Full summary: There's so many stories of Tuck moving on and falling for a new girl, but there are no stories that follow the alternate ending on the DVD where Lauren chooses Tuck. I've decided to pick up where the alternate ending left off, with FDR not getting the girl.
Tuck and Lauren have now been together for almost a year and things couldn't be better for the two. FDR on the other hand isn't doing so well. He hasn't been the same since Lauren chose Tuck over him. He's become distant from his best friend and preoccupies himself with one-night-stands and drinking.
Unable to see his best friend going down this dark road, Tuck, with the help of Lauren and Trish start a covert operation to find FDR a girl and Trish thinks she's found the perfect match for their estranged friend. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned.
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Letting out a long yawn, FDR fought to keep his eyes open as he leaned back in his chair. The comfy leather cushions of the chair weren't helping as he struggled to keep himself awake. Ever since the Heinrich case things have slowed down for him. He had been taking every crack job that involved him just going out into the field. Even if it was just a trailing job, or simply just planting a bug into someone's computer system. That wasn't in his job description as an assassin but he would take it. Anything to get out of the office.
Resting his head on the back of his chair he slowly opened his eyes and just stared at the ceiling blankly. The only sound coming from the little two desk cubicle was his best friend Tuck typing away at his computer. FDR winced each time Tuck typed. He would beat the hell out of that keyboard and with the massive headache FDR already had from a night of loud music, too much alcohol then to top it off, a long night of sexual activities with a flight attendant to which, for the life of him he couldn't remember her name, the last thing he wanted to hear was Tuck pounding mercilessly on that keyboard. Normally it didn't bother him, but today Tuck might as well been beating a drum in his ear. FDR couldn't bite back his pain filled groan from escaping from the back of his throat. His arms going limp to the sides of his chair dramatically, his legs stretching out under his desk.
This caused Tuck to glance up from his computer screen and halt his typing. "Long night?" FDR just groaned again in response causing Tuck to shake his head and place his keyboard from his lap to his desk and slide his chair to the middle of his desk, turning his body to face his best friend. "What's going on Franklin." His voice was serious but soft. "This is the second day this week you've come into work with a hangover and honestly mate, you look like hell." Tuck raised an eyebrow.
He was right, FDR looked a mess, his tie was hanging off, and the top few buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, and it wasn't tucked in like it normally was. Now the Tuck got a good look at him, he swore that was the same outfit FDR had on when he left the office last night. The lack of sleep was apparent on his face, his eyes were bloodshot and he had dark circles under his eyes and his hair wasn't fixed as it is almost everyday. It was a flat in places and spiked up in other places.
Sighing softly FDR opened on eye looking at Tuck who was wearing a worried expression. "Thanks...I think." He replied sarcastically. "I'll even admit last night got a little out of hand but I'm fine, Tuck." FDR sat up slowly running his fingers through his hair in a sad attempt to tame it before buttoning up his shirt.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you." Tuck rolled his eyes.
"I swear-" FDR stood up shoving his shirt tail into his pants, "- I'm perfectly fine. I just got a little crazy last night and haven't been to bed yet." He shrugged his hands now going to his tie, adjusting it to make himself appear more professional.
Tuck huffed and leaned back in his chair. "You left here at three forty-five yesterday, its.." Tuck paused looking at his cell phone. ".. two thirty-eight now. You've been awake for almost twenty-four hours?" Tuck frowned watching FDR closely. "You need to get some sleep we all know what happens when you doing get any sleep now don't we?" He harped as FDR sat back down opening his laptop.
"That was one time, Tuck." FDR defended himself, his voice dripping with annoyance.
"Yeah, and I still have that scar on my leg." Tuck pointed under the desk to his right leg.
Rolling his eyes FDR turned his attention to a wadded up piece of paper on his desk. "I said I was sorry about that-" he started but was cut off by Tuck.
"We all know that when you miss sleep and go out into the field you become trigger happy and cant help but shoot at anything that moves." He propped his elbows up on the desk pointing his index finger right at FDR who was trying his best to ignore him. "So tell me, Franklin. Whats going on?" Tuck's expression softened.
FDR rolled the ball of paper between both hands keeping his gaze downward. "I-" He paused letting out a deep sigh. "-I don't really know, okay?" Silence filled the small space between the two and both sat there, Tuck's eyes on FDR, and FDR's eyes on his desktop. "I've just been feeling kinda down lately, but I'll be fine." FDR nodded trying to sound confident. Neither were sure if he was trying to convince himself of that or Tuck. "It's probably just me going stir crazy. Being stuck in the office all day then going right home just gets boring."
Shifting himself in his seat Tuck cleared his throat, "Well, listen. Lauren and I are having dinner with her friends Trish and Bob in a few hours. You should come too. It'll do ya some good to get out and be around normal people for a change."
FDR snorted a laugh and cut his eyes back up to Tuck. "Do Trish and Bob count as 'normal people'?" He asked causing Tuck to smirk. "Besides I don't wanna be some kinda of fifth wheel."
"You wont be, and besides, they're far more normal then half those girls you tell me about every week." Tuck reassured him with a small smile. "Think of it as a favor to me as well."
"A favor?" FDR raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah-" Tuck shrugged. "- you come to dinner so I'll have someone to talk to that's simi-normal. I have no intention of being left alone with both of those people all night. "
FDR cracked a small smile and shrugged as Collins was heard coming down the hall way. Her shoes making loud clanking sounds on the tile floor. "I'll think about it."
Collins cut her eyes to both of her agents, clutched in her hand were two yellow folders. "Got some good news for you two." She said, her voice void of any emotion and face lacking expression at the moment. "A case just opened up, Special Ops dropped it down into our hands and I was wondering if you two wanted in?" She asked waving the folders in their directions.
Both Tuck and FDR sprung to their feet and lunged for the folders like two kids reaching for a prize. "Yes!" They both cheered, it was obvious that they needed out of the office for a while.
"Good." Collins nodded putting her hands on her hips. "The target's name is Lukas Rozovsky. He's a Russian software programmer and weapon's designer that worked for the government. He recently retired from the US government and fled back to Russia. It seems as of late some of Rozovsky's weapon's have been put into terrorists hands and we need to know why, also if it is him providing these weapons we need to know how he's smuggling these weapons out of his country."
FDR and Tuck both flipped through the pages of notes, pictures of both Rozovsky and his weapons. "Why did Special Ops drop this case?" Tuck questioned
"They didn't say." Collins stopped her eyes drifting off as if she's in deep thought. "They just said they were waved off of the case and it was handed down to us."
"This guy must be ten kinds of nasty if Special Ops didn't want to touch him." FDR commented eying a picture of a nasty looking missile.
Collins shook her head. "I don't think that's it but I need to get this done quickly and quietly as possible. Which is why I'm giving it to you too." She nodded to both men who looked at her strangely.
"What?" They asked simultaneously.
"I'm sure after last years freeway excursion and what a mess that was, I'm sure you two have learned ya'lls lesson on how important being discreet is." Narrowing her eyes at them making sure they understood there could be no mishaps on this mission. "As much as it pains me to say this, you two are the best in my department which is why I'm giving this too you. If you two can pull this off, it may even earn y'all a position in either Special Ops or even higher than that." She stated simply. "Rozovsky is hosting a huge gala event at his home in Russia in about two months. That give you two plenty of time to get in good with his people."
"So we're gonna be party crashers?" FDR asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"More or less. There's a party in a week at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Vegas. Our sources say that a lot of Rozovsky's main goons will be attending." Collins explained to her two assassins. "You get in, you talk, you seem interested in Rozovsky's software. Don't mention the weapons."
Tuck closed the file and slipped it under his arm. "What kind of weapons are these, exactly?"
Collins raised an eyebrow turning her eyes to Tuck. "Regular missiles we're told, but our sources say he's on to something bigger." She paused.
"Like?" FDR chimed in. He needed to know what he was in for.
"Nuclear weaponry." Collin's stated. "And if that's true we got to shut him down now before one of those weapons fall into the wrong hands. I'll brief you on more of this later. Just go home, read over this file, memorize it, and get ready." She nodded before turning to walk off as FDR leaned against his desk letting out a deep breath looking over at Tuck who was sharing the same overwhelmed expression.
"That was a lot to take in." Tuck finally spoke. "Are you goin' to be able to handle this, mate?" His voice again showing great concern.
FDR furrowed his brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I don't fancy getting another shot in the leg." Tuck shrugged.
"Tuck, I'm fine, stop worrying, and just drop it. I'm perfectly fine." FDR gently hit his desk with his hand to add emphasis on his point.
Tuck just nodded not sure if he believed his friend or not. "Alright. I believe you." He nodded walking around to the back of his chair grabbing up his coat and began shutting off his computer. "I gotta go pick Lauren up from work, but you, you're coming tonight right?" He asked giving FDR a stern look.
FDR rolled his eyes tossing the file down on his desk before pulling his tie loose again. "Yes, yes...I'll be there." He rolled his eyes crossing his arms over his chest.
"You better not back out and make me start trailing you." Tuck warned walking back around to the front of his desk.
"Yeah, like you've never done that before." FDR mumbled himself but forced a small smile.
Tuck just gave a small smile and gave his friend a gently pat on the shoulder. "I'll text you where we're going to eat when I talk to Lauren."
FDR simply nodded. "Yeah, see ya then." He called to his friend watching as he left before leaning back on his desk letting his hands drop down behind him to help prop himself up. Truthfully he didn't even want to go tonight and sit there awkwardly with one married couple and another might as well be married couple. "I need a drink." He groaned softly.
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"It can't be that bad." Lauren frowned as she took the hair brush to her hair, brushing the tangles of work and stress out of her hair. "I mean, it's FDR. He always seems so...so.." She paused thinking of a word to describe her friend.. "... chipper."
Tuck simply nodded as he buttoned up his black dress shirt, watching his girlfriend from the door. "I know, but you don't see him at work, love." He stated smoothing out the wrinkles on his shirt. "He comes in late wearing the same clothes from the day before, sometimes I'm convinced he never even goes home after work."
Lauren's frown only deepened. "Poor thing. I wish we could do something."
Tuck bit the inside of his lip. "I actually invited him to come with us tonight. Ya know, just to get him out and about." Tuck watched Lauren gauging her reaction. FDR and Lauren haven't spent that much time together in the past year. Yes they were still friends and could laugh and talk like they use to, but ever since they slept together and she ended up being with Tuck, things were just awkward.
"I think that's great." She nodded standing up walking over to Tuck wrapping her arms around his waist. "He needs to be with his friends if he's going through a rough patch. Being alone is the worst thing he could be doing." She nodded resting her head against Tuck's chest as he hugged her tightly.
Tuck smiled and mentally breathed a sigh of relief. "Well he's not alone when he goes home apparently." He chuckled as Lauren looked up at him wide eyed.
"He's seeing someone?" She asked as a shimmer of hope entered her eyes.
Tuck frowned and leaned down kissing her forehead. " 'fraid not." He frowned. "He's seeing multiple people and only for one night."
Lauren rolled her eyes and grunted softly. "Of course he is." She released Tuck and walked back to the bathroom mirror and began touching up her makeup. "Sometimes I wish he'd stop acting like a frat boy and settle down already." She ranted putting on some eyeliner.
Tuck stopped in his tracks as a crazy idea rushed through his mind as he listened to Lauren rant on. "I mean, he's gonna be thirty-one this year and I don't think he's ever been in a serious relationship with anyone. He needs to find him a girlfriend and.." She stopped and her eyes went wide before spinning around quickly to face Tuck. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She grinned mischievously.
Tuck nodded with a grin. "I believe so. You're saying we should set him up with a girl?"
Lauren nodded excitedly. "Yes! It'll be perfect, I know so many single girls at my office and I'm sure one of them has to be perfect for FDR!" She nodded, dropping her makeup on the counter before rushing past Tuck into the bed room to get her phone.
"What are you doing?" Tuck asked watching her curiously.
"Calling Trish... I mean who better to help set FDR up then her? I mean she's the reason I met you remember?" Lauren quickly dialed Trish's number as Tuck shook his head with a chuckle and kissed Lauren on top of the head before walking towards the door.
"That's why I put up with her. I'll be downstairs."
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"No!" Trish slammed her hand down on the back of driver's seat, causing Tuck to jerk and nearly swerve his truck off the road. He bit his lip and glanced at Lauren out of the corner of his eye letting her know his annoyance with her outspoken friend. "You can't hook him up with any of those losers you work with. He'll get bored with them in three days." Trish ranted to Lauren about her idea on setting FDR up. "It has to be someone else, someone exciting."
Lauren turned herself in the passenger seat so that she could better see Trish. "Hey! My job is plenty exciting. I mean, it's not Tuck's job but it's still fun and it's not boring." She defended her job with a frown.
Trish rolled her eyes and waved a hand at Lauren. "Yeah, okay, but if he sleeps with her do you really want to work with someone who's gonna be trying to compare dick stories with you? I mean, if you see her everyday and you run out of things to talk about, that's what'll come up."
Lauren frowned and looked at Tuck who was keeping his eyes on the road, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. It was true Tuck still hadn't gotten over the fact that Lauren and FDR slept together, especially after Tuck found out about FDR sleeping with Katie years ago. Smiling softly she reached over and placed her hand on his knee, gaining a very small smile from him. "Well, if not my office then who? Who else do you know?"
Trish thought for a moment. "What about that girl from the coffee shop? Ya know, the one with the black hair." She suggested.
"The cashier? I don't think he's her type." Lauren shook her head.
"Why the hell not?" Trish frowned.
"Because-" Lauren started with a giggle. "-her girlfriend might not like it too much."
Trish's eyes got wide, "Really? Well that explains while our drinks are always up-sized for free." Lauren and Tuck but chuckled as Bob sat there silently. "Okay, I got some pictures of some girls we know in my phone.." She pulled her Iphone out of her pocket and began scrolling through pictures. "No, no, ew no, maybe but...eh no, no, married.. married..." She rambled scrolling through pictures.
Tuck raised an eyebrow at how many pictures of other women Trish had in her phone and slowly looked to Lauren who just shrugged. "When she finally figured out how to take pictures and use them as contact photos in the phone, she was hellbent on getting a picture of everyone she knew." Lauren explained to her confused boyfriend and gently stroked his knee as Trish kept mumbling.
"Oh oh, what about Darby?" Trish asked handing the phone to Lauren who glanced at the picture.
Lauren shrugged. "Darby's cute but I don't think she's FDR's type. She's kinda needy.." Lauren handed the phone to Tuck, "What do you think babe?"
"What kind of a name is Darby?" Tuck took the phone from Lauren as she explained Darby was the girls last name then glanced down at the picture. This Darby girl had long brown hair that was straight as a board, slightly tanned skin, deep brown eyes which were covered by thick rimmed glasses, she was dressed in a white buttoned down shirt and black skinny jeans. Tuck studied the picture then shook his head. "She's too thin. You are practically see her hip bones. Franklin likes a girl with a little more...meat I guess you could say." He used his thumb and scrolled over to the right and raised an eyebrow at the next picture. "Now this girl... she's right up his alley." He nodded handing the phone back to Lauren.
Lauren smiled looking down at the picture, a beautiful girl with shoulder length red hair that held a bit of a curl to it. Her eyes were emerald green and you could see freckles that were barely visible across her upper cheeks and nose. In the picture she was dressed in a blue button down shirt and black skirt that hugged her curves in all the right places. She was well enough endowed but not too much that she looked fake. "Oh I forgot about her!" Lauren exclaimed showing the picture to Trish. "She's been out of town for two weeks so I haven't seen her at the office or coffee shop."
"She works with you?" Tuck asked glancing between Lauren and the road.
"No, she works with Darby, but we work in the same building, her office in on top floor." Lauren shook her head eyeing the picture some more. "We see each other in passing and we all go to the same sushi bar and to the same coffee house."
Tuck nodded a bit curious about the being gone for weeks part. "What does she do for a living?"
Lauren stopped and had to think for a moment. "She's an art dealer. She goes an buys huge pieces of art in different parts of the world and sells them to rich folks. She's the one who actually helped me get those Gustav Klimt pieces I have."
"I think she'd be perfect for him. She travels a lot, he travels a lot... it's like a match made in crazy job heaven." Trish grinned snatching her phone back from Lauren.
"What's her name?" Tuck asked as they pulled up to the restaurant not saying, but before he even mentioned it to FDR he was going to run this girl through a background check and find out all he could about her. He didn't want to see FDR get hurt and start getting worse.
"Her name is Emma Connolly." Lauren watched with a knowing smirk as Tuck pulled out his cellphone after they had parked. "Whatcha doin' there?" She asked grabbing up her purse as Tuck typed away on his cellphone.
"I'm getting Franklin know we're here." Tuck lied knowing he couldn't mention what he was doing in front of Trish and Bob. Trish however knew what Tuck did for a living but Bob didn't and he was amazed Trish was able to keep that secret. Tuck quickly typed up a message to Boyles ~ I need a back ground check and everything you can find on an Emma Connolly, apparently an art dealer.~ He typed then added Lauren's work address then quickly sent the message and shoved his phone into his pocket. "Guys, I don't think we should tell FDR this tonight, I don't want him to feel like we're ganging up on him." Tuck glanced between Trish and Lauren, making sure to make eye contact with Trish, knowing if anyone would blabber it'd be her for sure. "He'll never agree to this if we all bombard him."
Lauren nodded, "I agree. This needs to stay between us right now, and we need to make sure Emma isn't dating anyone or have moved away or anything like that."
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A/N:: This Idea has been in my head for a long time and I decided to do something different since I'm at a stand still and out of ideas with my other stories and normally if I write something else down I get ideas for my other ones. Ratings will go to M in later chapters. Please review. I'm sorry if it sucked I'm just horrible at starting new stories. Thank you.
~Liza