Title: East Meets West
Chapter 5 – A New Beginning

"I am thinking about tonight," he replied.

"Caleb I..."

"Sheldon it will work out in the end," Caleb promised.

Sheldon looked at him with a hint of scepticism but didn't offer up a reply. Arguing now would do no good and she could see that he was firmly set in his ways. They were wrong, she told herself; but she had to admire his conviction. Inside she just wished it could be real.

"So do you think they'll be able to find the right address?" Caleb asked breaking the silence as they waited for their order.

Sheldon knew Caleb wanted to probe more about the date but opted for the courteous way out – another subject entirely. "He dumped me," Sheldon sighed as she took a sip of her white wine.

"What?" Caleb asked with a light frown.

"My date…he…well he didn't think…I don’t think he likes my job," Sheldon said matter-of-factly. "I think he, like most other guys are threatened by it."

"Why are you telling me?" He wondered in a soft tone. "You don’t have to."

"I know you are wondering," she offered with a slight smile. "He's threat…"

"I’m not," Caleb said proudly.

"And why is that?" Sheldon asked directly.

"Because I have nothing to be threatened by. I'm not meaning any offence by it but I don’t think you want to prove yourself better than me and I think other guys just have low self esteem that they probably worry you'll show them up in some way. Course I could be totally wrong," Caleb said in a serious tone.

"I just do my job…"

"The best way you can," he finished for her. "See we are the same."

"Caleb," Sheldon said as she felt her eyes starting to water. "This…us…it could never work."

"Why not?" Caleb half insisted, half begged.

"Because in a few days this will be wrapped up and we'll be back to our separate worlds. And I don’t want my life to end up like some sad country song or tragic Hollywood movie. You have your life and I have mine. I don’t think…"

"Then stop thinking," he teased. "Just enjoy tonight. I'm not wanting anything more."

"Caleb…" Sheldon started and then stopped. "You mean you don’t want a one night stand?"

"No," he lightly laughed. "But if you are offering," he concluded with a wink.

"Oh funny," she said leaning back in her chair. "So Charlie…he must have loved Jenny so much to…wait? Why India and China? Did we find targets yet?" Caleb looked at her in wonder, making stop mid-thought and just stare at him back. "Sorry," she mumbled. "Work has always been on my mind because it has been my life."

"I know how to remedy that," he said taking her hand and holding it firmly, gazing at her with an intent look of heat and passion.

Sheldon felt the heat from his hand starting to flood other parts of her body and knew exactly what he was meaning. Thankfully the dinner came and she quickly broke the connection, the cool air of the restaurant starting to hit her once more.

"This looks good," she said numbly. And for the next hour or so dinner was enjoyed and serious conversation was stopped.

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"Good work Garth," Nickel said as he rubbed his weary eyes. "Go home to your family now. I'm sure the FBI will be able to take it from here. Right Milt?"

"Oh I'm sure the training my boys took will be good for something," he laughed. "Well revenge is always a good motive," Milton said as he leaned back in his chair and looked at the CIA Director with a direct stare.

"The usual story," Nickel sighed. "But at least we know now the hits in India and China weren't random. Now all we need to do is locate the target…wait a sec…"

"What is it?" Milton asked quickly.

"This guys target is DC right? We were thinking it was the white house because that is the usual spot most of these terrorists want to hit…" Nickel started.

"But in this guys case," Milton said looking at Nickel with a slight frown. "He might not be after the President."

"Which means he could be anywhere," Nickel said with a heavy sigh.

"Not necessarily," Garth said rushing into his office.

"Thought you went home," Nickel commented.

"So did I," Garth said with a wry smile. "Sheldon and Caleb told me to find any location with a street with a Z on one side and a Y on the other. I found five in the DC area," he said handing the list to Nickel. "And one is by the White House."

"Let's go," Milton said taking the list from Nickel and calling his team lead. "I'll call Cecil and let him know what's going on."

"And I'll warn Paul."

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"So what really happened?" Caleb asked, breaking the momentary silence as they ate.

"You mean tonight?" Sheldon asked in innocence.

"Yes tonight," Caleb smiled.

"Well…" Sheldon started, silently praying for a miracle inside so she wouldn't have to tell her pathetic story. This time she actually got one. She was about to start when her cell phone went off.

"Garth?" Sheldon asked as she quickly answered. "Got anything?"

"Yeah a list of addresses in New York and DC that we think 'Charlie' might be at. Milt has dispatched a team and your dad is going with him to one address but I have one more that needs to be checked out and it's in DC. Who should I…"

"If it's even close to us, we'll take it," Sheldon said looking at Caleb. "I don't want to let this guy get away."

Caleb looked at the serious look on her face and immediately gestured for the waiter. "What?" He asked as she hung up and he signed the credit card slip.

"One location on Charlie that we need to check out."

"Like this?" He asked; referring to the good clothes they were wearing.

"Why not?" She smiled. "I always wanted to make an arrest dressed like one of Charlie's Angles," she teased as they headed for the front door. They quickly climbed inside the waiting cab and directed the driver to waste no time in getting them to their specified destination.

"This is the kind of thing that would drive regular guy's nuts," Sheldon sighed as she stared out the window into the darkness.

"Leaving in the middle of a romantic date to possibly face death?" Caleb mused. "This is half the fun," he finished in a dry tone.

"Look Caleb you didn't have to…"

"What come along? Yeah like I'm going to let you have all the credit," he quickly countered.

"I was going to say show up in the first place but…" she quickly stopped, gazing back at him with an intense stare, matching his every move.

"But I did," Caleb said firmly.

"You still never told me why you were in the neighbourhood," Sheldon pressed with a slight smile.

"I had an inkling you were alone," he said in a soft tone. "Call it fate."

"I don't believe in fate," Sheldon said seriously. "I'm in control of my own life."

"And who's in control of your heart?" Caleb questioned in a serious tone.

"I…" Sheldon started and then stopped. "Did you bring a gun?" She asked in haste, hoping to change the conversation.

"Nice dodge. But no. I guess you didn't either?"

"Great," Sheldon said lightly slamming the door with her fist. "What are we supposed to do now? Reason with him while he tries to kill us?"

"I guess we'll have to do what every other normal cop does, call for back-up. That is if we find him."

"Yeah I mean chances are slim that we find him," Sheldon said in resignation. "But knowing my luck…" she started.

"Thought you didn't believe in luck?" Caleb quickly interrupted.

"I believe in luck," she said with a coy smile. "The luck of the Irish rules my life. You're probably safer to stay in the car," she smiled. "Got a phone at least?"

"That I do," he smiled. "Do you at least have some hairspray and a lighter?"

"Ah the old flamethrower trick. Actually I do happen to have those items. Travel sizes of course."

"Then we are all set. Let's go," Caleb said as the cab driver pulled to a stop.

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"Nice place," Milt commented as they pulled up to an abandoned warehouse a few miles from the White House.

"And just close enough to affect the President. I told Paul to be ready but as you know him," Nickel sighed.

"Yeah probably bouncing off the walls by now wanting to shot something," Milt laughed.

"Get a hold of Cecil?"

"No," Milt frowned. "Don’t know where the hell he is. Henderson said he was in a meeting and that it was pretty important."

"Well more important than missing all the fun?" Nickel quipped.

"I certainly wouldn't do that."

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"Sir this is for your own good," Paul Landry, Secretary of Defence said in earnest to the president. "Just make sure the rest of the first family is safe," he instructed the rest of the military unit that were assigned to him.

"They are all secure sir. What do we do now?"

"Wait," Paul quipped. "And make sure your gun is ready."

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"Why do we always get the old dilapidated buildings," Sheldon moaned as they carefully made their way towards the front entrance of the run down house they were told to investigate.

"Because that's where these sicko's always hide," Caleb retorted.

"Always?" Sheldon teased. "Damn I wish I had my gun," she sighed.

"Well you'll just have to rely on your own strength young grasshopper," Caleb teased, making her smile before they prepared to go in.

"Easy for you to say sensei," she teased back. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," he replied with a slight frown as he pounded on the door. "Charles Lentz! Police! Open up!" Caleb yelled angrily as he continued to pound on the door.

"Not home," Sheldon commented in a soft tone as she walked over and started to peer in one of the broken front windows.

"Well I guess we should just let ourselves in…" Caleb started as his hand reached for the front door.

Sheldon stuck her head inside the opening through the broken glass and noticed yellow wiring around the door Caleb was about to walk through.

"Caleb no!" She shouted just in time to feel a blast send them both flying backwards. Caleb had just turned in time to feel the heat on one side of his body propel him backwards, down the cement steps and then roll towards the road. Sheldon had also turned; just in time to feel the heat on her back send her flying forwards, face first into the dirt and then roll towards the road a few feet from Caleb.

The blast was heard a few miles away.

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"What the hell!" Nickel shouted as he was about to pull open the door to the building they were standing in front of.

"Nick don’t!" Milt shouted in haste. "I think that was our team," he said.

"God I hope it wasn't Sheldon," he remarked in a panic, as he pulled his phone and started to dial Sheldon's number.

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"We are alive, but the building was wired, more smoke and noise than anything. But enough to send a message – like stay away," she lightly coughed into the phone; still laying on her side on the cold ground. "Caleb is alive…I think," she huffed.

"I am," he called out weakly. "But the smell of the acid is still fresh. He just did this."

"Don’t open any doors," Sheldon warned her father. "Where the hell could he be?"

"I think I know," Nickel responded in a grave tone. "I have to call Paul."

"We'll see you there," Sheldon coughed again as she pushed herself painfully to her knees and crawled over to Caleb, who was still struggling to get up.

"Are you okay?" She asked in a raspy tone.

"I'll live," he sighed. "Anything major broken?"

"I think I dislocated a shoulder," she sighed. "And everything hurts," she told him with a slight yelp as she pushed herself to her feet and waited until the world around her stopped spinning. "But I need your help," she said with a sad face. "I need this back into place."

"It will hurt," he too lightly coughed as he slowly pushed himself to his feet before her. "Are you sure you don't want…"

"The President is next. That has to be his target. He sent us all on this wild goose chase to distract him from…please just do it…" she half begged.

Caleb closed his eyes for a brief second and noticed her do the same and take a deep breath. It nearly broke his heart when he heard her cry out in pain as the joint was put back into place by a powerful thrust by his palm. He pulled her close and lightly held her trembling body against his.

"I almost lost you," she whispered sadly. "This…this has to end…" she lightly sobbed as she pulled away from his warm embrace and started to scan for a vehicle.

"Sheldon…"

"Caleb please…we need to get to the White House…can you drive a motorcycle by any chance?" She asked; suddenly eyeing their new mode of transport.

"Just lead the way," he told her with a slight smile; knowing inside that when this was over he was sure she would just walk out of his life for good and there wasn't a damn thing he could now do to stop it. Or could he?

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"Nick what?" Paul asked firmly.

"Just be on the look out for…"

"Wait a sec…who let that truck…" Nickel heard Paul said in a loud frantic voice.

"Paul!" Nickel yelled, looking at Milt with a panicked glare. "We have a problem!"

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Sheldon felt herself resting her head on Caleb's shoulder as she hung on to his waist and he sped through the streets of DC, towards the White House. They had guessed wrong; the President had been a target all along. Milt's FBI team was able to uncover documents that showed that the US had played a part in helping the men who had turned on Charlie and he took it personally and decided to get rid of them all. The other sites had been "test" sites to see how much damage his creation could manage. But even those test sites were done on the families of the men who left he and Jenny to die. Now, with the delivery man through the gates of the White House it seemed his creation had taken the master to the next level. The goal of murdering the most powerful man on earth. The man he said could have stopped this mess in the first place.

"Think we'll get there in time?" Sheldon asked in a worried tone.

"Well if we don’t, I sure hope someone does," Caleb sighed.

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"How the hell did this guy get past the security check points!" Nickel growled as he sped towards the White House.

"Well he obviously was one step ahead of us," Milt quipped.

"That is not funny," Nickel sighed.

"Well then step on it or we'll be looking for a new commander and chief!" Milton said angrily as Nickel pushed his company Crown Victoria even faster. "I just hope Paul gets this guy."

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Paul Landry was never a man to mince words or be short on his actions. He and his men started firing as soon as the delivery truck slammed through the front gates of the White House and started speeding towards the windows of the Oval Office. The military tangent around him doing the same. The President and first family had been moved immediately again to a secure holding facility in an underground location and so would be able to survive whatever the madman had planned.

"Don't let him through!" Paul shouted to the men around him who continued firing.

"Nick look!" Milt shouted as they neared the entrance to the White House and noticed the smashed gates and the guards lying beside them, not moving.

"Oh God…I hope we are not too late…"

But just as he said those fateful words the area in front of him exploded sending the car flying through the air and landing on its side; the wild-eyed driver of the truck laughing as he through two more grenades out the window behind him – targeting the two director's haphazardly.

Paul saw the explosion and turned to shout something to a detachment of men when he saw a grenade come flying through the air and the world to his right exploded, sending him flying into a pile of men, injured but alive.

The truck kept coming.

"Caleb!" Sheldon shouted as she noticed the smoke billows coming from the roof of the White House. "Garth…" she said in a panicked voice into her cell phone as Caleb neared the entrance. "We need…everything here and hurry!"

"The truck is still going," Caleb shouted.

"We have to take it out!" Sheldon shouted back as they neared the truck as it was still trying to ram its way through the Oval Office.

Caleb neared the back of the truck and slowed to let Sheldon jump off. She landed softly on the ground with her gun drawn started firing at the moving truck along with Paul and whoever was left standing beside him. Finally the truck came to a stop just before it hit the inner hallway and then all was quiet – except for the office alarms and the distant sirens heading in their direction. No one even noticed the two director's picking themselves out from under the smoking car and rushing to join the rest of their team to bring down the would be assassin.

All eyes trained themselves on the door of the truck as it slowly opened.

"You can't stop me!" Charlie shouted as he slowly removed himself from the truck; his body wrapped with explosives, a detonator in his hand.

"Jenny wouldn't want this," Sheldon called out from his right.

"This would be murder of innocent people," Caleb added from his left.

"Jenny told me to avenge her as she lay bleeding in my arms because of you people!" Charlie shouted back, his voice starting to choke up. "I want revenge!"

"Then take it on me," Paul piped up as he stepped out from behind a group of protesting military officers.

"Paul, what the hell are you doing?" Milt questioned.

"This man wants revenge for something that we did, so he can take it…"

"Did you give the order!" Charlie demanded.

"I give many," Paul replied in a calm tone.

"Charlie you turn yourself in and we'll get you some help," Sheldon tried again, her and Caleb ever inching forward, trying to get a shot before he blew them all up.

"What's this really all about?" A battered Nickel asked. "Just revenge? Or something higher?"

"I loved her and they took her from me…they took all of them. Every single member of my family!" Charlie finally spat, his emotions changing from mild to angry.

"We can help you," Caleb tried in vain.

"What do you want from the President?" Paul asked directly.

"I want his family to die and him to feel the same pain as I," Charlie spat in anger.

"Not very charitable," Milt snided, making Nickel lightly hush him.

"He didn't kill your family," Paul tried.

"I have a shot," Sheldon half whispered to Caleb.

"So do I," he mouthed back.

"If either of you try to kill me then this detonator will go off and I will be vindicated anyways," Charlie challenged.

"The President is no where near here," Paul half lied. "So your purpose would be in vain and Jenny's memory soiled."

"But she…" his voice slightly faltered; leading all to believe that he might just listen to reason and give up. But it wasn't to be. "She told me to avenge her!" Charlie shouted as he looked up in anger, his eyes red and watery, his fists clenched angrily.

He raised his hand with the detonator in it. But before anyone could react a single shot rang out; breaking the tense silence and taking the assassin to his knees; the detonator rolling from his lifeless fingers. The single shot, blew his heart from his chest, thus ending his foolish attempt at revenge.

All eyes turned to a single man standing in a now open door, directly in front of Charlie.

"Man can't you guys do anything without me?" Cecil quipped as he lowered his .45. "What?" Cecil asked with a sardonic smile.

"Where the hell have you been?" Milt asked somewhat angrily.

"And how did you know?" Nickel piped up.

"What, you think the NSA monitors Intel for no reason and then we sit around and let you guys take all the credit?" Cecil lightly chuckled.

"Damn it Barrows," Milt cursed. "Could have waited until I shot him first," he lightly laughed. But as they all crowded in to see the dead man on the ground, they noticed several shots riddling his body, Cecil's being the death blow.

"Good work," Paul smiled as he shook his friends hand. He turned to his men and started giving them orders to remove the body, search for explosives and get all the debris moved out and security back in.

"How did he get through?" Nickel asked Paul as he stood talking to him, Milton and Cecil.

"I guess we aren't as well guarded as we think we are," Cecil piped up.

"Or as safe as we like to think we are," Milt added.

"Well I guess I have some new security measures to draft up," Paul told them. "National Security took on a whole new meaning tonight."

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Sheldon and Caleb in the meantime had slowly made their way to the side and the pro's take over. They watched the team of Director's talking and then slowly disperse to where they believed to be the hospital to get cleaned up and then start fresh in the morning.

But it was over for them. The case was solved. It was over for them.

Sheldon knew it was time to say goodbye and even though she knew she had to she didn't want to in any way part with the handsome man standing beside her.

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"Well that went smoothly," Milton sighed as he and Nickel headed for the ambulance that was waiting to take them to the hospital to get checked over.

"Thank goodness," Nickel sighed as he glanced at Sheldon and Caleb. "Well that was a brief parting," he said firmly.

"I thought they would have killed each other by now," Milt chuckled. "I know how much Sheldon likes partners."

"Night is still young," Nickel quipped. "She probably still will." Or maybe this one might last, Nickel prayed inside.

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"It's been great Caleb," Sheldon said turning to him, trying to put on a brave face, her heart breaking inside with every word she spoke.

Caleb looked at her incredulously. "You can't mean this," he said softly.

"Thanks for your help," she told him again in a firm tone, extending her slightly trembling hand for him to shake goodbye.

"Sheldon…"

"You really should get yourself checked out before you go," she tried once more, her voice finally breaking. "I wish you a safe flight home," she whispered in sorrow.

"Sheldon…" Caleb started as he took her hand in his and gave it a slight squeeze.

"Caleb please don't," she lightly begged. "I just can't…" she tried again, this time being unable and pulling away from him. She headed for another waiting ambulance, not even caring about her aching arm and her sore body. She had been through so much in the past few days and she knew the biggest scar to be left from this case would be her broken heart – made by Caleb.

"Sheldon!" Caleb called, rushing after her.

"See this is what I didn't want to happen."

"What did you want to happen?" He asked with a sad face.

Sheldon studied his expression and found herself lightly shaking her head "no". "Not this. I wanted an easy parting. End of case…end of…end of story," she finished in a whisper as she leaned in close and kissed him on the cheek, a single tear from her eye escaping and running down onto his dirty cheek. "Please forgive me."

"Sheldon," he whispered in anguish just as she pulled away.

"Go back to your life Caleb," were the last words she said before turning and rushing away to one of the waiting cars; getting in and ordering the police driver to take her to the hospital.

Caleb watched her go in a cloud of gloom. "You are my life," was all he managed in torment. He stood fixed in his place for a few seconds, not wanting to believe she was really gone for good. Then he pulled himself back to reality and knew he wasn't about to give her up without a fight.

"She'll not get away from me that easily," he uttered loudly, drawing a few wondering glances. He headed for the waiting motorcycle and raced after her to the hospital. But Sheldon knew he might try something and so headed for her private family doctor to be taken care of. Caleb cursed angrily when he found that he wasn't able to get that information; got himself fixed up and headed for her apartment. She wasn't home.

"Sheldon!" Caleb offered up in frustrated anger. After waiting for an hour he knew she wasn't coming home and headed back to his hotel to pack. After he was done he checked out early and headed for the airport.

"Goodbye Sheldon," he whispered as he took one last glance at the skyline of New York and headed into the terminal and out of her life.

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Sheldon waited in silence while her doctor continued to treat the cuts and attend to the bruises.

"Saw some action tonight I'd say," he casually mentioned.

Sheldon felt her eyes start to water once more as she remembered the pained look on Caleb's face as she told him goodbye.

"It's for the best," she mumbled sadly. After what seemed like a tormented eternity she started for home. Her heart started to beat a bit faster as she rounded the corner in the hallway, almost wishing that Caleb was standing there waiting for her, begging her not to let him walk out of her life. But he wasn't there. She was alone; just as she feared she'd always be.

She headed inside and went for the phone. No messages. After offering up a silent curse she headed for the kitchen to pour herself a much needed drink.

"Caleb…" she whispered in sorrow. "Please forgive me," she added as she took another drink from the glass. The contents of the glass started to slowly warm her insides and she found herself once again wishing she hadn't thrown him away so easily.

"It's for the best," she tried to consol herself out loud. "It's for…oh damn it!" She cursed as she rushed for the phone and dialled his hotel number.

"I am sorry but he checked out over an hour ago," was the concierge's reply. After a numb thank you she hung up the phone and stared at the keys to her truck. "Caleb…" she said with slight determination as she grabbed the keys and rushed outside. "I'm not giving up yet either," she told herself with firmly. "Not this time."

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Caleb sat in the terminal in misery. For the first time in his life he knew what he wanted and who and the damnest part was he was the only one that felt that way; or was he? He thought back to what Sheldon said and remembered she told him she wanted an easy parting. But nothing with her was easy.

"Sorry Sheldon," Caleb said removing himself from the ticket line and rushing for the front door. He got into a cab and instructed the cab to rush to her place as fast as it could go. Just as the cab carrying him pulled away Sheldon's F150 pulled to a screeching halt just outside the JFK main international terminal and she rushed up to the ticket counter, flashing her CIA badge and not caring about the angry looks from those behind her. After finding out that Caleb hadn't checked in with this flight or any other she turned and headed back to her truck; her mind even more confused than before.

"Well where the hell are you?" Sheldon asked in confusion as she headed back into the city and towards her place.

Caleb arrived about ½ hour later and listened to the silence with a sad expression. "Where are you?" He questioned out loud. He decided that he was going to make her a part of his life and so headed back to the same hotel and checked in.

Sheldon, however, decided to call the hotel once again and see if he was indeed there. He was. With a broad smile on her face she started to race for the hotel and her new future.

Caleb started to unpack when he heard a slight knock on the door. Knowing that if Sheldon had checked before and he was gone then he was back without notice it couldn't be her.

"Coming," he called out as he headed for the door. "Sheldon?" He asked in surprise, unable to stop the growing smile on his face. "Wh-what are you doing here?" He managed with a slight furrow.

"I don’t want easy," she half whispered, unable to calm her now rapidly beating heart.

"I want you," he replied directly. "But…"

"Caleb…I am standing in your doorway…are you really going to turn me away?" She questioned, using the same line on him as he used on her days before.

"No," he quickly answered.

"Are you sure?" She teased.

"Never been more sure," he answered in a serious tone, his body moving in closer to hers. "Are you sure?"

"I am," she told him in a firm tone. "I need you in my life Caleb…and I don’t need anything else," she smiled.

He pulled her close and wrapped his strong arms around her; holding her body tightly against his. "I want something from you," he told her in a husky tone.

"What?" She lightly asked.

"Something I have wanted since the first day I saw you…"

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"So is Sheldon okay?" Chloe asked Nickel later that night as they laid in bed after the long days events.

"She will be," Nickel sighed. "It's too bad that she wanted Caleb to leave so soon," he huffed. "They made a good team."

"Well you know Sheldon," Chloe sighed. "She doesn't like men that don’t…"

"I know," Nickel answered. "But Caleb can really hold his own. But I am sure if they stayed they'd be at each other's throats by now," he lightly mused.

"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing."

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Sheldon felt Caleb's lips starting to lightly taste hers and then start to devour them hungrily; his desire for her taking over. Sheldon responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer, devouring his mouth and letting herself give in to her wanting for him.

Caleb's mind raced with happy thoughts as he felt her body starting to respond in kind to his touches. Sorry boys, Caleb said inside. She's mine and I'm here to stay!

Dear readers:…well that's the end. So ends my first short story of when they met. Trust me there will be others. But I am off to work on Pandora's Box. Hope you all liked this attempt and will leave a kind review and keep watch for my other stories. It's great readers like you that make my efforts worth their while! Thanks again!