Set just after "Allegiance", sort of an altered / deleted scene.
Hints toward where I originally thought the last couple of episodes would lead, with some more lady lovin' because really. There needs to be more of that.
The shifts between Shaw and Sameen are intentional. Just fyi.
She looked toward her door as a loud noise- similar to a knock- reverberated against the metal. Shaw narrowed her eyes, snatching up a nearby gun before making her way silently over to the entrance of her apartment.
"Who's there?"
At first there was no answer but finally, after a moment, a voice spoke up. "Root... And Bear."
Shaw had the door open in a matter of seconds but kept her fingers wrapped firmly around her gun.
She wasn't at all surprised to see that they were both dripping wet. A large puddle was already forming beneath them and some was spraying the walls as Bear wagged his tail excitedly.
"What the hell do you want? And why do you have him?" Shaw asked, checking the hallway before shutting and re-locking the door.
"Don't worry... We weren't followed." Root breathed, coming to a stop a few paces into the open space.
"That doesn't answer either of my questions." Shaw said, arching an eyebrow as she continued to glare at the other brunette.
"I could have killed him... I slipped up, I missed my chance. So I tried again, before they got away completely..."
Shaw shook her head, her expression relaxing ever so slightly. "Wait, slow down... You could have killed who?"
"Greer." Root spat, releasing Bear's leash before gripping her right shoulder tightly. "It was all going so smoothly, until his men showed up. They tried to leave and I had to follow... But they severed my connection and I-"
It was odd to Shaw, how much the woman standing before her seemed so human. So afraid. Normally Root seemed as though she knew everything and had everything under control. She was cool, calm and calculated.
Shaw stepped forward, her brow furrowed as she gently pulled Root's hand away.
"You're more prone to injury than I am... Another bullet wound?" She asked softly.
"No, dislocated shoulder... But that last one is still healing." Root hissed through clenched teeth, watching warily as Shaw gently probed her shoulder.
"I'll need to pop it back into place but first... Let's get you changed, you're dripping all over my floor."
Root arched a brow, "I'm sure that your concrete will dry just fine, Sameen."
Shaw shot her a glare before tossing her a change of clothing, "Yeah well, my socks won't. And that's all you have to say? I was expecting sarcasm with the usual flirtatious undertone."
Root smiled, "Too easy."
"Of course." Shaw grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Bathroom is- Let me guess, She told you already?"
"You're learning." Root said, chuckling lightly as she turned to head for the door in the back corner of the apartment.
"Besides," she called back over her shoulder, "There are only two doors in this apartment, excluding the refrigerator."
xxx
Root emerged a few minutes later, clad in the black yoga pants that the other woman had given her.
"Anyone ever tell you that you need to brighten up your wardrobe?"
Shaw looked up, a frown twisting at her lips. "Why aren't you wearing the shirt?" She asked, standing from where she had been kneeling to try and dry Bear off. As soon as she was turned away from him, the canine was on all four of his paws, shaking himself to dry off further.
Shaw rolled her eyes and shook her head before dropping the towel to the floor in resignation.
"Too painful, I'll need some help." The taller woman admitted. A smile, sarcastic or otherwise no where to be seen.
Shaw sighed heavily and waved her over. "C'mere then. I might as well pop it back into place now, too."
Root glanced passed her, toward the table. "Mind if I have some of that before we start?" She asked, eying the whiskey bottle.
Shaw nodded, and turned to go and fetch the bottle and another glass. "Take a seat. I'll be back in a sec."
Root did as she was told and sat herself on the edge of the bed, laying the tee shirt on the comforter behind her. The other woman returned to her side about a minute later, depositing her glass on the nightstand before pouring Root one of her own.
"This is gonna hurt."
"I know." Root answered in a emotionless voice before throwing back the glass and downing its contents. Shaw whistled appreciatively and poured her another but she shook her head, "I'll have that one after."
The other woman shrugged and took a seat to the right of her 'patient', "First things first..." She said, indicating with her eyes to Root's top.
"How're we going to do this?" Root asked, her unease obvious in her voice.
"As quickly as possible." Shaw said, "Can you twist to face me a little more?"
If she hadn't been so caught up in her pain and worry, Root would have focused more on the almost gentle quality the other woman's voice had taken on. She knew that Shaw wasn't good at this sort of thing so she kept her mouth shut and silently obeyed.
Luckily, the stretchy material of her cowl neck sweater made for a quick strip, albeit not a completely painless one. Shaw could now see more of the obvious shape of the injury, she began to pinch and squeeze at the muscles of Root's arm and shoulder.
"Try to relax."
Root looked away, exhaling slowly as she felt the other woman's hands placing themselves on her forearm and the back of her bicep as she switched to a kneeling position in front of the bed. It was over in a matter of seconds and Shaw was impressed when Root didn't utter so much as a whimper.
"Could I have my glass now?" She asked, quietly.
Shaw nodded, "Sure thing. But only if you tell me how this happened. You left some pretty big gaps in your story."
Root sighed, reaching back for the tee shirt and slipping it on gingerly. "I headed after them... Shot one of Greer's lackeys but it must've just grazed him... He took Greer while the other neanderthal charged me... I shot him, directly to the chest... But he kept coming, must have had a vest on. Slammed me into the wall and Bear got him."
"So that's why Bear had blood on him. Good boy." Shaw said, shooting the dog a look of praise. He raised his head from where it had been resting on his legs, his tail thumping against the floor loudly.
"Yes, definitely." Root agreed, "After that... Some man who had heard the scuffle happened to find us. I spun a tale about the missing link trying to steal my purse... And that his friend had successfully run off with it. He let me leave since I was worried about the police trying to harm my dog for defending me. She was angry that I went after Greer and his men and insisted I come here."
Shaw stared at her a moment, watching as she removed her damp bra slowly from underneath her borrowed shirt. And as soon as she was done, and the article of clothing was tossed haphazardly to join the others on the floor she handed her the glass.
The two talked for a while, quietly about what was coming. Root confessed to Shaw the same truths that she had to Harold, about how Samaritan posed as their impending doom.
Shaw understood then, why botching the opportunity to kill Greer had hit the other woman so hard.
It was getting late and the ever present down pour outside combined with the alcohol in Root's system meant that she would be staying put. Shaw swirled the contents of her glass, her mind feeling almost like the small whirlpool sloshing around inside.
"So, why did he try to leave, if he had you out muscled? That doesn't really make much sense."
Root shot her a look before downing the rest of her drink. "He tried to cut a deal with me."
"What?"
The taller woman nodded, "Yeah, he's got balls. I had him staring down a barrel and he tries to cut me a deal. I would have thought it was just a bluff... To buy him some time. But he tried to leave." She said, shrugging toward the end and glancing down toward her lap.
"What kind of deal?"
"Immunity, safety... To help him understand Samaritan, to try and merge."
Shaw's eyes narrowed, "And you aren't going to take that?"
Light brown eyes darted up to meet the intense ones watching her, "No. I don't want to work with a man like that. I want Her to be free and believe it or not... I don't exactly like killing people."
"You're doing it again." Shaw pointed out, grabbing the bottle when her glass was empty.
"Doing what?"
"Not telling me the full story."
Root chewed on the inside of her cheek, "I want to infiltrate... And shut them down from inside."
"They'll kill you." Shaw pointed out as she filled Root's glass halfway.
"One life for the lives of many... Wouldn't you do the same?"
Shaw's jaw flexed and she averted her eyes, "I would try to find a way to do it with no casualties."
"And if there is no other way?"
Shaw didn't answer and an empty silence fell between them. For a few moments the apartment was filled with the sound of the rain outside.
Root drained her glass and placed it on the nightstand before turning to face Shaw. She didn't know if it was the alcohol or their conversation but she felt a weight in her chest. She'd felt it before when she was around the other woman but it was more intense this time.
If Samaritan went online, none of them would be safe... She wouldn't be safe. Fear and emotion tightened Root's throat and she knew that Shaw had felt her shift but the other woman refused to look her way.
"Sameen."
The woman shook her head, downing her own drink and setting it down. She was about to say something, it had been angry and defensive. Something along the lines of Root's plan being stupid and suicidal. But as soon as she turned, she felt hands cup her face and lips press firmly against her own.
Shaw's eyes fell shut and she slowly responded to the kiss. She could feel Root leaning in closer, could taste the whiskey on her tongue. It had been a while since she'd spent the night with anyone and she could feel everything with heightened awareness.
It probably, no, definitely wasn't a good idea but Shaw pushed Root back against her pillow anyway.
xxx
Sameen stared quietly at the body lying next to hers, her gaze roving lazily across the exposed flesh that it bared.
Her dark orbs traced over every scar and blemish, mind contemplating the various scenarios of what form of weapon and attack could have caused them. She reached out then, tentatively, to replace her gaze with her fingertips.
Root's flesh was cool to the touch, courtesy of the temperature the other brunette liked to keep her apartment.
Sameen's eyebrow twitched as she watched goosebumps blossom in the wake of her touch, knowing full well that they weren't from the cold. The expression faded quickly though, as she trailed her fingertips up over the other woman's collar bone before heading down her left arm.
There were two bullet holes there, one on the shoulder and another further down, on Root's bicep. Shaw's fingers paused as they brushed over the scar of the one on the shoulder. It was there because of her.
Root may have tased her, on more than one occasion, may have drugged and zip tied her... But she hadn't left a lasting mark.
"Why'd you stop? That felt nice..."
Sameen blinked and raised her eyes to meet the lighter ones watching her through a half lidded gaze.
"Sorry, for this." She mumbled, her voice still as husky as Root's in its disuse.
Root's eyes lowered to where her fingers were still sitting and the woman gave a small shrug. "I like my scars, they add character."
A comfortable silence fell between them and Shaw began to lightly stroke her way down Root's arm. The moment was interrupted several minutes later though, when Bear approached the bed whining.
"Oh, he's probably got to go out..."
"I bet he's hungry, too." Sameen added, rolling onto her side to pat the dog on his head. Next to her, Root slipped out from under the covers to pad across the concrete and collect her clothing.
"We'll be back."
Sameen watched them go, before letting her eyes slip closed for a few minutes. Before she knew it, she'd dozed off. She awoke again some time later to the bed tipping down on either side of her hips as Root straddled her.
"Hi." The taller woman said, a thoughtful smile gracing her lips.
"Hi." Sameen murmured back, her voice once again low and throaty.
"It's done raining, so Bear and I are going to get going." She paused, her smile falling. "I know that you think It's a stupid idea..."
"I don't think, I know." Sameen corrected, her eyes hardening instantly.
"Right." Root said, her hands clenching and unclenching the pillow beneath them. She leaned down slowly to place a kiss against the other woman's lips and pulled away reluctantly when Sameen didn't respond.
"I'm sorry." Root said, shifting her weight off of the other woman.
Sameen was just about to ask why when her eyes widened and her body shook. Her muscles tightened and spasmed, her jaw clenching shut.
She watched helplessly as Root gathered the rest of her discarded clothing before once again approaching the bed.
"Why are you doing this?" Sameen asked through clenched teeth, her words barely audible.
"Because, I know you'll try to stop me. And you can't do that. I won't let you." Root said, an affectionate look crossing her features. "You're brave, strong and capable. I wasn't lying when I said that I was a fan after reading your file. I didn't want you to be hurt then and I definitely don't want that now."
"You'll die." Sameen said, struggling to keep her eyes focused.
"I would die for you." Root said softly, "I would die to keep that much power out of the hands of someone who would misuse it. It isn't just us in danger, Sameen. It is everyone."
She leaned down and brushed her lips against the other woman's forehead. "I am sorry. Goodbye, Sameen."
Shaw watched silently as Root took Bear with her and exited her apartment. By the time she could move, the two were long gone.
It only took a week for the hacker's number to come up and Shaw wasn't so sure that they'd be able to find her in time.
Sorry this one was sad. I had to get it out because for a while there I was sort of panicking that Root was going to get killed off. If either of them would... In some horrific twist or something (like Carter), I would be EXTREMELY distraught.
Title and the one line inspired by a song on a playlist I made for this pairing. Matt Walter's "I Would Die For You."
Also I guess a little nod to Amy's character 'Whiskey' in Dollhouse, although that one was completely unintentional.
PS, this may be continued later... After I see a few more of the episodes this season.