Happy...Wega Sunday? LOL trying to make up for the Wega Wednesdays I missed!


The case was, as seemed to be the norm of late, related to the border struggle between the United States and Mexico. "Why is it always drugs and weapons?" Lisbon mumbled under her breath when Cho gave the briefing.

Day one of the investigation went normally enough. Vega and Cho canvassed, Lisbon and Jane interviewed the family of someone killed in what was thought to be gang violence but was now under suspicion of being involved with the weapon smuggling. It was a long day, and tensions were high between the FBI and local police. "We have different ways of doing things," Wylie told Theo, who smiled politely in response to his habit of explaining things she already knew. "It won't be the last time it causes an issue."


When they had stressful days at work, Wylie and Vega usually came home and flopped down on the couch, falling asleep in their work clothes, or got, as Vega put it "aggressively intimate" against some vertical surface. Tonight, it was the latter, the honor of Vertical Surface going to the master bathroom door. Afterward, they jumped in the shower, not speaking, just letting the warm water hit them.

By the time they went to bed, they were ready to talk about work again. "We'll have to go in early tomorrow, probably," Vega said. "We have another two dozen potential suspects to sift through, not to mention..."

"You're not working tomorrow."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Wylie raised his eyebrows, staring at her. She realized what he meant and clapped a hand over her mouth. "Shit."


"Vega, I need you here today," Cho said, folding his arms.

She sighed. "I know, sir, but...it's the fourteenth. I go to the FWTC on the fourteenth. They're expecting me. Wylie can fill me in later! I already know the basics of the case from our half day yesterday..." Her phone buzzed – a special text notification that she'd set to the phone number from the hospital. "That's probably Angela making sure I'm coming." She didn't usually receive confirmation texts, but whatever this was, it would help her case.

"Go," Cho said. "I know that's important to you."

Vega grinned. "Thank you, boss." She headed back out into the bullpen. "I'm off," she said to Wylie. "See you at home?"

He grinned at her from his desk. "Okay. Have a good time!"

"Don't sound so excited about me leaving," she said over her shoulder, feigning hurt.

When Vega got to her car, she checked her phone. You're still coming today, right? If so, please come to my office before you leave. Vega nodded to herself as she responded, wondering what this could be about.

For the past year and a half, Vega had, once a month, returned to the place that had saved her life. It was always a little odd, walking those halls where so much had happened, where she was rushed to the operating room, where people were healed and where blood was spilled all over the stairs by the center reception desk. But it was something she had to do.

"You're lucky," Nurse Jaime had told her, a week after Wylie discovered the secret. "You have someone to encourage you, to care about you. Most people here, no one from their old life knows that they are here, that they are even alive. That's a downside to a place like this. You have life saving technology that isn't available to the general public yet, but what you can't have is the love from home." His words – repeated to her in varying forms by the other people that monitored her recovery, had resonated. So she took time out of her schedule once a month to pay visits to some of the patients here, encouraging them in their recovery, being their loved ones as best as she could.


"I'm not improving," was the main concern that Lai, the first woman Vega visited, was feeling.

"Sometimes you plateau for a bit," Vega said, squeezing her hand. "I like to think of it as my body preparing to improve again, taking a breather to keep making the climb."

She smiled. "I missed you, Michelle."

"I missed you too," Vega said with a smile. "I'm glad to see you're better than the last time I was here. And you'll keep getting better. Just stay positive, okay?"


"Michelle!"

Vega turned away from the door she was closing and smiled. "Angela! Hi!"

The older woman came over, extending her arms for a hug. "Oh darling, it's been too long. I know just a month, but still, too long!"

"I wish I could come more often," Vega said, falling in line with Angela as they headed to her office. "I was concerned when I got the text from you, I thought you were going to tell me to reschedule, and you know, I had just almost had a row with Cho over it."

They entered Angela's office, and she motioned for Vega to sit down. "No," she said, "we love when you are here. You're our biggest success story."

"Pssssh," Vega said, "I'm not nearly as prominent as half the people you've had here. You got to use my real name in discussion, remember?"

"Medically, though," Angela said, "you're inspiring. A wonder, I think it was your boss said?"

Vega blushed. "Stop it."

"Though I do admit...I actually have another reason for having you here today," Angela said, folding her hands.

Vega cocked her head. "Oh?"

Angela hesitated for a moment, then, "I'm offering you a job."

"...what? A job?"

"Yes. More specifically, my job." Angela tapped her fingers on the desk. "I am relocating, going to work more directly with military personnel. We choose our staffing for these facilities very carefully, and we need someone with experience in protocol, non-disclosure, professionalism, and discipline. You are a living legend in the FWTC, and you of course come from a strong background. I know you love your job at the FBI, but..." her tone softened. "You'd be valued here. The patients, they love you. I have spent four years working here, but it's time for me to move on. I am leaving regardless of what you decide, so we wanted to offer you the job first." She opened her drawer, pulling out some papers. "These are the terms. Salary, benefits. I know," she said when Vega opened her mouth to speak, "you need time to think it over. You have it. I wouldn't expect you to have an answer right away. Go home, talk it over with Wylie, and let me know."