Please.

37: Please.

Avery sat on the shower floor letting the hot water run over her. Her body felt pain and her heart ached. She repeated over and over again."My name is Jane Baker. My name is Jane Baker." She wept trying to forget Avery again. She realized that the word "hurt" in no way did the pain she was feeling any justice.

----

"What is going on?!" Fiona was furious. Beyond anger. She and her father had been sitting in her suite for two hours waiting under close eye. No explanation. Avery's smell lingered in the air.

"Fee, please sit down." Concern thick in her dad's voice. "Please, Fiona." She flopped down beside her father, frustrated and on the verge of tears. "Where is she?" She whispered into her father's shoulder while he held her.

The door opened and Fee looked up in anticipation. "Dr. Couch?!"

"Gentlemen, you may leave us." Dr. Couch came in and sat down across from the Donovans. "Hello again Ms. Donovan, I'm sorry we have to keep meeting under these circumstances, but it's the nature of my job."

"What is your job?"

"I am a licensed psychiatrist. I work for the same company Agent Baker worked for, I'm a handler of sorts. My job extends beyond the confines of the office. Most people refer to me as 'Agent' Couch."

Fee's head was spinning, "'Agent Baker?' What do you mean?! 'worked for?' Where is Jane?"

Dr. Couch leveled her gaze watching Fee intently, her voice was empathetic, "Ms. Donovan, Agent Baker is a highly trained operative. She was working for you as a cover to try to stop the illegal sale of viral technology to a terrorist cell. Her primary directive was initially to protect you as we originally thought you or your father might be a target, but the operation's directive changed."

The words tumbled around in Fiona's head, "highly trained operative, terrorist cell."

Dr. Donovan was mortified, "What?! You mean from Micropath?! No that's not possible. We have security protocols!"

"Apparently they are not good enough Dr. Donovan. We think Dr. Marsh is involved and possibly the new majority owner Mr. Minks. We have recovered a pathogen at the gala meant for sale and transport through Romanian agents."

Fiona's mind returned to Dr. Couch's original words, "What do you mean 'worked for'?!" Fiona was insistent.

Dr. Couch sighed and continued. "Ms. Donovan, Agent Baker pursued the threats and helped to execute the operation successfully. She suffered severe wounds and died from them about an hour ago. I am sorry. Truly."

"No. No. No. No. That's not true." Fiona's heart shattered. "Daddy? It's not true." Dr. Donovan held his daughter and her body seized with pain and sorrow.

Dr. Couch stood leaving a card on the table. "I am so sorry Ms. Donovan. I know that you loved her. If you would like to use my services I am available to you anytime." Dr. Couch left heading back to the Post Office.

Dr. Donovan held his daughter until her sobs exhausted her. "Fee? It was her wasn't it she was the woman 'at work?'" Fiona couldn't find her voice, she simply nodded. "Dr. Couch said you loved her." Another nod. "Did she love you?"

"Yes Daddy." Fee's voice cracked.

Dr. Donovan remembered what it felt like to lose his wife, "I'm so sorry Fee."

----

Jane sat across from Agent Foster. Her eyes were clouded and unfocused.

"Agent Baker, it looks like you have had another successful operation. A team is currently at the apartment "cleaning" they will bring your personal items back here for transport to your home. You will be required at this time to take the mandatory 2-month moratorium from field work. We also need to consider your permanent living situation."

"Sir?" Jane looked up confused.

"You live in close proximity to your last asset. She now believes you to be dead."

Jane's eyes widened. "She thinks I'm dead? Why?"

Agent Foster looked at her and replied in a matter of fact way, "Because she loves you, and you her. You, of course, will need to complete an exit interview with Agent Couch. You will do that in two days time. Go home Agent Baker."

Jane spent the next 48 hours holed up in her row house. She did not emerge, she barely ate, she mourned the death of "Avery" and thought only of Fiona. One more than one occasion she thought of going over to see Fee. She was so close. Jane thought she could still smell and taste her. But she was certain her government "baby sitters" wouldn't let her get 50 feet from her front door. Within 12 hours her belongings were returned to her completely laundered. Fee was washed away.

----

"Agent Baker, you look exhausted." Agent Couch didn't mince words.

"I am exhausted." Jane had returned to the Post Office feeling no different from when she left.

"How are you feeling about the success of the operation?"

"Fine. Good. I like 'winning' but we lost some good people."

"Yes, you were involved again in a fatality. How are you feeling about that?"

"Like it was her or me." Jane replied flatly.

"I see. It seems you've reached your mental and emotional limits on this operation."

"Yes, that's a fair assessment."

"Agent Baker, you seem angry, resentful, and apathetic. Those are dangerous emotions alone, together they can be catastrophic."

Jane looked directly into Dr. Couch's eyes with an unwavering gaze. "You know very well how this operation impacted me. I let a woman in, I lost emotional control, I told her I loved her, then I destroyed her. I'm not apologizing for how I feel."

"And you said you loved her. So you know what that means?"

"Yes. I think I do. She loved me despite my flaws. She loved me and I gave her almost nothing in return."

"What did she know of your 'flaws?'"

"Nothing of consequence. But more than any of you know."

"Would you like to see her again?"

"Of course. But I won't."

Agent Couch, paused, asking with genuine curiosity, "Why not?"

Jane hesitated, "I think she'll hate me now. I'm not sure I could take that."

"But what if she doesn't?" Agent Couch's question hung in the air. "Thank you for coming in, Agent Baker. Please see Agent Foster on the way out."

Jane nodded.

----

"Agent Baker, I'll cut right to the chase. Agent Couch does not think you are fit to continue 'skin' work. I myself have my doubts about your mental state right now. I'd like to think that it will change over time."

Jane strangely seemed unphased by this. She just didn't care. Agent Couch's question still resonated with her. "But what if she doesn't?" "I understand."

"Agent Baker, would you like to continue with us? I'm unclear as to your desires and intentions."

"I am too Agent Foster. I'm not in the right state of mind to answer that question. Right now, I don't think I would be very effective. I'm not sure I want to be here." Jane searched Agent Foster's eyes and watched him carefully. "I'm not sure I can leave. Can I?"

Agent Foster sighed and leaned back gazing over. "That is a complicated question Agent Baker. You have been an excellent agent. Your skill set is exceptional. Your clearance level is unique. Not many of us have been able to maintain relationships without pulling out from field operations." Agent Foster paused, "I am assuming that is where you're going with this?"

Jane nodded, before she knew it she said softly, "Please." She stunned herself and Agent Foster.

"Agent Baker, go home. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that you are unfit for work. Gather the remnants of your skin and return. Jane Baker is dead."

----

Fiona and Dr. Donovan sat in with a realtor at the kitchen island of the condo. Fee was in a fog, she let her father and the realtor make the decisions. She had barely slept in 3 days. "Dr. Donovan, this is a very desirable locale. I think the property could move very quickly. Could you vacate within 30 days?"

Dr. Donovan glanced at Fee. "Yes. We're ready to move the property."

"Very good!" The realtor was very happy to get the listing and did not read Fiona's sadness well. She left smiling, "We'll take care of you Ms. Donovan, don't worry!"

Dr. Donovan turned to Fiona, "Fee, maybe you should see Dr. Couch? I've got to leave you and finish up closing down my work and offices at Mircopath. Mark is going to make sure I have no more fiscal ties to the company with a finite, one-time, retirement payment. The authorities need to interview me. Fee?"

"I'm alright Daddio." Fiona smiled weakly, "I just need some time."

"Please Fee, for me?" Fee heard the same concern and love in his voice as she heard in Avery's in what seemed like ages ago.

"Okay, I'll call. I'd like more answers anyway."