Hi. SO to most of you, I am probably a new author. I never wrote a story for Covert affairs, but to be hones, I have kind of grown out of my "Twilight Phase." I will continue to wite my sequel to NC, but I feel that the characters have kind of branched off into a new story with it's own characters.

Anyways if you are interested in betaing, get ahold of me, because I need someone to check over everything (so I feel better.) Add a few senances here and there to give it more substance, (because I tend to write 1,500 - 3,000 word chapters.) and because I need someone to bounce ideas off of, (because there is one of two ways that this story will go,a nd I am still indecisive.)

So, that's all. Read and Review! Enjoy.

P.S. If you are familiar with my other stories, you know that I give previews to anyone who reviews. That stands with this one. If you review, I will PM you a preview. But if you want to leave anonymous reviews, I suggest that you include an email address if you want the preview, because if you have no account, I cannot PM you the preview.

~BroadwayGlory

Lesson 1: Running Away Isn't Always a Bad Thing

Tori's POV

I lay in bed shaking after what had happened. I couldn't bring myself to move, for I was paralyzed in fear that he would come back. I had to force myself to breathe, and I had to force myself to move my hand to pick up the phone. I knew that Annie was expecting a call from me, and that she would probably be pacing her apartment in D.C. with worry.

I thought back on the memories I had of when I was younger. Annie and Danielle had practically raised me. I was just young when the whole "dad" thing had happened. Long story short, through all of the court hearings, and problems, Annie and Danielle—just teenagers at that time—had taken up the responsibility of bringing me up. I had been lost by my parents in the troubles then, but my two sisters hadn't forgotten me. I thought of Annie as more of a mom than my own mother.

When she left for D.C. she had told me that I could come and stay with Danielle or her any time I needed it. Thoughts of my childhood and tonight's horrifying turn spun a web through my head—in many different languages I might point out—as I picked up the phone and pressed number one on my speed dial.

I heard her pick up on the second ring. "Tori," Annie answered. I could hear the relief in her voice.

"Annie?" I asked, sounding more vulnerable than I would have liked.

"Tori, what's wrong?" she asked in an authoritative voice.

"Do you remember when you told me that I could stay with you whenever I needed it? I tested. I could almost hear her nod through the phone.

"Of course, that offer still stands if you need it," She reassured.

"How fast can you get to Seattle?" I asked.

"I can be on the next plane and be there by morning." She told me.

"I need you," I sobbed into the phone.

"I'll be there as soon as I can Tee. Pack your bags," she told me quickly before hanging up. I let the phone drop out of my hand right as sobs began to wrack my body. I held myself, while I let myself cry. Soon enough, there were no more tears to cry and I began packing, determined to get away from this place.

When the sobs had stopped, and my face had recovered from its red-puffy state, I ran down the stairs to meet my mom. Her golden blonde hair was splayed out behind her on the cushions on the couch. Her pale hands turned pages as she read her book. Her head turned towards me as she heard me behind her.

"Hi Tori," she greeted, a smile beginning to grace her face.

"Mom, I need to tell you something," I told her quickly.

"What is it?" she asked, placing a bookmark between pages and shutting it.

"I think I need to go and stay with Annie for a while," I blurted out quickly. Her face paled, and her features became paler.

"You don't have to do that Tori," she told me in an angry voice.

"I'm sorry, she's already on her way." I stated.

"And you didn't think to ask me first," she inquired, her cheeks flushing with angry color.

"When do you listen to me anymore mom?" I asked. "You're either arguing with my dad over me, or you're out with John. I'm tired of being stuck in the middle of crossfire, and a 'kindling romance' I need someone who will take care of me, and pay attention to me. That's not you or dad, so I asked Annie if I could stay with her for a while."

"Annie doesn't know the first thing about raising a child," she stressed.

"Apparently she knows enough, because I didn't turn out too bad," I threw at her.

"Annie didn't raise you, I did!" she finally began yelling.

"Really, because I seem to remember the days we would go without seeing either you or dad. Annie and Danielle made sure I had what I needed, they taught me my ABCs, they taught me how to count, they did everything a parent is supposed to do!" I shot back.

Dead silence followed. I knew that I had to spare her the real truth, but I didn't want to start a fight with my mother right before I left. She just nodded solemnly, looking at me apologetically. "You're right," she finally said. "I wasn't there to be a mom to you when I should have, and things aren't that great here right now. Maybe you should go away for a while." I pulled her into my arms and gave her a big hug before dashing up the stairs to complete my packing.

I arrived at the terminal just as the PA announced that the flight had arrived. Annie's text had told me that this was the right place. A crowd started flooding off of the plane, and I spotted my tall, blonde sister. She was carrying only a purse and two tickets back to the airport in Washington D.C.

I stood and waved my arm, effectively catching her eye. She walked over to me and pulled me into a hug, saying, "I knew I shouldn't have left you in Seattle alone. What happened this time? Did dad threaten you again, or-"

"Nothing like that j-just come with me." I lead her to my car and shut the door behind me. She followed and did the same.

"What's this all about Tee, and no bullshitting me here, I know when you are lying to me," she informed me firmly. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"You remember Sam, right?" I asked her. She nodded and I continued. "Last year, his father died. After the funeral, I drove him home and took him up to his room—he didn't want to be alone. That was the first time I ever saw 'the look' in his eyes. He would go all intense one minute, and was fine the next. Whenever he got that look, I just knew that he was going to hit me. I had been keeping it quiet, because it wasn't often that he got that way, and I knew that he didn't mean to hurt me—he wouldn't even remember what he did. Last night I went home from his house, we got into a huge fight over what was happening. He showed up in my room a few hours later and he-he," I broke off sobbing.

"Did he force himself on you?" she asked gently. I nodded, still sobbing. She rubbed my back gently, and I flinched at her touch. She just kept on rubbing my back, and muttering soothing words to me. I finally controlled myself enough to look at her. Her face was filled with rage as she helped me out of my car and to the plane we would be boarding. I didn't even see the strange looks I got from people.

I was awoken by the jolt of our plane landing on the tarmac. I looked over at Annie to see that she was staring out of her window, looking as if she were pondering something. The whole airport was a blur as we passed through, getting my things before putting them into a sharp little convertible.

As soon as we got in, she turned to face me. "Okay, Tori. I will be completely honest with you now, as long as you are completely honest with me in return." I nodded for her to continue. "I never really told you what I do, did I?" she inquired. I shook my head, only knowing that Annie's job took her all over the world. "Okay, here it goes. I am an Agent for the CIA. I work all over to catch criminals and keep operations running smoothly. There is a camp, called the farm that I could take you to. They will teach you what you need to know, and then you will join me. I want you to be completely honest with me when I ask you if you want me to take you there."

I sat there in silence, half in disbelief, and half in shock. That was when I really began to think about it. The CIA would teach me everything I needed to know about how to defend myself, and I sure as hell wasn't going to let myself be screwed over again. I nodded to her, not trusting my voice to convey the yes that I was going to give her.

"You have to be sure, Tori. Once you get into this, it's hard to get out, and stay out. And besides, it will be a long shot for them to take you in. You are only eighteen and fresh out of high school, you know." I nodded again, only half paying attention. I hear a sigh, but I am too distracted to care. I can't help but replay the flashbacks over and over in my head. The pain, the betrayal, his face hovering over mine, too close for comfort: It is all set on a constant loop through my subconscious.

I watch as the scenery flies by. The green mountains of the Appalachians, and the different cars all fly by in a blur until we stop and my vision becomes clear once again, and my mind snaps from Sam. Annie turns to face me. "Tori, you have to keep your mind off of this. You don't need to be haunted by this for the rest of your life," I look at her, wondering how she knew I was thinking about it. Then I feel a drop of liquid skim the surface of my cheek. I had been crying.

I nod silently at her again, and the trip continues silently for about thirty minutes until we begin to hit D.C. limits. We stop in front of an apartment building just inside the capitol and she lets herself right in. I follow her up three flights of stairs and begin questioning what is going on. "Annie?" I ask, perplexed.

"Huh?" she stops to fiddle with her keys for a second before opening the door in front of her with one of them.

"I thought you were taking me to the farm," I explain, following her inside.

"I can't take you there like this Tee," she tells me. "So, I am going to take you to work and see if I can't pull a few strings to get you into personal training with someone. It will be faster, and it will probably take your mind off of your. . . situation." I nod, stifling a yawn. "Why don't you go and lie down. I'm going to call Augie, and see what he can do. She points to the second door on the right, and goes off to the kitchen to make her call.

I find that the room is soft and comfortable, and I won't scold her for giving me her bed until after I get some sleep.

I woke up gasping, and whimpering. Sweat soaked my t-shirt, and my bangs. I pushed them out of my face stiffly with my hand before laying back down, hoping to catch my breath. I could hear out the door and into the tiny kitchen where Annie must have finally reached Augie.

"Augie, hi." She greeted in a tired voice.

Annie's POV

"Hello?" answered a voice from the other side of the line that could only belong to Augie.

"Augie, hi." I greeted in a tired voice.

"Annie?" he asked from the other side of the line.

"Yeah." I assured him.

"This is your day off, why are you calling?"

"I have a favor to ask you." I began.

"What kind of favor?" he wondered.

"The favor kind of favor," I answered seriously.

"What do you need?"

"I need you to get my sister, Tori, into private training. With someone good: Maybe Jai, or Mike, or even Joan if possible," I answered, trying to sound as un-desperate as I could.

"What makes her so special?" he asked. I could hear the keyboard clicking.

"She's as good with languages as I am," I began, "and I taught her how to fight a few years ago. Look, she's young: fresh out of high school, eighteen."

"You told me she graduated early," he interrupted, "That will look good to them, help her get in."

"I know, but Augie, something horrible happened to her yesterday. She's hollow, and afraid. I think it has something to do with her boyfriend. She told me he was abusive, but something specific happened to her last night. She won't give me straight answer," I explained.

"Good motive to join," he remarked.

"If you could just wait for me to get there, we could talk to Joan about it together. I could bring her with me, she could prove herself to them. I know she can do it, we just need to give her a chance."

"Okay," Augie assured me.

"I'll be there in an hour," I told him, before hanging up. A feeling of cold, hard, dread coursed through me. I didn't want to subject her to this, but I also knew that I had no choice if I wanted to keep her nightmares away. I slowly crept into my room to wake her. She was sitting up, looking pale, and sickly.

"Let's get you ready," I told her, taking her hand, leading her to my closet. I pulled out a purple blouse and gray skirt for her to wear, and some grey shoes, and set them on my bed. "You change, and I'll get your passport from my drawer." She nodded emptily as I left the room. I heard the rustle of fabric that meant that she was changing, and I left to grab her spare passport that I kept in my lock box.

She appeared next to me a few minutes later, dressed in my clothes, ready to go. "Are you sure?" I asked again.

"Positive," she answered with a renewed fire in her eyes.

I have been thinking about this story line since probably the end of the first season of Covert Affairs. I feel that the only way to get it out of my crazy head is to write it, so that is what I am doing. I don't know how the events in the middle of the story will go quite yet, because there is one of two ways that it can go. A lot of you will probably not like this story if it goes the one way, but you won't particularly like the other way either, so I have a lot of thinking to do. All I ask is that when the time comes, you stick with me, because I have a reason for both.

This story will mainly take place in Tori's POV, because she is what this story is about, although I will try and fit Annie's POV into almost every chapter, because she has to have thoughts on what her sister is going through. WARNING: this story will have one more chaper, and then skip ahead a few months, and have flashbacks to those months. It will help the story flow better, and I won't bore you with the whole four months of her training.

I will have the next chapter up ASAP! :)