A/N: Hey everyone! So I just wanted to give you a heads up that this IS a two-part chapter. I broke this particular 'episode' up after it cleared over ten Microsoft Word pages. The second half/installment should be in within the next few days. And once again, thank you to Peaches2010 for all her help with these chapters! Also, for the next few chapters, there will be the use of Russian. I am only learning it at this time so the translations were made using an online software. If there is anyone who is reading this and does speak Russian, please let me know if there are any mistakes.-Alisabeth

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the familiar material from Quantico or the songs listed. However, Rowan, Sarah, and anyone/anything else that is unrecognizable is mine.


Her head aching, stomach quivering, and her shoulders shaking with shivers, Rowan made her way in something just barely more than a shuffle towards the classroom where she knew her N.A.T's would be making an appearance any moment. Finding a wall to lean against as she waited she couldn't help but let her focus drift, her breathing becoming even as she tuned out and stopped keeping track of the time. In, out, in, out.


His back arching as he stood and stretched once dismissed from the current lesson Ryan Booth gathered his belongings, shoving them into his backpack and shouldering it with ease as he joined the rest of his 'team' in the aisle way to shuffle up the staircase and out of the classroom. Ears picking up the sound of muttering and laughter, he used his height advantage to try and scope out the cause of amusement to no avail. Being that he would be moving in that direction anyway he waited, making small talk with Alex as they got closer to the scene. What he saw had him shaking his head, picking up speed as he noticed someone approaching the prone figure.

"Hey man, leave her alone!" he called out as he got within feet of the pair, taking in the glazed eyes and steady rise and fall of a fleece draped chest.

The other N.A.T snorted in Booth's direction, rolling his eyes and continuing to approach Rowan.

Booth stepped closer. "I seriously recommend against your next move, man. Her eyes may be open but she is in a deep enough sleep where she can't sense you. You have two options- wake her up and face bodily harm, or just walking away." Booth huffed as the smartass went to reach for Rowan at a foot away. Opting to put a stop to the situation himself he whistled sharply, much like Agent Hamden did in their Chicago bullpen. "Agent Danvers!"

Those who were still amused by the scene and hovering around the hallway watched as the redheaded agent snapped to full attention, gray eyes losing some of their haziness as she seemed to come back into full consciousness. "We didn't do it, sir, it was all DaSilva." A few blinks cleared the mental cobwebs. "Oh."

Disappointed that the show wouldn't continue everyone but Rowan, Ryan, Alex, Simon, Nimah, and Shelby dispersed- they only began to move towards their next class as Rowan fell into step beside the N.A.T's. Face flushed and her hair in something other than her usual neat and tidy braid, she presented a sense of restlessness if the bags beneath her eyes were anything to go by.

"So," Shelby started as the group made their way to the library to begin building plausible cover stories. "Did you have a nice nap?"

Rowan snorted, curling up in one of the library's plush chairs. "It wasn't long enough," she yawned. "What are we doing today?"

"Creating plausible cover stories," Simon answered, pulling out his laptop and a little notebook as he began getting to work.

Rowan hummed beneath her breath. "Those are fun…"


Awakening to find that Ryan was the only N.A.T from her little team that had remained in the library, Rowan groaned as he softly and repetitively called her name to wake her up.

"I'm awake," she grouched, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes while pushing to her feet. "Why did you guys let me sleep?"

"Because you looked like a reject from a zombie movie. There's five minutes until we need to be back at the classroom to present and I sent everyone else ahead. Are you well enough to make it through today or do I need to recommend to Shaw that we go without our handler?" Booth questioned.

"'m fine, Booth, just a little head cold. I'll be right as rain to handle whatever is going on today. And now that I've had more than a total of two hours sleep I'll be fine to fire on all cylinders."

Ryan snorted as his partner fell into step at his side. "Just make sure you take something then, Agent Danvers."

Getting closer and closer to the classroom Rowan and Ryan were stopped right outside of the door by Agent Shaw.

"Good morning, you two. Agent Booth would you mind if I steal Agent Danvers away?" Miranda greeted and though it sounded like a question it was more of an 'I'm merely asking to be polite but I am taking her anyways.'

"Of course ma'am. Agent Danvers, Agent Shaw," Ryan nodded, ducking into the classroom as the two women stood face to face.

"Let's take a walk," Miranda suggested, already guiding the way to her office. Bypassing the secretary and closing the door behind the two once they arrived, Miranda motioned for Rowan to take a seat while she moved to the coffee pot in the corner of the office. "Would you like some?"

"Yes, please," Rowan responded, tamping down on her curiosity of why she was meeting behind closed doors once more.

Miranda did not speak again until she handed over Rowan's mug and took her own to seat behind her desk. "So I am sure you have heard at this point that today we are covering creating back stories and going under cover with the N.A.T's," Miranda started. "What they don't know yet is that they will be going under cover in an event tonight for practice and that, Agent Danvers, is where your role as handler is going to be solidified."

Rowan sat a little straighter. "Will I be circulating the op with them or watching from a fixed point?"

"We have set you up with a room at the Capital Lane Hotel in DC where the assignment is taking place. While there will be a monitoring station set up for myself and Agent O'Connor, I was thinking that you could circulate with the N.A.T's, maybe show them how it is done before moving up to observe with O'Connor and myself."

"The Capital is a nice place," Rowan remarked vaguely. "White collar business retreats, company and class reunions…which poor CEO are we going after this time?"

Miranda smirked. "I want them getting close to Dystex CEO Norman Reed."

"And by setting them loose on the retreat you are forcing them to profile for employees with possible connection to get them an in with Reed…I like the way you think," Rowan chuckled, coughing slightly towards the end.

Miranda glanced at the delicate watch on her wrist and flicked her gaze up to meet Rowan's. "Their lecture on creating and then presenting a complete cover should be just about over within the next few minutes if you would like to go wait for them, the bus to the hotel will be leaving in about an hour so that the N.A.T's can do some quick shopping before the operation for appropriate attire. I would like you and your go-bag on that bus," Miranda described the timetable. As Rowan stood to depart Miranda spoke once again. "And Danvers? Stop at a pharmacy or something before we go to the hotel and pick up some Dayquil, Cold-Eeze, or something. You look like crap."

Flashing a cheeky smile over her shoulder Rowan left the office and then the building to retrieve her ever present go-bag from the Toyota that she and Beryl were sharing when Beryl didn't bunk with her boyfriend. With it slung over her shoulder she positioned herself in front of the classroom where the N.A.T's were going over their cover stories. Attempting to beat the game '2048' while she waited she didn't even flinch when doors all along the corridor were thrown open and the noise level escalated.

"Hey! Look who's awake," teased Alex as she spotted Rowan first. "It's nice to know that you find us so riveting."

Rowan laughed. "You know me- I'm just such an adrenaline junky that anything other than gunfights and car chases or a trip to the gym has me snoring. But in all seriousness, thanks for letting me crash."

"You look a little less like crap now than what you did earlier so that's thanks enough," Shelby beamed. "Guess what?" Rowan never had a chance to guess before Shelby plowed on. "We are officially leaving the Academy for the first time tonight and it's an overnight trip!"

"Do you guys think you can handle going under?" Rowan inquired, taking the path to the dorms with the N.A.T's so they could put together their overnight bags.

The responses varied from verbal 'hell yeahs' to nose scrunches and hopeful shrugs.

"Come on guys! You've got this. It's like….it's like a game of dress up or being in a play but, if you screw up, there's a possibility of ending up at the bottom of the Potomac or the Atlantic wearing concrete shoes."

Momentary silence filled the air as everyone stood stock still outside of Alex and Shelby's dorm, blinking at the redhead.

"You need to work on your pep talks," Booth chortled, breaking the silence. "You really do."

Glaring at him Rowan merely stuck her tongue out and flushed, pulling it back into her mouth when she remembered something she had been told by Booth in the past. "One day you're going to do that and someone is either going to take it as an invitation or bite it off." When she received a series of raised eyebrows Rowan motioned to the door.

"Well, aren't you guys going to pack? We need to go."

A time span of fifteen minutes found Rowan rolling around Alex and Shelby's dorm room on a desk chair, watching the roommates shove things into backpacks. Her head bobbing to the iHeart Radio station Shelby had put on, she couldn't help but sing along as Chase Rice's "Ride" came on. Mid-song she was asked to retrieve the makeup bags sitting on the girls' vanity in the bathroom, not having any second thoughts having heard the shower cut off a few minutes prior. Knocking once and continuing to hum she opened the bathroom door when she didn't hear anything. She stopped short mid chorus and her hands automatically flew to cover her eyes as she walked in on Ryan wearing nothing but a low slung, loosely knotted towel around his waist, a tooth brush tucked into his cheek as he stood at the sink.

"Sorry! Sorry! I'll just…" she was stumbling over her words and her eyes were scrunched tight beneath her palms as she took four blind steps backwards and turned, slamming the door shut behind her.

Goodness gracious great balls of fire! Taking deep breaths to slow her hammering heart Rowan cursed aloud, wondering why the sight of her partner's near naked body was effecting her so much. Of course she had seen him shirtless- in the hospital after they were both injured, when the worked out together, when they had temporarily shared a domicile while under protective care while testifying on a particularly nasty case- but in each instance he had been covered from the waist down with no chance of accidental exposure and that was what was doing her in. It was the concept that one little tug or mishap and everything would be exposed, things that she had heard rumors about by other female patrons of Mickey's, the old Irish pub that was equidistant from both of their apartments back home. Feeling her face flush Rowan glanced up as she heard a snort of laughter and a quiet giggle.

"You okay over there, Danvers?" Alex smirked as she folded a lingerie set and tucked it amongst her belongings.

"Fine, perfect, fabulous. I am going for a walk, maybe to drown myself in the pool. I'll meet you at the bus?" Rowan rambled, gathering her things and ducking out to the sound of full body laughter.


As one of the first ones on the bus an hour later Rowan sat close to the window half way back with her headphones in and her head bowed, listening to some music as she flicked through some of the photos on her sister-in-law's Facebook page, musing about how much more it seemed her nephew had grown since she had last seen them in person a few weeks prior. Commenting on one where her brother Dean had both twelve year old Cam and eight year old Parker in a playful headlock, she felt the first pangs of true homesickness since she had gotten to Quantico. Caught up in the photos she growled aloud when someone tugged on her headphone.

"What?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Damn Danvers, someone is huffy. Do you mind if I sit here?" he asked.

Tempted to ask why he didn't sit with Alex, Rowan bit her tongue and nodded when she saw Shelby and the brunette sitting together, Simon sitting beside Nimah a few rows ahead. "Sure." Scooting closer to the window she lowered the volume on her music slightly as the tinny echo of Florida Georgia Line's "Sippin' on Fire" came from the cord that dangled in front of her. Lips pursing she wiggled so she faced her partner.

"Headphone? Contrary to popular belief I like more than just country music and you seem like the kind of guy who likes the Eagles," she offered, extending the draping headphone towards him. As he reached to accept it her phone went off, vibrating in her palm. "Whoops, sorry. One sec." The name on the caller ID had her picking up the call even faster than usual.

"Sarah? Is something wrong?" Rowan said in place of a greeting, feeling Ryan tense at her side.

Sarah ('nee Booth) Montgomery released a sigh of relief over the line. "I don't know Rowan, I need you to tell me. Mom, Tessa, Emily, and I all got messages from Ry a few weeks ago saying he was going under and wasn't sure how long he would be gone but that you would still be in Chicago if we needed anything. He said he would be unreachable but that you weren't going with him. You not going with him was strike one. Strike two was when I called the Chicago field office to see if Hamden had heard anything from him because mom had briefly gotten sick, Hamden told me that you had been reassigned and Ry wasn't under for the office but rather had been recruited by another field office. Strike three was when I couldn't reach your cell, so I called your apartment and Eliot told me you had been banished back to Quantico because you had gotten in trouble. What is going on?"

"I'm sorry Sarah, but I really can't explain right now," Rowan said softly. "Don't be mad at him, he didn't know how far everything was going to go."

"Rowan, tell me what is going on? Why are you back at the academy? Have you lost your badge? Do you know of anyone who can find my brother, even if it is just to give him a message?" Sarah's voice was cracking, defusing her typically calm and collected manner. As the oldest Booth child, she was always very put together and looking out for her siblings and by extension Rowan, so the franticness to her voice had Rowan on edge.

"I still have my badge, thankfully. Now Sarah, take a deep breath and tell me what's really wrong." The feel of Ryan's eyes drilling holes into the side of Rowan's head had her squirming.

Sarah took a deep breath as directed and sighed. "Mom had a pretty nasty bump on her head and a concussion but she has shown no signs of anything being wrong except that she keeps running around after the kids despite being told to rest, Emily is pregnant again, Ryan is missing, I think Daniel is straying and, and I just need a hug."

"Oh sweetie," Rowan cooed, striking a foot against Ryan's calf when he nodded at her phone. "Tell momma to take things easy. I know she likes chasing after the kiddos but she should know better than to not listen to those who are only looking out for her. And Emily has always talked of having another," Rowan tsked when Sarah tried interrupting. "Sarah Lynn you listen to me, your sister wants this and she knows what she's getting into. She and your momma are cut from the same cloth so can you really expect anything different? And as for the other thing, let me know if I need to send one of the boys in your direction, okay?"

"Do you think you can magically produce my brother?"

Rowan's voice was still pitched low. "You know if either he or I had a choice we would be on the first plane out." Outside her window Rowan watched the blurring scenery speed slow down and her brows jumped. She had been on the phone the entire time it took to get from Quantico to the outer limits of DC? "Now, I am being summoned but I promise that you can call me or Elliot if you need anything be it and ear, a shovel, or a shotgun."

There was a pause. "Thanks Rowan and I am sorry for going off the deep end."

"You weren't going off the deep end," Rowan countered. "Going off the deep end would be calling to say you need an alibi, Elliot with a shovel, a hypnotist, and a box of hair dye."

"Hey Rowan? Has anyone ever told you that you really are an odd ball?" Sarah asked, laughing for the first time in the entire conversation.

"You brother does on a nearly daily basis and I would prefer to think that it is part of my vast charm."

Sarah spoke once more and there was an audible smile in her voice. "Those vast charms indeed. You two really would be perfect for each other you know- he can be so serious and you're not, you understand those with military backgrounds, you were there through the divorce, and mom has already knit you your own Christmas stocking."

Rowan flushed and her eyes crinkled shut as she bowed her head. "From your mouth to God's ear, dear, but we both know it would be ships passing in the night. I am a strong believer that everything you just listed is the exact reason why Jack, Jim, and Johnny are the only male companionship in my life."

"They're the only ones because Ryan insists on not seeing what is directly in front of him while scaring off any one with the potential to replace him," Sarah protested. "You're both too hardheaded to see that you need to stop dancing around this and grab the bull by the horns- and yes Rowan, I know you enough to tell you to take the dirty joke you were going to make and shove it. And because I am feeling a little bit better and you've already said you have to go but haven't hung up yet, I am going to go soak in a nice bubble bath with a glass of wine while mom watches the kids and Daniel 'works overtime.'"

"Have one for me please, I have to go play adult," Rowan pouted. "And tell everyone I said hello. Hopefully when I'm done here and when your brother rears his ugly head we can make our way out to you for a visit. I'm sure he misses being the human jungle gym."

"Oh I'm sure and I'm sure at the same time you miss all the crazy that comes with us."

"What can I say, it's my kind of crazy," Rowan smiled. "Later Sarah."

"Later Ro."

Hanging up her phone and tucking it away Rowan smirked when she found Alex and Shelby watching her over the back of her seat and Ryan practically bursting with the need for answers. "What?"

"I thought you said you only had four brothers?" Shelby asked, marking the page in the book she had been reading.

"I do have four brothers but I have also acquired three older sisters through my partner," Rowan answered honestly. Before she could continue the bus shook to a complete halt outside of a shopping plaza and O'Connor stood from where he sat behind the driver.

"N.A.T's!" he called to gain everyone's attention. "Now that we have arrived in DC for your assignment, you are first going to be required to go out and put together an appropriate outfit for your covers! Remember what you have been told. Dress code is semi-formal and we will all be meeting at five o'clock at the park in front of the Capital Lane Hotel. Try to stay together. Disperse." For once O'Connor's lecture was short and to the point.

The sound of people standing, shuffling and gathering their belongings muted anything else that could've been said as the N.A.T's and Rowan disembarked from the bus and began to break off into pairs or groups. Motioning her group aside, Rowan waited until all five of her N.A.T's could be accounted for.

"Alright guys and gals, while I'm sure one big shopping troupe would be super-duper fun I am also sure that Simon and Booth have no desire to look at dresses and heels so why don't we split up to shop and meet back for dinner before we head back?" Rowan suggested. "It is three now and we have two hours to get to the Capital Lane which is about a fifteen minute walk that-a-way," she motioned vaguely. "Along that walk would be a few little bistros, sandwich shops, and such so we can plan from there. Why don't we meet back right here around four?"

When everyone agreed she nodded once. "Good. Now everyone put this number into your cell in case we get separated and text me something so I have your number," she demanded, rattling off a series of ten digits. "Let's do this!"

Simon and Ryan both shared a look as their fingers flew over their phones and Rowan's own dinged twice in succession, followed shortly by three more short dings. Waving as the group separated Rowan found herself standing inside a little boutique beside Nimah as Shelby went off like a hurricane through the racks.

"So Rowan, would you care to tell us about that phone call? And your reaction to seeing Booth coming out of the shower?" Alex asked casually as she flicked through a rack of dresses beside the one that Nimah and Rowan stood at. Deft hands pulled one out and as she made a face the brunette returned it.

"What's there to tell?" Rowan asked, nibbling her bottom lip. At Nimah's droll look in Alex's direction she whispered to her about some full length rompers, figuring anything shorter would be a no go.

"You walked into the bathroom, shrieked, and practically ran out of the dorm like you were on fire," Alex laughed. "I know he's good looking but please…"

Rowan flushed at the memory. "It's just been a while since… and I… ugh."

Shelby popped back up beside the pair with a series of dresses draped over her arm. "Are we talking about this morning? Because damn Rowan, you looked like you had never seen a partially naked guy before."

"Like I said it's been a while and the last time I was anywhere near a partially naked guy who was not related to me was when my partner and I practically lived together after we were injured because I was on limited mobility and he was in a sling. I had both arms and he had the body strength to do more than just lounge. But even then there was no possibility of slippage! He always had pants on! I mean he's gorgeous and rumored to be…" Rowan stopped. "But again! He had pants on!"

Both Alex and Shelby shook with suppressed laughter.

"It seems like you need to get laid," Alex suggested wryly.

"That's funny, Sarah basically said the same except hers was more along the lines of 'sleep with my brother, maybe marry him. Mom has your Christmas stocking already made.'"

That set the two off again. Ignoring them while they calmed down Rowan selected two reasonably priced dresses in her size to try on, checking on Nimah before going back to barely disguising her pout for the other two in the group.

Swallowing down her laughter, Alex draped a few dresses of her own over her arm. "And is that a possibility for you two?"

"I really hate girl talk," Rowan mumbled as all of them, including Nimah, made for the dressing rooms, thankfully finding two side by side and two directly across. "Honestly? I don't even know any more. There are times when I would think 'yes! Perfect! Time to make my move,' and then I would turn around to see his flavor of the week walk up or on the occasion, doing the walk of shame. I have been there through every relationship he has had for the past three and a half years and I can't see what my brothers or his sisters see when they say he looks at me differently than all the others. It's like the perpetual friend zone."

"Is he cute?" asked Nimah from the stall beside Rowan.

Rowan let out a breathy laugh. "Gorgeous, really. I will admit that I have a thing for guys in uniform, especially military uniform and he is just…mmm. I went with him once to a benefit back home after his discharge and divorce and I practically swooned. And the way he is with our nieces and nephews and my dog." Rowan cocked her head and peered into the mirror in her stall. "I'm done, are you guys?"

A chorus of responses met her as the conversation was temporarily dropped. Four stall doors opened in unison and each stepped out, creating a square that faced each other. Opinions were given and then the four doors closed as they all retreated back. The conversation was forgotten as the process of trying on and showing off continued for a few more minutes until a universal cheer went up as the perfect under cover outfit was tried on.


"I would ask what's taking so long but they're girls who are shopping for a big event," grumbled Simon, his own stomach voicing its protest as he and Ryan lounged on a park bench outside of the boutique to wait.

"This is nothing," Ryan laughed, casually tinkering with his phone. "I once went with my three sisters while they went shopping for prom. Six hours, two malls, and a partial migraine later…"

Both men shuddered at the concept. Comparing 'horror' stories, they stopped short when a gaggle of laughing women, familiar women, left the boutique laden with store bags and smiles. Even Nimah, who occasionally seemed to have no other facial expression other than a scowl.

"I take it you guys had fun?" Simon asked as he stood and gathered his things.

Booth copied him, duffle bag and suit bag in one hand and a shopping bag in another. "What did you talk about? Guys? Makeup? Conquests?" His wiggling eye brows brought forth a series of rolled eyes.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Alex chuckled as she flicked a look in Rowan's direction, drawing an elbow from the red head.

Ever the voice of reason Nimah sighed. "Come on guys, we need to be going. You do not want to be late, do you?"

Setting out in the direction of the Capital Lane Hotel, the group made small talk and kept away from any talk of what the girls had spoken about. Questions about going under and how to prep were thrown at Rowan, accents tested amongst them for authenticity. And as the Capital Lane rose up in front of them and the rest of the N.A.T's filtered in the conversation seized. This was it.


A/N: ta-da! Part one :) Part two should be up either today or within the next few days. Happy holidays everyone! And please leave me your thoughts in a review, I would love to hear what you think or would like to see happen-Alisabeth