A/N : WE REACHED A HUNDRED REVIEWS, NERDIES ! WOOP-WOOP!
And it's all because of you and your heartwarming thoughts and comments! I fuckin' love you. YOU. ARE. AWESOME!
To the guest reviewer on last chapter, George R.R Martin (GRRM, for short) is an American author. He's famous for having written A song of ice and fire (Game of Thrones) franchise.
Here you go, chapter fourteen! Untitled Stick to the plan. Uh. I wonder what that means.
I don't own anything.
NEW YORK CITY, NY.
2009
Bryce found himself captivated by his reflection. Not that he was a shallow person who couldn't help but stare at his reflection whenever he found himself in front of a mirror or window. It just crazy how much he had changed without really changing. The way he was standing. The way he was talking. Hell, even the way he dressed. It was funny how easily he had became this new person. This Neal George Caffrey, born Bennett. The transition had been effortless, as if he had been eager to leave Bryce Larkin behind. And in a way he had been. But still, it felt weird to not recognize the person staring back at him.
"It gets better."
The sudden sound made him turn around, smirking as he recognized his two mentors. For some reason, both Mozzie and Alex were dressed as if they were going to an official ceremony. The young woman was wearing a tight knee-length black dress with matching stilettos and fedora hat, her hair up in a bun. The bald man was wearing a grey button-up and dressing pants and shoes.
"It sounds cliché." Alex referred to her earlier statement as both conmen walk toward Bryce "But it does. It won't always be this weird."
"Are you a mind reader?" Bryce asked, half-teasing.
"Worst." The brunette woman retorted, leaning closer so she could whisper in his ear. "I'm a thief."
The former spy let out a laugh, Alex quickly joining in. When the laughter stopped, the young woman brought his lips to hers, a hand on the back of his neck. This time, Bryce was prepared. He put both of his hands on her waist, he returned the kiss with fervor, pushing his body against hers. Standing on the side, Mozzie scoffed and rolled his eyes.
Pulling back, Alex pursed her lips and hummed thoughtfully as Bryce wiped the remains of her red lipstick.
"Better." she announced, winking as Bryce cocked an eyebrow.
With a grin, she took off her hat and raised on her tiptoes so she could put it on the brown haired man. Sighing her struggle, Bryce willingly bent his head and grinned as Alex dumped the fashion accessory on him. Turning on her heels, the conwoman walked toward the exit, calling over her shoulder:
"See you around, B!"
"You too, Lex." He murmured gently, even though she was too far gone to hear him.
After a long silence, Mozzie cleared his throat, making his presence known. Bryce rolled his eyes before turning toward the shorter man.
"So", he began, "I told you that she was insane."
Bryce snorted before taking the hat off his head, examining each detail of it as he retorted softly:
"It's a good kind of insanity, though."
"Whatever you say, Larkin." The bald man sighed, pushing back his glasses on his nose.
He, then, did the unexpected. Mozzie held out a hand of Bryce, saying:
"You're not so bad, after all. I'll see when I see you?"
The young man's smile became more genuine as he took his hand and shook it:
"I'll see you when I see you, Moz."
Returning the smile, Mozzie quickly took his hand out of Bryce's hold, ignoring the younger man's laugh as he wiped on his pants it and exited the room, leaving the former spy alone. Bryce, though, didn't have the time to feel lonely. A few minutes later, Beckman strolled into the room, and strangely, Bryce didn't feel the need to stand to attention. Giving her a small smile, he asked:
"So am I free to go?"
"Well, you're ready, according to your instructors, so I'd say that yes. You're a free man."
"Until Burke catch me and throw me back in prison." Bryce retorted.
"Details, Mr Larkin. Simple details." The redhead woman said.
Surprised by the unexpected humor, Bryce let out a small chuckle, getting a rare smile from Beckman. Composing himself, the young woman asked again:
"So what are the orders, ma'am?"
"Oh, this isn't a mission, Mr. Larkin." The general was quick to correct him.
A blink.
"Come again?"
"This is a way out" Beckman explained patiently "A fresh start. Well, not really but it's the closest thing that you'll get to a fresh start."
"... I'm not really sure I understand."
"Bryce Larkin is believed to be dead, not Neal Caffrey. I wasn't kidding when I said that you'll be a free man the minute you'll walk out that door. You'll make your own choices and will be on your own."
"What about Caffrey? The people that threathened, the people that killed him?" Bryce asked, emphasizing on the words.
"Under govermental watch. The NSA and CIA are watching their every moves. They'll be take down or incarcerated if need be."
Bryce's gaze was stuck on the hat in his hands, as if the object was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen. If Beckman was standing so close to him, she would not have heard him when he murmured, doubtful:
"It can't be that easy."
The young man almost jumped when a soft hand grabbed his chin and tilted his head up, his blue eyes met Beckman's green gaze.
"Yes, it is. All you have to say, it's 'thank you, General.'
Bryce grinned and put a hand on the older woman's arm, patting it with new-found affection, as he said:
"Thank you, General."
PRESENT TIME
Bryce watched anxiously as Shaw took off the glasses, blinking several times before a grin appeared on his face. The former spy found himself smiling too, letting out a sigh of relief at the satisfaction the rogue felt. He watched as Shaw walked toward on off the camera, knowing Roark was watching, anxious to see the result, and grabbed a radio, announcing:
"The product has been downloaded, sir. Even though my brain feels heavier that usual, I feel fine."
Those words were received with laughs, applause and whistles, earning a eye-roll from Ellie, much to Bryce's amusement. Amusement that quickly vanished when he felt someone staring at him. Turning around, his eyes met the dark glare of Wilson – the guard he had previously shot at the mall -. Smirking with a confidence he didn't feel, Bryce almost shivered when the tall man growled at him. His gaze discreetly darted to the table, settling on Shaw's gun. With a discreet sleight of hand, Bryce took the weapon and tucked it under his shirt.
"I'll be convinced of its success when I'll see it work." Roark's voice brought him back to reality.
"Well, testing won't hurt, will it? Any volunteer?" Shaw proposed, his arms opened.
As no one seemed eager to take the first step, Shaw sighed dramatically then pointed at a random person.
"You. Yeah, you, dumbass! Attack me."
Bryce observed the chosen one : a young guard who seemed hesitant to hit an authority figure. Shaw kept staring at him, his hands on his hips and his eyebrows cocked in impatience.
"I'm waiting."
Taking a deep breath, the chosen guard threw a punch.
Things went downhill from that moment.
Instead of flashing and quickly and easily incapacitating the young guard, Shaw fell backward, taken aback by the violence of the punch. Several people gasped as Bryce winced and Shaw brought a hand to his already bruising cheek, glaring furiously at his oponnent. The latter became paler and paler, gulping as he watched the rogue agent stand back up. Spating blood, Shaw yelled:
"What the fuck, Larkin?!"
Shoting a quick glance at a dumbstruck Ellie, Bryce looked back at Shaw and the numerous guards that were closing in on him. Gulping, the former spy let out a nervous chuckle, saying:
"See, here's the thing. I-I don't really work for the CIA, you know that-"
Then in a blink, Bryce's entire facial expression changed, his eyes were cold and emotionless, his lopsided grin had disappeared and his tone was murderous when he added:
"I don't collaborate with terrorists, either."
Well, that's a surprise.
Sara couldn't help but chuckle in relief at the new developpement. Elizabeth, obviously, shared the sentiment as a grin appeared on the older woman's face. Roark, on the other hand, was another story. If the strawberry blonde wasn't actually scared for her life, she would have laughed as she observed his face turn red and a vein popping on his neck.
Jumping off of the couch like a daredevil would jump out of a box, the older man hissed:
"What's the meaning of this?"
Sara couldn't help herself. She tried to bite her tongue, she bit the inside of her cheek until she drew blood. But unfortunately, the words still manage a way to get out:
"Well, maybe my boyfriend isn't that smart. According to you, I mean. I think that he's a freaking genius."
Roark snarled at her, again leaning in so close that his breath felt hot on her cheek. Shoting a look over his shoulder, he called, not bothering to back away:
"Mr Gilbert, I think our guests would like to visit the basement once more."
The conman smirked and, as he was about to walk toward them, a gunshot was heard and Gilbert collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Both Elizabeth and Sara gasped, the former covering her mouth with her hands in shock as Roark turned to Alice, his eyes wide opened and his jaw clenched. The blonde woman simply smirked and pointed the gun to Roark, retorting:
"And I think that our guests are perfect right where they are."
Bryce was the center of attention and, for once in his life, that didn't bother gave a mena cing growl then rushed toward him, gun out. Bryce didn't blink as he shot the taller man in the foot, leaving him howling in pain. With a smug smirk, the pretender bent to pick the weapon, patting Wilson on the shoulder and saying:
"Nice tryin', buddy."
Bryce, then, walked toward Ellie and offered the stolen gun. Noticing the older woman's hesitation, the former spy gave her a soft smile, whispering:
"You don't have to use it. I'll feel better if you had something to defend yourself."
Gulping, Ellie shot him a weak smile back before nodding and taking the weapon with shaking hands. Ellie closed her eyes, took a deep breath before letting out again. Bryce grinned, noticing that her hands were still when she opened her eyes. Looking around the room, his grin turned into a smirk when he saw all guns pointed his way. Sighing, Bryce dramatically raised his arms above his head as if he was going to turn himself in. The effect was ruined by the gun held tighltly in one of his hands.
"Listen, guys. You would do everyone a favor if you'd lower your guns without any protest."
One of the guards let out a scoff, as others snickered, oblivious amused by the former spy's sudden confidence. Bryce simply cocked an eyebrow and crossed his arms, wondering aloud:
"What's so funny?"
"I find it hilarious" Shaw was the one to spoke up as he got back up, wincing in pain "That you think you can take everyone in here on your own, Larkin."
Bryce let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief, before asking:
"So you won't believe me if I told you that I had this place surrounded right now?"
The fake conman could see some guards hesitating, exchanging some glances while Shaw glared at him, his jaw clenched and his eyes dark with anger. Bryce let out a dramatic sigh and shrugged, saying:
"Fine."
As soon as the word left his mouth, shots were fired from an unknown angle and most of the guards fell on the floor, unconscious. Unmoving, but still breathing. Bryce couldn't help but smirk as he watched the others look around them, fear in their eyes and guns, now, facing the ground. The young man lost his smile and ordered, his eyes shooting daggers:
"Now, I won't ask again but I think it would be really wise for you to drop your weapons."
All weapons clattered to the floor as guards gave themselves up. Bryce made a show of tucking his gun under his shirt and stuffing his hands in his pockets before he started wandering the room.
"I bet you wouldn't believe if I told you that Chucky here." The blue-eyed man said, nodding his head toward Chuck's still form "had been conscious the whole time. Now, that would be something, wouldn't it, Chucky?"
Shaw swallowed and turned to face the Human Intersecret, actually paling as he saw Chuck's eyelids fluttered. And he wasn't the only one. Their captors were watching the spy as if he were a zombie. Chuck groaned and he moved back against the wall behind him, his free hand pressing against his wounded arm as he glared at his former roommate, muttering:
"Don't call me Chucky."
"I can feel the love, Chucky." Bryce taunted, winking at him.
The spy scoffed, giving him the finger while his sister rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head as if the two men were children. As she watched the younger man moving and trying to get up, Ellie couldn't help but scold him:
"Chuck, I just patched you up."
"M'fine." Chuck whined
Bryce laughed and Ellie pursed her lips, her gun still pointed at Shaw. The former spy composed himself before shoting a fake grin at the rogue agent and adding:
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you that there was a virus in the Intersecret you just downloaded into your brain, would you?"
"Oh, you didn't mention that before?" Ellie asked sarcastically.
"Must've slipped my mind. Oops." Bryce retorted, wincing.
Shaw stared at the fake conman, breathless and his eyes wide-opened, falling back onto the ground. Instinctly, the rogue agent flinched as Bryce walked toward him, snatching the briefcase and radio sitting on the table. Smirking, he announced, shaking the device in his hands:
"I'll just take this, don't worry", then bringing the radio to his mouth, he added. "All clear, you can come in."
As soon as the words were spoken, armed men barged into the warehouse, cuffing Roark's men and gathering their weapons and other valuable things they could find. As all men were dressed in black, Devon stuck out like a sore thumb, with his golden hair, white button-up and and jeans. Shoting a look at his wife, the doctor then rushed to Chuck's side, frowning his eyebrows as he asked:
"How the hell are you up?"
"Determination." The spy hissed through his teeth.
Devon rolled his eyes before ordering to the medics that had followed him to take care of other injuries. As he got out a small torch to examine Chuck's wound and the band wrapped around it, Devon looked up at Ellie again and asked:
"You okay baby?"
"I'm fine." Ellie retorted, still glaring at Shaw, the latter returning the glare with less fervour. "how's Clara?"
"I don't know, I'll have to ask mom later." The blonde doctor explained as he tried to peel the bandage off.
When he looked up, Devon met Ellie's gaze, her brown eyes wide-opened at the revelation, and shrugged, protesting:
"I didn't really have a choice! Your mother came with us."
"Ah, yes!" Bryce exclaimed suddenly, making the couple jump in unisson, his presence no longer forgotten. "I almost forgot." he added, oblivious to the affect his outburst had on people.
An older woman – she seemed to be in her late fourties - appeared to his sides. She was wearing a white blouse, dressing black pants with a matching blazer and her light brown hair was up in a tight ponytail. She crossed her arms and offered a tight, toothless smile at Shaw, the latter inintentionally gulping. Still smirking, Bryce announced:
"Daniel Shaw, I would like for you to meet Mary Bartowski, a.k.a Frost. Mrs Bartowski, meet the man that made you a widow.
"Hi." was Mary's only response.
It was, then, followed by three intense minutes of staring between the two, interrupted by Bryce. The latter clapped in his hands, rubbing them as he said:
"Good. Now that you've met the woman who is going to give you nightmares during your nights in prison, I suggest we get going."
The former spy nodded to two men who nodded back before picking Shaw up from the ground. The latter glared at them, hissing through his teeth:
"You make yourselves the good guys, the heroes and treat us as the villains. The truth is, you are no better than us. You're worst. You're murderers. The difference between you and me? You're working for the government and they let you do wha-"
The rogue agent's rant was stopped as Ellie shot him. All heads turned toward the woman, the latter rolling her eyes as she replied:
"What? It's just a tranq gun. Plus, he was getting on my nerves and an unconscious Shaw is easier to carry out."
Ellie threw the weapon at Bryce, the latter easily catching in it, before going out of the warehouse, closely followed by her mother. The three men stayed behind, observing the two women in silence with bewilderment and amusement.
"Dude, your sister's scary." Devon muttered to his brother-in-law.
"You're the one who chose to marry her." Chuck retorted.
Bryce snorted as he watched the two banter back and forth ,then brought the radio to his lips:
"Alex, do you copy me? We're ready to head out."
Sara and Elizabeth observed, eyes wide-opened and jaws on the floor as the then-innocent, bubbly blonde glared at Roark, her hands still and her jaw clenched as she had a gun pointed at the old man's chest. The latter quickly composed himself, smirking coldly as he approached Alice.
"You're not going to shoot me."
Alice cocked an eyebrow and was about to reply, when she was interrupted by the radio sizzling on the coffee table, then a familiar voice called out:
"-Lex? Alex, can you hear me?"
All eyes turned to the object, excluded Roark's and Alice/Alex's, both were too busy staring at each other to pay attention. Frowning his eyebrows, the white-haired man reached for the radio, his eyes never leaving the blonde. His frown deepened when Roark saw a smile appear on the young woman's face as she lowered her gun and said:
"You're right. I'm not going to shoot you."
Alice/Alex tilted her head to the side and ran her fingers through her hair. Taking off the blonde wig at the same time and revealing brown locks, to the other women and Roark's bewilderment before she added:
"But she will."
A gun was shot and Roark fell unconscious to the ground, his surprise still visble on his face to the amusement of one Alex McHugh and shock of Elizabeth and Sara. Their gazes turned toward the doorway where two gorgeous, light brown haired women stood, guns out. One was wearing a DEA jacket while the other was wearing a simple black catsuit. The DEA agent made a show to blow on the barrel of her gun before putting it away, while her partner rolled her eyes as they both entered the room, followed by a SWAT team and a little, bearded man.
Alex shook her hair with one hand and took the radio with the other hand, getting tired of Bryce's shouting. With a sigh, she brought the device to her mouth and answered:
"Everything's fine here. Both Roark and Gilbert are out, and Zondra, Carina and Morgan just arrived."
"Great! See you at the rendez-vous point."
"Copy that." The brown haired woman concluded before throwing the radio back on the table.
Restraining a yawn, Alex put her hair up in a ponytail before joining Morgan, the latter typing furiously on Roark's laptop. The small man turned his head as he heard her approach, smiling as he asked:
"Hey, you're okay? Unharmed and all?"
"Yeah, just tired.", she replied, wrapping her arms around his waist and her head resting on his shoulder.
"Well, good." Morgan sighed, turning off and closing the small computer before he turned around to wrap an arm around her waist "Because I'd hate to be the one telling Papa Casey that his daughter got hurt."
Carina scoffed and crossed her arms as she approached the couple, saying:
"Let's not kid ourselves, if little Casey had been hurt, we would have thrown both Chuck and Bruce under the bus."
".. You know we can still hear you, right?" Bryce's familiar voice came through the radio again.
"And you know we must love you very much to do what we did, Larkin!" Zondra retorted, snatching the radio before turning it off.
Alex chuckled, pecking Morgan on his scruffy cheek as the latter started muttering about Carina's proximity while Zondra rolled her eyes again at her partner's behaviour.
Feeling forgotten, Elizabeth cleared her throat and got up from the couch. The brown haired woman had to restrain herself from flinching when the two female agents turned their heads to stare at her. Behind her, Elizabeth could almost hear Sara swallow in fear. Taking a deep breath, she asked:
"Could, please, somebody explain what the hell is going on?"
"It's a long story." Zondra sighed, inwardly cursing Bryce and Chuck.
A SWAT agent stopped her from saying more as he walked toward Carina, announcing that the loft had been cleared and that they were ready to go. The DEA agent grinned, patted Morgan on the head before skipping toward the exit, calling over her shoulder:
"Well, hopefully, you're about to find out." Stopping, Carina turner around, bitting her lower lip as she added "If Walker didn't kill her fiancé or ex-boyfriend."
Ex-boyfriend? Sara couldn't help but think. The DEA agent didn't seem to care much as she shrugged her shoulders and strolled out of the loft, leaving the others dumbfounded, confused or just annoyed with her.
Neal better be alive, so I can kill him myself, the strawberry blonde woman thought as she followed the strange woman out.
A/N 2: There's an Ocean's Eleven reference in this chapter, see if you can spot it !
Until later, nerds!