The following morning, Elizabeth rolled out of bed and got ready for the day. After a quick shower with Joshua, the two got dressed when Lila called.

"Hey, I got your voicemail last night. You're in New York?" Lila asked.

"Yeah. I'm here on an assignment, but I have some time to tour around beforehand and thought you'd like to join Joshua and I along with some cute guys that you could possibly be interested in, because you know... you're single," Elizabeth explained over the phone.

"Uh, totally! I'll meet you soon," Lila replied.

After hanging up, Elizabeth messaged Ted.

It's Elizabeth from last night. Meet at McLarens in half an hour?

As Elizabeth waited for a text, she and Joshua read over their assignment.

"I don't get it. We're supposed to be tracking down a criminal that has never been seen?" Joshua asked.

"Not seen, but definitely heard. Apparently they're getting too noisy with activity," Elizabeth confirmed.

"Huh. The question is where do we look for a guy that doesn't want to be found?"

"Who knows."

Elizabeths phone vibrated, indicating that a text message had come through. It was Ted.

Sounds great! See you there!

"Hey, are you sure it's a good idea to be going on a tour of New York with some strange guy that you met at a bar last night?" Joshua asked, adjusting his leather jacket.

The two left their hotel room and began walking down to the foyer.

"Why? You jealous?" Elizabeth teased.

Joshua gave her a mock frown.

"No. But what if there's something dirty about them?"

"The only one who seemed even remotely dirty was the blonde guy that tried hitting on me earlier," Elizabeth remarked.

Joshua rolled his eyes.

"I still think we should do a background check," Joshua insisted.

"Fine. Go ahead. Hey, which McLarens was it again?" Elizabeth asked, reading the text message from Lila.

"Oh uh, the one on the West Side," Joshua remembered.

Elizabeth began texting her friend, not realizing that there was a red light at the crosswalk. She kept walking and texting when she suddenly stopped what she was doing, jumped four feet in the air and jumped out of the way of an oncoming car that was headed straight for her!

"Get out of the road!" The driver yelled.

"Crazy bitch!" Another yelled.

"What the hell..!" A few people exclaimed.

Elizabeth pocketed her cell phone and made it to the other side of the street, where she waited for Joshua to cross. When he came on over, he looked at her with annoyance.

"Geez babe, you really can't help yourself, can you?" He asked with annoyance.

Elizabeth just shrugged.

"It's not my fault that I have abilities."

"But it was your fault for almost causing an accident," Joshua reminded her.

"Nobody got hurt. Calm down."

Joshua took a sharp inhale through his teeth, held his breath for a second, then let it out before following Elizabeth. They finally reached McLarens and they entered. Joshua went straight to the bar to order some breakfast, while Elizabeth went over to the booth that Ted and Barney were currently sitting at. Seeing Elizabeth, Ted beamed. Uh -oh, she knew that look. It was the same look that Joshua gave her every time he saw her. It was the look that made Joshua say three words to her the day they began a relationship.

She had to be careful around Ted and make sure not to lead him on... although that was no problem for her, considering her brutal honesty.

"Hey," Ted greeted as he stood up from his seat at the booth.

"Hey. Thanks for the offer again," Elizabeth said.

"Yeah, no problem," Ted said and the two sat down. Elizabeth sat at the end, while Ted and Barney sat across from each other.

Barney looked around anxiously.

"So, where is she? Where's your friend?" Barney asked.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"She's coming. Chill."

Barney groaned.

"Chill? You're telling me to chill? Lady, I am the definition of chill. If you look it up in the dictionary, you'll see a little picture of me in it," Barney spouted.

"Alright." Elizabeth pulled out her cell phone... or... what Ted and Barney assumed was a cell phone. It looked a bit advanced for the year 2007.

She tapped on the screen, then read it before turning it over to Barney. Barney looked at the phone. It was sleek and shiny, and instead of it being a flip phone, it was just a rectangle screen with icons and words on it. What kind of phone was that? Putting that aside, he read the words in front of it. It was the definition of chill and there was no photo of Barney on it.

"Alright, so you called my bluff!" Barney confessed.

Ted chuckled, as did Elizabeth. Joshua came over and sat down by Ted; passing over breakfast to Elizabeth.

"Hi, I'm Joshua Reynolds. I'm Elizabeths' business partner," Joshua introduced himself.

Barney groaned inwardly. This guy was going to be cramping his style! He was attractive, to say the least and Barney, who was a man that exuded confidence in his appearance, felt insecure in that moment. He quickly shrugged it off.

"Business partner? What does that even mean?" Barney scoffed as he brought his glass of scotch to his lips.

"It means we work together. We work for... Carmichael Industries," Joshua spoke; subtly glancing over at Elizabeth.

"Carmichael Industries? The biggest tech company in Canada?" Ted asked.

"Yeah. We're going around recruiting people to join," Joshua continued.

As Ted, Elizabeth and Joshua continued talking about the business that they worked for, Barney kept glancing over at the door. Where was she!? He was interrupted when he heard Elizabeth's phone go off. Looking at her screen, Elizabeth looked a little down.

"What's wrong?" Ted asked.

"It's Lila... she can't make it. Something came up," Elizabeth responded.

Barney groaned inwardly, lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut. This could not be happening right now! Another text tone went off. This time, it was Joshua's phone. He groaned.

"Our boss just sent me some new information," Joshua told Elizabeth.

"Do I want to know what it is?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'll text you the details on my way to where I have to go. Don't keep her away for too long," Joshua said to Ted, stood up, walked over to Elizabeth, gave her a curt nod, then exited the bar.

There was a brief pause of silence. Barney and Ted were left alone with a really hot woman, who, despite her best friend not showing up, was now available to be competition between Ted and Barney. One of them was going home with her tonight!

"So, how about we start with the Empire State Building?" Ted suggested.

"Oh come on, Ted! Lizzie doesn't want to see that boring thing! New York is..."

"Call me Lizzie one more time..." Elizabeth stopped Barney; her tone low and harsh.

"I'm sorry?" Barney asked, not sure if he heard her correctly.

He looked at her intensely, and saw a dark look in her piercing green eyes. They made him shudder.

"The only person allowed to call me that, is my father," Elizabeth explained.

Again, Barney shuddered, but for different reasons this time. He could tell that this woman did not have daddy issues. In fact, it sounded like she admired her father. Rats! She was already getting Teds attention more than his! Not cool.

"W-well o-okay then. S-sorry," Barney stuttered.

Damn it! Why did she intimidate him so much!?

"Uh okay, well then how about we go to the Rockefeller?" Ted suggested.

"Ooh, yeah and then maybe we can listen to your boring rants about the structure of the buildings," Barney spoke with sarcasm.

Elizabeth read a text on her phone, then proceeded to say:

"The Rockefeller sounds great! Let's go there."

The three got up from the booth and proceeded to leave the bar. Walking outside, Ted hailed a cab and the three got in. When they arrived at the Rockefeller Center, Barney tried to make his move.

"So, Elizabeth, what's your deal with that hunk of muscle?" Barney asked.

"Excuse me?"

"Your business associate... Jason?"

"Joshua."

"Right, whatever. Are you... in to him?" Barney asked.

Elizabeth scoffed.

"Joshua? No way. He's a bit pretentious."

Kids, that's what Barney swore he heard. But what Elizabeth really said was...

"Joshua? Well... he is pretty hot."

Ted stifled a chuckle while Barney just listened with fake interest. Ted knew that Barney had no idea what Elizabeth really said. It was making for some great comedy. The way she bantered with Barney kept Ted even more interested in her. He was going to find out if the two were really an item or not, then make his move. It was way more subtle than Barneys play.

"Oh hey look! Lego!" Ted exclaimed, pointing at the Lego Store.

Lego?! Why on earth would he point that out?

"Lego?! Oh, awesome! My little brother loves Lego!" Elizabeth exclaimed and began rushing towards the store.

Ted and Barney tried to keep up with her.

"Really, Ted? Lego? What are you, twelve?" Barney asked with annoyance.

"I was just trying to keep things interesting! Lego was the first thing that popped in to my head!" Ted defended himself.

"Ted, I swear, if this woman has any interest in dating one of us, let me tell you, it's not going to you or your stupid Lego obsession!" Barney growled and bolted after Elizabeth, leaving Ted behind.

Ted stopped in his tracks.

"It's not an obsession. It helps keep my creativity going," Ted muttered to himself, then proceeded in to the Lego store.


A while later, Elizabeth, Barney and Ted found themselves at the top of the Empire State Building. Ted and Elizabeth were overlooking the city, while Barney stood the side watching them; scowling. For the rest of the 'tour of New York City', Ted had been scoring more points with Elizabeth than Barney had. She just wasn't interested in him... and many women were! She was such a challenge! Pouting, Barney continued sulking.

"So... do you have anyone special in your life?" Ted asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth took a sharp inhale, before letting it out.

"It's... complicated. Joshua and I... we act like we're a couple a lot of the times. For the most part, it seems like we are. But then... I dunno," Elizabeth stopped.

"What? What is it?" Ted asked, genuinely curious.

Elizabeth sighed.

"It's just that... some times he drives me crazy. He worries so much about my safety, but I can handle myself just fine. I don't need protecting. It feels like he's smothering me some times," Elizabeth confessed.

"I know what that's like. I've had girlfriends worry about where I am, what I'm doing... who I'm doing," Ted began explaining.

"Uh... that sounds more like insecure little brats who are major time stalkers," Elizabeth remarked.

Ted cracked a smile, then let out a chuckle.

"Yeah.. didn't realize that until long after those break ups."

It was Elizabeths' turn to let out a chuckle. Then, she glanced around the area. It seemed that she noticed something in her peripherals.

"Are... are you okay?" Ted asked.

She didn't answer him; just looked around intensely. She was quiet; glancing around. She was listening for something.

"Barney?" Elizabeth called out.

There was no answer.

"Barney, where are you?"

Still nothing.

"Where did Barney go?" Elizabeth asked.

"I..." Ted glanced around. Where was Barney?"

"I don't... know. Huh. That's weird. He wouldn't leave without saying something," Ted spoke up.

Elizabeth took a sharp inhale, then let it out just as quickly.

"What's wrong?" Ted asked.

"Text him."

Ted pulled out his phone and texted Barney without further questions. Where did he go? After he sent the text, the two waited for a moment before Elizabeth moved through the group of people; Ted following close behind. Shoving someone aside, Elizabeth bent down and picked up a phone... Barneys' phone. She took it and stood up, showing it to Ted.

"Barney..?" Ted was confused.

Just then, the fire alarms went off. Elizabeth covered her ears from the noise as Ted began to follow procedure to exit. But with the amount of people at the top floor of the Empire State Building, it was taking a bit longer than usual to leave.

"Don't worry, it's just a drill," Ted reassured her.

That's not what she was worried about. Elizabeth was worried about Barney. Where was he? Suddenly, there was an explosion and the building shook. People screamed as they were thrown to the ground. Elizabeth stood her ground and caught Ted before he toppled on to a group of people.

"We've got to get out of here!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Uh, I hate to break it to you, but the only way to get out of here is down the stairs!" Ted yelled back as another explosion rocked the building.

Elizabeth looked around frantically. Then, she saw a window that had been shattered. Grabbing Ted by the sleeve of his jacket, she dragged him over.

"What are you doing?" Ted yelled.

He saw Elizabeth grab something that was hidden beneath her jacket and pulled it out. It looked like a... gun? Oh god! Why did she have a gun? Ted hated guns! Elizabeth gripped Ted around the waist, shot the gun on a fixture below the window ledge that they were standing, then looked at him.

"Hold on tight."

Ted gripped her tightly around her waist as Elizabeth jumped off the building.

"Aaaah!" Ted screamed.

He squeezed his eyes shut, expecting to plunge to his death... until he felt a slow descent towards the ground below. Opening his eyes, he looked upward. The gun that Elizabeth held was a grappling hook gun; with the grappling taking them down the side of the Empire State Building. By this time, the explosions had stopped; and there was a helicopter coming their way.

"Oh good! Rescue!" Ted exclaimed.

But then, he saw a figure inside the chopper with a big ass gun pointing at them!

"Hold this!" Elizabeth said and gave the grapple hook gun to Ted. She kept an arm strongly across his waist as she pulled out a secondary gun.

What the hell was going on!?

"Don't let go!" Elizabeth ordered Ted.

He didn't dare. She aimed her gun at the man with the gun in the chopper and she squeezed the trigger. The gunman went down. Getting to the ground was taking to long. She had to move fast!

"There's a red button hidden under the bottom of the handle. Press it!" Elizabeth ordered.

Moving his thumb slightly, Ted pressed it. The grapple sent them flying down!

"Aaah!" Ted screamed again. They were going a lot faster! At this rate, he was going to be paste on the sidewalk below!

At about the nine meter mark, Elizabeth grabbed Ted and the gun. The two looked at each other.

"Do you trust me?" Elizabeth asked.

"I kind of have to right now."

"Good. Let go of the gun."

"Are you crazy?! You'll get us killed!"

There was a brief pause before Ted squeezed his eyes shut... and let of the grapple hook gun. He felt his stomach drop with the rest of his body, and he prepared to be scrapped off the sidewalk. Instead, when he opened his eyes, he was slung over Elizabeths shoulder; who was standing on the sidewalk.

She set him on his feet, but Ted found that he was too wobbly to stand.

"I gotta... sit..."

Ted sat down. The sound of sirens and the flashing lights of police cruisers, ambulances, and firetrucks gave him a headache and he cradled his head. His heart was racing a mile a minute, and his head was spinning. One moment, he was at the top of the Empire State Building with his friend and a beautiful woman that he had just met, and the next... he was surrounded by explosions and guns! Whatever happened... happened to fast, because as Ted stood up to talk to Elizabeth, he felt his knees give way and his vision blackened.

That was the last thing I remembered, kids.

Wow, dad. That really happened to you? Penny asked.

Yeah, it really did.

Wow dad, this story is way more exciting than any other story you've told! Luke exclaimed.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with the stories I've told!

Come on dad, this one is definitely a lot better. Penny stated.

Yeah... it is a pretty great story. But it's not over yet.


Teds apartment

When Ted woke up, he was on his own couch. The first thing he saw, were his own two bare feet. What happened to his socks and shoes? The next thing he noticed, was the blanket that covered him. He lifted it up slightly and gave a sigh of relief. He had his pants on... his pajama pants; but still... pants.

Then, he heard soft voices from the kitchen. He looked on over and saw Elizabeth talking on her cell phone with someone. She sighed, then hung up. He watched her turn her back to do something. She tinkered around for a moment, before exiting the kitchen with a mug in her hands. There was steam rising from it. A hot beverage. Coffee? Tea? She walked on over to him.

"You're awake."

Ted slowly sat up, and Elizabeth sat down beside him, then handed him the mug. He looked at it skeptically, then at her. Who was she?

"Are you trying to kill me?" Ted asked, his tone low and serious.

"No. I'm trying to save you." She gestured for him to take the mug.

Again, he looked at it with skepticism.

"What's in this?" He asked.

"It's Chamomile tea. It'll help relax your nerves," Elizabeth spoke.

She spoke softly, in a way that was caring and reassuring. Tentatively, Ted took the mug and took a slow and careful sip. He felt the hot liquid run down his throat, and he basked in it. He took the edge away from his lips, then let out a sigh.

"What happened? How'd I get back here?" Ted asked, finding his strength.

"There was a terrorist attack at the Empire State Building. We got out okay. You were really brave, Ted," Elizabeth explained.

Ted just listened and began to recollect his memories. Then...

"Oh my god, Barney!" Ted cried, panic rising in his chest.

"He's okay. He called me. He ditched his phone at the building because he met some hot chick, and took her home. He's calling Lily, Marshall and Robin, then they're all coming here to make sure you're okay," Elizabeth explained.

Ted let out another sigh of relief. Goddamn it Barney!

"Wait... we were at the top of the Empire State Building."

Elizabeth nodded.

"There was a terrorist attack."

Elizabeth nodded again.

"Someone tried to shoot at us."

Again, Elizabeth nodded. Ted was putting the pieces together.

"You shot them," Ted spoke, his voice thick with fear.

Elizabeth continued to stay silent.

"You got us on the ground. I was slung over your shoulder."

Another pause.

Ted looked at Elizabeth; fear in his eyes. Then, he spoke three words that changed his life forever.

"Who are you?"

Elizabeth took out a badge from the inside of her leather jacket. The words on it were:

International Abilities Agency
Elizabeth J Striker

And that kids, is how I met a spy.


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