A/N: I would like to thank all my lovely readers and reviewers, Juliet, Shirahane Aikawa, KenLalaLaura and mlivingston1432, for all their constant support. I wasn't really sure if this story was interesting but the response I'm getting is really surprising and encouraging. I am really grateful to all of you, for all the love you've been showing to this story and I can't thank you enough. =)

Chapter 16

(Leon's POV)

I swung my tie around my neck and tried to make a perfect looking knot, as I stood in front of the mirror. Kate was already in the bathroom getting ready for the party. As per the reports, Mathews did attend the convention and spoke about his research but didn't go in details, as always. And that's why we were hoping that he would show up at the party as well, after all that's where the funding investors would interact with the scientists, to decide if their research is worth their money.

I was having a little trouble with my tie, when my phone rang, and I took the call immediately. It was from Gray and he told me to meet them at the rendezvous point, which was close to party venue, in an hour. After telling them that we'll be there, I moved and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Are you ready?", I asked Kate from this side of the door.
"Yeah just a second", she replied and opened the door, "How do I look?"

I took her in details. She was wearing a short white dress, and it was shorter than the one she wore when we all went out to eat. The dress was elegant and modest but still it gave her some appeal, after all she did have an ideal figure. Her makeup looked natural and not like the icing on a cake, and her beautiful hair were down resting on one of her shoulders, "Did you cut your hair?", I asked her, acting out on my impulse.
She looked down at them and then back at me, "Yeah just a few, maybe an inch or two", she replied and I felt a little bothered by that reply.
"Anyways, Gray called, so let's head out", I told her, getting straight to the point and started to head out.

Kate laughed out loud and I looked back her puzzled, "You forgot to do your tie", she pointed at it laughing and I looked down at it, and indeed I had forgotten about it because I got distracted with the call, "I'll fix that for you", she added moving close and grabbing hold of my tie, "You really are forgetful at times", she said concentrating on the tie.
"I was more focused when you weren't there", I told her the truth, as she tightened my tie.
"You're flirting again", she stated smiling up at me and moved away, "Anyways let's get going, shall we?", she asked grabbing her purse.
"Yeah", I nodded and moved to the door and Kate cracked up laughing once again.
"Leon, your coat?", she said showing it to me.
"Yeah I forgot", I said feeling a little embarrassed about forgetting such trivial things.

Kate just shook her head smiling, as she moved to help me with my coat. And this time before moving out, I checked if I had everything to spare myself from another embarrassing situation. We moved out to meet Gray's team. There was still time for the convention's closing party to begin, but there were still a few more things to be taken care of on our end.

(Kate's POV)

I couldn't help but feel nervous, as I waited for Leon and the rest of the team, so we could head out to the party. We made a detour to this place, where we discussed strategy once again, making sure that everyone, including me, knows what to do. I was given a necklace that had a tracer, earrings, which worked both as a communicator and recorder, and spectacles that worked as camera. I was also reminded that if I get a conversation going on with Tony, then it all depends on me and was warned not to screw all their efforts. And then I was asked to wait a while, until they discussed confidential state matters.

I looked at my watch, it was a little over 7:30 PM, and then looked towards the room door anxiously, wondering if they were done yet. I felt like I was about to face one of my toughest exams and I wasn't really prepared for it. I tried remembering and repeating all the instructions that Leon and Gray had given me, hoping that I don't forget anything. I was in middle of thinking all this, when the room door opened and everyone started to walk out. I stood up and looked for Leon, who was at the very back of the crowd.

"Let's go!", Leon said walking up to me, since I was waiting for him. I just nodded and we followed rest of the people, "Are you nervous?", he asked me after some time.
I nodded, "And scared!", I told him the truth, "What if I mess up?"
"You won't", Leon said confidently, "All you have to do is look gorgeous and talk. And you're nailing looking gorgeous 10/10."
"What about talking, that's the important part, I think", I reminded him and he let out a laugh.
"Just be yourself and you'll be fine", he said to me in very casual tone.
"What if something really bad happens?", I spoke out my fears, stopping in my tracks. I really couldn't shake these ominous feelings that almost felt like death, "I am really scared!"

(Leon's POV)

I looked at Kate, it was normal for her to be scared like this, "We'll always be connected and monitoring you to make sure nothing happens to you", I assured her completely, "And anytime you feel like leaving, you can leave. We won't force you or blame you for anything."
"Is it dangerous?", Kate asked looking up straight in my eyes.
"I won't lie, it could get very dangerous", I told her the truth and we started to move again, "But I assure you that we'll do everything in our power to keep you away from any kind of harm. You trust us, right?", I asked her, as we got out of the building.
"No", Kate shook her head and I smiled at her honesty, "I don't trust those guys", she jerked her head in the direction of other agents, who were getting in their respective cars and leaving for the venue, "But I trust you!", her words left me speechless.

I looked down at the woman standing in front of me. I didn't even know, when was the last time someone trusted me like this. I really felt honored, when she spoke those words. She turned her head to look away from me and I realized Gray was calling her. She gave me a last look, before hurrying over to him. He said something to her, probably gave her some last minute instructions. She gave him a nod and responded politely, before getting in the car.

I don't know what made me but I almost ran to that car, before it could leave. I knocked on window and Kate rolled it down to listen, "I promise that I'll protect you", I told her and she smiled beautifully, "Be careful, alright?", she gave me a nod. I nodded at the agent that he could now drive her away.

(Kate's POV)

I looked at the image of Leon in the rear-view mirror as it grew distant and distant, disappearing in the end, as the car took a turn. I let out a heavy sigh and focused ahead, it was not the time to be distracted. The agent drove us to the venue, and we both showed our passes at the entrance, and went through a security check, before actually getting in the party. He was disguised as a reporter and I was disguised as his friend.

"Where is that guy?", The agent said looking over the crowd and I looked for Tony as well.
"To our left", I said not too loud, without getting anyone's attention and the agent looked at him.
"He's coming this way", he said to me, "Go talk to him."
"Just like that?", I couldn't help but say, as he half dragged me to him.
"Don't forget why you're here", he reminded me, "The sooner you'll do it, the sooner we'll all get to go home."
"But I can't just…", I was saying, when he made me grab a drink.
"Just go", he turned and pushed me from behind.

The result of his impatience was disastrous, since I had bumped into someone, and not only that but I had spilled my drink on them as well. I didn't even bother to look up at them as my panic level rose to the top, "I am so sorry… I didn't mean to…", I began apologizing.

(Leon's POV)

As I observed the situation from one of hidden cameras carried by one of our agents, our boat seemed to be sinking. Kate had dropped her drink on the subject, but I wouldn't say it was her fault. The agent that was with her was a little pushy about her going to talk with Mathews.

"There you have it Kennedy!", Gray pointed to the screen, as it showed Kate apologizing to Mathews, "I knew she was hopeless..."
"You're Kate, right?", Mathews voice, through the speakers, cut Gray's rant short.
"He recognized her", I quickly moved to put on the headset to clearly listen to their conversation.

Kate looked up at Mathews surprised, but didn't say anything to him, "You don't remember me? I am Tony, Tony Mathews. I was in the same university as you, we had the same classes. I was studying molecular medicine and you were studying human medicine."
Kate still didn't say anything but just kept looking at him in shock, 'Say something!', I couldn't help but send her mental signals.
"Tony?" she finally spoke, "Oh my god you look so different. I didn't recognize you at first", she disguised her initial shock and lack of response perfectly. And I heard Gray sigh in relief from my side.

Mathews' gaze drifted downwards a little and then back at her face, "You've grown beautiful as well", he complimented her.
Kate let out a laugh, "Thank you!", she spoke and acted in a very natural way.
"Let's sit and talk?", he asked pointing to his side.
Kate turned her head and we knew he was pointing to an empty table, "Sure!", she agreed with a smile.

As they moved, our agents moved as well to capture their interaction on their cameras. Although Kate had a camera as well, but we couldn't really observe the surroundings that much with just her camera, since it was a pair of specs and it filmed whatever or wherever she was looking at. We watched them settle on the table and Mathews smiled at her. He was definitely being more social to Kate and I seriously hoped that he'd somehow spill the beans to her.

"So how come you're here?", Mathews asked her sipping his drink, "You became a researcher as well?"
"No, no, no", Kate responded waving her hand and shaking her head in negative, "Actually one of my friends is a reporter and he had me come along with him so I can, you know, better explain things to him, so it could help him write the articles. So I came to aid him", she gave him the reason that we had instructed her to quote, if he asked her about her sudden appearance.
"So you became a researcher?", she asked him in a little awkward tone, "I mean if you are conducting a research on your own or are you assisting in someone else's research?"
"Oh I've been conducting my own research", Mathews told her in a very proud tone with a very proud smile.
"Oh that's really great!", she acted surprised and impressed, "What is it about?", she asked him.

Mathews didn't answer her right away and refilled his glass. We all waited very patiently for him to respond, and Kate kept her silence and didn't say anything anymore. She kept her eyes on him, waiting for the answer. It was a crucial moment for us, because if he didn't want to talk to Kate about his research, then this mission would be fruitless. He smiled at Kate once again and Kate gave him another friendly smile.

"I am researching about how to slow down the process of degeneration of cells", Mathews finally spoke and I inwardly sighed in relief.
"Wow", Kate said in acknowledgement, "How are you doing that?"

"She's being too direct!", Gray cursed her pulling his hair, "I told her not to be too direct about anything", he looked at me. But I knew Kate was just being herself, going roundabout anything wasn't her way of talking. She was honestly having a normal conversation with Mathews, with a thought that she had to ask him about his research. She was doing a great job and like always I didn't have any complaints with her.

"I am sorry I can't tell you", Mathews said to her shaking his head slightly.
"Oh that's fine", Kate said in a very understandable tone, "I guess it must be all very confidential, to keep it from people stealing it."
"Yeah", he agreed and we were all disappointed. She continued to talk to him for a while about random stuff, since it would be too suspicious if she left right away.

"Kate, you can leave now", I spoke to her, through headset, after a while. She lacked the professionalism of an agent and she possibly couldn't ask him about his research in a roundabout manner.
"It was a failure in the end", Gray said disappointed removing his headset and moving away.

"I guess I should go and find my friend now", Kate said standing up, "Thank you for giving me your time."
"You're going already?", he asked her surprised getting up as well.
Kate looked at her watch and then at him, "Yeah I'll go find him and have dinner, it's getting a little late", she made an excuse.
"He's your boyfriend?", he asked her all of a sudden.
"Oh no, just a friend", she replied, "It was nice to see you after so long", she added in an attempt to bring their meet to an end.

With a final handshake Kate turned her back on Mathews and walked away from him. As I had hoped Mathews was interested in her, but I guess he wasn't that interested to talk about his research. Still we did pretty well, despite the fact that it was all for nothing. Gray started to instruct his team for the next step, but I kept my eyes on Kate, my responsibility won't end unless she was back at home with me.

"Kate!", I heard a male's voice through the headphone and Kate turned to spot Mathews, "Would you like to come see my research?" I couldn't believe his words and neither did the rest of the people in the monitoring room, since everybody just got silent.
"Me?", Kate said in surprise.
"You're interested in my research right? I can't talk about it here but I could show it to you", Mathews said to her and he seemed desperate, "I trust you, you were the only one that behaved nicely with me."
"I am glad to know that you trust me this much, but I am not sure", Kate said to him very doubtfully and Mathews tried to convince her about it.

"What are you not sure about just go with him and find out what he's up to", Gray literally ordered her over the communication line.
My heart was exhilarated with the idea of Kate going to see his lab and his research, and it was more than what we really asked for. It was like getting a free prize on doing nothing, but with all my reason and experience I spoke very clearly in the headset, "Refuse his offer, Kate!"
"What?!", Gray looked at me in shock and then barked back to her, "You won't do something like that now, accept his offer!"
"No Kate, don't! Once you're in his territory we can't monitor you, you'll be on your own and we won't be able to aid you", I told her the truth keeping my eyes on her.
"This would all be in vain, woman, so don't you dare screw this up for us", Gray appealed to her, "We've been working on this for months and we won't ever get a chance like this, so you've to do it. I assure you…"
"Kate, listen to me", I cut him in between.

"Cut his line", Gray ordered to his subordinate and he did so, "Listen girl, I assure you that we'll protect you no matter what", he smiled at my helplessness to communicate with Kate.
"Kate, don't listen to him. He's lying!", I yelled out to her, so maybe my voice could carry on through his microphone.
"You have no reason to be afraid of", Gray spoke in a very convincing tone and I felt my rage rising.
"Give that to me", I moved to take his headset and Gray did a good job in keeping me away from it.
"Agree to it or he'd get suspicious", Gray said to her, as I was restrained by some agents, "Our efforts will be wasted, yours, mine and agent Kennedy's as well. You don't want that do you?"
"Okay I will go with you", Kate finally agreed to Mathews and the agents let go of me.

"No", I couldn't help but say, as she walked with Mathews, "You bastard!", I grabbed Gray's collar, "What have you done?! She's not an agent; she doesn't know how to deal with such situations. She wasn't trained for this. This is asking too much of her."
"She signed up for it", Gray gave me a sly smile.
"You really don't care, what happens to her, do you?", I asked him, feeling extremely enraged at him.
"Some sacrifices are necessary, Kennedy", he replied and I couldn't help but punch him.

Gray fell back on the ground, but I didn't have any more time to waste on him. Kate was right not to trust him with her life, but she trusted me with it and I won't let her down even if I have to risk my own life. I knew there would be a time, when Gray and I would come to a conflict and fortunately I had prepared for it. I left the monitoring room and headed out to carry out my contingency plan.

A/N: Thanks for giving this chapter your time, I hope you enjoyed. I really apologize if the context was confusing, due to some typing or grammatical error. Feel free to comment, I like knowing your views and it helps me to improve my overall writing.

Juliet: I was really glad to see your review, I thought that you might have stopped reading, but I was really delighted to see your comment. I'll try my best to bring good stories to you and every reader of mine. Thanks for your lovely wishes as well! ^_^

See you all next week!