DISCLAIMER: We don't own the characters of UC UNDERCOVER. We only borrowed them for a while. All other characters are ours. We thought them up. We do use our friends' names but with their permission.
Written by Jville & Sweetangeldoball "Sab"
A NEW BEGINNING
CHAPTER ONE
The team was waiting for their newest member to join them. Frank told them that morning that he was expecting the new member later that morning.
"How long are we going to have to wait on this person? Don't they know when the work day starts?" Jake asked wanting to get the briefing started.
"Why are you in a hurry? Got a hot date or something?" Cody asked.
"Why don't you just stick to your wedding plans or whatever you're doing. Stay out of my life," Jake snapped at Cody.
"Hey, he just asked a question, you don't have to be rude," Sab defended Cody.
"Jake, what's wrong with you? You've been snapping at people all morning. I said good morning and you looked at me, like I slapped you in the face," Alex told him.
"Just leave me alone, ok? It's none of your business." Jake got up and walked away as Frank came from his office.
"What's going on? I heard yelling from up there," Frank asked.
"Jake isn't in a good mood today," Cody answered.
"When is our new team mate going to arrive?" Monica asked.
Frank looked at his watch. "Anytime now."
They heard the door open they turned to see Elaina coming in. She walked over to set her briefcase down on the stairway and took out some files. "Hey, everyone. I have your next assignment," she said waving the files.
"Our new team mate hasn't gotten here yet. We're still waiting," Alex explained to her.
"Really? I thought Frank would have steaming, if she hadn't gotten here yet," Elaina said looking at Frank.
"She? So it is a female agent, which is joining us. Alright, we out number the men again." Monica high fives Alex and Sab.
"I'm glad I chose wisely when I picked her for the assignment," Elaina said.
"Are we going to know who this person is, before they get here or not?" Sab asked.
"I guess I can tell you who it is. Where's Jake?" Elaina asked looking around.
"He went in the gym. He's kinda moody today," Alex said, rolling her eyes.
"Agent Jake Shaw! Get your ass in here and explain yourself," Elaina ordered.
"Why the hell can't you people leave me alone, until we have the briefing?" Jake wondered coming back in.
"Talk to me here and now. What's wrong?" Elaina walked over to him.
"I know what the case is. I'm not going to do it," Jake said in anger.
"How do you know the case? She hasn't given it to us, yet," Alex said.
"I talked to him this morning about it," Frank informed them.
"I asked Frank to talk to Jake about the case its very different case. I wanted his feelings on it before I gave it to him."
"Does that mean I don't have to do it then?" Jake asked hopefully.
"The team is getting the assignment. Yes, you'll be a part of it whether you like it or not." Elaina looked him square in the eyes.
"I'll quit, if I have to go under as you suggested," Jake said to her.
"We'll see about that when the time comes." Elaina was becoming ticked by his attitude.
"Now as to who your new team mate is that would be…." Frank started to tell them.
"Me." Elaina smiled as they all stared at her in disbelief.
"You're our new team member? Why all the secrecy?" Sab asked.
"I like to keep people guessing or haven't you noticed that about me," Elaina answered.
"So that means that Frank is your boss now, you took a demotion?" Cody asked.
"No. We'll be more or less equals. I won't be here all the time, just on certain cases. I'm still Frank's boss but when I'm undercover he'll be my boss, too." Elaina saw that Frank was about to say something. "Don't make me regret saying that, Agent Donovan."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Agent Blakely," Frank said. "Ok, can we get on with the briefing? Give them the files?"
"Don't give me one. I'm not getting involved. I'll go write up my resignation," Jake said walking away.
"Jake, office now, don't say a word, go!" Elaina yelled at Jake. Jake stood in front of her as to defy her. "You heard me, Agent Shaw. Don't make me repeat myself."
"Do it, Jake," Frank ordered.
"Go to hell, both of you?" Jake walked away from them toward the door.
"You leave now, you'll never return. I promise you that," Elaina warned. Jake stopped and went upstairs.
"Are you going to handle this or are we going to handle it?" Frank asked watching Jake go in.
"I will. He has never butted heads with me before. It's about time he learned how Agent Blakely works." Elaina said, walking off.
"Great, I hope Jake doesn't piss her off any more than he already has. Cody, do you have the ambulance on speed dial? We may need one," Frank said, half joking sitting down.
*****
"Jake, I know you don't like the assignment but we need someone in that bar. You're to be my back up, which is all. I'm not asking you to infiltrate anyone. We just need as many eyes and ears in that bar as possible to catch the creep that's doing these murders. All you need to do is tend bar."
"You're going in? Donovan is ok with this?" Jake asked skeptical.
"Yes he knows. You have no reason to care how he feels about it. Alex and I are both going in," Elaina informed him.
"Why are you and Alex going in there? The person we're looking for has only targeted males," Jake wondered.
"We're going in to observe close up the different people then follow the best suspects." Elaina sat down behind the desk.
"Why isn't Chicago PD handling this case?"
"Well, if you would've let us do the briefing, we'd have told you. It is a hate crime; a federal offense, that's our jurisdiction. I'm tired of your attitude, Jake. You will be a part of this, whether you like it or not."
"Why do I need to pretend to be gay? Why can't I go in as straight to work there?" Jake asked.
"Because they don't hire anyone but gays. They want the people working there to be comfortable with the clientele, and for the customers to be comfortable with the people serving them. "
"And if I still refuse to do this case?" Jake asked still defiant.
"Jake for one thing, I'm your superior and I know how to deal with refusals. I can guarantee you, you'll not refuse another one of my orders, nor will you attempt to ignore me when I talk to you. If you do, I won't be the kind and considerate person you see in front of you right now. I'll be on your ass 24/7; training you in the finer points of respecting a superior officer. Do I make myself clear?" Elaina glared at him.
"Crystal clear, Ma'am," Jake said with respect. "I should've kept walking," Jake said, quietly to himself but Elaina heard him.
"Why didn't you?" Elaina was still angry.
"I had no idea where I was going or what I'd do," Jake confessed.
"Jake, we all do cases we don't like, but we do them. I don't see why you're refusing to do this one so strongly it's somewhat simple." Elaina had another thought. "Unless you're homophobic."
"No. I'm not it's just that…."
"Wait a minute are you afraid that since you tend to get so involved in your cover that you'd actually become interested in men instead of women?" Elaina was concerned.
"I don't know, maybe. It's just that… I just got back with Maria. I don't know how she'd react to me having this type of assignment."
"I can tell you now. Maria will have no trouble with the assignment. She has done this type before, so she knows something about it. She'll never let you forget who you are. She can help you deal with this, so can your mom, if you would just talk to them."
"You're right. I will," Jake told her.
"If I can swing it, you maybe off the hook," Elaina said and Jake smiled. "Temporarily, you may still need to go in at some point, so get use to it."
"How are you going to do it?"
"Sabrina's friend Travis, he's gay. He'd have no qualms in doing the assignment. I just have to find out if he's available," Elaina explained.
"He does sound more qualified, even if he is a rookie," Jake offered.
"Go down to show the others you still have your ass and head intact. I'll be down as soon as I make my call," Elaina said, picking up the phone.
"Yes Ma'am."
"And quit calling me, Ma'am!" Elaina ordered.
*****
Jake walked out shutting the door. The sigh he released was so loud the others heard him and looked up from their files.
"Good, she didn't take him apart," Alex said to Monica.
"Don't be so sure, he doesn't look too good," Monica observed.
"Agent Blakely will be down after she makes a call," Jake reported sitting down next to Frank.
"Are we supposed to call her Agent Blakely while she's working with us?" Cody wondered.
"That's up to her, Cody," Frank said. "You can always call her Boss or Hey, You." Frank joked.
"I have a weird feeling it's going to be an interesting experience with her working here, that's for sure," Sab said.
Elaina walked down from the office. "One problem solved, let's get on with the briefing."
"Wait a minute. Cody has a question that we need answered," Frank told her.
"What do you need to know, Cody?" Elaina wondered.
"What do we call you? Agent Blakely, Elaina, Boss, Frank suggested; Hey, You." Cody looked at Frank.
"You can call me, Agent Blakely, since we're at work. I want you to call Frank, Boss or Donovan. I think we need to separate our friendships from work," Elaina told them.
"Happy with that answer, Cody? I'd like to get this briefing over before lunch?" Frank asked.
"Don't let me stop you," Cody said, sitting next to Sab at the table.
"This case involves the gay community. There have been three murders committed in the area of a gay bar called After Dark. We don't have any suspects. We need to go in there to observe the customers to try to find the person doing this before they strike again," Frank told them.
"Alex, you and I are going in together. Do you have a problem with the cover you have?" Elaina asked.
"Nope, I can handle it?" Alex replied.
"You and Alex are going in as lesbians?" Cody asked.
"Do you have a problem with that Cody?" Elaina glared at him.
"It's just odd. No problem," Cody replied seeing the anger on Elaina's face.
"I've called another agent in to work this case with us, since we have a deserter of sorts," Elaina said looking at Jake.
"Who is the agent?" Monica asked.
"He isn't a seasoned veteran, but he's qualified for the case. I'm bringing in Travis and his training partner. They'll be here in a few hours."
"Dang, we just got the upper hand on the guys and now they'll take over again," Alex complained.
"No, they won't. We'll still out number them. The training partner is a female. Her name is Annie Palmer." Elaina said as Frank started to choke on his coffee. "You ok, Frank?"
"Fine," he managed to say.
"All choked up about seeing her again." Elaina teased.
"He knows her, this is interesting. How?" Jake asked.
"Are we done with the briefing?" Frank asked.
"I have a question, are we going to be able to go in the bar and set up cameras and such?" Cody asked.
"Yes, the owners are cooperating fully, they want this person caught too. Their only request is that we have people in there that are comfortable with the clientele," Elaina explained.
"So that is why you called Travis in?" Sab asked. Elaina nodded her head yes.
"When do we start?" Cody asked.
"You and Sab will go in after closing and set up. Tomorrow, Alex and Elaina go in with Travis," Frank told them.
"Any more questions?" Elaina asked.
"No Ma'am," Cody answered first and Jake winced at what he said.
"Get this straight. The next one to call me Ma'am will pay for it." Elaina glared at all of them.
"Yes. Agent Blakely, we understand," Cody said as he and Sab go to collect what they need for the assignment. Sab caught up with him and put her arm around him then kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"Agent Kells, I saw that and I better not see it again while you're on the clock," Elaina scolded her.
"Man, is she in a mood or what?" Sab said.
"She's just being the professional that she is. She might ease up after a bit," Cody told her.
******
Frank and Elaina went up to his office. "Why are you acting the way you are?" Frank asked.
"I'm not acting anyway special or different. Things have been pretty relaxed lately in the work place. I want them to be more professional. I told you I was going to change things."
"All at once?"
"Do you have a problem with that, Agent Donovan?"
"Yes, especially if you're going to be the bitch from hell that was my training partner," Frank said to her sitting behind the desk.
"Listen, they think they can get away with anything they want to do around here. We maybe their friends away from here, but we're their bosses while they're at work. I want them to learn that and fast."
"Please be that way with them but not with me. Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it," Frank stated.
"You need to go back to being harder on them too," Elaina advised sitting down.
"I am, when they need it. I know my job, so don't tell me how to do it."
"I'll think about it. So what are your feelings toward seeing Annie again?" Elaina asked, softening up a little.
"I'm surprised that you want her here. Don't you feel jealous toward her?"
"Should I be?"
"No," Frank said moving things on his desk.
"Good if you had said yes, I'd have total control of this unit, because you'd be in traction," Elaina said without expression.
"Annie and I haven't seen each other in years, so there's no need to worry," Frank reasoned.
"I don't plan on worrying, you're looking at a more confidant, Elaina Donovan. If she tries anything with you I'll handle it with grace and dignity of a lady."
"This coming from the woman that gave catfight a whole new meaning?" Frank smirked, getting up to go around the desk.
"Therapy has changed me, I'm no longer jealous all the time. Going back to working cases has changed me, too."
"How has working cases changed you? You haven't worked one, yet," Frank said, standing in front of her.
"Just the anticipation of working is enough to get me going."
"I do see the spark back in your eyes." Frank touched her face lightly.
"Are you about to stomp on Donovan rule number one? No personal feelings in the work place."
"I thought we got rid of that one for us but kept it for them." Frank smiled coming closer to her.
"No, we didn't, so back off." Elaina pushed him away.
"Ok, if that's the way it's going to be, I'll have Cody set up an office separate from mine for you, so I won't be tempted by you."
"You don't get your way, so you're going to act childish. That's fine with me." Elaina got up and walked out.