Summary: Sameen Shaw hates the cover identity she has been given. When Root lets her know there is another potential cover available Shaw jumps on it without a thought. Once she learns what it is she begins to wonder if she was better off working the makeup counter.
Shaw did not know what was worse. The embarrassment she felt at what Root was actually expecting her to do, or the arousal beginning to work its way through her system at the thought of actually going through with it.
Still she was determined to not let the other woman know her true feelings and was determined to keep her usual glower affixed to her face. In her mind she treated it like any other operation. Ran through multiple scenarios of what may or may not happen and how best to respond to each situation in a variety of ways to ensure she made it out safely. Unbidden the memory of how she had first ended up in this situation came floating to the surface of her consciousness.
9 hours earlier
It was not the first time Sam Shaw wished she was allowed to carry a gun on her. The fat idiot who had the audacity to actually call himself a boss and thought he knew how best to manage her had verbally chastised her once again about her lack of people skills. She could honestly care less if people didn't like her. Her previous employment experiences didn't require people to like her and that had suited her just fine. Truth be told aside from Bear there was only one other person that Shaw actually cared about and sometimes worried what they thought about her. But once Samaritan came online Shaw had not seen a single trace of the woman and likely never would again.
As her last customer went running off to complain about getting a face full of perfume Sameen Shaw secretly hoped that she would be fired. She wasn't a people person and just about any job would be preferable to working in this hell hole.
"Looks like you are acclimating to civilian life Sam."
Shaw's back stiffened instantly at the woman's honeyed words. She never liked it when anyone snuck up on her, doubly so for Root. Even after all these weeks she had not forgotten Root's voice. How could she when it haunted her dreams and whispered in the dark recesses of her mind as she lay in bed with a hand between her legs. It took a moment for her to get her dry throat wet enough to respond. "Not like I had much of a choice." Turning to face the taller woman Shaw felt a small pulse of anger at the smug smile Root was giving her as she slowly drank her iced mocha latte.
Root looked like a child taking satisfaction in getting the best of an adult as she rotated in her seat. She locked eyes with Shaw and sealed her lips tight around the straw and took a long drink. Root knew all too well the game she was playing with the other woman and felt that she had achieved a small victory when Shaw was the first to look away. The woman's cheeks had a noticeable red tinge as she busied herself gathering cosmetic supplies on the countertop.
"Let me guess you have another job interview and need to look nice for it?" Shaw said slipping easily into her cover. As much as she hated her new identity it gave her some stability and something to focus on so she could regain control of herself before she did something that while fun would have consequences later. Picking up a couple of items she stepped around from behind the counter and tilted Root's head back so she had better light.
"Actually I just came from an interview. Though if you are offering I am more than willing to accept." Tilting her head Root held her breath as Shaw applied the makeup to her face. There was a distinct gentleness to Shaw's actions that was altogether different from the first time Root had stopped by to check up on the assassin.
Setting down the foundation Shaw picked up the blush and began applying it. "Then why are you here? I hope it is not just to enjoy watching me suffer." There was a harsh tone underlying her voice now and she gripped Root's face just a little tighter. Not enough to hurt the woman or leave marks, but enough to let her know that she was not in a joking mood.
Root had to think carefully about what she said next. The plan she had in place wasn't guaranteed to succeed but if it did it would prove highly entertaining. She pretended to be busy choosing out a color of lipstick as she decided how best to lure in the woman.
More than once Sam had to remind herself to keep calm. She knew all too well that Root refused to let herself be rushed. Just when her patience was about to run out the taller woman finally spoke.
"The Machine and I have both noticed that you don't seem particularly happy with this cover identity. If you want there is another one available. However…"
"I'll take it." Shaw said in a rush not even letting Root finish. "Whatever it is it can't be any worse than this."
Root gave the assassin a genuine smile showing off her white teeth. "In that case meet me at this address later this evening and I'll explain everything." She slipped the piece of paper in between the bills that she handed Shaw as she stood. "Go ahead and keep the change. You've more than earned it."
For the rest of the day Shaw couldn't help but be in a pleasant mood. Sure she didn't do happy but the knowledge that this would be her last day in this line of work made it easy for her to deal with the disapproving looks of the customers.
That evening Shaw made her way to the address given her by Root. It took her a little while to find, but eventually she found the abandoned warehouse. Parking her car she got out. "Warehouse 13. This must be the place. Certainly deserted enough that we probably don't have to worry about being seen." Throwing on her leather jacket Shaw locked her vehicle and headed inside.
There were a few lights on inside. Not enough to fully illuminate the place, but enough so that neither woman had to worry about tripping over their own feet. Most of the lights were on in the middle of the warehouse illuminating a small shipping platform with several rows of cardboard boxes set up in a ring around it. Oddly a curtain had been drawn across the platform making it appear like some kind of stage. Shaw wasn't entirely certain why, but a tingle of worry ran down her spine as she approached the stage.
Her boots echoed loudly in the empty building as she approached and finally spotted Root sitting on the edge of the platform. The woman smiled when she saw Shaw approaching and leapt to her feet grabbing a nearby manila envelope.
"I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't show."
"Traffic was a bitch, and my manager insisted I stay late to help get everything set up for tomorrow's sale."
"Well I can assure you that if you agree to take this new identity then the last thing you'll have to worry about is tomorrow's sale."
Sameen Shaw stretched out her hand to take the file, but Root refused to hand it over.
"I have to ask first Shaw. Are you certain you want to take this sight unseen? Because it won't be the easiest of assignments."
Shaw gave her a hard look as she took a couple steps forward and yanked the file out of Root's hands. "I can handle anything you or the Machine throw at me Sam."
Root's face darkened at Shaw using her true name but decided it wasn't worth chastising the woman about. If anything it would make the coming entertainment all the better.
Root watched as Shaw opened the file and began reading through it. The other woman was nodding her head silently in agreement liking what she was seeing as her background. It wasn't until she flipped to the next page that she began reading it slower before finally stopping.
"What the Hell is this!" She yelled as she snapped the file closed and threw it at Root. Her heart was racing and she was beginning to think of how best to get away with killing the woman for this.
"That would be your new cover Sam. Why, is there something wrong with it?" Despite herself Root's voice came out in a teasing manner. And her mouth was curled up at the corners even as she tried to give Shaw an innocent look.
Shaw simply glowered at Root as she went over and violently kicked one of the cardboard boxes. Sarcasm was strong in her voice as she responded. "Wrong with it? No there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Who wouldn't want to find out that they are trading a cover identity of working the makeup counter at a department store in favor of working as a stripper!?"
The soft voice of the Machine was whispering in Root's ear. She was letting her know that while Shaw did not have a gun on her she did have at least three knives on her person that She was aware of. Root imperceptibly nodded her head in acknowledgement as she picked the file up off the floor. "Come now Sam it can't be the worst assignment you've been given. Plus I guarantee you that you'll be paid more with this new identity and you'll not have to worry about interacting with people like you did as a makeup girl."
Shaw remained silent and settled for glaring at the woman as she tried to decide if it would be easier to dump the other woman's body in the nearby ocean, or if she should go to the trouble of finding a construction site to dispose of her at.
"Is it because you don't think you are up to the challenge perhaps?"
"Excuse me? What did you just say?"
Root knew her life was in danger. Especially given the slight growl that had been in the assassin's voice when she last spoke. Yet she chose to press on. She was risking her life at the moment and the next hour would determine not just if she lived or died, but also if she would finally succeed in bedding the shorter woman. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the stage and pulled a laptop out from behind a corner that she had hidden it behind. While it was booting up she spoke "I was simply asking if the great Sameen Shaw didn't think she could handle taking her clothes off for a bunch of drunk horny people who could care less what she looks like."
Shaw's heart was beating fast and she knew her face was likely quite red at this point. She just wasn't sure if it was from anger, embarrassment, or worst of all something else entirely. She was at a loss for words and could not decide how to respond. Unfortunately Root beat her to the punch and elicited a response from her.
"I had thought you could easily handle it. Especially after She showed me this." Root hit a couple of keys on her laptop and the sound of loud music and cheering could be heard coming from the laptop as she spun it around for Shaw to see.
Sam Shaw's face went white and her heart skipped a beat. "Fuck." There she was on the screen in HD. Multicolor lights lit up the stage as a young twenty something Shaw danced along to the music. Shaw twirled the black tank top she wore a couple of times over her head before she let it drop to the stage. Turning her back to the crowd Shaw shook her hips in time to the music as her hands drifted down to her jeans and with deft fingers undid the button. Without hesitation she undid the fly and bent at the waist as she yanked them to the ground. The crowd roared in delight to see that the young woman had forgone underwear and enjoyed the sight of her firm ass swaying enticingly at them.
Root barely had time to heed the Machine's warning and step away from the laptop before one of Shaw's knives buried itself in the screen. While the raucous cheering could still be heard it was obvious that the show was over. "Don't you think that was a little dramatic? A simple 'please turn that off' or 'I've seen enough' would have sufficed."
"Where the Hell did you even find that?" Shaw's voice was quiet and controlled. A flood of anger and embarrassment and something else rushed through her body.
"Sam you should know by now that in this day and age there is nothing that can't be found on the internet. Besides imagine my surprise when She showed me this. I never would have guessed that you would ever participate during Amateur Night at a strip club. Or the kind of show you put on. From what I could find out Sarah Shahi came in third that night."
"I didn't want everyone to know my real name, and I was drunk. That still doesn't excuse you from dredging that video up from the ether of the internet."
"Actually it was thanks to that video that I decided to listen to Her and offer you this cover identity. Since I assumed you could handle it. However it appears that I was wrong." Picking the file up from the ground Root made it appear that she was preparing to leave in the hope that Shaw would take the bait.
Shaw clenched her teeth together as she watched Root prepare to leave. Finally with a feral growl she yelled out "Wait!" Taking a deep breath she look at the other woman with an annoyed glower on her face. "How do I need to prove to you that I can handle it?"
Root wasn't facing Shaw at the moment and allowed herself to grin wickedly for an instant before schooling her features and turning to face the shorter woman. "Sam." She started with her voice dripping with enough sweetness to cause instant tooth decay and distrust from any child. "All you need to do is put on a little show for me to show that you are not just comfortable performing, but that you have enough talent to put on a good show."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this. I'm working on chapter two and should hopefully have it posted tomorrow. My apologies if the characters seemed a little strange I unfortunately haven't caught as much of season 4 as I would have liked. Please review to let me know if you enjoyed this and if there is anything I can do to improve this and make it more enjoyable for you guys to read. Oh and thank you for taking the time to read this.