Author's Note: I know it's been awhile since I worked on this story but I'm finally on a break from school so hopefully I can start updating this more frequently. Forgive me if it's still going slowly but I'm still working out exactly what direction I want to take this in.

Katherine sighed as she looked out of the window of the private plane and watched as her home country became smaller and smaller. Just a week ago she had been planning to put all her energy into tracking down the person responsible for the murder of her best friend and partner and now she was on a plane heading back to the United States. Katherine had agreed to take this assignment with the CIA but only with the condition that she still be allowed to pursue any leads she got about Reed's death.

"Penny for your thoughts," William Cole said as he sat down next to her.

"I was just thinking about the assignment," she replied.

"Really, I thought maybe you'd be thinking about Tommy Oliver," he answered.

"Yeah I guess maybe I am thinking about him too, I mean he is a close friend of mine," Kat told him.

"According to our records you two were much more than just close friends," he said.

"Alright so he's also my ex-boyfriend, but then isn't that just another reason that makes me just perfect for this assignment," Kat replied slightly annoyed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry but you'd better get used to it because this isn't just some social call you'll be making to the paleontologist, it's a job and every aspect of your relationship with him will be scrutinized," he told her.

"Speaking of the job, what's my alias going to be," Kat said wanting to change the subject.

"Well, because of your relationship with Dr. Oliver, you'll of course be going in as yourself, we're going to use your status as a doctor of environmental science so that if anyone is suspicious and decides to check you out everything will be legit," he began.

"Alright so I'm going in as an environmental scientist, but what am I going to say when Tommy asks why I'm in Reefside of all places?" Kat asked.

"Simple, we'll be working out of a building downtown that is now being known as a division of the Environmental Protection Agency, as far as anyone will be concerned we'll just be a bunch of scientists with the boring job of sitting around and trying to figure out how to protect the planet," he explained.

"And I'm guessing part of our job in protecting the planet will be to take a look at some of the companies in Reefside that deal in any way with the environment," Kat said.

"Yes, and that will be our way in with Anton Mercer, we'll just simply be working with him to make sure that his company is complying with the environmental safety regulations," William replied.

"I still don't see why Tommy plays such a huge role in this, according to the file you gave me he's a high school science teacher and hasn't worked with Anton Mercer in years," Kat told him.

"Yes, it's true that Tommy isn't Anton's partner anymore, but it can't be a coincidence that Anton Mercer just happened to pick the town that Tommy is living in to make a mysterious reappearance into society," William said.

"But I know Tommy and if there was anything fishy going on with Mercer he wouldn't have anything to do with him," Kat declared.

"If that's the truth then your friend has nothing to worry about and neither do you," William replied.

"Well, it seems as though you've got everything worked out," Kat surmised.

"Don't worry Agent Hillard we're going to make a good team," William assured her.

"Wait, a sec, did you just say team?" Kat questioned.

"Yes, I'll be posing as a fellow scientists and more specifically your field partner, so you won't be investigating Mercer alone, I'll be there to help you," William explained.

"I really don't think that's necessary, this assignment isn't going to be dangerous, I'm sure I can handle Mercer alone," Kat replied.

"I'm sure you could but the agency would feel better if we had one of our own people there to help you," he replied.

"Glad to know the CIA has such great trust in me," Kat said sarcastically.

"Agent Hillard let me assure you that if the CIA had any misgivings about giving you this assignment you wouldn't be here," William told her.

"Fine, but if we're supposed to be partners don't you think you should start calling me by my first name," Kat replied.

"Ok Katherine and you can call me Will," he said.

Fourteen hours later, Katherine was startled as Will tapped her shoulder to wake her up.

"What's going on?" Kat asked.

"We're about to land in Reefside, you should put on your seat belt," he told her as she slowly brought her seat into the upright position.

"What time is it here?" she asked wanting to adjust her watch.

"It's 9 a.m. which means it would already be tomorrow night in Sydney, I hope you won't have too much trouble adapting to the time change," Will replied.

"I'll be fine, it's not like I'm not used to long flights and changing time zones," she said.

After landing, Katherine stepped out of the plane followed by William and found that there was a car already waiting for them. Once their bags were loaded they got into the car and headed for the apartment that the CIA was providing for Katherine to live in.

"I hope these accommodations are to your liking," Will said as he led her up the stairs to the two-bedroom apartment.

"The agency really didn't have to go to all this trouble," Kat said once they were inside and she saw that the apartment was fully furnished.

"We had to make it believable that you moved here from Australia so we couldn't very well bring you here to an empty apartment, if there's anything that we've forgotten just let me know and we'll see that you get it," he told her.

"The place looks great, if there's anything else I need I'm sure I can get if for myself," Kat replied.

"We turned the second bedroom into an office and there's a second phone line there that's secured so that we can talk freely about the mission," he explained.

"Ok so where do you live, I mean in case I need to reach you for anything?" Kat asked.

"I actually have the apartment across the hall and my phone number is already programmed into the phone in your office all you have to do is press 5, I've left a folder on the kitchen counter with the basics you need to know but if you have any questions don't hesitate to call," he told her.

"I'll take a look at it later, all I really want to do right now is sleep," Kat remarked.

"Right, I could use some sleep as well, good night Katherine," he said opening the door to leave.

"Good night Will," she said closing the door behind him and locking it.