A Funny Thing Happened in Texas

Brian was on his knee in front of Gennie. He had a box in his hand and was ready to give her the most beautiful piece of jewelry he'd ever bought. He opened the box so she could see its contents. A pair of earrings and a matching necklace.

"Will you go to dinner with me tonight?" He asked.

"Yes!"

He smiled and got off the floor, then helped with the necklace by clasping it on her neck, giving her a light kiss when he finished.

They left the spa and there was a black limousine. He opened the door for her but she didn't move.

"Gennie, you all right?"

He wasn't sure what to think. Her face was pale. He stepped back to the sidewalk.

"Gennie," he whispered, "what's wrong?"

"I can't, Brian. I can't get in there with you."

"I don't understand. What's wrong?"

She still hadn't moved and his concern was growing. She wasn't speaking over a whisper. He had never seen her like this. She was usually bright and happy, not terrified.

"I can't. Brian I can't do this. I can't do any of this."

His eyes got wide as she took off the jewelry he'd given her less than five minutes ago.

"Gennie, what is going on? Did I do something?!"

"I have to go Brian. I have to go."

He was shocked, too shocked to stop her from running down the street to where she'd be able to get a cab or a ride share. He walked over to the passenger window and let the driver know to cancel and that he would still  pay full price.

"Can I drop you somewhere, Mr. Quinn?"

"Actually, yeah. Just back to my house."

Brian was silent the entire drive home. When he went inside he could hear a noise coming from the bedroom. He walked in to find Gennie packing her suitcase. It wasn't amusing this time. It was heartbreaking. He walked over to her and put his hands on top of hers, gently forcing her to stop what she was doing.

"Gennie, I love you. Please, tell me what's going on."

A tear slipped from his eye. This was all too familiar. It suddenly felt like he was back in his late twenties, begging his fiancée to not leave him. It had been so overwhelming to fall in love with Gennie and he wasn't going to give up without a fight.

"I can't.  I can't explain. I have to go. Please, Brian, please let me go."

"Please talk to me."

He let go of her hands and sat down next to the suitcase.

"Brian, there's something I didn't tell you. Something I hoped I would never have to tell you."

"Okay, whatever it is, we can work it out." He wanted his words to reassure her. It was then that he glanced at what was inside her suitcase. On top of her clothes was a gun and a pair of sais.

"Brian, I shouldn't have come here, it was too risky."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. He brought her close to him and looked up at her.

"Why? What is going on?"

"So after I graduated from Columbia I tested for the FBI field agent program and got in. I was assigned to the Fitzpatrick family. I got in really deep, like I lived with them, I did jobs for them, I was sleeping with one of them. It was a lot. And then I started to turn one of them, get him to be an informant. But they killed him.

"I tried to pull out after that, I tried to go back to normal. I worked a desk job, fell in love, and on my wedding day they highjacked my limousine and shot both of us. My husband died, but the FBI leaked a story to the media that I died, too. I changed my name and left New York. I've been in Texas for three years as a sleeper agent. Only two agents know how to contact me.

"I didn't want to let you down, and I kind of wanted to know that my family is doing okay, so I came. My handler and I weighed the risks and I thought it would be safe. But when I saw a Fitzpatrick at the shop the other day, when I was trying on dresses, I knew it wouldn't be long before they found me. My family was moved into a safe house that afternoon. There's been an agent tailing us every step since we got here."

"Wait, a minute, you knew I was going to ask you to come with me? Did you tap my phone or something?!"

She wouldn't make eye contact which told him the answer was yes.

"Since when?!"

"Since the first night I stayed over. It was for your protection and I would never have used anything against you! I needed to protect you! I needed to know you were safe. I know what its like to lose someone you love and I couldn't bear to lose you, Brian. I love you! But loving me, its dangerous. I can't do that to you. They will never stop hunting me if I stay here. Even if I go, now that they know I'm alive, I'll have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I can't ask you to do that, too."

Brian trying go process everything that Gennie just told him. He had no idea what to think. His heart broke for her but she just admitted to spying on him. He wasn't sure what to do or say so he did nothing.

"So you risked your life to come to New York because you wanted to be with me?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you just stay back in Texas?"

"Would you have let me say no?"

"Ok, you got me there. So what now?"

"I have to disappear. Its the only way you and my family will stay safe."

The thought of losing her was causing his heart to ache. He didn't want to lose her, he only just found her. He wanted to protect her, not be protected by her.

"So that's it? There's nothing else? I just have let you walk out of my life?"

"There's only one other option."

"What's that?"

"You can come with me. Leave your life, your friends, your family. The plane leaves in two hours."