A/N: It has been a while, but I am back and obsessed with Pitch Perfect. Without further ado…

"I don't want this assignment."

"You don't have a choice."

"This isn't even my area," she balked. Her tone was levelling on the razor sharp edge of uncontrolled frustration as she continued, "I'm an investigator, not some god dammed babysitter." Her seething anger failed to disguise the embarrassment she hid in her glistening blue eyes. This agent was no child care worker, and she despised how the higher powers could think that the death of her former partner could limit her 'fragile and softened state' to such a foolish detail.

"You've been selected by the council, there's no arguing with their decision." The Assistant Director considered her impassively. This was absolutely ridiculous. How could she be shoved down the ranks like this after working so hard to climb up such a male dominated, power thirsty ladder?

"With all due respect, Sir, I'm better than this... and you know it. You've seen me work, you taught me everything I know!" She was becoming more disheartened as the minutes passed. Why are they doing this? How could he let this happen to her? "A rookie could do this-"

"The decision is non-negotiable, Beale. Squabbling won't make it change." His expression was far from warm, and she knew that no amount of contention would change his words.

Her file rested on his heavy oak desk, along with a cliché image of his wife, kids, and golden retriever. He was quite a solid man, bordering on the risk of cardiac arrest by the way his stomach was squashed against his desk. She scrutinized her file, the off-white cardboard sealing her entire working and personal past into a neat bundle of papers. They knew much about her, as they do with each of their employees. Heck, even the janitors have files. However, she understood that in her personal stack of papers, life threatening events and sorrowful times were bound for many to see. And many had seen, given the sorry looks she received when she returned to the Service after her very short leave of absence.

Chloe knew that if she didn't take this, she would be kissing her job goodbye. After all, with everyone assuming she's broken and bruised and unable to hold herself together, she needed to find a way to prove herself. She had been cleared for duty yesterday, but now had to convince the council she was in fact fit for duty.

"What do you have for me?"

He opened a stiff drawer and slipped out a case file, similar to hers, but oh so much thicker. Great. She flipped the cover and read the description below an image of the VIP.

She paused, "No way."

"Yes way."

"The President's daughter..." She swallowed dryly. This definitely would not be as much of a stroll in the park as she previously believed.

It wasn't a long flight to Atlanta from Washington. Chloe managed to look through the files she had from previous agents on this assignment. The detail was minimal to say the least.

Code name: Cobalt
Subject: Rebecca Mitchell, Beca
DOB: 15/02/1993
Residence: Atlanta, GA.
Phone: (xxx) – N/A.

Marital Status: Single
Occupation(s): A-cappella singer, student (deferred studies at present), musical artist/producer.
Business Address: NA

Physical Description: WF, 5'2", 115lbs.
Hair: Brown.
Eyes: Grey/Blue.
Distinguishing marks: 3cm scar left inner ankle.

Education: Barden University, Saint Mary's Private Girl's College.
Medical Conditions: NA
Allergies: NA

Romantic: Unverified.
Summary: Standard twenty-four hour shift, rotating shift surveillance. Subject schedule unfixed, frequently unverifiable.
Communication link: Through Team Commander ONLY (subject request).

It was clear that Chloe would have to work with her assignment to get to understand her further, as the files she had in her possession barely breached the surface of what she could only imagine to be a deep and profound world that Miss Beca Mitchell lived in.

"Thank you," Chloe replied with tired eyes as she pocketed her hotel key card and advanced to the elevator. Her team was situated on the floor below her, a secure Head Quarters set up to keep a close eye on Cobalt who resided in the apartment building over the street.

"Six-oh... five! Finally," she sighed as she set her bag down to unlock the heavy, black door. Hotel rooms were her second home, and to be frank the apparent sterility and simplicity of the designs were oddly... homely to her.

After settling herself into her new home for the next couple of months, Chloe stood by the floor to ceiling window, mesmerized by the glimmer of the city moving below her. Her gaze was caught by the flickering of a light switching on in the building that Miss Mitchell was occupying. There were no other residents on her floor, as per the President's request. It was that little bit of extra privacy that he gave her in an attempt to make up for the fact that she had a security detail on her at all times. Chloe watched as a silhouette entered what looked to be a bedroom. The figure undressed and headed out of sight, only to appear in the room beside the bedroom. Chloe turned her back and made her way to the bedroom. She would meet that figure in the morning.

"Commander, this is Agent Applebaum. I'm your team leader."

She balanced her phone on her shoulder as she picked up a coffee from the cafe down stairs. "Good morning Agent Applebaum."

"Same to you, ma'am. Are you still good for the nine-am briefing? The other agents and I will get you up to speed on the VIP and you can take it from there." He sounded tired, which she assumed to be a reflection on the weight of this case. The girl behind the counter mouthed the cost of the coffee to Chloe as she fished around in her pockets for her cash.

"Perfect, see you then," she replied, thanking and smiling at the barista as she handed over a bill. She pocketed her phone and headed out of the café.

"Hey, don't throw that cup away!" Chloe turned back to see the brunette motioning to her cup. She examined it, finding a number scrawled on the side with a smiley face next to it. She gave the girl a wink and spun out through the doors.

"How long have you all been on this detail?" The commander motioned to the agents gathered around the table in their HQ. There were six in total, including Agent Applebaum who was the main communications link between the team and commander. Most agents put on these types of cases were still green; fresh out of training and eager to learn, not yet exposed to the pressure and strain of the real world. She had done her research on this team, and they were all great agents. The past commander, however, was another story.

"We've all been here since the beginning, so eighteen months," spoke the lone female agent at the table.

"Eighteen months, Agent Posen? You've had eighteen months to gather intelligence on Cobalt. To learn about her movements, her frequents, her habits. Yet you guys still manage to lose her more often than not." She was greeted with silence. Geez. This assignment was proving to be more than a routine VIP detail.

"Agent Applebaum?" She turned her gaze to the experienced agent on the far side of the table. He nodded in return.

"Scrap everything. Remove all the files you have on Mitchell." The agents looked to her with furrowed brows. "We're starting over."

A/N: Assuming I don't lose motivation, the next chapter will be up within a week. My intention is for this to be quite lenghty, so bare with me. Gracias!