Authors' Notes: Forgot to mention that the artwork is up for this on my profile... it does contain a slight spoiler so be warned.
Anyhow in this chapter the Team and Charissa meet and get to work... only Charissa recieves a little warning from the supposed gambling ring and unfortunately Face experiences it too.
She found her team member and explained having to use the restroom and that she had forgotten how to turn the camera off… the mic issue she claimed she had accidently caught the wire on the stall she had been in. It was the worst lie ever, but luckily they all bought it. She told them to get some rest and headed for her own room to change out of the dress and into something more business minded and also to work through the urge to throttle the man she loved.
When midnight rolled around she was looking down on the best view of the city except for the Stratosphere, dressed in a plain black skirt, dress shirt and heels her hair dancing in the warm breeze as she waited for the Team to show up.
Hannibal and B.A. were practically dragging a half-sleeping Murdock along. Face was a little more conscious, but seeing as they'd both been partying pretty hard earlier on, they were both having trouble staying coherent.
"We've been told there's some action going on of the bad kind." Hannibal said, after a brief reunion.
B.A. let Murdock go, smirking as the fool almost fell to the ground, "Hey Girl, fancy meeting you here."
Charissa gave the two alive men a nod and a smile, "Yeah. Your two friends there almost got you guys caught." She looked at Hannibal, "You really need to impose a drinking rule on them." She suggested, "Anyways, for the past six months there's been a large gambling ringing stationed here in Las Vegas, Metro has tried everything they can to bring them down but hasn't had any luck so they gave the Government a call and here I am. Someone is on the inside Hannibal, the way two of them were winning tonight and the Pit Boss wasn't paying any attention was odd. Very odd."
"The pit boss is either very very stupid, or very very smart. Security wouldn't let them run a scam like that unless the casino itself was taking some kind of cut." Hannibal shook his head, "Has it just been this one building? Or several?"
She nodded in agreement, "No shit. And there's been mentionings of other establishments getting hit, but mostly it's the one right beneath us that's getting the worst."
B.A. listened intently, "So we gotta get on the inside then? Don't you got yourself a team for that?"
"I do, but they're not… well they're not you guys. They don't possess the level of skill for something like this. And all I have to do with them is send them on some wild goose chase and there's nothing to worry about." She assured them.
Hannibal nodded, "We can definately do a little infiltration. After these two break out of their hangovers," He shot a half-hearted glare at Face and Murdock, "we'll send them in. B.A. and I will do some talking, see what we can find out."
B.A. nodded, "As long as I don't have to be a bell boy again. How bout a bouncer? They gotta club at this place." He questioned hopefully, "Or Security? I can do that shit."
Charissa nodded, "What the hell have they been drinking to get like this anyways?" She eyed Face and Murdock curiously.
"Probably vodka. They've been out celebrating all evening long." Hannibal said calmly, nodding at B.A., "You talk to the guards. I'll talk to the staff."
She laughed, "I'll babysit these two, you guys go see what you can find then. I'll take them back to my room." She had insisted on her own room, and it looked like it was going to be a good thing.
"Sweet." B.A. nodded and headed for the exit, "Have fun with that." He pointed at his two drunken teammates, "I don't envy you one bit Girl." He said with a laugh as he headed down the access stairs and out of sight.
Hannibal followed B.A. down to the main floor.
Face and Murdock glanced at each other, then walked to Charissa. Face felt as though he were back in the orphanage again, walking the hall down to Mother Superior to get a ruler whacked across his bottom.
She arched a brow at the two of them shaking her head, "Lets' go. Come on." She motioned towards the stairs, "Ugh, you two smell to high heaven of that shit." She stated waving a hand in front of her nose, "Whew."
Face rolled his eyes and let Murdock lean on him a little. The pilot was singing something under his breath.
She led them to her room once the elevator stopped on her floor and opened the door and helped them get inside before shutting the door and locking it, "Now I need a drink." She muttered and went for the small wet bar that was in her room. Because this was being paid for by the Government she had a small suite which suited her just fine, "There's chips and such if you guys want something." She got out a small bottle of some alcoholic beverage with a fancy name and sat it on the counter then realized she didn't have a glass nearby and went to go find one.
"I think we should just have water," Face explained, "until we finish soboring up. This could take a few hours. And I know at least Murdock is going to have a severe hangover.."
"Speak for yourself." Murdock pouted, heading to the bathroom.
She came back into the main room with a glass and arched a brow, "This is for me. You two are definitely on water only." She stated tossing a bottle at him and sitting one aside for Murdock before pouring her some of the clear liquid and knocking it back, "Aaah, that's better." It had a slight fruity undertone to it, which she liked and so she poured herself another half glass and sat down, nursing it this time, "You should wear all black more often." She commented, her eyes slowly working over his frame, "It's incredibly sexy."
"Thanks." Face grinned, opening the bottle of water and laying back on the bed, "I like being sexy."
Murdock giggled at them, taking a cup of water from the bathroom. He brushed aside the bottled water, sitting against the pillows.
If Murdock wasn't there she'd be crawling across him on the bed right now and sending buttons flying across the room as she ripped his shirt open. She shifted a little in the chair she occupied and leaned back, suddenly it was very warm, "It sucks you can't open windows in these damn hotels." She muttered and undid a couple of extra buttons on her blouse. She took another drink of her beverage and blinked, apparently this was pretty strong stuff. Stronger than she thought. She sat the unfinished glass aside and sighed.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Face said, sitting up with a frown, "Is it just me, or is it really - really - hot in here?" he was undoing the collar of his shirt, frowning more deeply now.
She stood and moved towards the air-conditioning unit and checked it, "I think it's just us." She muttered, "We could go out and get some air." She suggested moving for the door, "The Bellagio is the next hotel over. Murdock," She looked at the Captain, "have you seen the fountains yet?"
Charissa blinked, "Alright, you stay here then and Face and I will get some air and be right back." She promised tossing him the remote for the flat screen, "Might be a good idea for someone to be here anyways incase Hannibal and B.A. show up." She opened the door, making sure she had a key and looked at Face, "Let's go."
Face gave her blank look, "Look, I know you're full of energy, but we've been partying our asses off since the bars opened today. I'm about to puke, and I don't think I can stand up much longer."
The room suddenly felt like it was spinning and she stumbled a little, closing the door, "Yeah. You know what, never mind." She leaned back against the wall for a moment and took a deep breath or two, "Wow, that drink… whatever it is really packs a punch." She slowly made her way to the bed and sat down on it before falling back, staring up at the ceiling. Normally she was pretty good at holding her liquor, but she figured she hadn't read the label and that the drink was a hard one.
Face was holding his head, vision swimming, "Hey, was that...are you sure that was water? You sure you didn't...didn't give me more alcohol?" He looked up at her, squinting.
"It says Desani on it… unless there's also an alcohol drink with the same name as a water produced by Coca-Cola…" She groaned a little and rolled onto her side.
Murdock opened the bottle and took a whiff. "Smells fine." he dabbed his finger in the water and tasted it, "Yuck," He pulled a face, "there's some powder floating on the top."
Charissa blinked, "What?" She sat up a little too quickly and the room swam, "Whoa… that wasn't the best thing to do." She slid back down on the bed and looked at Face, "I think we've been drugged dear." It was the last thing she remembered.
No shit." Face blinked, before he passed out.
Murdock, confused as to why the two of them were suddenly sleeping, decided to take a hot shower and return. When they were still unconscious, he frowned, grabbing one of the bathrobes, and lay down on the other side of the bed to sleep.
Hahah, Murdock would be the only smart one wouldn't he.
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