Hey there! Thank you all for your continued support of my plot bunnies! I think you'll enjoy what I've got planned for this chapter. Anyway, please read and review! I own nothing.
Chapter 12:
Sameen Shaw was always a creature of action; more show than tell. A creature of feelings and thoughts silently conveyed through a range of touches and facial expressions, as well as a few bullets here and there. Tonight was certainly no exception to that pattern.
It had started innocently enough.
Root had half-heartedly protested Shaw's stubborn insistence upon checking her wounds. She looked over the hacker with an observant gaze as she checked her wounds for signs of infection, ghosted over them with the meticulous care she always used where her medical expertise was called for.
Neither one of them could pinpoint where exactly the shift happened, but in time, the delicate mechanical touch of her surgeon's hands gave way to something different.
Root was powerless against Shaw's advances. Even if she wanted to resist, she wouldn't have been able to deny the attention lavished upon her by the lover's touch of the other woman's hands. There was an odd duality in her actions as her hands moved over Root's body. She prodded roughly at the fresh wounds in a way that conveyed to Root her residual anger, yet she worshipped those same wounds and every other scar she could find with a kind of affection that only the writhing woman beneath her ever saw.
Root's hands tangled in Shaw's thick hair as she moved over her with her mouth, her teeth, her hands. She gave everything she had to show Root just how upset she'd been by Root's recent scrape. Root responded similarly, returning Shaw's attention with unrestrained eagerness. Their positions reversed and Root came to straddle Shaw's hips on the middle of the bed in her minimalist apartment.
Their lips came together roughly and tongues clashed fiercely for several long moments. Root licked, kissed, and nipped at Shaw's neck. She did the same to her chest, trailing down to her toned abs, where she paid special attention to the newest scars in Shaw's collection of old injuries…scars that reminded her of what she could've lost. Her lips ghosted silent kisses across the other woman's quivering muscles like so many prayers to some higher power.
Together, they lost themselves in each other. The fire burned hot around them until they were consumed by it; consumed by their passions. They brought each other to the brink in a haze of rough 0kisses and equally rough touches as the sounds of their exertions filled the room.
After, they wrapped themselves around each other among the pile of sheets on Shaw's bed. Root came to rest with her head on Shaw's chest and a hand just over her heart where the sound and feel of Shaw around her lulled her to sleep just as quickly as it usually did over the recent months.
Sleep came later for Shaw. She took a moment to ground herself similarly with Root's presence in her arms, keeping a palm over Root's heart as she held her protectively. She found the body heat comforting and began to drift to sleep, herself, to the sounds of Root's soft breathing and the noise of the city below. As she faded and her inhibitions began to leave her, she spoke the words that she wasn't yet bold enough to say in her waking hours.
Root remained dead to the world as the sun peeked through the large bay windows several hours later. It was unusual that Shaw was ever up before Root; she preferred to sleep in when she could, and if the machine didn't wake Root, her own early bird tendencies did. This morning, however, Shaw found that she was the first one up. She supposed it had something to do with the fact that Root was still recovering her strength, and without her implant, the machine wouldn't be waking her up any time soon.
Shaw lingered over her for a moment. From the hacker's current position on her side, she was able to see the shoulder wound and the back wound. Carefully, Shaw inspected the bandages of both before leaving a sleeping Root and heading off for the shower. Today would be another busy day. They'd been busy over the last few days tracking the truck from the harbor; she had a feeling today would be the day they came up with a lead.
She emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam several minutes later already dressed in her favorite tank top and a pair of black cargo pants. Her hair hung down around her shoulders, still damp after being toweled off. Shaw was surprised to find Root sitting on the edge of the bed looking into the distance longingly. She knew that look well. It was the look she got when the machine wasn't speaking to her; except it couldn't now, at least not through the implant.
Shaw stood for a moment near the door to her bathroom, lingering out of the way as if she didn't want to intrude on something. She made her approach after a few moments and fixed Root with a sympathetic gaze when the other woman looked at her with a frustrated, helpless expression. It wasn't just the fact that her ability to communicate with the machine had been greatly limited. Her injuries were still very fresh. If they did manage to track down the Anarchy Council today, or in the next few days, Root would be confined to desk duty with Harold. Of all of them, Root probably minded working the desk the least, but she still preferred to be out in the field.
"It's not so bad, Root." Shaw spoke, reaching out to caress the bandaging behind Root's right ear from where the implant had been ripped out. Her tone was somewhere between placating and comforting. "The way this is healing, I'm guessing you could have your implant replaced in at least a week."
"I know that." Root's words were punctuated with an exasperated sigh. Shaw sensed that there was more she wanted to say.
"But…?"
"I feel helpless. I hate it that there's nothing I can really do to help you and John."
Patiently, Shaw spoke reassurances to Root, surprised at how easy the words came and how genuine they felt rolling off her tongue. She took Root's chin in her strong grip, forcing their eyes to meet and for her to see the patience and empathy housed in her own.
"You did your part, Root. You didn't let them have the machine and you saved a number. Now it's our turn to finish this."
Before either woman could add any more to the conversation, Shaw's phone chimed on the night stand next to them. She kept eye contact with Root for a couple more moments before reaching over to grab it and looking down at the screen.
"That's Finch. He wants to see me."
Root watched from the bed as Shaw went about the task of finishing her preparations for the day ahead. Shaw's words had the effect of brightening Root's mood somewhat. She tilted her head to one side as Shaw put on her coat, clearly intent on leaving in the immediate future.
"What? I don't get any breakfast?" Root pouted in a teasing manner as she came to stand with the aid of her crutch. "I make you breakfast, Sameen."
"I don't cook." Shaw retorted as she snapped a clip of ammo into a Glock 19 before placing it in her coat pocket. She could feel Root's gaze boring into her and she looked up to see that playful expression on her face.
"Now that hardly seems fair."
Shaw shrugged. "That's life." She shook her head in amusement at the expression of mock offense on Root's face before stepping over to the hacker. She left her with a final searing taste of her lips before she went to the door, pausing with her hand on the handle and fixing Root with a stern expression.
"You should rest that leg up a bit more." She smirked. "I'll call you if anything interesting happens."
"Yes, Doctor."
The weather was a bit cool out for early spring. Winter had seen fit to hang around a bit longer, it seemed. This didn't do much to deter the newly arrived ducks in central park from begging for scraps from tourists. Harold watched the birds with amusement as they set about the task of acquiring breakfast. He had noted through years of bird watching that humans shared many aspects of their behavior with the fouls. They could be introverted or extroverted, and they often worked in teams to achieve goals. In fact, he knew that many strategies employed by different militaries across the world were based upon the tactics employed by different species of bird.
Teamwork was the very reason he was here. With Root out of commission for the moment, and their situation with Control precarious, it seemed to him that a little bit of teamwork would be necessary. He feared, however, that what he had in mind would not go over well. Particularly not with Shaw.
"You called, Finch?"
Harold startled at the sound of a voice behind him. He put a hand to his chest over his rapidly beating heart as he turned to see who had addressed him. There was Shaw, looking at him with a self-satisfied smile.
"Miss Shaw," Finch gasped. "I really must insist that you stop doing that."
"Sure, Harold." Shaw spoke dismissively in a manner that told him she had no intention of stopping as she came to sit next to him on the bench. She looked around curiously, not expecting to be the only one meeting with Finch. "Where's Reese?"
"I'm afraid Mr. Reese is preoccupied with the responsibilities of his cover identity this morning."
"Why is he still doing the fake cop gig, anyway? He doesn't need to anymore with Samaritan offline." It was a question that had been on Shaw's tongue for a while now, but she'd never really had the chance to address it. Finch looked just as confused by the question as she was.
"I suppose he enjoys it."
Shaw let out an understanding grunt in response as Harold continued to speak. "Speaking of Mr. Reese's cover identity, Detective Fusco has found a lead on the truck we've been searching for. There was a truck with the Sparrow Shipping Company markings spotted at a gas station in Baltimore last evening."
"Okay…" Shaw spoke slowly, not quite understanding how one truck of what had to be dozens could be the one they were looking for. "It's a pretty big coincidence that close to DC, I'll give you that. But Finch, who knows how many trucks they run in that direction daily?"
"That's just it, Ms. Shaw. According to our accountant friend, Hotel Moscow and its legitimate businesses do not operate outside the state of New York."
Shaw perked up a bit at the news. Finding the truck brought them one step closer to the AC. Finding the AC would give them a chance to get their payback. The thought excited her, made her tingle with anticipation all the way into her bones.
"When do we leave?"
Harold cringed inwardly. Here was the part he wasn't looking forward to. "I'm afraid it isn't that simple."
Shaw waited for further explanation, but it didn't come. "Harold?"
She turned to look at him as the awkward silence stretched on, taking the place of what should've been an explanation. He had that look about him; the one he got when he was nervous about something. He sat stiffer than usual and his face looked apprehensive. There was something he didn't want to tell her.
"I'm not gonna like where this is going, am I?" Shaw wondered flatly. Harold turned to her with a look on his face that was all the answer she needed before he spoke again.
"Now, before you get angry, let me just ask that you keep an open mind."
Shaw's only response was to look sharply at him, unamused at the suggestion. Her impatient glare urged him to continue speaking.
"The truckload of ammonium nitrate would be nothing short of a mass casualty event akin to the Oklahoma City bombing if the Anarchy Council were to succeed in using it. If we factor Control's number into that equation, it does suggest that the Pentagon would be the target. However…"
He paused, gearing up for the part he was dreading. The part where he asked her to shadow the woman who tried to have her killed. Shaw ushered him on impatiently.
"However?"
"However, we need to consider the possibility of a home attack."
Realization slowly began to dawn and the slight glare on Shaw's face hardened as her face twitched just slightly. Any excitement she'd felt at the prospect of sticking it to the Anarchy Council quickly disappeared at the idea of having to stick close to someone who had tried to kill pretty much every member of their team. "Are you about to suggest what I think you're about to suggest?"
Finch was slightly disturbed by the crooked, angry smile on the assassin's face as he looked at her. He only hoped she would come to be more understanding of this situation before she decided to punish him for this in some way. His stomach turned with mild horror with the realization that he would be stuck with Root for a while. She would gladly find some way to torment him on Shaw's behalf if she were asked.
"I'm simply asking that you consider the bigger picture of our situation, Miss Shaw." Even as he spoke, he knew that he would rue this day; this moment. "It's true, Control has her own personal security detail, but we have no idea how vast the Anarchy Council's reach is within the government. Some of the people closest to her could very well be part of the plan to kill her."
Shaw huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest, looking rather like a petulant child who had just been reprimanded. "And I'm supposed to just waltz in and make myself part of her detail? How do you think that'll go over, Finch? She knows I hold a grudge for trying to kill me…twice. Hell, the reason she ordered me killed the first time was because she didn't trust me."
Finch paused to think for a moment. He had to admit that little detail did present a bit of a problem, but it hadn't stopped them from working together once before…however briefly. "She may not trust you personally, Ms. Shaw, but she knows you. She knows what you do. She also knows that you're a dedicated soldier who won't waiver from the mission. If you're sent to keep her alive, I believe she knows you'll do that."
That explanation seemed to placate Shaw to an extent. She calmed considerably, allowing Harold to relax in return. There was still a question written on her face as she thought for a moment, and eventually, it found her lips. "Just one more question: Wouldn't it be easier just to tell Control what's going on?"
Harold smirked, "Ms. Shaw, do you know what the most common use of the most common use of wiretapping and surveillance is?"
"I'm sure I'm about to know." Shaw answered with a shake of her head.
"The PATRIOT Act was passed with the intent of stopping terrorist attacks before they happened by those same methods, but it also triggered a surge of illegal monitoring. The most common cases of illicit wiretapping involve officials in our own government spying on political opponents and other enemies."
"So, if we alert Control, it might get back to people we don't want to find out."
"Precisely, Ms. Shaw." Harold answered with finality in his tone, bringing discussion on that topic to a close. Shaw was about to leave, but she'd noticed over the course of their chat that Harold was intently keeping an eye on a woman standing near the pond.
"You looking for a date, Finch?" She joked
"It's a new number, actually. I've been keeping an eye on her since before you arrived."
Shaw turned to look at Harold, surprised that he hadn't told them about the new number. It may have been the fact that she really didn't want to go to DC, or that she worried for Harold, but she found herself offering assistance. "You sure you don't need help?"
"Thank you for your offer." Harold shook his head in that slight manner allowed by his injury. "I believe this number should prove simple enough. Detective Fusco can provide assistance if I require it."
Shaw stood reluctantly, disappointment settling in. She wasn't looking forward to her task. Before she decided to walk away, Shaw made one last offer. "Are you positive?"
"I do believe that you have somewhere else to be." The mirth shining in Harold's eyes as he looked at her only served to rekindle her ire. He was getting far too much enjoyment out of this situation for her liking. At least, that's how she saw it.
"Mr. Reese will join you as soon as he finishes work on his case."
Shaw's flight to DC had passed by uneventfully, if not a bit too quickly.
Before heading to the airport, she'd made a pit stop back at her loft to pick up a few necessities, taking the time to check Root's wounds yet again. Her hesitance to take on the task of protecting Control made it easy for the restless hacker laying in her bed to lull her into procrastination and what had started out as a quick stop had turned into at least an hour. But, as it always did, reality set in and Shaw was finally forced to disentangle herself from Root with a great deal of reluctance.
That was how she came to be standing alongside the rest of Control's security detail, staring into the woman's irritated eyes. Control was not a woman who enjoyed surprises or games and Shaw showing up with her security team was certainly a surprise.
"Agent Shaw." She greeted in that falsely pleasant tone that was her trademark. "What a surprise to see you here."
"I'm surprised to be here, Ma'am." She punctuated her words with a pointed look at the older woman.
Shaw was a bit wary of the situation. If she wasn't careful, she could guide Control to exposing her reason for being there without even realizing it. Control seemed to recognize the look and ushered the rest of her detail from the office. "I'd like to have a word with Agent Shaw, please. Alone."
Once the others had left and the door was shut behind them, Shaw set about searching the room. Control said nothing of it. She knew exactly what Shaw was looking for. "So, what really brings you here?"
"Well…I'm in the business of protection." Shaw muttered distractedly as she stooped to search under a chair. "And I thought I'd give private security a shot." She moved on to the book case behind her while Control sat behind her desk considering her words and actions. Shaw wouldn't be in a position to protect her unless it was necessary. That led to the conclusion that Harold's machine thought she was in danger…but from what? Judging by the fact that Shaw was looking for bugs, she wasn't at liberty to speak freely about it.
"And you just happened to get assigned to me?" Control smirked devilishly. This was gonna be fun.
Shaw snorted. "Yeah, lucky me." Satisfied that there were no bugs she could detect in the office, Shaw sat down across from Control. They still needed to be careful, though. The fact that she hadn't found any didn't mean they weren't there. "It's not every day you get to protect the person who tried to have you killed."
Control chuckled. It amazed Shaw how every word and every gesture, no matter how benevolent in its nature, could seem so utterly threatening coming from the woman. "You hold quite a grudge. Half of Washington probably wants me dead and I'm not bitching about it."
"I guess there's no reason to point out that, that's what I'm here for." She was referring to her gig as part of Control's security detail, but she knew the woman would pick up on the hidden meaning. There was recognition in her crocodile grin as she responded to the statement.
"You'd guess correctly."
The conversation lasted another fifteen minutes before Shaw had been dismissed, leaving to stand outside the office. Unfortunately, Control seemed to have a few ideas in store for Shaw. She had suddenly developed a busy schedule that required her security to be with her at all times since discovering that Shaw had wormed her way onto the detail. She wasn't the only one unhappy about the arrangement. A couple of the other agents on the detail had grumbled under their breath here and there, only to be silenced by a pointed glare from Control.
Shaw even found herself going alone with the woman to pick up her daughter from school at the end of the day!
Her patience was on a razor's edge, so when John's voice chimed in her ear over the comm to let her know he'd infiltrated the Pentagon, she was less than amused. It was a reminder that she'd drawn the short straw on this mission.
Control gave a wry smirk as she kept an eye on the road and an ear on Shaw's quiet conversation with someone she could only assume was Agent Reese. Finally, Shaw put a finger to her ear and shut off communications, ending the conversation.
She let out a long-suffering sigh as the sounds of Julia's video game filtered through her ears. Harold would suffer for this.
Once again, thank you all for reading! It is always very much appreciated. I hope you will review as well! Also, the beginning of this chapter was my first attempt at any sort of love scene. I know it's not graphic, but I intended for it to be conveyed with a bit more subtlety. Hope it worked out for ya'll!