OoO (9:00am) OoO

The next morning I woke up to a empty bed and silent apartment. 'This is reality for you. You were stupid to let your hormones get the best of you with anyone, especially him.' I rolled my eyes at my self-conscious as I reached for my phone on the nightstand to check the time 9:00am. 'Well it's not too late. Should probably get up and not be lazy.' Summoning all the willpower I possessed I crawled out of bed and headed for the shower.

After I showered, I threw on a gray burnout Lynyrd Skynyrd rock tee, distressed flare cut jeans and graphie gray converse. Blow dried and straightened my hair, slipped in my contacts and applied a light coat of eyeshadow to bring out my purple/blue eyes, added minimal eye liner and curled my lashes with a light coat of mascara. I finished by brushing my teeth and painted my lips with a clear water gloss. Walking to my nightstand I grabbed my phone, wallet, keys and Ray Bans. I picked up my usual black bomber jacket.

"No sense wasting a sunny Saturday cooped up in a quiet apartment."

Before departing from my home I double checked to see that I had my concealed firearm in my jacket and my trusty combat knife resting perfectly hidden in its sheath hooked to the back loop of my jeans as it rested between the denim and my skin. 'Always alert always prepared.' That constant reminder playing on a continuous loop within my thoughts. Never seeing the California coastline I decided to venture to the boardwalk.

I reached the crowded boardwalk at three. Seeing as how it was 100^ outside I was forced to leave behind my jacket , meaning leaving behind my 9mm as well. Peering through my mirrored Ray Bans I I watched the Californians scurrying around chatting on phones or their companions. A couple hours later I caught sight of a tropical bar overlooking the beach I decided a drink sounded perfect. I stepped under the shade of the hut type bar sliding my shades to rest on top of my head. I spotted a vacant stool at the bar. 'Perfect.' I sat down and order some kind of fruity strawberry drink that had a gracious portion of Malibu rum. I thanked the bartender with a polite small as I accepted my glass.

Sitting alone I became entranced by the waves lapping against the shore. Within my hypnotic state I didn't notice the stranger that approached my right side, however when he reached out to put a hand on my shoulder I became all too well alert ofmy surroundings. My survival instincts kicked in as I brushed of his hand; grasping the back off his neck. Slamming him down on the bar I brought my knife out of it's sheath. I leaned my weight on the intruder as I brought my karambit to the jugular vein on the right side of his neck. With my right hand I grabbed his corresponding hand and twisted it up behind his back rendering it immobile.

"Explain yourself," I hissed menacingly into the strangers ear as he groaned in pain.

"I-I'm sorry McGrath. I seen you sitting by yourself so I thought I'd come s-say h-hey," my current detainee squeaked out in a forced voice. 'They know my name who the hell is this?' I glanced at the man's profile trying to reveal his identity. Dark brown gelled hair, short scruff of a beard, sexy prominent jaw. 'Who the- oh fuck it's Sean!'

"Shit Sean. I'm so sorry," I apologize releasing my hold on him while returning my combat knife to its rightful place.

I retreated back to my seat as Sean peeled himself off the bar sitting on the stool next to me rubbing his shoulder.

"You really are a little badass aren't you," he chuckled trying to make light of the situation.

I glanced around the little bar to see if anyone noticed the tiny scene but luckily nobody seemed to give us a second thought. 'That's good.'

I gave Sean a small apologetic smile, "I really am sorry Sean. I guess I zoned out, I didn't hear you sit next to me. How's your shoulder."

I reached out and gently grabbed his bruising shoulder. I examined it closely. 'I think I just bruised nothing more.'

"It's definitely sore and I'm sorry I should of known better than to get your attention like that," he said diverting my gaze from his shoulder as he gently pressed a finger under my chin, "it will be ok Josie."

His reassuring eyes gazed back into my worry filled ones. "So I'm not fired," I asked half joking.

Sean grinned, "And take a chance of something worse happening to me? I think not."

I laughed in return, "Well since I'm still employed, let me at least buy you a drink."

Sean smiled as the bartender approached us, he ordered a draft while i ordered another round of my previous cocktail.

Sean and I occupied those two barstools well past the setting sun. We learned quite a bit about each other and we ended up having a lot in common. I learned Sean lost his younger brother Seth the same year I lost ChloƩ. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who truly understood what it meant to lose a loved one.

Right now we're walking back to our vehicles chatting about the tour starting in two weeks. Every now and then our hands would brush against each other as we ventured through the parking lot. Reaching my car we stood in front of the driver door.

"I had a great afternoon with you Josie," spoke Sean looking down at me as we stood intimately close to one another.

"I did too," I smiled sweetly at him.

"If I wasn't your boss I'd kiss you right now," he confessed hunger growing in his eyes.

"Oh really," I replied leaning into him teasingly.

"Yes really," he whispered back closing more of the gap between us.

I rose to my tiptoes, balancing myself by lightly gripping his biceps, "Maybe next time love," I whispered in his ear kissing his cheek before resting flat footed.

Sean gave me a small devilish smile. "Next time," he agreed, "goodnight Josie."

"Night Sean." I stepped into the gray Challenger, watching Sean step into his vehicle before I started the drive back home.

Walking through the door I retrieved my phone from my pants pocket. I silenced my phone once I arrived at the boardwalk and never gave it a second thought until now. Checking my notices I discovered I had 12 missed calls, 30 unanswered texts and 4 Twitter notices. And surprise surprise all from Riker. 'What the hell is his problem?'

(Texts) "Hey beautiful, sorry I left without saying goodbye. I promised to have family day with everyone"... "Josie? Please don't be mad"... "Is this about what happened last night"... "Josie please answer me back. Give me a chance to apologize" ... "Wtf! You know how rude it is to ignore someone"... "Josie c'mon you can't stay mad at me"... "Josie please. I'm worried now. I went by your place and you're not there. What if something has happened to you?"

I kept scrolling through similar texts becoming increasingly agitated with each one. 'Who the fuck does this little boy thinks he is?!' Ready to get in my car to confront the blonde face to face my phone lit up with a new message. 'Fucking Riker.' I opened the text but to my surprise it wasn't him.

"Hope you made it home safely. See you Monday- Sean xo"

I smiled at his words, "Thank you Sean, I did make it home safe and sound. See you Monday- Josie xo."

That simple message calmed my anger as I opened the Twitter notifications.

.RikerR5: "Excited for tour. 2 more weeks guys"..."Enjoying family day with my peeps"..."Guess I'm the only one that was feeling something between us. Feeling like a real idiot right now"..."Enough moping going to break out the song book and turn this negative into a positive."

'Geez such a fucking whiney ass.' I didn't even bother with the 6 voicemails. I simply plugged my phone in leaving the ringer off. I disrobed for bed and grabbed my laptop bringing it back to bed with me. I checked my email for information from Milo. To my advantage he had obtained some vital details on Valerik.

"Looks like we're paying a visit to Mr. Adamovich say 1:00am? Meet down the road at 12:30 so it's quiet and dark," I asked replying to Milo's email.

Not a minute later he commented back, "Ah Jo Jo we eager to play? Better be packing darling and hide your identity."

I smiled mischievously, "No problem there," I replied back closing my laptop and setting it on the nightstand.

I glanced at the time 3:30. 'Should get some rest for tomorrow.' And with that thought I drifted off into a heavy sleep. Forgetting about Riker's immature attitude and focusing on getting answers for their safety.

OoO (12:00am) OoO

I was currently preparing for my "meeting" with Valerik. I had my auburn hair pinned up under a black and red bob style wig, brown contacts and dark makeup. My outfit closely resembled that of Selene's from Underworld down to the side holsters and matching glocks.

I just finished adding extra clips into my belt and was currently draping on my knee length leather trench coat when someone began pounding on my front door. 'Who the fuck is at my door at midnight?' I was trying my best to ignore the intruder hoping they would take the hint. I obviously couldn't answer the door dressed like I was. I turned back to load and pack my AK 74 desperately trying to ignore the persistent pounding on my door.

"Tonight is not the night to fuck with me," I growled as I stomped towards the front door withdrawing my right side pistol. I didn't even bother to look through the peephole since my anger was currently clouding my judgment. I quickly cocked the pistol, opened the door instantly drawing the pistol up to the intruder's face glaring.

Fear, pure and utter fear. That's the instant emotion to flash across his face.

Regret washed over me as I sighed and reluctantly lowered my weapon, "Damn it! What the bloody hell are you doing here?.."