A/N: Trying something new here. Not quite sure how it will work out. Please read and review to tell me what you think. Enjoy! :D
Selena Thompson ran through the house in an attempt to reach the phone. She almost tripped several times on the various toys that always seemed to lie on the floor, but she finally made it. She checked the caller ID. It was work. She picked up the phone on the last ring.
"Thompson, secure," she answered.
"Beckman, secure," she heard her boss answer.
"Hey, bossy, whatcha want?" asked Selena after she knew that it was General Beckman. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Yes, I am aware," said the general dryly, "and that brings me to ask why you are still awake. So?"
"Well, you see, I was just about to get in bed when the phone rang," Selena lied. "And of course, I knew that it could be you and that could mean a national emergency so I had to run to the phone. I almost tripped, you know. How many times have I asked you to call me on my cell?"
"I don't know," replied Beckman. "But your home phone number is just so much easier. Besides, you're changing the subject."
"Drats!" Selena exclaimed. "Ah, well, I tried. You know, you're the only one that can tell when I do that."
"That's because I taught you," Beckman said proudly. "But, anyway, you're supposed to be in bed. Although, I have to admit, I am glad that you are awake."
"Why's that?" asked Selena, curious.
"I have a mission for you," said Beckman. "An important mission."
"Cool," Selena said. "What is it?"
"Well, I'm sure you've heard of the Human Intersect Project," Beckman said.
"I have," Selena said.
"I thought so," said Beckman. "I'm not quite sure how to phrase this, so I'll come right out and say it. I need you to observe the agents that are currently protecting the asset."
"But, if I am correct in my knowledge, the agents are extremely competent," Selena pointed out, confused. "And the asset received an upgrade not too long ago and showed amazing skills at hand-to-hand combat. I really don't see the need for my having to 'watch' them."
"Haven't I taught you to not talk back to your superiors?" Beckman reprimanded gently.
"Yes, ma'am," replied Selena automatically.
"Good," Beckman said. "Make sure it doesn't happen again. Now, look, while what you say is perfectly true, it is also a problem."
"If I may ask," Selena started, "how exactly is it a problem?"
"The agents have been on assignment for roughly two years," Beckman said, "and even though they are two of the best agents this government has at their disposal, they are still human. That is where the problem lies. The asset is a very amiable man and I fear that there have been breaches of protocol."
"Like what?" asked Selena.
"For one, Agent Walker, CIA, has to pose as the asset's girlfriend," Beckman answered. "I am positive that both she and the asset have developed real feelings for each other. I have proof. I even had to send a 49-B out once."
"So?" Selena asked. "Agents 'develop real feelings' for their assets pretty regularly. I still don't see too much of a problem."
"If it were a regular assignment," Beckman said, "I would not be as worried, or even if it was just a relationship but the way that they act around each other, I fear that it will get in the way of their missions."
"Tension," Selena mumbled to herself.
But Beckman had heard. She always did. "What was that?"
"Uh, nothing," Selena answered. "Just talking to myself. Anyway, what about the other agent?"
"Colonel Casey seems to be getting soft," Beckman said, sounding a bit worried, "and I don't like it. He's never been this way before. So I would like you to fly to Los Angeles tomorrow and begin your assignment. Can you do that?"
"I can do anything," Selena said.
"I know," Beckman agreed. "Details will be emailed to you momentarily and all of the ticket information will be taken care of. Now get to bed. I believe it's almost 3 a.m. where you are."
"Ah, Grams, you never forget a thing," Selena said with a smile. "Okay, I'll go to bed after I read the email."
"No, now," Beckman said. "You can read the email tomorrow. I need you to wake up early. A growing girl needs good rest."
"I love how you can just switch modes like that," Selena said. "You can be General Beckman one minute and the next you're my loving grams."
"What can I say?" Beckman asked rhetorically. "But you honestly need to be in bed. Night-night, dear."
"Night, Grams," Selena said before hanging up the phone and putting it back on the charger.
Selena loved her grandma, but sometimes she could be a little bossy. Even if she was the head of the NSA, she couldn't tell her to go to bed. That was her mother's job. Although Selena had to admit that she preferred dealing with Beckman rather than her mother.
"She won't know whether I go to bed right now or not," Selena said to herself as she made her way from the kitchen to her room. "And I really do have to read that email."
When she got to her room, Selena looked around. She normally didn't like having to share a room with her younger sister, but it was nights like this that made it kind of fun. She could see the difference in the way they lived. Phoebe's side was extremely clean. Not a candy wrapper or toy out of place. Sometimes Selena wondered if her sister was really six years old.
What kind of six-year old is a neat freak? she asked herself for the millionth time.
Selena looked at her side of the room. It was a mess. It was always a mess. But that was how she liked it to be. She could find everything. It wasn't a problem for her. Plus, it got on Phoebe's nerves, which was fun.
She walked to her desk and opened her laptop. She always kept it locked. Even though she was fifteen, her mother trusted her completely. Besides, she was one of the government's best spies and had things that needed to be kept secret.
Leaning over the chair to reach the laptop, Selena typed in her password, the password that only she and her grams knew. Once she was in, she logged onto her government secure email address. Scanning through her inbox, she saw the message that Beckman had told her would be coming. It was titled simply "Details".
She opened the email and smiled at what she read.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Selena, I expected better from you of all people. I told you to go to bed. But did you listen? No. You know what that means, right? No dessert when you come visit me. (By the way, after this mission you had better come visit me.)
So the details of this mission are simple. You are to go in and watch Agents Casey and Walker. (You've worked with them before. You know how they work.) Because the asset must not know who you really are (His name is Chuck Bartowski. Remember that.), you must have a cover and cover name. I trust you to pick one suitable enough.
Don't tell the agents or the Intersect why you are there. At least not at first. If they ask, just tell them that I assigned you to their team and that they don't have the level of clearance to know why.
Go on the missions with them since that's where most of my concern lies. Make note of how they carry out the missions and how they act around each other. Don't help if you don't have to.
Again, the ticket information will all be handled. There will be a car waiting outside of your house in the morning at seven. Tommy (I know how much you like him.) will drive you to the airport. When you land in L.A., there will be a car for you to use as your transportation for the duration of your mission.
Of course, all of your expenses will be covered. An apartment will be rented. Everything will be set.
I don't expect the mission to last for more than six months, but that may change.
I love you, honey. Now go to bed.
Love,
Grams.
"A'ight, Grams," Selena said even though she knew that there was no chance of her grandma's hearing her, "I'm going to bed."
She walked the two feet from her desk to her dresser. Pulling open the top drawer, which she used to hold her pajamas and undergarments, she scanned the contents for her favorite sleepwear. Locating the flannel pajama bottoms and the worn-out T-shirt, she took them out and closed the drawer.
For a minute or two, Selena pondered getting dressed for bed right there in her room. But her mother had told her countless times not to because she shared a room with Phoebe. And unless she wanted to answer questions about puberty from a curious six-year old, she would change her clothes in the bathroom. So she quietly exited the room and walked across the hall to the bathroom.
She didn't really like sharing a bathroom with Phoebe and the twins, Mark and Jacob, who were five. It wasn't sharing the bathroom with Phoebe that bothered her. Considering her sister was a neat freak, it just saved her from cleaning. It was the twins. They were five years old and boys. So, obviously, the bathroom was always kind of a mess. Even with Phoebe cleaning.
Selena quickly shut the door and changed her clothes. Living with siblings who, more likely than not, would barge into the room at any time, and being an agent who had to be quick, she was out of the bathroom in under a minute. It would have been less, but she had to be quiet. Even though she was the only spy in the house, her mother was a MOM and had supersonic hearing.
Good thing I already brushed my teeth, she thought as she walked back to her room. Otherwise it would have taken me longer, but Grams taught me to always brush my teeth after I eat. At least whenever I can.
Entering her room again, Selena realized that her bed was a mess. This was not unusual, but it was kind of annoying. She took a deep breath and walked over to her bed. She picked up the two books that she had planned to read earlier and put them back on her shelf. Then she picked up the clothes that she had washed and folded but hadn't put away. After she put the clothes away, she cleared the other various items she had on her bed for some reason. A paintbrush, a small container of noise putty, several small toy cars, pieces of a puzzle, and few coins. When she had put all of the items in their respective places, she straightened the sheets and comforter as best she could. Then she walked to the light switch by the door and turned the light off. After that was done, she blindly made her way to her bed.
Once Selena was all settled in bed, she remembered that she had brownies baking in the oven.
Crap! she thought grumblingly. Have to get up now.
Selena threw the covers off of herself and hopped out of bed. After landing safely on the floor, she carefully made her way to the door. Once she was out of the room, she could smell the brownies. She hoped they weren't burnt.
Why do I always decide to bake at night? she asked herself, running quietly down the hall to the kitchen. Oh, yeah. Because if I bake when everyone's awake, whatever I make gets eaten within minutes and for some reason that bugs me.
She made it to the kitchen just seconds before the oven timer went off. She quickly turned the timer off before the buzzer sounded because she didn't want to risk anyone hearing that she was awake. Then she walked the three feet to the drawer in which the oven mitts and kitchen towels were kept. After opening the drawer and pulling out an oven mitt, she made her way back to the oven. She turned the oven off and counted to thirty like her grandma always said to. Once she reached thirty, she opened the oven and pulled out the pan of brownies.
Mmmm, they smell good, she thought. Glad everyone's asleep, because otherwise they would all be rushing into the kitchen.
Selena set the pan on the counter. The brownies had to cool. She replaced the oven mitt in its drawer and took out a small towel. Placing the towel on top of the brownies, she walked back to her room.
The towel should keep the flies away, she thought. And the cats won't bother them.
When she was halfway down the hall, she saw her mom coming out of her and Phoebe's bedroom. She wanted to hide, but there weren't any good hiding places in the middle of the hallway. So she just pretended that walking down the hallway at four in the morning was normal. Her mom wouldn't question her.
"Selena," her mom said, coming up to her and halting her progress to her room, "I thought you were awake. You weren't in your room. You really need to clean your side by the way. So, what are you doing up?"
"Baking," Selena answered. "And Grams called and said that I have a new mission, so I won't be here for at least six months."
"When does the mission start?" asked her mother, worried.
"Tomorrow morning," said Selena. "But don't worry, Mom. Grams taught me everything she knows. And for all of the things she doesn't know, she got me tutors. I'm one of the best. Plus, it's just a reconnaissance job. Or not even. I just have to watch some agents. Like baby-sitting, but, you know, with weapons. It'll be fun."
"Honey, I know you like being a spy," her mother began, "but what about school?"
"Mom, I'm homeschooled," Selena said. "Besides, I don't need it. I already have two PhDs. I'm good for school."
"Look I know my mother, your grandmother, loves you," her mom said. "And loves that you like being a spy, but she's taking you away from your family, your friends. You have never even had one year in regular school."
"Mom, all my friends are spies," Selena said. "Or most of them are. I have some other friends. And neither Phoebe, Mark, nor Jacob like school and they've been in it since they were three."
"Fine, but after this mission, can you take a break?" her mom asked. "Please? You're fifteen. You need a life outside of the spy world."
"Mom, all the time I have between missions is like a break," Selena said. "And it's always boring. Sure, some things are fun, but more often than not, I'm bored within a week. I haven't had a mission for two months. This one is welcome. But I'll try to relax and take a break after this mission, okay?"
"That's all I ask," her mom smiled. "But still, what about school?"
"I'll register myself in some type of school for this mission, okay?" asked Selena. "It'll be part of my cover."
"Won't that make the mission harder?" asked her mom.
"No," Selena answered. "All I have to do is watch. And if I am needed for anything, I'll skip. No problem."
"Selena," her mom said in a warning tone, "I do not approve of you skipping school."
"Mom, two PhDs," Selena reminded her. "I'm good for school. Trust me."
"Fine," her mother said, knowing that she wouldn't win an argument with her daughter. "But get in bed before I call Grams."
"Okay, mom," Selena said, "I will. Grams already told me to go to bed anyway. I just had to get the brownies out of the oven."
"You made brownies?" her mom asked.
"Yeah," Selena nodded.
"Mind if I get one?" asked her mom.
"No, go ahead," Selena said before rolling her eyes. "I'm going to bed."
"'Night, sweetie," her mom said, kissing her daughter on the cheek before walking down the hall to the kitchen.
Selena once again made her way to her bedroom. When she got there, she turned off the light and walked to her bed. She climbed under the covers and settled herself into her favorite spot. Once she was comfortable, she gently fell asleep.