Chapter Three: Tequila Filled Shots

{2013, Unknown Location]

Isabella Messer moaned weakly, rolling her head on the hard surface beneath her. Her head was pounding as long as the rest of her body. She groaned again as she lifted her head to figure out what the hell was going on, where the hell she was. The last thing she remembered was the basement, chained up against a wall wearing nothing. She remembered the words the man whispered in her ears still echoing back to her, "Your time is up. We don't need you anymore." Her forehead suddenly hit something hard and her heart pounded frantically against her chest. She had a dreaded feeling that she was in a very bad place right now, but it was so dark and she couldn't see her hand in front of her face.

"Help!" Her voice was dry. She only said one word but it hurt to talk. She couldn't recall the last time she had a drink of water."Piero?"She whispers, But all she heard was the sound of her own frantic breathing. Her ribs started burning- though she didn't remember why- and it hurt to breathe. She needed to relax. There was still time, she could be found. Her team wouldn't stop looking for her. She trusted that they were out there looking for her.

She felt around blind, unable to see in the blackness and it dawned on her where she was; in some sort of box/

A curse word leaves her lips.

- Lost & Found -

[ 2019, SWAT Headquarters.]

"Six hours into training and your team is exhausted." Rawson laughs at his partner's words, handing her a cold bottle of water out of the kitchen that belonged to the SWAT officer. She uncapped the bottle, taking a drink before putting the cap back on and throwing it back to Mick. "You drink that. Pineapple water is shit." She makes a face, making both men in the room laugh.

"Well, you are kicking their asses," Hicks says softly. Hick was watching the last couple of hours, both FBI agents knew what they were doing and that is why he asked the FBI for this training. They knew how to make the seasoned SWAT agents sweat. "Tell me, honestly, how are they doing?"

Isabella walks over to the fridge, looking for a normal drink. She grabs a naked strawberry smoothie that was labeled Luca. Hicks gave her a look but didn't say anything. "They are doing good. They could show our recruits in Quantico a thing or two." Rick answers.

"Street could use some more negotiation training. He got me killed once, Deacon twice. He gets frustrated, yells." Isabella explains. "There seems to be a team morale issue. Seems like they are dealing with something they don't want to talk about. It feels like something happened between them, or at least two of the members that need to be dealt with." She feels her partner's eyes on her.

Mick puts the cap back on his pineapple water-filled bottle. "Each member has weaknesses and strengths. Not every team can be perfect at everything, I do see a weakness that can be fixed though. Switch them out on things. A downside on some teams that we have seen within the FBI, they don't know everyone's jobs. Someone down, hurt, another member of the team could not step in and fill the hole."

The commander nods, agreeing with the older FBI agent. "That is an excellent point, Rawson. I will discuss things with Hondo and see where we can change things."

Isabella looks to her partner then Hicks. "You have a great team, Hicks. One of the highest-ranking SWAT teams in the United States. We want to keep them that way. But, we are done for the day. We will be here to kick their asses tomorrow. We'll see you tomorrow."

Hicks thanks the agents, wishing them to have a good day. Both agents walk along to the locker room that belonged to the SWAT team. "Any plans tonight?" She questions him when her partner shook his head no. "I was thinking about inviting twenty squad out for a drink. Would you join us?"

Mick laughs. "Am I missing something?" He didn't feel like his partner was giving him the whole story.

"I'll buy all your drinks." She promises.

"Just tell me when and where."

- Lost & Found -

With Isabella Messer promising free drinks, the team in a local blue bar in downtown LA. Deacon with his wife's hand took a seat next to team leader Hondo. "Who are we missing?" Victor Tan asks.

"The tw…" Luca begins to say.

Isabella popped out of nowhere with her partner behind him. "I have a blowjob for each of us." She laughs, handing out each shot. "Thank you guys for joining us tonight. I just wanted to express how thankful I am for what you did for me six years ago. I know…." She looks down to the ground, feeling herself tear up. "I know the FBI is the reason you guys got brought in. But you saved my life. Bringing me back from the dirt, finding me…."

Mick puts his hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. "And before her speech goes on. Let's drink. To each of us and to you." Each person takes the shot.

Deacon is the first to drop the shot glass on the table. "That is horrific. How about we drink something normal?"

"Like whisky?" Hondo suggests, Street and Chris agreeing with their team leader right away.

Isabella perks up. "I'll go get shots of tequila."

- Lost & Found -

Hours Later….

Isabella watched twenty squad closely as she was sitting at the bar with a high glass of rose, her eyes were mostly on one person. Two members of the squad come over to her, Street, deacon and Hondo. Hondo raises his hand to the bartender, asking for another beer. "Thank you for inviting us out, Isabella." The older man tells her.

"I'm glad you guys came out." She raises her glass, taking a small sip. "Though, there was another reason behind this than just saying thank you."

"That you and Luca are dating?" The question comes out of Street's mouth before he could stop them. The question makes the other two laugh. "What? It's true."

She looks back to Luca handing Mick back a pool stick. "He wanted me to come to meet the family. His work family. I'm glad to do this. I hope you like me and not just take me as a…"

"Tough FBI agent." Hondo finishes her sentence. "You make him happy."

"He makes me happy. He's a really good guy, and I am just happy he allows me to be apart of his life." She says. She stands up from the bar and grabs her glass. "It looks like he is done with the pool game. I'm going to say hello." She gives the men a small smile before moving along to the pool table.

Deacon looks to his teammates. "They are both heads over heels for each other."

A small grin arrives on Hondo's face. "Never thought I would see the day where Luca finds the girl."