Joining the PII

(Rose's POV)

I awoke to the sound of a dull, monotonous beep. My eyelids fluttered open painfully and I glanced around a little dazed. Clinical white walls, machines, a large glass window, I must have been in a hospital. My face hurt, like it was on fire. Lying in the sun all that time must have given me heatstroke. I pressed my hand to my forehead; my skin was incredibly hot and irritable. There was an IV in my left hand hooked up to liquid bags. I sat up slowly, pushing my pillow behind me so that I could sit up.

"So you're awake."

I jumped at the sound of a woman's voice and jerked my head to the right side of my bed. A young woman stood there, arms folded across her chest, a smirk on her face. I didn't even hear her come in. She had a British accent; it made her image appear quite posh. She had a childlike face, luscious blonde hair and black eyes. She seemed the complete picture of innocence but her eyes showed wisdom far beyond her years. The look she gave me made me shiver unconsciously. Suddenly I felt very naked and unprotected.

"Where…where's Emmett?" I croaked out looking around the room frantically.

The young woman walked slowly to my bedside taking a seat daintily beside my bed.

"Your partner has been up and about for a couple of hours," she informed me pleasantly and I shifted uncomfortably.

Her gaze was unnerving; it was focused on me, unnaturally. I wondered who she was; she wasn't dressed like a doctor, and she looked far too young.

"How long have I been unconscious?" I asked licking my cracked lips nervously. Why did this woman keep looking at me like she wanted to eat me?

"A day or so," the young woman held out her hand to me, "I'm Agent Jane."

"Agent Hale," I introduced myself taking her offered hand. I gasped at how cold her skin was. That could not be healthy. She didn't seem ill.

Jane sat back in the chair, "Graduated top of all your classes and worked for the FBI for the past five years," rattling off information about me, and then she raised an eyebrow as she posed a question, "You were on your first field assignment correct?"

"Yes," I replied wondering how she knew all this about me, "Who are you?"

"I am an agent like you, I'm from the PII," Jane crossed her legs casually as I frowned at her in confusion.

PII? I'd never heard of it before.

"The what?" I asked.

"Paranormal Investigation Interpol, it's a secret government agency dedicated to paranormal and supernatural investigations," Jane leant closer to me, her black eyes peering into mine, "What exactly did you see before you passed out?"

"I saw Leah Clearwater turn into a…a…" I paused before I said giant wolf. There was no way Jane would believe that I saw Leah turn into a giant wolf. She would have me locked up and throw away the key. I shook my head as an image of Leah transforming flashed before my eyes, "No it's not possible."

"Say it," Jane whispered darkly, knowingly and I stared at her. It was then that I knew that Jane somehow knew all about Leah Clearwater as well.

"All right - a giant wolf."

It sounded so unbelievable when I said it out loud. Jane smirked getting to her feet.

"What you saw was very real. Leah Clearwater is what we call a shape-shifter, she can transform into a wolf," Jane was speaking to me very slowly, like she was speaking to a child. Usually I would have been offended by the patronizing way she spoke to me but I was too shocked by what she was telling me.

"That's just not possible."

"Many things are possible, Agent Hale. You have stumbled inadvertently into a war between humans and vampires."

"Vampires don't exist," I retorted bluntly, thinking she was pulling my leg and Jane smiled widely at me. Her teeth glint under the lighting.

"I assure you Agent Hale, vampires exist," Jane purred, walking over to me so that she was standing over my bed and I stared up at her as she continued, "And some vampires want to take over the human race. You know it's true. You know what you saw and the creatures that attacked you. Please, don't lie to yourself- it's unbecoming."

Jane folded her arms across one another, "I am in charge of the team that is going to stop them and my superiors would like you to join us."

"Join you?" I asked blankly and Jane nodded pulling a piece of paper out of a briefcase I didn't notice before and placed it in front of me.

"Yes, join the PII," she repeated taking a pen out of her breast pocket as she added, "Agent McCarty was eager to join. I hope," she grinned, "you are eager to join as well."

"I want to speak to Emmett," I demanded not taking the pen and Jane placed the pen on the side of my bed then calmly walked out of the room.

I glanced down at the piece of paper before me. It was a contract.

Emmet barreled into my room and engulfed me into a hug.

"You're awake."

I pawed him off me. "Get off."

"Whoa," he looked pouty and affronted. "Did you forget our time together?"

"No." I thought over the wonderful talk as I thought I was about to die and the times he kissed me. His thick, delicious lips and the smell of his cologne still lingered on my thoughts. "I just don't want to be unprofessional."

"Okay." Emmett grinned and then sat down in the chair beside my bed. "So, isn't it great? We get to join this secret organization. I can't believe it. I just joined the FBI and now I'm being asked to join the FPI and PII. Woo – what luck!"

"Dumb luck," I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing." I took a moment to form my words. "Don't you think it's rather odd we are being approached by this clandestine group? I mean – it's not like we're top agents."

"I think it's obvious. We have first hand experience with the vampire creatures. They tried to kill us." He took my hand in his, rubbing it tenderly. "Thank goodness you're alive. I thought I'd never see you again."

Our eyes met, registering those feelings that caused us to say words that people say when they think they won't see the other again. I told him I loved him. He surely knew I was only saying that because I believed it to be my last breath. He lifted over my face, with those winsome round eyes and playful brow hovering above me. He then leaned down and kissed me, and I remembered why I told him those words.

His lips lingered on mine for a good amount of time, carefully and gently since I was still a bit injured. When he pulled away I felt the smile spread at my cheeks.

"So you really believe they were… they were," I struggled to form the word. It was just too unbelievable.

"Yeah, Rose, I believe they really were vampires. You saw how powerful they were and the way they sparkled and stuff. They were inhumanly fast - and then the giant wolf. I hear she's here. Want to meet her?"

"And she wasn't behind all those killings?"

"No. I was talking to this doctor who is studying the creatures. He said she became a wolf to fight the vampires. Can you believe that?" Emmett laughed. "There are generations of creatures like her that by some freakish reason - whether it was evolution or a creator looking out for humans - shape-shift to fight vampires. It makes sense when you consider the animal kingdom – predator/prey – at least that's what the nerdy guy and his vampire friend told me."

"Nerdy guy and vampire friend?"

He actually thought this was fun. I could hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. He wanted to join this crazy FPI or PII or whatever. I wasn't sure it would be a wise move career-wise.

A blonde-haired man who must have been in his 40s entered the room. "Hello Agent Hale." He carried a chart with him.

"Hey Dr. Cullen," Emmett said.

"You're looking much better Agent McCarty."

"Thanks Doc. How's Rose – I mean, Agent Hale doing?"

"Everything looks good. She will be released this evening and probably be able to join you for dinner. It will give you all a chance to meet the team."

"The team," I asked, "What team?"

"The one I was telling you about," Emmett reminded me, "the wolf girl, nerdy guy, vampire guy, and some little gal says she see's things - oh yeah, and a quiet gal."

"You mean Isabella Swan," Dr. Cullen helped. "At one time she was a neighbor of ours and her father runs the military sector that has shown interest in our… findings. It seems the military is taking quite an interest in vampires and shape-shifters."

Dr. Cullen's expression changed slightly. His eyes flattened and his jaw clenched slightly. To cover he looked over my chart, "anyway, it all looks good Agent Hale. How do you feel?"

"…Like I'm starting to finally feel again after being cooked in an oven."

"You'll need to take it easy. The fluids we're giving you though the IV will have you up and around in the next few hours. You were greatly dehydrated and suffering hyperthermia. Everything looks good right now though." Dr. Cullen had a kind face and a friendly smile. He placed a hand caringly on my arm, patting once, and then lifted and said, "Nice meeting you."

"Same," I said, watching him walk out of the room. I stared at the door for a moment, thinking over the doctor and Agent Jane.

I lifted the contract from the bed. "Did you sign one of these?"

"Yes. We all did on the team."

"What's our objective as a team?"

Emmett thought it over, rubbing his chin. "Agent Jane said she'd talk it over with us when we were all gathered. She said there were two other members being examined and then we're set."

"Interesting."

I felt leery, as my gaze drifted over the contract. There was a comment at the bottom stating this was inherently dangerous work with a possibility of fatal consequences. And then I was supposed to sign that I understood the danger.

Emmett still sounded like an excited child. "It will be like we're Scully and Mulder. Don't you think, Rose?"

"Who are they?"

"X Files. You never watched the X Files?"

"I don't watch much TV."

"Well we'll be like McCarty and Hale, or Hale and McCarty, or maybe Hale and Mac. OH… I got it – McHale." He burst out laughing loudly. "We can just have a joined name like Brangelina."

"You talk as if we're a couple."

Emmett leaned down beside my head on the pillow and then in a most endearing smile, again so childlike, "Hey Rose, I like the sound of couple." He kissed my cheek.

"You're incorrigible."

I turned my head to his, my own eyes rummaging across his. They were so winsome and round – a most perfect burnt umber.

"You're beautiful, Rose."

"And you're still incorrigible."

His face inched closer to mine, his breath brushing across my cheek, smelling of coffee and a mint he chewed quickly before coming into my room. He had been thinking what I'd been thinking. In and instant I attacked those large and luscious lips, lingering close to mine. Again he was gentle, remembering my injuries, and his tongue carefully slid in between my lips, swirling as he lifted over me, placing his hands at the side of my head, kissing me deeply. I lifted my hands to the back of his neck, rubbing along his nape, feeling his soft brown curls tangle within my fingers.

A throat cleared loudly behind Emmett.

He lifted from me and we both turned to see who was clearing her throat.

"I see you will both enjoy working together." It was that bothersome Agent Jane. "I only came to see if you had given my offer any further thought, Agent Hale."

"I was about to sign the paper," I said, smiling to Emmett. We were going to be part of a team, a team of people who would be fighting vampires. That was an idea I could not grasp.

"Good." Agent Jane pulled out a pen and with a nod of Emmett's head, assuring me he'd be working beside me, I signed the contract. I was now employed by the PII, working with the American branch, FPI.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later I was released from the private room. Once I left the room I found I wasn't in a hospital. I was in some facility. My suit was a mess so I changed into an outfit they provided for me. It was a pair of thin sweats with matching light jacket and a T-shirt underneath; it was cool in this facility. I had to wear canvas shoes and looked very casual, like I was about to go for a jog.

The facility had sparsely covered walls as I walked along the hall with a military man as my escort. His boots were loud along the linoleum. He was taking me to have some dinner with the rest of the team. The team – I had no idea what I would find.

Turning a corner we were soon in a small mess hall. A motley group of young people, sitting at the usual cafeteria type tables, turned when they saw me and then I saw Emmett grinning affably as always.

"Hey this is Rose – Agent Hale," he said to the group. "Come on over Rose."

Everyone said hi in their own way, as I made my way to the table to sit beside Emmett.

A little girl squirmed in the chair, smiling like she wanted to share something important, "Hi," she waved sweetly, "I'm Alice. You have a great love in store for you."

That was a bit off-putting. I only smiled politely.

"Hi, I'm Bella – Isabella Swan, its nice meeting you," the brunette said to me, holding out her hand and I shook it. She seemed well-mannered and friendly but looking worried. She didn't seem to want to be here at all and I wondered if they forced her to join because she'd seen things as Emmett and I had seen.

And then there was a handsome young man with glasses sitting off to the side next to a very pale and tall man, equally handsome with blonde hair and such white skin – pale like Agent Jane.

"Hello," the man in glasses stated, "I'm Edward Cullen and this is my friend, Jasper Whitlock."

Jasper, the ghostly one, stood instantly while I sat, showing antiquated manners, nodding and said, "Hello Ma'am, nice to make your acquaintance." He had a very delicate southern drawl.

And away from the group sitting in the corner was the Indian girl, Leah Clearwater. She had a look on her face like she had seen the end of the world and no one would believe her. She stared at me for a long moment and then looked away. She didn't say hello, rather she said, "So another Agent. Are you the one they sent to keep an eye on us and make sure we do what we're told?"

"Honestly," I said, looking to Emmett who gave me a supportive smile, "I've no idea what I'm supposed to do."

Altogether they were an odd group of people who would supposedly work with me and Emmett to stop vampires from taking over the world. In fact, that thought made me want to laugh.

I said to the girl in the corner, "I think I owe you a thank you for saving my life."

"We all do," Alice, the ebullient pixie stated, "She saved Bella, and me and even Edward from a vampire. She's a superhero."

Leah loudly sighed, skirting her eyes away and to the floor.

"Oh really," I found that amusing. "I've never met a superhero before. I thought they only existed in comics."

Leah Clearwater snapped. "You mean you don't find this – us – comical?" She then laughed sarcastically, and got up from the table, and then simply left the room.

I looked to Emmett, "She's a riot and a half."

"She might have a lot on her mind," Emmett told me.

"She found out her brother and ex-boyfriend is also here," Alice said. "It made her kind of upset."

"Where are they?"

"I don't know – but, Edward does."

I quickly thought back to the two members Agent Jane mentioned who would be joining our team.

I looked to the boy in glasses. He skirted them up on his nose. Behind the glasses were some beautiful emerald green eyes. "Carlisle and Esme are simply running tests on their physiology. Leah tends to get upset at things – we've all noticed."

They all nodded in a very subtle way.

Tests run? They could supposedly shape-shift. I'm sure the government was having a field day on these creatures. Perhaps that was the look of such duress I noticed on the wolf girl – she and her kind were here to be lab rats. What did that make us?

Emmett took my hand in his large hand. "Why don't we get something to eat? You could probably use some food."

I nodded half-heartedly looking in the direction the wolf girl had left. Somehow I felt there was more to this and the agent within me wanted to follow her. I asked Emmett, "Do they have a bathroom here?"

Alice told me, "It's just outside and to the right. Want me to show you?"

I stood, "I think I can manage, thank you."

I got up from the table and left the room immediately, and then scurried down a hallway toward where I thought I heard footsteps. I looked over the halls. There were video cameras and so they were keeping a close eye on us. I decided to walk as if I was looking for a bathroom but got lost.

"Oh where is it?" I mouthed, and then I heard talking and stopped, bending down to pull off my slip on, as if a rock had gotten inside, and listened.

"When can I see my brother?" Leah asked.

"In due time."

It was the British agent's voice.

"When you threatened my brother, I thought that was one thing, but I didn't realize you'd bring him here for your experiments."

"He isn't being hurt. He volunteered… with the other one. They were desperate to see you."

"You used that." Leah growled, "When I figure out how to get out of this, I'm going to relish tearing you apart."

"I'd love to see you try wolf."

"Don't tempt me."

The British agent laughed and then I heard her say, "Agent Hale, you can come out. We can smell you a mile away."

I walked out from behind the wall. Leah Clearwater watched me intensely.

"Have you two been introduced?" Agent Jane asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Hale – first order of business is to keep an eye on this one. She's a very volatile and hot-headed wolf. I suggest you help her go back to the mess hall and then you both get something to eat. She's not eating as she should – it might affect her work."

I didn't say anything and watched Leah Clearwater look away, listening to Agent Jane and not talking back.

I told Agent Jane, "I'm not able to do anything until I am briefed as to what my job is."

"I just told you."

"I'm… to baby-sit the wolf? I was thinking more along the lines as to what I am to do overall as a member of this vampire killing machine. I'm a federal agent and I thought I would be working more along the lines of investigation."

Leah laughed, "Vampire killing machine," she stared at Agent Jane, "if only."

Agent Jane brushed across her crisp dark suit, as if removing lint, turned and simply walked off. I stood there beside a supernatural creature that had anger issues.

I didn't know what else to say so I simply said, "I'm hungry – why don't you join me?"

She rubbed at her neck, looking like she was about to cry. "This is my fault," she said. "I had to leave and find vamps on my own and risk exposure without thinking it through. This is all my fault."

She walked off toward the mess hall leaving me to consider those words. And then it dawned on me that Agent Jane said she smelled me. Her pale face and the young man's paler face in the mess hall. Oh my goodness, we were working alongside vampires. No wonder the girl who is built to destroy vampires hates that Agent so much and vice versa.

"You're very observant."

I turned in an instant and it was the nerdy boy.

He spoke, while pulling off his glasses exposing a very perfect looking male face. If he wasn't such a nerd he'd look like a model for GQ magazine. He was simply too beautiful to be a man. "You have a lot of thoughts, Agent Hale – a lot more than your partner. Each of us has gifts on the team. I think you probably have the most worthwhile – you don't stop until you get answers." He grinned off-sided, "I'm the same way. I'm kind of famous – they call me the Pie Man."

"You read my mind?"

He nodded.

"Then you heard my thoughts when I was thinking over how incredibly attractive you are?" My voice was low and sultry, as I lowered toward him.

He nodded again, lifting one brow, his attempt at flirtation, feeling excited at my lower timbre and nearness.

"Can you read this one?" I asked.

I walked past him as his countenance fell flatly when I thought over his pathetic build and stupid name. He was no Emmett McCarty. The thing about being a hot blonde – every guy needs to try and make a move.

AN: Thats it for this chapter. Agent Jane is a bitch and I love it! Plus how sexy is Rose? :)

Review people! Even just to say...nice story...Leah rocks...Rosalie's a sexy bitch etc. If you like my stories and O.'s put us both on your update lists, I'll hopefully have a new story (Leah centric of course) updated next week! And O.N. Labbit's stories are amazing. An Unlikely Pair is complete and a great read.