A/N - Sorry for the major delay. Uni has been beyond stressful amongst other things.

"Stroma?" The detective received no answer from those in the office as he walked past the numerous desks towards Stoma's.

"Anyone seen him?" He asked again. Those close by only shook their heads and shrugged.

Reaching Detective Stroma's desk the mans desk was empty apart from the mess of files littered across the old wood.

Letting out a deflated sigh he tried ringing Stoma's mobile again. To his surprise, on the second ring, someone picked up.

"Stroma."

"Stroma? Bout' god damn time, where are you?"

"Checking out a possible lead. Not solid yet. Why?"

"Why are you whispering?"

"Why are you calling?"

"Stroma we've been given orders to stand down on the case."

"Uh what? You want to tell me why?"

"The case is being alleviated."

"Oh that's bullshit. Something isn't right with all of this and you know it."

"I know that this is a high priority case. Especially due to the person being a god damn international singer or whatever. The FBI are taking lead now."

Stroma audibly huffed over the line.

"Drop it Stroma. We have more to deal with. There has been an influx sighting of Triad in the area, were you aware?"

"I was actually. I'm going to follow that up now and talk to you later."

"Stro-"

Stroma hung up and peered over his cover to survey the area being cleaned up by firefighters and suited men and women, looking to be apart of the FBI. Though Stroma found it off putting that the agents were yet to follow the evidence of tire tracks that led away from the area.

Stroma stealthily made his way back to his car and started it up, following the tracks carefully.

Checking the perimeter twice they parked the car into the garage and upon going upstairs were met with the extraction team.

Amy was carrying Jessica, but the woman insisted she was fine to walk and had let her down. She was a little woozy, her mind trying to recollect what it was that had happened. Immediately she had asked where Chloe was and this made Stacie more agitated.

Jessica noted how professional the men in front of her appeared and sought to ask the question again, "Where is my friend? Where is Chloe?"

One of the agents looked to the woman and gave a short reassuring smile, "Jessica we are an extraction team that has been sent to escort yourself and Chloe Beale to safety-"

"Then where is she? What the hell is going on?" Jessica interrupted.

The agents' eyes looked to Stacie's, "That's a question we are wondering also."

Stacie remained stoic, "I want to speak with C.R."

"You are in no position-"

"Actually I am."

"You are holding Miss Beale captive otherwise?" He asked slightly amused.

"I was in mid-discussion with C.R before we were found. I want to speak to her now." Stacie stated, unmoving from her demands.

The agents sighed, and nodded to another agent who brought a phone forward.

"It's ringing." He informed then held it out to Stacie.

Stacie sauntered forward and took the phone, going into another room for privacy as she placed the phone to her ear.

"C.R."

"Stacie? What is this about I thought we had discussed-"

"No-no we didn't…" Stacie sighed, "There has to be something you can do… I'm willing to come back and I will do as you ask, but leave Beca out of this. Let her have a life."

C.R sighed, "That's all good and well Stacie but it's not your face that has been seen with Chloe Beale of which we had a very difficult time deleting from the world. Regardless my superiors have seen her now… that ship has sailed, it was a one time offer."

"That's bullshit!" Stacie exasperated.

"Stacie." C.R said in warning, not caring for the woman's attitude.

"I-I'm sorry C.R but you have to understand-"

"I do. That's you sister and like so many years ago you want to save, help and protect her… but you have to understand that I'm in no position to give you or Beca another chance. Not now. Not when they know where you and Beca are."

"So that's why we are in play again… the agency wants us to finally end this?" Stacie asked with annoyance.

"Don't you?" C.R stated not denying it, what was the point.

"Not at the cost of my sister C.R. … she was finally in a good place." Stacie's voice was less strong. It pained her that this was really happening, that her sister was likely to slip back into this life.

"Was she? Were you aware that she had been tracking their movements and gathering information on locating their whereabouts?"

Stacie cupped a hand to her mouth to stifle the sigh and take a moment. She wasn't stupid, she knew Beca was likely to keep tabs on the hitmen but to what extent had she done that? Was her sister still hell bent on tearing them down?

C.R took the silence as confirmation that Stacie did not really know of how Beca was spending her spare time, "Look Stacie… what's done is done now. Beca has made her choice and quite frankly I'm glad. I say that because you and her are our best chance in being rid of these hitmen… these hitmen who have more than pushed their way up our list of concerns."

"Oh well how convenient that Chloe Beale entered the picture." Stacie huffed, "And what then? Hmm? What happens if we are able to 'be rid' of the hitmen and don't die?"

Stacie already knew the answer but her anger and sadness for all of this being thrust back into their lives.

"You return to us and receive your next task on behalf of the United States." C.R replied.

Stacie didn't reply and glared her eyes around the room wishing she could peg the phone at the wall and feel it break.

"Where are Beca and Chloe?"

"I'm sure they are on their way." Stacie replied.

C.R. walked around the large office she was in, she wasn't surprised Stacie was being difficult "I'll get in contact wither then. The extraction team are being pulled and will take Jessica."

"What of Chloe?"

"You will be bringing her in. Your sister should keep her distance from Chloe." C.R stated.

Stacie scoffed, those were exact thoughts before all of this hit then fan. But afterwards, after the attempt on Chloe's life… she realized they would have most definitely succeeded if it weren't for Beca wanting to stay with Chloe. And as much as Stacie wished that they weren't in this mess, she didn't want to have had Chloe lose her life. Beca would most definitely never see it the way Stacie does, but she always considered her sister a hero. What her sister had with Chloe? Well that was a Beca she had only hoped to see, and she did albeit briefly, thus she felt like defending the pair.

"Beca will keep her safe C.R. she's the one person that should stay close to her."

"Please tell me you aren't serious? You know of the pair and their 'close' relationship yes?"

"Yes."

"Then you should understand that will cloud her judgment and Miss Beale is in more danger then safety by staying with Beca. They are after her."

"And me? If you haven't forgotten… especially me."

"I know that Stacie…. and perhaps you are right, maybe Amy should extract Miss Beale?"

Stacie quickly backtracked, she knew that if Beca wasn't able to accompany Chloe she would feel more at ease if it was her that would be with Chloe, "No C.R. I'm more than able to bring Beale in for protection."

"You sure Stacie?"

"Yes C.R."

"I'll think about it… the media storm that has begun from Chloe's disappearance is more than keeping us busy. No doubt the hitmen will be on their way to Vegas. We are trying looking at the options of extracting Miss Beale safely and right now we won't be able to take her through the airport… driving or another safe house might be our only options right now. Not to mention the help they are receiving from the triad as you so told me before we were disconnected."

"Have you heard from Lily?" Stacie asked.

"Nothing yet. I have to Stacie. I will keep you informed and if you hear anything from your sister ring me back immediately. My secure line has been connected to your phone. Do you understand?"

Stacie walked towards the door to leave the room, "Yes." Was her forced reply.

The call was disconnected and she gritted her teeth as she pulled the phone away from her ear.

"Fuck!" she hissed quietly and clenched her fist throwing it towards the wall but had stopped just inches from connecting. Instead she sought to calm herself down and ran the hand through her hair. Licking her dry lips she left the room and went to discuss what was happing (in brief dot points) to Jessica and the next plan of action for the agents.

"Shit… shit." She whispered, looking around to find that Beca was no longer beside her. Chloe took a deep breath and tried to steady her shaking hands in front of her that were holding the gun.

Chloe checked around herself as she made her way up the hallway. Each room she passed she called in hushed whisper for Beca but the brunette was nowhere to be found. The apartment was small and Chloe soon reached the kitchen table. Her stance of holding the gun faltered as her eyes widened to see a large folder on the table. On the front of the folder read her name in full.

Chloe Isabelle Beale.

"What the fuck?" she hissed. This is Beca's place… this is her file on me! Has she been spying on me? So she has been using me?... God who are you?

Hearing a sound behind her Chloe's heart rate spiked, her hand holding the gun she held it tightly as she spun. It was a mistake but her finger that was hovering over the trigger had pulled back on the trigger prematurely as she held it up and towards the noise. Chloe could barely register it all. Going by in a flash was the loud, ear piercing shot of the gun whilst her eyes saw Beca at lightening speed react and threw herself to the side of the hallway.

Chloe's eyes were wide, "I'm sorry! I-…did-did you just dodge a fucking bullet?" god she is fast.

Beca suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and instead went over to take the gun from Chloe's hands.

"Check before you shoot." Beca stated and placed the gun into the back of her jeans.

"Where did you go?" Chloe snapped.

"I thought I had heard something. I also told you to follow but turned to find you gone. The house is clear but we shou-"

"Beca what is this?" Chloe interjected and pointed to the large folder.

Beca was confused and looked over to the folder, Shit Amy must've left it here.

Beca's gaze was low, she sighed and looked to Chloe who looked beyond pissed off.

"Were you spying on me?"

"No." Beca answered, "I had Amy collect information on you."

"Why?" her tone high in confusion, "I thought you had no idea about the hitman after me."

"I didn't." Beca needed to get her gear and walked into her bedroom, Chloe of course followed, "I-… I don't know I just wanted to look out for you?" she was unsure of how to put her feelings into words. After all, she had never felt this way, and such feelings were alien.

Chloe didn't expect that answer, "You don't sound so sure about that?"

Beca picked up a bag and packed some clothes, she exhaled loudly from Chloe's words. Annoyed and frustrated, "I don't know what you want me to tell you Chloe. I wanted to check more into your life… I wanted to know more about you."

"To protect me?"

"Yes."

"Beca the normal thing to do would be to ask me those things! That's all you needed to do. Talk to me and I would've told you."

Beca was silent, moving around the room and placing things into the bag.

"It's not fair that you get to investigate my life when I barely know anything about yours." Chloe's tone dropped in defeat towards the end of her sentence.

Beca stopped by the drawers near her bed and turned to Chloe.

"You're right. It's not, and I know the normal thing to do would have ben to talk to you Chloe but-but… well I've never really been one to do that. As you know now I'm not really normal. I didn't even get to read any of it." Beca answered and quickly she turned back to the drawers and grabbed the photo and slipped it into her bag.

Chloe noticed this motion but she could not see what or whom the photo was of.

Chloe was about to step forward and gain Beca's attention once more but watched as Beca grabbed the gym bag and went into the small closet. Pressing a button, a hidden door slid to the side and allowed the brunette to slip through.

Chloe's eyebrows drew in at this and went to have a look but spun on her heels. She had thought she had heard something down the hallway. Chloe felt the fear and adrenaline run through her again to where her feet carried her back towards Beca. Jogging into the closet she slipped in through the gap and collided right into Beca.

"Oof!" Beca was slammed back into a wall and dropped her bag. She had been ready to use force but upon seeing red hair, Beca dropped her worry. That was until she saw the look in Chloe's eyes.

Beca's words to ask what was wrong died in her throat. The feeling of Chloe flush against her body, her hands holding onto Beca's waist for support and the woman's hot breath felt on her face made Beca lose all other thoughts.

Chloe too near forgot the whole reason as to why she had ran in here. Her eyes locked with Beca's as she tried to steady herself. It was then she realized her hands were still holding onto Beca's waist and clearing her throat she reluctantly dropped them and stepped back a little.

Beca tried to hide her disappointment in her actions and instead focused on the question she had posed to ask, "What's wrong?"

Chloe stumbled a little as to whether she meant why she had removed her hands or if it had to do with?- oh yeah she probably means that.

"I thought I heard something…" Chloe answered and peered back out.

Beca tensed and carefully gave Chloe the gun once more, "Please don't shoot me."

Chloe gave a curt nod and took hold of the gun once more. Beca flicked the safety off and grabbing her bag moved outside gesturing for Chloe to follow. The red head was a bit preoccupied however as her eyes caught sight of a set up pin board that had numerous thumbtacks all over a large world map.

"Chloe." Beca hissed.

Chloe's eyes snapped back and made her way out of the room.

Beca looked around and listened out for any movement that was not their own. Nothing. Beca took the moment and turned to Chloe, gesturing with a finger to her own lips to signify being quiet, she placed the bag strap over Chloe. Chloe shifted for it to sit on her back comfortably and watched as Beca turned and checked both ways outside the door.

Chloe tried to steady her breathing and kept the gun in front of her but point to the ground for now.

Beca had her hands at the ready to grab one of her knives as she looked back to Chloe she held her hand up signaling to 'stay'. Chloe shook her head and took another step forward. Beca's eyes widened and again she silently told her to stay.

'I want to go with you.' Chloe mouthed.

Beca heard a sound from down the hallway and in a huff with both open palms in front of her she clenched them into fists at Chloe's reluctance to follow instructions.

Chloe gave an inward smirk having just won the silent debate.

Beca turned back to the door and seeing a silhouette of a moving body she went back to Chloe and moved her to stand behind the cover of the wall beside the door.

Beca wondered how she would get them back out to the car. She was at a loss for an escape route at the moment and focused her attention on waiting for the person to show himself or herself again.

Suddenly a voice broke through the tense silence, "Ssoji masibsio. (Do not shoot me.)"

Chloe watched as Beca's once tense body relaxed, which in turn made her nerves calm a little.

Beca stepped out from the cover of the wall and into the kitchen area where she found Lily helping herself to a glass of water and cleaning her slightly bloodied face with a cloth. Chloe had followed and looking to the gun she held, flicked the safety back on and placed it in the back of her jeans. This is uncomfortable.

"Lily. You okay?" Beca asked.

"No more than usual. I'm still alive."

"Is your sister?"

"That depends on whether she is able to get immediate medical attention or not. How about the both of you?"

"We're fine."

Chloe's gaze shifted to the back of Beca's head, Like hell we are. God this gun is digging into my back.

Lily finished her water and put it in the sink, placing the the bloodied rag into a plastic bag"Let's go then."

Beca kept her thoughts to herself and only gave a nod. Grabbing the plastic bag and Chloe's file off the table she went over to what appeared to be a dishwasher. Pulling out the tray she threw the documents in it and pressed a couple of buttons.

"Ready?" Beca asked Chloe.

What the hell? "Uhm yeah."

They all made their way outside but stopped when Lily moved in the opposite direction.

"I've borrowed a car it's over here." She elaborated whilst still walking.

Beca followed and Chloe was close to her side.

Coming up to an Audi Lily tossed Beca the keys, "You're not coming?" Chloe had opened the passenger door and threw the gym bag in the back but stopped to look at the other woman.

"No. I need to dispose of that car you've left down the street." Lily curtly answered and turned on her heel towards the other vehicle.

"Where do we go?" Beca asked.

"The car will tell you." Lily turned and eyed Chloe for a second before locking eyes with Beca, "Juui beka habnida. (Be careful Beca.)"

Beca watched her turn with a quirked eyebrow but slid into the car, as did Chloe who pulled the gun out of her jeans before doing so. I wonder what she just said to her?

"The car will tell me." Beca scoffed.

Chloe gazed around trying to find somewhere to place the gun and in doing so spotted a GPS in the side of her door, "Maybe she meant this?" she held out the device.

Beca let a small smile show, "Let me see." She reached over and took the GPS, turning it on the screen showed a destination.

Chloe watched silently as Beca placed it in one of the cup holders and started up the car.

"The safehouse is about 20 minutes away." Beca reached into her back pocket to call Stacie. However the device wasn't turning on, Great the battery is dead.

"Is there a charger in this car?"

Chloe snapped out of her thoughts and looked around the car, but to no avail, "No."

Beca gazed from the road to Chloe, but decided to say nothing. Chloe was silent for a few minutes before she spoke up, "Why did you put that file of me in your dishwasher?"

Beca cracked a small smile, "It's not really a dishwasher. It's a incendiary device."

Chloe blinked having no idea what that meant.

"It destroys documents, weapons… anything along those lines really. That's why I put Lily's used rag in there as well." Damn I hope Lily does the same with that napkin Chloe used on my face earlier.

"Oh." Chloe sat back in her seat and looked out the window.

Again the car was met with thick silence.

"How many languages do you know?" Chloe suddenly asked.

"Quite a few."

"Why?"

"Why?" Beca was confused.

"Why do you know so many languages?"

Beca sighed and turned the car down a street, "I was taught from a young age. I've continued to learn languages since."

Chloe swallowed, she wanted to know more, "You were also taught how to fight?"

I was taught to kill… "Yes."

"I've taken some defence classes…" Chloe mumbled.

Beca hid the smirk that wanted to surface, "Are you hungry?"

"Hmm?" Chloe hummed having been stuck in her thoughts.

"Do you want something to eat? When was the last time you ate?" Beca asked.

"I-uh… I don't know. Before the show I think." God that feels like a liftetime ago.

Beca lips formed a firm line, "What do you feel like?"

"I-I'm not all that hungry Beca."

"You need to eat. I will get you something to drink at least."

"Do we have time? Don't you have to get me to this other safehouse?"Which I hope is safer then the last…

"They will wait."Beca turned the car into a small take-away joint and went up to the window ordering a chicken salad and two bottles of water.

Chloe watched on wondering how they were to pay and Beca simply reached back into her gym bag and pulled out some notes. Handing them over through the window in exchange for the food they were on there way again.

Beca gave Chloe her food and placed the bottles of water in the cup holders. Immediately Chloe drank half the bottle of water and opened Beca's bottle.

"Here."

Beca gave a faint smile and accepted the bottle, "Thank you." She eagerly drank the water and placed it back in the holder.

Chloe looked down at the food and picked at it with the plastic fork provided.

"Please eat Chloe. I need you to keep your strength up." Beca voiced in reason.

Chloe warmed at her affection and care, slowly she ate the chicken salad. It's not too bad, "Do you want some?"

"No thank you."

"You should eat too Beca."

"I'm driving."

"That's no excuse."

Beca quirked her eyebrow and side glanced at the red head only to see her shuffle in closer and holding the fork skewered with salad and chicken out towards her mouth.

"Chloe-"

"Beca open your mouth."

Beca was amused but opened her mouth allowed Chloe to slide in the fork. Beca bit down and took the food with Chloe sliding the utensil back out and helping herself to another mouthful whilst Beca chewed.

Beca swallowed and a huge smile surfaced. Chloe saw this and felt her heart flutter at the woman's smile.

"What?" Chloe questioned.

"You."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You." Beca then gazed at Chloe for a second, her eyes piercing into her before turning back to look out at the road. Chloe felt her heart rate spike at the heated look in the woman's eye that was directed right at her. Sitting in the car just the two of them with a moment to breathe after the hotel, the current between them could still be felt.

God what is this? Beca wondered, How does she make me feel this way and so quickly? "Do you still feel it?" her voice in near whisper.

Chloe was put off the want of food for the want of something else, someone else, and it was terrifying. I still don't even know her really… but, "Yes…" she breathed her gaze falling onto Beca before diverting her lap.

Beca let out a slow exhale, she was elated to hear Chloe's response but also sad, I will probably never see her again once we arrive at the safehouse. The thought was excruciating, but to amend for it she moved on to the thought of finding those responsible for the hit and to finally push her efforts in bringing an end to the hitmen.

Chloe sat quietly with her own intent on finding out more about Beca. They still had a little while to go till their destination and now seemed like a good a time as any to delve further into the mystery of Beca.

A/N - Thank you! x