Beca couldn't believe what had just come out of Aubrey's mouth and it showed with the silence that followed as she immediately started to worry about her best friend's safety.

"Earth to Beca," Aubrey said into the phone in frustration.

"Sorry Bree, I just lost my train of thought." Beca apologized.

Aubrey sighed. "I asked if it would be ok if we double date with you and Chloe to make it a little less awkward. You remember what happened the last time I went on a blind first date."

Beca cringed at the thought. The poor blonde had been so nervous that she ended up puking all over her and her date's food in the middle of a crowded restaurant. "Yeah, definitely. I'll ask Chloe when we talk tomorrow and text you with the information."

Thanks Beca, you're a good friend."

The brunette smiled. "I just want you to be happy."

"Back at you." Aubrey said before there was a pause. "I should probably go. I have to get up early to get a run in before work."

"Totally understand. I should probably do the same. I'll text you tomorrow. Goodnight, Bree."

"Goodnight, Beca."

The entire next ay at work, the brunette was on edge as she did her best to avoid her boss. According to CIA protocol, she was supposed to immediately present new information related to her assignment as soon as possible, but thought it best to hold off until she was sure that her connection to the target would actually work out. Besides, she was done after this assignment so they couldn't fire her for a small breach of protocol.

Beca let out a sigh of relief when she got into her car after a day of successfully avoiding her boss.

The relief was short lived as she realized she had to call Chloe to set the plan in motion. The redhead had told her that the final bell rang at 2:30, but she usually stuck around until 3:30 incase any of her students needed extra help. The brunette had 10 minutes to get the call out of the way or prolong the inevitable.

"Hey Becs, what's up?" The redhead chirped into the phone.

She couldn't help but smile at the fact that the other girl was already comfortable enough using a nickname. "Hey Chloe, I was just calling to ask what you wanted to do for our date next week?" The brunette asked as casually as possible.

"Someone's eager." The redhead teased, making Beca roll her eyes. "I'm giving a test on Tuesday and I like to get them back as soon as possible and I have yet to even write the test plus the I do a study group the day before. That pretty much eliminates the first half of the week and I'm not crazy about going out on Fridays, so I guess that leaves us with Thursday. Does that work for you?"

"Yeah, I should be free."

"Great! It's a date then," Chloe said happily into the phone.

"Any chance we could make it a double date with Aubrey Stacie?" Beca asked hopefully. "Aubrey's really nervous and has ruined dates because she can't overcome her anxiety. I think having us there will keep her calm because the whole situation will be less overwhelming."

"Yeah, no, of course." Chloe immediately agreed. "Aubrey was basically my sister growing up and Stacie and I roomed together for three years so I don't have any secrets from either of them so there isn't anything you can't say to me that you can't say in front of them."

Beca cocked an eyebrow. "What do you think I'm going to say? It's only our second date!"

"You'd be surprised," Chloe said in a tone that was clearly thinking back less than fondly on past experiences. "But Thursday sounds great. Do you want to say seven at Lotus?"

"Yeah that sounds good. I can't wait to see you again."

"Me too. I'll text Stacie to let her know and talk to you later this week, ok?"

The brunette said that sounded reasonable and then hung up. Beca shot Aubrey a quick text to let her know the plan. The blonde confirmed that would work. It made Beca uncomfortable that her best friend and the girl she was dating had such close contact with someone so dangerous, but for the sake of the mission, she had to keep it quiet while doing her best to protect them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"What is it, Agent Mitchell?" Assistant Director James asked when he saw the brunette standing outside of his door.

Beca walked in and closed the door behind her before taking a seat in front of James's desk. "I have an in with Stacie Conrad."

"Already?" James asked, surprised. "How did you manage that?"

"A new, um, friend of min is friends with her and I'm going to be at a dinner with both of them next week."

James nodded as he thought for a few moments before turning his attention back to Beca. "So, what is your plan to take Dr. Conrad out? You will obviously be within striking distance. But killing her is only half of the assignment. I doubt Dr. Conrad will be carrying the syrim with her. How do you plan on accessing it without blowing you cover?"

"I'm not sure. That's why I came to you, sir."

James sat back and raised an eyebrow at the brunette. "You honestly expect me to believe that there isn't even the beginning of a plan forming in that pretty head of yours?"

Beca signed in defeat, she was hopping James had an idea so she wouldn't have to use hers. "I'll follow Stacie home after dinner, sneak in once she's asleep, hopefully find the syrim in some kind of a home lab, grab it, and poison her cereal or something."

Her boss nodded as he critiqued the plan in his head. "Not bad. Maybe try putting truth-telling pills in her drink if you get a chance. If you can do that, you'll be able to eliminate a lot of guesswork later. I'm also assigning you an Eagle Eye, at least while you're inside the house. We can't find any records of Dr. Conrad having taken any martial arts or firearms training or having purchased a firearm, but that isn't a reason to take a risk."

"Of course. That sounds reasonable. Is there anything else you need me to know?" Beca asked, unable to hide the somberness in her tone. "If not, I'm going to go start doing my preparation for this mission."

"That's all I have for you right now. Check back with me next Thursday morning so I can give you your ear piece, camera, and the poison you'll be using." James said before dismissing the brunette.

Beca left early that day, saying she was going to work from home. The second she walked through the door, the brunette started crying. She knew that she had to kill Stacie Conrad. She was too dangerous. But it still made Beca sad that she would also be hurting her best friend and potential girlfriend by killing someone important to them.

Eventually the brunette willed herself to stop crying and pulled herself together enough to make lunch before packing up everything she would need for the shooting range. It had been awhile since she had been sent on a kill only mission and she wanted to be prepared.