So I've been going back and forth working on this story for, oh gosh, probably a couple of months now. But it's sort of been sitting on the back burner while I worked and prepped for NaNo and all that. But we're getting an episode called "White Out" and if that turns out to be an episode involving them being in a snowy environment, I wanted to actually finish this up and publish it before we get too much information on that ep. So here's chapter one.

"Are you thinking of someone of the male persuasion?" Toby asked as Sylvester made a mark on his tally sheet. Four questions down. Sixteen to go.

Paige nodded.

"Does he live in the United States?"

Another nod.

"Is he a political figure?"

"Nope."

"Damn." The behaviorist drummed his fingers on the table.

Paige looked at the person whose turn it was. "Happy?"

"Adam Scott."

She leaned back a few inches in surprise. "How did you know?"

"September thirtieth, twenty fourteen," Happy said. "You mentioned that you had a 'ridiculous little crush' on him. I remember it because one of my awful foster fathers was named Adam Scott and for a moment I was trying to figure out how the heck you knew the bastard."

"Fair enough. Your turn."

"Fine. I'm thinking of a person. Question one. Sylvester?"

"Cabe."

"No. Toby?"

"No," Sylvester said, gesturing toward the person who had just entered the garage. "Cabe."

"Morning team," Cabe said. "Got a job for you."

"This what we talked about last night?" Walter asked as he trotted down the stairs.

"Yep." Cabe faced the rest. "There are two rival research companies drilling up near the pole. ATEX and Inkorporated. Can't go into detail on what it's about given I don't know much myself, but it's related to sustainability. Molina has assured me that while important, this isn't as risky as most of our endeavors. Our investment is in the success of Inkorporated, as ATEX has had support from organizations that have been previously linked to possible terrorist activity."

"That sounds like a lot of 'maybes'." Paige said, folding her arms.

"All we have to do," Cabe said, "is bring them supplies they need but don't have the manpower to go get. They're on the verge of a breakthrough and need to run a few more tests to get word out before their competitors. As we support them, we will provide assistance."

"It's an easy job," Walter said. "Supervise the supplies up to the base. Then ride back. Four hour drive roundtrip. Tops. I'll be driving the van; I need someone to ride with me and two people to stay at the outpost and keep us on radio communication in case weather blows up."

"I'll come," Paige said. "I could go for an easy mission. And God knows I could use some time out of the city."

"I don't like snow or back roads," Sylvester said. "But I could be one of the ones in the out - outpost. Surveillance imaging seems to show a pretty...cozy place."

"Doc and I can go," Happy said. "I'm sure he'd be happy to."

"Cozy place?" Toby said, raising his eyebrows and grinning when she rolled her eyes. "Be happy to do it. You can stay here, Sylvester."

"Oh thank God."

"It's settled then," Cabe said. "The four of you will depart in an hour, be back by sunset. Nice to have a job where we aren't putting our lives on the line for once."

"Unless the ATEX people find out we're moving the supplies," Sylvester said.

Toby raised an eyebrow as he adjusted his hat. "Way to keep it positive, Dodd."

"Sylvester was right," Toby said, raising an eyebrow at Happy as they walked into the outpost. "Cozy. I certainly don't mind spending a few hours in this little winter wonderland."

The building they were in was a twenty four foot by twenty four foot wooden cabin, furnished with a woodstove, a table covered in laptops, walkie talkies, and what appeared to be some sort of stereo system, and a couch. There was an outhouse about five feet from the front door.

"This isn't a date night," Happy said matter of factly, setting her stuff down on the couch and turning to the table. "It's a mission."

"Come on," Toby said, walking up behind her and kissing her on the cheek. "Live a little."

"When the job is over," she said, playfully shoving him away.

"Okay, how about this," Toby said. "We await word from Walter and Paige that they've dropped the supplies off at the Inkorporated base. Then we see if we can get creative on that little couch."

She looked at him. "Fine. But only if you keep that woodstove running while I set up this tracker on Walter and Paige's van," Happy said. "Thermometer says it is fifty degrees in here and I'm not taking my pants off unless you can up that significantly."