Capetown, South Africa

"That was Director Mayfair from the New York office of the FBI," Patterson said as she hung up the phone, "her team will be on the ground at JFK to meet us."

"FBI?" Alice sighed as she looked up from her laptop, "you got the FBI into this?"

"I told you we're going to do everything to—"

"I just thought that meant hiring one or two people from some private security company to handle this," Alice said, "not the freaking FBI!"

Patterson took a deep breath and sat down next to her friend. Their taxi was arriving any moment now and she knew that Alice wasn't going to handle this well— in fact she already wasn't handling well— and she hoped she could get this argument out of the way before they were on their way or stuck together on two very long flights.

"I did get in contact with a private security company," Patterson explained, "I also sent the threats to an expert. It was their professional opinion to forward this to the FBI. Alice, please, you need to understand this is not a joke. This threat is a serious one. What we're doing in Kambezi and Odan is very important work. It will put an end to decades of bloodshed. It will bring peace and save millions of lives. And we all know going in that it wouldn't be without its dangers, especially after what happened with the Prime Minister of Odan."

"You can argue that the work that is being done can go on even if something happens to you," Patterson added, closing her eyes for a moment, "and that would be very… noble of you, but you cannot guarantee if something does happen that others won't get hurt, or that it won't have ramifications on what we're doing. You don't know what this threat holds beyond someone doing something to hurt you personally. Whoever is behind it can have so many other things in store as well. Terrorist attacks, more assassinations, igniting another war…"

"I understand, Patterson," Alice said gently, "I really do… and I trust you," she reached over and took her friend's hand, "you know that, right? Whatever you see is the right thing to do… and I know I'm gonna be a handful during all this, so I am gonna apologize now for definitely making this hard on you going forward."

Patterson let out a small laugh and shook her head. "You're impossible," she said.

"At least you're not handling my brother's security, right?" Alice teased and Patterson rolled her eyes.

"Don't get me started on your dumb brother right now," Patterson got up and grabbed her phone from in front of her as it beeped.

"Actually, let's talk about my brother," Alice laughed.

"Shut up," Patterson said, "come on, let's go. Our taxi's here."

"Do they have to meet us at the airport, though? Can't they just meet us at the hotel?"

"This is gonna be a long trip," Patterson mumbled under her breath as she opened the door, "remind me again where your brother is these days? Maybe I will go join him."

FBI NYO, New York

"You guys can refuse the assignment," Kurt said as he looked between Zapata and Reade, "I know you are on a much higher pay grade than being on a security detail, and I know I am the one who's being punished for that stunt I pulled— which again I'm sorry I put you through it—"

"It's fine," Reade said, "you don't have to apologize for that."

Kurt nodded, glancing quickly towards Zapata to gauge her reaction as well, "okay… but like I said, you guys can say no to this assignment. I can ask anyone else to—"

"No, we're your team, we've got your back," Zapata said, "even if it's a boring babysitting job."

"Are you sure? I doubt you're gonna get the chance to beat the crap out of anyone," Kurt asked her.

"Special Agent Weller? Did you just make a joke?" Zapata laughed.

Weller shrugged and gave her a small, quick smile, "I guess I did."

"Well, just for that, I'm definitely saying yes to this assignment," Zapata replied.

"Reade?" Kurt turned to Zapata's partner.

"We're your team, Weller," Reade replied, "and maybe for one it would be fun for one not to get my suit dirty or get blown up."

"You're so boring," Zapata rolled her eyes at him and then they both turned towards Kurt seriously.

"We're in," they said.

"Thanks guys," he said, "I owe you one."

Kurt watched them leave and sighed in relief. Mayfair wasn't too happy when he told her he wanted those two on his team for this assignment. She wasn't willing to send her top duo— the agents who were second only to Weller himself— on this seemingly insignificant assignment. It was enough that she was losing Weller for a week and she preferred to keep those two working at SIOC. But she also knew that Weller new how to work with them— and more importantly, they knew how to work with him. Any of the other low level and young agents she had proposed would probably break working under directly Weller.

She made sure he understood that if anything major came up, he would have to let Reade and Zapata return to SIOC, but for now he could assign the team of his choosing to the job.

Somewhere over the Atlantic

"And that's done," Alice sighed in relief. She turned to her left, looking across the aisle towards Afreen, "please tell me that's the last one."

Afreen smiled and reached across to take the tablet from off Alice's tray table. "That was the last one," she confirmed, "at least until we land and get to the hotel. Sorry."

Alice shook her head and chuckled. "Well, that won't be for another couple of hours so I'm good. We can all stop working for a bit," she said looking between Patterson to her right and Afreen to her left, "and you can go back to that movie you were watching… the one with the obscenely beautiful man."

"Jason Momoa," Afreen sighed as she picked up her headphone, "his name is Jason Momoa."

Alice laughed and shifted in her seat, turning to to look towards Patterson, who was still on her laptop. "Take a break, Patts," Alice said.

"I am," Patterson said, "I'm not working. Just catching up on some non-work emails."

"Ok," Alice said as she started flipping through the movie options on the screen in front of her.

"I wanted to ask… have you heard from your brother lately?" Patterson asked.

Alice turned back to her and shook her head. "Not since he crossed into Syria," Alice said somberly, "that was a week ago… have you talked to him since?"

Patterson shook her head in response. "But I have been tracking him," she said, "he's fine."

Alice sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I can't believe we're making all this fuss around keeping me safe and getting the FBI involved and Ian's out there infiltrating a war zone all by himself—"

"To help rescue kids caught in the middle of it," Patterson reminded her.

"I'm not saying he's not there doing something incredible… just that… he puts his life in danger every single day and goes radio silent for weeks on end and I'm over here being coddled—"

"You're not being coddled," Patterson said, "your brother knows the risks and he takes all the precautions necessary in the situations he's in. Just like you are."

"I just… I worry about him," Alice said.

"So do I," Patterson agreed.

Alice looked up and squeezed Patterson's hand gently.

"You should tell him that," Alice said.

"I do," Patterson replied.

"No, I mean really tell him," Alice said, "maybe if you two stop pining for each—"

"I'm not pining for him," Patterson huffed, "and he's definitely not pining for me! Your brother dates— when he's not throwing himself in the middle of war zones— he dates super models and heiresses… he's not pining for me."

"For a certified genius, you're an absolute idiot, P," Alice laughed, "and I say this with all the love in the world."

"You're one to give romantic advice," Patterson rolled her eyes, "have you even returned that poor guy's calls yet? He has Calle you like fifty time in the last two days and—"

"I texted him and told him I'll be in New York," Alice replied, "so maybe we'll get together there. Now, let's watch that movie Afreen is watching because this really hot guy is half naked and completely drenched in like all of it."

Terminal 4, JFK Airport, New York

Kurt, Tasha and Reade stood in the arrivals waiting area at JFK. The flight was due to land in half an hour. Alice Kruger and her team were entering on a diplomatic visa and so they expected them not to take long to get through security.

Kurt checked his watch and then looked back at the large monitors. The screen indicated that the flight was due to land on time.

Weller pulled his phone out and opened the assignment documents— all the information they had and they needed on Alice Kruger, her team and her work. He'd spent all the previous night and day studying the file on the renowned activist as well as studying the threats she had received. According to Mayfair, their assignment did not include investigating the threats, but still, the agent in Weller couldn't help himself. He couldn't officially investigate these threats, but he knew he wouldn't be able to let it go.

He was reading the article on the prime minister of Odan when he's phone vibrated with an incoming call from Allie.

Kurt looked at the screen for a moment, debating whether to take the call or not, before Tasha nudged his arm. "Take the call," she said, "the plane hasn't even landed yet."

Kurt quickly glanced back towards the monitor and then back to his phone. "I'll only be a couple of minutes," he said as he tapped the phone.

"Hello?" He said, turning away from the pair as a wide smile found its way to his lips, "hi, baby."

Weller didn't lie. He was back in under three minutes and back to switching between his phone and the monitor while Reade and Tasha next to him debated whether the Knicks would have a better or worse upcoming season than the one that just ended.

The minute the notification on the screen changed to "landed", Kurt shoved his phone back into his pocket and focused on the door where the passengers were exiting from.

They didn't have to wait too long for Alice and her team to arrive, with Patterson first out the door and the others behind her. Kurt, Tasha and Reade approached them until they met halfway towards the exit.

"Hello, Ms. Kruger, I'm Special Agent Kurt Weller," he said, "this is Agent Zapata and Agent Reade. We'll be handling your security during your stay in New York."

Alice stood in front of him, a bag slung over her shoulder and pulling a carry on behind her. She studied him for a moment. Somehow he was exactly what she was expecting but also not exactly what she was expecting. She imagined someone bigger— more steroid induced muscle man. She also didn't expect a Special Agent. She assumed the FBI would assign a bodyguard job to someone junior— not someone with the experience she assumed Agent Weller had from just looking at him.

"Agent Weller," Alice finally said, taking her hand off the handle of her cary on to shake his, "I hope you and your team aren't the hovering type. My team and I have a lot of work to do and can't have you hindering our work."

"Of course not, ma'am," Kurt nodded, "let's get going then."

The other stood by silently, sharing quiet looks and just following the cues from those two— the clear alphas in this situation.

Alice nodded, tilting her head, silently giving her permission to lead the way.

Weller tried to reach past her to take her carry on from her but Alice turned away from him.

"I can handle it," she said, "your my body guard, not my porter, Agent."

On the streets of New York City

They'd split up in two SUV's— Alice and Afreen riding with Weller while Patterson rode with Reade and Zapata.

In the back seat, Afreen was already on the phone, arranging the first meeting they had the next morning. In the front, the silence was heavy— making Afreen grateful for her long to do list. The two in front were clearly studying each other, making mental notes and waiting to see who will break the silence first.

"I understand you're staying under a fake name at the hotel," Weller finally said, "that's smart."

"I know it is," Alice said, looking at him closely as he kept his eyes on the road, "it was Patterson's idea."

They stopped at a red light and Kurt turned slightly to look at her— just as she turned away to look at the road in front of her. He had to admit, even though he'd read her file and had pretty much prepared himself to be confronted by a strong, smart woman, she was proving to be more intriguing than he'd expected. He figured she was going to be something different from the moment she squared up to him at the airport and studied him.

He'd always believed he was a hard person to read, that the walls he had built around himself were impenetrable, but in those brief seconds, he had felt like she was reading him with more clarity than he had ever allowed anyone. It was impressive but also a little unsettling.

"Jane Addams," he said, "like the Nobel Peace Prize winning activist."

Alice's mouth twitched, keeping her eyes on the road for a moment and she bit her lip. "You did your research," she said with a smirk as she turned towards him.

"You're assuming I didn't already know who Jane Addams was?" Kurt asked, his fingers tapping the steering wheel as he locked eyes with her.

Alice shrugged and she kept his gaze. "I'm not assuming anything," she said briefly.

"It's not exactly a fake name though, is it?" Kurt added, breaking eye contact with her to check the light.

"How big is that file you have on me, Agent Weller?" Alice quipped.

"Big enough to know your middle name is Jane and your mother's maiden name is Adams," Kurt replied.

"That's a pretty big file, then," she replied.

"We're thorough at the FBI," he said with a smirk.

"Then you should also know that no one calls me Jane—"

"Except for your brother," Kurt said, "Roman Ian Kruger. Currently infiltrating an ISIS camp in Idlib—"

Alice's eyes narrowed, he jaw clenched. "You're keeping tabs on my brother?" She asked angrily.

"Not keeping tabs," Kurt replied quietly, "the FBI is just—"

"He doesn't need you to look out for him," Alice said, "he is fine on his own—"

"I am sure he does," Kurt said, "I didn't mean to imply that…"

Alice looked away, staring out the window and Kurt returned his eyes to the road ahead as the light turned green. They were silent for a few minutes— the only sound in the car coming from Afreen typing on her laptop in the back seat.

"Is he ok?" Alice whispered the question the next time they were stopped at a light.

Kurt turned to her and nodded. "He's fine," he reassured her.

"Can I ask you something?" Kurt asked.

Alice looked at him and nodded.

"Why does he go by his middle name and you go by your first?" He asked.

"I don't know," Alice replied, "just how it happened somewhere along the way."

"But he calls you Jane?" He asked.

"Yeah," Alice chuckled, "he enjoys the fact that we're twins who basically have the same name. He teases my parents that they were lazy."

Kurt smiled at that and watched her for another moment.

"Which do you prefer?"

"I'm sorry?" She gave him a funny look.

"Which name do you prefer?" He asked again.

"I don't… I… I haven't really thought about it," she said thoughtfully, "but I guess… Alice is the name the rest of the world knows me by at this point…"

"And Jane is more personal?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Alice watched him as he gave her a small nod and turned back to the road. She studied him for a moment as she recapped that conversation in her mind and she suddenly felt uncomfortably exposed, having admitted something so personal, something she had never verbalized to anyone, let alone this stranger— the American FBI agent she very much did not want to be protecting her.

Upon arrival at the hotel, Alice, Patterson and Afreen checked in as Reade stayed with them. Upstairs, Kurt and Tasha were shown to the room by the hotel's head of security and they conducted their full check of it. A couple of agents had swept the room earlier that day, but true to his nature, Kurt had to do it again— trusting almost no one but himself.

"She's gonna be a handful," Tasha commented as she stepped out of the bathroom, "not that laid back easy job you had in mind."

"I guess not," Kurt replied as he finished his check of the second bedroom in the suite.

"As long as we don't get blown up along the way, right?" Tasha laughed as they met in the central living space.

"Let's hope not," Kurt said, "but we can't be complacent, Zapata," he added sternly, "this threat is a real thing. So we can't dwell on how welcome we are here or not and we have to be one step ahead the whole time. Our job is to protect—"

"You do realize that I don't need a babysitter," Alice's voice interrupted him from the doorway to the suite.

"Of course not, ma'am," Kurt said, standing up straighter, "and please rest assured we are not here to hover or make your work any harder. My team and I will not stand in your way at all. We will not limit your activities or your going and coming around."

He silently signaled for Reade and Tasha to start heading out. "Our job here is to ensure your safety and security— yours and your team's— so that you may continue to do the important work you're here to do," he gave her a polite nod and made his way towards the door, "we will be right outside if you need anything. Enjoy your evening."

Alice remained silent, crossing her arms over her chest and watched him leave. She had intended to rile him up with her comment. She wasn't sure why— maybe it was because of the way he'd manage to break through her defenses in the car or maybe because on some level she was enjoying get under his skin. There was clearly a story behind why he was given this job he was overqualified for and the way he held himself— the way he walked and talked and commanded a room— she wasn't used to having someone else have that power around other people—

"You can take easy on them, you know that, right?" Patterson huffed as Weller closed the door behind him.

Alice gave her a sideways glance and then dropped her arms. Shrugging her jacket off and tossing it on the couch. "I know," Alice replied, "but not just yet."

Patterson and Afreen both sighed and grabbed their bags walking off towards the second bedroom with them.

"Mayfair really knows how to punish you when she wants to," Reade commented as the three agents took their place in the hallways outside the suite.

Kurt sighed and dropped back against the wall, closing his eyes and resting his head back. "Yeah," he mumbled, "she does."

"You don't have to stay here," Reade added, "Zapata and I can have this first shift and we'll switch with you in a few hours."

"Yeah, I know…" Kurt said as he straightened, "how about we do it the other way round. I'll take this first shift, and you guys take the next?"

Patterson found Alice in the living area, pouring over some paperwork. She walked up to her with a smug look on her face. "I've got something for you," she said as she sat down.

"What?" Alice asked.

"Check the shared drive," Patterson said and then pointed at a file on Alice's computer screen, "everything you need to know on Special Agent Kurt Weller. At least everything I could dig up without raising any flags."

"Are you sure you want to encourage my behavior?" Alice chuckled.

"I was hoping this would make you less of thorn in his side if you got to know him," Patterson corrected.

"I did tell you I wasn't gonna like this," Alice teased, "did you read it?"

Patterson nodded. "I'm gonna order us some room service," Patterson said as she got up.

"Great," Alice replied just as her phone started vibrating with an incoming call. She looked at the screen and that back at Patterson. "I gotta take this," she said, grabbing the phone and heading towards her room.

Patterson opened the suite door and stepped out into the hall.

"Everything ok, ma'am?" Weller quickly asked.

She gave him a warm smile. "Everything's fine Agent Weller," she said, "I was just gonna order us some room service and was wondering if I could get you guys any— where are agents Reade and Zapata?"

"They're taking the next shift," Weller explained, "and no, thanks, I'm good."

"Ok," Patterson nodded, stepping back towards the room and stopping abruptly.

"She doesn't mean anything by it," Patterson said, turning back around to face him, "she just hates feeling like she needs other people. She is stubbornly independent and… well… stubborn."

"I understand, ma'am," Weller smiled politely, "no harm done."

A few hours later, almost towards the end of his shift— which had gone without a hitch— the elevator doors on their floor opened and a sharply dressed, clean shaven, man walked out. Kurt glanced at him and then watched as he made his way down the in his direction.

Inside the suite, the three women were putting the final notes on next morning's first speech when a sudden ruckus pulled their attention away from it. They couldn't tell exactly what was being said but it was clearly coming from outside their door.

Alice jumped up, making her way to the door and quickly opening it.

"What's going on?" She cried out when she saw Weller pinning a man— clearly smaller in size than him— to the wall outside her door—

And then she realized who the man was. "Oliver?" She said in bewilderment, "what are you doing here?"

"You know this man?" Weller asked, still not loosening his hold on him.

"Yes, I do," Alice scolded, "get off of him."

Weller gave her a stern look— then an equally menacing one towards the man— then finally stepped back, but still blocked him from approaching Alice.

"What the hell, agent?" She hissed at him.

"He refused to identify himself. He refused to cooperate and insisted—"

"So you slammed him into the wall?" Alice pushed past him and towards Oliver.

"He wasn't cleared. Wasn't vetted," Weller explained, "you gave us a list of names you expected to visit you. He wasn't on it."

Alice looked at Oliver and he gave her shrug. "I thought I'd surprise you," he said.

"You know we can't have that, Ms. Kruger—"

Alice glared at Weller, anger flaring— and a for a moment they both shared a challenging stare— tensions rising.

And then she broke it, Turing towards Oliver, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him a searing kiss.

"It's so good to see you," she whispered breathlessly against his lips when she pulled back and he stared at her— equal parts turned on and shocked.

She then turned back around— catching Weller's challenging gaze with hers— and she took Oliver's hand and led him towards the room.