A/N:Wow - been over a year since I posted. I know how this story ends, but when the show was cancelled, I stepped away from writing because I was so upset. Since then, I haven't written anything, makes me a little sad, but that is life and honesty.
I still love these characters and I still love the people that played them. I miss the show and I miss the fans that all bonded over the incredible story we were witness to for the brief season we were given.
Without further ado - the engagement party
Chapter 18:
Andy walked down the stairs and listened to the comms as she checked in with the caterers and the waitstaff for the evening. She checked with Marcus that security was tight and would be monitored throughout the evening. Adrian was on the phone speaking to his parents who would be leaving to join the party soon. Andy could feel the end was near and she breathed in the final moments of quiet as she walked to the foyer to stand ready to greet the people her fiancé had invited.
The door was opened multiple times and she greeted each person solo with a smile and a kiss on each cheek. She tried to imagine what it would feel like to actually be happy and engaged to a man that loved her. She put all of those feelings into being genuine and warm with every man and woman that walked in that she knew to be the buyers. She kept her eyes averted when she caught people staring at her.
She'd been greeting solo for half an hour before she finally picked up the chatter on comms that Adrian had gone to the subterranean level with his parents who had come in the back entrance. They were giving the girls the last once over before heading up to join the party. As soon as they left, Preach announced that they were heading in once the team was inside with Andy.
Andy jumped slightly when she felt someone's hand on her back, especially when she realized it was not Adrian's, but his father's. He leaned in a brushed a kiss near her ear and she pulled away to turn around and greet him. "Good evening Maximillian," she stated brushing chaste kisses on each cheek and taking a deliberate step away from him.
"You look ravishing Andrea," he stated twirling her.
"You are too kind," she answered in return before again taking a step away from him.
Adam walked in with Jaz on his arm and spotted Andy trying to get away from Adrian's father. He felt Jaz grip his arm, then release it, and he glanced down at her. It was her way of telling him to keep frosty. He calmed seeing her smile and then turned to see Andy had spotted them. Instead of smiling at them as he expected, she looked angry. She forced the smile as they got closer, but he saw her flinch as once again, Adrian's father put a hand on her lower back.
She purposefully walked away from Maximillian to greet him and Jaz before they had made it too far into the foyer. She smiled and after having spent so much time with her undercover this week, he finally could see where the mask didn't quite reach her eyes. "Adam, I'm so happy you came," she said with a smile and pulling him into a hug. It was as he hugged her that he realized that while her dress covered her entire front, she had nothing on her back.
"You look beautiful sis," he stated kissing her cheek and pulling her into a tighter hug. He released her, and she gave him her best smile before she turned to Jaz.
"Tasha, I'm so glad you came too," she added pulling Jaz in for a hug. Jaz hugged her back and saw Maximillian eyeing her over Andy's shoulder.
"Andrea, who is this lovely creature?" Maximillian questioned as Andy pulled away and he snagged Jaz's hand. Adam bit back a scowl and tried to keep from glaring at the other man.
"Maximillian, this is Tasha and my brother Adam," she responded introducing the couple to her future father-in-law.
Maximillian bent low and placed a kiss on Jaz's hand and Adam could tell it was to get a better look at Jaz's cleavage. Jaz pulled her hand back and placed it on Adam's arm as Adam shook Maximillian's hand briefly. Adam made a show of tucking Jaz's hand in the corner of his arm and smiling down at her. He caught Maximillian's frown before he was distracted by his wife.
Amir entered the house through the front door and took in the mingle of people, all in tuxes and gowns. It was a life he was familiar with, but from the distance of years. He had not attended a black-tie event since before he had gone undercover, but old habit came back immediately. He searched out Top and Jaz and found them with Andy and Maximillian. He also saw the daring back to Andy's dress and it brought back memories of dancing with Andy on another night years before.
Andy sensed Amir's gaze the moment it fell on her and she felt herself tense again. It suddenly felt real just how dangerous the situation was having the team there. Everyone she cared about was on this mission with her and she would be damned if anything happened to them. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and smiled at the man that had stolen her heart the day she met him.
Preach entered the cavern slowly and found that the handy work he and Top had taken care of earlier in the day looked untouched. The team that DC had sent to help, were familiar and friendly from his years working in the Navy and he was grateful for people he could trust. They had brought small boats to evacuate the girls from the caverns and he calmly radioed the team that he was in place.
McG walked the perimeter of the house and finally spotted Adrian and his mother out on the patio around the pool in deep discussion. He kept to the shadows as he heard their voices raised in anger. They were discussing the girls being held downstairs and when to bring them up. Adrian was arguing to give him more time to celebrate his engagement and Andy to have fun as it was their engagement party. His mother argued that Andy couldn't be trusted until she was brought into the inner circle. McG radioed to Top that they needed to get this wrapped up quickly.
Champagne had been brought out and music had started playing. Adrian was still nowhere to be seen and Andy needed to start the dancing so that they could have people move around more. Still, all she could do was look at Amir staring back at her. He looked sexy in his tux and the small smile on his face. It was the confident agent she knew, with a touch of the cocky teenager he had been, and it was the man she was still in love with after years of not knowing where he was or if he was still alive.
Adam looked to his sister and where she was looking. He could tell the feelings between them were mutual and years had probably done little to change them. He was happy for her, but glancing back down at Jaz, he knew that they were going to have to break the moment. Adrian was MIA along with his mother and Maximillian was hovering like a vulture.
Jaz was watching Andy and Amir and felt like she was interrupting an intimate moment, but Top's look told her they were going to have to break it. "Andrea, who is that?" she questioned softly getting the other woman's attention. She watched the light die out of Andy's eyes as she turned to smile at her.
"That is the father of one of my new students that will be starting next term, Mr. Fischer. His daughter's name is Cassie," she answered as Amir finally began his approach.
"Andrea, so nice to see you again, congratulations!" he feigned as he kissed both of Andy's cheeks and drew the attention of Maximillian again. The man looked over at the group with a suspicious air and Jaz knew they had to get moving.
"Dance with Andy," she whispered in Top's ear before making eyes at daddy dearest. Top looked to his sister and Amir.
Andy turned to her brother and smiled. "Adam, will you dance with me?" she questioned holding out her hand. Apparently, Jaz and Andy shared thoughts as well. Adam knew he should be careful if his sister and Jaz ever decided to team up together against him.
Adam smiled at Amir and then down at Jaz as Maximillian started to approach them again. He didn't know what made him do it, but seeing the man approaching Jaz again, he felt the need to re-iterate that Jaz was not up for grabs and cupped Jaz's cheek. Jaz looked up at him with slight confusion, before he pressed his lips to hers. She gasped against his mouth and he pressed the advantage by deepening the kiss. He felt her curl her fingers into his arms where her hand was still tucked, and she kissed him back.
Andy stood trying not to gape at her brother kissing Jaz and glanced at Amir who had an eyebrow raised. Then she spotted Maximillian re-approaching and understanding dawned. She tried to keep the chuckle at bay, but it slipped, and she broke the spell. Adam pulled away and looked down at Jaz with a look that Andy read like a book. Her brother was in love with his sniper.
"Okay, now that you've made out with your girlfriend, can I have this dance?" she teased shooting Jaz a wink. The other woman still looked thoroughly shaken and Andy hoped the wink and teasing would snap her back to reality. It did the trick and Jaz smirked up at her brother.
Adam stepped away from Jaz and turned to Andy looking all business and smiling warmly at his sister. He offered his arm and led her to the middle of the dance floor. She turned when they got to the center of the space and smiled as he placed a hand at her waist and set the frame with his dance partner.
Andy stood on the edge of the reception looking at her brother dancing with another bridesmaid. They were at Abby's wedding and she knew that the only reason she had been invited was because Adam had insisted as she was family. Adam was in uniform and Andy could see the women in the room eyeing him like a prize. It made her laugh a little. Her brother was as far away from settling down as you could get. The only reason he was dancing with the bridesmaid was because it was the bridal party dance and there were an odd number of bridesmaids.
Abby looked happy, for as much as she knew the woman. Of her half-sisters, she was the friendliest and had tried to get her sister and mother to turn around along with Adam, but Andy knew that it wouldn't matter to them. Her husband was kind, he smiled a lot and looked at Abby with stars in his eyes. Andy smiled at the pair and was genuinely happy for them.
Andy sat at the table she had been assigned and felt awkward not knowing anyone in the group. There were not a lot of family members as her father had only had one brother and they had had no children. He was the uncle that Adam had been staying with when she had found him. Uncle John was dancing with the bride, knowing it would have been her father's job. No one says it, but this is better. Uncle John is sober and stable. He doesn't drink, and he gave the girls the father figure they were missing when Adam had left for the Army.
Andy is so absorbed in watching the bride and her uncle, that she didn't hear Adam sit down beside her. "Are you going to dance?" he questioned trying to get his sister to feel like part of the family.
Andy smirked and shook her head. "Nah, I'm thinking I might say my goodbyes." Adam gave her a look and she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Let's go," he ordered grabbing her hand. "I swear I think you are more boring than I am," he teased as he led her out to the dance floor. She let him lead her and stared at him when some country song came on. "What?" he questioned.
"One dance," she stated before letting him lead her.
"When do you leave?" he asks as the move around the dance floor. She was leaving for her first mission and she was trying one last time to connect with the people around her.
"Next week," she answered as she looked up at him. "How come I've never seen you with a girlfriend?" she questioned as the song changed to another slow one.
This time, he looks awkward and even slightly angry. "I'm not the relationship guy," he answered. Andy looked him in the eye with skepticism.
"Bullshit," she whispered. He looked down at her with a glare. "I know you will never have the big flashy wedding, but I highly doubt you want to spend the rest of your life alone," she explained, and his fiery blue eyes softened.
"Just haven't met someone that could handle the lifestyle," he answered with resignation. "Finding someone that understands what we do and why and being okay with staying home? They are a rare breed. If I ever find someone, I don't know that I would want to put them through that," he explained and warned. He looked his sister in the eye and she felt the warning in her gut.
"We haven't danced since Abby's wedding," she whispered as he began to lead her. It still amazed her how good a dancer he was as he moved them around.
"I haven't danced much since then," he confessed bringing out a genuine smile. "When this is done, you and I need to have a conversation." It was his typical order, not request. She smirked at him and nodded.
"Andy, Adrian and mommy dearest are here," McG radioed. Andy glanced around looking for him.
Adam felt her spine stiffen and looked over her shoulder to see the man in question coming up behind her. "Easy," he whispered as he brought his eyes back to hers. She nodded and forced herself to relax and take a deep breath.
"May I cut in?" Adrian questioned tapping Adam on the shoulder. He smiled warmly at Andy and Adam kissed her cheek before stepping aside.
Jaz was by Top's side and slipped an arm around his waist the minute he stepped back from Andy. She had seen the brief look Top shot Andy as he released her. She had only seen that when her guys were involved. Jaz knew that keeping close to Andy would help ease his anxiety. Top looked down at her and smiled for show and pulled her into dancing. His arm slid around her waist and he pulled her close. The smile stayed in place as they made their way around the dance floor.
"Dalton, Preach, is making his way in," Noah informed them as Amir made his way to the kitchen area and sneaking out of the back slider.
Amir couldn't watch Andy dance with Adrian. He wanted to beat the man being so close to him. So, he focused on the part of the mission he could control. He walked out to stand on the edge of the patio area and looked out over the water below. He kept an eye with his peripheral vision on the small boat that he could just make out on the water a mile down the beach.
McG had slipped out of the party and had made his way to the park and the van where their gear was stashed. He had changed and made his way to Preach standing outside the cave entrance. Amir was standing overwatch on the balcony and Jaz and Top would be slipping out soon too. Everything was going smoothly and quietly.
Andy smiled up at Adrian and could smell alcohol on his breath along with a sicky sweet smell she could not identify. His pupils were blown though, and she knew that he had taken something. He tried to kiss her, but she turned her cheek at the last second. She stepped back and turned to walk away from him. She didn't need the distraction of him being high. He stopped her from getting too far with a tight grip on her wrist that caused the concealed knife to dig painfully. She hid the pain though and looked up at him.
"Get your fucking hand off me," she ordered softly, looking up at him with an icy glare. He gripped harder and she reached for his little finger that gripped her, prying it backwards until his entire grip loosened. "After tonight, you put a hand on me again, I will cut it off," she added before turning once again to walk away.
Andy made her way to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of champagne to take out onto the patio. She needed a moment to breathe and refocus. She wanted to check the progress of the team getting the girls out. She found Amir casually looking out over the water.
"How's it going?" she questioned as she stepped up beside him.
"So far so good," he answered glancing over and noticing her rubbing her wrist. "You okay?" he added softly.
"I'm fine," she answered giving him a smirk before turning and going back inside.
"There you are!" Maximillian declared as she made her way through the kitchen. She stopped and smiled at the man she wanted to kill desperately.
"Been here all along, just came to check on things. What can I do for you Max?" she questioned as she continued to proceed towards the party.
"Dance with me," he ordered, and he proceeded to put a hand on her backside.
"Take your hand off my ass," she countered as they moved to the dance floor and she spun to confront him. He removed his hand and took her glass from her hand. He downed it and a server appeared at his side to take the empty glass.
She was about to step away from him, when his arm snaked around her waist. "I told you that you will have to prove yourself to me before you can marry my son. You will prove it tonight." There was a clear threat in his voice and she swallowed to pretend to be intimidated before raising her chin.
"I will prove nothing to you," she answered and felt him tighten his hand around hers, rubbing the delicate bones together.
"What you don't understand young lady is that the world works very differently than what you believe," he added before he finally released her.
Andy was left standing in the middle of the dance floor and was ready to shoot the man as he walked away from her. She took a deep breath and turned to find Amir standing at the edge of the dance floor staring at her. The look of heat in his eyes reminded her of that first mission when they had been assigned to work as a couple for the first time. He looked ready to approach her but stopped short.
Andy sensed the presence of Adrian's mother beside her and turned to smile at her. "Andrea darling, won't you come with me, I have something to show you."
Adam and Jaz had slipped out and left Amir to watch over Andy as they continued to finish clearing the subterranean levels. They had cleared most of them but there was an area that was proving too difficult to break into as there was extra security on the younger girls. Hannah informed them that they were a higher value due to their age and purity. It had turned each of their stomachs to hear them described as property, but sadly it wasn't the first time.
They had slipped down the corridor in the kitchen when the kitchen staff had been distracted. Jaz had slipped off her heels and stashed them in a corner. Adam watched as she started to lift the front of her skirt and he raised an eyebrow at her.
"You know now really isn't the time," he teased softly, and she shot him a look of exasperation.
"I told you that your sister gave me weapons," she answered as she lifted her skirt to reveal a lacy black garter that held a small pistol. She gave him a sassy look and once again he had to resist the urge to kiss her smart mouth.
"At least she has good taste," he mumbled, and Jaz gave him a brilliant smile again. "What other weapons are you hiding?" he whispered.
"Knives, brass knuckles, and fancy hair pins," she answered as they crept down the corridor. "The only downside is this dress is a little hard to hide," she added as they got closer to the main area of holding cells.
Preach and McG had mostly cleared the cells and were sending out the last of the girls when Adam and Jaz approached. They were standing over the controls and it was proving difficult to get the last cells open. They required the handprint of either Adrian or his mother.
"We can't override it?" Adam questioned as the moved to the control panel.
"No, it takes both of them," Preach answered and Adam took a deep breath knowing that Andy was going to have to get them both down to get it open.
Adam tapped his comms, "Andy, we need to you to get mommy dearest and Adrian down here," he ordered. He waited a beat and didn't receive a response.
Adam shared a look with his team when another moment passed in silence. "Andy, acknowledge," he ordered again. Nothing but radio silence. "Amir, tell me you have eyes on her," Adam ordered.
"Negative," Amir answered tersely. The edge in his voice suggested that he hadn't had eyes on her for a minute.
"Command, what about her body cam?" he questioned hoping they had something at least.
"Negative, there is some sort of interference. Last visual we had she was still inside the house," Noah answered as they rewound the footage trying to find any clue that would explain the sudden disappearance of their operative.
Jaz looked at Adam's body language and knew that he was trying to figure out the situation. "What do you want to do Top?" she questioned already stashing her gun back in its holster. She was straightening her appearance knowing they were going back to the party.
"Amir, keep searching for her. Jaz and I are headed back up. Preach, McG, keep working on that lock, we will get them out of there and get the hell out," he directed, and he holstered his own weapon and turned to Jaz. She nodded and followed him back down the corridor. At the corner where she had stashed her heels, she leaned on him to slip them back on.
"You good?" he whispered as she straightened herself again. She looked up at him and he smirked at the smug of soot on her nose. "Hold still," he ordered softly as he rubbed the spot on her nose. He also looked at the curls of her hair and tucked a few strands back in place.
Jaz held very still as Adam corrected her appearance. His eyes were assessing as he looked her over. She took the time to study his appearance as well. She reached up and straightened his bowtie as he tucked away one last strand of hair. Blue eyes met hers as she looked up and smiled at him. "Let's go," she whispered knowing that his sister needed back up.