Afternoon was winding down at the Blaisdell home. Annie was carefully touching the soil in her potted plants, watering and talking to her guest.

"You can deny it all you want," she said, tipping the watering can over the edge of a Boston fern, "but the dangerous side of him was a part of the attraction."

Savannah sat back in a lounge chair on the deck, listening to Kat snore softly in her lap. "Okay, I'll admit it. It is exciting. HE is exciting. That's not all he is to me, though. Kermit is a kind, tender person and I know that part of him. But should I do something to try to stop some of this. He would, if I asked him to. He wouldn't be off right now with some wo--." Savannah let the word die on her tongue, changing it. "--some killer putting himself in danger for strangers."

"For you and for your daughter," Annie corrected, sliding her watering can under a chair and taking a seat.

"Yes, for me and for Kat. I understand that, too," Savannah agreed. "But he wouldn't be there if I asked him not to go."

"Is that something you want to test, dear?" Annie leaned back, making herself comfortable. "We talked this over the first time he went away, remember?"

She did remember. Kat was barely six months old. Paul had called and Kermit had gone away. It had happened so quickly, she had simply let it unfold without protest. One call, then he was on his way. Annie had been her refuge then, as now. The only person who could truly understand. "I remember."

"Let me tell you from experience, when you test that theory, when you ask him not to go, and fail...it's not a pleasant experience."

Savannah bit her lip, trying to draw back the flood of sad memories she had unleashed for her hostess. Paul was gone, only returning on a handful of occasions that she had been privy to over the past two years. Where he was and what he was doing wasn't something he or Annie had shared. If Kermit knew, it was locked up tight.

To Savannah's silence, Annie said, "Yes, I still love him even though it hurts."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to imply--"

"I know, sweetie. I know," Annie said in a voice that shook slightly. "What I mean to say is that you have to be in this or out. For the long haul. For better or worse. If you aren't sure about whether or not you can take this heat, I suggest you not open the door to the kitchen. You love him. He loves you. Let that be it. What you have is good and if you let his other life be detached for that, you'll be happier. Trust me."

"Do you think he would sleep with that woman?" Savannah let the words escape, announcing her deepest pain. Annie had long since become her only receptacle for this dark secret mission. She had to talk and Annie would listen. Annie knew about Emma and all that she implied.

"Savannah, before you ask THAT question, answer this one, "Annie said, reaching over to pick up a glass of water. After taking a long, cool drink, she asked, "Would you rather he maintain his cover by sleeping with a woman he cares nothing for, a woman he could never love, a woman who is not the mother of his child, a woman whose sickbed he never suffered beside, a woman who would hurt others for her own gain....or have him and anyone else under his protection be killed?"

"Of course I'd want him safe, Annie."

"Then, you don't need to bother with the first one. The whether-or-not becomes irrelevant, doesn't it?"

The crunching sound of four tires in the front drive interrupted their conversation. Savannah breathed deeply in her relief. It was a reprieve from examining these fears.

The door slammed, and Annie called out to the driver, "We're here! Come through the gate!"

Creaking hinges announced their guest, and Mary Margaret walked quickly into the yard and onto the deck. Her hands were hidden in the pockets of dark blue slacks. Around her neck hung the bright metal badge she was so proud to wear. On her face was a serious expression.

Savannah knew that hanging ID was generally worn at a crime scene. "Mary? What is it?"

"It's Kermit." Mary Margaret quickly jumped into her explanations as color drained from Savannah's face. "He's alive and at Peter's place. He's been beaten up a bit and it seems there was some kind of poisoning. Blake and a man named Miguel Rodriguez were also victims, but at last report, they were both going to recover."

Her hands were trembling as Savannah eased her sleeping child out of her lap and into Annie's arms. "You swear he's alive? You swear?"

"Yes, I swear, honey. Captain Simms sent me to get you." Mary Margaret wrapped a comforting arm around her friend. She was no longer a cop, she was this woman's friend.

"You know what he was doing?"

"Yes, some."

"Annie?" Savannah turned on the steps, watching Annie cradle her precious child. Kat never stirred from her nap as Annie snuggled her close.

"Go ahead. We'll be fine," Annie said in a quiet voice, careful not to wake the little girl in her arms.

Savannah turned inside Mary Margaret's embrace and they both walked quickly to the car.

"Did he get Latrodect, Mary? Was it a success?" Savannah fastened her seat belt and attempted to swallow her heart back into her chest. He was alive. Mary wouldn't lie about that. It was over. She could pack away all those feelings of doubt and jealousy and get on with their lives. Kermit was safe and alive.

"I'll fill you in on the way," Mary Margaret said, shifting into reverse and speeding from the driveway.

*****

The antidote required was little different from the mixture Lo Si had used during their last encounter with Latrodect. Peter prepared the appropriate herbs, tailoring the ingredients for his friend. He knew more about Kermit now, much more. Still, Kermit wasn't happy about the effects the poison AND the antidote had on his stomach as he fought the urge to vomit. Peter understood Kermit's humiliation at being rescued even as he felt the companion gratitude. The implied "thank you" and "you're welcome" were enough to pass between them. No display required.

"Please don't throw up on the sofa," Peter called from the kitchen area, smiling as Kermit held his head in his hand.

"Shaolin humor. How droll." Kermit lay back into the cushions and had his eyes tightly closed when Savannah came in, running straight to his side

Hearing her gasp, Kermit raised his head and opened his eyes. "I'm okay, Scarlett," he said, trying to comfort her. It was a tough order. At the moment, he was barely strong enough to lift his hand to take hers.

"You don't look okay!" Savannah threw a worried look at Peter, who was smiling. Worriedly, she stroked his face, feeling his forehead like a child. Finding a fever only heightened her concern. Pulling her face beside his, Savannah pressed her cheek against his beard and held it there. Absorbing the heat made her feel closer to his pain. "I love you so much," she whispered.

"I love you, too," he answered, enjoying the closeness. "You're going to get whisker burn." Kermit smiled. That had been her chief complaint as he grew his beard. Reluctantly, she had admitted to finding it sexy and stopped complaining.

"I don't care," she pulled him closer. "You can beard me all you want." Turning to Peter, she asked, "Are you sure he's going to be all right? Really sure?"

"He will recover," Peter told her as he delivered another concoction of steaming hot tea to Kermit. "One more down the hatch, buddy."

Kermit grimaced as he looked at the tea. "Can't you guys put your cures in coffee? Just once?"

Savannah smiled as she kissed him on the forehead. "You may not look okay, but you sound okay." She hugged him tightly as he drank, relieved to have him alive and only slightly damaged.

Kermit drank the new mixture quickly as he glanced up at his wife. "I thought you'd be in Memphis - where's Kat?"

Savannah sighed, sensing that this wouldn't be a good time to admit that she never left for Memphis. "Kat's with Annie. Peter took us there a few days ago."

Kermit eyed Peter Caine, as the young priest wandered amongst the herbs and spices he now used for his own work. "I take it you know the whole story? Did Savannah fill you in?"

"I didn't say a word!" Her voice held more than a hint of insult.

But Peter just chuckled. "No, she didn't give away the plan, but she's a rotten liar." With an evident glee, Peter sat down on the floor in front of his patient. "I had it pretty much figured out the day after you went underground."

Savannah whipped around to face him. "You did??" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice. She had thought their acting would have fooled her own mother.

Peter grinned. "You had me going for a bit but then I remembered that I am Shaolin. I heard the angry words but couldn't feel the angry emotions. In fact, I even caught a hint of amusement here or there," he added, winking at Savannah. "Rather like someone was having the time of her life with this playacting."

"I wasn't the only one who blew it, was I?" Savannah pouted.

Peter laughed and reached up to squeeze her hand. "No. Kermit's emotions weren't exactly screaming hurt, outrage and anger, either. Peter the cop would have bought it. Maybe even Peter the Shaolin cop. But not Peter the Shaolin priest."

"So you're not mad that we set you up?" Kermit pressed. He had also realized that if it were him, he'd be pissed as hell.

"I recognized the necessity of it," Peter explained, pleased to have the upper hand over his more experienced colleague. "When Karen came on board with her FBI contacts, I had some confirmation and we were able to locate you in time."

"How did you know there was trouble, Peter?" Kermit sat up a little straighter. He didn't want to know how deeply Peter had examined his mind. They had successfully rebuilt their friendship over almost a year of struggle after Savannah's shooting. Even so, there were limits.

"A feeling, Kermit," Peter answered, responding to the unasked questions. "A very superficial feeling. That's all."

Kermit adjusted his shades, now back in their proper place, and relaxed.

"So the bad guys are being rounded up and everyone's okay," Savannah summarized. "Happy ending."

"Not quite rounded up, but no longer a problem." Agent Rolph and Karen Simms were standing in the doorway. "The Bureau tracked Latrodect's helicopter over the water and it went down in a fire fight in the bay."

"Bodies?" Kermit asked, not yet facing the new arrivals.

"Pieces," came the inappropriately cheerful response from Rolph.

"Crispy fried spider, huh? Nice work, Rolph. Come on in." Kermit waved them both into the room. "Pull up an antidote and a chair." His head fell back against the sofa cushions. "Savannah, Agent Rolph," he said by way of introduction. "Agent Rolph, my wife."

"Oh, so you're the one who almost got my husband killed?!" She was on her feet. "What the hell is wrong with you people?! You'd think the FBI would at least provide decent backup when they drag men in to do their work for them and--"

"Mrs. Griffin..." Agent Rolph stood arrow straight in the face of the accusations.

"Rolph," Kermit turned toward the beleaguered agent and called a halt to his wife's burgeoning fury, "when do my people get paid?"

"For what, Griffin? You blew your cover at the crucial moment and we got nada." Agent Rolph stepped forward, holding the high ground over Kermit. "I'm not in the habit of paying for the cooperation of local officers."

"Wait just a minute, Stanley," Karen said, taking the side of her officers. "For there to be cooperation, you would have had to clear it with me. I got nada."

A harsh laugh sounded from Kermit's position on the sofa. "Why did I know I would need this?" he said, pulling a disk from his pocket.

"What is that?" Rolph stepped forward, only to be stopped as Kermit withdrew a magnet from his other pocket. Computer disks and magnets don't mix and he knew it.

"This, boss man, is a backup of everything on Latrodect's system." Kermit flipped the plain black casing through his fingers. "This has the file Blake tried to transmit and a lead to Latrodect's investors. He wasn't the top of this food chain."

Rolph reached out for the disk as Kermit held up the dangerous tool in his other hand. "Ah, ah, ah...not so fast. I want my people taken care of as we agreed along with those nasty hospital bills and I want my bonus for this new intell." He shook both hands and their contents for emphasis. "No deal and I kiss these two and your intell goes bye-bye."

Savannah held her breath and watched the standoff being played out. Kermit held all the cards. It made her smile. The thought that all of this struggle had been reduced to a demand for cash made her uncomfortable. But, Kermit Griffin was never one to let Uncle Sam back out of a deal.

"Fine. Deal." Rolph held out his hand and Kermit dropped the disk into his palm. "Thank you for your service, Griffin. The Bureau appreciates--"

"Stanley, take your little disk and get out." Karen's words were flat and angry. Rolph retreated quickly and Karen turned her flat angry tone toward the rest. "Blake is improving quickly. He'll be released tomorrow. Mr. Rodriguez is out of surgery and doing well. They expect him to make a full recovery."

"Thank you, Karen. Thank you and Peter for going in when you did." Savannah stood beside Kermit, taking in an equal part of Karen's hard expression. The look required little analysis. Karen Simms was angry with both of them.

"Karen, I'm sorry it had to be this way," Kermit said, also accepting the furious stare. To her silence, he replied, "About how long are you going to be this mad? Just so I'll know."

"I'll let you know," she replied through gritted teeth. Retrieving her keys from her pocket, Karen spoke as she turned toward the door. "You're suspended for a week. Be in my office to discuss it upon your return." Powered by her insult and authority, Karen turned sharply and left.

"She's mad," Peter said, taking Kermit's now empty cup. "Glad you two are the targets."

"She'll get over it." Kermit stood, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders. Half to steady his balance, half to feel her close, he pulled her to his side. "Let's go home."

"You got it, sugar." Savannah felt his tremor and offered her support without comment. As they left Peter's apartment, she laughed and said, "For a minute there, I thought she might shoot you."

"I'm sure she's still thinking it over."

*****

For the first time in a long time, Peter Caine was satisfied. He was sitting on his worn out sofa, in a home that didn't belong to him, with no paycheck -- and he was happy. Flipping channels in search of ball game, Peter treated himself to a beer and a large dose of happiness. Things had worked out and he hadn't screwed up. For once, it worked out the way he planned.

"Come in, Lo Si," he said happily. The old man's chi now had a familiar chime inside Peter Caine's mind. He had known the second his ancient friend arrived. Another success.

"You are peaceful this evening, Peter?" Lo Si perched on the sofa beside him, his slight build barely sinking into the cushion.

"You might say that," he answered. After settling on a baseball game, Peter turned to his teacher and asked, "Is it wrong for a Shaolin priest to feel proud of himself? Because at this moment, I'm feeling pretty damn satisfied with the way things turned out."

"We all know what pride goeth before, do we not?" Lo Si's unspoken pride in Peter's accomplishment was evident in his smile.

"The fall, right?" Peter took another sip of his beer. "I don't mean that I'm not humbled by this, Lo Si. It's just that, well, for once I get it. I understand what's inside me and what that power can do if I let it go. It worked out."

"And you wish your father were here to share this milestone with you." Lo Si put a withered hand on Peter's shoulder. "He would be proud, also. You are Shaolin. As you were meant to be."

Lo Si's fatherly approval was important to Peter Caine, as he realized in that moment. "Yes, I do wish he were here. This is what he always wanted. I know that. Now, I want it, too, and...well..."

Peter's voice trailed off into that hurtful territory. Caine was gone again; where and how long were anyone's guess. It felt like his high school graduation, like the day he got his badge, like so many other life changing events his father had missed by fate or choice. "Lo Si, I understand, now. This first trial-by-fire as a priest made it so clear what my life is about. I have something unique to offer and it works. The reaching out, the healing, it has meaning. Kids in the neighborhood are coming to me, the older people are accepting me and coming to me, too. To me, Lo Si. The son of Caine who could never be his father has just realized that I don't have to be. My way can work and it's okay. He's tried to explain that to me in his twisted, confusing way and I just got it through my thick skull."

"Perhaps he had to leave for that understanding to take place," Lo Si said, sliding his hands into his sleeves. "Your father is a master, a Shaolin priest, a healer. But, he is first your father. That is his passion. Though he is your teacher, he can not resist the urge to protect you, to clear the path before you, as you will your own son one day. Perhaps it was meant for you to begin this life with a more detached aid at your side."

"In other words, you have no problem letting me fall on my ass." Peter heard the old man's words and the sentiment. He cared and wanted him to succeed, also.

"That is correct and I will arrive early in the morning to provide you more opportunities to do so. Good-night." Lo Si unfolded from the sofa and walked silently to the door. "You did well, young Caine. You bring honor to your line and your teachers."

Peter propped his feet up his feet and settled in for the night, trying to memorize this feeling.

*****

Kermit had argued and grumbled until Savannah had taken him to the hospital. Blake was conscious and almost all traces of toxins had been flushed from his system. Miguel was in recovery and doing well. After seeing them for himself, Kermit was willing to go home.

Savannah stood in her bathroom, wearing her gown, brushing her hair, and listening to Kermit snore from the bedroom. The sound was comforting, evidence of him breathing. He had let her fuss over him without much resistance. As she brushed her hair in the mirror, Savannah let the relief sink in and over run the questions. Questions about exactly how Kermit's cover had been blown. Questions about Emma and the two of them. Questions that she didn't want answers to simply faded away.

Kermit was home. The boogie man had been vanquished. Life goes on.

"Hi," came the smooth breath across her neck. Kermit had eased behind her as she stood lost in thought. His hands were warm as they slid beneath Savannah's hair, baring her neck to his mouth. The soft tickle of beard and brush of lips sent an excited shiver through her body.

"Mmmmm...are you sure you're up to this?" She opened her eyes to watch as he trailed a hot path from behind her ear and down to her shoulder. His wrinkled white shirt was unbuttoned and his flesh pressed hotly against her own.

One large hand peeled the satin strap down her arm and left thin fabric held precariously on her breast. "If up is the operative word...I'm definitely up for it, woman." His hands traced the lines of her hips, drawing her closer in an erotic, possessive expression. "I want you...bad." The words growled against her throat as he licked and nipped the soft skin.

Her body began to smolder under his touch. Hands skimmed her curves, setting fire to every inch. Turning in his arms, Savannah met his mouth with equal enthusiasm. Tongues twisted and twined, gently tasting the hot sweet flavor of desire. His hard, man's body held her firmly, but with a gentle pressure.

The whisper thin gown peeled to the floor, leaving her naked against his roughness. Each caress of his hand on her breast, her stomach, her thigh sent a blinding sensation through her mind. Need chased away thought. Her hands groped their way up his chest as Savannah broke away from his mouth and lapped her way down his neck.

His shirt fluttered to the floor. She wanted him naked. Coarse hair prickled against her nipples. He kissed her hair, moaning her name in a sweet filthy rhythm. Rocking against his zipper, she felt the tension and longing pressing through the fabric to reach her.

She wanted to hold him. To be around him. Laying her cheek against his heartbeat, Savannah wrapped two pale arms around his back, stroking softly. "Please make love to me...over and over...."

His hands were in her hair, lacing through the mass of curls and possessing her. Filling her hands with his hot flesh, Savannah touched his back. The normally smooth flesh gave way to rough tracks. Experienced in his body, Savannah touched them more gently. He tilted her head back and buried her mouth with his own, hungrily drinking more and more kisses.

Savannah continued to explore the injuries with her hands, even through the haze of sexual insanity. Spreading her fingers, she felt long raw scrapes. The broken flesh followed the lines of her hands...her nails...opening her eyes for a moment, she looked at his reflection in the mirror. Four, long red scratches broke the lines of his broad muscles just below each shoulder. Scratches. Where her hands reached to lovingly stroke his body.

"Why don't we...take this to our bed?" Kermit whispered the dizzy request against her temple as his hand traced her backbone. He began to walk her backward, using one hand to cup her backside and the other to keep her held tightly against his body. "I want to do so many things to you ...and I want to be comfortable."

Crazed arousal refused to give way to the vision of those scratches...or the bruise she noticed at the base of his neck. One dark purple bruise. Her heart thundered with the flash of wonder...of heartsick supposition...then with the force of sex under Kermit's hand. Pushing the images away, Savannah threw herself into the sex with full commitment.

Reaching the bed, she laid back across the soft quilt, wantonly opening her legs to welcome him. His dark black pants were gone and the hard expanse of his body melted her. "At the hotel you were so good to me, baby." He fairly hummed the words as he descended on her bare body. Licking and kissing tender spots that longed to be touched, he drove her nearly wild. "Tonight is about you...God, I missed you...." His rough hand ran a feather-light touch between her legs, caressing her sex. Gentle sucking closed over her nipple, teasing her into insanity. She could feel his body, hard and ready, stroking the inside of her thigh. The wanting was an ecstatic pain. She pushed upward to touch him, to draw him inside and soothe the throbbing ache.

"Kermit...I love you...I do..." She mumbled in a sexual confusion. All thoughts of why or if bled away as his mouth traveled south, taking her reason with it.

*****

The next morning dawned bright and fresh. Savannah had showered and dressed, leaving Kermit alone in bed. Standing in the doorway of their bedroom, she smiled at the mess they had made of their bed. Kermit lay naked, save for the edge of one sheet covering part of one leg. The remainder of the blanket, quilt, and pillows was balled into tangled knots scattered over the bed. The temptation to climb over the linen wreckage and land a pinch on his exposed backside nearly made her laugh out loud.

The sex had been wonderful, slow and easy, then fast and wild. Kat stayed the night with Annie, thus removing any restraints on noise or experimentation. There was no need to dress quickly after sex in case a sleepy toddler wandered into their bed later. Sleep had included long hours of nude arms and legs being tangled together. It was a lush, romantic way to rest...what little rest they had gotten.

The doorbell rang just in time to save Kermit's cheek from a pinch. Running to answer the bell, Savannah found Jackson Long, her teen-aged lawn boy.

"Hi, Mrs. Griffin," he said, long arms stuffed inside his pockets. "I cut the grass while you were away. I...well, I ....uh..." He stammered, looking down at his shoes.

"And you want to get paid, right, sugar? Sure thing. Just wait right there," Savannah said, leaving at the door and reaching for her purse.

Finding her wallet empty, she returned to the bedroom and her sleeping, naked husband. Leaning over his ear, she whispered, "Hey, handsome. The lawn boy's here and I don't have any cash. Where's your wallet?"

"Pants...floor..." he mumbled, waving a sleepy hand over the edge of the bed.

The questions was merely out of politeness. She knew where his wallet and pants were because she had watched with her tongue hanging out as he'd shed them hours earlier. Given permission, she grabbed the brown leather wallet and pried it open on the way to the hall. What she found stopped her cold.

A square plastic pouch housing one condom was stuffed between the bills. Slowly, she pulled it free, examining the item in her horror. This wasn't something that was part of their routine, not for a very long time. The paper was barely creased. The item was new. A brand spanking new condom fresh from the store. Probably purchased for this mission. Purchased for...

The tears spilled down her cheeks, blurring the hateful discovery sitting in her hand. It proved nothing. It implied everything.

If you can't take the heat...don't open the kitchen door. He loves you. Would you rather he be safe or...?

Annie's words ran circles around the disgusting images rolling around in her mind. Blood red nails scratching down Kermit's back. Emma's smart mouth sucking at his neck. She wanted to throw up and placed one hand on the door frame to steady herself.

She had seconds to make her decision. Let the storm pass and trust him to love her? Ask a question that he would answer truthfully and risk everything? The weight of it would crush her if it lingered.

"Mrs. Griffin?" the boy called from her back door.

"Coming," she answered. Opening the wallet once more, Savannah pulled out a twenty and pushed the condom back inside. She folded the leather back into place and laid it on the dresser. He loved her. She knew that. She refused to let Emma or Latrodect or the FBI take that away.

With a quick swipe across her eyes, the tears were gone. Savannah gave the boy his pay, closed the door, and started breakfast.

Life would stay normal. As normal as possible for anyone living in their home.

*****

The door to Detective Griffin's office slammed open, sending the metal blinds waving and clattering through the air. A red faced Savannah Griffin stormed into his sanctuary. "I'm so mad I could SPIT!!!!"

With an amused expression, the detective taunted, "Please don't. There's a fine."

"Oh, very funny!" Kermit watched her sling one long blonde wave of hair over her shoulder, enjoying the display. Whatever had wormed under her skin had unleashed a wellspring of fury.

It had been three weeks since the Latrodect mission and she had been far too subdued than was normal. Time and time again, he had caught her carefully eyeing him. The look on her face would be so tinged with sadness, he would ask what was wrong. In an instant the look would be gone and a smile put in its place. He had tried to reassure her that he was fine and she didn't have to worry. Still, she seemed lost in her own private struggle. Kermit had elected to give her these moments without pressing for an answer. She deserved her moods as much as he.

Too angry to sit, Savannah violently paced and launched into her tale. "I got this snotty little letter in the mail this morning."

Kermit scooped up the letter for inspection. It was a letter from Wakefield Nursery School. "We regret to inform you..." Kermit's recitation was cut short.

"The absolute NERVE of those people!" Shaking her head and sarcastically mocking the letter she had obviously read repeatedly, Savannah continued, "'After careful review of all applicants, your child does not meet with the requirements for inclusion in our upcoming curriculum.' Can you BELIEVE THAT??!!"

Before he could answer, Savannah had snatched the letter from his grasp, balled in up, and thrown it across the room. Kermit wasn't exactly surprised at the letter. They had been reviewing nursery schools for weeks, even before he went undercover. Wakefield was reputed to be the best. The minute they walked in for the interview, Kermit knew HE did not like them and was certain THEY would not like him.

Pretension had oozed from the headmistress. Wearing her tense navy suit, she had informed them that only the most "intelligent children" from "the best of families" were invited to attend such an exclusive academy. She had flashed an condescending smile at Kermit's profession and seemed to speak more slowly in response to his wife's accent. To his credit, Detective Griffin had been charming and professional when he had really wanted to use his standard "I kill people" weapon.

The only reason the couple had considered Wakefield was because of the programs they offered and the security. On their way out of the building, they both decided that Kat was much too good for Wakefield and crossed them off their list.

"Scarlett, didn't we decide against them already?" He didn't understand why she was so infuriated. This tantrum was far beyond furious, approaching meltdown.

"Because that WITCH turned away my baby! That's why. The very idea that someone wouldn't welcome her with open arms! Ohhhh....." The indignant mother growled and shook her head. Raising her eyebrows, she said, "But I .....dealt with her this morning."

"What did you do, fireball?" There didn't seem to be any blood on her outfit, so perhaps they could keep the authorities out of this one.

"Well, I went down there and informed her JUST who she was dealin' with, I did!"

"Uh oh."

"She was thinking 'Uh oh', once I finished." Savannah resumed her frantic stomp across his office. "I simply gathered my paperwork and went down to Headmistress Stanton's stuffy ole' office. Told her that Katherine Griffin had a proud family tree. Her father was a veteran and STILL served his country keeping the streets safe for all of us. That the government often sought HIS help and that they were damn lucky to have him available."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Where was I? Oh yeah....told her that her the Marches were a prominent Southern family. That ALL of the March WOMEN, including ME, were members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy. Katherine has ancestors who were at Bunker Hill AND Bull Run AND Normandy FREAKIN' Beach. NOT to mention an ancestor ON THE BLOOMIN' MAYFLOWER! Her grandfather had been honored as Memphis's most distinguished citizen for his community service and her grandmother had been Madam President of the Junior League for the PAST FIVE YEARS!"

When she paused to catch her breath, Kermit jumped into the conversation. It was hysterical to hear her using all those references as weapons. Social standing, especially that of the Memphis Marches, had never been of interest to her. In fact, she often seemed embarrassed when her mother discussed those same elements of their background. Now, Savannah March was welding Great-great-great Granddaddy March's Confederate saber at the enemy. It took all of Kermit's control not to laugh at her attack. "Well what did Mrs. Stanton have to say? Assuming you LET her say anything?"

"Oh, well she did a 180 degree turn, all right," Savannah replied, plopping down in a chair. "She was all over me. 'I'm so sorry Mrs. Griffin. Perhaps we should reconsider Katherine's application.' " A satisfied smirk on her face, Mrs. Griffin sat, nervously tapping her high heeled shoe in the air.

Now, he was confused. They didn't even want to send Kat to those people. "So? What then?"

Now, with dimples blaring and fury expunged, she delivered the results. "Very sweetly, I informed Mrs. Stanton that they would be selling snow cones in Hell before I would entrust my daughter to pseudo-blue-blood, pretentious, bigoted, class conscious, tight ass tyrants like the ones at Wakefield Nursery School!"

When he stopped laughing at his prim and proper wife, Kermit bit, "So now where are we along this journey toward Kitty Kat's education? Are you, my dear, going down the list to bully her way into school?"

"No, silly. Sunnyside Nursery School, the one we like, left a message on our machine. They'd love to have her. As if anyone wouldn't!"

"Savannah?"

"Yes?"

"You scare me."

"Good." Her smile widened. "Now, take me to lunch. A nice expensive one."

Kermit stood and obediently opened his office door. "Yes, ma'am." With her arm tucked comfortably under his own, they walked toward the door. She was back to normal and that deserved a over priced meal.

"Oh," she stopped short, pulling two large books from her equally large purse, "can you run these over to the hospital for Miguel after work?" Savannah lobbed the books into his chair where they landed with a soft thud. "When I was there yesterday, I promised he could borrow my 'Pass Along Plants' and the new antique rose guide."

"Huh?" Kermit knew Savannah had been visiting Miguel, who would be released tomorrow, but he had no idea what they talked about. Miguel was no glib conversationalist so he assumed Savannah talked for the both of them. "Gardening books?"

"Yeah," she hugged his arm more tightly as they walked out into the precinct. "He loves gardening. Has for years. His new place has a nice little spot for a flower bed and he--"

"Let me get this straight. We're talking about Miguel Rodriguez? Commando? The man who carries a ten inch blade in his belt?" The image of Miguel planting pansies with that bowie knife nearly sent him into a fit of laughter.

"Well, yeeeees," Savannah answered, walking through the door as Kermit pushed it open. "What's wrong with that? He's really a very gentle person. Why wouldn't he get some joy out of growing things after all he's been through?"

"I see your point." He seated her in the car and closed the door. "Sweet, huh?" he said to himself. "Miguel the Sweet Gardener." He gave in to the laughter but banished the idea of calling him that to his face.

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