A helping hand

Once Jim knew where abouts the funeral was, it didn't take long to find out which cemetery the Starling's family were buried in. Vanessa had not wanted the team to be with her, but Jim couldn't leave it alone - or leave her alone. He wasn't sure how the family would have reacted to Vanessa, but he did not imagine it would be favourable and he wasn't about to leave his partner at the mercy of anyone. After a 'phone call to Jenny to organise a ticket, he left on the Ducati, screaming towards the FBI headquarters. He wanted to see Barney and knew that he couldn't find Vanessa until the following day.

-----
The next day, Long Island, 0800hrs
-----

Jim had spent the night in a motel which gave a new meaning to the word 'dive'. Actually, he had quite liked it, reminding him of his army days. But he was worried about Vanessa. The thought of her so alone and isolated, not even able to go home to her own family, made him feel terrible. Now he was at the funeral, or more accurately, not at the funeral - just the cemetery. He had seen everyone arrive and had not seen Vanessa. 'Guess the family don't want her,' he mused.

But he had seen her. A lone figure secreted behind a tree, listening only, when she belonged by his side. He wanted to go to her, but this was her private time and he didn't want to intrude. He simply left, going to the nearest coffee shop and returning later to see where she went.

-----

Taking a taxi as Vanessa drove back to the cemetery, he did not so much follow as go to the same place. She soon lost them, but he knew where to find her and as they neared the cemetery, he paid the cab fare and walked. It was raining, but he had his umbrella and he proceeded towards the Starling plot.

He arrived in time to see Vanessa set down the picture she had painted and burn it. As he watched it burn, he turned away again and went to wait by the car.

By the time she walked back to the main gate where her rented car was parked, the drizzle had stopped. Somehow, she was not surprised to see Jim there, dressed in black, his hand still holding an umbrella.

"Let's go back," he said, as he put his arm around her shoulders and led her into the passenger side of the car.

"I'll never have my life with him," she said. "He'll never hold me again."

There was nothing Jim could say to her. So instead, he just gave her arm a gentle squeeze and drove back towards the airport.

-----

She hadn't said anything else all the way home and now Jim was taking her up to her apartment. They went in and Jim made them some coffee and sat beside her on the sofa.

"You weren't to blame," Jim told her.

The statement seemed to shock her out of her reverie.

"If he hadn't become my lover, it wouldn't have happened."

"And if the Crosses weren't psychotic killers, it wouldn't have happened. They put him in hospital, not you."

"Because of me!" she wailed.

"No! Because they are killers. Chris loved you and would have done anything to be with you. He made a choice and you had no right to stop him making it just because you're in the FBI. He knew what he was getting into. The people who caused his death would have killed more people by now if we hadn't halted their last plan. They will kill again if we don't stop them next time. You have to be a part of that."

"For Chris? What difference ..."

"For yourself. You know why you signed up. It all still stands. To stop people like the Crosses. You can't give up on that."

They fell into silence, Jim hoping he hadn't pushed her. Eventually, she said

"I was never going to give up, Jim. I need the job more than ever."

Jim's cellphone rang.

"Hello?"

"Vanessa and I are at her place. We just got back. We'll be in the office tomorrow."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing. Just that he'd see us in the office tomorrow."

"Right."

"You're sure you want to go back right away?" he asked.

"Yes, I think if I just sit around I'll go nuts," she smiled a little.

"OK. Listen, you might not want to do this, but I was going to see Barney and if you don't want to sit at home on your own, you could come with me."

NRPG:

Sau Woon:
Barney still in a safehouse and we would have to go blindfolded by Jim's friend Bob Freemore. If you want to go, write something up. Barney would be very happy to meet a friend of Jim's.

All (esp. Alton): What's our next mission?