The Soldier and The Spy: Tess Danvers- Episode 3

Chapter 2

Eleven Years Ago

"Are we sure we can't let him do this? It's easier to let him dig his own grave than have us drop him in one."

Tess held back a laugh as Viv craned her neck to look at Michael, who was currently pacing around the cramped living room. It was what he did whenever he needed to think through a problem, like finding out their mark intended on double crossing his supplier, and though he looked inclined to agree with Viv she knew he wouldn't.

It was too risky.

"We can't. If Krowiak betrays Oleksiy it'll do more harm than good- we might not have to deal with him anymore but we'll have to deal with the fallout. This might be a pain in the ass but it'll save lives in the long run."

"Alright, so we stop him. How?"

They all took a beat to consider Nysa's question. Chances were this was going to get messy, most ops did but it was their job to minimize as much of the damage as they could. But what was the best way to do that?

Her phone vibrated on the coffee table, giving her an excuse to let someone else throw out the first suggestion; she may have been with the agency for almost five years now, four in the field but she still often opted to take a backseat during these discussions to allow those with greater experience to take the lead. Plus it meant no one was paying her any attention when her heart started to race as Jay's number lit up her screen.

"Ooooh."

Okay, maybe someone was paying attention.

Vivienne was grinning so broadly the rest of their team would've had to be idiots not to know why and though she rolled her eyes Tess wasn't able to stop the flush that crept over her cheeks.

"Do you mind?"

"Not at all." The redhead replied, despite the fact that the question had clearly been directed at their team leader.

And it seemed that as stressed as he was even Michael couldn't hold back his smile as he nodded for her to go ahead, nor John who gave her a soft look as he rose from his spot beside her on the couch to allow her to slip past- she loved her behemoth but she would have had to crawl over him if he hadn't, something that must've occurred to Viv as well based on her quiet snort, which was quickly shushed when John sat back down and gave her a little shove. Watching her team always gave Tess such a warm feeling, that sense of family she'd lost, that now she'd found again, so it meant more to her than she could ever describe that they approved of Jay. That they liked him. That they didn't mind her slipping away from an important conversation just so she could talk to him.

When was the last time they'd spoken? A week ago? Two? But that had been texts. It had been a while since she'd heard his voice.

"Hey the-... Jay?"

Something was wrong.

Something was very, very wrong. The breaths on the other end of the line were his but she had to take an extra second to be sure because they were so ragged, so... broken.

"Jay? What's going on?"

He didn't respond, just kept breathing, slowly but not at all steadily.

"Jay, I need you to talk to me. What's going on?"

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

The only change was that his breaths got louder, tighter, like he was fighting to get each one in and out again. She was so focused on the sound she jumped when a hand touched her shoulder, the fingers that subconsciously formed a fist loosening when she saw Michael. He must've been able to see the panic in her eyes because he quickly steered her back towards the couch, John and Vivienne both moving to give her room while Nysa scooted closer, steady as always as she passed over her laptop. Normally their presences would have been comforting, like lifelines, but not right now. Not when all her attention was focused on the man on the other end of the line.