"That had to be one of the dumbest things you've ever done," Shaw said as she helped Root up, bits of dead guy sloshing off of her suit. "And you've done a lot of dumb things."
Feeling disgusting again, Root wiped her face cleaner before replying. "Perhaps. But you came charging in to rescue me." Having narrowly avoided certain death once more, she was practically giddy and in the mood for teasing. "Were you worried for my safety, Sameen?"
Shaw was not about to admit this but also wasn't going to back down. "You wish, you psycho." Roots idiotic smile widened in an idiotically annoying way. Shaw scowled, deflecting further, "Well, what are we standing around for? Let's get the hell out of this death trap."
Root was tickled by just how much Shaw pretended not to care.
I feel the same way, honey.
Finally they all made it to the elevator. Before pressing the call button Root said, "Is the coast clear?"
"Negative. Assailants mobilizing on every available level. Assets will be eliminated upon departure from elevator."
"Bad news, huh?" said Lionel, vocalizing Shaw's own interpretation of Root's sour expression.
Root ignored this useless comment. "Suggestions?"
"Gain administrative privileges to rooftop. Utilize helicopter to evacuate successfully."
"Okay," she said slowly, "and how do I do that from here? This isn't exactly command central."
The response was cryptic and something she had never heard before from Her. "Reacquiring asset number one."
There was a short delay and then Harold's anxiety ridden voice came over the line. "Ms. Groves? I hear you are in need of assistance."
"I'm so glad I didn't kill you," she replied, genuinely meaning it, and not just because he was their only ticket out of there.
"Is that the professor?" butted in Lionel, with yet another pointless comment.
God, she would hate to be stuck around him all day. No wonder Shaw couldn't stand him.
"And I as well, Ms. Groves." The sound of something heavy scrapping across the floor. Root assumed he had barricaded himself somewhere safe while she had wreaked havoc. "The Machine will guide me to a secure control terminal. I should be able to bypass enough protocols to gain rooftop access."
"Let's hope so."
She looked to Shaw who shared her unwavering gaze.
Or else we're screwed.
Shortly after she filled them in on their escape route.
"Sounds good to me," said Lionel, with a smile. "I've been shot at enough for one night." He hooked a thumb towards John. "Pretty sure he'd agree with me too." He gave a pointed look at Shaw but she was too busy giving a mournful look to the Desert Eagle to see.
About a minute later, "All right. I'm here." A swivel chair wheeled briefly and then came the clattering of a keyboard. As Harold worked his magic, she watched as Shaw admired and played with the Eagle.
Stifling a laugh, She acts the same way with Bear.
Apparently Shaw liked anything with a bit of a bang to it. Root grinned at the idea. She could definitely provide more than a little bang for Sam. If only she'd let her near enough to find out...
Root's increasingly scattered thoughts were interrupted by the smelly detective getting in her personal space.
"You okay there, Root?" he said, waving a hand in front of her eyes. "Not going all Carrie on us again, are you?"
Shaw was still too distracted by the Eagle to show any concern by such questions. Not that she would have even if she had heard.
"Fine," she said icily, as a somewhat erotic image of a raven haired beauty evaporated from her minds eye, "I'm fine."
"Geez, I just asked a question. No need to go all Elsa on me."
"Enough with the pop culture references!" she snapped. "Nobody even likes that Lion King rip off anymore!"
This time Shaw glanced over to give her a questioning look but Root just ignored it. After a bit of an awkward silence, "There," said Harold. "I believe that should do it."
"Thank you, Harry."
"I would advise swift action, Ms. Groves. It is uncertain how long Samaritan will allow my override commands."
Team Machine hurried into the spacious elevator, wheeling the still unconscious, but stabilized Reese in with them. Shaw was about to touch the topmost button when Lionel stopped her. Root was just about ready to shoot him at this point.
"What about Finch?" said Lionel. "How's he supposed to join us if all the elevator entrances are suicidal?"
For once he hadn't asked a stupid or pointless question. Root repeated this query to Her, embarrassed she hadn't thought to ask it earlier herself.
"Asset number one cannot join Root."
She told the others this. To her (and Lionel's) surprise it was Shaw who became the most indignant. However, their confusion was short lived.
"No one's getting left behind," she said stonily. "Not this time."
"You're right of course," said Root after a somber silence in which she tried to catch her eye but failed. "What floor is he on?"
"Asset number one cannot join Root."
"Is it the same floor we entered on?"
"Asset number one cannot join Root."
"Look," she said petulantly, having her first fight with Her, "we're going after Harold whether you like it or not! So, if you want me to survive, figure a way for us to reach him without getting mowed down!"
"If I may interject..." said Harold, clearing his throat. "The Machine is quite right. I cannot join you on the rooftop."
"We're not leaving-"
"I can however leave the same way we came in, Ms. Groves. I believe the Prius will still be parked where we left it."
Damn you, Lionel, she thought aggravated to no end, giving him a death glare, making me look stupid and childish to Her.
"Now," he continued, "I strongly suggest you make your way up. Samaritan will undoubtedly be initiating countermeasures to my tampering any moment now. Once it does, I will surely be locked out and of no further assistance to you."
Root nodded to Shaw who finally pressed the topmost button. They all held their breaths as they smoothly ascended to the rooftop. Three quarters of the way up the elevator jerked several times and they feared they would be unceremoniously blasted through the doors. Thankfully it appeared to just be a minor glitch as after a few seconds of indecision it continued to rise the rest of the way.
Though the first rays of the morning sun were coming out to greet them, a couple of stars could still be seen in the sky. Well, the same few that were ever present. The light pollution didn't exactly make star gazing a feasible option in New York City.
There were no cameras up here so She was effectively useless to them. Root and Shaw did a quick sweep of the place, coming across no one and nodding to Lionel to bring Reese over to the only available helicopter. Clearly there was space for another. Root had no doubt that Greer had evacuated himself hours ago to remotely direct his people from a safe distance from her.
While Shaw and Lionel loaded up and secured their injured comrade, Root got to starting the engine, only knowing what buttons to press because She was guiding her nimble fingers. Shaw hopped in beside her, putting on the headset so they could talk easily over the increasingly loud roar of the propellers.
"You know what you're doing?" she asked Root.
"I think so."
Shaw cocked an eyebrow. "Really encouraging, Root. I feel so safe in your capable hands." Root smirked at that and opened her mouth. Shaw realizing her error, glared at her. "Don't."
She chattered in her ear.
"Multiple assailants approaching."
"Time to go," she said, grabbing hold of the stick. Root pulled back slightly and they began to rise slowly...a little too slowly. They had yet to fully leave the premises when the rooftop access door burst open and at least ten agents poured through, all gunning for them.
Thankfully they were far enough away that they weren't immediately massacred. However, several bullets did make contact with the craft and one nearly smashed through the windscreen, right at her skull level. Shaw seeing this, pushed the passenger door open, and took careful aim with the Desert Eagle. She downed two agents in as many seconds. If it weren't for her body armour, she would have taken another few bullets to the arm.
Fearing more for Shaw's safety than anyone elses, she yelled, "Hold on, Sam!" and swerved the helicopter to the left and away from the rain of bullets. Shaw didn't hold on soon enough and was flung sideways, headlong into her lap.
The craft was beginning to spin out of control, but all she could think about was Shaw's hand on her upper thigh and their lips almost touching. Even after Shaw had quickly removed her person from Root, Root didn't right their course and they continued to careen.
"What are you doing, Root!? Fly this damn thing or I will!"
Finally after several prompts from Her, she snapped out of her trance and took charge again, regaining control and dropping low out of sight of their assailants.
"What the hell guys?!" yelled Lionel from the backseat. Root was pleased to note how queasy he sounded. "I think I'm gonna hurl!"
"Just avoid my face, Lionel," came a barely audible voice.
"Hey, partner! Glad to see you among the living!"
That reminded Root of someone else. "How's it going, Harry?"
"Very well, Ms. Groves. I'm approaching the car as we speak. I take it all is well on your end?"
She looked towards Shaw who was too busy admiring the view from up here to notice that she was also being admired. Root smiled to herself. "Never better."
Okay, well, that's it for me. Thanks for sticking with this thing all the way through! I guess that means you guys enjoyed it! :)
Here's hoping that Shaw will be back on the show someday. I didn't realize how much I'd miss her until she was gone. Ain't that always the truth of it though?