All The Right Moves

Chapter Five: Proximity

Hi! I hope you all had a safe and blessed Christmas? I know I said I wouldn't be back until the New Year, but I just couldn't resist!

The titles have been revealed for the next four episodes: "Free"; "Coup de Grace"; "The Next Seduction" and "Alexandra". Pretty self-explanatory I think, can't wait for those :-D.


The slim redhead stumbled as she exited the elevator. Her short emerald green dress had hitched up slightly on one side, revealing a rip in her tights that ran the entire length of her leg. She swung a pair of jet black heels from her hand and looked around the hall. She couldn't remember the ride up to her room taking so long last time, although the amount she had just drunk in the hotel bar probably had a little something to do with that. As the doors shut behind her, she noticed a tall, heavily-set man walking towards her. Dressed head-to-toe in black, he was definitely the kind of person you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley.

"Excuse me, you cannot be here. This floor is private" he spoke with a light accent, enunciating the words well. The woman looked up at him through long black eyelashes.

"Ooh, private?" she slurred, her thick Texan accent prominent. "Like a private party? 'Cause I sure do feel like dancin'!"

The man in black grimaced as she attempted something that resembled a cross between body-popping and embarrassing 'grandpa dancing'. This woman was clearly hammered - both the terrible dancing and the sweet but overpowering smell of tequila gave her away. He took a hold of her arm before she hit herself in the face with her shoes, and she stopped 'dancing', rocking slightly as she tried to regain her balance.

"It is a little early to be drinking, don't you think? You should return to your room. Which number are you staying in?"

"Early schmearly. Ummmmm, two hundred and somethin'. Or is it three hundred? You know what? I have noooo idea!" As if this was the funniest thing in the world, she began to giggle, somewhat uncontrollably.

The man's gentlemanly instincts had kicked in and he wished to see this vulnerable young woman safe, but he had a job to do. Just as he moved to open the elevator doors to send her down to the lobby, the door to his left opened. His colleague stepped out into the hall, reporting that everything was ok inside the suites, before noticing the swaying woman in front of him.

"Who is that?" he asked. His partner turned to him and spoke in a low voice.

"She's a lost guest. She has had a lot to drink and somehow ended up here. Now that you're back, I will take her to the lobby and get her out of the way. Keep the area secure, I will not be long." His colleague nodded his approval, and so he turned to the woman, who had come to rest on the wall behind her.

"I will take you to the front desk, someone will help you find your room there." He pushed the elevator call button, and gestured for her to enter. The doors closed in front of them, and the woman spoke again, only this time without the southern charm. This time, she was well-spoken and stood a lot straighter, as if she had suddenly sobered up.

"However will I repay your kindness?" was the last thing he heard before the darkness took over.


"One down."

Alex's people-watching was interrupted by Elena's voice coming through her earpiece. She had been waiting for her "boyfriend" to finish his "business meeting" on the third floor for about fifteen minutes now. She sat on a large blue leather armchair, watching guests begin their Friday evening. It was 6pm, the end of the working day and the start of the weekend.

"Make that two." Michael's voice followed a few minutes later. He had taken out the second top-floor security guard as Elena took advantage of the other's moral sense.

'Maikatan' - the name Elena had given to the operation - was now underway. It was a word she had picked up during her time in the Middle East, meaning 'phantom' and that was exactly how Division's Delta and Sierra strike teams intended to run it. Do the job then vanish, with barely a whisper. Just like a phantom, an illusion.

Alex leaned over in what was quite possibly the world's comfiest chair to retrieve something from her purse. As she moved, she spoke quietly.

"Location confirmed. Suite twelve-fourteen."

Upstairs, Michael quickly located the corresponding door, opening it with the master key card kindly given to him by a willing, albeit unconscious, janitor. He slipped inside and softly shut the door behind him. He moved like smoke as he crossed the lavishly decorated lounge and entered the bedroom. He could hear the shower running in the ensuite bathroom next door. Perfect. He pushed the bathroom door open, fired two silenced bullets at the showering man's head, then retreated from the room and the suite. Back out in the hall, he stripped off his leather gloves and placed them along with the weapon in the black suitcase he had hidden behind a tall plant. Pulling off his jacket and placing it over one arm, he walked calmly to the elevator doors and pushed the call button.

As the elevator opened on the ground floor, he quickly scanned the busy lobby and found who he was looking for. Alex stood to meet him as he strode over to her, the top two buttons of his shirt now undone and his tie missing. He looked the part - an overworked businessman at the end of a rough week. He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, capturing her lips with his.

"Hi beautiful" he murmured, as his lips grazed her neck.

"Hi yourself" she replied, trying hard not to moan outloud when he hit a particularly sensitive spot just below her left ear. "How was the meeting?"

Michael pulled away and grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together. "Boring, as always. But I don't wanna talk about work." His voice was raspy, and Alex found herself having a little trouble focusing. "I want to go home and enjoy the weekend with my favorite girl." His bright hazel eyes bore into hers and she very nearly forgot where she was. He looked so handsome, with his smoldering stare and chiselled jawline.

Unlocking their hands, she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him again. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and just as he deepened the kiss, she pulled back, letting go of him and walking towards the revolving doors.

"Don't start something you can't finish" she threw over her shoulder, cutting across to the exit. Alex took a minute to study his face, loving the fact she had just left him breathless, staring after her in the middle of a hotel lobby. He looked almost...flustered. He quickly grabbed his suitcase and sprinted after his "girlfriend". Despite this all being a part of their cover to seem like they had a legitimate reason to be at the hotel, Michael had a feeling he would be needing a very cold shower that night.

Just out of sight of the crowded hotel parking lot, they crossed to a small black van and climbed into the back, careful to shut the doors quietly. Elena sat clutching a Starbucks cup, her ripped tights now gone and a jacket over her dress. Her part had been over long ago, so she had bantered back and forth with Birkhoff and Thom while they waited for Alex and Michael.

"Nice work, very convincing. Think nerd got a kick out of that little show you two just put on." She bounced her knees up and down as she spoke, feeling the crisp cold night on her now bare legs.

"Just got off the phone with Percy." Birkhoff chose to ignore Elena's comment as he updated Michael and Alex. "He's pleased. The debriefing's at 0900 hours tomorrow, suggested we all get some sleep first. Our people have all "clocked off" for the night." As with every Op, Division had placed Agents on the inside, posing as waiters, bartenders, maids and handymen. They had timed it well, completing the mission just as the night staff took over, allowing the rest of their undercovers to leave without raising suspicions.

"He also told me to thank you for a clean Op. Means he's not needed tonight," he gestured to the windscreen, indicating the occupant of a sleek silver Mercedes SLK parked ahead. As soon as Birkhoff nodded in its direction, the SLK roared to life and zipped past, giving Alex a glimpse of the driver.

Robbie.


"Get it right, Michael," Elena demanded as she popped open another Corona. She sat at Thom's kitchen table, surrounded by the night's core team minus Birkhoff, who had gone back to Division to return the surveillance equipment. They had agreed on a few beers before calling it a night.

"Fine," Michael relented. "The world's best sniper, not just Division's."

"Much better," she smiled smugly, leaning back into the chair.

"Wait," Thom interjected. "You're the world's best sniper? Is there a record or something?"

"Sure is, set by yours truly." She lowered her head as if to tell a scary story to a group of children on Halloween. "A kill shot made at 2700 yards with a crosswind of 6 miles per hour. November 4 2009, Musa Qala Afghanistan. 'Course, that British guy's the official record holder because, well, I don't exist. I blew him way out of the water, but I can't exactly call up CNN and be like 'yo, I just set a world record, put me on TV.' So, the Brit gets the glory," she stated, with a look of slight distain.

"Nice, huh Alex?" Thom watched her as she shredded the label she'd removed from her bottle, which stood untouched. She didn't seem to be listening at all, just staring down at the pile of paper on the table. "Alex?" he tried again, his voice a little louder this time. It worked, and she snapped her head up to look at him.

"I'm sorry, what?" she asked, feeling a little guilty for not paying attention to the group.

"Never mind, you okay?" Thom dipped his head slightly to look at her, as her eyes dropped to the table once more.

"Er yeah, just a little tired."

"I'm with you there girl," Elena replied, standing up an draining the last of her Corona. "I don't think I can handle my drink like I used to. I've have three and I'm ready to hit the sack. I'm so rock 'n' roll," she added sarcastically.

"I'll drive you both home, save Thom from having to come out," Michael offered. "Just give me a second and I'll be right back." He disappeared from sight, heading toward the bathroom.

Elena started to clear up the empty beer bottles, taking them to the sink and Thom seized the opportunity to talk to Alex. She'd barely said a word since they left the hotel and he was worried. Guiding her gently into the lounge, he rested his hand on the base of her back as they stood admiring the night view of the city from his balcony doors. She seemed tense, so he began stroking his thumb up and down her back in what he hoped was a calming manner. He smiled when she shivered at his touch, but noticed she didn't pull away, so he continued. She sighed, aware of what Thom wanted.

"I thought he'd been canceled."

"So did I, until Percy mentioned he had assigned Robbie to us for tonight. It makes sense if you think about it - he never questioned Division and doesn't have a lot of remorse in him."

Alex simply nodded in response, she had witnessed his lack of remorse herself.

"I just...thought I'd lost a friend then boom, there he is. It's er, it's good to see him again."

He didn't get a chance to reply, as Michael entered the room, Elena behind him. Both Alex and Thom turned slightly to face them, but his hand stayed put on her back. They had somehow gravitated towards each other and now stood hip-to-hip.

"Ready Alex?" Michael asked, his voice unusually cold. His eyes seemed different. Was he glaring at Thom? His tone and stance made her wonder what had gotten into him, and it was only when Elena shot a knowing glance between the two of them that she realized just how close they were. It seemed that Michael was very close to losing his legendary control and it annoyed Alex that it angered him so much. Weren't friends allowed to talk anymore? Knowing it would only add fuel to the fire, she gave Thom a tight hug and kiss on the cheek which he returned.

"Thanks, Thom" He nodded in return, and watched her hurry out the front door, pushing past a still-glaring Michael. Elena amusedly raised an eyebrow, bowed slightly to him and left.


I know it's kinda short, but I wanted a little Malex prelude before the next chapter :-).

Harri x