What He Beheld
The more that Katie began to learn about Fourth Dawn, the more she learned that Mack was right: they were dangerous. She figured as much being that the entire team couldn't get her brother's killers two years earlier. They were smart and incredibly resourceful. If she was going to go up against them, she would need something that they had never seen before. And it was, surprisingly, a mid-coital conversation with her husband that gave her the perfect idea.
She'd give them something they'd never seen because it wasn't even military.
Almost ten years ago, Katie had met professional magician David Hardaway, when she had been killing time in New York between assignments with the 902nd. He was a friend of one of her acquaintances and she had gotten to see his act, and found herself impressed, not just by what he pulled off but his wit and wisdom. They had been friends for a little while, and then finally started dating when she had gotten out of the field and posted to Maryland. They had been together for the next three years before they'd finally gone their separate ways; David's career was getting bigger and he wasn't around, and Katie's workload at Fort Meade was also on the rise. Although, the fact that she had been sleeping with her now husband behind his back probably factored into it.
Not that David knew, or had anything to do with it. Her heart simply belonged to someone else even if she didn't realize it at the time. David was a good man even if he was trying a little bit too hard to be cool, and she had enjoyed the time she had spent with him. They had been more friends than lovers anyway considering she was having an affair with another man, which made it easier to approach him about turning his talents at making big misdirection toward a game plan to avenge her brother's death.
She didn't know what she was doing, as evidenced by the fact that she had called him two days after she'd gotten married. Neither did he know, as evidenced by the fact that his biggest illusion was making a full size cargo plane disappear. But put their heads together and maybe they might come up with something. Something that would allow her brain to rest, and something that might be useful when the time came. She had called him on an impulse, caught him between shows, and he'd agreed to fly to St. Louis for a few days while his show was dark to see what he could figure out.
By the time he got to the base, however, he was less than thrilled. He'd had his life threatened twice and it was obvious that Katie had forgotten to tell him certain things. Even though he knew Katie and knew she was sometimes prone to doing that when it came to personal issues, he was still frustrated by the time he arrived.
"Hey, Kat," he said with a small smile, pulling her close for a hug. But she could tell something was different when he said, "Next time, can we stick to dinner?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I didn't mean for that to happen."
"And you're not the ones who did it, so, that makes sense." A snort. "Should I head by your husband's office so he can threaten to kill me again? I'm surprised he remembers who I am considering it's been five years."
"Tom has a very good memory." Katie exhaled. "They're just protective, David. They don't know you. Once they get to know you, things will calm down."
"I hope so, Katie." He sighed. "Because I am...look, I don't mean to take this out on you, but this really isn't what I want to deal with. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I haven't even done anything and I don't want to be prejudged based on everyone else being paranoid." He was actually a little bit angry. "Never mind. Let me see what I can do to help you. I'll get through the rest."
She nodded slightly. "I have some space set up for you. Try not to make all the planes on the base disappear."
A small smile curved his lips. "I don't doubt I could, if I wanted to die."
She had set him up with an empty building on the far end of the base, as far from her husband as she could possibly get him. David was a performer on a huge scale and he would need a lot of space to do his job. She had found everything he'd asked for and it didn't take her long to brief him, then she knew he needed some time alone to focus and try and make things work. They were alike, like that. When she walked out, he put his iPod on, turned up "Anxiety" by the Black Eyed Peas (how fitting), and closed his eyes, looking for an idea.
It was how he missed the honestly regretful look on Katie's face as she walked away.
She'd give them something they'd never seen because it wasn't even military.
Almost ten years ago, Katie had met professional magician David Hardaway, when she had been killing time in New York between assignments with the 902nd. He was a friend of one of her acquaintances and she had gotten to see his act, and found herself impressed, not just by what he pulled off but his wit and wisdom. They had been friends for a little while, and then finally started dating when she had gotten out of the field and posted to Maryland. They had been together for the next three years before they'd finally gone their separate ways; David's career was getting bigger and he wasn't around, and Katie's workload at Fort Meade was also on the rise. Although, the fact that she had been sleeping with her now husband behind his back probably factored into it.
Not that David knew, or had anything to do with it. Her heart simply belonged to someone else even if she didn't realize it at the time. David was a good man even if he was trying a little bit too hard to be cool, and she had enjoyed the time she had spent with him. They had been more friends than lovers anyway considering she was having an affair with another man, which made it easier to approach him about turning his talents at making big misdirection toward a game plan to avenge her brother's death.
She didn't know what she was doing, as evidenced by the fact that she had called him two days after she'd gotten married. Neither did he know, as evidenced by the fact that his biggest illusion was making a full size cargo plane disappear. But put their heads together and maybe they might come up with something. Something that would allow her brain to rest, and something that might be useful when the time came. She had called him on an impulse, caught him between shows, and he'd agreed to fly to St. Louis for a few days while his show was dark to see what he could figure out.
By the time he got to the base, however, he was less than thrilled. He'd had his life threatened twice and it was obvious that Katie had forgotten to tell him certain things. Even though he knew Katie and knew she was sometimes prone to doing that when it came to personal issues, he was still frustrated by the time he arrived.
"Hey, Kat," he said with a small smile, pulling her close for a hug. But she could tell something was different when he said, "Next time, can we stick to dinner?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I didn't mean for that to happen."
"And you're not the ones who did it, so, that makes sense." A snort. "Should I head by your husband's office so he can threaten to kill me again? I'm surprised he remembers who I am considering it's been five years."
"Tom has a very good memory." Katie exhaled. "They're just protective, David. They don't know you. Once they get to know you, things will calm down."
"I hope so, Katie." He sighed. "Because I am...look, I don't mean to take this out on you, but this really isn't what I want to deal with. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I haven't even done anything and I don't want to be prejudged based on everyone else being paranoid." He was actually a little bit angry. "Never mind. Let me see what I can do to help you. I'll get through the rest."
She nodded slightly. "I have some space set up for you. Try not to make all the planes on the base disappear."
A small smile curved his lips. "I don't doubt I could, if I wanted to die."
She had set him up with an empty building on the far end of the base, as far from her husband as she could possibly get him. David was a performer on a huge scale and he would need a lot of space to do his job. She had found everything he'd asked for and it didn't take her long to brief him, then she knew he needed some time alone to focus and try and make things work. They were alike, like that. When she walked out, he put his iPod on, turned up "Anxiety" by the Black Eyed Peas (how fitting), and closed his eyes, looking for an idea.
It was how he missed the honestly regretful look on Katie's face as she walked away.