So this is my first try at a Vauseman fic. Its AU and a little slow burn but will incorporate parts of the show and themes they covered. Currently I have it planned for being a shorter multi-chapter story but if people like it I will continue to write. Read, review and let me know what you think...please be gentle ;)
ALEX POV
I looked around my apartment filled with a couple dozen people and smiled. There was a nice mix of friends I made while living in the city and a few business associates that worked for me. I had a large Manhattan apartment, a healthy cash flow, people that looked up to me and envied my lifestyle. After spending my whole childhood being a nobody I was finally somebody and was embracing everything that came with it. It might sound like I suddenly gained a massive ego but even in all my success I have never forgotten about that little girl that so badly just wanted to fit in.
I had a skill that was unique but highly valuable to a lot of people; I knew how to import hard to move products. It had all started with my mom, who became ill and because she was poor and didn't have health insurance couldn't get the medicine she needed. I did everything in my power to get my mom the medicine and as a last resort hit the black market. I managed to get her the medicine and over time she became better…from there moment on I vowed to never be put in that situation again. I knew my mom wasn't the only person in that situation and soon found myself importing medicine for people that otherwise couldn't afford it or didn't have access to it because the FDA wouldn't approve it.
I grabbed a bottle of champagne off the table and headed to the center of the room.
"IT'S A PARTY," I called out popping the cork and licking the overflow of alcohol off the bottle. "ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE…CHEERS."
I raised the bottle and in turn everyone raised their glasses and cheered before taking a drink. Everyone else went back to their side conversations but I became distracted when a familiar brunette curled up to my side.
"This place is amazing," she said looking around at the open floor plan and tasteful décor.
"Thanks," I responded by kissing her cheek. "I like it."
"Maybe you can show me around later," the shorter woman smirked making sure I knew exactly what she was talking about.
"I would say that is a definite possibility," I said turning to the shorter girl to get better access to her neck.
"YO VAUSE GET A ROOM."
I paused and sighed turning back towards the interruption.
"This is my room Nicky," I snarked playfully back.
"Well, get a different room where I don't have to see that shit…or at least let me join in," the wild hair girl laughed.
"Can dress you up but can't take you out huh…Nicky this is Sylvia….Sylvie this is my soon to be former best friend Nicky," I said making introductions.
"Please you love me," she shot at me before turning to the other girl. "Cynthia it is nice to meet you."
"It's Sylvia."
"Right…so how did you two meet," Nicky asked getting no information from Vause.
"At a bar…down on 3rd."
"Ohh where every lifelong commitment starts," Nicky joked.
"Come on Nic quit," I said trying to get her to ease off slightly.
I had been dating Sylvie for almost a month now and Nicky had been begging me for weeks to bring her around. I was reluctant to do so for many reasons, mainly because I was new to this whole commitment thing.
"Where is the fun in that…speaking of fun I think you are being summons," she said nodding to the back of the room.
I turned around and see the familiar gentleman staring me down.
"Right, will you excuse me for a minute I have to go play hostess," I said kissing Sylvia's cheek. "Behave," I whispered to Nicky on her way by.
"Please you have nothing to worry about."
I shot Nicky a look before escorting the gentleman back to my study.
"I don't remember getting your RSVP," I said closing the door.
"I don't remember getting an invitation. It hurts me deeply," he said putting his hand over his heart making a pained expression.
"I didn't know you actually felt anything," I shot back.
"You know that's what I like about you, such a spitfire," he said sipping his amber drink.
"What do you want Fahri…I have a party to get back to?"
"I have a man…"
"Awww Fahri congratulations I'm so happy for you."
"You have a sick sense of humor Vause."
I smiled and took another sip of champagne.
"There is a guy," Fahri said phrasing it differently. "He needs something moved and is willing to pay top dollar for it."
"You have my interest."
"It would require going to Bali but all expenses would be taken care of."
"What exactly is being moved?"
"10 kilos of heroin."
"No."
"Vause just wait a minute…you haven't even heard the bottom line."
"I don't care what it is you know I don't move drugs other than lifesaving medicine. You know plenty of other people to take this job don't bring me this shit Fahri. You know where the door is," I said turning to leave.
"Ok, ok wait," he said jumping up to stop her. "It was dumb I know but it was a crap ton of money…I couldn't just not tell you. I have another job."
"You have 5 seconds to get my attention."
"Only you can save a 5-year-old little girl."
"Speak."
"Ok, there is a little girl in Miami who is going to die without a new liver. She has been on the transplant list for a couple months but her condition took a turn. She needs that liver like yesterday."
"So, they found one on the black market," I assumed.
"Umm not really, her father is a perfect match."
"Ok, I am not seeing the problem then…he is willing to donate right because I can't rip it out of him."
"He is ready, willing and able."
"I'm growing old here Fahri what is the problem?"
"He is in Cuba."
"Of course he is," I said taking my glasses off and rubbing my eyes.
"He can't come here and we can't get the liver from there."
There was no way I wasn't going to take this job, but I had never moved an organ before. The medicine I moved before didn't have an immediate expiration date nor would they die immediately if I failed on the first attempt.
"Vause," Fahri jolted her out of her trance.
"How do I know someone wasn't actually killed for this liver?"
Farhi tuned over a file folder. I slid my glasses back on and looked over the documents which were medical files. Sure, things could be forged but everything looked legit and I wasn't going to turn it down.
"Yeah, yes I will do this."
"Great, I will have a guy contact you tomorrow on the requirements to keep this liver viable. Once I make this call the liver comes out in 48 hours."
"God no pressure or anything."
"Gotta keep you on your toes."
Fahri took a watch from his pocket and programmed it before grabbing my wrist and clipping it.
"When this watch reaches zero that liver needs to be at this address," he said handing her a slip of paper.
"Great so in 47 hours and 59 minutes I just need to come up with a way to get into a country where American's aren't welcome, get a liver that needs perfect condition to be viable and get out of the country without being seen or else I will be in jail and a little girl is going to die."
"Sounds about right…good luck Vause."
Fahri finished off his drink and departed. I remained in the quiet confines of my study for a few moments needing the time to process this news. It always excited me when I got a new job. I had to think about what was being moved, what connections were already in place, what new avenues needed to be opened and who I was going to involve. This job was different though; this job had to be perfect or a little girl was going to die.
"Yo Vause," Nicky said busting into the room. "In case you missed it there is a party going on out here. Hey where did the mysterious beefcake go."
"Don't you ever knock?"
"What fun would that be…I thought maybe I would walk in on a little action," she smirked.
"Nicky the only time I touch sausage is as a side with my scrambled eggs."
"Touché…so you coming back I don't think Cindy likes me very much."
"I can't imagine why," I said rolling her eyes. "I have a job."
"Isn't that usually a good thing…you know keeps you in a lifestyle in which you have been very comfortable in."
"If I fail…someone dies."
"Then don't fail."
"Gee thanks Nik."
"Anything to help out…I'm always here for you."
"I'm going to need a couple things."
"Name it."
"A ride on a private jet."
"You know one day I would really like it to be something simple like the keys to a totally secure building, $50,000 in cash or an armored car…nope the girl wants her own damn plane."
"If you can't get it done…"
"I never said I couldn't get it done I just said one of these times it would be nice if it was something simple."
"What fun would that be," I smirked throwing Nicky's words right back at her?
"I see how it is…game on."
As cocky as Nicky was she hated letting me down. The two had met when they were 18. Nicky was on a downward spiral and I wanted out of my small-town hell. Nicky showed me the party scene but I was never interested in anything more than alcohol and maybe some weed. We bonded over shitty childhoods however we each had a vastly different experience. When Nicky was really on the brink of potentially killing herself it was me that got her into rehab and clean…a task that would need to be repeated but I was always, ALWAYS there.
"Thanks Nik."
"All right pimp well your conquest awaits," Nicky laughed opening the door and walking back into the party with I smiling behind her.
The cloudless sky and scorching temperatures weren't the only thing causing the wide grin on my face; I had never felt more satisfied after completing a job. I walked out of the Miami hospital and looked down at the watch with the remaining time.
"Ha 25 minutes to spare, no sweat," I mumbled to herself hoping back into her Uber. "Nichols please tell me that plane is still at the airport and I will find myself back in New York in less than two hours," I said balancing my cell on my shoulder.
"Wheels up in 30 stretch."
"Thank god…longest 48 hours ever."
"AV/DV tonight," Nicky asked not wanting to assume Alex was up for drinking?
"I better have a shot on the table when I walk in."
"Now she comes up with the easy request," Nicky said rolling her eyes.
"I can hear you rolling your eyes you ass."
"For that you just might have firewater waiting for you."
"Oh god please not that trash."
"Then you better be nice."
"If there is not a Captain sitting in front of me I will withhold your thank you present."
"Present," Nicky asked perking up?
"Yeah so you think about your choices and I will see you in a couple hours."
I was grateful in more ways than one that I was hitching a ride on a private jet back to New York. While I made it in and out of Cuba unscathed it wasn't without its issues but I knew it wouldn't have been possible at all without this ride. I also was exhausted having barely slept the last 48 hours and I could pass out on the plane without having to worry about someone heisting her payment which was currently sitting in a bag next to me.
After making a brief stop to my apartment to drop off my bags, shower and change I headed to my bar to blow off some steam and hang with some friends.
"I mean these damn aviation laws…I swear I was running down the hall in my bare feet," I laughed taking a pull of her beer.
"I think I would have paid money to see that," Nicky laughed as well. "Not only you running…which I thought only happened when cops were chasing you…but you running in bare feet."
"Excuse me if I am not crying for you and your private jet," Boo laughed taking a gulp of her whiskey.
"Hey I wasn't sightseeing here…I wasn't laying on the beaches working on my tan," I shot back.
"We all know that wasn't the case…I mean has your ass ever seen the sun," Nicky asked?
"As much as your hair has seen a hairbrush."
The group ohh and laughed as the banter flew between friends. They looked like a group of misfit toys but honestly, they each had a personality that brought everyone balance. The night was exactly what I was looking for after a couple stressful days, but I was not expecting what just walked through the door. This bar was my bar…not only did I need a legit business to show I had the ability to make money in a traditional sense, but it was a fun venture that brought the family together. I was in here almost every day and knew everyone, everyone but the blonde beauty that just walked in. I watched her approach the bartended with a piece of paper in her hand and after a few moments the bartender started making her a drink.
"Bar run…another round," I asked?
"Please why even waste your breath asking."
"Right," I smirked and headed to the bar. "Hey John," I got the bartenders attentions once he walked away from the blonde.
"Yeah babe," he asked his longtime friend and boss?
"First we need another round and second what's her story?"
"Looking for a job…and a margarita."
"Take her resume…tell her you will make sure the boss will see it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I am sure…and put her drinks on my tab."
"Done."
"You the man John."
"I know it."
I slide back into her seat and watched John place a margarita in front of the blonde and take the resume. Whoever this girl was I didn't want tonight to be the last time I saw her.
"It's taken care of," I heard John explain to the blonde as she tried to pay her tab.
"Umm," the blonde said confused.
"It's taken care of," he said again nodding in my direction.
The blonde turned around and caught my eye. I smiled a raised my beer in her direction before turning back to my friends…I couldn't give away too much. Nicky and Lorna were jabbing back and forth with Boo but my attention was still mostly on the blonde at the bar. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her sipping her margarita and chatting up John. In any other situation, I would go over there and make myself known but I had her resume I knew she would be back. Plus there was the fact I was kind of seeing someone.
"See something you like," Nicky asked?
"Just checking on my customers, gotta keep 'em happy," I deflected.
"Checking on or checking out because it looks to me…
"Like you should mind your own damn business," I cut her off knowing engaging with her would only make it worse.
Thankfully John arrived at the table with a tray of shots which would distract the wild haired pain in the ass.
"Ladies some shots at the request of the woman at the bar," he said placing a double in front of each of us.
I looked back at the bar but was sad to see the blonde was no longer there.
"She wanted me to thank you for picking up the tab," John smirked trying very hard not to laugh.
The whole table was silent for a moment before bursting into laughter not being as polite as the bartender.
"Damn you got played pimp," Nicky laughed smacking her hand against the table. "Thanks for the shots Alex," she said quickly downing the liquid.
I am not going to lie I was actually impressed.
"Well, played kid," I mumbled to myself before throwing back the shot myself.
"Looks like blondie is more than meets the eye," Boo she challenged before taking her shot.
"Clearly…don't worry this isn't over."