I Never Told You What I Do For a Living

Chapter 4

Ian was in shock as he walked back into the police headquarters, his mind spinning with information. Nothing seemed to penetrate his thinking besides the words, "It's okay! See you later, hot-shot." It wasn't so much the words - which had indeed left his heart in a hailstorm of feelings - but the fact that Lauren had said them in general.

As in, a response to being called Amy.

He wasn't quite sure what to think; maybe she just hadn't heard him correctly. Or maybe she hadn't wanted to embarrass him by correcting him. Or maybe... Maybe something else was going on here.

Ian shook his head, trying to rid any thoughts like that from his head as he entered the conference room where Ted and Dan were talking in quick whispers, heads bent together.

"- looked just like her!" Dan was saying.

Ted nodded and whispered, "And her entire appearance was spot-on."

"Should we say something to Ian?"

"Say what to me?" Ian asked, crossing his arms and leaning back on a heel.

They both shot up, Dan toppling back and collapsing onto the floor in a heap of limbs. "Oomph!"

Ted sprang up with a bit more grace than Dan did, instead looking at Ian nervously. "Nothing," was his only response as he began to help up his fallen colleague.

Ian rolled his eyes and decided not to pry further. He walked over to the map until he was just inches in front of it, staring at where the two idiots behind him had drawing lines to connect the spots. "It really does look like VK," he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, he froze. VK? "My father's initials are VK," Ian groaned, leaning back against the table and examining the map.

"Whoa," Dan said, sounding sceptic. "You think your father is the crazy rich dude funding this psycho-chick?"

Ted's eyebrows shot up on his forehead. He immediately stepped closer to the map, his thin fingers tracing a line between part of the V that appeared to be missing. Ian followed his movements with his eyes, stopping in shock when he realized something.

"There's a spot missing," Ted finally said, proving Ian's fear. "Right there, that little spot on the V."

Dan poked his head closer to the two guys and took a look. "If he plans on following his pattern..." He trailed off worriedly.

Ian didn't need him to finish his sentence. If he followed his pattern the next place she would have to strike would be...

"D.C.," Ted sighed, confirming Ian's suspicions once again. "If this is your dad, you must've done something pretty crappy as a son in his eyes. Because I think you're the next target."

Ian just stared at the map in shock, eyes never leaving the little star with the letters DC next to it. Was it possible that his own father was trying to get him killed?

~lovelovelove~

Amy was having the time of her life getting ready for she and Ian's date. Her hotel room was strewn with clothes and shoes and music was playing from the portable sound speakers she carried everywhere with her. In her hand, a glass of red wine was poised delicately on her finger tips as she scrutinized the clothing.

Her final decision came through with her wearing a pair of camo-colored Capri pants that were made from some weird, khaki-like material and a white shirt that cut off right about the waist of the pants. On her feet were a pair of brown combat boots. No accessories were needed, save for two strips of black on her cheeks and a heavy line of black eyeliner around her eyes.

She was ready to go, but first she had to leave a message.

"Hey, babe, ready to have some fun? Good, cause this place sounds awesome and I've always wanted to try this. Make sure you don't dress up - something that you can get dirty and ripped up would be the best. Oh! And bring your gun holster! Meet'cha at six thirty!" Amy exclaimed into the phone while redoing her nails.

The events from earlier today were sitting on her mind a bit heavily, especially seeing Dan. Seeing him had stirred something in her, a feeling of almost sadness, which was absurd. Amy hadn't been what one could qualify as sad in years. But his big eyes and child-like air to him was still there, despite him being a grown man and seeing all that he did for a living. These feelings were scaring Amy, and she didn't like it.

It was already six and she was feeling safe to assume that he was out of work by now, just getting ready. Amy looked at the clock impatiently, feeling some genuine excitement for the date. Maybe, just maybe, she'd have to keep this one alive.

~lovelovelove~

Lauren had a way of making Ian cheer up no matter what was going on, it seemed. As soon as he saw her strutting towards him with the army-like outfit on, he couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Do you like it?" she asked, grinning up at him.

Ian nodded and smiled, trying to push the new-found information down and out of his mind. "So where is this mysterious place you're taking me to?" he asked, linking arms with her and putting the other hand in the pocket of his jeans. "And what's with the gun holster?"

Lauren shook her head playfully as they walked to the car. "That is confidential information, Agent Kabra. But I'm sure you'll have a fun time!"

He laughed as she pushed him into the passenger seat of her car. She hopped in right after and, as always, the first order of business was to crank up the music. This time it was different from the rock band from before.

"The I.V. and your hospital bed. This was no accident, it was a therapeutic chain of events," Lauren sang softly before the song ricochet into an explosive lyrical blast.

Ian got into the song, laughing with Lauren as she belted out the lyrics with his back up on the electric air guitar. They were both breaking into a fit of giggles and hysterical laughter by the time Lauren pulled the car into a parking lot.

The building was large and ware-house like with blinking neon lights advertising: Paintball. Lauren squealed in excitement and turned to Ian. "I've been wanting to try this for ages. Handling a gun sounds like fun and it's an excuse to pelt people with paint balls."

Laughing in surprise Ian said, "I haven't been to a paintball place in ages! You're going to love it! So that's why I needed my gun holster?"

Lauren nodded excitedly and yanked the keys out of the car. "Let's go, Ian!"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. Inside was a counter with a punk-looking teenage girl with choppy black hair dyed blue at the ends. "Hey, guys!" she exclaimed with a smile. "My name's Sarah. This your guys' first time?"

Ian shook his head and smiled at Lauren before looking at Sarah. "I've been before but this is her first time."

Sarah grinned. "Nice to see someone other than idiot teenage boys come here for a change. So you've probably never dealt with our system before because my cousins - the ones who run this place - decided to be weird. Basically, behind this desk I have an assortment of guns for you and masks and such. After you get your supplies you can go. Next round starts in five minutes."

Lauren grinned. "Awesome! So can I see them?"

Sarah bent down under the counter and heaved up a cardboard box filled with the different guns. "Here you guys go."

Ian immediately grabbed a large, machine-gun type thing and began loading the pellets into it. "I don't think this is going to fit into my holster, love."

He looked up only to find Lauren ogling at a shot-gun that she was loading with paint. "I'll take it then! I didn't know these guns were even used in paintball!"

Ian didn't know either, but Sarah just grinned. "We bought that off of this kid who used to come here like, daily. Said he made it himself out of an old one and pieced it together. I don't know if it's true but that one's pretty sweet to use. Definitely my favorite."

Lauren grinned and motioned for Ian to hand over the holster. "I'll take it! And then let's go!"

Ian shrugged but smiled at Lauren. She hooked it onto the hip of her pants and stuck the gun inside. Then, she grabbed two masks and tossed one to Ian. "Let's go!" she exclaimed, tugging Ian's hand towards the door.

With a wave good-bye to Sarah, who was laughing at Lauren's enthusiasm, they ran for the door. Inside it was dark and cool, the paths and walls and obstacles lit up with different colored lights. Lauren darted off towards a hall that veered left and whispered, "When it starts, catch me if you can!"

The minute before it started ticked down. Finally, a bell went off. There was a rush of sound around Ian as everyone began moving. Before long, the main room sounded empty.

Ian took a few steps down the hallway Lauren had gone down and was immediately met with a wide, pitch black corridor. Every few feet a new door appeared on either sides of the hall, illuminated by the light.

One of them was propped open just slightly, making Ian grin in satisfaction. What a newbie. He crept inside stealthily, the years of FBI training kicking into gear. It felt empty inside until there was a breath of air on his right.

He turned around and fired in that direction, only to see the shadowy form of Lauren tuck and roll closer towards the corner of the room. She stood up quickly and fired, hitting him directly in the chest with a maniacal laugh. He gaped in shock as he let loose another shot, only to have her dart out-of-the-way and into another door that led out of the room.

Ian laughed quietly as adrenaline rushed through his system. He could hear her fast foot-steps running down the halls, her light breathing turning away from him. He followed quietly, gun poised in his hands. There was the sound of someone falling and a feminine voice cursing softly if he turned left.

Ian launched himself forward and was met with a group of teenage girls smirking. They all fired at once as he saw Lauren give a cheeky wave from behind them. For good measure, she shot another paintball at his forehead. "Catch me if you can, love!"

The girls disappeared in a haze of black clothes and body piercings. Ian smirked to himself and shook his head. Lauren claimed she had never done this? Never shot a gun? Then she was one hell of a natural.

He grabbed his gun from the floor and decided that he would try to cut Lauren off instead of following her, which only seemed to backfire immensely. Quietly he began to run down the corridor to his left, following another path as he dodged other kids playing the game. He hit a few people though his mind was only on catching up to Lauren.

"Ten more minutes for this round!" Sarah's voice boomed over the loud-speaker.

Ian picked up his pace, trying to get back to the center room. If his strategizing was correct, that's where she'd be. Finally, when Sarah announced, "Five more minutes!" he entered the room and perched himself on top of one of the columns in the back before climbing up to the metal rafters on the ceiling. He sat there for a moment before the familiar light breathing Lauren announced her arrival.

Carefully, just loudly enough to alert her that he was there, Ian coughed. She turned with wide eyes before Ian smirked and shot the gun. Lauren grabbed her forehead and cursed. As she removed her hand, her fingers were dripping with red paint. She took aim with her own pistol and shot him no less than ten times, pelting him with a myriad of rainbow-colored paints.

Ian fell of the beam with a laugh and pulled her into a kiss, feeling the paint from her forehead stick to his. His hands were covered in different colors and her pretty white shirt was probably a mess, but she kissed him back anyway, a smile playing on her lips.

"Annnnd time!" Sarah shouted.

But they didn't pay attention.

~lovelovelove~

Amy watched Ian as he talked to one of his agents on the phone. Her makeup was smudged and her shirt and arms were dotted with paint, though she was no worse off than Ian. He was looking extremely upset as he paced around and spoke angrily into his phone. Suddenly, his entire demeanor changed. His shoulder slumped forward and he gaped as whoever was on the other end of the phone said something. Ian's eyebrows creased worriedly as he replied quickly.

With a shrug, Amy sank farther back into her seat as she let the sounds of Panic! At the Disco sweep over her. Tonight had been so much fun, more fun than Amy could remember having in a long time. And Ian had kissed her.

Of course, she had been kissed before. But it had never really mattered anything to her. Boys were like entertainment for her and it wasn't like they stayed around for very long anyway. Ian was...different though. Very different. And she kind of liked it.

"Hey, love," he said as he slid into the car. He sounded tired and sad. "Tonight was awesome. But I got some bad news and I'm going to have to get back to the police headquarters." Ian grabbed her hand in his and squeezed it.

"Why?" Amy asked, pulling out of the parking lot. "What happened? You sound upset."

Ian sighed and looked out the window. "My friend's girlfriend was shot in her house. And the killer left a note."

Amy's breath caught in her throat as her mind began to work overtime. "What's your friend's name?"

"Holt. Hamilton Holt. His girlfriend's name was - " Ian broke off as Amy began to breathe heavily. With a yelp of shock she pulled off the road and into a gas station parking lot.

Immediately she began sobbing, hysteria rising in her throat. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute as she tried to breathe, sputtering cries leaking from her mouth. Tears poured out of her eyes, blurring her vision and screwing with her contacts. Everything around Amy felt numb, like a strange dimension of reality.

"Lauren! Lauren, what's wrong?!" Ian asked in a panic, unsure of why she had suddenly burst into tears.

"M-my-y b-b-best fr-riend-d Sin-nead h-has a b-boyfriend n-named-d H-hamiltom!" Amy cried, her words slurred by hiccups and ragged breathing. "H-how m-many H-hamilton Holt-ts c-can their b-be ar-round here?"

Ian sounded stricken as he pulled her into a hug and whispered, "Oh, love, it's okay. Everything's going to be okay. Everything's going to be fine. I know it's hard now but everything will get better."

Normally filled with a hatred for being comforted, Amy melted into his embrace, shivering and shaking and praying that there was some huge misunderstanding. But Amy had never had an easy life, and in the deepest part of her heart, she knew that everything as she knew was about to change.

~lovelovelove~

The note read: My Panther,

Don't get too comfortable. This girl was a wench, a servant of my ex-wife, who deserved nothing less than this. Conflicting affections can get in the way of the final target, remember that. Good luck. And to whomever else may be reading this: You're far too late.

VK

~lovelovelove~

Ian didn't know what to make of the note as he stood next to a tear-stricken Hamilton, Dan, Ted, and Lauren. Lauren had run into the house that Sinead used to live in and collapsed into a sobbing mess next to Hamilton. Her first order of business, once she had recovered enough to stand properly, was to run upstairs to the bedroom and grab two picture frames which Ian was not allowed to see.

"They were mine," she had rasped quietly as she set them in her car. "I deserve them back if not just to remember her by."

Even Ted's cynical mouth had been quieted as he watched Hamilton and Lauren (who hadn't ever met) cry together as he tried not to lose it. Ned showed up an hour after the arrived at the house, his computer in tow, analyzing the room with his technology while crying hysterically for his departed sister. Dan was in a haze of confusion as he helped look for any evidence that might be lying around the house.

Lauren seemed to be the only thing on his mind, however, as every few seconds he'd look over to her and blink in frustration. "-just like her," he'd mutter as he combed each room for clues.

Ian was baffled. There was nothing except for the note, which confirmed his worst suspicions. Doll, the assassin, was here and after a target in this area. Sinead must have known her, and now that she was dead, there was no way they'd be able to get any help from her. The "too late" part was worrying to Ian who was now certain that Doll was after him and in the area.

He had shown the note to Lauren who read it with a blank face and whispered sadly, "Sinead always had a secretive past. And she was always speaking with strange people. I guess we knew what she did for a living now."

Ian's heart had broken for Lauren. And Hamilton. And at this point, Sinead and Dan, both who were somehow connected to all this. And Ned and Ted were both in shock, whispering with each other and trying to look any where but their sister's body.

His father was the cause of this. But there was a slight problem. In order to find Doll, they kind of had to find Vikram. The thing was, as far as anyone knew, Vikram had been dead for five years.

~lovelovelove~

"VK," Amy growled viciously as she slammed the break on in a rest stop on the high way. "VK. So that's what this is all about. Vikram Cahill - yeah right."

She pulled the picture that Vikram had given her of Ian from her pocket and tore it in two. "This isn't a normal mission at all, is it, Father?"

"Oh, no," she continued to herself, tearing the picture into shreds as the speaker blared loudly. "Vikram Kabra, is it? And it seems as though this is a family matter. You want me to kill your own son."

Through the car, the band sang, "Only go so far til you bury them. So deep and down we go! Touched by angels though I fall out of grace, I did it all so maybe I'd live this every day."

I'm so sorry it took this long for me to get this chapter up! I've been working on a ton of stuff from original work, to homework, to a ton of other random fics I've been wanting to get up. *facepalm* How does an awkward vampiric Ian sound for a one-shot? :D

Well, it sure seems as though everything is beginning to come together nicely, now doesn't it? Yeah, it sure does. XD Do me a favor - if it ever takes me longer than a week to update, FLOOD MY INBOX with PMs and reviews telling me to update and I'll have it up as fast as possible.

Thanks! And please review. ;)

~Dani :3