Rating: Rated PG-13
Series: Original Mystery Story
Author: Andorian Ice Princess
Contact: jazzy_

Summary: A CIA Charity Bachelor Auction turns out to be the perfect opportunity for a white slave ring run by two seemingly innocent hosts to get their fill. But what happens when Caleb is their next target? Can Sheldon save him in time? Or will she lose him forever?

A/N: Okay this is just a short Sheldon/Caleb fic. Hope you guys like it. Expect a few more shorties in the future! Also these stories will feature a little bit more detail on each character, adding to their personalities. Please review and tell me what you think!

********

"Why on earth do we have to help the FBI with a simple missing person's case?" Sheldon moaned.

"Because there might be implications to a slave ring and…"

"Those missing men? You think they are being taken as part of a white slave ring? Bound for where?" Sheldon asked with a weary sigh. "Loserville?"

"China, the Middle East. Who knows? But I do know that they need help and you're it," Nickel told his daughter. "Besides this should be a walk in the park for you. And it's a favor I owe to Milton. Want me to brief Caleb? Or will you?"

"I'll handle this one alone," Sheldon told him. "I'll get Garth or Markus as backup, if I need it. Besides I already called in a favor to a snitch."

"Wow that was fast. I just mentioned it to you last night. I honestly thought you'd say no," Nickel told her.

"I had a sudden change of heart," she said dryly.

"So about Caleb…"

"What about him?"

"You and Caleb still fighting?" Nickel asked softly as he looked up from his desk at his daughter. "I mean it's Wednesday and…"

"Only children fight. Adults argue," Sheldon snapped.

"Fine then. Are you and Caleb still argu…"

"Yes," she said firmly. "He has to learn to stop patronizing me."

"Has it ever occurred to you that he might actually care for you?" Nickel asked weakly. As his role of director for the CIA he faced many scary and life-threatening situations, but none as scary as facing his daughter when she was on the rampage. Hell hath no fury he reasoned so many times. This was one of those times.

"That's not the point," Sheldon said firmly. "He has t…"

"Here are those posters for the bachelor auction Mr. Washington," his secretary said walking into the room. "Is Caleb really going to be sold at the auct…" she asked and then stopped as she looked at Sheldon in the chair next to her father's desk.

"Is he what?" Sheldon retorted.

"Thanks Elizabeth," Nickel said with a sigh as his secretary hurried away.

"Let me see that," Sheldon demanded.

"Sheldon I don’t think that now is a good ti…"

"Now!" She said jumping up and grabbing the paper out of her father's hands. "What? Is he serious?"

"Sheldon this was my do…" he started. Sadly it fell on deaf ears as she turned and stormed out of the room.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Sheldon said with an angry growl. "I'll kill him," she said storming out of her father's office in a huff.

"Poor Caleb," Nickel sighed leaning back in his chair. "Nothing can withstand fury like that."

Sheldon reached her office and slumped down in her chair with a scowl on her face. How can he do this, she moaned inside? Will he really go through with it? She heard some of the ladies calling their usual sugary sweet good morning's to Caleb and felt her stomach tighten as he neared their shared office. Sadly today there was just a little more punch to their voice and she knew it would only get worse as the few days progressed, finally culminating in that horrible event Friday night. Him being sold to the highest bidder. Unbelievable!

"Caleb you are so dead," Sheldon vowed under her breath as he walked into their shared office with his trademark smile on his handsome face.

"Good morning," Caleb said softly.

"Seems to be," Sheldon said turning away from him. "At least for you and your adoring fans."

"Did I miss something?" Caleb asked with a frown.

"Yeah your mail," Sheldon said dryly as she balled up the paper in her hands and flung it at him.

Caleb opened the crumpled paper and stared at the words in horror. "Oh man…not this…not now…"

"Sheldon I…" Caleb started in a sheepish voice.

Sheldon shot him a look of pure evil and then turned back to the file she was reading. "We have another missing man in case you care. Oh that's right I'm going it alone because you think I can't handle myself in a dangerous situation without you always wanting to try to help me and so once again I have to prove myself to you!"

"First of all I don’t always…"

"Yes you do," Sheldon butted in.

"And secondly I didn't volunteer for this. My name was put down and…" he started in a flood of frenzied words.

"Oh so this is how it's going to be is it?" She asked slowly standing up. "We get into an argument, which by the way is all your doing," she said walking up to him and standing a few feet from him. "And you turn around and are ready to go out with anyone who will pay money for you?"

"It's for charity," Caleb said weakly.

"I don’t care if it's to save the baby seals," she said in his face. "I…"

"Sheldon look," he said taking a step back. "I didn't volunteer for this. Your father put my name down and said that…that you would be the one to win."

"A rigged contest?" Sheldon asked in shock. "Shesh even for the kids it's not safe," she said turning around.

"You think I like the idea? I mean being sold like some piece of meat or ornament for the night and then tossed aside when you're done?" Caleb asked with a hint of anger in his usually controlled voice. "I mean shesh I have feel.."

"I don’t want to hear your excuses Caleb," Sheldon said weakly as she turned to leave.

"Sheldon look we need to work this out."

"This?" Sheldon asked turning back to him.

"Yes this…us…this fighting…you sleeping at home…me sleeping alone…"

"Well on Friday you won't have to worry about that now will you!" Sheldon said turning and storming out of the room. She let her jealous anger blind her to two obvious sets of eyes that once she had disappeared transfixed themselves on her handsome partner who slumped his weary muscular body into the leather chair he normally sits in. He ran a hand through his thick dark hair and let out a frustrated sigh. "Sheldon you are impossible."

"What a shame they are still fighting Margo."

"I know Tracy. Poor Caleb, maybe he'll need someone to console him."

"How about two someone's?" Margo laughed as she stared longingly at the Agent in the other room. "Damn that is one beautiful man."

"One beautiful target you mean," Tracy said softly as she too stared at Caleb. "And now with Sheldon angry and distracted our number to Mr. Kadir will be complete. I'm sure he'll love to have a CIA Agent as strong as Caleb to break in."

"Maybe we can double our asking price for Caleb," Margo suggested. "I mean afterall we will be taking a greater risk taking him than the others."

"Good point," Tracy said with a frown. "I think I'll go and have a chat with Caleb," she said standing up. "Care to join me?"

"Love to," Margo said joining her.

Caleb stared at Sheldon's empty chair and sighed. "Why the hell is she so stubborn!" But in truth as he thought long and hard about why she was mad he would have to admit that it was his fault, at least in part. He knew she was more than capable of handling herself but knew he sometimes got too overprotective and let it show. "I just care," he mumbled as he looked up as the two females approached him. "Them again," he sighed. "Why is it whenever I don’t want to see anyone I see them."

"Morning Caleb," Margo cooed making Caleb lightly roll his eyes and choke up a hello to them both.

"So we see your name on the bachelor list," Tracy said with a smile. "We thought you were um…well taken," she said with a hint in her voice that sounded like desperation.

Caleb looked at her in surprise. Is she kidding me, he asked himself?

Sheldon in the meantime rounded the corner only to see two women in her office talking to Caleb. I can't leave him alone for a minute, she yelled inside. But as she got closer she noticed that it was the same two women who were putting on these bachelor auction's all over town. She looked at the perplexed look on his handsome face and for a few seconds felt a twinge of remorse for yelling at him. Why the hell does he have to be so handsome, she asked herself inside? And why are they lingering? Why do they always seem to hover around Caleb? I mean all the guys have their name on that list. What makes him so special? Why am I even asking myself that, she scolded? Because he's the most beautiful man ever created, she moaned inside. Damn it!

Caleb listened to them rattle on about the auction but inside his mind was fixed on Sheldon and what she was doing at the time. I can't let it be like this between us, he said. I have to find her later and make her understand that I am sorry but was only worried about her. Thankfully the phone rang and it was time for his unwanted distraction to leave. Saved by the bell, he said inside.

"Sorry ladies but I do have to take this call," Caleb said with a smile.

"Well we'll be here all week Caleb," Tracy told him. "So expect us back a few times to ask some questions. Standard procedure."

"Okay then," Caleb said reaching for the phone handle. Call display told him it was his voice mail calling but he didn't care as long as it cleared the room of his uninvited visitors.

Sheldon saw them coming and quickly ducked behind a pillar to wait for them to go by.

"He'll fetch a mighty fine price," Margo said enthusiastically. "Did you see how his chest looked under that shirt."

"Oh we'll be able to double our price. Did you see his body in general?" Tracy cooed. "And his hair and his face and well damn all of him."

I am going to kill someone, Sheldon said inside her angry mind as she watched their backs disappear into their small office. She turned back to Caleb who was writing something down as her own cell phone went off.

"Agent Alexander," she answered with a weary sigh. "Rory! What have you got for me? Really? Perfect…I'll be right there," she said quickly hanging up. Caleb was still on the phone so without leaving word as to where she was going she turned and rushed for the door.

Caleb looked up from his messages and frowned. "Where on earth did she go?" He asked out loud. He heard screeching tires and rushed to the window in time to see Sheldon racing away from the parking lot at top speed. Normally that wouldn't have bothered him but as he saw her lights come on he knew something was wrong. He rushed to the phone, praying she'd pick up.

"All finished with your girlfriends?" Sheldon asked in a biting tone.

"Sheldon I said I was sorry," Caleb sighed. "What do I have to do to prove to you that I am?"

"Just let me do my job without you always saying it's too dangerous…or I need to be more careful…or…or fighting my fights for me. Shesh I had those guys last time, why did you charge in?"

"Sheldon I worry. Is that a crime?"

"It is when it affects me! How would you like me to always fight your battles? Wouldn't that make you feel useless? Or helpless?"

"Is that how I make you feel?" Caleb asked softly.

Sheldon heard the hurt in his voice but knew she was right. "As of late, yes it is," she told him directly. "I don’t need saving all the time you know."

"I know usually it's me who needs saving," Caleb said softly. "I guess…well have you ever considered that maybe just maybe I'm tired of always being the one kidnapped or hijacked or shot or taken hostage or…or whatever."

"Oh so you think a little role reversal is in order? That just because I'm the woman I should be the one getting kidnapped and you be the one rescuing me?"

"Well that's how it happens on TV," Caleb said lightly, hoping to make her laugh.

"Well this is real life Caleb. And in real life I happen to be one hell of a fighter and in charge of this partnership. You for some reason are having trouble with that. Maybe you need a new partner for a bit. Maybe then you'll appreciate me."

"Are you serious?" Caleb asked weakly.

"Role reversal? Did you even think that was funny?" Sheldon asked with a sigh. "Are you really threatened by my strengths and abilities? I thought that's what you most drew you to me in the first place," Sheldon told him.

"That and your looks," he smiled. "Sheldon I love the fact that you can fight as well as me, sometimes better. I love the fact that you have great strength and amazing abilities but sometimes it's a little unnerving that I…you know what nevermind. You want a new partner you got one," Caleb said hanging up the phone.

Sheldon stared at the phone in amazement. "Did he just break up with me?"

"Did we just break up?"

"Did you two just break up?" Nickel asked from the doorway.

"I think so," Caleb said looking at the phone. "Can't she see that I just care?"

"What is the real problem Caleb?" Nickel asked walking up to the young man before him. "Is it the auction? Because I told you that I rigged it so that…"

"It was the DeMarco case. I knew Sheldon was more than capable…I mean there were only three and…and I guess I just wanted to protect her and…prove that I can still…"

"And she thought she didn't need it?" Nickel asked innocently.

"Something like that," Caleb said looking down.

"Caleb you'll have to understand that Sheldon was always used to going it alone or really being in charge. I have never met anyone that can fight as well as her with the exception of you. Your abilities amaze me and I know there are things that you can do that no one else can. Sheldon knows that too and sometimes I think feels threatened by it. I think she sometimes thinks that if she can prove to you that she can still fight as well as you then…"

"Then I'll still love her?" Caleb asked weakly.

"Then you'll still treat her as an equal," Nickel said firmly. "Sheldon will never be lesser to anyone because her mother and I have taught her that. Now I know you don’t treat her like that but you don’t know what she hears and what she puts up with. The teasing from the men…the snide and jealous comments from the women…she has put up with it and still continues to do so. Sometimes she thinks she has to prove herself to herself."

"But I never give her that impression," Caleb insisted. "If anything it is Sheldon who's always rescuing me. And I don’t complain one bit. I am always sticking my neck where it doesn't belong. Course so is she but…does she really endure all that?"

"Yes."

"How come I never see it or…well how come she never tells me about it?" Caleb asked softly.

"Because she loves you and wants your love back. Not your sympathy but your love and support. In the past when I have assigned her a new male partner the first thing they ask is what's the joke and ask for their real superior."

"Are you serious?" Caleb asked softly.

"Everytime…except with you. You seemed thrilled and that's great. Now I'm just asking you to be patient. Sheldon does love you. That much is evident."

"Even now?"

"Even now," Nickel smiled. "Just give her the space she needs and she'll realize that you do care and come around and things will be back to normal. Well as normal as it can be for you two," Nickel smiled.

"But this auction…"

"Yeah that was bad timing on my part," Nickel sighed. "But I did put all males names down before you guys had your…well don’t worry it was rigged from the beginning that Sheldon would win you but…well hey I mean even a little friendly competition is good for something right?"

"Yeah until she kills whoever decides to bid on me," Caleb said with a weak smile. "Well I can't wait until this week is over."

"Yeah that makes two of us. I want her back with you. I mean shesh she's already broken one punching bag in the basement."

"Oh and about the new partners thing…"

"Not even a consideration," Nickel smiled. "Speaking of Sheldon…where is she?"

"That's what I'm going to find out," Caleb said standing up. "Thanks. I think I understand her a little bit better."

"Trust me Caleb you could spend a lifetime with her and never fully understand her," Nickel smiled.

Caleb lightly laughed as Nickel left but his smiled quickly faded as he turned to her empty desk and sighed. "Where are you Sheldon?" Caleb asked in concern.

********

"Damn I just bought these pants!" Sheldon growled as she faced off with the man with the switchblade in front of her.

"Don’t worry I'll spring for a new funeral suit sweetie," the thug said taking another swipe at her. She was about to lunge at him when she heard the second man starting to get up. She kicked her leg back, caught the man in the stomach and sent him flying backwards, crashing into a wall and then landing with a thud on the hard concrete. She turned back to the man before her only to be slammed into full force by his body on hers. They both slammed hard into the ground and Sheldon felt her shoulder pop out of place. She cried out in pain as she brought he knee up and landed it hard in the thug's groin. He yelled out and slashed the knife at her. Thankfully it caught her right in the middle of her bullet proof vest allowing her to punch him hard in the side of the face and then bring he knees up to dislodge him from her body. The thug staggered backwards only to be caught once more in the head by both her feet. This time his head snapped back as he hit the ground and finally he lay unconscious beside his friend.

"That'll teach you to mess with me," she said as the RMP of the local police finally stopped in the alley-way beside her Crown Victoria. "Great timing boys," she said dryly.

"Thanks Agent Alexander," one of the uniformed officers said glumly. "We'll take it from here."

"I'll follow. I need to question these two personally," she said heading back to her car. She slammed her shoulder hard against the car and yelled out softly when she felt her shoulder pop back into place. "See Caleb and you thought I couldn't handle myself alone in a fight."

********

Caleb in the meantime followed up a few of his own leads and finished up a few cases he had been working on. By the time it was time to go home he looked up and noticed the office area empty and dark. All that was left was him and the two ladies who were starting to get on his nerves. "Not again," he sighed as he looked up and saw them heading his way.

Sheldon, however, had made it back and noticed Caleb's black BMW still in it's parking stall. She felt a small smile play upon her somewhat dirty face as she parked her car in the designated spot and then headed upstairs. When she did her eyes once again fixed themselves on two women who were already a great source of irritation for her. She hid herself behind a panel and waited and listened. Them again!

"Working late Caleb?" Margo asked sweetly.

"Yes," Caleb said simply.

"All by yourself?" Tracy asked innocently.

"Looks to be," Caleb said putting down his pen as they both leaned in close. "Ah is there something I can do for the two of you?" Caleb asked trying to back away from them.

Sheldon heard the annoyance in his voice and sighed. Kinda serves him right, she said inside. Now he knows what I have had to endure these past few days. Like he didn't know I didn't know his name was on there. Shesh how dumb does he think I am! And yeah like he forgot! Sheldon stopped her mental tirade at the next words uttered.

"Do you want us to take you home?" Margo asked quickly.

"What? Uh no that's okay…but thanks…I think," he said weakly.

"We don’t mind," Tracy said leaning in closer. "Someone as handsome as you shouldn't go home alone. Might not be safe," she laughed.

"I'm not alone," Caleb said quickly. "I mean I don’t live alone and…"

"We heard you were," Margo said also leaning in close. "Alone that is."

"What do you guys really want?" Caleb asked in haste.

"Just a little taste before the auction," Margo said softly.

Taste? What? Sheldon asked in shock. What does she…she asked peering around the corner. WHAT!!! Her mind yelled as she watched the scene before her in horror.

Before Caleb could pull his head away Margo leaned in closer and kissed him full on the lips. He tried to back up but Tracy moved her body behind his chair, trapping him.

Caleb managed to pull his head away, ducked under them and stood up. "Okay whatever is going on I think it's time you both left," he said with a few deep breaths.

"You know that shirt looks good on you," Margo said with a wink as she eyed his tight white t-shirt over his muscular chest. "Can't wait to see the rest."

Yeah like that'll happen, both Caleb and Sheldon said inside their minds at the same time.

"Have a good night Agent Kwan," Tracy said with a smile. "See you tomorrow."

"Sadly," Caleb muttered under his breath as both of them turned and left his office.

Sheldon saw them turn towards her, quickly ducked and waited for them both to leave. Once they were gone and Caleb's back was to her she crept towards the back stairs and down into the locker room, which thankfully was security coded. She was taking off her flak jacket when she heard the door push open and watched Caleb walk into the room. Damn he does look good in that shirt, she said pulling her eyes away from the body she was longing to be back with.

"Hey," Caleb said softly.

"Hey," Sheldon said with a slight air off indifference.

"I uh heard about what happened today," Caleb said taking a step closer. "Nice work."

"Really? No lectures?" She asked bitterly. "No…I wish I was there to fight so you could stand by and just watch?" She spat as she turned to him.

Caleb's eyes studied her body in it's tank top undershirt and pants. He frowned as they rested on the tiny cut mark that the tip of the knife had made earlier that day. But this time much to her surprise he didn't say a word. "No. Nothing that stupid," he said sadly.

Sheldon looked at him in surprise. "I knew earlier you know…about the auction…"

"Is that what this is really all about?" Caleb asked taking a step closer.

"You know what it's about," Sheldon said coldly. "Looks like you got a bit of a head start," she said wiping some of Margo's lipstick off his lips and holding it up to him.

Caleb gazed at it in horror, thinking he had wiped it all off. "Sheldon I can explain," he said in a hurry.

"Caleb I can take care of myself. I think I proved that today. I mean someday you might get caught and I won't be there. Then what? Then you'll be sorry for patronizing me?"

"Sheldon I wasn't…"

"What if you go and get yourself kidnapped like you like to do and I'm not available to rescue you? Will you still blame me?"

"Sheldon I am not bl…"

"And what if you get injured in a fight and can't finish it and so have to give up your life because you turned away the only partner that could have helped you!"

"Sheldon listen to me," Caleb said grabbing her arm as she went to move past him.

"Just answer me this. When you tell me you love me Caleb, who is it your telling? One part of me? Or all of me?"

"You make yourself seem like superhero or something," Caleb said softly.

"Yeah well maybe I am because I seem to be super at picking out the wrong man," Sheldon said firmly as she yanked her arm free and walked past him.

Caleb opened his mouth to say something but the words failed to come out when he needed them. Sadly all he could to was watch her leave, taking a piece of his heart and soul with him. He banged his fist into the locker and let out a small yell of frustration. "Why do I love her so much!" He said loudly.

Sheldon headed home in a cloud of gloom. "Why do I love him so much!" Sheldon said loudly as she pounded her fist into the air in anger.

Caleb knew if he didn't make things right he'd lose Sheldon forever. Grabbing his jacket from his locker he quickly locked it and took off after her. He saw her just getting into her car when a male figure approached from behind. He was about to warn her when she turned and saw the male Agent.

"Ryan?" Sheldon asked in surprise as she heard a noise behind her and turned around.

"Hey Sheldon," Ryan said with a smile. "Heading home?"

"Home to sleep," she said with a tired smile.

"That's too bad because I was wondering if maybe you'd…well I know things have been strained for you and…is Caleb really in the auction this Friday?" Ryan asked.

"He is," Sheldon said firmly making Caleb wince with the tone in her voice. "Aren't you?"

"No I managed to get out of it," Ryan lied, knowing she obviously hadn't seen his name at the very bottom of the list. "Don’t want to give off the wrong impression you know."

What? Caleb asked inside, how could he lie like that? That loser!

"Really?" Sheldon asked in surprise. I wonder if he's lying to me?

"So I was wondering if you'd like to say have a drink? I mean you look great and…"

"Ryan I can't really," Sheldon said with a smile.

"Why not? I'm not good enough for you?" Ryan snapped.

"What?" Sheldon asked in surprise.

"Just because us ordinary guys aren't like Caleb doesn't mean we don’t stand a chance? You might be sorry you turned me away when you get tired of him." he snapped as he turned and started walking away.

"But…" she said softly. "It's not that at all," she whispered sadly as she turned back to her truck. "I still love Caleb," she said almost inaudibly.

Caleb who had turned away at Ryan's outburst and closed his eyes, quickly opened them upon hearing her words and rushed around the corner just as Sheldon's truck pulled away and headed for the exit. "Sheldon…wait," he said out loud. But his voice was muffled against the screeching tires as she finally was taken from his sight. "Damn it!" Caleb cursed as he turned and headed for his own car to go home once more alone. In the darkness he lay in their empty bed and felt sadness starting to overcome him. "I need her with me so much," he lamented as he finally closed his eyes for another night of tormented sleep. "Sheldon I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me…and soon."

********

"Sheldon?" Chloe asked softly.

"I'm sleeping mom," Sheldon lied.

"Just like last night?" Chloe asked with a smile as she entered the small guestroom Sheldon was staying in.

"So I had a bad dream," Sheldon huffed. "So what? Everyone has them."

"Sheldon these aren't just bad dreams. Now why haven't you and Caleb worked things out?" Chloe asked softly.

"He needs to realize that I'm not just some china doll that will break everytime I get into a fight. I mean shesh he gets himself kidnapped more times than me and you'd think he'd be grateful for the rescues. But no, he has to treat me like some little girl who doesn't know how to handle herself."

"Maybe he just cares," Chloe said softly.

"I know he does but…." Sheldon's voice trailed off in a moan. "I just want him to treat me as his equal."

"Helping you win a fight every now and again isn't treating you as anything less. Maybe he just needed to prove that he could still protect you when you need it, even if you think you don’t need it. I mean he does get kidnapped often so maybe he needed to prove to…"

"He doesn't have to prove that to me," Sheldon insisted.

"Maybe to himself. Ever thought that?" Chloe asked softly. "I mean you do right?"

Sheldon looked at her mom and offered up a weak smile. "Yeah I guess so."

"Get some rest and talk to him tomorrow. You'll make it work. I know that's what you want," she said giving her daughter's arm a gentle squeeze. "Both of you."

"Nite," she said watching her mom leave. "Caleb," Sheldon said softly as she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But like Caleb's her sleep was once again restless and fraught with frustrating dreams.

********

"Man they are just everywhere," Sheldon moaned as she stepped off the elevator and looked at her office straight ahead. Caleb's computer was on and his coffee cup was steaming but he wasn't insight. Sadly Tracy and Margo were hovering around his office like two bees to a honey pot. Instead of heading for them she made a sharp left and headed for the interrogation office where the two prisoner's statements from the day before were being analyzed. She pushed the door open and drew in a quick gasp as she bumped right into Caleb.

"Morning," he said softly.

"Hi," she said giving him a quick glance. "Hiding?"

"Is it that obvious?" Caleb sighed.

"So what are you doing in here?"

"Actually I was doing some follow up on the Ching murder when I couldn't help but overhear about your investigation of the missing men. Do you really think those two guys know about the disappearance's of those men? And do you really think it's linked to a slave ring?"

"I got a good tip they do," Sheldon said firmly. "Besides I'm going to question them a little bit more. Doesn't it seem odd that all the men who were taken…well…"

"Well what?" Caleb asked quickly.

"Well they all kinda fit the same profile. Tall, dark and handsome. The best at what they do and not married. Plus…" she said turning away.

"Plus what?"

"That's what I still need," Sheldon said with a sigh as she looked past him to the two analysts at their desks. "Hopefully we'll get this wrapped up and fast. I don’t want to be looking for a slave ring. Just gives me the creeps." Not to mention the fact that Caleb fits the profile, her inner voice reminded her. Hush I'm trying not to think about that.

"Sheldon we need to talk," Caleb said in a low hushed tone.

"Caleb I…"

"Agent Alexander?" One of them said excitedly.

"Do you have something?"

"I think so," he said holding up a piece of paper. "Can you come take a look at this?"

"Sorry Caleb but duty calls," she said stepping past him. "We can talk later."

"I won't just let this go," he said to her as he left the room.

Sheldon knew inside he was right, they had to talk and try to repair what was starting to look unrepairable. She felt a small smile tug at the corners of her mouth and knew that no matter what happened today they would at least sit down and try to resolve the problem between them. Sadly she emerged a few hours later only to find Caleb already out in the field working to finish the Ching case and she was called downtown to talk to the two men she had arrested yesterday.

********

"They were arrested you idiot!" Tracy shouted at Margo as they drove home.

"So we'll find more," Margo sighed. "Besides we need a better plan to take Caleb than those two bumbling morons. He can fight really well. They can't."

"Well drugs in his drink always work," Tracy sighed. "I just can't wait to take him and be done with all this."

"Yeah just too bad we weren't able to keep any of them. Think Sheldon will figure it out in time?"

"Hopefully time enough to see us steal him away from her – forever!"

********

"So tell me again, who hired you?" Sheldon asked wearily.

"The tooth fairy," one of them snided.

"Good now tell me her name before I break your teeth and send them to her," Sheldon warned. When neither of them said a word Sheldon stood up and headed for the door. "Book them both on kidnapping and murder one. Since we only have them as witnesses they'll also be the suspects."

"Look lady," one of them said in a panic. "We didn't kill no body…we just…"

"Shut up Larry!" One of them snapped.

"No Larry please continue. You give us what we want and you go free. Your friend here will just take the blame."

"What?" The other guy screeched.

"I'm telling her Lou. I ain't going to no jail for no one!" Larry insisted.

"We didn't see their faces," Lou piped up. "Honest."

"How did they contact you?"

"Phone and a drop location. All we was supposed to do was show up at the show and bag the guy they wanted."

"Show? Like movie?"

"No like one of them male shows," Larry told Sheldon. "We just waited out back. Don’t know what it was 'cept there were lots of guys in tuxedo's and women all dressed up."

"Oh and a lot about charity," Lou added.

"How did they come out back?" Sheldon asked impatiently.

"They were drugged and the closest door was the back exit. I think it was arranged inside."

"But we never killed them."

"Well we haven't proven that yet but we haven't found bodies either. Did they say why they wanted them?" Sheldon asked.

"Only that they were worth a lot of money to them and that they would be shown who's their master," Larry told her.

"What? I never heard that," Lou snapped.

"I over heard it one time. One was talking to the other in the background. Look them's two creep us out. That's why we were running."

"Females?"

"Yes," Larry mentioned.

"I see," Sheldon said slowly. "Where did you take the men when you kidnapped them?"

"We left them tied up in a dark van and then someone came and got them. All we saw was someone dressed in black. That's it. We didn't follow because we didn't want more trouble."

"The profile of a man or woman?"

"Well kinda like yours…only less built," Lou smiled.

"And it didn't bother you that you were kidnapping innocent men?" Sheldon asked sharply.

"No," one of them said sheepishly.

"Do you know who's next?" Sheldon asked.

"No," Lou told her. "We are only contacted the day before the event.

"Good thing you don’t work with one of them who's in one of them shows. That would suck huh. Taken from the CIA. Man that would really suck," Larry lightly laughed.

"Yeah for you. Take them away," Sheldon said wearily.

"Hey wait we helped you," Larry moaned.

"And now I'll help you by keeping you safe," Sheldon smiled as she turned and left.

"That was odd," the other interrogation Agent Garth Benson said to her.

"Yeah Garth I know," Sheldon sighed. "Male shows? Could they be targeting strippers? I mean by night?"

"Well they were in tuxedo's," Garth mentioned.

"Yeah but one was a banker, the other a lawyer the other a professor. None of these guys strikes me as the stripper type," Sheldon said slowly pacing the small room.

"I'll keep looking," Garth said softly. "So um are you going on Friday? I mean to the auction?"

"Not sure," she said looking at him with a stony face. "See you tomorrow."

By the time she reached outside it was already getting dark. "Damn it," she cursed as she rushed for her car and got in. She raced back to the office only to find Caleb's car already gone. With a heavy sigh she parked her agency car and headed for her truck and then home. Only this time she found herself heading back to her apartment instead of her parent's place. Much to her amazement Caleb's car wasn't there. She felt her eyes start to immediately water at the thought that she finally pushed him too far that he didn't want to come back. "Well I'll just wait," she said firmly as she parked her truck in the shadows and decided to wait. A few painful hours later she heard the screeching of tires and quickly woke from her sleeping stupor. She gazed in horror as Caleb got out of the car driven by a beautiful Asian woman.

"I can't believe it," Sheldon whispered as she watched Caleb kiss her on the cheek and then stand up with a smile on his face.

"Thanks Ruth," Caleb smiled. "With your help I'm sure Sheldon and I will be back together in no time. Say hi to Roger for me."

"Anytime Caleb. And I will. Hang on to her Caleb, she's worth a lot."

"I know," Caleb said watching her drive away.

"You couldn't even wait until I moved out?" Sheldon asked weakly.

Caleb turned to see her and felt his heart break immediately as he watched a single illuminated tear start to slide down her cheek. "What? Sheldon it's not what yo…"

"Think? Yeah right. How stupid do you think I am Caleb," Sheldon said angrily as she backed up for her truck. "You figured that just because I wasn't able to talk with you tonight that it's over and you go out with the first woman you can find!"

"Sheldon you are being so unreasonable," Caleb said firmly. "Will you for once just listen!"

"You know Caleb we are through. You want your separate life and all your women you can have them! You want a woman who is a wimp and a weakling that you can protect then fine! We are done. You know if you were one of those men that was kidnapped and taken who knows where I wouldn't care. Just don’t count on my help to rescue you if you ever need it again," she said turning and rushing into her truck. Sheldon looked at the shocked and hurt look on his face as she sped away.

"Sheldon…no," Caleb moaned as he felt his heart heavy in his chest. "This can't be." Caleb rushed for his car but once he got onto the main road Sheldon's car was no where in sight. "Why the hell is she so stubborn," Caleb lamented as he dialled her cell number.

"Forget it Caleb," Sheldon said wiping a stray tear away. "You'll just have to survive without me."

"Sheldon pick up that phone," Caleb said as he raced in the direction he thought she was heading. Unfortunately by the time he reached her parents large stately mansion her truck was not there. "Where are you?" Caleb asked in misery. After waiting outside for a few minutes he started up his car again and headed for home.

Sheldon waited in her secret spot until Caleb's car had pulled away and was not coming back before she slowly moved hers into her parents covered garage and went inside. She threw herself onto the small bed and started to lightly cry. "I guess it wasn't meant to be," she said softly. "Goodbye Caleb," she whispered as she let the darkness swallow her.

********

"Good news Mr. Kadir," Tracy said into the telephone. "We'll have your number complete by tomorrow night. We can ship the completed list at midnight as promised."

"Excellent," said the smug male voice. "Did you get me an American Agent to break?" He asked eagerly.

"This one is the best at what he does. A martial arts expert! But when we take him we take an awful risk. We want double for him," Tracy said in a nervous tone.

"Well if he is as good as you say he is then I'll triple your fee," Mr. Kadir's sadistic voice boomed over the small speaker into her ear. "We'll talk once more tomorrow night before you set sail," he said hanging up.

"He went for it," Margo said with glee as she looked around the large warehouse they were standing in. "Perfect."

"Two days from now you and I will be rich beyond imagination and no one will be the wiser," Tracy said happily as she walked up to a small cage and looked down inside it. "And tomorrow handsome you'll start the journey to your new life," she said to the unconscious man held captive in the small cage.

"A toast," Margo said holding up a small glass of something bubbly and handing it to Tracy. "To handsome single men…"

"May we find more to get rich off of," Tracy finished the toast with a clink of her glass. "And anyone who tries to stop us we'll simply kill them."

"Think Agent Alexander will try to stop us?" Margo asked with a hint of reservation.

"I'm counting on it," Tracy said smugly. "That's one Agent I'm going to look forward to putting out of commission. And when she watches in vain as Caleb is taken from her forever it'll be my pleasure to finally put her out of her misery."