Just to be clear the following chapter will lead us back to the first chapter but through Chris and Jess' eyes. Enjoy.
With Hondo on leave the team is a man down and more in a holding pattern. Chris uses that opportunity to train and push herself to be better. To be the best she can.
She is running barefoot along the beach, her toes buried deep into the sand to have higher resistance, and not burn herself on the heated ground. But this particular morning her training is cut short by a mysterious summons to Hicks's office.
Chris stares at her phone for a moment longer before heading home and getting ready to meet the commander. It never is a good idea to have a superior officer waiting for you, but him ordering you in on short notice isn't boding well either.
She gets ready in record time and manages to ignore the curious stares moving her way when her feet lead her upstairs before even heading for the locker room. On her day off to boot.
Chris pauses for a second to catch her breath before knocking on the frosted panel of the commander's door.
"Enter," the commander's voice is as booming as ever, and Chris squares her shoulders before pushing the door open.
"Alonso, sorry to call you in on your day off, but we," he motions to a woman seated at the desk, "have a question for you."
Chris frowns. She can't place the woman. She is dressed in a pantsuit that screams fed, and she looks familiar, but she can't be sure.
"Nice to officially meet you, Officer Alonso," the woman gets up and holds out her hand. "Captain Cortez speaks highly of you."
"Take a seat," Hicks takes charge now and Chris sits down, trying to work out what is going on here.
"What we're about to discuss cannot leave this office," he levels with her and Chris nods. "Agent Benson," he defers to the woman.
"About three weeks ago, Cortez went undercover with a group of VX3 in Texas of all places. Now it's time to send her some help. You have done remarkable work with her in Mexico," Benson begins, and Chris's forehead wrinkles.
Is she saying what I think she's saying?
"Thank you, but I am not sure I understand…"
"We want you to go join her," Benson pulls out a folder and slides it over.
Chris eyes her commander and he nods encouragingly. "Okay," Chris flips the lid open and glances at the file.
"Isn't it dangerous to go under with your real names? This persona is called Cristina…" She frowns and voices her confusion.
"Unfortunately, this has been introduced already. When Cortez took the place Jessica and Cristina had been established through text connections. It's a risk we're willing to take," Bensons nods and searches her eyes.
"When do I leave?" Chris asks and closes the file again. Her eyes lock on Hicks who takes out a file.
"Now," he mumbles. "You're on emergency leave. Be safe and remember nothing we discussed can leave this office."
"Understood," Chris nods and then takes the folded note from Benson. "Meet me at this location in an hour. We will sort your cover there,"
When Chris pulls up to the address she got, she is confused to find a large, rather non-descript warehouse. She frowns to herself and double-checks, but it is the correct place, so she gets out of her truck and walks to the side door.
After just stating her name, she gets ushered in quickly and inside it makes a lot more sense to her when she meets up with Agent Benson again.
"Officer Alonso, did you find this okay?" the agent holds out her hand.
"Yes," Chris nods and follows the woman.
"We already put your personal package together, but you'll need to choose a wardrobe that fits, and then we'll go over travel arrangements," Benson leads her to a large area that is filled with long rows of racks.
Chris listens intently to what the agents around her tell her and she goes through the package multiple times. Down on her luck party girl from Florida… great. Her inner voice snarks and the clothing choices are risqué at best, but she manages to find items that won't make her feel uncomfortable. In the end, she has filled a small suitcase and a well-loved handbag filled with what amounts to Cristina's belongings. Passport included.
"Okay, now for your travel," Benson begins when they are seated in what is probably the only enclosed and private office space in the huge warehouse.
"Can I ask what I am supposed to tell my family?" Chris suddenly blurts out, because, yes she can't exactly tell them she is going undercover in Texas but something, even if only to keep them from going to ask questions at HQ. "My family knows some of my co-workers, and I really…" she fumbles along while Benson moves no muscle in her face.
"Tell them you're going on a work trip and will be in touch as often as you can," the agent says in a calming voice. "We can't read anyone in, and you won't be able to take your personal phone, but an agent here will monitor your messages, and if anything dire or pressing, we will find a way to contact you."
Chris nods and then takes the tickets from the table. She is supposed to fly out to Miami and then take the bus to Tornillo, Texas. She is already not looking forward to two days cooped up in a bus, but it probably will sell her persona better than flying into El Paso and pulling up in a cab.
So, two phone calls later Chris finds herself in a cab to LAX and on her way to becoming Cristina. The girl from Miami going to visit her cousin Jessica.