AN: Here's a little one-shot I wrote about Kate going undercover based on the original promo. The title is inspired by Laveda's "Better Now." I hope you enjoy!
Kate couldn't help but stare at the teary-eyed woman in the clip she was studying from the case file on her laptop at her desk. It all hit too close to home, the grief-stricken expressions, cracking of the voice during the testimony, and anguish evident in the victim's eyes. Brenda Sattler was one of the many victims of the Eric Hanes fraud case. It could have been her. The thought played in her mind on repeat as she studied every facet of the case. She quickly wiped a tear from her cheek and cleared her throat to regain composure as she heard ASAC Curtis and the special agent in charge heading toward her office. She stood up to greet them as they entered and Curtis closed the door behind them.
"So, Whistler, what do you think?" asked FBI Special Agent in Charge Lewis.
"I think we need to retrieve Olson and get him out of there. When was the last time he checked in?" asked Kate.
"Not since yesterday. He was supposed to check in before attending the luncheon with the investors but hasn't followed up yet. Could be nothing. He knows not to make contact unless he has a secure line, but could be something," informed Lewis. Curtis handed her an invitation.
"Jerry Morris is cooperating and was able to get us an invite to the country club luncheon today. Hanes had Morris fooled as well and was using his network of wealthy friends as investors. That's our in," informed Curtis. She frowned in confusion as she read over the invitation.
"I thought this was a retrieval mission. Why not just send in a team?" questioned Kate.
"Because that would blow months of work and make it next to impossible to put Hanes behind bars. We need evidence. Olson mentioned possible money laundering and wire fraud. If so, then stolen valor won't be the only thing he goes down for and we can put him away for a very long time, but not if we go in guns blazing," said Lewis.
"The country club will try to protect its clients and stall. If we run in head first, they'll give us the runaround long enough for their patrons to get a heads up and whatever evidence that Hanes may have could be lost," explained Curtis.
"Olson says Hanes keeps files on a laptop and a digital ledger he can access from his phone. If we charge in, he'll probably have time to make some moves before we apprehend him," added Lewis.
"So this isn't just about Olson? If he hasn't checked in, that means he's probably in danger," she reminded. Curtis nodded in agreement.
"Which is why we are running out of time and asked for your help. Hanes has stolen from investors all over the world and moves fast. We need to put an end to this while he is still in Hawai'i," said Curtis.
"He won't stay put long, especially so close to a base. His investors are unknowingly supporting his lavish lifestyle and he'll need more soon. Now that Morris knows what he really is, his funds will dry up. We need to apprehend Hanes now, but also make it stick so he can't target others like he has done in the past," said Lewis. Kate nodded her understanding.
"But discretely and if we go in guns blazing, we run the risk of putting everyone in attendance in danger. I'll help in any way I can."
"Then we'll get you set up with the team already in place. You fit the description that Morris gave Hanes. We told him to keep it vague, but he panicked and told Hanes he had a tall blonde for him to meet. We need someone we can trust and who can think quick on their feet. Hanes is very good at selling the con, so we need someone who can go in, give us access to evidence, find Olson, and get out before the event ends. With any luck, Hanes is apprehended by the end of the day," said Lewis.
"Agreed, just let me make a call, and then I'll be ready to head out for the briefing, sir," she informed. Lewis gave a nod before leaving, but Curtis lingered behind in the hallway while Kate called her girlfriend. She wasn't surprised when it went straight to voicemail. Lucy and the rest of the NCIS Pearl team were closing in on a suspect. If her phone was off, it was because she couldn't risk it being heard. Kate sighed and decided to leave a message.
"Hey Luce, I know you're busy. I just needed to talk real quick. I'm getting called in for an op. I should be home by dinner, but I just wanted you to know. It's last-minute, but it's an important one and I couldn't turn it down. I know you'll probably be pissed you couldn't see me off before or run through the details with me, but I'll be sure to tell you all about it when I get home. I love you so much. I promise we'll take that vacation we both need soon. Bye." A twinge surged through her heart as she hung up. She hated not being able to talk to Lucy before going undercover, something they both always wanted to do before going out in the field on high-risk cases. Before she could think much about it, she heard her boss's voice behind her.
"NCIS team seems busy today. I called Tennant earlier, but she couldn't talk long," said Curtis as he walked back in.
"They're tracking down a killer. It's been a busy month."
"Well, that makes our fraud case seem easy enough," he said with a shrug. She frowned at the comment and shook her head.
"Sir, Hanes is a con artist that preys on people's worst moments and pain. He may not have killed yet…at least that we know of…but he needs to be taken off the streets before he can strike again."
"I know. Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood," he admitted with a sheepish smile. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm just…that file has a lot of testimonies from a lot of his victims and it gets to me a bit," she confessed.
"This one hits pretty close to home for you, right? You sure you'll be okay?"
"People who prey on people like this, who target the families of fallen soldiers, are some of the worst of the worst. I'm happy to step up and make sure he goes down for that."
"It's not really my place to say, but just be careful out there. Lewis is blinded by his own mistakes on this one and desperate. I get why it has to happen and retrieving Olson is of the utmost importance to me, but Lewis is also badly in need of a win on this case. If it comes down to it, grab Olson and get out, case be damned. We'll get this guy another time." She nodded her understanding and grabbed her things before heading for the door.
"Don't worry. Besides, if it gets intense, I'm sure you'll call the cavalry," she said with a wink before leaving her desk.
"Yours or mine," he called after her. She smiled over her shoulder and he chuckled for a moment, but then sighed as he thought about the position his superiors were putting her in. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, suddenly feeling like his phone was burning a hole in his pocket. He had his orders, but they conflicted with what felt right.
Lucy was speaking with Honolulu PD about their next moves as their suspect was taken into custody and put in the back of one of the squad cars. Kai chased the man down without too much of a struggle and they were currently searching the house for more evidence. She was surprised when her boss jogged over to her with a look that made Lucy gulp. Jane Tennant tended to be cool as a cucumber and rarely panicked, but she seemed nervous.
"Have you talked to Whistler today?" asked Jane. Lucy was by her boss's side and following her to their squad car in an instant.
"No, we've both been busy. Why?"
"I just got a call from Curtis. She's undercover and he's worried about the situation. It's a retrieval mission for Special Agent Olson and to find evidence, but no one has heard from her yet. Check your phone. I know you had it off earlier," said Jane. Lucy was already ahead of her and waiting impatiently for her phone to turn on. When it did, her heart dropped at the message she noticed from Kate. She immediately clicked on it and was pacing as she listened. Jane collected the rest of her team. Jesse and Kai were by Lucy's side soon after and she knew her concern was written all over her face.
"Don't worry, Luce, Kate is smart and probably just keeping a low profile," assured Kai as Jesse nodded in agreement.
"She didn't even tell me she was working on a damn case like this. What the hell happened?" asked Lucy as she got into the car with Jesse, Kai, and Tennant.
"Curtis said the special agent in charge requested her on the case. It was a quick turnaround because Olson could be in danger. We're meeting Curtis and his team at a rendezvous point to discuss our options," informed Jane as she started up the car.
"They sent her in undercover to retrieve Olson that quickly? That's insane," shouted Lucy as she thought about all the things she planned to say to FBI SAC Lewis the next time they saw him at an agency picnic.
"Trust me, Curtis isn't happy about it either. Ernie is already looking more into the case and we'll be briefed soon," added Tennant as she headed out toward the location. Lucy gritted her teeth and tried to focus on the task at hand instead of planning the demise of Lewis. For now, the focus was on getting to her girlfriend as soon as possible and nothing else mattered but that.
Kate winced as she pressed another towel to Olson's bloodied thigh. The stab wound he received from Hanes while trying to escape him and his team left him hobbled and losing blood quickly. She found him hiding in a back corridor of the country club, but had to blow her cover to get to him and the files on Hanes's phone. She was trying to keep him alert and talking.
"I always knew you would get me into trouble, Olson. Ever since that first day at headquarters," she whispered teasingly. He smiled weakly.
"Yeah, yeah, says the one who took on Medina with no backup. That took a lot of guts."
"Something like that. How did you let him get the jump on you anyways? I've seen you fight and Hanes doesn't seem very formidable."
"He sucker punched me while one of his guards had me occupied. Coward," he grumbled and winced as he shifted to sit up.
"Hey, don't move too much. Besides, we already knew he was a coward. Only a coward would impersonate a soldier like that."
"You know, the moment I found out about the case, I knew you'd end up on it. I knew the moment you found out, you'd want in. Too bad they didn't give it to you sooner. Maybe I wouldn't be bleeding out on the floor of a country club."
"You aren't bleeding out. You're going to be fine. The team knows we're here and I haven't checked in. They'll send help soon. We just have to wait this out." Suddenly, footsteps on the floor above them made them fall silent. She glanced down at the wounded special agent and knew what needed to be done. Olson couldn't fight off anyone. He could barely stay awake. It was going to be up to her to get them out of the mess they were in.
Lucy sighed in relief when they entered the tent at the rendezvous point. Curtis was in a heated debate on the phone, but quickly ended the call when they approached him.
"Tennant, looks like I may have called you for nothing. Lewis won't give the order to move in yet. He wants to give them another half hour, but who knows what could happen in that amount of time," said Curtis.
"Are you kidding me?" shouted Lucy, but Jane simply smirked as she crossed her arms.
"Then it's a good thing we don't answer to Lewis. We got a distress call and we're checking it out," said Jane. Curtis sighed and shook his head.
"I can't let you interfere with the case. Lewis has been clear…"
"I've already been in contact with my director. Our liaison is in danger and she's an integral part of our team. We already got the green light from the brass. Apparently, they don't like how Lewis is handling this one. We're just here as a courtesy to let you know before we head in and gather any information pertinent to the case. We both know that's why you really called me. Whistler and Olson are in danger. What else can you tell us?" asked Jane. Lucy sighed in relief as Jesse handed her a bulletproof vest and put his on as well. Curtis slowly nodded.
"Okay, well Lewis may have thought it was simply a fraud case or about stolen valor, but I always believed Eric Hanes was far more dangerous than some white-collar criminal. I had a profiler from the BAU look into it and they agree. He's been escalating things for months. He fits the profile of a dangerous individual with a narcissistic personality disorder. He's currently using a fraudulent military discharge certificate to make people believe he's some successful war hero, but it goes deeper than that. He needs to believe that he is a war hero. It's his persona. He's assured others that he's served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and been awarded every medal under the sun. It's how he got Morris, an oil tycoon, to believe him. He's charming, charismatic, and preys on the families of fallen soldiers because they want to believe him. The bigger problem is he wants to believe it too and will stop at nothing to make the lie a reality. Olson and Whistler now stand in the way of him being able to believe that," explained Curtis.
"So then, we're treating this as a hostage situation. Can you get your team in position to move in, if necessary?" asked Jane and he nodded.
"Of course, just let me speak with my superiors and we'll be in position," said Curtis. Jane nodded.
"Alright, then let's move out," said Jane as she popped the trunk of her car to grab her gear. Curtis followed her.
"Just be careful with this one. Hanes needs to feel like he's in control of everything, like he knows all and is the only one who can do all. The problem is he fits the profile of someone with delusions of grandeur, so this could get messy. I think that's why Lewis held back as well. We need to think about the people inside that country club. Hanes has built a very fragile persona of influence, status, and power to protect his very fragile ego. He needs to believe he holds all the power, that he carries far more worth than the collective he has established around him, and if Whistler and Olson have challenged that power or fractured his already fragile ego, he won't hesitate to turn violent. We need to get everyone out of there now," added Curtis. Jane nodded her understanding.
"Okay, Jesse as soon as we arrive, start evacuating the guests. Lucy and Kai, you'll be with me for retrieval. It's a simple goal, find Whistler and Olson, apprehend Hanes, and keep everyone safe," instructed Tennant. Lucy sighed in relief as she got into the car, knowing they were finally taking over the case and getting Kate out.
Kate managed to lure Hanes and his security away from Olson's hiding place, but could feel them zeroing in on her new one. Hanes had two other men with him while the others kept their eyes on the guests in the dining hall. She wanted to hold them off a bit longer to keep the other attendees from panicking, but knew Olson was running out of time. He needed medical attention. She peeked back around the corner and saw one of Hanes' men heading her way. As soon as he rounded the corner, she grabbed his wrists and pushed his gun away from her. A shot from the gun echoed through the corridor as the man tried to shoot at her. She rammed his wrists into the nearest metal pipes, causing him to drop the gun. They struggled as they both tried to reach for it, but she got the upper hand by kneeing him in the stomach. She grabbed the back of his head and rammed it into the pipe next. Once he was unconscious, she grabbed the gun just in time for the other guard to round the corner. She fired and hit center mass, causing the man to crumble to the ground. Suddenly, she was tackled from the side and fell to the floor with Hanes rolling on top of her. They struggled for dominance over the gun as he tried to push the barrel toward her. His eyes were maniacal and wild as he seethed with rage.
"I won't let you ruin this for me," he practically growled. As she lay there grappling for the gun currently inching closer to her face, something snapped inside of her. It had been building since she heard about the case and how Hanes was preying on his victims. It began to boil as she watched the video of the sister of the fallen soldier weeping about how Hanes told her the money would go to wounded veterans. The video was seared into her brain, thinking about how it could have been her, how Noah could have been used against her. She jerked her head forward and it collided with Hanes' nose. He yelled out in pain and fell back. Her fist collided with his face before he could even hit the ground and then another. And another. And another. She wasn't sure how many times she hit the man responsible for bringing pain to families like hers. All she could think about was the families that hadn't come forward, the ones too embarrassed of being taken advantage of, and the soldiers' sacrifices that were used to plot and exploit millions of dollars for a life of luxury. Then, she thought of Noah and the pain she still felt from losing him, the grief that never fully went away, and the dull ache on special occasions. People like Hanes didn't think about the real names and humans they were impersonating and she hated him for that.
Suddenly, two arms were pulling her back and away from the man. It took her a moment to register the familiar warmth of her girlfriend's arms around her and her soothing voice in her ear. Kate was shaking and gripped onto Lucy as her girlfriend held her close.
"He's down. It's okay. I'm here. It's okay," Lucy whispered to her. Jane and Kai arrested the bloodied man as Lucy cupped her girlfriend's face.
"You're safe now," assured Lucy. Kate blinked several times before shaking her head.
"Olson, he's…"
"Jesse is with him. You're safe now, Kate. I promise," soothed Lucy. Kate sighed in relief and allowed her girlfriend to hold her together as she hugged her tightly. Kai and Jane glanced at each other and sighed in relief as well, knowing Kate had been through an ordeal that was finally over.
The next couple of hours were a blur for Kate. It happened in brief statements, all-clears from the EMTs, and assurances to her boss and friends that she would be fine. She was quiet the whole way home and appreciated that Lucy didn't push for answers or try to start small talk. She needed the silence to clear her head and process what happened. She prided herself on being in control and composed, and yet in that moment, she wasn't. It was no secret her brother's death still hung over her at times, but the grief had subsided for the most part and her life had been better. She found people to love her through the tough days, like his birthday and anniversary. She found a chosen family to embrace and a woman who loved her. They helped her focus on good memories and the love she needed in her life. However, some cases were harder than others and stolen valor would never sit right with her. When she first met Jane, she told her she hated spies. It was one of the things they immediately had in common, but she hated stolen valor crimes even more. It felt like a slap in the face to her brother, all those who served, and their families, and she took out that slap in the face on Hanes. By the time they made it home and she was in the shower, Kate was emotionally and physically drained. She started her day simple enough and never planned on being undercover. And yet, it had become one of the harder days on the job.
She turned off the shower, dried off, and put on her robe before heading out into the living room where Lucy was waiting for her with a tray of her favorite soup. Kate smiled appreciatively at her girlfriend as she sat down on the couch beside her.
"I figured it was a soup kind of night but I can get you whatever you want…"
"Luce…"
"Grilled cheese, a burger…"
"Lucy…"
"We could fly to France for a fresh croissant, take that vacation we've been talking about." Kate giggled and felt a bit lighter as her girlfriend smiled lovingly at her.
"Thank you. All I need is you, though. That's all I'll ever need."
"And you'll always have me." Kate looked down as her guilt crept in.
"Even after almost beating a guy to death?" Lucy sighed and laced their fingers together.
"Hey, don't do that. He was trying to kill you and Olson. He wouldn't have hesitated and almost…he almost…Kate, look at me." Kate looked back up with tears in her eyes and Lucy cupped her cheeks. Kate was surprised to see tears in Lucy's eyes as well.
"Never be sorry that you fought like hell to stay alive and come home to me."
"I'm not sorry about that. It's just…I just thought about Noah and all the families who had been taken advantage of by Hanes. It could've been me, Luce. I know that feeling. I've had it, that desperation. There was a time when I would've done anything to feel closer to Noah, to make his death make sense, and to invest in any cause without even thinking twice about who was really behind it. Stolen valor isn't just about fraud. It's an attempt at tainting very real sacrifices and people. I just saw red. I don't know what happened."
"Okay, um, I'm going to confess something to you. You and I've never really talked much about it, but when I chased down Andrea Medina, I saw red too. I know I was justified in shooting her. She almost killed me, but when I was hitting her, all I could think about was how she almost killed you and I wanted to stop her from ever getting a chance to hurt you again. I can't imagine how it felt with Hanes, especially with him doing something so despicable, but I do get seeing red."
"You do?"
"Of course I do, come here," said Lucy before pressing a sweet kiss to her girlfriend's forehead.
"I love you so much, Luce."
"I love you too. Thank you for coming home to me." Kate smiled adoringly at the words and wiped a tear from Lucy's cheek.
"I'll always come home to you," vowed Kate before tenderly kissing her. Lucy pulled her closer. She never wanted to feel again how she felt when she heard Kate was in trouble, but all that mattered was that her girlfriend was safe in her arms where she belonged.
AN: And there you have it, just a quick one-shot as I think about what's to come in Season 2. I can't wait to learn more about Lucy and Kate's backstories because they have so much that could be touched on as a couple and as individuals. Until next time, thanks for reading.