"Finch, spill. You're freaking me out."
Finch simply fidgeted even more under Shaw's stern gaze, refusing to meet her eyes. Standing beside her, Root tilted her head to the side, worry furrowing her brow.
"What is it, Harry?" she pressed, far more gently than Sameen. "Going undercover isn't anything new for us."
Harold looked up pleadingly from his seat in the subway car at John, towering beside him with arms folded across his chest. John merely gave a quick shake of the head.
"I'm not telling them." Shaw's eyes narrowed at the faint smirk that twitched at the edge of his lips. She stood from her own seat across from Finch.
"Look, I don't have time for this. Give me the job or put me on something else."
"Afraid this one's a team effort, Shaw," John said before turning back to Harold. "Come on, Finch, just get it over with." With a sigh of resignation Harold closed his eyes.
"Very well. Our latest number is going to require us to leave the city for some time. All of us. Mr. Reese and myself will be serving as crew members aboard the Pacifica Borealis, while Ms. Groves and yourself will be serving as guests."
Shaw raised an eyebrow. "A cruise ship?"
Finch hesitated, still refusing to meet her eyes. "A singles' cruise."
John didn't bother to hide the smirk that played across his face, and Shaw could hear the mirth in Root's voice as she placed a hand on Sameen's shoulder and quipped, "About time we ladies had some time together." She refused to entertain Root with so much as a glance.
Instead she scowled at Finch, who offered an apologetic smile. "Neither Mr. Reese nor myself are particularly believable as dashing young bachelors." Before Shaw could get in a cutting retort he quickly added, "But you will have separate rooms, of course, and I'm told the ship's buffet is exquisite."
Shaw narrowed her eyes, considering.
"What about the dog?"
"Our detective friends have assured us he's in good hands," Harold answered.
"He has always taken a liking to Carter," John added helpfully.
Root leaned down, her face annoying close to Shaw's. "Plus there's always the fun of getting to sneak your arsenal on board," she offered tantalizingly. Shaw simply rolled her eyes and stood, displacing the taller woman.
"Tell me more about this number," she said gruffly. Finch breathed a noticeable sigh of relief and turned back to his monitors, eager to have the conversation over with.
"Talia Hanover," he began. "Conwoman extraordinaire."
Root surveyed the cabin. It was quaint, considering that it was built for one, but the bed was queen-sized. Definitely not meant for spending time alone. She chuckled. "Optimistic, aren't we?" she said aloud. She spent some time surveying the rest of the room; pale blue wallpaper, very oceanic; a small balcony overlooking the bay—soon to be the ocean once they left port—a few dressers; the floor-length mirror set into the back of the door; and a small, white wooden nightstand beside the bed, decorated only with a salt lamp.
She ducked into the bathroom next, and couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face. The porcelain bathtub was surprisingly spacious, as was the entirely glass shower beside it. Apparently it was going to be that kind of party.
"It's too bad you boys are going to miss all the fun," she said into the comm system shared by the team. Finch quickly replied,
"Somehow I think we'll manage, Ms. Groves. I take it you've settled in all right?"
"I have," she drawled, moving to the sliding door overlooking the balcony. She stepped outside and glanced to the balcony directly to the right to find Shaw not four feet away, leaning on the railing, overlooking the bay. The usual scowl plastered on her face. "And it looks like Sameen is enjoying herself as well."
Shaw shot her a glare before joining the conversation.
"Thanks again for this, Finch," she said drily.
"I appreciate your cooperation, Ms. Shaw," Harold replied.
"Yeah, whatever. This buffet better be worth it." With that, she tapped her earpiece, exiting the discussion.
Root did the same. "You wanna tell me what's going on, Shaw?"
Sameen rolled her eyes, still looking out on the water. "With what?"
"You're hiding something." A smile crept across Root's face as Shaw shifted her weight just so. It was a small movement, involuntary, but not wasted on Root. She knew body language and she knew Shaw, and there was something the other woman wasn't telling. She'd had a feeling ever since Finch had explained the mission, but she couldn't place it; it was just a matter of dragging it out of Shaw.
"Yeah, I'm hiding something from everyone on this stupid tub. That I work for an all-seeing robot with a bunch of nerds." She shot Root a pointed look. Root returned a grin, letting the matter drop. For now.
"If I didn't know better, Sam, I'd think you didn't want to be here," she said in feigned shock. That was enough to elicit a snort from Shaw.
"Arienne," she corrected, reminding the hacker of her fake identity. "And yeah, can't say spending the week holed up with a bunch of rich losers just horny and desperate enough to pay to get laid at sea is an ideal use of my time." Her voice dripped with scorn, and there was something endearing about just how grumpy she was about the situation.
Root couldn't help herself.
"No need to be jealous, Ari, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone on this tub who's willing to sleep with you." With a wink, she slipped back into her own room, leaving Shaw to roll her eyes at the bay once again.