Disclaimer: This is AU. I do not own any of the characters from Grey's Anatomy. I just manipulate them to my will. Also, any line or phrase or setting that seems remotely familiar from any other show, movie or book, also not mine.
AN: Like the support so far. Next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 2 – The Meet
Dr. Calliope Torres was under the watchful eye of Miami's FBI agents the night I arrived in town so I stayed in a hole in the wall hotel for the night. This morning, after my usual four mile run at the crack of dawn, I take a long hot shower and center myself for yet another assignment. On the plane ride down here I was able to read up on the background to this case. Apparently Carlos Torres has been the figure head of an international shipping company. It's on the up and up…well, it was until about 5 years ago. He does do international shipping, but now a lot of it is drugs. It didn't start out that way. No, Mr. Torres was a hard working business man. He and his father started with very little when they immigrated to the states when Carlos was in his teens. But…as his company started getting bigger and bigger, he had to outsource more and more help. During the recent recession, he had to cut some of his employees, and doing so found out about a little under the table business one of this employees was running. When he tried to back out of the arrangement, one of Miami's many drug lords said no-no. Mr. Torres had been cooperating with the gangs for years, but little did they know, he was also a mole for the FBI. Now, the FBI has moved in and arrested the lords after a highly sophisticated sting operation. The trial is due to begin in only a couple weeks time and the major concern now is keeping Carlos and his family safe.
The steam of the scalding shower opens my pores, setting each and every nerve fiber on end. Then, I quickly switch the water temperature to ice cold. My body tenses at the shock but I breathe through it. The pores in my skin clamp closed, locking the energy of the steam within my body. The cold makes me focus. The cold allows me to see clearly. It's the cold that has gotten me through so many things. It's the cold that has kept me alive. I shut the water off when my body starts to shake. Standing in front of the mirror, I look over my toned figure. I'm naked except for the dog tags hanging from my neck. To most women, their body is sacred…it's a piece of work. Their body is their temple. Mines not, it's my workshop. My body is a tool. My body has been tested and pushed to its limit. My body is my own, personal map. Every scar, every crease, every line tells a story. My fingers ghost over a wound that healed long ago. Its large and ragged. Turning, the matching wound on my back is just as ugly. …I earned this scar.
Getting ready quickly, being pretty and all glammed up not really a must have for this job, I look over Dr. Torres's file again. Top of her class in high school, undergrad AND med school. Leader in her field of Orthopedic Surgery. Was married but divorced 67 days later. Trust fund in her name with enough money to buy the hospital she works at. Singer. Likes to cook. Drinks a lot of tequila. And lives by herself in a little house bought for her by her parents when she landed an intern position in Seattle. …tough life doc. And to think, I got a watch when I graduated…though it wasn't from college.
Packing up my small bag, I look around the room and check to make sure I grabbed everything. My hands do a physical check as my mind does a mental. Hands moving to the inside jacket pocket where I slip my credentials and badge. Badge and Creds…check. Moving to my right side, squeezing the holster clipped to my pants. Gun…check. Left hand pushing the cool steel around my neck into the bare skin below. Tags…check. Squeezing the brick in my suit jacket pocket. Phone…check. I close the door behind me and drop the keys off at the front desk. Walking out into the bright sunrise of Miami, I slip my shades from my blonde tresses and over my blue eyes.
Instincts kick in and as I step out of the hotel's lobby, I do a quick visual sweep of my surroundings. …20 bodies. A dozen sedans, five SUVs and trucks. My brain subconsciously looking for any threat, even though I am not yet on duty. My right hand drifts to my sidearm, checking and rechecking. I walk to the curb of the street and hail a taxi. My left foot fall is slightly heavier than the right, my secondary weapon located in a holster around my ankle. Sliding into the back of the cab, I am hit by a wall off BO.
"Where to lady?" The guy asks in broken English. I give him the address and crack a window. …jesus, I should care a aersol can of deodorant. As the ride passes, I take in the sight of Miami. Being with the Bureau means a lot of travel, but hardly any of it is under the 'pleasure' category. Usually you're in, do your job, and then you're out. The cabbie takes us through some of the not so nice parts of town, again my hand moving over my gun. …Mr. Torres' drugs in action. After a ride that lasts way too long, I step out of the disgusting cab and throw some bills up front. Looking at the building looming large in front of me, I feel at home. …FBI Headquarters. Location may change, but it's always the same.
Since the Torres' are being kept in a safe house, I have to go to the Miami's FBI field office and wait for an escort. Grabbing some coffee from the lobby …Fed coffee is Fed coffee I guess. Taste like dirt. I sit and wait. Checking my email from my phone, I get an update from my team. They have made it to Seattle and are nearly finished setting up security at Callie's home. Yang was able to hack into the hospital database and pull all personnel files. …not as legal? Maybe, but major time saver.
"Arizona?" A voice pulls me from my phone. Standing in front of me is a long time friend.
"Teddy! What the hell…" I say taking her in for a hug.
"What are you doing here?" She asks.
"Case…" I say, waving the folder with the FBIs logo on it. "You? …Last I knew you were in Chicago."
"Transferred." She says sharply, telling me that it's a sore subject and I let it go. "How long you here for?" She asks.
"Not even 24 hours. I'm back on a plane in a few." I say, checking my watch.
"Damn… I would have said we should grab some lunch or something." Teddy says.
"Special Agent Robbins?" Another agent asks, walking up to me. I nod. "Hi, I'm Agent Percy. I'll be escorting you today."
"I'll let you go. …Don't be a stranger. We need to catch up. Call me!" Teddy says as she gives me a hug and leaves. Following the uptight Agent to his issued undercover car, we drive for about an hour and pull up outside a hotel. It's not terrible, but definitely not up to what I know the Torres' are use to. Percy stays with the car and directs me to the appropriate room upstairs. Flashing my credentials to the agent manning the door, he knocks then lets me in. The first thing I hear upon entering the hotel room is a woman yelling in Spanish…Mrs. Torres? Or Dr. Torres? The argument is taking place in the bedroom, behind a pair of closed doors that separates it from the rest of the hotel's suite.
Another agent notices my arrival and approaches. "SSA Robbins?"
"Yes, Sir." I answer.
"I'm SSA Sheppard, nice to meet you." He holds out his hand and I take it and smile. "I'm the agent in charge of the primary detail. We have just informed Dr. Torres of her security detail and she's… well, she's not happy as you can hear." His words emphasized by a loud slamming of a door. Three figures moved into sight quickly.
"Calliope Torres…You will listen to what I say young lady." Mr. Torres says firmly. The tone of his voice makes me shake. …would not want that voice directed at me.
"No Papi! Just because you ruined your life, why must you ruin mine? I have nothing to do with this. I don't need a babysitter. I can handle myself." Dr. Torres says as she runs around the room, stuffing items into her bag. She has yet to notice me. …babysitter huh? Well… I guess that makes you a newborn.
"These men that are after your father don't care that you are a woman, Callie. Or that you have nothing to do with the company. You need protection." Her mother tries to soothe her.
"You should have thought about that before you two agreed to all this!" Callie screams at her parents. Tension is thick in the air. No breaks the silence. Finally, my phone beeping makes everyone turn towards me. I had been standing in the corner and out of the way but now, all eyes are on me.
Derrick Sheppard steps forward and handles the introduction. "Dr. Torres, this is Supervisory Special Agent Arizona Robbins. She is leading the team that is in charge of your security detail." Sheppard introduces me to the fiery Latina. Callie looks me up and down, studying me. I do the same. …tall, 5'10" maybe, good musculature, can probably handle herself decently in a fight..going to be a major pain in my ass.
"Arizona?" She sneers. I give a single nod, use to my name being used against me. "You are going to be 'protecting' me?" She asks incredulously, doubting a blue eyed, blonde woman could be a bodyguard.
"Yes, ma'am. My team and I are the best at what we do. You shouldn't have any fears at all." I say, looking directly into her dark brown eyes. Then I turn to her parents "Mr. Torres, Mrs. Torres, she will be perfectly safe. You just worry about handling business here." They give me a tight nod.
She laughs at me. …like AT me. "You…you are supposed to be able to protect me from these big, bad, drug thugs. …What you going to do to them? Flash those pretty blue eyes? …Do those dimples shoot bullets." She spits.
"No but this does…" I say as I pull back the front of my jacket to reveal my holstered side arm. She gives me a glare that could melt the skin off someone's face. My phone beeps. Glancing at the newest message I turn back to my new buddy and say "We need to get going Dr. Torres. Can't miss our flight. I will fill you in with the details of your security on the way but for now, my team is already in place at your home." I grab her bag and open the door for her to exit. She doesn't budge, still challenging me.
"Go, Calliope. This is how it's going to be. I need you safe." Carlos says to his daughter. Giving her a kiss on the cheek, and a hug from her mother, he gently pushes her towards the open door and myself. Callie growls in frustration but stomps past me and down towards our waiting caravan.
"Agent Robbins?" Carlos calls as I go to follow his daughter.
"Yes, Sir?" I turn back to him.
"Protect my daughter." He says. It's not a request, it's a command.
I look him squarely in the eyes "With my life, sir." Then close the door and head down to the cars.
…wish I was still on desk duty.
AN2: Looks like Callie is going to be difficult. Are we surprised?