Author's Notes: To answer the questions:
1) Yes, as my writing apparently shows, I kind of am obsessed with Paige as a character, and I admittedly like her more than Mike. They're very different people and have very different focuses and views, and that's why it's fun for me to write.
2) I think Paige and Charlie are two of the best written female characters in media right now, (I actually don't even hate on Abby, I just think that the writers are purposely not staging her to be a likable romantic lead).
3) Briggs and Charlie are just really good friends and essentially war buddies who have a long history together, and yes, are attracted to each other. But they are way too professional to ever let anything more happen between them…. Again.
Thanks: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Skinny Double Dirty Chai
Chapter 2
Paige is on her third karaoke song of the evening. She is fully aware that she is hogging the stage, but no one has complained yet. She's pretty sure the applause is more in response to her low cut dress and tendency to bounce, rather than due to any semblance of singing skills, but she'll take it. Anything to keep her out of reach of Bobby Moy's wandering hands.
She is smiling and bouncing away, when she finally spots Charlie in the crowd. Thank God.
The man next to Charlie throws his arm around her, and Paige is surprised Charlie doesn't break it off. Usually Charlie has a no nonsense attitude with the pigs in this bar. However, Charlie not only allows it, but leans comfortably into his embrace.
Paige squints her eyes into the spotlight, and realizes the guy is not one of the bar's regulars. He definitely doesn't fit in. He's way too handsome and clean. Plus if that's not enough of a sign, he has a look of childlike wonderment etched all over his face. This must be the new guy. Of course. Charlie would not be able to wait for Paige to get back to the house to set her matchmaking scheme in motion. She was so obvious.
Paige finally ends her song with an exaggerated giggle, and basks in the half hearted applause that signals her humiliation can end. It's all she can do to keep from jumping off the stage and running over to Charlie, but she's got a job to do. So instead, she slowly and sensually walks over to where Bobby is seated.
"Hey babe. I'll be right back." She leans over so her breasts are eye level for Bobby. She knows this is her best chance of distracting him while she grabs his mostly full drink. He stops her by grabbing her wrist, and she turns to face him, worried he might not let her take it.
"Where are you going?" He's such a possessive asshole. He wants to know where she is at all times.
"Ladies room." She smiles brightly, trying not to let any of the hatred she feels show. "I'll be right back, babe."
Paige crosses the bar towards Charlie, relieved she got the drink. She grabs the drink she ordered before she went on stage, from the bar and combine the two in the glass. She doesn't acknowledge Charlie as she walks by, other than to say, "Bathroom."
Once they are out of the eyesight of Bobby and his thugs, Charlie immediately digs into her.
"That was beautiful, like really beautiful. You got a record deal yet?" Charlie teases.
"That was my encore. You missed the first half of the show. Where have you been?" Paige asks.
"Well I had to figure out what to wear, but I obviously overdressed. I didn't know tonight was lingerie night at the club." Charlie gestures to Paige's dress.
"Hey, I don't have access to my normal wardrobe. Maybe next time you should pack me something that covers my bra." Paige scolds playfully.
"Hell no, I want the full show. The costumes. The dancing. The singing… when are you going to start singing by the way? Because I don't think what you were doing before qualifies. I can't hear anymore."
Charlie rags on Paige as they entered the bathroom. The new guy trailed them silently, being drug along like a small child behind Charlie.
"Shut it. Ok?" Paige laughs.
Seeing Charlie was refreshing. If there was any possible way she could go home with Charlie tonight instead of Bobby, she would. Hell, she'd trade places with the new guy and let him fight off Bobby's advances, if she thought that would work. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible. She was in too deep.
The inside of the bathroom seems empty thankfully, with exception of a sex worker pulling a very guilty looking older man out of the bathroom.
Paige frowns as she remembers the times she's gone under as a prostitute. She isn't a very good hooker, she always busted the guy for drugs before any sex took place, but it still wasn't fun. Not that this case was much better.
Once Paige is sure they are alone in the bathroom she asks. "Did you get them?"
"Yeah." Charlie assures her, pulling a small package out of her purse and taking off her shoe.
"God, I'm gonna start buying these things in bulk." Paige sighs as she heads into a stall.
This dress is so tight that if Paige even takes a sip of water, her bladder threatens to break the zipper. She's aware that the new guy, she can't remember his name, is in the bathroom as well, but figures they're going to be housemates, he's going to hear her pee eventually. Paige has never been shy.
"So this is the infamous Levi!" She acknowledges him, keeping the conversation going.
"It's Mike." That's right. She knew it started with an 'M'.
"He's my boyfriend tonight. And he's cute right?" Charlie asks, sounding not at all subtle.
"Yeah, he's hot." Paige humors Charlie. Though she's not lying. Mike actually is more attractive than Paige expected. He'll fit in just fine at the Graceland house.
"It's nice to meet you Levi."
"Yeah, you too, it's Mike." He stutters. He's certainly a nervous little thing.
"You fresh out of Quantico?" Ah the joys of making small talk in a public restroom. Have to keep it going. If the conversation stops for a second there's nothing but the sound of trickling water.
"Yes ma'am." So, the kid is clearly not a talker.
"At ease soldier." Paige laughs.
He's so formal. He'll have to grow out of that quickly. She hopes she gets back to Graceland before he loses all his innocence and is as cynical as the rest of them. The good-natured hazing is one of her favorite parts.
"Still making no headway with Bobby?" Charlie asks, and Paige can hear her pounding up the pills into a powder on the other side of the door.
"Nothing. I'm looking for stuff on him, and all he want's to do is get under me." Paige groans as she remembers what's waiting for her outside of the bathroom.
"Wait, is that what the birth control is for?" Oh, the poor kid sounds horrified.
"I'm not taking them." Apparently Charlie has not filled Mike in on the details of their mission out here.
"Well your agency doesn't expect you to… um…" The poor boy is having trouble even forming the words.
He's judging her. She can hear it in his voice. He thinks she's a whore. Sure, it was easy for him to judge. The kid had only been undercover for two cases, and neither of them involved having to smile into the face of the enemy whose hand is up your skirt like you're his personal puppet. Like he owns you. Having to clench your teeth and fight every instinct to punch him, because you can't blow your cover, and have to stay close to him. Undercover work must seem like dress up to him.
Paige comes out from the other side of the door prepared to give him hell, but under further inspection of his wide eyes she calms herself. He clearly didn't mean any harm. He looked innocent in every sense of the word. He would learn soon enough that at Graceland, you don't ever judge a person for what they have to do undercover.
"I'm not going to screw him. The pills are for Bobby." She states firmly.
She's being way too harsh with him, but it's important to her that he understands this fact. It's also almost like Paige is reassuring herself. Mike holds her eye contact and gulps.
"Give a guy a couple of these and his soldier's at ease." Charlie explains.
Charlie always was more patient and a better teacher than Paige.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Thank God. I can't take this anymore." Paige groans in frustration.
The last time Bobby couldn't get it up, he got so angry she thought he might hit her. Paige knew at some point he'd get suspicious.
"Gross." Charlie agrees.
"Well can I ask you a question? I mean you're going under as his girlfriend. Don't you kinda expect him to want to uh..."
The kid seemed really confused by the basic concepts of going undercover. Paige had heard he was smart. She idly wondered what they were teaching them at Quantico, as she examined herself in the mirror, adjusting her dress.
She turns away from the mirror and he seems to find his words. "...well you know... want to get with you."
She almost laughed at the PG phrasing, but doesn't want to hurt the poor guys feelings. He was obviously nervous. He reminded Paige of a puppy dog learning to walk.
"Absolutely."
Paige knows what men want, they like money and power. Sex was just the physical embodiment of those two things.
"Why don't you get out?"
Mike has just asked the question that Paige had been asking herself for weeks.
She should get out. She doesn't know why she's still here actually. She's getting nothing from Bobby and probably never will. However for some reason, when Paige hears Mike voice the words she suddenly knows her answer.
"Because I want the bastard." She says resolutely.
She flashes him a grin, the first sincere smile she's given all night. She suddenly no longer feels trapped and weighed down in a situation she can't control. She's choosing to be here. She's going to put this scum of the earth behind bars. Paige feels her spirits and focus renew and suddenly she can't wait to get out of this bathroom, and get back to work.
"Ok Mama." Charlie says. "It's getting hot in here."
"Thanks Charlie!" Paige chirps. Armed with her erection killer, she is ready to conquer the world.
"It was nice to meet you Mike." She slaps his ass playfully. She wishes could stay to see the expression on his face, she bets it's priceless, but she has a very thirsty drug lord waiting and a karaoke song with her name on it.