Fiona "Faith" Armstrong

Chapter 5

Agent Pearce knew exactly the reason why Michael Westen had exploded into her office.

Fiona Glenanne.

She held up her hand to warn Michael not to speak until after she instructed her assistant.

"That will be all, Tom, " she dismissed him, "Remember to tell them that we have a definite interest in any investigation of the case we were discussing and make sure they keep me informed."

"I will certainly do that," agreed Thomas Wright, nodding, before shuffling quickly past Michael and shutting the door behind him.

Once Michael and Pearce were alone, she leaned back, holding the ends of a pencil between her hands.

"Michael..." Pearce's expression was placid,"This is certainly an unexpected visit. Weren't you supposed to be up in DC this week?"

"Don't play the welcoming house hostess to me, Pearce! " Michael barked, "What the hell were you thinking by signing up Fi to be one of your agents?"

His lips were pursed in a thin line as he worked to suppress his anger. Pearce was still reeling from McGrath's death and really was not in the mood to deal with a misinformed, worried boyfriend.

"What, " Pearce declared with indignation, "You think I initiated Fi's recruitment?"

Michael's eyes were lit with anger, "If it wasn't you, it was one of your cronies. No way in hell would Fi sign up of her own volition! What carrot did you dangle in front of her?"

"Oh, yes, that's right," said Pearce sarcastically, "we both know how easily you girlfriend can be swayed! No high strung stubbornness there, no siree, Bob!"

"You must have said something to convince her to join!" Michael accused.

"No, Michael...I would not be able to convince her of anything...you are the one with the charming smile to influence her, not us!"

"Do you see the charming smile I have plastered on my face now?" Michael pointed as he bared his teeth, "this look should scare you."

Pearce looked unfazed.

"Michael," insisted Pearce, as she tossed aside the pencil she had been fiddling around with, "We did nothing to entice her...and...by the way, why are you objecting to all this now, three days later?"

"W-what?"

Michael was caught off guard and struggled for how to respond. This put Pearce on the offensive and her face lit up as realization hit her. Snapping her fingers, she gave Michael a look of victory.

"Wait…You've just found out about all this, didn't you, Michael? Fi never told you she was out on a mission for us, did she?"

Michael didn't like the idea of sounding as though Fi wouldn't tell him about such a big change in her life. He wanted Pearce to think they were close, but at the moment, it sure didn't sound that way.

"Your silence," stated Pearce, "is telling me so much more than your words."

He gave a defeated sigh.

"Alright, no... she didn't." admitted Michael, letting out an aggravated breath.

"Then how did you find out?" Pearce asked.

"I had Sam tailing her, " he admitted, "Sam was the one who found out she was a staying at a Tampa hotel room used frequently for covert operations, and driving around in a CIA-issued rental car!"

Pearce gave him a disapproving look.

"Snooping around your girlfriend's activities, tsk! tsk! Michael…Fi will not be happy when she finds out what you did!"

"Don't change the subject, Pearce—" growled Michael, taking control once more, "we were talking about YOU recruiting Fi for a CIA covert mission!"

Pearce didn't have time for this type of interrogation, especially by one of her own agents.

"Michael, You're taking your frustrations out on the wrong person!" Agent Pearce said, now showing her annoyance, "It was she who came to us! I think you are just overreacting because she did not tell you first! It was just a little courier mission...we do these all the time..."

"Still, still!" said Michael as he placed his hands on her desk and hovered over her, "This is my girlfriend you are talking about! How could you send her immediately out on an assignment…and with no weapons, no back-up?"

"Of course we have back-up for her, Michael! As a precaution, we assigned an agent back at her hotel! This is the CIA here, not some rinky-dink three-person operation!" Pearce backed off a little when she realized what she had said, "No offense."

"None taken." Michael said dryly.

The tension in the room had abated somewhat.

"But the point is," reasoned Pearce, "this whole 'Fiona-as-an-agent' was given a green light because, your girlfriend was already running late for her nail appointment and could not take no for an answer!"

At that point Michael had completely calmed down, for that really did sound like Fi.

"Yeah, " Michael stated evenly, "Fi really hates to be late for her nail appointment. It makes her pretty moody."

"How can you tell?" Pearce asked as they exchanged shared smiles.

The hardness in Michael's expression was gone, telling Pearce that his temper had dissipated. He looked composed as he asked the next question.

"So it's like you said... it was just a simple courier mission?" Michael inquired.

Thoughts of Agent McGrath's demise entered Pearce's mind, but it would be best not to upset Michael again.

"Yes," she replied managing to keep her voice light, "You know how easy those assignments usually go. Easy in, retrieve, easy out. And with this particular mission, we had one of best agents, McGrath, on the case, too."

Pearce was surprised as Michael's expression changed. She saw the color leave his face as he slowly sunk down into Pearce's visitor' chair. When he turned to look at her, fear shone in his eyes.

"Michael?" she questioned.

"Had," he said, half to himself.

Pearce scowled, "What?"

He stared gravely at her, "You said 'we had one of our best agents on the mission'…Why the past tense? What happened to him? And why can't I get in touch with Fi?"

Pearce's headache was now throbbing. She did not know how she was going to answer Michael.

.

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Back at Nemo's Bookstore, the fake McGrath had pulled a gun on Fi.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his demeanor changing instantly as he kept the gun on her, "I've never seen you before. How do you fit into all this?"

Fi decided to keep up with her visitor persona as her eyes opened wide in fake fear.

"Please, " Fi pleaded, her eyes round, "My name is Faith Armstrong and..and I'm just a tourist! I'm just here to enjoy some sights in Tampa! Is it money you want? Because if it is, I have some!" She innocently held up her purse.

He wasn't taking the bait, as his face grew malicious, "If there's one thing I abhor, it's stupid coincidences! You're obviously no freaking tourists! You and I both know that particular book you wanted is more than just a book!"

"Book? What book? The relationship book? Are you having trouble? Do you need me as an advisor, a go-between?"

Fake McGrath was getting impatient.

"You know damn well what book I am talking about!" he snapped, "If you cannot give me any additional information such as who sent you to do this pick-up, then I will consider you useless and this conversation will not end pleasantly for you."

Fi considered continuing with her cover of being a tourist, but she was already tiring of the charade. Acting as if you fear someone can certain take a lot out of a person, she thought, and right now, she needed to reserve her energy. It was best she tell him the truth.

"Okay, " she admitted, her voice suddenly sounding stronger and more assertive, "so I am not a tourist."

"Whom are you working for then?" he pressed her.

"The CIA," she answered proudly, as she stood straighter, "And you? I've already figured you are probably just a peon in the entire bad-guy scheme of things.. so tell me, what small, insignificant part do you play in this game of hot-potato-book?"

"I don't answer your questions, "he responded as he gestures to his gun, "I'm the one in control here."

Fake McGrath watched as Fi darted her eyes left and then right.

And don't even think about trying to escape," he warned, "I don't like to brag, but I am quite the marksman. Just give me a reason to practice."

"Ooooo, you're such a tough man," Fi stated sardonically, "I bet you can even shoot the daylight out of the sun."

But Fake McGrath did not look amused.

"How many agents you got out there?" he wanted to know, "And I want the exact number!"

"Well, let's see, " said Fi, looking up in the air and holding her fingers to count, "there's me..." and then Fi looked back directly at him, "and then there's my sidekick."

"Sidekick?" he inquired.

"No" Fi deadpanned, "Not my sidekick...my side kick…"

"I should shoot you dead now," he threatened.

"Suit yourself, " Fi shrugged, as she pointed out to the window, "but the sound will bring people coming from all around…if you don't mind having witnesses…"

He hated to admit it, she had a point. He had to get her out of sight.

"Alright then..." he said, as he gestured with his head, "I want you to get the hell in the back of the shop, right now!"

He cocked his gun.

Fi remained immobile.

"I said get in the back!" he repeated himself.

She still didn't budge.

"You might as well shoot me now, shoot me right here," she informed him, "Do it in front of the open window, let me turn and flatten my splattered bloodstained body against the shop's window for all of Tampa to see, because no way in hell am I going in the back with you!"

She steadfastly folded her arms. A silent pause.

"God dammit!" he finally murmured under his breath.

Fake McGrath's confident demeanor slightly faltered as he peered outside. Someone actually could walk in any moment, and he certainly did not need witnesses.

If this B*tch didn't want to move, he needed to lock the door and pull down the blinds in order to get the answers he needed from her.

He moved from behind the counter towards the door, keeping his gun trained on her the entire time.

"Don't move," he said.

Fi looked bored at his demand.

"Don't move?" she repeated, "Didn't you just tell me that I needed to move-"

"Shut up, shut the hell up!"

Fi remained in her spot as she watched him maneuver across the room to get to the door. Midway when he was at the closest point to her, she made the decision to unleash.

Spinning quickly towards him, she was within striking distance. It had happened so fast and unexpectedly, that Fake McGrath had no time to react.

She led with a palm strike towards his face. Fake McGrath was fast enough to block it, but in the process, lost the gun as it skidded away from him.

Fi then quickly spun again and threw an elbow. The blow landed on the left side of his chin. She kept attacking, throwing one blow after another.

The body shots were accumulating.

"I. Just. Hate. Not. Having. A. Weapon!" Fi frustratingly grunted as she at last landed an effective side kick to his body.

Fake McGrath fell to the ground and rolled away. He was definitely on the defensive, in survivor mode. Fi came over and rained down foot stomps and then a kick to the head.

As Fi raised her foot to give another stomp, Fake McGrath was ready this time. He clamped her foot against his body and rolled hard. This left Fi with two choices. She could fall quickly to the ground, or have her ankle bone snap like a dried twig.

She purposely fell.

"I've got you now, B*tch!" he growled, now that they were both on the ground.

"Actually…we're even!" Fi huffed as she struggled, "Because..down here on the ground…size… doesn't…matter!…take it...whichever way you want!"

As they struggled, Fake McGrath had grabbed her hair, yanking it hard. He expected her to yelp, but instead, she boxed him hard in the ear, causing him to instantly release his hold on her.

Then Fi made a grab for his leg and gave it a vicious twist. He rolled with it and that was when he made his biggest mistake yet.

He had turned his back on her.

She let go and jumped on the back of him, her legs snaking around his waist, her right arm around Fake McGrath's neck. Panic made him start bucking. He dropped his chin to block her elbow.

She whacked him in the back of the head with a palm strike. That weakened him a bit, allowing her to grip his forehead and tug it back. He was struggling the whole way. Finally her elbow had sneaked underneath the opening and she could reach his throat.

The choke hold was set.

It was at that moment that the shop door opened and they heard a gasp. An elderly woman customer had wandered into the shop. Upon seeing the two struggling, her hand flying up to her throat.

"Oh, good Lord!" the older lady gasped as she witnessed the vicious scene before her.

"H..elp…me!" Fake McGrath managed to strangle out as Fi held him in a tight grip.

"LADY, GET OUT!" Fi was yelling at the lady, "AND CALL THE POLICE!"

The woman didn't need to be told twice as she quickly ran out and shut the door. The yelling incident was enough to distract Fi momentarily. Fake McGrath was able to gather all his strength to throw her off him.

Fi went flying off of him, landing hard on the ground.

Meantime, he did a reverse roll.

Fi was in attack mode as she headed towards him again, but something made her freeze.

He had recovered his gun.

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