Chapter 2 – Time-out

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Office # 322 at the FBI New York headquarter

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Special agent Bella Swan rubbed her chin, leaned forward in her desk chair and typed a few carefully chosen words into the IM window on the screen before her.

Lethal_curves: How's New Mexico? Not a complete waste of time, I hope!

Her question was directed at her currently out-of-town co-worker Seth Clearwater.

While Bella waited for him to reply, she chugged down the last of her orange juice, wishing it was coffee. Normally long, dull afternoons at the office, called for a shit-load of caffeine, nicotine and, if all else failed, painkillers… nice relaxing, stress reducing substances… all of which she had sworn off recently in favor of a healthier lifestyle.

Thankfully, though, she still had chocolate to fall back on….

'Now where did I put that Mars Bar', Bella thought to herself as she dug through her desk drawer. Just then her laptop chimed indicating a new message.

Wolfman007: New Mexico is unseasonably chilly. Got here too late…

Forgetting her chocolate momentarily, Bella quickly typed in another question and hit enter.

Lethal_curves: It was him, though, right? The perv?

The perv or 'Mr-pervy-porn-photagrapher', triple P for short, as Bella liked to call him, was a suspect in a particularly difficult murder case that had the entire bureau in a buzz.

Seth's answer was instant, but vague.

Wolfman007: Affirmative
Wolfman007: Got some fresh digits for you to process, but I can't get into any dets. I'll tell you all about it when I return to home base…

With 'home base' he meant New York City and the FBI's headquarters, where both Seth and Bella worked for the Protective Services Unit (PSU). And the digits he mentioned could be anything from credit card records to license plate numbers to gun registrations. Probably nothing too exiting, though, seeing as he had waited 24 hours before making contact.

Lethal_curves: Nothing urgent, I take it?

Wolfman007: Nothing that can't wait a day or two while I work on my tan.

Lethal_curves: I see how it is… No hurry to return to the hamster wheel, eh? You better bring me a souvenir worth the wait!

Wolfman007: I'll think of something… Wolfman007: Speaking of the hamster wheel… What's new with you? Still shuffling papers?

Lethal_curves: Something like that.

Wolfman007: Any news on when your field status will be reinstated?

This time, it was Bella's turn to be vague.

Lethal_curves: Soon(ish), I hope. At least I'm not suspended anymore. That has to count for something."

Wolfman007: You need me to have another talk with the suits from Internal Affairs?

Being assigned desk duty was the punishment of all punishments for a hungry and eager rookie agent like Clearwater. What Seth didn't know, however, was that Bella's current 'time-out' was more of a mutual agreement, rather than a disciplinary reprimand. Her co-workers only knew half the story and she liked to keep it that way a little while longer.

Lethal_curves: Don't bother. I'm actually quite enjoying the break. It gives me time to reflect and gather my thoughts.
Lethal_curves: I'm actually toying with the idea of going into profiling.

As predicted that last statement provoked an instant flow of words from her colleague.

Wolfman007: And miss out on all the action?
Wolfman007:You're chickening out because of one minor setback.
Wolfman007: I thought you had more backbone than that. I'm sure good ol' Jake is celebrating in his grave right about now ….

Bella half-snorted, half-groaned at that, because, damn, if he wasn't right…

Lethal_curves: Yeah, probably. He never did like my choice of career. He wanted a housewife in every sense of the word.

Wolfman007: Your late husband was a jerk and don't get me started on rebound guy *cough*Cullen*cough. What you need is a new dating policy, not a new job!

Ouch, that stung! But then again when did it not sting to hear that name. Bella's track record of failed relationships was a touchy subject between the two friends. Not that Seth had ever expressed any romantic interest in her or anything. No, they were just friends, close friends. So close in fact that he had vouched for her when she had risked losing her job because of her involvement with Edward Cullen - the man she had been assigned to protect a few months back in particularly nasty stalker case. A big no-no in the Handbook for FBI Agents.

Wolfman007: *knocks on screen*
Wolfman007: You still there?

Crap, she must have zoned out. The clock on her desk showed a quarter past ten.

Lethal_curves: Still here, but we need to wrap this up. I have papers to shuffle and stamps to stamp… and an actual doctors appointment in about 15 minutes…

Wolfman007: Don't let me keep you… I have a tan to work on remember?

Lethal_curves: Rub it in why don't you!

Wolfman007:Don't be grumpy. If it makes you feel any better, I promise to bring you back a cactus or something…

Lethal_curves: Gee thanks!

Wolfman007: ur welcome
Wolfman007: Now get off the computer and go kick some ass!

Lethal_curves Roger that!.

Wolfman007 has logged out.

AN: It's short, I know but it will be longer in the succeeding chapters.

I loved the response to the first chapter! Thanks for keeping me motivated with your comments!

As some of you already know, this story is a stand alone sequel to one of my other stories 'A twisted tale'. I intend to make this as self explanatory as possible, meaning you should be able to skip the first story and jump straight into this one without getting too confused. Don't hesitate to ask if something isn't clear. I'm sure there will be questions about the back story as we go.

I'll be using my Authors notes to write up some introductions to all the major characters, which hopefully will provide enough background so that new readers can climb aboard.

Bella & Edward - our two star-crossed lovers
Bella and Edward dated in high school, but broke it off because of a series of misunderstandings, irrational decisions and cruel circumstances. They went their separate ways after graduation, not seeing each other again until eight years later, when Edwards falls victim to a vicious stalker.

It's up to Special Agent Swan to protect her old high school sweetheart from what appears to be a very dark twisted mind; an assignment that turns out to be a little more than she bargained for. It's a complicated situation that becomes even more ticklish when old sparks fly between the FBI agent and her protégé.

Eventually the stalker is caught and the threat neutralized… But every victory comes with a prize. Where there are old wounds, there are insecurities. Once again secrets and lies becomes the undoing of the budding relationship between our two star-crossed lovers.

Jacob Black - the first husband
No sportsman in the history of motorcycle racing had ever achieved as much, as quickly, and at such a tender age as Jacob Black, who became the youngest driver to ever claim a MotoGP World Championship point.

Edward would always remembered him as the scrawny boy from the Quileute Reservation who wrapped his bike around a lamppost outside Forks Motel and Liquor store.

No, scratch that, Edward would always remember Jacob Black as the guy who stole and eventually married 'his' Bella.

The beachfront ceremony had taken place mere eight month before the accident that cost Jacob his life.

..xXoXx.

Last month, we posted a blind Item stating,
'Which newly married speed-loving sport star defines cheating
the same way Bill Clinton used to?
The frisky sport star, who claims to be faithful,
limits his interactions with his groupies to oral sex.
You don't have to be a sports fan to recognize his name.'

Well, this month, we would like to honor a great motorcycle legend
RIP Jacob Black, (1985- 2010)
Two-time World Grand Prix Champion and Road Racing Legend.
He was once involved with a beautiful woman who adored him
(I'm sure you all saw the wedding pictures),
this didn't stop him from having fun
(again I'm sure you all saw the pictures).
Carpe Diem... Life is short, live it up while you can,
you newer know when that concrete wall will hit you!

xXoXx.