It is finally here... The End of Clandestine Bluebird. I can't believe it's been a whole year since I started this story. I want to start off by thanking EVERYONE for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and just enjoying my story. It means a lot to know that my creativeness is appreciated. I also want to thank the TV show ALIAS for inspiring me to start this story. I highly recommend you check that show out. And of course God gets most of the credit since He created me; there would be no CB if that little miracle hadn't been formed.
This whole story is dedicated to one of my best friends, LeanaPlumz. Without it, we wouldn't have met and that would be tragic because I can't see my life without her now. Thank you, Leana, for helping on a lot of the chapters throughout this journey as well. I love you, Hamster!
Now, why don't we get on with this ending, shall we?
For the last time... Enjoy!
Epilogue
Eight Months Later
R.E.D. Headquarters
Gym and Training Level
10:46 AM
"Try to lift your leg a little higher when you kick." Casey instructed her stepbrother/boyfriend as she stood in front of him in a ready position with her hands held out to defend his attacks. In the past eight months since the incident in Russia, Casey's shoulder had healed leaving behind a minor scar and she was finally able to use it again.
"Any higher, Case, and you won't be a mother someday." Derek replied while swiping the sweat from his brow with his forearm.
The young agent blushed at his comment and what it implied. The two had been dating for half a year now but the subject of what the future held for them was still unclear.
Can I see myself actually marrying Derek someday? She pondered for a moment. Casey had always dreamed of settling down one day with a fine husband and two or three kids running around but since becoming a spy, that dream had been pushed to the back of her mind. Until now that is…
I can't live this life if children are involved. It's too risky.
"You ready for another round?" Derek's voice broke though her thoughts as he held up his fists.
"I'm sorry?" Casey shook her head. She'd been so zoned out that she missed hearing what he said.
Derek noticed the frown forming on his girlfriend's face and took a concerned step towards her as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You alright?" He asked, looking into her grief stricken eyes.
Casey sighed, "I... I'm fine." She lied.
The young secret agent ran a hand through her hair. It was just the two of them in the gym, so she didn't have to worry about anyone listening in on their conversation.
"I just... I don't think I'll ever be a mom. This job is literally my life. How would a baby ever fit into it?"
Derek smiled as he pulled the woman he loved into his arms and she rested her head against his broad chest.
"Why are you stressing about this now? You're still young. You've got plenty of time to settle down in the future. I shouldn't have said anything, I'm really sorry."
"It's not your fault, Derek. It just got me thinking though..."
"If you want to be a mother, you will be."
"But..."
"Do you really want to be a spy forever?"
"No... But I don't want to be an old mother either."
Derek chuckled and kissed the top of her head, he then pulled away and looked into her eyes with a smirk, "Well we could always get started now then."
"Der-ek!" Casey slapped his arm; her face turning a deep shade of red. "I'm being serious."
"So am I." He winked seductively.
"You're hopeless!" Casey threw up her hands with an irritated glare and began stomping towards the women's change room.
"Case!" Derek called after her. "Awe, honey, come on! I was kidding!" Sort of. He thought with a smirk as she ignored him and disappeared behind the door.
The former hockey star let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his sweat-drenched hair. He was exhausted. He'd been training all morning since 5 AM. Between Casey, Ben, and Sensai Hershey, Derek was becoming quite the fighter. It still all seemed surreal to him that he was now a secret spy and Casey was not only his girlfriend but part of his spy team as well.
"Hey, Derek," a familiar voice called from across the empty gym, slightly startling the young man as he spun towards it.
"Hey, Winnie the Pooh." Derek greeted with a grin.
Benjamin grimaced at the nickname that Derek had adopted for him thanks to Casey telling him the story behind their code names as he glanced around the empty space with a raised brow. "I thought I heard Casey in here with you…"
"She was until I pissed her off and she stomped away." Derek sighed as he grabbed a towel from the nearby bench and wrapped it around his neck in frustration.
"Uh oh. What'd you say now?" Ben smirked, used to hearing about their arguments, as he sat down on the bench. Even though the two had finally become a couple, they still managed to fight like cat and dog on most occasions. It was just who they were and would never change despite their relationship status.
"I was just making a joke and she took it seriously." Derek groaned as he took a seat beside his fellow secret agent and friend.
"A joke about what?"
"Does it really matter?"
"It obviously does to Casey."
Derek frowned and leaned forward to rest his head in his hands as he relayed the conversation to Ben.
The blonde agent let out a low whistle after Derek finished and clapped him on the back, "You've definitely done it now. Women are especially sensitive when it comes to the subject of the future and the mention of being a mother."
"And you'd know?" Derek snorted in amusement.
"Hey, I've had a couple girlfriends in my time, plus I grew up with three older sisters. I know a lot more about women than you'd think."
"Fine," Derek sighed once again, "so what do you suggest I do, oh 'Guru of Women'?" He mocked.
"For one, I suggest you stop talking to me and go find your woman."
"Crap!" Derek suddenly exclaimed at the realization of something as he jumped to his feet with wide eyes.
"What?" His partner stared up at him in confusion.
"She's probably already left to get ready for her cousin's wedding, and if I don't hurry and get my own butt out of here, I'm a dead man for sure!"
"That's today?"
"Yes! It starts at noon. I begged Case to come here and help me train for a bit before the ceremony because I wanted to be ready for the field exercise next week."
"I'd definitely get moving if I were you then. The wrath of Bluebird is not one to mess with."
"I honestly hate these things…" Derek frowned as he began collecting his belongings.
"You hate weddings? Wow… You're a real romantic." Ben scoffed sarcastically.
"I just hate all the drama that surrounds them, and not to mention the fact that our family will be there. My father is still disappointed with me for quitting hockey, and they're all still trying to get used to the fact that Case and I are now dating."
"I thought they took it pretty well when you told them at Christmas three months ago?"
Derek shrugged, "They did… and they didn't… I think it's still going to take some getting used to, at least for the parents. Our sibs, on the other hand, were ecstatic. Apparently they'd been rooting for the two of us to hook up ever since we met."
Ben laughed out loud and grinned at Derek, "That's some family you've got there."
"Don't remind me." The young man shook his head as he turned to leave. "Wish me luck." He spoke over his shoulder and waved goodbye.
"Luck!" Ben shouted back, still laughing while Derek exited the gym in a hurry.
(=)
Ella Banquet Hall
Toronto, Ontario
6:37 PM
"Congratulations again, Vick… um… toria." Casey forced a smile as her newly wed cousin walked into the women's bathroom while she was finishing washing her hands at the sink.
"Thanks, cuz." Victoria replied sarcastically. "I'm quite surprised to see that you've at least shown up to my wedding."
Casey sighed as she turned off the tap and began to dry her hands on a towel. And so it begins…
"I told you I was sorry about missing your engagement party. It was months ago now; can't you just accept that?"
"I had to replace you with Daniel's whiny fifteen year old sister as a bridesmaid because you were apparently "unavailable" to be in my wedding party." Her cousin air-quoted with her fingers and snapped angrily.
Casey scoffed and folded her arms across her chest with a frown, "Oh please! You only wanted me in the wedding party to flaunt off the fact that you were getting married and I wasn't!"
"Is that really what you think of me? That I'm that shallow?" Hurt flashed across the bride's face as she met Casey's heated gaze and a thought suddenly dawned on her. "You're still upset about the whole Truman thing, aren't you?" She asked with wide eyes.
"No," Casey snapped. "Thanks to you kissing him, I realized how much of a scumbag he really was."
"Then what is your deal?"
"What is yours? We've never been very close, so why would you even care to have me in your wedding party?"
Vicki stumbled on her words as she stood in her poofy white dress opening and closing her mouth like a baited fish with frustration. She finally let out a sigh of defeat and spoke, "Fine! Part of the reason was to flaunt off my new fiancé because I knew you had no one, which meant I'd finally beat you at something!"
The young secret agent wanted to shout out: "I knew it!" when her cousin was finally honest with her and admitted to Casey's assumptions, but of course she didn't. I'm around Derek far too much… She thought with a slight smirk, knowing that even though he would've gloated in the flustered bride's face, she didn't regret the presence of her boyfriend in the least.
"You really need to stop comparing your life to mine, Victoria. It's unhealthy, and to be honest, I'm quite happy with the fact that I'm not married yet. I'd much rather focus on my career for a while longer before dealing with a husband and kids; not that it's a bad thing!" She added with a flush before her cousin was offended.
"I get it," Vicki chuckled and shook her head in remorse. "I'm truly sorry for being such a bitch all these years, Case. Can you forgive me?""
"As long as you forgive me for dropping out of your wedding. I really was tied up with life at the time though…" And recovering from a bullet wound…
"No need to explain." Victoria smiled and held up her hand as she stepped forward and pulled Casey into an embrace. "I do have one question though…" The young bride said when they parted. Her face had gone red with embarrassment as she hesitated to speak.
"What is it?"
"Would you mind… holding my dress while I pee?"
Casey laughed out loud and gestured towards the stalls, "It would be my honour."
(=)
7:42 PM
"Are you just going to ignore me all night or are we going to speak about this?" The voice of George Venturi spoke from behind Derek as he stood at the bar pouring himself another glass of wine.
"What makes you think I was ignoring you?" The young man frowned and turned to meet his father's stern gaze.
George gave him a pointed look and Derek shook his head as he brought the glass up to his lips and took a sip.
"There's nothing to talk about. It's been eight months, Dad. I'm not going back."
"I just don't understand." George sighed. "Hockey was everything to you. How could you just throw that away? I'm sure they would've given you another chance after that fight in Boston."
"You don't get it. I didn't care about another chance. Yes, I love hockey, Dad, but it's not what I wanted for my life."
"Was this your decision or Casey's?" his father glowered bitterly.
Derek turned to his dad with a fierce glare, "How dare you even say that. I decided this on my own. I know you're still trying to get used to the fact that Casey and I are together, but don't be blaming her for my life choices. You're just going to have to get over the fact that we're in love and that I'm not playing hockey anymore."
George's expression softened and guilt replaced his hard features as he spoke, "You really do love each other?"
Derek glanced across the room to where he saw Casey dancing on the floor with Lizzie and his stomach muscles tightened at the sight. The young woman caught his gaze and even though she was still upset with him for their conversation that morning she winked at him. He couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as he turned back to his father and spoke, "We always have."
George let out a sigh and ran a hand through his thinning grey-blonde hair, "Look, Derek, I'm sorry for being so hard on you about the hockey thing. It just doesn't add up, I guess. You leaving hockey to work at some research place…?"
"I'm in charge of the video projects there, Dad. It's actually a pretty sweet gig. You have no idea how many lives we're impacting at R.E.D."
His father smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "All that matters is that you're happy and I see now that you really are. I admit, the whole thing between you and Casey is still going to take some time for me to adjust to; I mean… I see her as a daughter too... But who am I to mess with love? There's no force on this earth that could keep me from loving Nora and I can see by the look in your eyes, that you feel the same way about her daughter."
"You have no idea." Derek grinned. If only his father knew all that he'd done to keep Casey in his life.
"Nora and I didn't say it at Christmas, but you have our blessing to be together."
"Thanks, Dad. That means a lot."
The two men embraced each other with slaps on the back and Derek felt like such a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Well I better get back to your stepmother. I thinks she wants to head home soon since we had to leave Simon with a sitter."
"I bet he wasn't too happy about that." Derek chuckled.
"Not in the least. The little bugger tried to sneak into the car when we were leaving. He even packed cucumber sandwiches for his self to eat during the drive. It's like you and Casey never left home."
Derek laughed at his father's comment and the memory it brought up of the time he and Casey tried to sneak out to a party in high school. If only we'd had our spy skills then… Maybe Dad's car wouldn't have been dented.
"The two of you better come and visit again soon." George advised before waving goodbye and heading towards his wife who was trying to round up a dancing teenage Marti that was refusing to leave the party so soon.
"We will." Derek nodded.
The former hockey star gulped down the rest of his wine and set the empty glass on one of the nearest tables and decided it was time to face his girlfriend that had barely spoken a word to him all evening. He couldn't stand the thought of her being angry with him another moment.
God, help me…
(=)
R.E.D. Headquarters
Tech Lab Level
7:52 PM
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Chip, what is that blasted noise? Would you turn it off? I'm trying to reprogram something here." Benjamin Blake complained as he sat in Mason Marz's desk in his office and typed up codes on the computer before him.
"I have detected an intruder around the premises of the building, Agent Blake." Chip replied as the beeping sound continued.
"Where?" The secret agent asked with concern but before the security system could reply, a voice spoke up behind him.
"I've been wondering where you were."
Ben spun around to see Karma Hesston standing in the doorway with a smile on her pretty face. He let out a sigh, ignoring the knot that formed in his stomach every time she was around him and instructed Chip to stop the beeping sound, "It's just Karma that you were detecting, Chip, so turn it off."
"Agent Hesston is not an intruder. I am not detecting her in the building's outer premises." Chip replied.
"What's going on?" Karma asked, approaching the desk as Ben continued to argue with the security system.
"I know she's not an intruder, Chip, so turn off the beeping!"
"But, Agent Blake…"
"What is that beeping for?" Karma questioned as she placed her hands over her ears to block out the volume that it was increasing to.
"He must be malfunctioning because of me having to change some codes in the system," Ben said with a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair and started typing something on the computer. "Let me see if I can turn off that noise myself." He hit a couple more buttons and the alarm finally cut off. The man grinned with triumph.
"What are you doing in Mason's office anyway? Did you forget that we were supposed to meet at seven for dinner? I've been looking everywhere for you." Karma frowned and placed her hands on her hips.
Ben's eyes widened in realization and he blushed with embarrassment, "I'm so sorry, Kar! I honestly didn't mean to stand you up. Mason had to leave early on a flight to L.A. because he was helping the CIA with something; I guess they're having computer problems and none of their tech guys can figure them out, so he asked me if I could finish typing up some new codes into the system since I practically helped with the design of Chip anyway."
"So you didn't think to call or text me? I would've understood, Ben. You made me think that…" She hesitated on finishing her sentence and turned away from him.
"I made you think what?" He asked as he stood up and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Well… This was supposed to be our first official date and… and I thought maybe you'd decided not to go through with it."
"Oh, Kar, I honestly didn't mean it." Ben said as he forced her to turn around and look into his eyes. "I've actually been looking really forward to this date. I guess I just get a little too caught up in work sometimes and lose track of time. I swear it had nothing to do with you though."
"So then you do still want to go out with me?" She asked hopefully as a piece of blonde hair fell over her eye.
Ben reached out and brushed the stray strand of hair behind her ear with a smile, "Only if you still want to go out with me."
"I've never told you this before…" the young agent blushed a shade of red as she placed her hand over his and held it against her cheek, "but I've had a crush on you since the first day we met."
"And you waited till now to tell me?"
"At the time I thought you and Casey had a thing…"
"But even after she and Derek got together and you and I became friends… Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to be sure that my feelings were reciprocated."
Ben laughed at how adorable she was as he leaned down and captured her soft lips with his. He then pulled away and looked into her eyes with a smirk, "Are you sure now?"
"I think I need a little more convincing." Karma grinned and was about to pull him in for another kiss when the alarm started sounding again.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Are you serious, Chip?" Ben shouted over the noise as he approached the computer screen with frustration.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but I detect an intruder in the premises, Agent Blake. It is not a malfunction. My systems are working fine." The security system insisted as a video surveillance popped up on the screen showing two dark figures roaming the outside of the building.
"He really is detecting someone, Ben. What should we do?"
"Do you have your tranq gun?"
"Yes."
"Then let's check it out. It could just be some teenage punks looking for trouble but I'd like to make sure."
The two agents rode the elevator to the main floor and quickly made their way to the front of the lobby where the doors were securely locked down with no way of outsiders getting in. Ben entered in the security code and Chip opened the doors for them as the duo quietly crept out into the chilly night air of Toronto, guns extended, and began searching the area for any trespassers.
"Do you see anyone?" Karma whispered as Ben headed towards the back of the massive building.
He glanced around the corner with his tranquilizer gun gripped tightly in his hands but there was no one hiding in the darkness that he could see.
"They must've left." Ben said with a shrug as he turned back to Karma.
Suddenly two masked figures dropped down from above them and before either agent could react, their guns had been removed from their hands and they were pinned to the ground.
"Good job, boys." An unknown female voice spoke from the shadows as Ben and Karma struggled against their captors. "Now let's go crash a wedding reception, shall we?"
(=)
Ella Banquet Hall
Toronto, Ontario
8:05 PM
Casey laughed as she spun her younger sister in a twist and pulled her back to her body as they continued dancing to the beat of the music while on the dance floor. She'd missed Lizzie so much in the past year. The younger McDonald was always busy traveling with her University soccer team and Casey hardly got to see her. They were already discussing spending a weekend together, just the two of them for some sisterly bonding time. It was much needed and Casey couldn't wait. She wasn't sure how Derek would take it though since he was practically tied to her hip since they started dating, but he'd just have to deal.
Speaking of the boyfriend, Casey hadn't seen much of him since the ceremony that afternoon. He sat next to her during the wedding and made sarcastic remarks during the vows, but she'd still been irritated with his behavior from the morning and barely acknowledged him. After her heart-to-heart with Vicki … oops… Victoria, she realized that she didn't want to stay mad at Derek. He was just being his usual jokester self; she should be used to it by now. However, the thought of actually bringing a child into their kind of life one day still caused her stomach to drop with uneasiness.
"You okay, Casey?" Lizzie's voice broke through her thoughts and the young agent looked up to see her sister staring at her with concern.
"Um… yeah… sorry. I guess I just wandered off for a moment."
"Something on your mind?"
"Derek and I got into a bit of an argument this morning…"
"I was wondering what was up with you two since you've spent most of the night with me instead of your boyfriend." She grinned when she referred to the title that Derek had now taken up in her life, still loving the fact that her sister and stepbrother were now dating. "It's nothing serious, is it?" She raised a curious brow. "I mean… you guys always argue… It's just the way you are."
"I know. He made a joke when I was trying to have a serious conversation and I may have overreacted…" Casey confessed guiltily.
"Well maybe you should go talk to him then…" Her sister suggested with an understanding smile.
Before Casey could reply, an all too familiar voice spoke up from behind her and she turned to see Derek rubbing the back of his neck as he made eye contact with Lizzie, "May I… uh… cut in?" He asked his youngest stepsister, the one he actually considered to be his family.
Lizzie smirked, "As long as you're actually going to dance with her and not throw her around like a rag doll or act like a zombie."
"Ah," Derek admonished with a grin at the memories. "Good times."
"Now I know why you always wanted to dance with my sister." Lizzie winked as she gave Casey a quick hug and whispered in her ear. "He has good timing. Now make up before I bash your heads together." Casey chuckled at her comment. If only her sister knew that she wasn't the only one who knew martial arts anymore.
"So..." Derek started to say once Lizzie walked away and they were alone.
"Are you going to dance with me or just stand there?" Casey questioned with her hands on her hips.
"May I have this dance?" Derek smirked with a bow.
Casey rolled her eyes, smiling on the inside, as she grabbed her boyfriend's hand and placed his other one on her hip. They slowly began to move to the slow song now playing in the background.
"I'm sorry." The spy couple blurted at the same time, causing equal grins to spread across their faces.
"What are you sorry for?" Derek frowned at her. "I'm the one that needs to apologize. I was a total inconsiderate jerk earlier. I shouldn't have joked when you were trying to have a serious conversation."
"Joking is just your way of dealing with things though, Derek, and I know that. I overreacted. You were just being you."
Derek shook his head, "That's no excuse. I need to start being more considerate to your feelings. We're in this relationship together and it won't work unless we're both on the same page."
"I agree."
"Do you still... uh… Wanna talk about it?" Derek asked nervously while continuing to lead them through the song in a swaying motion.
Casey wrapped her hands around his neck and smiled up at him, "It's alright. While in the bathroom with Vicki, I realized that I'm happy with the way my life is at the moment. I don't need to get married right away or have children to feel satisfied. I like my job and I like not having the pressures of being a wife and mother right now. Maybe someday..."
"You were in the bathroom with Vicki…?"
"Don't ask." Casey advised and Derek knew not to mess with that tone.
"Ok…" The former hockey star raised a curious brow at her before moving on. "So this whole wedding thing hasn't given you any ideas?"
Casey laughed, "We only started dating, Derek. As much as I look forward to walking down the aisle someday, right now isn't the time."
Derek let out a breath and spoke, "Well that's a relief."
"Hey!" Casey chided and smacked the back of his head. "I still expect it to be amazing and very romantic when it does happen, so you better get planning now."
"How about after I pass the field exercise next week? I could fail and not become a super secret spy; I doubt you'd want me then."
"Of course I'd still want you! I fell in love with you before you became a spy, Derek, and I'll love you even after." A thought suddenly dawned on the young agent as she looked up into his eyes, begging for the truth. "Is that why you fell in love with me? Because I was a spy?"
Derek shook his head and chuckled, "No, I started falling for you way before then, but you being a spy did add to your sexiness," he winked and she blushed crimson red.
Casey leaned up towards his lips but before she touched them to hers she stopped and glanced around, realizing where they were, "I know you don't like PDA..." Before she could finish the sentence, Derek closed the space between them.
"With you, I could really care less." He grinned when they parted.
Something across the room suddenly caught the young agent's eye and she let go of her boyfriend as an uneasy feeling crept into her stomach.
"What are you doing?" Derek asked when she began walking away.
"Did you see that man?" Casey turned to him briefly before her attention was averted across the room again.
"What man?"
"I saw a man dressed in dark clothing standing at the back entrance."
"When?"
"Just now. He made eye contact with me and then disappeared out the door."
"Do you know him?"
"I've never seen him before. I don't even think he was invited to the wedding." She shook her head. "I'm going to check it out. Something doesn't feel right."
"I'm coming with you." Derek said and Casey didn't even bother trying to stop him. He was getting better in his training and she knew he could handle himself if they were attacked.
"Just stay close behind," the young agent instructed her boyfriend as she glanced around to make sure no one was watching and pulled her tranquilizer gun out of the slit in her baby blue dress.
"What else are you keeping down there?" Derek commented while they made their way towards the back entrance door of the banquet hall. He wouldn't be given a gun until after his training was complete, so Casey was the only one armed at the moment.
"Wouldn't you like to know." She smirked seductively and Derek blushed.
The hall was so busy with wedding guests dancing and drinking that no one even noticed the couple slip out the door into the cold night air. They were standing in a dimly lit parking lot that was unpaved, causing Casey to stumble slightly in her heels as they glanced around the area.
"You sure you saw him go outside?" Derek whispered from behind her as Casey extended her gun and surveyed the area.
"Yes."
"Maybe it was nothing."
"No," she shook her head with determination. "He looked right at me, Derek, and then he walked out like I was supposed to follow him."
"What if it's a trap then? Maybe we should…"
Before Casey could finish her sentence two large dark figures appeared from behind a truck and began advancing on them almost immediately.
"Case, watch out!" Derek cried as another figure dropped down from the side of the building and knocked the gun from her hands.
Casey glanced to her left and saw one of the men swing his fist to connect with her stepbrother's jaw but he ducked just in time and kicked the guy in the gut. She turned back to see the other two men coming after her and readied herself for their attack. It wouldn't be easy in a dress, but she had no choice.
The first guy went for her throat but Casey blocked his attempt and kneed him in the side; the second guy jumped up and right before his shoe could connect with her face, the young agent twisted, kicked up her own leg and knocked him against the wall. His partner went in for another hit but Casey punched him in the face then brought her elbow up against his nose causing it to crack and the man to cry out in pain.
"Enough!" A shrill voice suddenly cut through the night and all three men backed away from the spy duo instantly, one now nursing a fractured nose.
"What's going on?" Derek shouted as he and Casey stood in the ready position in case they decided to attack again.
"Good evening, Agent McDonald and Mr. Venturi." A female voice spoke from behind them, startling the couple as they spun around to see an attractive red haired, middle-aged woman standing in the shadows with her hands placed inside the pockets of her stylish green trench coat. "That was quite the show you just put on there. I'm impressed."
"Who are you?" Casey demanded to know as she picked up her tranq gun from the ground and aimed it at the strange woman.
"There's no need to point that at me; I'm unarmed." The Redhead said, gesturing to Casey's weapon.
"Then remove your hands from your coat." Derek glared at the mysterious woman who continued to smile at the two of them.
"Show us your hands, or I shoot." Casey threatened and took a step towards her.
"All I want to do is talk." She replied as she slowly pulled her hands from the pockets of her coat and held them out in front of her.
"Then why did those men attack us?"
"It was a test." The woman grinned.
"A test for what?" The young agent stared at her in confusion. "How do you know who we are?"
"My name is Olivia Inez and I work for The Swan."
Casey's eyes widened at the mention of that name.
"I believe Agent Phillip Greenwood mentioned us to you, judging by the look on your face."
"What do you want with us? We had nothing to do with Phil's death."
"That's not why I'm here. Agent Greenwood's death was a tragedy and he will be greatly remembered."
"You were part of the reason he was killed in the first place!" Casey accused with a scowl. "I know all about what your clandestine company did to him."
"Do you now?" Olivia raised a brow at her.
"He wanted out but you forced him to stay undercover. You let R.E.D. get poisoned!" The young agent hissed with anger and she felt Derek place his hand on the small of her back to calm her.
"What happened to R.E.D. was out of our control, Agent McDonald. Your agency wasn't the only one to get hit with Potion X; it was happening all around the world. Having Agent Greenwood stay undercover was the only way we could find out where the potion was coming from and how to get rid of it. We almost did until Greenwood's tracker lost its signal because of those underground tunnels in Asia. Nevertheless, he saved our lives that day, and you managed to save everyone as well, which is why I am here tonight."
The air grew silent with only the distant sound of music coming from inside the hall as Casey stared at the woman in confusion.
"What do you mean…?"
Olivia smiled and took a step closer, "You are an outstanding agent, Miss. McDonald. Our company has been watching you for quite some time now, and we would like to offer you a covert position working for The Swan."
Casey was speechless. Who did this woman think she was just showing up out of nowhere, at her cousin's wedding reception of all places, and offering her a job?
"I… I can't." Casey shook her head with a deep frown. "R.E.D. is my life. My team is there, my friends…"
Olivia chuckled with a smile, "We don't just want you; we want your team as well. In fact, Agent Blake and Agent Hesston have already agreed to the terms; on the one condition that you and Mr. Venturi say yes as well."
"You've already spoken to my partners?"
"Yes, after they forgave us for taking them by force. We had to take necessary precautions just in case they didn't go along with it." She shrugged.
"This is ridiculous, Case." Derek raised his voice as he stepped out in front of her and looked into her eyes. "For all we know this woman is lying to us."
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Agent McDonald. There is so much more that The Swan can offer you as a spy." The redhead spoke convincingly. "We not only want you and your team, but we need you."
Casey could feel her heartbeat drumming against her chest as her mind raced with so many perplexing thoughts. She didn't know what to say. The keener in her started listing out the many pros and cons that came with making the tough decision. This will not only affect my life, but my team's as well…
The secret agent finally met Derek's wary gaze and he nodded at her, affirming that he'd follow her whichever path she chose. She smiled warmly at him before looking back at the woman from The Swan and nodded with determination.
"I'm in."
"Then welcome to a whole new chapter of your life, Agent Casey McDonald."
And that's the end... I really hope you liked it. Please leave a Review; it would mean so much.
As far as I know, there won't be a sequel... but who knows? Maybe I'll become inspired again if they actually do have "Life With Derek... Again" happen. I'm totally psyched for that possibility by the way!
Anyway... thanks so much! I'm actually a little sad that it's over now... but I do really want to focus on non-fanfiction stuff, since I have a lot of novel ideas just sitting in files on my computer, waiting to be looked at again... Wish me luck.
God Bless!
Oh, and for those interested, I've been doing a little bit of editing on my other story, Spilt Tea, and will probably be posting those within the next month. It's not too much that I'm changing... Just tiny little edits.
Have a Great 2013!