The police station seemed almost empty compared to the bustle of the day and evening shifts. There were the officers that needed to be there but the rest were on patrol, and the quietness was almost eerie. Faith sat at the far end of a large table in the conference room waiting for the officers she had recruited for the case. Looking over papers her attention was disturbed by the door creaking open, and for a moment she didn't realize who the man standing in front of her was. Lifting his head slightly the hat moved to reveal the blue eyes she had looked into so many times before. He stood in front of her wearing a long leather dress coat carrying his briefcase and topped with a hat that looked as if he barrowed it from Capone himself.

"I wasn't sure you would show, and I thought you out of all would be
the last one here. Not the first, and forty five minutes early at
that." She spoke quietly as if afraid to break the silence that filled
the room. Smiling she motioned for him to sit next to her so they
could talk.

"I know in the past I wasn't very reliant, however I have changed in
many ways Faith, just as you have." He stated after setting his
briefcase on the table and taking off his coat to reveal a black dress
suit.

"May I ask a question?"

"Let me guess ma'am, the suit?" Faith nodded that he had guessed right and waited for him to continue.

"The Albatross' are old Italy, they believe in dressing well, and looking your best. Even today after all the changes, all the advances in the world they remain in the past." He explained handing her a manila folder. Opening it she looked at the photos in front of her of the 'family' they were up against. Each looked like they had stepped off a movie screen, so professional and proper. Yet behind a charade she knew they were not perfect and the only phrase she could think of was 'never read a book by its cover.'

"You were following him, that's why you researched your family
history. I couldn't figure that part out, but its all making sense
now." She started but paused for a moment as if to gather her
thoughts.

"The others too were working on the case, in fact I believe all the
folders I received were officers already working on the case in some
smaller sense, except me. I haven't figured that part out yet."

"Figured what out yet?"

"Why out of so many people they chose me to do this part. To put this
team together. I don't even know why they chose me for undercover, but
they did."

"Faith you finished second out of forty five others. You may not have
known it at the time but those other forty four officers had all
finished first in their training at their academies, they had all
finished in the top five of their undercover training sessions a few
years prior, and you came in second on your first try over all of
them. Your good, and they knew you would finish successfully. You took
all the pain and hurt from the past years and you worked your butt
off. You were determined to compete with the best of your abilities,
and you did." Bosco's voice was calm and quiet as he talked.

Faith looked at him not saying a word. She had never told him about her training, or how well she did. She began to wonder how many people he kept an eye on.

"Our paths have crossed many times in the past three years, but you
weren't ready to find me. I knew that you have been looking for me for
the past two weeks, that's why you were always so close. I left my
phone on because I knew you would track it. I watched you just as you
watched me that night at the hotel. However I must admit I didn't
expect you to be sitting in my room. So that goes to show we all have
our little ways of being sneaky."

"There is one thing I want to make certain." She said looking into his eyes

"I want to make sure that everything is alright between us. I don't
want to put anyone of my team members in jeopardy because of past
problems. We are the two oldest in this group Bosco and I don't want
to loose anyone because of something stupid that I have done."

"Faith, I know we have had our differences but we worked together for eleven years we practically knew each other inside and out. I've missed working with you. I missed our partnership, but most of all I've miss the friendship we had. I understand that we have both changed in time, but maybe that's what we needed."

Faith smiled at the man Bosco had become, and she was happy that he had said what he did. She missed him more than words could say so instead she did something she never did in their eleven years of partnership. She hugged him, and to her surprise he held onto her just as tight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All of the officers she had chosen were on time and sitting in front of her quietly waiting for their meeting to begin. Each had received a lap top computer and the information they would need to start them on the mission. The team was split into five partnerships that would work together and track the Albatross' organization business relaying their findings to the FBI.

"Thank you for coming this evening. I understand it is quite odd being
asked to a meeting at such a late hour, but I thought this time would
be best. All of you have the information need for the mission at hand.
I also believe most of you have become familiar with this case in
numerous other ways." She paused looking at the young men and woman
sitting in front of her.

"I asked you here to participate in a joint operation with the FBI and
CIA. This mission requires a team of unique qualified individuals to
follow the workings and operations of the Albatross family.
Stephan Albatross is the son of Luca Albatross an old-fashioned mafia
leader from Italy. He sent his son here two years ago to 'govern' his
business in the states. However, Stephan has posed quite a threat to
our government and many citizens of the United States. In two years
the men working for Stephan have stolen everything from the top priced
Mercedes Benz to over a million dollars in computer soft ware and
valuable government information. Our job is to help stop Stephan from
taking apart our government facilities and endangering our lives, and
so many others.
Just as each of you signed a form to become an undercover government
officer I too took that oath. Our positions require a large sacrifice;
it asks us to give up our time, our energy, our knowledge and talent.
It strips us of our rights as seemingly normal citizens, and stands us
in the shadows of ever looming danger. The papers we fill out, and
forms we sign of confidentiality alter our families, and take us away
from many of the people we have known our whole lives. We walk into
different personalities, and identities to keep the people we love
safe from the harm we face in everyday life. And if the situation
should pass in front of us it requests the ultimate sacrifice, our
right to live.
This evening I requested your presence to help me accomplish the
mission I was handed, to become a special part of my team and share
your skills with the people you see in this room right now. I'm asking
you to work together, become friends, become as close as a family, to
trust the person sitting next to or across from you because just as
you they are willing to give their lives for the same thing you are.
Everyone willing to accept this mission please place the green card
that you found inside your briefcase in the center of the table.
Anyone not willing to continue places the red card." Faith finished
resting back in her chair waiting for the answers of the people she
chose looking at each individual as if attempting to read their minds,
and hoping all the cards will be green.