THE DIAMOND PURSUIT

By peach83

DISCLAIMER: Sadly, Jessie and Katie belong to the creators of Once & Again and ABC, while Amy Bradshaw, Lucy Diamond, and the rest of the DEBS are the wonderful creation of Angela Robinson. I don't claim ownership and I'm just borrowing.

A/N: This is an AU fanfic of Jessie and Katie, with a DEBS twist (damn, I love that movie!). So, if you haven't seen DEBS, you better watch it now. Apparently, this is a Once & Again and DEBS cross-over. I've always said that sometimes I borrow some ideas from other author's fanfiction for consistency reasons, but this time I really had to change Jessie's name from Jessie Elizabeth to Jessica. I thought it fits the story more.

SYNOPSIS: When DEBS Perfect Score Amy Bradshaw gave up her bright future with the DEBS, and a possibly successful spy career with the International Bureau when she ran away with supervillain Lucy Reynolds Diamond to follow her heart, the whole DEBS Academy was put under scrutiny of all the different government intelligence agencies. The top squad was left under a cloud of suspicion, Max Brewer being bestfriends with Amy. Max, Janet, and Dominique's loyalty was questioned, causing Ms. Petrie, the headmistress of the school, to disregard Max's right to head the squad, and instead, appointed a rookie. They remained, now in the hands of a new captain, JESSICA SAMMLER, who, even though looks more innocent than Janet, is fiercer than Max, sexier than Dominique, and prettier than the former DEB herself, Amy. Jessie is determined to catch Lucy Diamond and do whatever it takes to bring her before the law and make her pay for her crimes, despite the fact that Lucy had practically returned and gave up everything she stole to its rightful owners to clean her reputation. And on her trail to catch the sexy sultry former crime boss, to her squad's dilemma, Jessie meets Lucy Diamond's half-sister, KATHERINE REYNOLDS SINGER; Lucy's exact opposite. Katie, unlike Lucy, has a very clean slate: never had a speeding ticket, never smoked, never assaulted anyone, never broke the law. The only thing she has in common with Lucy was half her blood, her gorgeous looks, and her charms.

CHAPTER 1THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Barcelona, Spain…

"Bye Katie. See you at school tomorrow." Tad smiled at his bestfriend as he stopped his car in front of the small pad near the lake where Katie was living, that afternoon after school

THADDEUS PINCUS, 23, Katie's bestfriend and goes to the same law school with her, lives at a condominium unit his rich parents had paid for, drives a nice Porsche, and a really good-looking player.

"Don't forget to show up at the library tomorrow, alright? We really need to finish our paper to meet the deadline. I don't want to flunk this subject." Katie grinned at him and got off the car.

Katherine Reynolds Singer, 22, the brainy and talented, law-abiding, law student, independently living in Barcelona through the big trust fund her father left for her. Pretty, carefree, and charming without even trying. She believes in soulmates and true love, but despite the fact that she had gone out with almost every good-looking guy in school, no one had ever made her heart flutter the way they describe in the movies. She's a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, but after a long, fruitless search for Mr. Right, she's starting to think that maybe she's just plain hopeless.

Katie reached for her keys from the pocket of her bag. After finding it, she inserted the key to the doorknob and turned the door open. Walking into the living room, she threw her bag on the couch and headed to the kitchen for a drink, opening the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. She was drinking when she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Wow, I didn't expect you'd be home this early."

Lucinda Reynolds Diamond, 24, former supervillain, used to steal diamonds and rob banks, but had given up the life of crime, and everything she stole to be with Amy Bradshaw. She's Katie's half-sister, having the same mother, who died of cancer when she was 14. Since then, she had lived with her father, who headed one of the biggest crime syndicates in the world. When her father died after a blood feud with the Schaffers which she was lucky to survive, she became the syndicate's den mother, with the aid of her bestfriend Scud. Like Katie, she is very pretty, very tanned, thinner maybe, but still attractive, she might even be more charming which by the way she often uses to her own advantage, and unlike Katie, had broken the law a thousand times over.

Surprised, Katie accidentally spit her drink. She turned around immediately, to face the intruder, and was rather relieved and at the same time annoyed, to find Lucy Diamond standing in the door of the kitchen, and beside her was an unfamiliar blonde.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Katie glared at Lucy, walked to a drawer and grabbed a tissue to wipe her face.

"Nice to see you too, little sis." Lucy grinned, held the hand of the other girl beside her, and walked to Katie's direction. Katie sighed. She knew she acted rude. But who can blame her? She was surprised to realize she wasn't alone inside her own house.

"How did you get in?" Katie looked suspiciously at Lucy.

"I pried the locks. You know, for my sister, your security really is a shit." Lucy chuckled and lifted what seemed to be a hairpin on her right hand. Katie rolled her eyes.

"You just couldn't wait outside, can you?" Katie walked past by her sister and headed back to the fridge.

"Can't risk anyone see us." Lucy said simply. Katie stared at her for a while before remembering that her sister was in fact, wanted in the States for breaking the law, and who knows in how many other countries. Lucy continued.

"You didn't answer my question, why are you here early? Don't you have a life or something?" Lucy chuckled again. She never fails to annoy Katie, especially when it comes to bringing up her failure to keep her dates. She's really picky.

"I thought you said it's better for us not to see each other again." Katie said casually.

"I did?" Lucy grinned, using her charms to try and lighten up the tension she felt was building between her and her sister.

"Lucy… I don't have time for all your bullshit, okay? I've got to wake up early tomorrow, meet my bestfriend at the library to finish a really important term paper, and then, a major exam after that. Just tell me what you want and get this over with, okay?" Katie sighed and walked back to the living room. Lucy looked a bit embarrassed, but she couldn't let herself be mad at Katie. It was, after all, her fault. She did say that it's better if they wouldn't see each other again, and Lucy kept that promise. Usually, Lucy just calls to say hi or greet her a happy birthday or a merry Christmas, and occasionally sends her a gift or wires money to her account undetected through the help of Scud, which by the way, Katie didn't appreciate. She never touched the money that Lucy gave her. Lucy held the blonde's hand again and pulled her back to the living room. Katie was now sitting on the couch, going through her bag.

"Look, Kat, I'm sorry---"

"Lucy, you abandoned me. Sorry isn't enough anymore." Katie said without looking up at her. After finding the book that she had been looking for inside her bag, she pretended to start reading. Lucy was struck in the heart by her sister's words. She glanced at the blonde standing beside her, and the other girl gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Lucy smiled at the blonde, then let go of her hand, and walked to the couch, in front of Katie, and dropped on her knees.

"I thought you understand. You know I didn't want to put you and your life in danger, that's why I said we can never see each other again. You're the only family I have left. I can't risk losing you, you know that." Lucy sighed. Katie shifted her eyes from the book to Lucy's eyes.

"If you're trying to use your charm on me, I'm telling you, it's not gonna work." Katie snorted.

"Can we just drop the sarcasm for a moment and talk? Katie, please… I need your help." Lucy said sincerely. Katie stared at her for a moment, before speaking again.

"What did you do this time?" Katie finally spoke, her tone less harsh than a few seconds ago. Lucy smiled.

"First, I want you to meet someone. Katie, this is Amy." Lucy smiled sweetly at blonde who was standing a few feet away. Amy made a few steps to

"Hi." Katie smiled, intrigued.

"Hi, I'm Amy Bradshaw, DEBS Sector 1." Lucy chuckled. Amy turned and saw the amused look in Lucy's face, realizing that she had been introducing herself in automatic. "I mean, former DEBS." Amy backtracked, amused at her own silliness.

AMY BRADSHAW, 22, Code Name: THE PERFECT SCORE, Cancer, the hot-bodied idealist, prefers spear guns for a weapon, scoring a perfect score on the secret test in the S.A.T., Amy is the D.E.B.S. Academy's top student, until she gave up everything to be with supervillain Lucy Diamond, and to trade her spy career for art school.

"Amy, this is my sister Katie." Katie smiled at Amy first, before narrowing her eyes on Lucy.

"DEBS?" Katie couldn't believe herself. Isn't her sister dubbed as one of the most wanted criminals alive? Then what is she doing with a DEB?

"I know what you're thinking. But first, give me a chance to explain what I'm doing here."

"You better." Katie eyed her sister suspiciously.

Los Angeles, California…

"Move it move it move it!" The voice echoed all over the top squad house, jerking the original members out of sleep. Max, who is always vigilant, immediately grabbed her gun as she shot out of bed, pointing it to no one in particular. Realizing it was just their new captain's annoying voice, she grumpily started to prepare for school.

"I said move it girls!" The voice thundered all over the house again. Janet scampered to get dressed. And Dominique, while reluctant, forced herself to get out of bed, because she knew perfectly that if she doesn't, there will be hell to pay.

The new captain was already waiting downstairs, a stern expression plastered in her face, when Max, Janet, and Dominique, finally went down.

"For a soldier, you're pretty damn slow, Brewer." Jessie crossed her arms, obviously annoyed at her squad.

JESSICA SAMMLER, 20 years old, the no-nonsense, new captain of the DEBS top squad. Though she looks more innocent than Janet, she's tougher and fiercer than Max, sexier than Dominique, prettier and smarter than the perfect score herself, Amy. And she would do anything to uphold the law.

"Don't mess with me, Sammler." Max retorted warningly. Jessie merely grinned, and headed to the door. Jessie tossed the keys of the beetle to Janet, and Janet fumbled to catch it.

MAX BREWER, 23, Code Name: PANTHER, Aries, Amy's bestfriend for life, the sexy sultry super hot former squad captain before Amy took over, prefers Uzi for a weapon, it's hard to tell whether she's a born leader or just borderline psychotic, leads her squad to danger and right back out again. Armed with a quick trigger finger, and an even quicker temper. With her, there will always be hell to pay.

"I'm not---" Janet was interrupted before she could finish.

"You're driving." Jessie said firmly without turning to look at them. She jumped into the front seat of the beetle, while Dominique, Janet, and Max exchanged looks.

"Me? But Max always---"

"I said you're driving, Janet. Brewer almost killed us the last time." Jessie said dismissively.

JANET, 22, Code Name: ANGORA, Pisces, prefers knitting needles than firing weapons, lives for four seasons cashmere, has fetish for sweaters that surpasses some people's fetish for leather. Her spacey demeanor may make her seem like something of a misnomer when thought of as a spy. Formerly a convicted shop lifter, she's now a master thief, courtesy of the D.E.B.S. Academy. Her affair with Scud, Lucy Diamond's bestfriend, didn't progress, or rather, she didn't let it progress, to protect Scud, Amy and Lucy.

"That's not true. You're so full of shit, Sammler. If you insist that we drive like my grandmother, we'll definitely die of boredom anyway." Max crossed her arms, and reluctantly sat on the backseat of the beetle beside Dominique.

"Hahaha, very funny. Janet, start driving or I'll strip you off your stripes." Jessie said sarcastically. Janet reluctantly sat on the driver's seat, and started driving. Max rolled her eyes, they are barely moving, at about 40 kph. She knew Jessie was just trying to get to her.

Well, I'm not giving her the satisfaction… Max thought.

"I'd probably get to the Academy first if I ran." Dominique muttered under her breath, which earned her a glare from Jessie at the rearview mirror.

DOMINIQUE, 20, Code Name: DIABOLIQUE, Gemini, the French sex-addict turned super spy with supermodel thighs, prefers the AK47 for a weapon, has a knack for getting her man. With her bee-stung lips and a pout that seems permanently painted on her fine porcelain doll visage, built for seduction, running after bad guys, armed with her assault rifle, puffing on a cigarette, and accessorized with the sleekest and steepest stilletos straight off the runways of Paris. After a few fights and English lessons with Janet, she had managed to straighten her English a bit.

The DEBS Academy was deserted when the top squad arrived. Jessie led them to a classroom.

"What the hell is your problem, Sammler, dragging us here this early?" Max snarled at Jessie.

"Don't try to be smart with me, Brewer. Just move your ass. I don't want to be late." Jessie growled back at Max.

"Late for what?" Dominique frowned.

"A meeting with Ms. Petrie." A grin formed in Jessie's deceptively innocent face. Dominique, Max, and Janet exchanged looks. The said headmistress of the Academy only comes down when she's assigning the squad to a mission, and they've never been on a mission since their very own perfect score left the DEBS and was declared an outlaw.

Max, Janet, and Dominique knew they would have caught Lucy Diamond that night, and would have prevented Amy from leaving the DEBS, they would have been heroes, but they also knew that they wouldn't have been happy either. But because of their friendship with Amy, and considering Lucy's efforts to reform by returning everything that she stole to the rightful owners, Max let Amy and Lucy go and wished them happiness, but of course, the DEBS Academy didn't know they let them go.

You can't really blame the Academy. The top squad, composed of the original members, Max, Janet and Dominique, were suspected of consorting with the enemy, Amy now being an enemy of the State. As a standard operating procedure, they were investigated and vetted for information, putting each of them under a lie detector test, which they managed to pass despite the nervousness. Despite being proved to be innocent, which they are, with the fact that they are not communicating with Amy anymore, the top squad was never assigned to go on a mission again. All the while thinking that Max was automatically reinstated as captain of the squad, it shocked them when they received a memo, informing them that Amy Bradshaw had been replaced as captain. And it wasn't Max Brewer.

Instead of putting Max in charge, they put in a brilliant rookie. She might not have perfected the secret test in the SAT, having only one error; but she had always been at the top of her class. Jessica Sammler might actually depict what the Academy was all about, but she was Max, Janet, and Dominique's nightmare.

"With Ms. Petrie?" Janet asked nervously.

"Yeah." After Jessie's reply, Ms. Petrie appeared in front of the classroom. The squad members turned their head simultaneously. Jessie seemed excited, but the rest looked apprehensive. Ms. Petrie made a few steps towards them, her secretary tailing her while taking notes.

"Good morning girls." Ms. Petrie said with a smile.

"Good morning Ms. Petrie." The four greeted in unison. Ms. Petrie then lifted a small remote control in her hand, and pointed it to the flat screen in front of them. A picture of Lucy Diamond and Amy Bradshaw appeared.

"Few months ago, we lost trail of the dangerous criminal, Lucy Diamond. Unfortunately for us, she managed to brainwash our very own Amy Bradshaw and convinced her to run away with her. Efforts had been exerted to find her again, and after a long time, finally, we have our leads." Ms. Petrie smiled again. Max, Janet, and Dominique tried their best to keep their face void of expression.

"There were sightings of Lucy Diamond and Amy Bradshaw in Barcelona, Spain. Do whatever you have to do to apprehend them. We want them alive. You're flying in 2200 hours." Ms. Petrie then walked back to the front of the room, and disappeared with her secretary.

"Worried, Brewer?" Jessie's sarcastic voice woke Max out of her trance. She turned to her captain with a growl.

"Why would I be?" Max snorted.

"That we'd find your friend and catch her." Jessie cooed Max. Dominique and Janet exchanged looks. Max isn't the type who can control her temper, but she's obviously trying to control herself now from exploding. Yielding into Jessie's provocation wouldn't do them any good. Max, instead of arguing with Jessie, got up from her seat and headed out, with Dominique and Janet following her.

"Where does your loyalty lie?" Jessie called after Max with a grin, before following them. Max was walking hurried in the school hallway, and Dominique caught up with her.

"What are we going to do?" Dominique whispered.

"I don't know." Max sighed. She is really worried.

"They could be in Barcelona." Janet whispered from behind, knowing how much Amy wanted to go to an art school there. Jessie was still far behind them.

"That's what I'm afraid of." Max's head was rambling with thoughts. She couldn't let her bestfriend get caught. She knew Lucy wouldn't allow that to happen either, but they don't even have any idea that the squad has a new pain-in-the-ass captain. As much as they want to warn them, they don't have any idea how.

"This is getting uglier, and uglier, and uglier…" Janet sighed.

Back in Barcelona...

"Oh..." Was the only thing Katie was able to say after hearing Lucy's story about coming home from Reykajvic, going on a blind date with an assassin, got ambushed by the DEBS, meeting Amy, falling in love with Amy, giving up her life of crime, Amy breaking up with her for the DEBS, then running back into each other and away from everyone. It was unbelievable, and impressive actually. She was also thrilled to have her sister back. But at the same time, she's worried. 'Coz despite the fact that she returned everything she stole to the rightful owners, she's still considered a felon under the law. She would still have to pay for her crimes.

"What do you want me to do?" Katie asked anxiously.

"I need you to help me... I mean, me and Amy, to start over. After returning everything I stole, there wasn't much left." Lucy explained.

"So, you need money?" Katie confirmed. She was just so glad she didn't touch all the money Lucy had wired her. She could use that money to start over.

"No, not exactly. I still have some, but I need to use it wisely." Lucy said.

"That's a problem." Katie frowned, knowing how impulsive Lucy is when it comes to spending her money. It was so easy for her to spend it since she didn't work hard for it.

"Thanks for the encouraging words, sis." Lucy snorted mockingly. Katie chuckled, then pause.

"I will help you Lucy, but you're gonna have to tell me exactly what to do."

"Okay. Thanks, Kat." Lucy smiled. Katie stared at her for a while.

"It's good to have you back, Lucy." Katie smiled. Then gave her sister a hug.

"I'm not leaving again, I promise." Lucy said. Katie pulled away, staring at her sister's eyes.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"But, what if authorities find you here? I mean, I'm your sister. They'd suspect that I have communication with you." Katie said, sounding worried.

"We just have to be more discreet then... I'm tired of running, Katie, and that's not the life that I want for Amy."

"And speaking of Amy, I'm gonna go help her in the kitchen. She's taking too long. You want anything?" Katie got up from the couch.

"No thanks. I'm good." Lucy smiled, and Katie headed to the kitchen to find Amy sitting on a chair, staring at the overcooked instant lasagna in front of her.

"I think I'm not hungry anymore." Katie joked and chuckled. Amy looked up with a smile on her face.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Sorry, I'm not much of a cook." Amy smiled sheepishly. It was instant lasagna and she couldn't even cook it right.

"That's okay. I'm sure Lucy would be thrilled to eat it." Katie joked again. "You were taking too long, so I came to get you."

"So, you guys are done talking?"

"Let's just say that we have resolved everthing that needs to be resolved." Katie smiled reassuringly at her.