AUTHOR'S NOTE : My take on FF7. I don't own any characters in this fic except for my OC Carla (probably more OCs to come on the next chapters). Story took place post-FF6 while text in italics took place post-FF4. Rated M for safety. This is my first FF fic so comments/reviews will be highly appreciated ^_^
"Carla Jade Ventura. Really, out of everyone it had to be you?"
"Yeah," she said as she reloaded her handgun. "Out of every single person you know."
"Why are you here?"
"Funny thing is, I was about to ask the same to you, O'Conner."
Brian didn't reply. He raised his eyebrow, his bright, sky-colored eyes staring intently at her, waiting for a reasonable answer.
She smirked, averted her gaze to the formerly adorned FBI agent.
"I need your help."
Brian scoffed, "You, or Penning? If it's about them then you've definitely come a long way. You might already know what I'd say next."
She frowned, her hazel eyes penetrated deep at him. "Look at you, Brian, holding on to a criminal for your dear life. I've always thought you were much better than that."
"Cut the crap already," Brian lowered his head to level hers, closing the gap between their faces. "I don't know who the hell sent you here but I'm damn sure I won't turn back."
She sighed, crossing her hands over her chest. "I'm currently transferred to fill in your position. And as you might have experienced, that infamous Stasiak remarks have also been getting on my nerves."
"Been there done that, huh," he chuckled, "but that doesn't answer my question."
Carla abruptly gets up from her seat, tossing an envelope filled with classified information onto the table.
"Might as well read em up. I'm pretty sure you can't pass on this one so I'm expecting you to get back to me as soon as possible."
Brian shook his head in disbelief, a grim smile plastered on his face, "You really don't get it, do you?"
She turned back facing him and took a step closer. Her mouth was only a single inch apart from his left ear, "Well as a matter of fact, I do. I'm not wasting my time traveling miles just to savour your irresistible charm, Brian," she replied, half whispering.
"Unfortunately my bachelor days are over, CJ," he grinned mockingly. "Though you're one hell of a fighter."
Carla stepped back. She flicked her dark brown, shoulder length hair and smirked, "Get over yourself, playboy. Let me know by morning." She carefully put her Magnum back in her pocket and heading towards the exit. "Don't make me wait, O'Conner."
The morning alarm went off. Brian slowly opened his dreamy blues as he rubbed his face, head aching to remember what he had dreamt the previous night. He hadn't had a good night's sleep; Han's funeral was held the previous day and the team's heavy dispute with Shaw's older brother was just about to begin. He hadn't really grasped what was going on; he's probably too tired to do so. Why did he suddenly dream about his past? His long gone past. He turned his head to see Mia still sleeping soundly next to him, their son Jack lying in the cot across their bed. Brian had a family now; it's not an appropriate time to reminisce over an old, forgotten bit of his life.
Brian quietly got up from bed, avoiding making any noise in case he had woken up his wife and son. He walked towards the dresser, opening one of its lower chests. He pulled out a box, containing the salvaged stuff from his FBI days. His badge, ID, team photos, old files, evidences, and most importantly, an envelope filled with files about a pending case Carla gave him 5 years ago. He didn't get back to her and hadn't heard a single thing about her ever since. Examining the envelope in hand, he opened it and read the files carefully. It's about an undercover mission outside the USA. His brows knitted as he scanned through the pages. Then, it caught his attention; something along the lines mentioned the name 'Shaw'. Realising he found something not to be missed, Brian snatched his phone from the nightstand and dialed someone's number.
"What is it O'Conner, I'm in the middle of a meeting here and Pennings' about to-"
"Mike we need to talk."
"You know what, I'm still pissed at you for breaking my nose the second time so you better beg my pardon."
"Your office, expect me in 10, alright?"
"Hey man, what's wrong with that?" Brian asked Mike, pointing at the bridge of his nose.
"You bastard."
Brian laughed. "If it wasn't for that broken nose of yours I wouldn't have had Shaw under control, you know."
"I really wish I could beat your sorry ass down, Brian. So now what's the deal here?"
Brian pulled out a female photograph from his pocket and handed it to the FBI agent. "Looks familiar?"
"Ah hell yes. Ventura; an all-round almighty girl. For God's sake she makes a much better agent than you O'Conner," Stasiak let out a slight chuckle but soon vanished when he saw Brian's unnerving expression.
"Do you know where she is now?"
Stasiak shrugged, "I don't know. The last time I've heard, she disappeared after doing an undercover operation in conjunction with the DSS to bust those bad guys in the UK. She might be dead but I'm not certain. Not like it's confirmed, anyway."
Brian's mind wandered as he stared intently at the photograph. "At first I thought she'd be under your supervision."
He sighed at Brian's remark, "She was, but the DSS wanted to have her for themselves. You see, usually the FBI would call for help to the DSS; in her case it's the other way around. I guess it's because they found her to be that brilliant, otherwise they wouldn't try to steal one of our agents at all."
"Anything else you know?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose anymore confidential stuff O'Conner, unless you're still a part of the team, that is."
"Please, Mike, you gotta help me on this," he pleaded.
Stasiak shifted uncomfortably on his seat, weighing his options whether to give Brian something to work with or to leave him empty handed. He studied Brian's body language; he could tell there's definitely something not right.
"Alright, but you better keep this between you and me."
Brian knew Carla back when she was working at the same office as him. They had worked together in a few cases. Carla always had a thing for him; they both had something going on back in the days, but he would never commit himself. To him, she had been more like a one-and-off thing, even more so when he had grown closer to Dom's little sister, Mia. He had thrown Carla out of the picture when he gave up his job, leaving his past as an FBI agent completely behind.
He stepped out of Stasiak's office with an address scribbled on his left palm, not to mention extra bunch of questions piling up inside his head. From what he had learned, Carla had known about Shaw years before Hobbs asked Dom and their team to get rid of him. Where is she now? Was the undercover mission a failed operation that had cost her life?