Disclaimer - We all know I don't own Twilight or the characters created by Stephanie Meyer

My first FF. This story has been bouncing around my head for years. I thought I'd see how well it adapts to our favorite vampires.

Without further adieu, I give you Oasis

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Chapter 1 – Broom Closet Banishment

"From now on you'll wear street clothes. Business attire Ms Swan. Is that clear?"

I was stunned. I watched the Security Director shuffle papers on his desk. This was all so unexpected. I didn't know what to say. He looked up at me and I only nodded. I didn't relax my posture, no I knew better than that. Dresden International was not a military organization, but Security Director Emmett McCarthy was one hard-core retired Marine and he ran his department in the only way he understood. Most of the security force was ex-military. I was one of the few exceptions. I learned quickly though and knew better than to do something stupid like glance around at his simple office or interrupt. I figured I must be in enough trouble already.

I stood at attention in front of his plain desk and wondered why I'd been ordered to his office so suddenly, and why my assignment was changing. I'd been here since I graduated from high school almost half a year ago. Nothing in all that time was called to question. They'd promoted me from a glorified hall monitor to the control center within 3 months. It was a stressful job. We monitored the cameras, controlled access to secure levels of the maze like business complex and directed calls that came through the secure lines. I loved it and I was good at it. My uniform was always impeccable and I was never late. Nobody at my level was ever called to the Director's office. It didn't make sense, unless I'd made some massive mistake somewhere. I'd never even seen the man at work before this, except one time last week. Maybe that was it. He'd come through the control center for inspection while I was on duty. Frankly, he'd been towering over me with his massive bulk and intimidated me beyond words. It was a relief when a call came on the red phones and I'd been forced to continue working rather than stand in front his scrutiny.

"Stop looking like you are being reprimanded Swan!" His booming voice made me jump. All thoughts about questioning him disappeared in an instant. Instead I waited for him to continue. "You are being placed on the diplomatic security detail." He paused then and watched me.

I'm sure he saw my nostrils flare and my face pale, but I didn't move otherwise. How could I be assigned to this? I knew very little of self defense, and nothing of defending someone else. I'd seen the guys in this team working out in the cavernous gym below this very office. They were lethal. Every one of them was from some elite military unit. Hell, I'm so uncoordinated that more often than not, I trip over my own feet. There was no way I could keep up with those guys. All this raced through my mind, but I fought to not let my panic or confusion show.

He nodded and continued, "You are not expected to protect our guests, but you will serve as guide and see to their comfort." He handed me a folder. "Your first assignment arrives tomorrow. Everything you need to know about him is in this report. Do you have any questions?"

I looked down at the folder in my hands and back to the director. "Just one, Sir. Why am I being moved to this detail?" Why am I being thrown to the sharks? I loved my little safe control center. I was hidden deep in the middle of the underground sections of the building. I didn't have to come face to face with anyone. I was comfortable there and felt like I made a difference. This seemed like a punishment. Glorified gopher. I wouldn't even have the insignia of the security detail to make me stand out from the hundreds of other rats in this maze. I knew it was stupid, but I wanted to wear my uniform. My dad got me this job through his relationship with the director and well… he was proud of me. I didn't want to give that up.

When McCarthy didn't answer right away, I clenched my teeth and let my eyes meet his. He looked torn and down right uncomfortable. I almost gaped when he sighed and ran his hands through his short hair.

"Look Swan. My team is good at what they do, but they are not as skilled as necessary to accommodate the different personalities that we see here. We need someone to deal directly with things other than the safety of our guests. Now I can get some dip shit to do that job, but then my guys would be watching them as a security risk too. I don't want their attention split like that." He opened his drawer and pulled out a folder with my picture on the front. "Your clearance just came through, you are already a member of the security force, and you are Charlie's daughter. I don't have anyone else I can trust. I need your softer touch in dealing with these characters."

I grimaced. He needed a woman is what he meant. Well I didn't want to be put out there in front of strangers and wait on them like some damn secretary. That's not why I agreed to this when Charlie suggested it. Before I could open my mouth to say so, McCarthy continued, "That's the job. Take it or stop by personnel to turn in your keys on the way out." He leaned forward and held up a cautionary finger, "But if you leave, YOU are telling Charlie." His chair groaned under his weight as he leaned back and grinned at me like he's just closed the deal.

I glared at him. He was right. He had me. I didn't want to tell my Dad that I was giving up. Anything but tell him that. "Fine. I'll report in the morning in the.. required clothing." I spit the last two words out at him. I would take this so called promotion, but I didn't have to be happy about it.

His grin disappeared. "Thank you Bells." He said earnestly. Then he went back to his papers and dismissed me without looking up again.

I sighed as I turned and trudged to the door. I could never stay mad at Uncle Em when he called me by my childhood nickname; which was something he'd sworn he would never do at work. It wasn't a secret that he and my Dad had served together. Everyone here knew that. However we did try to keep it quiet as to how they'd retained their sense of brotherhood after my Dad left the Marines. If it leaked out how Em had spent all his leave at our house and pretty much helped raise me… I shuddered. Yeah All I needed was for the guys here to start treating me like a niece or little sister. Freaking overprotective jarheads.

Once I was in the stark hallway with the door closed firmly behind me, I leaned against the wall. McCarthy's assistant walked up then and told me to follow him. He led me to an office down the hall and stopped outside the door. He gave me a key and left me standing there. An office? Really? Well now that could make this miserable thing better. I opened the wooden door to get a look at my first office ever. I snorted as I walked inside the broom closet sized space. I had a tiny desk, a computer, and mismatched chairs on either side of the desk. It was even a pretty tight squeeze around the end of the desk to get to my chair. Probably needed a girl so she could fit in the office! I thought sourly.

I spent the last hour of the day studying the file on my assignment. Dresden had interests all over the globe and often had some rather important representatives from foreign countries come here for negotiations. Not everyone who came got the diplomatic detail assigned to them. Only those that were either in danger of assasination or having a rival company gain their attention. So the unit would meet them at the airport and accompany them for their entire stay in Dallas. The report didn't contain much. There was no picture of the dignitary that was coming, but plenty of things about his dietary restrictions, how he liked to be addressed and what beverages I should have on hand for him. I rolled my eyes. Further, lunch reservations had been made, but I knew I'd be responsible for things like that in the future. That threw me. I sat back in my squeaky chair and rubbed my eyes. I really would be a loaned out secretary. With a growl, I locked the file in the desk drawer. "I'll see you tomorrow Mr. call me 'Edward Cullen' Reesha."