The next morning when she walked into the precinct Joe walked up to her with a goofy grin on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"Come outside, I have something to show you," he said, and grabbing her hand he dragged her outside and around to the back of the building. He pointed and she looked. She then gasped, for sitting in a parking stall was her blue Viper, with a big red bow tied onto the hood.
"Joe," she grinned, "how did they get it here so fast?"
"The Chief wanted you to know that you were missed, and he knew you missed them too, so he had it shipped here last night as a present to you."
"This is so great," she grinned at him, walking to the car. He handed her the keys and she got in. She just sat there for a minute then she looked up at Joe. "Want to go for a ride?"
"Of course," he grinned.
The next two weeks went by very slowly for Miranda. She got back into the swing of things. Cole called her every day, and they visited, but it wasn't the same thing as when he was with her. It was kind of depressing not having him around, but she supposed she would see him soon enough, well, she hoped so.
Early the next Monday morning her cell phone rang. Groggily she answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Miranda, get up and get dressed, there is something big going down at the Hilton, I need your help," Joe told her.
"Okay, give me a few minutes," she told him.
"Okay, but hurry," he told her, then hung up.
Miranda, puzzled over what was happening, hurriedly showered, dressed and headed out. Minutes later she was pulling up to the Hilton. A valet saw her car and stepped forward. She handed him the keys and headed inside, wondering why the valet had seemed so nervous. She hoped her car was safe she thought as she headed inside, wondering where Joe was.
She saw him as she stepped into the luxurious lobby. "It's about time you got here," he grinned at her and walked to her.
"Joe, what is going on? You called me like this was an emergency."
"It is, as I said, it's something big."
He grasped her arm and pulled her towards the ballroom. She really wondered what was going on then, because her partner didn't have his gun out, as a matter of fact, he looked excited.
At the ballroom doors, four men in suits nodded at them and opened the doors to let them in, following them as they entered. The doors were closed behind them then, and Miranda wondered what was happening as she saw several tables set up around the room all filled with officers. When they saw her walk in they all stood and saluted her, then they began to applaud. She looked around and spotted Tyler, Chad, Cole, and Chief Stratton among the crowd. They were all grinning at her. Joe pushed her forward, and then he went to sit at the agents' table with Chad and Tyler. Two men in suits urged her forward and helped her up to a stage that had been set up. She gasped when she set foot onto the stage and saw the President of the United States step up to greet her.
He shook her hand. "Captain Detective Miranda Dylan, it is a true honor," he told her.
"I feel the same way, sir," she said, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
He smiled at her and led her to a pulpit. He spoke into the microphone. "I am here today to honor our country's top detective. I didn't realize how beautiful she was though, I was expecting you to be well, to look totally different," he grinned at her.
The officers in the audience chuckled. "Looks can be deceiving," she told him.
"Obviously," he said wryly, winning more laughs from the crowd.
"I know you did not want publicity, so I came here in secret to present to you the President's Medal of Valor," he said, taking a long velvet box from a man who had appeared at their side.
He opened the box and showed it to the audience, then said, "This Medal of Valor is awarded today to Captain Detective Miranda Dylan."
He handed it to her, then shook her hand.
"Thank you, sir," she said, smiling at him among the thunderous applause and whistles from the crowd.
"It is an honor," he told her.
"Speech, speech," Tyler yelled.
The President smiled and stepped back so Miranda could talk.
The room became silent. She held up the medal. "I cannot accept this for myself, because I did not do all the work alone, I had a lot of help. I would like to thank all the officers and agents in San Francisco for helping me, this medal is for you also."
A great cheer went up from the officers that had come to support her from California.
"I will have a plaque made up to hang in the precinct in San Francisco," she told them, "and this medal will hang in great honor in my precinct to remind me of the great men and women I worked with on that fateful night, thank you."
The clapping was thunderous. All the officers got to their feet and cheered her and then saluted her again. She saluted them back and stepped away. The president stepped forward again.
"Thank you Captain; officers like you are who make our country a safer place to live."
"Hear, hear," came the shouts.
"There has been a meal prepared in your honor detective and I would be honored if you would sit at my table," he then told her.
"I would be honored also," she replied.
He nodded and helped her off the stage then they went to sit and eat.
Chief Johnson and Chief Stratton sat with them, grinning ear to ear at her as she sat down.
"Chief Stratton was informing me before you came in about what happened that night," the President said, as their meal was served, "I was amazed. It sounds like something you would hear from a television show, not a real-life situation. I am in awe."
"Thanks," she said as she began to eat.
"So were you surprised?" Chief Johnson asked.
"Most definitely. Joe called me and told me it was an emergency, I thought something bad had happened."
"Sounds like Joe," Chief Johnson said, shaking his head at Joe, who only shrugged.
"You know Captain if your Chief would give you up I would hire you to work for me as one of my secret service agents," the president said to her.
Her Chief almost choked on his drink.
"Sir, thank you for the honor, but I don't think he would give me up," she smiled, as Chief Stratton patted Chief Johnson on the back.
"Well, if you ever change your mind," he smiled at her.
"I will think about it," she assured.
He nodded at her then ate his meal, as did the others.
As soon as they had eaten the President stood. "I am sorry I have to eat and run, but I have other business to attend to today, thank you for letting me come."
Miranda stood and shook his hand.
"The offer will be open for you until I leave office if you change your mind," he told her.
She smiled at him. "Thank you, sir, but to tell you the truth, it would be a little boring."
The President laughed. "I bet it would, compared to what you have been doing," he smiled at her then. "But the offer will still stay open."
The other men at the table then stood and shook his hand, and then he took his leave of them.
As soon as he was gone, Cole came to sit by her. He leaned over and kissed her, making the men at the table chuckle. He ignored them. "I missed you."
"I missed you," she smiled at him. "I'm glad you made it."
"I am too. I had to beg the chief to let me come."
"Not that hard," Chief Stratton chuckled. "I know how Cole feels about you, detective."
She blushed and Cole smiled softly at her. "I can't stay too long, but I wanted to congratulate you on your work."
"I had help you know," she said, looking at the men at the table.
"But you did all the hard work," Tyler commented.
"Whatever," she brushed him off, making him chuckle.
Chief Johnson's phone rang then and he answered it. "Johnson here."
He listened for a minute then said, "Okay, I'll get the detectives headed that way."
He hung up and looked at Miranda and Joe. "That was dispatch. Two people just found a body under the bridge off of Pastor Blvd. Hate to break up this party, but you both need to head that way."
"Crime isn't put on hold, even for our hero," Joe teased, winking at Miranda.
"I'll walk you out," Cole said, helping her to her feet.
"I would like that," she smiled up at him. He put an arm around her waist and walked her out the door and to her car.
"When will I see you again?" she asked him as he opened her car door for her.
"Soon I hope," he sighed. "I would love to take you out tonight, but my chief has me running everywhere just like your chief does. I've got to head back home also. I am sorry," he said, kissing her again.
"I am too," she sighed and put her arms around him, leaning her head on his chest.
He held her for a few minutes, then kissed the top of her head. "I'll call you tonight again, okay?"
"I would like that," she replied, looking up at him.
"I really wish I could stay."
"I really wish you could too," she said. She had missed him desperately.
He kissed her once more and stepped back. "Take care, my love, I'll see you soon, okay?"
She nodded and watched him walk away. She frowned. She wished her life was a whole lot less busy so that they could do something about the attraction between them. She wondered if either one of them would put down roots, but did she want to?
"So, I see you got the car," Tyler grinned, walking over to her.
"Yes, thank you, Tyler. I love it."
"I know, say you wouldn't want to drive me back to the airport would you?" he asked.
"What, you aren't staying either?"
"No, work calls, we have another case we are working on in San Francisco, although I have to admit, it is quite dull since you aren't there."
"Sure, make me feel guilty," she teased.
"I'm not, I just miss you, that's all."
"Sure you do," she laughed. "Sure Tyler, climb in, I'll take you."
"Hey, what about me?" Chad asked, feeling offended.
"You can sit on Tyler's lap," Miranda laughed.
"No thanks, he pinches," Chad grinned and headed to his car.
The two of them laughed and climbed into Miranda's Viper and she headed to the airport.
When they were in the car Miranda asked him if he was working with Chief Stratton still.
"On this case, yes, and another one has popped up."
"So, you are staying busy."
"Always," he replied as she pulled up to the terminal. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Take care of yourself, I'll see you soon okay?"
"Okay," she said and watched him get out and walk into the airport. She would miss Tyler, but mostly she would miss Cole. She hoped that one day he would come and take her away with him, or stay there with her.