Plot: Marcus Pike heads a highly efficient task force for many years now and his career is going up and up. She on the other hand is trying to organize her life from a trying ordeal when an unexpected event put her life in a spin again.
Character: Marcus Pike and female reader [For convenience's sake I gave her a name but feel free to change it]
A/N:
A: The story about the cat is true. I named her Miki, the name Cleo was already taken by another one of my cats.
B: Special thanks to Angie Brisse for giving birth to Agent Paul Brisse [She didn't really, Paul's just the character. You know what I mean. LOL!]
C. Long chapter, guys.
CHAPTER 4
There were two reasons I was scared to let people in;
the damage they could do, and the damage they could find.
~Chris McGeown
Tossing his muscle shirt to the Eames chair, Marcus grabs the yoga mat from the cabinet and laid it on the floor. It's too late now for his high-intensity interval training. It's better to do that very early in the morning, like, 5:30 a.m. as his usual schedule. Maybe he could do that tonight after a short jog around the area. But in times like these he has some alternatives.
He prefers to begin his routine with stretching exercises. It helps avoid muscle injury and it keeps him limber. At 44 that's what he needs to be. His team is composed mostly young people who are fast, competitive, sickeningly athletic and very health conscious. They were also well trained to be chameleons.
According to the Japanese, people have three kinds of faces: one that you show to the world, the second is what you show to your close friends and family and the third is the one that you never show to anyone.
In his earlier years in the bureau he has learned to slightly blur the lines; becoming a chameleon in every situation, in every mission, for every person out there. It's not unusual for people in this job for someone to get lost in the pretense and that would be a dangerous thing. The mission comes first. It is real and yet not real. Because of his success in the field people have changed their minds about his team. Marcus Pike turned the Art Squad from the Bureau's absurd and nonsensical department into one that is worthy to be reckoned with.
Throughout the years the mission became more complicated. Art is now used as collateral and payment for weapons. What is disturbing was that these new breed of criminals were more intelligent, educated and even cultured. They wear designer clothes and some have been educated in the finest schools in Europe. They have money and they employ people who are as educated as they. They are not the usual criminal that you come across on the streets. They are more dangerous because they have more resources and they have connections and clout everywhere.
The name of his department changed as well, to his relief, as it is now renamed as the Renaissance Team or Renaissance in honor of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni or Michelangelo, the Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet. The man exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. It's the perfect name for the old/new team he has built up over the years. He has been heading this team for the last four years after jumping two ranks over which ruffled many feathered egos but it was unthinkable for another to take that place since other candidates didn't know the difference between a Picasso and a Kandinsky or which one is Manet and Monet.
As he finished the exercise he took a deep breath with closed eyes. He went to lie on his stomach, set the timer on his watch that started the count for a plank.
As the boss he wasn't expected to keep up with his staff but there's no reason why he should slack off. There were times he was needed in the field if the mission is extensive. He'd loathe himself, and might jeopardize his job, if he let the mission fail because he slowed down the team.
Still doing the plank, after the count of 60, he raises one foot up from the floor to intensify the exercise. When the count ended he lowered the foot and raised the other. He could feel the burn from his legs to the thighs and all around his abdominal and back muscles. When the timer beeped Marcus slowly lowered the other foot on the mat and with a swift kick he's up on his feet.
-o0o—
Last Night~
As exciting as the movie Kill Bill was he didn't notice who fell asleep first. He was jolted awake at the crescendo of the OST playing as the movie credits scroll up. It was gratifying to see Tessa fast asleep, she lies on her side, her head near his thigh. She's curled in a fetal ball hugging her 'Keep Calm' pillow. Marcus could tell the exhaustion had been creeping up on her when they were talking at the living room. She started nodding off when she leaned her head on the couch. She looked the same after he had helped her pack away her boxes. Her movements became listless and she eventually gave up. Maybe that's why she had the idea to have a karaoke sing off. For a moment there he thought he'd suffer a mini anxiety attack. What a relief Tessa was kind enough to spare him though he would have loved to hear her sing again. For him.
He found his hand curled over Tessa's shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. Shit. He passes a hand over his face. The smile and the hand stopped; shocked to realize what he has done.
He busied himself. He needed to. He was very careful with his movements; he turned off the movie player, took out the CD, shut down the laptop and placed it back on the desk on its cooling stand. After a thought Marcus took the shawl on the back of the computer chair and draped it on Tessa's shoulders. He tucked the end under her feet.
Hands in his pockets his face was inscrutable as he stands there, he gazes at Tessa but not really seeing her. When he stirred after some time, his steps were slow. He clicks the doorknob lock as he passes by. He caught a glimpse of Tessa one last time as he turns off the light.
-o0o—
Finished with his exercise Marcus turned to restore order in his room. He still needs to cool down after the workout so like always he used the time to return the exercise mat back in the shelf and placed the kettle bells in the same closet. That done, he went around gathering a few pieces of clothing from the Eames chair and tosses them in the laundry bin. There wasn't much to clean up except make the bed. The cleaner will arrive next week but that's not a problem. He's quite handy with cleaning and what not. Before he goes out he'll put his laundry in the washing machine so that'll be the sum of his chores.
He's been living alone for a long time and he has his mad schedule to contend to so he prefers his minimalist lifestyle. If they have a mission he and his team are usually bunked in safe houses or locations or in an FBI office. He maintains a condo in DC since that's where his team is based but what he really wanted was to have a place somewhere where no one would think he'd be. Someone must have heard him and this place fell into his hands.
He grabs the laundry basket but before he goes out….
Good! So far there were no missed calls or messages when he checked his phone before he left the room.
-o0o—
The glass tumbler slid from his hand. It made a loud crash in the metal sink but it miraculously didn't break. He was about to wash the water glass when something strange caught his eye from the kitchen window. "Shit!"
All he could see is her back but blood is around and under her. He grabs open the garage access doorknob after sliding off the bolt but it didn't budge open. "Fuck!' It's still locked from within! "Tessa!" He raced past the dining area to the main door sweeping the screen door open with a crash, rounding the corner quickly. "Tessa! Tessa, are you okay?" His heart pounded as he quickly stop, relieved but confused. "What happened? What the hell?"
"It's the kitten I found yesterday…" Tessa looks up, eyes red. She wipes her cheek with the back of her wrist. "…she's been torn up…oh, poor baby…" she runs her hand lightly on the tiny gray lump.
"Don't touch it!" Marcus grabs her hand and lifted it off of the kitten but she resisted.
"But she might still be alive…"
"It might be dead already. You don't know if that's sick or something…!"
"No," she shook her head. "I saw them yesterday, over there, when I moved in." Tessa pointed to the decorative bushes along the fence. "The queen…"
"The… what?"
"The mom."
"The mom?"
"…she left two of them. I moved them near the house in case it rains but I got so busy with everything." Tessa sniffs. "I wanted to take this one. The orange tabby is gone. What happened…." She went back to the gray kitten, tears falling.
With a regretful shake of his head, Marcus joins her and bends down to the pathetic mangled thing on the ground, "I hate to say this but if it's not yet dead then it's gonna die before the day is out."
"W-what?!" her chin wobbles at hearing his words. "How do you know?"
"I've seen…" Fuck. I almost fucking said…. "It's been bitten, quite deep." Marcus turns the kitten's head with his pinkie. "There," Tessa leans to him; their legs and shoulders touching, "on the back of the neck."
Tessa went mildly ballistic, her face red. "It's that tomcat! I bet he's the one who did this! I'm gonna smack that asshole with a broom next time I see him!"
Marcus failed to control his snort, "Let's not accuse the tomcat yet." He looks away to hide his smile.
"Oh! Oh! She's still alive!" There was a whimper, Tessa grabs Marcus's arm and shakes it in her excitement. They saw the feline opens its eyes halfway, its tiny chest heaving. "Oh…oh…come here…"
"Goddamn it!" Marcus could not suppress a groan, jaw muscles tense as Tessa carefully and tenderly scooped the animal up from the bloodstained concrete barehanded. "Use a fucking glove, Tessa!"
"She needs warmth. I should have taken her from her mom. I didn't think that she's gonna end up like this…but I hesitated." She whispers as tears fell again.
"Life is like that, Tessa." There goes the jaded agent talking, he thought as he helps Tessa up from the floor. Words of wisdom from one who has seen things and done questionable things that were beyond his job description.
"I know. But at least it could feel someone's care before it takes its last breath." Tessa states with a bit of defiance; the cat cradled in her cupped hands.
Marcus had nothing to say. His breath was taken from him; him and Tessa stands in the midst of the bloody ruins of one tiny life, whose life can be snuffed out without anyone caring whether how long or short it had lived. "Fucking hell…" Marcus cursed under his breath as he hurried after Tessa. He held the screen door open for her. "Come on…" he guides her by the elbow with his other arm wrapped around her waist.
"Where are we going? No…no…shh," she forgot her question as the kitten starts to weakly trash around in her hand. "It's okay…it's okay…." It spreads a tiny paw and lays it on the base of her thumb, its tiny claws pulling on her skin. It's like its saying 'don't leave me'. "Hang on baby, please."
Marcus pushes his bedroom door open spilling the bright morning sun out on the semi-dark hallway. "I have some things in here." Marcus grabs a small towel from the rack, "Place her there." He nods to the folded towel he laid on the bathroom counter. He grabs something from one of the cabinets under the bathroom sink.
"But your towel…" Tessa looks like she doesn't want to cross the door of the bathroom. Her body language is tense, compact, arms and shoulders held tight around her. Her eyes had that cautious look again.
"It's just a towel, Tessa. Come in."
"Okay." Tessa tries not to look around as she finally enters the bathroom. The kitten hardly made a dent on the soft cloth when she placed it in the middle of the square. She wonders at the black box he took from the cabinet, he opens it on the counter. How is he going to patch it up? Marcus tears open a few plastic wrapped packs among them is a small curved metal. "What's that?"
"Suture."
"Uh…how…" she stammers, wide eyed as Marcus lays some items on the other side of the counter. "I don't know how to…"
"Here." He hands her a roll of toilet paper and a glass of water he fills from the tap. "Clean up the wound. There's warm water. I don't have cotton swabs."
"I don't have either." Tessa quickly balls a piece of tissue before dipping it in the warm water. She works hastily but gently around the wound, patting it on the damage. She hisses as if in pain. "I'm sorry it hurts. We need to clean it. Hang on, baby." After a few gentle swipes the tissue paper turns red. She discards the soiled one and made another tissue ball.
"Okay, that's clean enough." Marcus got a small black flashlight from a drawer. He nods when bright light came from the small tactical torch which he hands to Tessa, "Hold it right here." He rubs alcohol in his hands and hurriedly snaps the gloves on. He leans over to examine the patient. "Yeah, I see it now. It has two punctures; one near the back of the head and the other here, under the jaw."
"Are you a doctor?"
"No." With practiced ease Marcus clamps the hooked metal between a pair of toothed forceps. Without any hesitation and with a turn of a wrist he pierces the damaged skin turning the needle up to penetrate the underside of the wound. He grabs the pointed end of the needle with the forceps when the sharp needle came out and pulled it out, the suturing thread trailing it. Then he wraps the thread around the forceps twice, grasps the trailing thread with the forceps and pulls it towards him. A part of the wound closed. "That's one. One more and then we do the back of the head." The second stitch was done quickly as he was talking. As soon as he snipped the thread he turned the kitten over. "What will you call her?"
"Uh…sorry?" Tessa blinks at him, awestruck and quite bewildered. Marcus looks as if he'd done this a million times. She wanted to ask more questions but his previous curt answer made her shy.
"It's a girl." He gave her a glance, their eyes held for a few seconds. "Name?"
"Oh…name." Tessa swallows before answering. She didn't realize she was holding her breath. "Uh…Cleo?"
"Hmm, that's cute." He inspects his work. The wounds have two tiny stitches each. Marcus drips a few drops of antiseptic on a ball of tissue and dabs each of the closed puncture wounds. "The name of another queen. Tragic lady, though. Let's hope her namesake pulls through." He nods to the cat as he pulls off the medical gloves and throws it in the garbage can then he gathers and packs up the medical kit. "It's done."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The wound was not deep. Head wounds are really bloody and messy. Good thing the fangs didn't pierce any major arteries or she'd be dead by now."
"Can I feed her?" Tessa took the now quiet kitten in her arms, nestled in the towel.
"Yeah, it's okay."
"I saw some milk in the pantry. I need a dropper…"
"Ashley keeps extra droppers somewhere in those drawers…"
"Hmm, I know where. It's in the kitchen…."
"Wait. Come here." Marcus grabs Tessa's elbow.
"Uh, what?" Marcus took the feline from the baffled Tessa and returns it on the counter.
He pulls her to the sink. "She scratched you. Let's wash it." Holding her wrist captured he took a plastic bottle from another drawer, flips the cap open with a thumb and squirts a brown astringent smelling liquid on her hand.
"Oh," Tessa's brows hike up at the slight sting, "I forgot about that. I'll do it…." But Marcus didn't let go of her hand as he lathers the soap on the four tiny claw marks on the base of her thumb. She stood perfectly still; she does not know what to do. The way his thumb gently rubs the soap in a circular motion along the wound, on the flat of her hand and up to her wrist does things to her. Each pass of his skin to her skin tenses her belly.
"So, you're her human now."
"Hmm?" What's happening? All her ability to make small talk, which was her asset as a tutor, had dried up.
"She marked you." He took her other hand and also cleaned the dried blood on her palm and the back of her hand. "You're hers now."
"Oh, right." She stares at his hands as he brings their soapy hands under the faucet to rinse the astringent soap. Hands now clean but still not wanting to let go of her hand Marcus dried Tessa's hands himself while inspecting the light scratches.
"The hell…" he whispers when he looks up at her. Marcus wet the small cloth under the faucet.
"What's wrong?"
Marcus gestures at her with the damp towel, "There's blood all over you."
"Blood?" she turns to look at herself in the mirror but he cups her jaw in his large hand.
"Don't move." His breath caressed her cheek as she obeyed his whispered order. He sweeps aside her hair then the cloth passes lightly on the side of her face near the ear. Her heartbeat doubled when his other hand came up to tilt her head back to the right side. Tessa worries if he could feel her jugular beating fast under his palm. She's embarrassed at her reaction while he looks so serious in cleaning her up. His brow crease as the damp face towel changed hands again. He's not lying; the white terry cloth has pink smudges. Marcus turned the cloth to swipe the stain on her cheek and under her jaw. "You have more blood on you than on that cat." His thumb rubs the small of her jaw.
Tessa steps back, shocked by that touch. "Marcus, you don't have to do this." Finally! Her brain woke up to join the land of the living!Then she wanted to kick herself for that sounded so ungrateful. "But thank you…"
"No problem." Marcus steps back like her. He looks like he's holding his breath. "Hey, our fur baby…fuck!" he gave himself a face palm when Tessa reddened. "I'm sorry. That just …" He looks at her mortified but she looks very much amused this time.
"Remember what I said last night?" she started to chuckle when he reacted with a rueful shake of his head. "That's me, right?" She shakes her head too as she also gave herself a face palm. "I'm not mad. It's okay." She gave his hand a squeeze. "It's feeding time. Thank you again."
Her smile put a light feeling in his chest as he returns the hand squeeze. "You're welcome." He helps return the kitten back in her arms. Shit! Shit! Goddamn it! What the fucking hell did you do? He took a deep breath as Tessa walks out of his room.
His phone started ringing; the device vibrates on the wooden bedside table, loudly, insistently. One look at the ID and he became alert. Before doing anything else he went and closed the door. From his travel bag Marcus got a device from a box and turned it on. He hooked the Bluetooth-like gadget in his ear when it beeped red.
"Yeah." The bed yielded to his weight as he sits on it.
"Brisse here, chief."
"Who else."
"Do I greet you good morning or good evening chief…?"
"Shut up." Marcus snorts. He keeps his team is in the dark where he goes for his timeouts or holidays and they always try to find out what time zone he's at. "Updates!"
"Your hardworking team, including myself, noted the liaison has been calling some people and it looks like they're prepping for a sale."
"Shit."
"The liaison's been busy this week. He contacted about four people. Chief, they contacted the…." Agent Brisse mentioned two groups that were notorious for either stealing or manufacturing genuine looking faux artworks. One of them has been flooding the market with these knock offs.
Agent Paul Brisse came from the second batch of people he recruited. He met the young man at a court hearing he was observing about a stolen art, a Caravaggio, and noted how brilliant the young lawyer is. When the court paused for a recess Marcus gave him his card, the plain one, didn't say anything and walked way. The lawyer called him up after an hour to say that he's not interested in whatever Marcus is offering and hung up. Marcus laughed then texted him his official badge and the time and place they should meet and waited. The text Marcus got back was a simple 'okay'. The lawyer looked scared when he was shown to Marcus's office. After an hour Marcus has a new member in his team.
"Fuck! They're in a hurry. We need to find more about the two major cartels and what they are planning to buy this time."
"Noted, chief. I have another news; something different. Intel said there's something bad brewing in Asia."
"Further detail?"
"Something nasty."
"What kind of nasty?"
"They say another Sars outbreak, they're keeping it quiet, nothing on the news but it has been going on for two weeks now. All mum."
"That might become interesting. Put an eye on that too, one of the newbies, maybe. Do we have someone in there?"
"I think I have a faint memory."
"Jog your memory. Report this to me regularly and watch out for that liaison man, trail him. Do I need to go there?" He looks at the direction of the closed door but his eyes went beyond it.
"It's your call, chief." What he means: Don't micromanage us yet.
He nods his relief. He needs a few more days to deflate. "Fine. Call me every day." Marcus went back inside the bathroom and soaked the forceps in alcohol. He'll properly sterilize it later on.
"Gotcha. You okay, chief?"
"Yeah. Why?" Marcus is still beating himself up for what happened in here a few minutes ago. It was as if he uncovered a part of his life. He didn't like it. It unsettles him.
"Nothing. You sound…"
"What?" Marcus braces an arm against the bathroom door frame.
"I dunno…kinda happy? I could be wrong. You might be drunk. I dunno."
"I'm not gonna dignify that stupid observation."
"Ah! There he is! Our lovable but grumpy chief."
"You need this job, Paul."
"Yes, thank you. As you have always lovingly reminded me, sir. I am duly warned. You are not happy. My bad."
"Get off the line, Agent Brisse."
"Your long suffering whipping boy getting off the line. Bye chief."
-o0o—
"Are you hungry?" Tessa whispers to the softly whimpering kitten. As they head to the kitchen she noticed with sadness that Cleo looks even smaller than when she saw her yesterday. She left the cat in the middle of the table while she hunts for the items she needs: dropper, milk, a box and some old rags or newspaper.
Oh dear, she froze. She forgot to ask Marcus if she could have a pet! She bit her lip. She acted too emotionally and impulsively. Oh no, what is he says no? What if I can't keep the kitten? But he wouldn't have stitched her up if he didn't want to right? It's my cat and my responsibility. I'll make sure he won't even get a whiff of cat poo to complain about.
What can she make out of Marcus? There's something about him she couldn't quite place. Sure, he has that aura of confidence, like someone who is in control…of things or maybe lead people but she could be wrong. He sounds nice. His voice is nice. More than nice! She got goosebumps again. He sounds like a narrator for one of those nature documentaries. Could that be his job? Is he a voice talent? If not then he should be. But what about that mad stitching skills? That was a shock!
Should I ask Ashley about him? Would that be okay? Perhaps after she fed Cleo she'll get on messenger.
She located the dropper, just one dropper, in the cabinet and the leftover pack of Jake's formula and mixed a well diluted small batch, about three teaspoons, in a cup. The cat wouldn't finish everything but at least it would be rehydrated and get its energy back for healing.
The cat is awake and Tessa's a little worried about her fast and shallow breathing. This is her first time to take care of a cat and it's been years since she's taken care of a pet.
"That's it…it's good for you. Good girl!" the kitten licks the end of the full dropper but soon it stops; the mere act of swallowing is too much for her. "You don't want anymore, huh?" She dries the kitten's snout. She didn't see any box in any of the cabinets but found a large ice cream container. She lined the container with some old newspapers she grabbed from beside the garbage can under the sink. " I know…I'm sorry. I know you're sleepy but this is Marcus's towel, okay? We need to return this to him," Cleo whimpers at being disturbed but the feline quickly fell asleep again.
Tessa realized she's also sleepy and tired when she gave a big yawn, stretching her hands above her head. She would need to get some rest and do some final organizing of her stuff but that can wait. What's important was that her work area's been set up and a quick check last night at her teacher's page shows she has a full schedule. That's comforting to know.
"How is…how is she?"
"Damn it!" she whirls around. "You scared me! Again!"
"Sorry, didn't mean to. Again." Marcus scratches his nape. This is not a covert mission, Marcus. You're gonna kill the girl with a stroke. He was there when Tessa was talking about the towel and when Tessa kissed the feline on the head before she put it in the nest she made. "I will try to be a little noisier next time."
"No, I'm just getting used to the quiet but a little noise is welcome."
"You transferred her." Tessa also cleaned up the kitten a little bit more, he noted as he gently runs the back of his finger on the fur.
"Yeah, she will be warm and safe in there. She might fall if she trash around." Her hand joins Marcus on petting the sleeping feline. "Besides you need your towel."
"It's just a towel, Tessa." He grins.
"What you did there was amazing."
"You can learn that on Google. Look it up." He added Tessa's signature sassy brow lift.
"Touche', Mr. Pike." Tessa turned sad eyes at the cat. "Do you think she'll live?"
"Well, that is up to her right now." Marcus leans on the table observing the cat. That does not look good.
"Marcus, don't worry about Cleo, okay? She's my responsibility. I'll take care of her. I'll make sure everything's clean…why?"
Marcus chuckles, "You worry too much."
Tessa shrugs still looking anxious. "Yeah, because this is your house and I don't want you to think that I'm overstepping…"
"You're not. Why would I be angry at you for trying to save a life? I think that's…I think you're awesome."
"Really? If she lives I can get to keep her?"
She smiles wider at his nod. "She's already yours."
"Thank you."
"Ready to have brunch? We can cook it together."
"Oh… that's a good idea."
"Sorry, I need to get that." Marcus ran to his room, fished the blue tooth device out of his overnight and turns it on and slapped it back in his ears when it beeped red. "What?" he anxiously peeps out at the hallway before he closes and locks the door.
"Chief! You need to report back, it's not good."
"What happened?" Marcus takes a white dress shirt and black jeans from a cabinet and lays it on the bed. "Is it Martina?"
"Martina's okay but it's not that. I'll send you the details but you need to go now."
"Where does the order come from?"
"DC."
"Shit."
"The other chiefs are being sent out too."
"What the hell's been going on?"
"Chief, once you find out tell us. Promise?"
"Will do."
-o0o—
"Oh? You're going?" Tessa carries two steaming mugs of coffee, one she hands to Marcus.
"Thanks!" Marcus took a sip and closed his eyes in relief. "Yes, I have to go. Work. It's like this." He took another sip. "Will you be okay?" he put the cup down when his phone beeped again.
"Yeah, of course. I'll be teaching tomorrow. I'll be busy."
"Give me your mobile number." While Tessa taps her number he took another sip from the mug. "You make a great cup of Joe!"
"Yeah, dark as night. Here." The phone beeped again as she returned the device.
"I need to go." He puts the phone in the pocket of his laptop bag. "Text me if you need anything." He took a last sip from the coffee. "This is so good!"
"I'll be fine. Take care."
"Bye."
"Bye…" Tessa thought Marcus was going to hand her his mug but he put it on the table and instead reached for her hand, pulls her in and gave her a kiss. It was a soft but quick kiss but it left her wide eyed when he pulls away. Then without a word Marcus grabs his bags and with a bang of the screen door is out of the door.
-o0o—