'I just wanted to update you both', Tony began.
Joe leaned against a pew. Jill stood close beside him and he slipped his arm around her as they both listened intently to what the agent had to say.
'We did a thorough sweep and can't find anything amiss. I don't know what those lights were about but whatever they were from there's no sign of them now. That being said, I'd like to wait until it's light outside and do another check before we let you back to the cottage. So if you both wouldn't mind staying here for another while it would be appreciated, sir, ma'am', he said, clearly seeking the president's permission.
Joe glanced at Jill. 'Whatever you want us to do is fine. We're quite happy to stay here until you deem it safe to return', he replied to Tony's obvious relief.
In the end it was 8.30am before they left the church. Fortified by more refreshments supplied by Mrs. O'Shea's along with stories about Old Kitty and her daughter, also called Kitty, just to add to the confusion. By the time they sat into the car Joe had a whole other family story to tell when he got back to Delaware.
'I wonder now if my mom was called after her', Joe mused as they settled back against the seat and they held hands and discussed the revelations all the way back.
Jill yawned as they crossed the threshold of the cottage, its warm embrace seemed to sap the last of her energy. 'Why don't you lie down for a while?' he suggested, pulling her into a hug in the kitchen.
She rested her head on his shoulder. 'Are you not gonna join me?' she asked, her fist catching his shirt tightly.
'Oh, how I'd love to', he whispered, his lips grazing her temple. 'But I better have a chat with the guys and see if they know what was going on last night, and', he moved to look at his watch. 'I might as well get the daily brief and check to see if I can get a hold of Glen', he said, bringing their thoughts back to spies and intrigue and away from the stories of famine and craftworkers that had filled their night.
'Mmmm, well, much as I'll miss you in our bed all I'll be doing is sleeping', she murmured, too tired to even contemplate anything else. 'But it would be lovely to curl around you', she noted.
He ran his hand along her back and brushed her curls gently away from her face, the better to see her eyes. 'How about I go up with you and lie beside you until you fall asleep', he asked and the look of pure contentment that crossed her face made his heart skip.
'Is Dr. B inside, sir?' Sam asked thirty minutes later as Joe emerged from the cottage.
'She's upstairs in bed, fast asleep', Joe replied and Sam and Natasha moved to their positions by the door.
'Is Vanessa about?' Joe asked him, turning back to wait for the answer.
'She's off duty until midday, sir. She's gone into the village to run some personal errands but I can ask her to come back ...'
'There's no need, the afternoon is fine. Jill and I have a project we're working on and we probably need her help', he explained before slipping his hands into his pockets and crossing the yard. He disappeared into an innocuous looking old building that, in fact, hid one of the most complex and modern communication centers in the world. Taking his place in the leather chair at the head of a conference table he pulled a pen from his pocket and opened the binder before him, ready to hear the updates from around the world.
Once he's done with it all he makes his way back into the kitchen. The aroma of tomatoes reducing on the stove hits him as soon as he enters.
Like he's done a million times before he stands right behind her as she adds more ingredients and he settles one hand on her hip. With the other he moves her hair aside and he feels her breathing deepen as he nuzzles his nose against her neck, then presses tiny kisses to her skin. She moves her head aside and lets him do his work, contentment flooding her veins.
