NINE: ENLIGHTENING

Miss Petire, head of the D.E.B.S Academy, paced around the room, strutting like a peacock. The four Top Squad members watched her, Amy with a certain amount of guilt, Dominique with placid boredness, Max with a type of hero worship, and Janet with something akin to awe.

"Oh, Annie."

"Amy," Madeline, Petrie's assistant corrected.

"Amy, I don't think you realise quite what a feather you've put in our cap," Petrie said, a smug smile on her face. "You're the first federal agent to come face to face with Lucy Diamond and live to tell the tale."

"I really didn't do anything special," Amy protested.

"Nonsense, Alice-"

"Amy."

"Amy, you infiltrated her operations. You discovered her hideout. You were living in her headquarters for over a week. You're now our foremost expert on Lucy Diamond, and you should be proud of your achievement."

Amy winced, but nodded. Achievement. That was one word for it.

"Now, I want you're report on my desk, by tomorrow morning. I want you to hand deliver it to me, do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am," Amy assured her. "I'll have it ready."

"Good. I'll have our experts go over your analysis, and create a mission briefing. When you sweep through her hideout tomorrow night, you'll be in charge."

Amy glanced worriedly at Max, but the highly-strung D.E.B didn't seem to mind the change in roster. Amy breathed a sigh of relief.

"I broke cover, Miss Petrie. I'm not even sure that Lucy Diamond will remain in her current hideout. She knows that I know its whereabouts. She's not stupid, and she knows how to hide. I can tell you everything I know, but i can't guarantee that she'll be there."

"Oh, I know that Amanda-"

"Amy."

"Amy, there are no guarantees in life. But, we have to try, rather than giving up."

"Yes ma'am," Amy agreed. She could only hope that Lucy would vacate her hideout before the D.E.B.S had a chance to go in for a full sweep.

"Well, in that case...get a good night's sleep girls. And I'll see you in my office, tomorrow night Amy."

"Amy."

"That's what I said, Madeline."

Madeline winced. "Sorry."

0000000000000

Writing the report of her gruelling week with the notorious criminal mastermind was harder than Amy had thought it would be. Trying to give a detailed outline of what she and Lucy had been doing all week, without mentioning the mind-blowing sex meant that there wasn't actually all that much that she could write about.

The two operations that she'd been part of had been explained in full detail, including the unfortunate incident of Amy's being shot by Janet, and the subsequent and surprising healing talents of Lucy Diamond.

Amy sighed and closed her eyes, trying desperately not to think too hard about the balancing act that she was just beginning.

"Hard day at the office, honey?"

Amy spun her chair around, completely incredulous.

"Lucy! How the hell did you get in here?" Amy hissed.

Lucy smirked and moved closer, straddling Amy's waist and kissing her. Amy melted into the embrace. A quick peek at the door proved that it was thankfully closed and hopefully locked.

"I had to see you," Lucy whispered as she broke off the kiss.

"This is insane," Amy replied. She couldn't help the smile that curved her lips, just at the sight of Lucy Diamond.

"It's love, baby. It's meant to insane."

They kissed again until Lucy began trying to pull Amy out of the chair. The spy allowed herself to be lead to the bed, falling backwards with Lucy pinning her down. The thief grabbed hold of Amy's wrists, taking a moment to stare at the beautiful woman beneath her, blonde hair fanned out on the pillow.

"You're beautiful," Lucy whispered.

Amy blushed, and bit her lip, trying not to grin like an idiot.

"God, it feels like I haven't seen you in months," Lucy said.

"We haven't even known each other that long," Amy reminded her.

Lucy shook her head, not particularly caring about semantics. "Feels like I've known you my whole life. You just...you get me Amy. You saw so much more than just 'Lucy Diamond'. You saw me."

Amy hugged her tightly, wishing more than anything that they could stay the way they were. Just Lucy and Amy, and not the thief and the spy.

"I'm so sorry I lied," Amy whispered. "And, I swear...ask me anything, and I'll tell you the truth."

Lucy smiled and ran her hands through Amy's hair.

"Do you love me?" she asked.

Amy nodded, her eyes locked to Lucy's. "So much."

"That's all I need to know," Lucy assured her. She pulled Amy closer, kissing her fiercely, while tugging at the hem of Amy's shirt. They broke apart only long enough for Amy to tug the blue tank over her head, and to unbutton Lucy's shirt before meeting frantically once more.

Amy pulled Lucy on top of her, desperate to feel her lover, knowing that it could be a while between visits. Nothing was going to stop her from loving this woman. Nothing.

"Hey Amy, have you – oh my God!"

Lucy and Amy pulled apart, and stared in horror at the blonde at the door. Janet was frozen in the door way, her mouth open in shock and a shaking hand held out in front of her.

"This isn't what it looks like," Amy assured her.

Janet shook her head, and before anyone could utter another word, Janet's hand slammed onto the red 'Panic' button on the doorframe of Amy's room. An alarm began sounding throughout the house. Lucy groaned and quickly kissed Amy once more.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor made her break away from Amy, and she pulled her shirt on just as Max and Dominique entered the room, guns drawn.

"Freeze Diamond!" Max yelled. "Don't move."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Ciao ladies."

Max took aim and fired, but Lucy was faster, running to the window and jumping through, despite being on the second floor. Max ran to the windowsill and poked her head out the window, but saw no sign of Lucy Diamond.

"Amy, are you alright?" Max demanded. "Did she hurt you? And where the hell is your shirt?"

"Yeah Amy," Janet said snarkily, "where is your shirt."

Amy glared at her younger friend and pulled the blue tank top over her head. "It's a long story."

"You're boning the enemy," Janet cried. "Everyone thinks you're a hero, when really, you're just a slut. A gay slut."

"I'm not a slut!" Amy yelled angrily.

"Wait, back up," Max instructed. "Are you saying that...that you and Lucy Diamond were...what? Screwing?"

"I wouldn't say that," Amy replied.

Max breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God."

"We were going to make love, before we were so rudely interrupted," Amy finished.

Max tensed, her eyes finding Amy's, searching for any sign of a prank or a lie. But she found no hint of deception.

"You're serious?" Max asked.

Amy nodded, keeping her eye trained on Max's.

"Are you insane?" the squad captain asked. "Lucy Diamond? In your room? And you're...what, you're in love with her?"

"I am."

Max shook her head, her free hand moving to rub at her temple. "I am not hearing this. I cannot be hearing this."

"I'm sorry, Max. But I'm not going to lie about this."

Max continued pacing, unable to wrap her mind around the sudden turn of events. She'd actually been less stressed in the week that Amy had been incommunicado.

"Actually, Bradshaw...you are going to lie about this," Max said.

Her three teammates looked at her in confusion.

"You are going to lie. You are going to write your report, hand it to Miss Petrie, and then we're going to raid Lucy Diamond's hideout tomorrow night. You're going to lead that raid, and then we're going to forget all about this until after Endgame. We're going to graduate, we're going to earn senior rankings and then...well, after that you can go fuck all the criminal masterminds you want to, but you are not going to bring this team down because you can't keep your pants on."

"Max-"

"No, Bradshaw," Max snapped angrily. "You don't get to plead with me about this. That's how it's going to go. Two days. Even you can lie for that long. You've proven that already."

Amy finally looked away. She gave a single terse nod, and Max shook her head in disgust.

"Alright. Let's get some sleep. Not a word about tonight to anyone. Got it?"

Janet nodded shakily. "Yeah."

"Oui," Dominique replied.

Any just nodded her agreement.

Max stared at her team before turning and walking out of Amy's room. Janet glared angrily at Amy before spinning on her heel and storming off. Dominique raised her eyebrow and smirked.

"You are far more interesting than I thought," Dominique said.

00000000000

Amy stood outside Miss Petrie's door, report in hand, waiting impatiently for the door to open. She bounced one leg nervously, wanting the meeting to be over and done with.

The door swung open and Madeline glanced out at her. "Come in," she invited.

Amy took a deep breath and walked into the office. She strode briskly to Miss Petrie's desk and handed the report to head of the Academy.

"Good morning Agent Bradley."

"Bradshaw," Madeline murmured.

"Thank you for such a timely report," Petrie said.

Amy nodded. "Everything's there. The location of Lucy Diamond's hideout, the size of her syndicate, the hierarchy of her subordinates."

"Excellent," Miss Petrie said, flipping through the report. "This is excellent work, Agent Bromwell."

"Bradshaw."

"I have to say, with your success at such an impromptu undercover operation, I have no doubt that you'll go far. That's why I've decided to award you with the prestigious D.E.B of the Year award. "

Amy's jaw dropped. "Miss Petrie-"

"No need to thank me, Agent Broadway."

"Bradshaw."

"Just ensure that your operation tonight goes as smoothly as your undercover work did, and you'll be guaranteed a position in any field after Endgame. You truly are a credit to your team-mates. Dismissed, Agent."

Amy turned and fled the office quickly. She'd never felt less like a D.E.B in her life, and now they wanted to reward her for falling in love with the enemy. Max was going to be pissed.