Caitlin Brooks: Grace Cameron

Chapter Three

Nine months later
A mob boss. More like a cartel boss. That was her first official time in the field, she had watched the others over cameras and comms, but now was really her chance to prove herself to her team. Her first real mission.
Michael Ferras.
They had been watching him for six months. Six months of nothing but watching him and his men kill people and sell weapons that in turn killed others. He's dangerous. A criminal that will do anything and everything in order to protect himself and his business.
"You'll be going under" George announced, his eyes meeting Grace's across the table.
"What!?" Clara froze.
"You think I'm ready for this?"
"Of course I do" he agreed as Clara scoffed.
"I don't" Clara grumbled, just loud enough for them to hear.
"Its why she was brought here Clara. Just be thankful its not you" George shot back. Clara shoved her chair from under the table before she stormed off, doors slamming behind her as she moved through the bunker. 
Six months. Six months with the people that she called her team. Elliot was warm, always willing to help. Simon was an egotistical ass that never stopped flirting. George was cold and distant. And Clara. Clara was angry, her temper always burning hot. Why was she always so angry? Grace didn't know. 

A carrot on the end of a stick. A bait. A lure. That's all they needed in order to get an in. Good for them that Michael couldn't resist a beautiful woman. Grace met him at a bar in a dress that was far too short for comfort, and he fell for it like a child believing in Santa Claus. He offered to take her back to his villa, she agreed. He poured them both a drink, she sipped. Everything was carefully done, everything done was to gain his trust. Make a deal, catch him at the buy, take down his web. Easy. At least...it should be.
"I can get as many as you want. My supplier is very reliable" Grace informed him.
"That sounds good to me"
"I have the weapons if you have the cash"
"I do. I'm sure that we can make this deal happen" he smiled, moving his free hand to her knee "In the meantime I'm sure that we can think of something to occupy ourselves with" Grace froze at the innuendo hidden in his words.
"No" she said firmly, trying to hide her fear and her shaking under his touch and gaze. He laughed.
"It wasn't a request sweetheart" he smirked as she tried to push his hand off her. He rose from his seat, reaching for his gun when a single shot rang out sending him to the ground with a bullet hole in the head. Instantly, the house came to life. She could hear the shouts and the thundering of steps of the guards. They were getting close, she needed to get out, she couldn't fight them all off. Her eyes landed on the window. They were at the top of the stairs. She ran to the window, protecting her head as she jumped through the glass eventually landing in the pool below. She climbed out, running to the road at the edge of the property where Clara was waiting with the getaway car. She drove off as Grace caught her breath, the water dripping onto the seat beneath her.
"Shit!" Grace cursed before she punched the dash, hard.
"I told you, you weren't ready" she mumbled.
"Well then it's good that Clover had my back" Grace shot back, running a hand through her soaked hair.
Back at the bunker Grace sat across the table from George, his eyes glaring into hers as they sat in silence.
"I fucked it up"
"No shit sherlock" Clover mumbled.
"If your past is going to be a problem Cameron, quit while your ahead" George ordered before he left them all at the table.

Grace sat on her bed in their newest safe house after George had pretty much ordered her in there after screwing up a six month operation. There was a knock at her door before Elliot poked his head in with a smile. 
"I've come to check on the wounded" he joked as he entered. 
"You can't fix a broken ego, or mission for that matter" 
"No" he agreed, moving to sit on the end of her bed "But I can tell you that we all messed up on one mission. Clara and I on our first and Elliot on his sixth but that's just because he's an overachieving asshole" he joked, making her laugh. 
"I...I had a bad couple of years" she admitted slowly, gauging his reaction. 
"I got that from the yelling 'no' and you pushing Michael away. I understand why you did it. I think we all do" 
"I don't think George sees it that way"
"He's a grumpy bastard. What do you expect? He's being doing this all his life" she smiled. 
"We're in this shit together" 
"Yes we are" he agreed with a smile "You're pretty when you smile" 
"You coming on to me Elliot?"
"You're not exactly my type" 
"So who is?" she asked, not able to stop the corners of her mouth from turning upwards. 
"You know its Clara. I was just making an observation. You don't smile enough"
"I don't have anything to smile about" 
"So find something" he ordered gently, moving towards the door when her voice stopped him. 
"We can't all screw the people we work with" she teased. 
"And not all of us have a past that haunts us that isn't on any records"
"I have no idea what your insinuating. I'm an open book" she teased with a small smile as she watched him leave.