I woke to the distant crow of the rooster with a jolt, startled by my new surroundings. As my focus sharpened, I was able to take in the details around me. My body was underneath a fussy lace comforter, which I heaved off, touching my feet to the floor one sole at a time. I could hear two males at the end of the hall, their voices low but familiar. I went to investigate.

I made my way down the narrow hall. The sound grew louder as I progressed, coming from O'Malley's room. The door was ajar, so I took this as an invitation to enter. It squeaked as I pushed it open, and they both looked up with surprise.

"What happened to you?" I greeted Gil. He was sitting on the small cot shirtless, with large scabbing lacerations on his chest. His eyes were red rimmed but warmed as he looked me up and down.

"You should knock, honey." he chastised gruffly, shucking on a plain dark colored t-shirt. "If you'd come a little earlier O'Malley would have given you an eyeful."

"I doubt it'd be enough for a whole eyeful…." I trailed off, laughing as Gil swept me up unexpectedly in his large arms. He tilted my face up to his, as if for inspection.

"What's the word, little one? You look...different…"

I glanced at my skin. "I caught a tan, yeah."

"More than that." His yellowed teeth made a sly appearance. "You're a little less wet behind the ears."

I shrugged, but I had to admit I did feel that way. Standing in a room halfway across the world with two Undercover agents while chasing Falcon was a far cry from where I started. But Gil's words were only in half jest.

"I didn't forget what I said to you, Red." He rubbed his lined forehead. "And even though I should be here putting you on the next plane to San Francisco on this point, it'd be a damn shame not to show that sperm donor Maxmillian what you've become."

I furrowed my brows, and O'Malley smirked slightly.

"You've done it Gil. Red doesn't even have a comeback for once."

Gil squeezed my shoulder affectionately. "It was a lot easier than she envisioned, is all. Now, what's this about one other member of our team?"

Carmen went out for a sunrise ride on the back of a chestnut horse, proving she was truly a master of all trades. While we waited for her return, I sat with Gil underneath the shelter of a dilapidated barn. He had lit a cigarette, and I felt completely at ease for the first time in a while as the familiar smell tickled my nostrils.

"Tell me everything."

"Your daddy's a tough one. That must be where you get it from." He coughed, then inhaled deeply. "We've been tightening the noose. I spooked them by rescuing Hawkins, and Sandiego did the rest by knocking out a foothold in South America. O'Malley's efforts here put them on alert and they fled again to their original stomping grounds in Morocco. I think a few of Sandiego's team that's ex Falcon are from there."

I thought of O'Malley's accomplice during my kidnapping and nodded. His accented French definitely had a North African flavor, and his severe demeanor seemed reminiscent of his former employer.

"We could definitely use her resources."

"That's right." A lazy smoke ring drifted in the silted air between us. "But more importantly, she has a lot of skin in the game. If this is what helps her heal, I'm happy to be a part of it."

Carmen trotted in front of us now, dismounting gracefully. She gave our pairing brief scrutiny before nodding in approval. Gil respectfully stubbed out the rest of his cigarette with the toe of a creased work boot.

"So I'm taking Red along." He cleared his throat. "She's been a great asset to me once, I'd love the chance to work with her again."

"If that's what the Detective wants, I have no reason to question it." Her voice was as smooth as the coat of her stallion, which was pawing the ground impatiently. "In fact, I would believe it would be a good learning experience for Isabella."

"Very hands on." he agreed.

"I think I too would like to teach the Detective a few things." She rubbed the neck of her horse affectionately as she spoke. "Maybe I'd like to come along on this excursion."

"The more the merrier." Gil smiled, patting its flank heartily. I grinned excitedly, unable to help myself.

That evening, we returned to the bunker, cramped in Carmen's 'situation room', studying combined information about Falcon through ACME's database and VILE's network. Through this, we formulated our plan. We would travel privately to Mediouna, a city just outside of Falcon's base in Casablanca. Once landed, we would be able to prepare four new identities, and our contact would secure invitations to a party at Maximilian's home, which the town's people called Casita Blanca, because of the mansion's luxury and immaculate white walls.

"What do we do once we get inside?" I queried.

"First go for the long game. We get his hard drive. Ship it off to the nerd types to play with back at HQ and let our VILE friends do what they want with the rest." Gil answered. "Then we deal with the op."

I smiled wistfully, thinking about Paul. "Why can't we go after Maximilian as soon as we get there? Why wait until the party?"

"Too risky." Carmen replied. "Maximilian is the last working head of Falcon, and he will probably stay within the walls of his residence and out of sight until the night of the event. There is a big reveal planned for that night, nicknamed ''Operation Molting'. Whatever that is, we'll have to find out more than just the fact that it will most likely take place at the Hassan II Mosque."

"It's definitely the most showy out of all these possible targets." O'Malley agreed.

Carmen smiled. "It's what I would go for. If we foil their operation and shame them publicly…."

"We'd force them back into the shadows. Maximilian would be a disgrace." Gil finished.

"I'd like to consider a solution for him." Carmen suddenly spoke.

O'Malley shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and I looked to Gil for an explanation but found his face impassive.

"Why don't you take Red upstairs, Sean, and we'll meet you in a bit." Gil suggested.

O'Malley stood, and playfully offered his arm, but I crossed mine over my chest.

"What kind of solution?"

They all looked at each other, waiting for someone to take the lead. I made the decision for them.

"You pulled me out of the Academy, O'Malley, so give me the Cliff Notes."

"She means..." he began delicately, and Gil shook his head when my mouth scrunched with confusion.

"Ah, fuck, Lucky Charms, I'll tell her. A solution is a hit, Red. Carmen wants to take him out, once and for all."

"That would change everything for you, if word got out you were responsible for it." I frowned. "Would it be worth it?"

"She has a point." Gil thrummed his wide fingers against his knee. "It would definitely tarnish the light-hearted cat and mouse games our two respective agencies play."

"And not in front of Red." O'Malley shook his head. "Irregardless of who Maximilian is, if she comes, we keep things as nonviolent as possible."

Gil scratched his beard. "Red's a part of this world now, like it or not. Off with the kid gloves."

"We are not letting a fifteen year old Gumshoe be a part of a murder on top of everything else." O'Malley stiffened. "Do you know the uproar it'd cause?"

I almost raised an eyebrow, quietly reminding myself that what brought me to the Academy in the first place was a well kept secret.

"Ah." Gil snorted. "We are talking about the same fifteen year old you used as a sex trafficking decoy where you let the marks get much too close for comfort?"

Carmen stood now. "You what?"

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "Gil, that was low and you know it. Carmen, it's a long story and I'm fine. O'Malley, Maximilian would deserve it, so what's the big deal?"

"We aren't the judge, jury, or the executioners." O'Malley leaned against the wall. "I know I've at least taught you that much, Red. And I know we all know better."

Carmen held O'Malley's gaze, the two of them unblinking.

Finally, she broke the spell. "Being an Instructor truly suits you, O'Malley. Thank you for the reminder."

"You say it as if I still have a position to return to at ACME at this point." he half grumbled.

Gil chuckled quietly. "I'm going up for a smoke, if we're done here." He stretched, and I went to follow him, brimming with more questions, but O'Malley pinched my sleeve. Carmen noticed, excused herself politely, and headed up the stairs back into the sitting area of the cottage.

"They're from a different time." O'Malley began, once they were both well out of earshot. "You do understand where I'm coming from?"

"Yes." I answered patiently.

"Taking a life puts a different mark on your soul." He smiled ruefully. "No matter if the person truly deserves it. I can't let it happen in good faith."

"I get it, O'Malley. I'm not upset with you." I motioned to the stairwell. "Do you wanna go hang with Gil or something, or stay down here and have me listen to your internal struggle?"

He tugged playfully on one of my loose curls, but the somber expression never left his eyes. "Smart ass."

Gil had intended to spend a few days resting before we embarked on the next leg of our journey. He and O'Malley did so, going over our game plan with Carmen and I in the mornings, and frequenting the local pubs in the evenings. Carmen's expressions displayed evident distaste at their behavior, but had also noticed a change in O'Malley since our first conversation in the bunker and said nothing. Instead, she turned her attention to me.

"Have you ever ridden, Isabella?"

"No." I admitted, watching as her deft fingers quickly braided the horse's dark tail.

"I'll have to teach you one day." she mused. "Show me your work."

I held up the paper crane with pride. Its folds were neat and creases sharp, a big improvement from the ones I created in the morning. Carmen shared that when she was at ACME, her mentor, Suhara, had passed on the art of origami to her as an exercise in precision and mindfulness. I knew nothing of sort - I was always on the go, and never as polished as I should be. But I found myself longing for the connection that I had with Carmen in the Cay, so I humored her by completing the tasks she came up with day by day.

"Not too shabby." she smirked. "Keep practicing. It'll help with your fine movements."

I rolled my eyes, helping her put up her tack. She seemed more pensive, more distant that she was during our stay in the Cay, but she was showing me her affection the best way ACME Detectives knew how - teaching me what she knew best.

As the time grew closer for our departure, I found my nights becoming increasingly sleepless, the night terrors becoming more vivid and oppressive. After one particular dream that I woke from with a pounding heart, I decided to go downstairs, to take in some fresh air.

Gil was sitting on the upper part of the fence in front of the cottage. He was peeling an apple, and the blade glinted in the warm light coming from the porch. When he noticed my company, he promptly split the fruit in two, offering me the bigger half.

"It's late." he stated, taking off his denim jacket and draping it over my shoulders to protect me from the night chill.

"You're up too."

"Yeah, well." He nodded towards a stumbling O'Malley, who was making his way towards the cottage. "I had to make sure everyone was accounted for."

"Gilligan!" he waved, tripping over what seemed to be his own feet. Gil gave me a side look.

"Nice of you to come home, Sean."

"Nice to be home." O'Malley approached us now, taking my face in both hands, and pressed his lips against my cheeks. "You know Red, you really are one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen. None of these broads in this shit village could hold a candle to you."

"Heavy emphasis on 'girl', Sean." Gil removed his hands stiffly. "So leave her alone."

"What kind of person do you think I am, Gil?" His words smelled of dark liquor, and his green eyes glittered in a way I'd never seen before. "For you to have to suggest something like that?"

"The kind that needs to go inside and take a cold shower." Gil's tone was prickly.

O'Malley ignored him, taking my hand in his. "You trust me, dont'cha Red?"

"Of course." I said gently, giving Gil the side eye when he pulled Sean away from me again. "You've always taken care of me, like a big brother."

"You see." he declared to Gil triumphantly. "She knows I'm not the one she has to be scared of. I'd never push her to do something which would fuck her up for life -"

"Sean." Gil commanded. "Go inside."

"Make me." he dared. "Show Red who you really are."

Gil jumped down from the fence, his boots landing heavy in the dirt. "Ah. Go upstairs, honey. Sean apparently wants to have a private discussion."

I stood too, wedging myself in the middle of them. "What the fuck are you both thinking? We're supposed to leave for Morocco in the morning, and now you decide you want to do this?"

Gil exhaled, but kept his stance. "I won't apologize for the past, Sean. I won't apologize for teaching you what was necessary."

"You won't apologize for teaching me to kill," he spat. "I wasn't much older than her! You won't apologize for taking advantage of my anger, my pain - "

"You wanted your father's killer, and I made that happen." Gil interrupted. "It was always your choice to pull that trigger."

"And what about the others?"

I turned to Gil. "Others?"

Sean lunged at Gil, knocking me out of the way. I hit the ground hard, the soil feeling gritty in my mouth. I quickly got to my feet, attempting to pull the pair off of each other. In the commotion, one of the blows caught me in the face. I yelped loudly, the sound temporarily subduing them both.

"Fuck, Red." Gil swore, wiping some of his own blood off his face with the back of his sleeve before examining my rapidly swelling left eye. "I told you to go upstairs."

O'Malley pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a look for himself. "That's going to be an ugly one."

"Thanks to the both of you." I touched the bruise tenderly, feeling it throb beneath my fingers. "Can we pretend to be ACME for the rest of tonight, and go inside together?"

O'Malley was bent over the toilet, and I pressed the package of frozen vegetables to my face once more, rubbing in between his shoulder blades with my other hand.

"Am I still the prettiest girl you've ever seen?" I teased, once he was able to sit up once more.

"Absolutely." He planted a chaste peck on the top of my head. "I'm sorry."

"For what it's worth, it might be Gil's fault." I soothed.

O'Malley laughed, and then forced back a dry heave. "Tell him that. It'd lessen the heat on me."

I leaned against the shower door, the glass cool against the nape of my neck. Sean did the same, closing his eyes.

"I was up with my demons too." I admitted to him. "I haven't slept well one night this week."

"Me either." He rested his eyes against his palms. "And it's gotta be worse for you. Gil and I can drink and chase skirts for a distraction."

"Which is a totally healthy way to cope, Instructor."

"Touche."

"I didn't know you lost your dad to Falcon." I allowed our bodies to touch, even though he smelled of sweat and vomit. "I thought he was with the NYPD."

"He was." O'Malley sniffled. "Killed in a raid while on a joint operation with ACME."

"By Falcon."

"Xavier Colon." He looked at me now, his eyes bloodshot. "The kingpin for their East Coast operations."

I held his gaze. "You said there were others."

"Five more. All Falcon members. Gil will tell you what a quick study I was." His laugh was sour. "Or not. This is the side of ACME that no one ever talks about."

I understood why. As an Agency that prided itself on usage of non lethal force, and their highly trained and unarmed team of special Agents and Detectives, it was borderline scandalous that they would allow and even sanction killings of their targets.

"What happened?"

"There was a female. Carolina Dalila. They called her Jade. I was supposed to take her out in her car as she pulled into her driveway. I knew she had a family, but no one was supposed to be home. Splattered her brains right in front of her kid."

I drew in a deep breath. "For what it's worth, she probably deserved it. They all did."

O'Malley looked at me fully. "No. The Agency decided that. Sometimes it's easy to agree with them….other times it's not as clear cut. You'll come to see for yourself."

I frowned deeply, unsure of what he meant exactly, but O'Malley continued.

"Either way, I couldn't be ACME's 'efficient little soldier' anymore. I was going to resign completely...but Devineaux took mercy on me and offered me a position at the Academy instead."

"Which I'm forever grateful for." I offered him a playful smile, which he attempted to return, but a wave of sickness came over him and he bent over the toilet once more. I patted his shoulder.

"I'll be fine in the morning." he groaned.

I doubted that, but nodded nonetheless. "Try taking a shower, that always makes me feel better."

He gave my hand a short squeeze. I left him, heading back to the small cot, now sufficiently tired enough to catch a few hours of rest. Carmine kneaded a spot by my feet, and we both dozed off undisturbed until morning where the shadow of Gil darkened our door. The plush feline skittishly zoomed past him. I stretched, giving the man a proper once over.

"Hey handsome." I greeted sleepily.

Gil ran a hand along his freshly shaved jaw, clearly unused to the feeling. "You like?"

I batted my eyelashes mock flirtatiously. "Sure. You look like a gumshoe that's coming by my dorm room to ask me to the Academy Ball."

Gil approached, taking one of the pillows off my bed and swatting me over the head with it. "If you don't hush, I'm going to send you back to San Francisco and leave that to be the most of your worries."

I giggled, now sitting on my knees. "Good luck with your team of a drunken noodle and a kleptomaniac."

Gil swatted me again. "Get dressed, little one. We're going for a run."