Dumbledore seemed to have left her and the Order to enjoy the holidays together without any missions, but now Paige was ready to get back to work.

Paige enters Severus' kitchen, her hair now back to its sandy blonde color and up in a tight bun.

"I left your cloak on the bed for you." Paige informs Severus as he stands at the stove making his now ritual pancakes for her on their final breakfast together before he goes back to Hogwarts.

"That's generous of you." Severus remarks with a slight grin.

"Must have some holiday cheer left." Paige replies as she sits down at the table.

"Yes, and definitely not the fact that it probably doesn't have a certain scent on it anymore."

"Definitely not. Other than that, I am all packed and ready to go back to headquarters." Paige replies as she pours herself a cup of coffee.

"I'll be coming with you to headquarters after breakfast." Severus informs her.

"Why? You think I'm going to mugged by street thugs on the way over there?" Paige asks sarcastically.

"I need to have a meeting with Potter." He explains.

"And here I thought you were just trying to be romantic." Paige replies before taking a sip of her coffee. "What's your meeting with Potter about?"

"Potter was the one who saw Arthur being attacked. Dumbledore suspects that Voldemort has a connection with him that allows them into each other's minds. He wants me to start Occlumency lessons with him to help him protect his thoughts."

"Creepy. Wouldn't want that guy in my head." Paige comments. "Why doesn't Dumbledore do it? He's a pro at mind reading."

"You doubt my skills in Legilimency?" Severus asks with a raised brow.

"I mean… Dumbledore can read Otakemaru's thoughts. I doubt you've managed that." Paige remarks.

"Oh really? Because I recall you never telling me to stay out of his mind." Severus comments with a sly grin.

"Excuse me?" Otakemaru says inside Paige's head.

"Did you?" Paige replies, unsure if he's telling the truth or not.

"Who knows? Perhaps I am as you claim and inferior to Dumbledore's skills." Severus replies as he begins plating the now finished pancakes.

"Tell me what you heard in his thoughts!" Paige exclaims excitedly.

"You cannot hear his thoughts?" He asks her.

"No. It's not a two-way street. I hear only what he chooses to tell me." Paige explains.

"Hm, it seems I have something you want Miss Asher. What would you do for such information?"

"Severus, really? Extortion?" Paige replies with an unimpressed expression.

"I take whatever I can to get an upper hand." He states, still not putting the plate of delicious smelling pancakes on the table for her to devour.

"Well, what do you want?" Paige asks hesitantly.

"Paige! You know better than to negotiate with food terrorists." Otakemaru says to her.

"Shush. You get no say in this matter because it involves you." Paige replies to Otakemaru.

"Hey! I should be getting even more say!" Otakemaru snaps.

"I want information of my own." Severus say to Paige, his eyes narrowing on her.

"What information do I have that you could possibly want?" Paige asks, suspicious of his demands.

"I want to know why Otakemaru has been thinking of ways to get back and forth from America. You aren't planning on doing something so dangerous and reckless such as trying to cross over seas are you?" Severus asks her sternly.

"Busted." Otakemaru comments.

Paige's throat tightens. Severus takes her silence as confirmation.

"Why are you trying to go back?" Severus asks.

"I forgot to water my plants back at the cabin." Paige jokes, hoping it would take the edge off the topic.

"And it takes you personally going over there to water them?" Severus ask, playing along with her lie.

"Yeah, I'm pretty particular about how much water to give them and it's a whole process." Paige replies with a smirk.

"Interesting. Please, I would love to hear your process on watering plants." Severus remarks, continuing with her ridiculous excuse.

Paige crosses her arms as he holds her pancakes hostage until she answers his question.

"You see, it starts with…" Paige starts to explain.

She is too hungry to continue making up things to fit into her story and lets him win her little game.

"Okay, I give up. I'm unsure of one of my team members." Paige admits to him. "I need more information that I can only get back in America."

He hands her the plate of pancakes. Paige doesn't waste any time and cuts into the fluffy, golden cakes and stuffs a piece in her mouth.

"And you think this is the time to do such digging? The boarders are being monitored closely, making it almost impossible to cross." Severus tells her as she savors the taste of the amazing pancake in her mouth.

"See, key word being 'almost." Paige says with a grin.

"Paige."

"I'm sorry but I can't let this go. If I find a way to get over, I'm going to take it. But I promise you, I will find the safest most fool proof way over." She assures him.

"I would argue with you, but I know how stubborn you are." Severus comments.

"It's how I get things done." Paige replies as she puts another piece of pancake in her mouth.

Severus lets out an audible sigh.

"Is Lieutenant Draider the one you are suspicious of?" Severus asks her.

He waits for her response patiently as she finally swallows her food.

"No."

"Then may I request you at least bring him along with you?" He asks her.

"I'll ask him, but I don't know how eager he will be breaking into a government building that is supposedly hunting him down." Paige replies with a shrug.

"You're planning on breaking in MACUSA?" Severus asks her in disbelief.

"Shit…" Paige mutters, mistakenly telling him more of her dangerous plans.

"So, our next visit may be me visiting you behind bars?"

"You think Otakemaru would let me sit behind bars?" Paige replies with a smirk. "Speaking of… you owe me some information."

"I just told you one of his thoughts." Severus says smugly.

"That didn't count. Tell me something else." Paige demands.

"What if I tell you something he doesn't want you to know?" Severus asks.

"Listen to him, Paige." Otakemaru urges.

"Are you and him best friends now or something? Just tell me." Paige says to Severus desperately, wanting an insight into Otakemaru's mind.

"I think I would rather stay on his good side." Severus remarks.

"Smart man." Otakemaru comments.

"What happened to that whole speech about me asking you to do something and you doing it without question. Or was that all just a lie?" Paige replies.

"Sometimes it's hard to tell when you're serious or just joking around." Severus admits.

Paige thinks about her choice for a moment before deciding against intruding on Otakemaru's private thoughts.

"I'm only joking." Paige says as she stuffs more pancake in her mouth.

"You are truly in a generous mood today, aren't you?" Otakemaru remarks.

"You owe me big time for that one pal." Paige replies.

"Before we go." Severus says as he stands up from the table.

He rummages though the kitchen drawer and pulls out the familiar green bottle.

"Oh, come on, again? I can't even do it because of you anyways." Paige says in disbelief.

"Yes, but I am certain you are clever enough to figure a way around your mental block, like last time." Severus replies as he unscrews the lid on the bottle.

"I just used memories… and yeah. You know what? I get your point." Paige admits as she holds out her hands for him.


Paige arrives back at Headquarters with Severus. They enter the dining room, finding Sirius, Draider, Harry, Arthur and Remus there.

Her attention focus' to Arthur who is looking pale but surprisingly healthy after his attack.

"Arthur! I didn't get a chance to speak with you at dinner the other night. How are you feeling?" Paige asks him.

"Good. Should be up on my feet in no time." He replies with a warm smile. "Sirius said you had an urgent task and had to leave dinner early, I hope everything worked out for you."

"It certainly did." Paige replies as she shoots Sirius a look.

"You can go now Severus. You have successfully delivered Captain Asher. Unless there is something else you need?" Sirius says to Severus in a snarky tone.

"I need to have a word with Potter." Severus informs him coldly.

"What about?" Sirius asks him.

"That is a matter between Potter and me." Severus replies, his tone getting more impatient.

"He's my God-son and I have the right to know what you are discussing with him, Snivellus."

"It's fine, Sirius. I'll go." Harry says, interrupting their little spat.

Sirius grins as Severus takes Harry to another room for their conversation.

"What is with you two?" Paige asks Sirius.

"Nothing." Sirius replies. "Just friendly banter."

"Right." Paige says in a disbelieving tone.

Draider moves next to Paige, his eyes on her hair.

"You're blonde." Draider comments, changing the subject.

"Yeah, this is how it usually is. I know how fond Lieutenant Ripley was of my natural color, I thought I would change it back to cheer him up. Is he still upset with me?" Paige asks.

"Yes. He is." Ripley replies as he walks into the dining room with Hernandez.

"Come on Jack, it was an accident." Paige pleas, not wanting him to be mad at her.

"That whole dinner was one big accident for you." Hernandez replies with a smirk.

"Look, I admit I was having an off night, but I'm good now." Paige says trying to convince him to forgive him. "Tell me what I can do to make it up to you."

"I'll let you know, Captain." Ripley replies coldly.

"Yes Lieutenant." Paige answers sheepishly.

"Any news on missions?" Hernandez asks, breaking the tension.

"None yet, but we suspect Dumbledore will be giving more orders soon." Remus replies.

"Better make sure we are all stocked up and ready for anything." Ripley comments.

"Great plan, Lieutenant." Paige comments, sucking up to him.

Ripley shoots a glare at Paige, knowing what she was trying to do. Thankfully, the tense is broken when Severus enter the room again.

"Where's Harry?" Sirius asks him.

"Upstairs." Severus replies bluntly.

"What did you say to him?" Sirius asks defensively.

"Sirius, calm down." Remus tell him.

"I won't. I know he has some sort of vendetta against Harry." Sirius replies, his temper flaring.

"Captain Asher, may I have a word with you before my departure?" Severus asks her, ignoring Sirius tirade.

"Oh shocking, Snivellus being a coward and running away like he usually does. Why don't you just go off and make your little potions." Sirius snaps.

Paige sees Severus step towards Sirius and instantly stands in front of him, blocking him from getting any closer. Sirius stands up from the table now in defense of Severus stepping towards him at the same time and Remus must stop Sirius from coming closer to Paige and Severus.

"Let's go speak outside." Paige says to Severus, trying to get him away from Sirius antagonizing him more.

"Let me go Remus." Sirius demands Remus as he tries to break out of his grip.

Severus draws his wand, ready to attack Sirius. Paige tries to move him, but he's firmly planted with his dark eyes looking at Sirius.

"Hey, now. There's no need for any of this." Arthur interjects, also trying to stop the situation before it gets to far.

Paige catches Draider and Ripley both take out their wands, ready to step in if need be. Paige knows she needs to get this under control before it's too late.

"Put your wand away." Paige says to Severus as she tries to get him to look at her.

He doesn't hear her. His rage making him see red and nothing else.

"Severus. Put your wand away." Paige demands in a louder voice.

He snaps out of his rage trance enough to listen to her, and he lowers his wand and stops resisting her. Severus turns swiftly and walks out into the hall as both Draider, and Ripley put their wands away.
Paige doesn't even look back at anyone in the room, her concern focused on Severus. She follows him out into the hallway and out the front door. Severus leans against the handrail at the top of the stairs, facing away from her.

"Why do you let him get under your skin like that?" Paige asks Severus once they were outside with more privacy.

"I do not expect you to understand." Severus snaps, his anger still burning.

"Don't push this one, Paige. He's feeling real anger right now and he might not want to discuss it now." Otakemaru advises her.

She decides to take his advice as she can feel his pain radiating off him. She walks up behind him, wrapping her arms around him and rests her head on his back.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. That much I can understand, but just know you don't have to carry this alone."

Paige can feel his body relax slightly. She holds him until he moves one of his hands on top of hers.

"I'm sorry for being short tempered, I assure you it was not meant to be directed at you." He finally mutters, his voice much calmer than before.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I just hope you're okay." Paige replies.

He turns to face her; his eyes now void of anger.

"I am now. Thank you." He says as he takes her hand in his, holding it tightly.

"You want to go fuck me on Sirius' bed now?" Paige asks with a faint smile.

"I need to be going." Severus replies, his mood not improving with her joke.

"When will I get to see you again?" Paige asks him.

"I am unsure."

"Then you better kiss me to keep my sane until I see you again."

"Anything for you." Severus replies before he kisses her ardently.


Paige is laying in bed late at night, her mind full of different things all bothering her. She checks her watch, seeing that it is two in the morning.

"Severus will be fine Paige; he can handle some words." Otakemaru comments.

"I just wish I could be with him to make sure. I've gotten so used to sleeping next to him every night for the past week, it's hard to not feel lonely without him."

"You have me." Otakemaru tell her.

"That is true."

"The attack in Zlin is still on your mind as well I see." Otakemaru comments.

"I'm just wondering why we were targeted. If they wanted to rob us, they would have at least said something, would they not?"

"Yes, I have to admit something about that situation was off."

"If they were no-majs, do you think the no-maj police would have reports on the death?" Paige asks Otakemaru.

"I guess there is only one way to find out." Otakemaru replies.

Paige looks at her watch again, confirming it was the dead of night. She pulls the blankets off her and gets out of bed, changing into her black robes to blend into the night. She grabs her supply bag and slowly opens the bedroom door, trying to not make any noise that would wake up her team.

She slowly slinks down the stairs and towards the front door.

"And where do you think you're going Captain?" Sirius asks from behind her, making her jump

"Just out for a smoke, those dang late-night cravings." Paige lies.

"You always bring your supply bag with you when you go out for a cigarette?" Sirius asks her.

'Yeah?" Paige says in an unconvincing voice.

"Wherever your going, I want to come with you." Sirius demands.

"And what if I'm off to see Severus?" Paige replies with a smirk.

"I know you wouldn't be seeing is how you saw him not twenty-four hours ago." Sirius explains.

"Look, I would bring you, but the amount of deep shit I would get in if I allowed you to come with me would be astronomical." Paige says.

"If we make it back by dawn, no one will be the wiser." Sirius remarks, trying to convince her.

"And if we don't make it back by dawn?" Paige asks.

"Ill take full responsibility. Please. I need to get out of this house, even if it's only for a few hours." Sirius pleas.

Paige sees the desperation in his eyes and feels the empathy of having to be trapped in the house all day and all night, not being able to do things most of everyone else can do.

"If I do this, you need to promise me you'll be nicer to Severus." Paige offers.

"You want me to play nice with little Snivy? That's a big request to ask for." Sirius comments.

"Then stay here and read your books."

"Fine. I accept." Sirius reluctantly agrees.

"And You must listen to everything I tell you to do. No arguing with me." Paige demands.

"Of course."

"Here." Paige says handing him an earpiece. "You're going to be my look out."

"Well, that doesn't sound very exciting." Sirius comments.

"Are you arguing with me?" Paige asks.

"No Captain Asher." Sirius replies with a smirk.

"Let's go before anyone else decides they want to join us on our late-night stroll." Paige says, opening the front door for them.

The night is silent except for a dog barking in the distance. Everything is cast in an orange glow from the streetlights illuminating the neighborhood.

"I don't have a wand, Captain. You're going to have to hold me." Sirius says with a sly grin.

Paige rolls her eyes and grabs onto his arm.

"I'm already regretting this." Paige mutters.

Her and Sirius disparates out of Grimmald Place with a faint crack.


Paige apparates with Sirius by her familiar spot by the river in Zlin, Czech Republic. She lets go of his arm and slides her supply bag from her shoulder, digging around for her information book on the town.

"What are we doing here?" Sirius asks her as she continues to rummage around in her bag.

"I need some information on an attack that happened here." Paige informs him, trying to be as vague as she can, not wanting to explain the attack on her and Ripley to him.

"Shouldn't we be at the Ministry of Magic then?"

"Okay, you go and wait for me there." Paige replies sarcastically.

Paige finds the book she is looking for and begins flipping through the pages in the book.

"No need to be snarky." Sirius comments.

"You're one to talk." Paige replies, referring to him being snarky with Severus earlier.

"I was hoping that whatever happens between Severus and I, it doesn't affect the relationship between us."

"We will discuss this later; we are on a time crunch right now." Paige replies as she finds the page she is looking for.

Sirius looks over her shoulder to see the page she is stopped on.

"A police station?" Sirius asks her in confusion.

"You can stay here if you're scared." Paige remarks.

"You're stuck with me Captain Asher."

Paige puts the book back in her bag and slings it over her shoulder again.

"Then let's go. It's this way." Paige says, pointing to the city. "Better be a good boy and turn into a dog."

"Better hope there aren't any leash laws here." Sirius says before he shifts and morphs into a black shaggy dog.

"If there were, you'd be lucky if I didn't tie you to a tree and leave you here." Paige comments as they start walking towards the city.

Sirius lets out a playful bark then a growl.

"The animal cruelty fine would be well worth it." Paige says to him.

Sirius barks again, not impressed with her threats.

"Aw, you don't like being made fun of?" Paige asks with a smirk.

They walk the rest of the way in silence, the streets bare in the late hours of the night. They stop outside three buildings, all four stories and painted in different colors, pink, blue and yellow.

"There's an alleyway over there you can hide out in, or there are bushes right here." Paige says to Sirius as she points over at the yellow building which has shrubs outside.

Sirius lets out a small whine and looks over to the alleyway across the street and next to the police station she needs to get into.

"Okay. I'm going to leave my supply bag with you, and I need you to help if things go south in there." Paige instructs him as they begin to move towards where Sirius wants to lay low.

Sirius waits until he is under the cover of darkness before transforming back into his human form.

"And what would you have me do? I do not have a wand."

"Pee on them if you have to." Paige replies with a smirk.

"And what's your plan on getting in there?"

"I'm working on it."

"Well, I'm glad you're not just thinking of walking in there and having a conversation with them like you did with the vampires."

Paige watches as a red vehicle pulls up to one of the parking spots in front of the station. She notices a man dressed in a police officer uniform get out of the vehicle and move to the back where to grab stuff from his trunk.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do." Paige replies as she moves out of cover and towards the man.

"Paige." Sirius whispers loudly, trying to get her to come back.

Paige ignores him and walks up casually to the police officer.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could tell me where the university is." Paige says to the officer.

The police officer looks her up and down suspiciously before answering.

"What are you doing out on the streets so late at night?" He asks her.

"I was just taking my dog for a walk, and I seemed to have turned down a street I'm unfamiliar with and now I'm lost." Paige explains in an innocent sounding tone.

"Where is your dog?"

"Oh, I left him tied up in the alleyway over there, He doesn't like people."

As soon at the man looks over to the alleyway, Paige draws her wand and stuns him. She quickly looks around to make sure no one is watching her before she picks the man up under his arms and drags him towards the alleyway where Sirius is waiting for her.

"That was ballsy doing it right in front of the police station." Sirius comments as she returns with the man's body.

"Sometimes you have to just go for it." Paige replies as she begins to undress the man.

"You know these muggles have guns, right?" Sirius informs her.

"Good for them." Paige replies as she strips the man down to his boxers.

"There are also laws on impersonating-" Sirius stops talking as Paige takes her pants off.

"Shut-up and turn around." Paige replies noticing he was watching her undress.

"Yes, Captain." Sirius says with a sly grin as he turns away from her.

"If you turn around again, I'll swat you with something heavier than a rolled-up newspaper." Paige threatens.

"Understood." Sirius replies as he barely looks over his shoulder.

Paige picks up her pace on getting dressed in the mans uniform to avoid the awkward position she put herself in.

"I'm good." Paige informs Sirius, letting him turn around again.

She kneels next to the man and plucks a few hairs from his head.

"I guess I'm going to be babysitting him as well while you're off playing cops and robbers?"

"If you don't mind." Paige replies as she rummages though her bag.

She pulls her potions kit out of her bag and opens the container, looking for a specific potion. She finds one with a letter "P" written on the glass vial with a brownish coloured potion. She removes the lid from the potion and puts the hairs she collected from the man into the vial. She replaces the lid and shakes the vial to mix in the hair.

"Cheers." Paige says to Sirius as she removes the lid again and downs the potion.

She feels her body begin to shift into the man laying unconscious on the ground. She looks at her watch to note the time.

"If I don't come out in an hour-" Paige starts to say before realizing that Sirius would be trapped there if she doesn't come back out.

She lets the responsibility and pressure of succeeding sink into her before continuing.

"I'll be back within the hour." Paige says, correcting herself.

"God speed, Captain."

Paige straightens out her uniform to collect her nerves before she walks across the street to the police station. She enters through the front doors trying to act natural. There is only a front desk with a dispatcher sitting behind the desk and a single door leading further into the building. Paige nods politely at the dispatcher before trying the door, but it's locked.

"Forgot your key, Officer Crane?" The female dispatcher asks her in a monotone and tired voice.

"Um…" Paige replies and she feels around in her pockets.

She finds a set of keys on a key ring but has no clue which one would unlock the door.

"No, I'm good." Paige tells the dispatchers.

She picks one from the dozen or so keys on the ring and tries to insert it into the lock.

"Fuck." Paige mutters as the key doesn't fit.

Paige tries the next key on the ring and tries to fit it into the lock. She sighs with relief when it fits inside the lock.

"Have a good shift, Officer." The dispatcher says in the same monotone voice as Paige pushes the now unlocked door open.

Paige says nothing as she walks through the door, not wanting her more feminine voice giving her away and thanking whatever luck gods were smiling down on her tonight. Paige makes her way through the building, trying to find any sort of room that might have case files.

"How's it looking in there Captain?" Sirius asks her through the earpiece she gave him earlier.

"This place is four stories; I'm trying to find where they would stash case files."

"I would check the basement. Good place to store stuff."

"Okay, I'll check it out now." Paige replies as she tries to find the nearest staircase.

Her search for a staircase is interrupted by two male officers approaching.

"Hey Crane, help settle a debate between Perkins and I." The one officers says to Paige.

"Oh, come on, you know Crane is going to side with me, Jones." Perkins comments.

"Crane. Tell me, do you think Melissa from SCU would put out after one date?"

"There's no way, she would need at least three dates."

"What do you think Crane?"

"I think you'd have better odds jerking each other off." Paige replies with a smirk.

"Damn Crane, I've never heard you roast someone before. That wasn't bad."

"Ah well, You guys make it easy." Paige remarks.

"Will you guys get out on patrol already! The bars are starting to close, and they need boots on the street." Another officer barks at them from down the hall.

"See you out there." Paige says to them as she spots the staircase leading downstairs.

"You want to roll together tonight, Crane?"

"Uh, Maybe later. I need to check on something first." Paige replies, trying to remain natural.

"Alright, I'll be in the break room waiting for you."

Paige nods and turns to walk quickly away from them before more banter starts, knowing she's also on a time limit. She descends the stairs into the basement, hoping to find the place they store their case files. She enters the basement and finds rows and rows of cardboard boxes sitting on top of giant steel shelves.

"There's a lot here Paige. You think we're going to have the time." Otakemaru says to her.

"I'm sure it's organized." Paige replies.

"Oh sure, go ahead and tell me the name of the man Ripley killed." Otakemaru says sarcastically.

"Perhaps it's organized by date." Paige replies as she begins to read the labels on the cardboard boxes as she moves deeper into the basement.

"Look, there are dates on them."

Paige scans the boxes as she continues down the rows until she starts to see boxes around the date of the attack.

"Looks like there are about ten boxes around the time and date of the attack." Paige says to Otakemaru.

"Well eliminate the female sounding names, that leaves around six."

Paige grabs one of the boxes from the shelf and begins to look through the contents inside. She holds up a bag with a cotton swab. She continues looking through the box and finds a thin folder inside. She flips through it and quickly reads the report.

"Mr. Kevin L. Michaels spit on an officer, we have taken a sample of his DNA to add to evidence." Paige begins to read before she flips the file closed.

"Not that one." Otakemaru remarks.

Paige puts the evidence back inside the box and puts it back on the shelf before grabbing the next box. She looks through the second box and pulls out a clear plastic bag with a bloody white shirt in it.

"I don't think we made them bleed." Paige comments.

"You never know."

Paige looks inside the box and pulls out a file folder. She glances at photos attached inside of a man with a black eye.

"Mr. Francis J. Dube was apprehended for starting a fight at O'Rileys Pub over on blah blah blah." Paige reads before closing the file. "It's not the right one."

Paige replaces that box with the next one. She picks up a plastic bag with a knife covered in blood inside.

"This looks promising." Paige comments as she grabs the file inside.

Paige opens the file and looks through the photos attached. There are pictures of the street her and Ripley were on when they got attacked. Her heart pounds loudly as she begins to read the report.

"Mr. Randall B. Kirk was found at 3:46 am and pronounced DOA. Cause of death unknown and awaiting report from autopsy. Blood found on scene does not match victim. Case remains open for investigation."

"Paige, look at the photo. Do you see what I see?" Otakemaru says to her.

Paige looks back at the photos, trying to see what he sees. She spots at fox in the top left corner on one of the photos. It's standing behind a tree watching the no-maj police investigate the scene.

"You don't think that's Juan do you?" Paige Otakemaru.

"He was missing when you both got attacked." Otakemaru points out.

"I mean… That could be Juan in this photo, but there is no way to prove it." Paige says to Otakemaru.

"It just means we need to keep an extra close eye on him if that is indeed him."

"What do I tell Jack?"

"Nothing. Not until we find something more concrete. Looks like we need to think double time here to find a way across to do more digging."

"Alright answers leading to more questions. Fantastic. I guess it's time to get the fuck out of here then." Paige says as she puts the file back inside the box.

"Paige, your hair." Otakemaru comments.

Paige grabs a now long strand of blonde of her own hair, the potion wearing off quicker than expected.

"You should just get Severus to make your potions for you." Otakemaru remarks.

"Point taken." Paige replies as she puts the box back onto the shelf.

Paige walks quickly back down the aisle of boxes towards the staircase. She manages to make it back to the first floor without running into anyone on the staircase and she heads back towards the doors she entered from. She can see the door twenty feet in front of her with freedom in sight.

"Hey." Perkins' voice says from behind her.

Paige ignores him, hoping he wasn't talking to her and continues towards the door.

"Hey lady! Wait a second." Perkins yells.

She holds her breath as she hears footsteps running towards her.

"Are you new here?" Perkins asks her.

"Uh. Yeah, started today." Paige replies, trying to steady her nerves.

She knows she can't just start killing innocent no-majs.

"I'm Jim Perkins, I can show you around the place if you'd like."

"I actually forgot something in my automobile." Paige replies.

"Automobile? Who calls them automobiles?" Perkins jokes.

"Just trying to bring the word back I suppose." Paige says nervously as she turns for the door again.

"Hey Jones, listen to this. The newbie here calls vehicles 'automobiles." Perkins says from behind Paige.

"Jones is behind me too, isn't he?" Paige asks Otakemaru.

"Oh yeah." Otakemaru replies.

"Automobile? I don't think I've heard anyone use that term before." Jones chimes in.

Paige has her hand on the handle to the room with the dispatcher, mere inches away from freedom.

"Wait, I want to introduce you to Jones here." Perkins calls out to Paige.

"Just give me one moment, I'll be right back." Paige replies to him.

"Hey! I thought I told you to go out on patrol!" The officer who yelled at them before shouts.

"Fuck." Paige mutters.

"Who the hell is that?" The officer asks the other two.

"New hire she says." Perkins replies.

"New hire? We don't have any new hires." The officer says with a hint of confusion.

"Time to go." Otakemaru whispers.

Paige pushes the door open and bolts outside.

"Hey!" Perkins calls out behind her.

"Sirius, pack up. I'm coming out hot." Paige says to Sirius over the earpiece.

The dispatcher doesn't move from her seat as she watches Paige run past her and towards the front doors.

"What does that mean?" Sirius asks her.

Paige pushes the front door open and hits the cold night air outside. She quickly darts across the street with the three officers chasing behind her.

"Stop!"

"Quit running!"

"Put your hands up."

Paige runs to the alleyway where she left Sirius and the stunned police officer, she sees Sirius as a black shaggy dog, his tail wagging when he sees her approaching.

"Grab the bag, quick!" Paige shouts to Sirius.

Sirius doesn't move when he notices the three officers following behind her.

"Freeze or I'll shoot." One of them yells as their flashlights illuminate Paige.

Paige stops and puts her hands up, not wanting to get shot.

"Now what genius?" Otakemaru asks her.

"You think I can talk my way out of this?" Paige replies with a smirk.

"Corporal Schilling, isn't that Crane on the ground right there?" Jones asks.

"Not anymore." Otakemaru comments.

"Keep your guns on her, I'll check." Corporal Schilling replies as he moves closer to Crane.

Paige watches as the officer kneels next to their comrade as Perkins and Jones hold their firearms on her.

"It's Crane alright. He's still breathing thank God." Schilling informs them.

"What did you do to him?" Perkins asks Paige.

"I found him like that." Paige lies.

"And you just so happen to be wearing his uniform."

"I think the point of a uniform is for them to look similar. How can you possibly tell this is his?" Paige asks with a smirk.

"It has his name badge right there." Jones says pointing his gun towards her chest.

Paige looks down and sees a silver name tag with 'Deputy Alex Crane'.

"Oh." Paige replies.

"You have some explaining to do." Schilling says to Paige.

Before Paige could reply, Sirius suddenly jumps out from the nearby bushes and bites down onto Jones' arm.

"AH! WHAT THE FUCK!" Jones yells just as his firearm goes off from the ambush.

Paige feels something wet start running down her arm, then the tidal wave of pain hits her. She slowly looks down at her arm and notices blood soaking into her shirt around her shoulder. The officers don't notice Paige fall to her knees in front of them as they try to deal with Sirius attacking Jones. Paige looks next to her and sees her bag laying next to her on the ground. A jolt of adrenaline hits her as she hears Sirius let out a loud yelp as Schilling manages to kick him off Jones. Paige grabs the bag with her uninjured arm and lets out a loud whistle to call Sirius to her.

Sirius turns his head from the three officers to Paige. He thankfully listens to her command and bolts towards Paige. She moves her blood covered hand inside her sleeve to grab onto her wand.

"Hey! Put your hands up."

"I can't. You shot me." Paige replies in a snarky tone as Sirius jumps into her lap.

Paige and Sirius disapparate right in front of them with no other choice.


With the sun just rising over the horizon Sirius wastes no time turning back into himself and putting her uninjured arm over his shoulder to help her up the stairs back into Grimmald Place.

"I'm sorry. I was hoping my ambush wouldn't have caused him to shoot." Sirius admits.

"Yeah, could have warned me what you were going to do."

"You could have been more clear on what was going on." Sirius argues.

"Are you really arguing with me right now?" Paige asks him.

"Sorry Captain." Sirius replies with a smirk.

Sirius opens the front door for Paige, but quickly pushes her back outside.

"Ow, what the hell Sirius." Paige whines.

"Shh, your team is coming down." Sirius informs her.

"Going somewhere Sirius?" Hernandez asks him.

Sirius steps inside the house and closes the door behind him. Paige leans up against the door both to help support her and to listen in on what they are saying.

"Oh no, I was just keeping Captain Asher company while she is out for a morning cigarette."

"I wish she would stop that fucking bad habit already." Ripley comments.

"She's up already? I need to have a word with her." Hernandez says.

"I um…I sort of left her in a sour mood, I would give her a few minutes." Sirius lies.

"Is she still upset with the little spat you had with Professor Snape yesterday?" Ripley asks him.

"I'm afraid so." Sirius replies.

"Yeah, I would wait until she's at least had a coffee or two Juan." Ripley comments.

"Smart choice." Sirius says with a bit of a chuckle.

"Any news on missions yet?" Hernandez asks.

Paige closes her eyes in frustration, just really wanting them to walk away so she can tend to her wound.

"I haven't checked the mail that came in yet, I was interrupted by Captain Asher." Sirius says, making up an excuse.

"Okay, well let us know. I'm personally starting to become restless." Hernandez comments.

"I can relate." Sirius replies.

Paige can only hear silence and the sound of her blood slowly dripping down onto the concrete below her. Thankfully she only waits a few more moments before Sirius opens the front door.

"Glad to see you're still standing."

"Yes, well I'm sure my sour mood helps." Paige comments.

Sirius helps her to the room off the hallway before the dining room. Paige removes her wand from her sleeve and hands it to Sirius.

"Lock the door." Paige instructs him.

He grabs her wand like she says and uses it to lock the door. Paige slowly gets down onto the ground with her back leaning against the wall.

"You're going to have to take your shirt off." Sirius informs her.

"Just dig in my bag and hand me that potions kit. You can stand facing the corner while I patch myself up." Paige replies.

"Captain Asher, I can assure you that I take this seriously and I want to help you."

"I don't want to hear a single off hand remark from you." Paige says sternly as she begins to unbutton the police uniform.

"I understand. You need the potions kit?" He asks her.

"Yeah, it should be in my bag." Paige says as she begins to peel the blood-soaked portion of the shirt off her arm.

"I must admit, you took the bullet like a champ." Sirius remarks as he digs around in her bag.

"Yeah, it felt like a tickle. Get the damn potion already." Paige says, the ache her in arm now throbbing.

Sirius grabs the kit from her bag and walks to her. He examines the gun shot wound in her shoulder.

"Looks like it went right though which is lucky. It means I don't have to go digging around for a bullet." Sirius informs her.

"I feel so lucky right now." Paige replies.

Sirius opens the potions kit and looks at the vials.

"Which ones?" Sirius asks her.

"The red and the clear one." Paige says to him as she looks down at her now exposed wound.

Sirius grabs the vials and sets the rest of the kit down beside her as her head begins to swim.

"Okay, red one first. Pour that all over the wound, then I'll drink the clear." Paige says weakly.

"Paige, you got them mixed up. You need to pour the clear one." Otakemaru whispers to her.

"I mean. It's the other way around." Paige says to Sirius.

"You need to drink the clear first?" Sirius asks her in confusion.

"Pour the…." Paige tries to say, but she feels too lightheaded to remember what she was saying.

"Repeat after me Paige. Pour the clear." Otakemaru says to her.

"Pour the clear." Paige repeats out loud.

"Then drink the red." Otakemaru continues.

"Then drink the red." Paige informs Sirius.

"Got it." Sirius says as he pops the lid off the clear vial. Paige winces in pain as the clear liquid hits her gun shot wound and begins to seal it up. Sirius empties the vial on both sides of her shoulder then pops the top on the red one.

"Drink the red." Sirius says to her.

He helps her lift the vial to her mouth before she takes it all in one swig. Her body shivers as the grotesque taste of the potion slides down her throat. It only takes moments for Paige to feel better as the red potion causes her to replace the blood she had lost from being shot. Sirius moves back to her supply bag and digs around for something.

"Did you at least get what you were looking for?" Sirius asks her as he pulls out her clothing from the bag.

He hands Paige her shirt from the bag.

"Perhaps, it certainly adds a little more to my concerns." Paige replies as she takes the shirt from him.

Paige throws her shirt over her head, but her arm hurts too much to put it through the sleeve. Sirius kneels beside her and help guide her arm into her sleeve.

"Care to share your thoughts?" Sirius asks her as Paige takes a moment to catch her breath after struggling to put her shirt on.

She decides to keep Sirius out of the loop on her dark theory on Hernandez, not wanting to believe it herself.

"Not this time." Paige replies quietly.