine. Take Molly in. Make sure she's alright."

Heather walked into the clinic. Margaret Taylor looked up from the desk and smiled. "Hi, Heather! I didn't know you and Jake were back from your honeymoon. Where did you get that gorgeous baby? Is everything alright?"  Margaret asked.    The child turned her face into Heather's neck, trying to hide.

"Hi, Margaret," Heather said, shifting the little girl to a more comfortable position, "It's a long story but the short version is that this is my daughter, Molly.   She's been living with my Aunt since she was born.   Jake and I went and got her after the wedding.    This morning she was running a really high fever and she had a seizure.    I need to make sure she's alright.    Is Dr. Dhuwalia or Dr. Walters here?"

"Oh my Goodness!  Your daughter? Heather! I didn't know you had any children.   How?  When?" Margaret exclaimed.     Molly chose that moment to help her mother out.   She coughed and then started crying.     Margaret cupped the back of the little girl's head, "You poor baby.   Let's get you seen.  We've been really busy this morning but I'll sneak you ahead of a few people. Why don't you wait in the playroom?"

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

Jake parked in front of the house and sat there thinking about what he was going to do next.   Should he tell them or not.    His father wasn't the same as he was five years ago.   He was actually likable now.   Jake knew that he could count on him for absolutely anything.    He grinned to himself.   Now that wasn't something that he would have thought before he left.   Jake decided he would tell his parents the truth about their new granddaughter.    They would need all the help they could get with this story.   He took a deep breath, ran his fingers thru his hair and climbed out of the car.

Jake walked in the house and dropped his duffle bag outside his and Heather's bedroom door. Gail and Johnston walked out of the kitchen.

"Jake!" Gail said, hugging him and smiling. "We didn't expect you back til late this evening. Where's Heather?"

"We had an interesting morning, Mom," Jake said.

"I bet you did," Johnston said, grinning.

"No, seriously, we woke up this morning and found a baby. She's probably around two years old. Heather's at the clinic with her."

"Found a baby? Where're her parents?" Johnston asked.

"She had just wandered up and was standing at the end of the dock crying. I found a couple of dead people in a cabin about a mile down the lake. It looks like that's where she came from. They hadn't been dead long...a day at most."

"What're you going to do, Jake?" Johnston asked.

Jake took a deep breath, closed his eyes and said quickly,"We're going to keep her and try to pass her off as Heather's daughter."  

"You're going to do what?!!" Gail asked loudly.

 "Mom, you know how paranoid Gray is.   He'll have her to the FEMA camp in the blink of an eye.   We're going to say she had a baby a year and a half ago when everyone thought she had an emergency appendectomy.   She's been living with Heather's Aunt.   We went and picked her up on our way to the lake.   Heather had to sign a morality clause before getting hired by the good ole' Jericho Town Commission.   If she had a baby like that she would've been fired.   No tenure... she'd have been out.   She's going to tell Kenchy that the baby got really sick this morning and we want her examined to make sure she's alright."

"Jake, that's ridiculous.   No one will believe that," Gail said.

"I don't know.   If we sell it right they might.    I fought that clause for years.   It was down right unconstitutional," Johnston said, narrowing his eyes and considering the story.   "I guess it's a good thing I failed," he said, smiling, putting his arm around Gail's shoulder and hugging her lightly.

"It'll never work," Gail argued.  "In all these months, Heather's never gone to check on her daughter?   There's no school anymore.   Why hasn't she brought her here?   It's been pretty obvious to everyone that you two have been together for months.   She would have just left her daughter?   Not even check to make sure she had food?  No, it'll never work.   That's not Heather."

"I know the story needs help, Mom," Jake said, frustrated.   "That's why I'm telling you.    We need your help."

"That's why your telling us," Gail said, angrily.   "Not because it's the right thing to do but because you need us to help you lie."

"Look, Mom, I don't know what else to do.   I don't know who killed those people.   Hell, what if they know we were there?    They could come looking for that little girl."

"Oh, Jake, what if it had been you and Heather?" Gail said, tears in her eyes.

"It wasn't. We're fine," Jake said, hugging Gail.  

"One thing," Jake said, hesitantly, "don't tell anyone.  Not even Eric."  

"Jake," Gail said, shaking her head, "that's not right.   Eric is your brother."

"The fewer people who know, the less there is a chance of screwing up and letting something slip," Jake said, trying to explain.

"If we can convince Eric, we can convince anyone," Johnston said.  "Gail, we have to do this.   Think about Jacob.   We have to protect the family."

"Mom, wait til you see Molly.   She's tiny.   She looks like a little doll.   Her hair is curly and Irish red.   You'll love her.  We just want to protect her.   Putting a child in a FEMA camp without parents would be a death sentence.   We can't let that happen."

"Molly, huh?" Johnston said, smiling.   "Well it goes with the hair.   That's what your mother always wanted to name a little girl if we ever had one.   Looks like we got our red haired girl, Gail," Johnston said, putting his arm around Gail's shoulder.

"I want to go back out there, Dad. See if I can find out anything. Mom, Dad? Will you go down to the clinic with Heather? Make sure they're okay?  I'll stop and get Hawkins. We'll be back in a little while."

"I'm goin' with you. We'll drop your mother off at the clinic," Johnston said, putting his hat on.

"No, Dad, please. I don't know anything about who these people were or why they would be murdered. It's probably just a random hit but I want to make sure. Please go to the clinic and make sure Heather's safe."

Johnston started to say something but then stopped and nodded his head in understanding.

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

Heather carried Molly into the playroom and sat down in the floor with her beside the toy box.

"Ok, Sweetie, lets see what we got here," Heather said digging in the toy box. She pulled out a small, pink cloth doll.

"Ba-ee!"

"That's right, Sweetie. It's a baby. Do you like babies?" she asked holding the doll out to the little girl.

"Pish," the toddler said, pointing at the fish tank.

"Yes, that's a fish," Heather said, smiling and kissing her hand.

Heather didn't think she had ever seen a child this young with eyes as clear emerald green as this little girl's were. With her pale complexion, red hair and green eyes, she was beautiful.

Molly yawned and started rubbing her eyes. She saw a rocking chair, looked at Heather and pointed at the chair, "Wock?"

Heather picked her up and hugged her, "Of course, Baby. Let's rock."    Heather sat down in the rocking chair and dozed off holding her daughter.

Margaret came to the doorway. "Heather? You can come on down to the exam room."

Heather jumped, "What?!" she said startled.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie.   I didn't mean to wake you.    You can come down to the exam room."

Heather stood up and walked down to the exam room with Margaret. "I'm leaving for the day but a nurse will be here in a minute.   Let Jimmy and I know if you need anything," Margaret said, quietly shutting the door.

Seconds later, Nurse Rebecca Lawson walked in. She stopped short and gasped when she saw who it was but quickly regained her composure.

"Hello.   Miss Lisinski, right? What's the problem today?"

"No, my last name's Green.   Jake and I got married....." she started to say.   Gail, followed closely by Johnston, rushed into the room before she could finish.

"Heather are you alright?" Gail asked, hugging Heather and narrowing her eyes at Nurse Lawson.

"I'm fine, Mom. I was just getting ready to talk to the nurse."

"What's the child's name?" Nurse Lawson asked, very businesslike.

Heather looked down at the sleeping child. "Her name is Molly. Molly Erin Lisinski," she said, looking at Gail and Johnston hesitantly.   Had Jake told them the truth or not, she didn't know.  

Gail smiled warmly at Heather and reached over patted Molly's very curly red hair. "Honey, remember, that's Green now," Gail said.   She looked over at Nurse Lawson, "She still feels warm.   Has the doctor seen her yet?"

"I'm going to need you to fill out some paperwork before Dr. Dhuwalia comes in," Becca said, holding a clipboard out.

Heather looked helplessly down at Molly and then back at the nurse, "How? I don't have a free hand?"

Johnston stepped forward.  "Don't worry bout that. I'll take care of this little Miss for you. Come to Grandpa, Baby," Johnston said, plucking the still sleeping Molly out of Heather's arms and settling her on his chest.

"Molly Green, that just has a nice ring to it," Gail said, kissing Heather on the temple.

Heather let out a deep breath and smiled at her mother in law, "I wasn't sure....."

"Oh, Sweetheart, we love her already.   She's your daughter, and we're thrilled to have another grandchild.   You know, Johnston has always wanted a little girl."

Johnston looked up, totally in love with his new granddaughter, "Jacob and Molly.   Our boy and our girl.   A matched set.   Couldn't be more perfect."

Becca cleared her throat and stepped forward, handing Heather a clipboard and ink pen, "Please fill these out.   Dr. Dhuwalia will be in shortly."     Becca turned around and walked out of the room.   When she was well down the hall she leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.   Being in Jericho was much harder than she ever thought it would be.   She didn't know if she could deal with seeing Jake as the happily married family man.  

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

Jake walked up to the desk of the police station.

"Hi, Jake. How does it feel to be a married man? When did you get back?" Hawkins asked, smiling.

"I definitely like being married. We just got back a few minutes ago as a matter of fact.  I need to talk you."

"How was the lake?   Is something wrong?" Hawkins asked.

"The lake was fun until this morning."

"What happened? Is Heather alright?" Hawkins asked.

"She's fine. About daybreak we heard a baby crying. Heather saw a little girl standing at the end of the dock. I grabbed her before she could fall in. I got them locked in the cabin and looked around. About a mile from us was another cabin. The door was busted down. The inside's a wreck. Stuff's thrown everywhere. There's blood all over the place. I went back in one of the bedrooms and found two bodies. They had been shot and their throats had been cut. It looked relatively fresh.... probably less than a day. It looked like the woman had been raped. There's baby stuff in the other bedroom. I'm assuming that little girl we found came from there. I didn't find a dead baby.    I couldn't find any reason for the murder.   I don't know them or anything about them.   It was probably just a robbery gone bad.  Whoever did this could be looking for the baby.    They could be lookin' for us.    I don't know," Jake said, looking uncomfortable.  "Um, look, uh, we're going to keep her and say that she's Heather's daughter.   You know how things are around here," he said, looking back at the door to Gray's office.

Hawkins looked at Jake and considered the story and nodded, "I think that's probably a wise choice given certain attitudes around town.    The fewer people who know the truth the better."

Jake looked at Hawkins and nodded. "I need some backup at the cabin. I wanna go back and look around. Make sure I didn't miss anything."

"How old's the child?" Hawkins asked.

"She's tiny, but I'm guessing she's between one and two years old."

Hawkins' eyes were filled with stone cold anger. He was livid, "Let's go to the lake," he said, quietly and very matter of factly tucking a pistol in jacket pocket.

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

The ride back out to Bass Lake was silent and quick. The Plymouth Roadrunner didn't get it's muscle car reputation for nothing.

Jake stopped the car in front of the cabin beside an old Suburban.   He got out tucking the pistol into the waistband of his jeans and looked around.

"You want to be careful doing that Jake.    You'll shoot yourself in the leg," Hawkins said, smiling and digging around in his black bag.

"Or a buttock. That's what Heather worries about, apparently," Jake said, pushing a fresh clip into his pocket.

Hawkins grinned. "You know, Jake, that's just way to much information," Hawkins said, laughing.    He handed a waistband holster to Jake, "Try this."

That served to break the tension for the moment.  Hawkins grabbed his black bag off the hood and followed Jake into the cabin. He whistled a low whistle when he walked in. Jake hadn't been kidding when he said there was blood everywhere. 'What in the Hell happened to these people,' Hawkins thought.

"Yeah," Jake said, looking at Hawkins and nodding his head.

Hawkins glanced into the bedroom, looked at Jake and quietly shut the door, "We'll take care of that later."

Jake dropped his head took a deep breath and slowly let it out in relief, "Okay."

"I don't understand how the baby got away," Hawkins said. "People who would do that would have no qualms about murdering a baby.   Jake, take a look in the backyard.   Maybe there's some hint out there."

Jake searched the backyard and called to Hawkins, "I found some broken glass and blood out here."

Hawkins followed Jake's voice to the back of the cabin.

"Well, we know how the baby got to your cabin.   How did she get out of the window."

The window to the baby's room was broken and there were drops of blood on the ground beside two tiny footprints in the mud underneath the window. Jake followed the trail of footprints to the edge of the woods.

He walked back and saw Hawkins in the window of the baby's bedroom, "Come in here Jake."

Jake walked in the cabin and saw Hawkins examining the floor in the baby's room.

"Jake, someone, and I'm assuming from the size of this footprint it was the man, sacrificed themselves to save that baby. It looks like he got in here, locked the door, broke the glass and put the baby out the window. I don't think there's anything else to see here. We'll never know why it was done. The people who did this are long gone."

Jake looked at the broken window and then at the bloody footprint.   His hand brushed the side of a playpen that looked like it was being used as a bed.     He saw three pink pacifiers, a small cloth doll and a well loved blankie.   Jake remembered frantic searches for pacifiers and blankies.    He knew that if he had faced the same situation as this father, then he would have done the same thing. You'd do anything for your kids.   He wasn't going to let this father's sacrifice be in vain.

Jake looked at Hawkins, resolve written all over his face, "Help me get this stuff packed up.   We'll need it for her.   I need some help, Hawkins."

"What're you sayin' Jake?" Hawkins asked.

"I'm saying, these people were murdered.  I don't know if whoever did it knows me and Heather know about what they did.    I've got to figure out how to manufacture a birth certificate and an identity for Heather's new daughter.    I have to protect my family."

Hawkins narrowed his eyes and looked at Jake and then nodded his head, "I can help with that.   Let's get this stuff packed to go.   You don't want to keep your family waiting."

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

Jake looked around and found a box of large black trash bags and several sippy cups in the kitchen.   He started shoving clothes, sippy cups and toys into the bags helter skelter.   He wanted to get the hell of Dodge.    

"Hey, Jake," Hawkins said, smiling from the open closet door, "jackpot.   It looks like her parents hit a baby store or something on their way here.  Diapers."

Jake smiled and shook his head, "Good.   The world is a different place when we can get excited over finding a pack of disposable diapers."

Jake saw a diaper bag sitting beside the closet door.   He grabbed it and packed it full of diapers, several changes of clothes, a sippy cup and the doll, pacifiers and blankie from the playpen.

Hawkins picked up a bag and looked at Jake, "How're we gonna get all this stuff back to town, Jake?"

"I thought about taking the Suburban.   If it'll run," Jake said, grimly.  

"Alright.   Sounds like a good idea.  But where did you get it?   Where'd it come from?   Get it straight before you get back to town," Hawkins said.

"Wedding present from Heather's Aunt Caroline.   It used to be her husband's vehicle and she had no need for it," Jake said, walking towards the front porch.

"Good.   Vehicle that big would be hard for an old woman to drive," Hawkins said.  

Jake walked outside and looked at the Suburban.   It was old but looked like it was in good condition.    Jake felt a moment of happiness when he saw it was 4-wheel drive.   That would be nice in the winter.    He saw the gas cap laying on the ground beside a length of hose.   It looked like all the gas had been siphoned out.   'Great,' Jake thought.    He started searching inside the cab for keys but no luck.

"What're you doin', Jake?" Hawkins asked.

"Checkin' to see if there're keys."

Jake laid down in the floorboard under the driver's side of the Suburban and reached up for the wires.   He hadn't hot wired in years but he didn't think he had forgotten how.

"Jake, wait," Hawkins said, walking quickly to the truck, holding a set of keys.   "I found these."

"Where'd you find 'em.   I looked around a few minutes ago and didn't see them."

"I found them.   Let's leave it at that," Hawkins said, looking pointedly at Jake.

Jake nodded slowly with understanding.

"Let's start getting the baby stuff loaded up," Hawkins said.

When everything was loaded, Jake siphoned enough gas from the Roadrunner for the Suburban so that they would be able to get both vehicles back to Jericho......at least he hoped so.   He crossed his fingers and tried the ignition.   It caught on the first start.     Jake sighed with relief and turned the truck off.

"Okay, Jake.    How're we gonna do this?"

"There's a shed around back.   When I was back there earlier I saw there was a shovel in there.   I'm gonna get to work out back," Jake said.

"I'll look around inside and take care what needs to be done in there."

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

Jake tapped the last of the dirt down on the double grave.    He leaned on the shovel and took a deep breath.   'What a way to end a honeymoon,' he thought.

He walked around the front of the cabin and saw that Hawkins had loaded more stuff into the Suburban.  

"I found a few more things," Hawkins said, holding out a wallet, "There are a few pictures in here.   No identification just a few baby pictures.  I found some food that they missed and loaded that up too."  

Jake opened the wallet and looked at the pictures.   There was a hospital picture with the little girl wearing a Santa hat and red dress.  There were a few more baby pictures but that was it...no ID whatsoever.    At least now they would have some pictures to flash around in case anyone asked, Jake thought.

"Are you ready to head back?"

"Yeah, let me do one more sweep thru.   I want to make sure there's nothing else."

Jake walked in the cabin.   He came out several minutes later with a car seat.   "I think that's it," he said.

Hawkins looked at the car seat and then at Jake and starting laughing.   "I saw that but didn't think you would need it."

Jake smiled, "You've obviously never received a ticket for not having a minor child in a restraint?"

Hawkins continued to laugh while Jake packed the car seat in the trunk.

Suddenly they heard shots fired.   Jake and Hawkins knelt behind the cover of the car and pulled pistols.  

"They sound far away," Hawkins said.   He reached into the Roadrunner for his bag and pulled out a pair of binoculars.   He motioned for Jake to follow him around the corner of the cabin.    Hawkins put the binoculars to his eyes and scanned the area.   He handed them to Jake and pointed.    Jake raised them to his eyes and instantly felt sick.    He was looking at the backyard he and Heather had left hours before.   There were four armed men going in and out of the Green family cabin.

"Let's go," Jake mouthed.  "We'll take care of that."

"No.   We have wives and kids back in town.   Let's get home safe.   There's no way to know if those people did this.   We're not going in guns blazing and risk getting ourselves killed.   We're going home.  Now."

Jake took and deep breath and nodded.

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

Jake pulled out of driveway with Hawkins following in the Suburban.    They were going to go to Hawkins' house before heading home and take care of the identity issue.   When they passed Town Hall, Jake saw Eric's truck.   He pulled in beside it and motioned for Hawkins' to wait for him in the Roadrunner.    He grabbed the diaper bag and walked towards the building.

Jake walked into the police station and saw Eric and Jimmy behind the desk.

"Hi, Jake.   I didn't know you were back," Jimmy said, smiling.

Eric looked up and spotted the pink bag, "You make a life changing discovery on your honeymoon, Jake?   I never saw you as a pink kinda guy.   Maybe lavender," Eric said, laughing.

Jake smirked, "Funny.   I'm actually more into melon, thank you.     And, yes, there was a life changing event.   Congratulations, Eric.   You're an uncle again."

"Again? What are you talking about?"

"Heather has a little girl.   Her name's Molly.   We went and picked her up before we started our honeymoon.   She got sick this morning so I brought them to the clinic.  I don't really have time to explain but I need you to do something for me.     I just got back from packing everything up but I need to do one other thing before I can go home.    Heather forgot this when she got out of the car," Jake said, handing Eric the diaper bag.   "Will you take this to the clinic for me?   Heather needs it.   There's a Suburban parked out there beside your truck full of baby stuff.   Would you drive that over to the house?"

"Heather has a daughter?!" Eric and Jimmy said at the same time.  

"What are you talking about Jake?" Eric asked, confused.   "I've known Heather a lot longer than you and I've never seen her with a child.   How old is she?"

"She's a year and half old."

"Wow, Jake.   I had no idea.   Heather's always been so tiny.   How did she hide a pregnancy.   That's amazing," Jimmy said.

"I really don't have time to explain right now," Jake said.   He pointed at the diaper bag, "Eric?  Would you take it?"

Eric nodded mutely.   Jake quickly left the police station.

**********     **********

Dr. Dhuwalia finished his exam and smiled, "She looks good.   Maybe a little dehydrated but not too bad."

"Is there anything special we need to do for her?   She's been living with my Aunt.   There wasn't anymore baby food at the house and it's not like there's any baby food at the market?"  

Gail chuckled and hugged Heather, "Honey, she'll be fine.   She has teeth.   She'll learn to eat the same food we do."

Eric walked in the door.   He saw Heather holding a very small little girl.   He held out the pink diaper bag Jake had packed, "Jake sent this to you.   He said you forgot it in the car."

"Where is he?   Is he alright?" Johnston asked.   He held out his hands to Molly, who readily came to him.  

"He had something here in town to take care of.   He'll be home soon."

Suddenly a dark expanding spot appeared on Johnston's shirt.    His eyes got big and he held Molly out from him.   He started chuckling and was joined by everyone in the room.   "I guess I have just been officially christened."

Gail opened the diaper bag and saw a very well packed bag.   It hit her that her son had taken care of a baby...and had obviously done it well.    She smiled to herself and handed Heather a diaper, some clothes and a pink pacifier on a clip.        

Johnston sat Molly on the stretcher.    Heather slowly dressed her daughter.   It had been a very long time since she'd dressed a baby and Molly was squirming.

"Do you have any other questions?" Dr. Dhuwalia asked, watching Heather and smiling.

"No, we're going to take my granddaughter home and get her settled," Johnston said.

Kenchy Dhuwalia smiled, "Very good.   If you have any problems bring her back in," he said, slipping out of the room.

"Heather?  I didn't know you had a baby," Eric said, still confused.   "Where's she been?"

Gail picked Molly up and looked at Heather, "Molly's been living with Heather's aunt, and now she's at home with her mother, Eric.   Where she belongs.   Are you ready to take our girl home?" Gail asked.    She looked pointedly at her son,   "Eric, we'll talk about this at home.    Let's go."

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

Johnston pulled the truck into the driveway.   Eric pulled in behind him.    Johnston walked around and opened the door for Heather and Gail,  taking Molly from Heather and walking towards the front door, shaking the keys in Molly's face, trying to get a smile.

"You know you've lost her forever, right?" Gail asked Heather and chuckling at her husband.    She put her arm around Heather's shoulder and walked slowly towards the front door with her.    

"Heather, sit down with me," Gail said, motioning to the porch swing.   "Jake told us what's going on.    Just Johnston and me, and we agreed not to tell anyone else, not even Eric.   Honey, I'm not saying don't do this but let's talk.   Two weeks ago you didn't have any children.   Now you're going to have 2 and you're pregnant."

Heather sighed and smiled.   She was relieved that they wouldn't have to do this alone.  "Mom, I've always wanted a big family.   Jake knows that."

"Honey, you've just gotten married.    Are you sure this is what you and Jake want?"

"Gail, Jake saved her life.   You didn't see him with her.   He wants this as much as I do."

"Johnston and I will help you as much as we can, you know that right?   But, Honey, most of this is going to fall on you.     Are you okay with that?"

"Yes.   I am so sure it's scary.   I'm not teaching anyone but Jacob.    I have nothing but time.   This is our little girl.   I feel it."

Gail smiled at her and gave her a hug.   They got up and walked into the house.   "Well that's good   Because I don't think Johnston is going to change his mind.   That's his granddaughter," Gail said laughing, watching Johnston blow a raspberry on Molly's tummy.   Molly collapsed in laughter.    She had Johnston wrapped around her little finger and everyone knew it.

Eric walked in just as Gail said Molly was Johnston's granddaughter.  "What?" he asked.   "Heather?  I'm really confused.   Jake told me you have a daughter.  When did you have a baby?"

"Eric, go say hello to your niece, Molly.   Heather and Jake's little girl."

Heather suddenly pushed past Eric and ran towards the bathroom.   Gail followed her.
"Honey, are you alright?"

Heather walked out of the bathroom holding a cold wash cloth to her mouth, "I'm alright.  I have got to remember to eat."

Gail hugged her and walked with her back to the living room.  Heather sat down in the floor beside Molly.    

Eric looked from Gail to Heather and raised his eyebrows with sudden comprehension.   He shook his head in disbelief at everything that he had found out today, walked out the front door and started bringing in Molly's belongings.  

"Mom, where do you want me to put this stuff?"  

"Hmm...why don't you put here in the living room.   We'll go thru it and figure out what to do with it.   Heather, where did you want her sleep?"

"I'm thinking put her in with me and Jake for a few nights while we figure each other out.  I mean, we're still getting used to each other.  Again.  How's that sound?" Heather asked, stammering.

Jake walked into the living room, "How does what sound?   Put who in where?"

Eric looked at Heather and then at Jake, "Um...I'm gonna finish with the baby's stuff and then can someone tell me what's going on?" he said and turned quickly and walked out the front door.

Johnston stood up and cleared his throat, looking at Gail and motioning towards the kitchen, "We'll go fix lunch," he said.

Jake looked around the room, "I had no idea I could clear a room that quick.   I didn't think I smelled that bad," he said, smiling.   He sat down in the floor beside Heather and took her hand, "Heather, I want to talk to you about the baby."

Heather looked at Jake and hesitantly said, "Okay," afraid he had changed his mind.

"Heather, I've taken care of a birth certificate and social security card," he said handing her an envelope.      

Heather opened the envelope and saw a Colorado Birth Certificate and a social security card for Molly Erin Lisinski.  

"How did you do this?" Heather asked, amazed.

"Robert Hawkins used to be a computer guy," Jake said, smiling slightly.   "Does it look right?"

Heather leaned over and kissed Jake, "That is exactly right.  Jake, say hello to your daughter, Molly Green."

"Good," Jake said, kissing Molly's cheek.   "I'm going to take a quick shower so I can hold my daughter."

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

Eric walked back in the living room and sat the final bag outside Jake and Heather's bedroom.   He looked at Heather, took a deep breath, walked over and sat down beside her.

"Heather, what's goin' on?" Eric asked.  

"I had a baby.  I didn't want to lose my job so I didn't tell anyone."

"I'm not stupid, Heather.   You've never been pregnant."

Gail walked into the living room.   Heather looked at her and they nodded at each other.

"Okay, Eric," Gail began, "you cannot say a word to anyone.   Not even to Mary.   I'm serious, Eric.   No one.  Do you understand?   If Gray found out about this....."

"Mother, what's going on?" Eric demanded, loudly.

"Jake and Heather are adopting...."

"We found her this morning....."

"Her parents were dead, Eric...."

"She almost fell in the lake...."

"We're protecting the family, Eric...."

"We're going to tell everyone that she's my daughter...."

"See she had been living with Heather's aunt so Heather didn't lose her job...."

"Since Jake and I are married now, we decided to bring her here to live...."

Eric shook his head in confusion.    He looked up at Johnston, who had walked out of the kitchen and heard the whole thing.

"Alright, Ladies, enough.    Son, this morning Jake and Heather found this little girl.   Jake found her parents dead.    Murdered.   They've decided to adopt the child.    There's no way of knowing who killed her parents or if Jake and Heather were seen.    We're going to try to pass Molly off as Heather's daughter.   A year and a half ago Heather had surgery and was away for a month.   That's when she had the baby.   The child lived with an aunt until now.   That's the story.   You need to keep that story to yourself.   The fewer people who know the better off we are."

"Are you pregnant Heather?" Eric asked, on a hunch.

"Yes, I am.   I'm about two and half months along."

Eric stood up, took a deep breath and shook his head, "Okay then.   So Heather has a daughter who's a year and half old.    Her name is Molly.   She's pregnant but we're not talking about that yet.    Do I have it straight?"

"Sounds about right.    Is there anything else outside?"

"Nope.  I'm gonna head home.   I'll see you in a day or two," Eric said, leaning down, smiling and kissing Heather's cheek.   "Congratulations, Heather."    He walked out the front door shaking his head.

"Ladies, you've got to get to be better than that.   That was pathetic.   You'll never pass this story off if you can't get it together."

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

Jake came out of the bathroom to find Johnston holding Molly at the fireplace.   Molly was pointing at a picture, "Ba-ee."

"Yes, that's right.   That's a baby.   That's Daddy," Johnston said, pointing at the picture.   He pointed to another picture, "That's your brother, Jacob.   You'll meet him soon."

Jake smiled and shook his head, "Okay, Dad.   It's my turn.   I'm the only one who hasn't gotten to play with her."

"You can't have her.   Changed my mind.   I've waited for a daughter for 40 years.    New plan.   Your mother and I are gonna to keep her.  Isn't that right, sweetie pie?" he said, smiling.

"So, I secretly had a baby a year and half ago, Johnston," Gail said, walking out of the kitchen.    "That's more believable.    I don't think so.   Let her father hold her.    I need help in the kitchen," Gail said, laughing.

"Oh alright," Johnston said, handing Molly to Jake, "take care of my little girl."

Johnston was surprised momentarily at how natural Jake was with Molly when he held her.

"Johnston.   Lunch," Gail said, impatiently.

Jake heard Heather moving stuff around in the bedroom.   He and Molly went to see what she was doing.   "Whatcha doin', Mama," he said, walking into the room and seeing Heather trying to figure out how to set up a Pack and Play.  

Heather was pulling up the sides.   When they sagged she groaned in frustration, "What am I doing wrong?!  The sides won't stay up."

"Need some help?" Jake asked, smiling and remembering the first time he had done that.

"No.  I can get it."

Jake sat down on the edge of the bed.   He looked at Molly and smiled, "Your mom is super smart.   She can make ice out of water and fertilizer.    Let's watch."

She pulled the side up again and looked over at Jake, "See?" she said, with a smile.

The side sagged again.

"Um hmmm," he said, pointing.

"Eeewwwww," she said in frustration.

"You know if you..." Jake started.

"I can get it!" she said.

"Ok," Jake said, laughing, "if it means that much to you."  He lay back on the bed and sat Molly on his chest, where she immediately started bouncing and laughing.

Five minutes later, Heather looked over at him, sweat dripping off her face, "Are you gonna help me with this or not?"

"I would have helped you when we walked in the door but no, you had to do it," he said, smiling.   Jake handed Molly to Heather walked over to the playpen and had it set up in less than a minute, "Look, you have to click the sides in place to lock them.   Like this," he said, demonstrating.

Heather stuck her tongue out at him and said, "Show-off."

They heard someone knocking on the front door.  

Jake laughed at Heather and started towards the door, "I can't help it if I'm mechanically superior," he said, ducking when Heather threw a pillow at him.

He was still chuckling when he answered the door.

"Well you're in a good mood!" Stanley said, smiling and walking in.  "And you're home early too.   You can't have Jacob back.   He's mine now.   For once I'm not outnumbered."

Heather walked out of the bedroom holding Molly, "Jake, with your superiority you now get to assemble everything.   I just wouldn't know how."

"What's that?" Stanley confused.

Jake took Molly from Heather and smiled, "This, Stanley, is a baby.   Her name is Molly.   It's a long story but the short version is this is Heather's daughter, now our daughter.   She's been living with Heather's aunt and she's going to live with us now.   I'll explain everything later.  Jacob doesn't know.  Don't tell him."

"What? A daughter? How?  When?" Stanley exclaimed, obviously confused.

Heather blushed.   She hadn't thought about having to explain this to Stanley, "Remember when I was out of school for a month with appendicitis?   Well, it wasn't exactly appendicitis."

"You lied?  To me?"

"Stanley, I'm sorry.   I could've lost my job.   I didn't tell anyone except my Aunt Caroline when I found out I was pregnant.    She took care of her for me."

"How old is she?"

"She's 18 months old," Heather said.

Stanley took her from Jake, "Hi, Baby."   Molly puckered up and started wailing and reached for Jake.   He took her and she immediately stopped crying.

"What's that all about," Stanley asked, shocked.   "Babies love me," he said reaching for her again.   Molly turned her head into Jake's neck and started crying again.

"What babies?" Jake asked, smiling and patting Molly's back,   "She's had a big day.   I'm sure she'll love you tomorrow."

"How in the world did you hide it?" Stanley asked.

"Well, she was little.   Luckily it was a cold fall and early winter, so by the time I was really showing, I could hide it under big sweaters.  Not many people pay a lot of attention to an old maid school teacher Stanley.   I didn't really have to hide anything."

"Anybody who didn't pay attention to you is crazy," Jake said, smiling and kissing the tip of her nose.    He gave her a quick hug and winked at her to show his support.

"Eww.      There's an impressionable child you know."

"You'll get used to it," Jake laughed.  

"Heather?" Stanley asked, hesitantly, "who's her father?    If it's someone here in town and he didn't step up and do the right thing....."

"It's not, Stanley.   He was a really good friend from Denver.   We had dinner after a teacher's conference, too much to drink, one thing lead to another.   It was only one time, but I guess it was the right time," Heather said, looking down at the floor.

"Heather, you don't drink," Stanley said, quietly.

"Yeah, well, look what happens when I do," she said, blushing bright red.

"Did he do the right thing?"

"Of course, Stanley.   Tommy was a very good man," Heather said, kissing Molly's cheek.    "I wouldn't trade the results of that mistake for anything."

"Let me grab my keys and I'll follow you back and bring Jacob home."

"Jacob.  Oh yeah, that's what I came to town for.   He needs a dry pair of shoes.   He kinda fell in the swimming hole when I was showing him the tire swing.   Why don't you let him spend another night.   Get settled in with the baby and come get him in the morning or maybe even the next day."

"Are you sure?" Jake asked.   "That'd be great but I don't want to impose."

"Impose?  Are you kidding?  I've finally got somebody to play with.   Bonnie don't play no more and Mimi....well Mimi is all girly and don't like to get dirty.   We're taking the dirtbikes out this afternoon, I still have to teach him how to throw horseshoes, we need to practice the perfect pass some more, I just found the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots and then there's ghost stories.   You can't take him now!"

Jake laughed, "Okay.  I'll let him stay.  But make sure your little buddy gets at least a little sleep.   Tomorrow might be traumatic for him."

"Gee, thanks, Mr. Green!" Stanley laughed. "We won't stay up too late, I promise."

Heather walked down the stairs carrying a very worn pair of sneakers, "This is his last pair.   Be careful," Heather said, smiling.

"Yes, Ma'am," Stanley said, saluting.   He reached out to tickle Molly and she started crying again.   "I don't get it," Stanley said, shaking his head.  

"She'll love her Uncle Stanley, don't worry about it.   I'll see you in the morning," Jake said, walking Stanley to the door.

Jake closed the door, turned around and flashed Heather a big grin, "Now that was impressive.   Where did you pull that story from?"

"Harlequin Romance," she said, laughing.    

Molly, in a much better mood, laughed along with Heather.  Heather kissed her cheek and held her hands out to take Molly from Jake.

"Well, Grandpa said I had to tell a better story, didn't he?"

Molly babbled in agreement.

Jake laughed and said, "Let's go see what Grandpa came up with for lunch.  I'm hungry."

**********     **********     **********
 
Bedtime was horrible.    Obviously, Molly had a bedtime routine that was not being followed and she resisted, vocally, without giving in to sleep.   They all tried different things, but nothing worked.    After two hours, Heather was in tears.  Finally, Jake took Molly in the bedroom and tried the only thing that ever worked when Jacob was a baby.    He shut the door, blew out the candles so that it was totally dark, laid down on the bed, held her tightly against his chest and hummed "Take Me Out To the Ballgame".    Molly went to slept almost instantly.    Jake decided to hold her a while longer just in case she wasn't deeply asleep.
 
When Jake had not reappeared 45 minutes later, Johnston, Gail and Heather started getting concerned.   There had been silence from the room for a long time but still no Jake.   
 
"What do you think's going on in there?" Heather asked, looking at the bedroom door.
 
"I don't know.   Why hasn't he come out yet?" Gail said, looking at Johnston.
 
"How am I supposed to know?" Johnston asked.   He got up and walked towards the bedroom.
 
"Johnston!  NO!  What if you wake her up," Gail said.
 
"We'll never know if I don't look.   I'll be quiet," Johnston said, quietly opening the door.   He looked in the room and then turned around.   He was smiling softly.   He put his finger to his lips and motioned them over.   Jake was laying on his back with Molly sprawled across his chest.   Both were sound asleep.    He went in and gently picked Molly up and put her in her bed and pulled a quilt over Jake.
 
***********     **********     **********
 
Heather slid into bed beside Jake and snuggled up to him.
 
He put his arm around her and smiled in the darkness, "I'm sorry I fell asleep on you.   I guess I was tired."
 
"It's alright.   I think Molly wore you out.   Jake, what did you find out there?" Heather asked quietly.
 
"Do you really want to talk about that?"
 
"Yes.   I need to know."
 
"We found two dead bodies.    I buried them.   Can we just leave it at that?"
 
Heather, sensing Jake's hesitancy, decided to not ask anything else, "Okay, Jake.   I won't make you talk about it."
 
Jake hugged her tightly, "Thank you."
 
Jake woke up several hours later hearing Heather moaning in her sleep and twisting the covers.  She woke up suddenly and sat up with a gasp.
 
"Hey," Jake asked "are you okay?"
 
"Kane.   Jake what if he comes back.   What if he comes for us."
 
"He won't.   Don't worry about that."
 
"You don't know that.   He might.   What if it was him that killed those people," Heather said, starting to cry.   Jake pulled her into a crushing hug.
 
"Heather, he won't ever hurt you again.   He's dead," Jake said, quietly.
 
"How do you know that?" Heather asked.
 
"Because I was there," Jake said, rubbing her back.    "That's why I was late the night before our wedding.   I had to protect my family."
 
**********     **********     **********
 
Jake walked into the Richmond farmhouse the next afternoon.    Jacob flew across the room and gave his father a hug.
 
"Dad!!!  Your back!!"
 
Jake smiled and hugged Jacob back, "Did you have a good time with Uncle Stanley."
 
"We had tons of fun.   We rode dirtbikes and horses and had water balloon fights.   Uncle Stanley tells the best ghost stories."
 
Stanley and Mimi walked in from the kitchen.   Stanley grinned and said, "You can't have him.    I won't have anyone to play with." 
 
"He can come and play another day.   I promise," Jake laughed.   He looked at Jacob, "Grab your stuff.   Heather's dyin' to see you."
 
"Okay," Jacob said, taking the stairs two at a time.
 
"How did everything go at home last night?" Stanley asked, after making sure Jacob was out of earshot.   
 
"More importantly, when do we get to meet your daughter?" Mimi asked, excited.   "I love kids, as long as I don't have to give birth to them."
 
They all laughed.   Jacob bounded down the stairs.
 
Jake and Jacob walked to the door, "We'll see you in a coupla days," Jake said, smiling.
 
They got in the car and headed back towards Jericho.   
 
"Why didn't Heather come?"
 
"Well, a lot happened while we were gone.    I wanted to have a talk with you.   Just you and me."
 
"Okay."
 
**********     **********     **********
 
Jacob stormed into the house.   He looked in the living room and saw Heather sitting on the floor with his new baby sister.
 
Heather smiled at him, "Hi, Honey."
 
"Hi,"  Jacob said, angrily, looking from Heather to Molly and then at Jake, who had just walked in the door, "I told you not to bring home babies and you go and bring two!"    He turned around, ran up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door.   Molly jumped and started crying.
 
"He's surprised," Jake said, uncomfortably.
 
Tears welled up in Heather's eyes.
 
Jake rolled his eyes, sighed and said, "Life was so much easier when I worked for the CIA."

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

Thanks for reading my story!!   Feedback is always appreciated!!