London, England – Present Day

Anna tucked the envelope into the interior lining of the coat and zipped it to her chin before noticing Talbot standing at the bottom of the bank stairs. "I do hope you're not here to warn me about someone from Interpol paying me a visit."

"Then you've already met Bates?"

"He made himself the temporary aide to a DCI Crawley."

Talbot frowned, "I've no idea who that is."

"You wouldn't since you've not spent the last three years trying to crawl up my brother's ass to force him to tell you where he hid stolen money." Anna descended the stairs and folded her arms. "Why are you here Henry?"

"Can't I look in on an old friend?"

"Not when we've not spoken in a year."

"And who's fault is that?" Anna did not respond so Talbot shrugged. "At least I'm not trying to hold you responsible for my booting from Interpol."

"I do admit to being a little sorry about that but I take no responsibility for it." Anna loosened her arms slightly. "It was unfortunate they needed to blame you."

"You'd already quit so they couldn't blame you."

"It wasn't as if you failed in your mission."

"No, you're right, the whole reason we were in Warsaw was solved." Talbot nodded at her. "But how it ended…"

"It ended, that's all that mattered."

"But not to them." Talbot shook his head. "They didn't like it and, like you said, they needed someone to blame."

"Is this the part where you need someone to blame?"

"No." Talbot sighed, "I'm the one who brought you into all that and I knew who you were when I did so I should've guessed that how it ended was exactly what would happen."

"The purpose of our being there was met."

"It's not just about the end, Anna. It's about the means."

"Says the man who facilitated the elimination of a homegrown terrorist cell of radicalized jihadists." Anna pointed at him, "Don't try to justify your frustration about Warsaw like we hadn't done worse before that."

"Sniping someone from less than a mile away isn't nearly the same thing as hanging men like slabs of meat in a freezer."

"To quote a rather horrendous episode of a now much-maligned television show," Anna made a show of clearing her throat, "They would've done worse to me."

"But they didn't."

"Because I did what everyone tells women to do to fight potential rapists," Anna shrugged, "I took precautions."

"Usually when people say that they're talking about defense mechanisms or carrying around some illegal mace."

"I find it far more effective to simply eliminate the need for that." Anna sighed, "But it's all water under the bridge."

"There's not even a bridge, Anna. You napalmed it."

"Then I'll repeat my earlier statement so we stop taking this conversation in circles," Anna put her hands in her pockets. "Why are you here, Henry?"

"Because…" Talbot let his breath leave him as if each particle of air cut him from the inside out. "Because I need your help."

"And you thought starting with a lecture was going to get you that?"

"I thought if I could make you feel a modicum of guilt then you'd be more pliant to what I'm about to ask."

"If it's anything to do with my former employment-"

"I need a place to stay."

Anna blinked at him, "You can't be serious."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm in the process of putting my old life behind me. A life that, coincidently, includes you." Anna shook her head, "No."

"I've got nowhere else to go Anna."

"And I'm sorry but it's not my problem." Anna shook her head again, "I've got my brother living with me."

"So?"

"So how do I explain you and all the inevitable baggage that comes with you being in my flat while he's there?"

"Are you afraid I'll tell him what you did in Warsaw?"

"Allegedly did in Warsaw and no, I'm afraid I'll have to explain to him why that part of my life, a door I firmly closed the moment I left Poland, happened to follow me back to London." Anna took a breath, "Especially since I told him that his former life is taboo through my door."

"I'm sure your former work for Her Majesty's Government and your brother's former life as a car thief are hardly the same thing."

"They bring about the same level of pain to my family." Anna sucked the insides of her cheeks hard enough to bruise. "And I won't have that kind of pain brought back into our lives."

Talbot's posture softened. "I wouldn't bring that back to your door Anna. I'll swear to that."

"But it's not about what you intend to bring with you if I allow you to walk through my door. It's…" Anna closed her eyes, shaking away the image of them wiping down a flat and then going their separate ways as Talbot carted off the evidence of their actions. "It's about what happens despite what we intend."

"Is this because you still blame yourself for Ethel's death?"

"Shouldn't I?"

"Not after how you avenged her."

"Allegedly."

Talbot scoffed, "Deny it all you want-"

"To my dying breath."

"But I know you." Talbot pressed on, pointing his finger at Anna. "I know what you're capable of doing. I know what you did. And, despite what you may think, I didn't tell anyone at Interpol or MI5 what I know."

"Because you couldn't prove it?"

"Because it wouldn't matter if I could." Talbot sighed, his whole body deflating for a moment. "You did me a solid when you agreed to come and work with me at MI5. You didn't have to-"

"After what you did for me I did."

"Fine. Whatever," Talbot waved it away. "Point is, we'll spend the rest of our lives being in one another's debts and holding each other's secrets. And if you're alright with that, and the possible baggage we'd drag with us about it, then I'd like to call in one of those markers and beg for a bed."

Anna took a breath and held it until she thought her chest might shrivel before releasing it. "Fine."

"Really?"

Anna nodded, "I'll offer you the same deal I offered Tom. You get six months. After that you're out."

"I hope to be out before then."

"So do I." Anna paused, "But why do you need to live with me anyway?"

"Because, thanks to the way I've been living, I can't get good enough credit to pass a check to get a flat."

"You can't be serious."

"Why not?"

Anna groaned, "Why do people keep doing this to me?"

"Doing what?"

"Coming to me with these ridiculous situations." Anna stopped, her eyes narrowing, "How much credit do I give you about Interpol Agent Bates?"

"I didn't tell him anything."

"That's not what I asked."

Talbot shifted his jaw, "He expressed some interest in the case, once I got pulled off it, and I gave him some vague answers."

"Was his sniffing around what got the Warsaw police to close the case and declare it solved?"

Talbot shrugged, "I honestly don't know. All I got out of all of that was a succession of black marks that got me relegated to a basement at MI5 until I can, and I quote, 'prove I'm a valuable asset to the team' again."

"And for that you can't get good credit and find yourself a flat?"

"Seeing as the last flatmate I had was sharing a bed with me and she dumped me when I spent more time at work than with her…" Talbot shrugged, "The things you don't think about when life is going well."

"Always have an exit strategy." Anna pointed at Talbot. "You taught me that."

"We can all use reminders."

"I'll bet." Anna sighed, "Come on, I've got an air mattress you can use."

Operation Hydra, Wakhan – Ten Years Ago

Forcing a steadying breath, she kept her eye to the scope and spoke into the radio at her shoulder. "I've got a shot Echo. Please advise."

"Exit strategy and exfil not yet established. Hold position."

"Holding." Letting out another breath she blinked before wiping at her face with the scarf around her neck to clear grit from her eyes. "This sucks."

"Welcome to Taliban hunting." Talbot nudged her with his boot but she ignored it. "What'd you tell your husband you were doing this weekend?"

"Killing bad guys." Anna shrugged and adjusted her position slightly to better hold the rifle to her shoulder. "You?"

"I didn't tell your husband anything."

"Dick."

Talbot grinned and gave a laugh, "I don't have anyone to tell what I do."

"Because you're a spook?"

"I resent that label."

"Okay." Anna snorted, "It's what you are."

"I'll have you know I'm a military advisor and attaché to your unit."

"Okay Spooky." Anna glanced at him, "Do you really have no one at home wondering what you do when you're away?"

"I've got an Aunt, Prudence, who can be worried about me on occasion."

"But not enough?"

Talbot shrugged, "She stopped worrying about me when I got my final marks in school. At that point she considered her investment in my well-being well and truly over."

"Cruel."

"She's a practical woman." Talbot raised a pair of binoculars to his eyes. "She invites me for dinner when I'm in town so that's something."

Anna did not answer and tensed when she caught movement out of her scope. "Echo, I've got movement."

"Report Falcon."

"Possible departure from compound." Anna shook her head, "Echo, permission to fire on target."

"Negative. Exit and exfil still unsure."

"We'll lose this target." Anna ground her teeth, "Echo, permission to fire."

"Negative. Track and tag target to enable drone recon."

"That's…" Anna grunted, almost gnashing her teeth. "There are possible casualties with that move Echo. I strongly advise against it and recommend immediate permission to fire."

"Input acknowledge but permission still denied."

"Echo…" Anna shook her head and got into position. "Screw that."

"Smith-" Talbot tried to warn but her finger already pulled the trigger and, a moment later, an explosion rang through the valley.

Both of them half sat up, open-mouthed, as they watched the plume of smoke rise. A second later their position was empty of all evidence of them as they raced down the back path to where a pair of horses waited. It took more time than they wanted to load their gear before Anna and Talbot galloped away from their position like bats out of hell. All the while the plume of smoke rose into the sky.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"That I wasn't going to let him get away."

"We had no exit strategy." Talbot shouted at her. "We always need-"

"An exit strategy, yes, I know." Anna steered her horse onto the road and kicked it into a sprint.

Their impromptu race cut off all chance for them to speak again until they reached the forward base camp. But then there was no time to speak between the series of people screaming in Anna's face and threatening demotions, court marshals, and finally time in holding. As it happened, holding was where Talbot found her again.

Anna opened her eyes to see him staring at her. "Here to gloat?"

"Here to tell you that they're not going to send you home."

"That's good."

"And that you killed ten people with a single shot."

Anna raised an eyebrow, "I'm good but-"

"The man you hit was wearing a suicide vest and it took out the four people before setting the engine of the car on fire so…" Talbot shrugged. "And since you accomplished the task and got away clean they've decided that you'll spend the night here but be back on duty tomorrow."

"That's good news." Anna nodded at Talbot, "What about you Spooky? They have anything they wanted to bring down on your head?"

"Me?" Talbot scoffed, "I'm perfect."

"Dick." Anna gave a little laugh of her own. "But maybe that's why I like you."

"It's why I like me too." Talbot nodded at her, "You did good work today Smith. Even if they can't tell you that in those words, know that I think you did a good thing today."

"Thank you." Anna watched him go and smiled to herself. "Ten people… That's a new record."

"So said your commanding officer." Talbot took a seat next to her on the metal bench. "This is disgustingly uncomfortable."

"Welcome to the British Army."

"I did a tour of service in it myself but I don't remember anything this bloody uncomfortable." Talbot shifted, "How do you sit on this thing?"

"I've got a bit more ass to me than you do." Anna nodded at him, making a show of looking him up and down. "Not all of us can be veritable beanpoles."

"I can't help it that you're ridiculously shorter than me." They both snorted their laughs before Talbot spoke again. "That being said, I think you're better than all this Smith."

"Because I killed ten members of the Taliban with one shot and they stuck me in temporary holding as punishment?" Anna scoffed, "I've had worse than this for far less. At Sandhurst I almost got myself kicked out for a prank."

"A prank?"

Anna nodded, "I screwed powdered drink mix into the communal showers used by some of the male cadets who were… How should I say it," Anna made a show of choosing her words with care, "Absolute shits?"

"And because they were absolute shits you showered them with powdered drink mix?" Talbot frowned, "I don't-"

"It dyed their skin for a few days." Anna smiled to herself, "And I did the same to the run of their laundry. They were running around in spotted pink uniforms until they could replace them. And, even then, they were absolutely shattered by the nicknames people gave them."

"Which were?"

"The Motely Crew." Anna sighed, "Some of them couldn't take the shame."

"And that got you into trouble?"

"The fact that the prank was beneath me and happened to, quite literally, stain the uniforms were what got me in trouble." Anna shrugged, "But if the establishment won't help you accomplish your goals then you do it yourself."

"Life motto?"

"Words to live by."

Talbot stayed quiet a moment. "Then why not live by other words?"

"Why? Are those not good enough?"

"Those are…" Talbot scrunched his face, as if debating the proper wording of what he wanted to say next. "Those are fine words to live by if you're where you want to be for the rest of your life."

"How'd you mean?"

"Always fighting small battles to prove yourself. Always having to scramble and scrap to keep your place." Talbot pointed at her, "Always having your skills hampered by protocols and rules."

"And you're what?" Anna made a face of her own, "Going to get me out of this place and my sad life by offering me a lifeline?"

"It's not a bad idea Smith"

"Maybe not but this," Anna motioned to the tent around them. "This is what I'm bred to do. This is where I belong."

"Even after it took a life from you?"

Anna sucked the insides of her cheeks to keep herself still and curled her fingers around the edge of the bench to clench there. "You're on shaky footing there Talbot. I'd watch what you say next very carefully."

"And I'd watch what you do very carefully." Talbot stood and pivoted to face Anna again. "This job won't just take your baby, Smith, it'll take your life. And you'll be crawling around, damaged in body and spirit for years to come, wondering how you let it get so far."

"Not all of us are cut out for the cut-and-run games that your division plays with people like me." Anna shot to her feet. "And how dare you try and use Theo's death against me?"

"To help you see reason."

"What, the reason of your side of the table?" Anna almost sneered at him. "I've not got time to pamper the princes of your division. And if you're only going to stand here and insult what I do and what I stand for then you can see yourself out the door."

"You're throwing your life away in a sandbox, Smith." Talbot jabbed his finger at her. "You're better than this. You're better than the life this'll leave you with. And you're better than the pains you'll carry around with you when you realize I was right because you're staring at the ashes of your life."

"Get out."

"If you don't-"

"I said get out." Anna clenched her jaw. "If you don't I will break every bone in one of your arms and then start on the other one."

Talbot looked her over before shaking his head. "You could have more than this life, Anna. More than sand and disappointment."

"I'll chose where and how I get disappointed, thank you." Anna shook her head, "Because right now, I couldn't be more disappointed in myself than I am with you except to think about all the time I wasted listening to you."

Talbot opened his mouth as if to say something else but just clicked his teeth and waved his hand at her, as if batting the idea of Anna away like a stray thought. He left the tent and Anna sat heavily back on the metal bench. Dropping her head, her fingers interlacing on the back of her neck as her elbows took static positions on her knees, she tried to steady her breathing.

When that failed she tried to cry as silently as possible.

London, England – Present Day

"This is yours?" Talbot turned in a circle. "It doesn't quite seem your style."

"You've never seen my style." Anna whistled between her teeth and two large, black, dogs came out of one of the back bedrooms. "Babylon and Assyria have to give their 'okay' on you."

"You can't be serious."

"She absolutely is." Tom came out of his room and extended a hand to Talbot as the dogs snuffled and sniffed at Talbot's legs. "They've got final say here."

"And you've none at all?" Talbot grinned at him, "Henry Talbot."

"Tom Branson and no, I haven't." Tom stepped back and shrugged as the dogs loped back to Anna's room. "I'm, technically speaking, a guest in Anna's flat until I can find my own place."

"She'd kick you out?"

"Given that she's offered me a nicer room than the one the halfway house would give me, I'd say a six-month temporary stay is actually nicer than she owes me." Tom checked his phone, "I'd better go or I'll be late."

"Sorry to've kept you." Talbot maneuvered out of his way as Tom grabbed a bag and headed for the door.

"Not at all." Tom nodded toward Anna, "Carson says he's got a new case for you tomorrow if you're up for a bit more excitement than you've had lately."

"Tell him I'll take it." Anna smiled at Tom, wondering when she would feel the pull at the corners of her eyes again for when a smile rang genuine. When the door closed she beckoned to Talbot. "This way."

The room she showed him held a cot bed in one corner while the other half of the room was made up of half-filled shelves and half-filled boxes. "The closet's free and there might be some shelf space in Tom's room you can negotiate for if you need anything tucked away."

"I don't know if I'm at the point in a relationship with 'Tom' to garner drawer space in his room."

"Suits me," Anna pointed toward the shelves. "Don't touch those."

"Afraid I'll ruin your alphabetization?"

Anna ignored the question, "And don't go through the boxes. I don't need or want any help unpacking anything. If it's in a box then I'll take care of it. Otherwise, leave it be. Do you understand?"

"Sure." Talbot pointed toward the corridor. "I assume you've got a bathroom for me to use."

"Find the one with a man's razor in it and you'll be sharing that one with Tom." Anna pivoted to leave the room but paused in the doorway when Talbot spoke again.

"Why'd you let your ex-con brother stay with you?"

"The better question," Anna turned to face Talbot, "Would be why I let you stay with me but I think the best answer, to both questions, is that the 'why' doesn't matter as much as the 'how long'."

"I assume I've got the same deal your bother does?"

"Now you're not being serious." Anna shook her head, "Tom's got six months because he's family. You're got half that time."

"You'll only give me three months?"

"I could make it less."

Talbot held up his hands as if surrendering, "Never mind. Three months sounds like more than enough time to find a place."

"Good." Anna sucked the inside of her cheek, "Although I still find it odd that you tracked me down to beg a place on my floor."

"Would it surprise you to learn that you're one of my only friends?"

"No." Anna pursed her lips, "But I've got an ugly feeling, like a creeping suspicion, that you're here to watch me."

"Then why take the risk?"

"Because I've nothing to prove to you, MI5, or Interpol." Anna shrugged, "And you had a point when you said I did owe you a bit of something for the mess I left you in when I literally blew up your phone in Warsaw."

"You blew up the phone?"

"Technically it was a bullet but the same effect I guess." Anna straightened, "But I'll ask you , here and now, if you're here to spy on me for MI5 or Interpol or any combination of the two. And, if I think you're lying, you'll need to find a nice patch of pavement to sleep on because that's exactly where I'll kick you."

Talbot nodded, "It was heavily suggested that I could regain some clout at my job if I were to report on you… As well as your brother."

"Did you agree to that?"

"I honestly haven't decided yet."

Anna shrugged, "Then tell them you'll do it."

Talbot all but gaped at her. "Excuse me?"

"I've got nothing to hide and you've nothing to lose." Anna pointed at the shelves and the boxes again, "I'm serious, don't touch those or I'll send Babylon and Assyria in here to chew off your hands."