As Callie walked to Frank’s room, she tied to fight back the bad feeling that she was getting about Frank, and the ache in her heart. This is getting to be too much, she thought silently. The obvious interest in Jenna, the phone number, the late night meetings, and… and the lipstick. Callie, for the first time, was seriously beginning to doubt Frank’s honesty. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind, and also the uneasy feeling she got when she thought of going on this tour alone. D.C. wasn’t the safest place in the world, but Callie hadn’t wanted to bother Vanessa, whom she knew wanted to spend time with Joe. Dave had offered to take her the day before, but Callie felt uneasy about accepting, given Dave’s obvious interest in her.

As she went to knock on the door, she noticed it was open a crack. Rather than just going in, she paused to listen to the voice on the phone, rather than interrupting the conversation. Then, she heard Frank’s low laugher. And his voice. And- the name on the other end as Frank said something in reply to it. Jenna.

Fighting back tears, Callie returned to her room. Vanessa, noticing that Callie looked distraught, immediately stopped putting on make-up and went to her.

"Cal?" she asked, concerned. "What’s the matter?"

Callie took a deep breath. She would not tell Vanessa about Frank, because then it would get back to Joe, and eventually to Frank, himself. Looking up at her friend, Callie managed a small smile. "Van?" she asked, gently. "Do you think, maybe, that you could keep an eye on Frank this afternoon? After my tour, I’ll meet up with Joe. I just think- I mean, I need to get some things done." Callie fought to make her words sound normal. "This way, you at least get part of the day with Joe, and I can get done what I need to."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow. What on earth could Callie possibly need to do in Washington, D.C., that she would inexplicably remember? Still, something in Callie’s eyes made Vanessa KNOW, with absolute certainty, that she should do as Callie requested.

"Yeah, sure," Vanessa said. "I’ll tell Joe right now that you’ll meet up with him later. Didn’t you go to see Frank just now?" she asked.

"Um, I never made it," Callie said. "Something came up." She looked pleadingly for Vanessa to understand.

Vanessa didn’t understand, but gave Callie’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Ok, Cal," she replied. "I’ll head over there right now."

With those words, she left the room. When she was gone, Callie picked up the phone. With trembling hands, she dialed Dave’s number, and told him she would meet him at American University….

Joe looked questioningly at Vanessa outside his door. "She asked what?" he questioned Vanessa.

"She wants us to stay with Frank this morning, and then for me to stay with him this afternoon," Vanessa responded with a shrug. "She told me she’d hook up with you later in the day. Keep your cell phone on," she added.

"But why?" Joe asked, puzzled.

"I have no idea," Vanessa said honestly. "But she seemed… I don’t know… upset by something. I have to do this. I’m sorry, baby."

Joe smiled, and gave Vanessa a big hug. "There’s nothing to be sorry about," he said, "although I am curious about why Callie wouldn’t want to spend some quiet time with Frank. Did she tell him that?"

"She said she never made it," Vanessa answered him.

Joe peered inside their door. Frank was resting on the bed. He had no idea why Callie wouldn’t have stopped in. Then again, he had been in the shower 15 minutes ago. "Alright, Van," he said, drawing her into his arms and kissing her. "I’ll try to make it through the day without you."

Vanessa just smiled, enjoying the moment.

Several hours later, Callie had completed her tour of American University. As upset as she had been, she had to admit it was nice to have Dave around. He was funny and attentive, and seemed genuinely interested in her. Callie noticed several people stopping to stare at them as they walked along, and she smiled thinking that Dave was, indeed, exceptionally good looking. Still, every time he stopped to look at her, or to touch her in a friendly gesture, she found herself wishing it was Frank, instead. Unfortunately, Frank seemed more interested in Jenna at the moment.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked, as they started to walk to the Metro.

Callie looked up at him, lost for a moment in his deep blue eyes. She smiled slowly, glad to have found a new friend at a time when she really needed one.

"Nah," Callie said back to him. "My thoughts are worth more than a penny."

Laughing, he replied, "So sorry, my lady," and winked at her. "Is something wrong? You’re more quiet than usual. Trouble in paradise?"

Callie looked up, shocked. How could he have known that? "Um…. sort of," she admitted. "But I’m sure everything will work out," she finished, hoping for her words to come true.

"It’s that girl, right? The one he was talking to in the restaurant?" Dave asked, as they continued walking.

Finally, Callie had to stop. She said softly, "He… he says there’s nothing going on, and…I believe him," she said slowly, knowing there was no need to confess her true fears to a total stranger.

"Well, I think he’d be a fool to let you go," Dave said gently to her, turning her around. Then, without warning, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

"Wha… what are you doing?!" Callie cried, her face bright red. She felt tears start to burn in her eyes as she struggled away from him. "I thought you were my friend!" she added, the tears starting to fall. She couldn’t take this betrayal from people she trusted any longer. "I have a boyfriend," she sobbed. "And I love HIM. Please- leave me alone!"

With that, she ran as fast as she could away from him.

"Callie, wait!" she heard him call. "I’m sorry!"

She didn’t notice that, just a few minutes ago, someone had been watching her every move…

Close to forty minutes later, Callie caught up to Joe Hardy in the front of the museum, where she had met him just last night. As Joe went to greet her, he could tell instantly that something was wrong. "Callie?" he asked, surprised. "What’s the matter?"

As soon as Callie saw him, she started to cry, unable to take it any longer. Normally, she made an effort never to cry, but she couldn’t help it.

Joe just reached out for her, and pulled her into a tight embrace. Callie always held it together, and he couldn’t imagine what was wrong. After a few minutes, she pulled back from him. "Thanks," she whispered, ashamed.

"Cal, what’s the matter?" he asked her again.

Callie almost told him. She wanted to spill everything that happened, but she knew it would only bring trouble. Either Joe would tell Frank, or Joe would kill Dave, or Joe would tell Frank, who would in turn kill Dave- no option was particularly good. Resting her head against his shoulder, she just sighed. "Nothing, Joe. I’ve just had an awful, horrible day."

"Why?" Joe asked her again. The look in her eyes, though, told him that she wasn’t going to say anything.

Joe smiled kindly at her, and slipped an arm around her shoulders as they walked. "When you want to talk, I’ll be here, okay?" he said to her, sincerely. "And if you don’t want me to tell Vanessa, or my brother," he added, pointedly, "I won’t."

Callie smiled, and hugged Joe around his waist. For all the years they’d spent fighting, getting on each other’s nerves, and misunderstanding one another, Joe was proving to possibly be the best friend she had. She just wished she didn’t miss his brother, her real best friend, so desperately. "Thanks, Joe. For a silly, stubborn, thick-headed, dumb-blonde, you’re not so bad," she teased him.

Joe laughed, and playfully squeezed Callie’s shoulders. "I guess it takes one to know one," he replied, eyes sparkling.

"So what did you find out today? Anything new?" Callie asked him, eager to take her mind off everything.

"Well, I did see something. Maybe you could help with it," he added.

"Sure! What is it?" she replied.

Joe looked at her, and smiled. "Well," he began, "I checked out the Museum of Natural History, The International Gallery, and the National Air and Space Museum. I noticed that all of the artifacts that were taken were on a weird sort of stand, or pedestal. It looked kind of like a wooden stand, with a glass case on top. Now, I don’t know if that’s unusual or not, but it IS something to think about. How about we head over to the Babe Ruth Museum? It’s kind of a longish ride, but we could see if that was the case there, no pun intended!" He laughed. "Then…" Joe squinted at her, "If you’re nice, I’ll buy you dinner."

Callie laughed, and replied, "Sure I’ll go. But where will you take me to dinner? Wendy’s? McDonald’s? Burger King?"

Joe looked at her seriously. "I know- so many choices. Never say I didn’t give you anything," he added.

"I’ll give you something," Callie replied, jokingly waiving her fist at him.

"I said to be nice!" Joe responded with a grin.

Several hours later, Joe and Callie returned from Baltimore. Joe had, in fact, been correct. The baseball that had been stolen was in a very similar case to that of the other thefts. It was getting late, and they decided to head back to the hotel. Periodically, throughout the day, Joe had checked in with both Vanessa and Frank. He had noticed that Callie never seemed to be around when he was speaking to Frank.

Finally, as they headed onto the Metro, Joe decided to give Vanessa one last call before they headed back, to let Frank and Vanessa know they were on their way.

As soon as he heard Vanessa’s voice, he knew something was wrong.

"Oh, Joe, hurry!" she said, as soon as he called her. "Frank and I are waiting for you! There’s been another robbery!"

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