Revival (Graceland Fan Fiction)

Chapter 6

Gonna show you the real me. If you took a little time and just looked into my eyes. I know that you would find something real. You don't have to be afraid. I'm not playin' any games. Just tryin' to find a way. So hear me now. Move a little closer. Baby. don't you run away from me. I wanna give you your dreams. Let me show you the real me. The Real Me ~ Svala

Charlie exited the briefing and walked into the bull pen with her head held high. Her shoulders were set straight. Her eyes focused on the path ahead.

Without warning, Rossabi took her by the arm and lead her into an adjoining empty office where they could be out of sight of prying eyes. He checked her over scanning with his eyes intently. "Are you ok?" Vincent asked. He half held his breath waiting for her answer.

"I'm fine," Charlie insisted, "You heard?"

He nodded, "Two agents wounded and one dead- word's getting around."

"Don't look at me like that," she admonished.

"I'm sorry, I know you and Ray were friends," Vincent said.

"You knew him longer than I did," Charlie pointed out.

"We've worked together on a few cases," he acknowledged. Vincent cleared his throat. "You took down the shooter," he said.

"Sergei Rodski- he's at Mercy in their ICU," she relayed, "Hopefully he'll live long enough to give us who ordered the hit."

"It's not a huge leap to look at the perp he was investigating; taking out the lead agent on a case- that's a huge blow," Vincent rubbed the back of his neck.

"We've still got Tanya- Ray died protecting our witness," Charlie said.

"Our witness?" Vincent questioned.

"I'm taking over the case," Charlie told him.

"Is that really what you want?" he caught her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow in warning. If Vincent said one word about it being dangerous she'd likely wallop him before he finished the sentence. "Are you in the headspace to be investigating this?" Rossabi added.

"I'm not afraid," Charlie asserted.

"No, you're pissed," Vincent remarked.

"Aren't you?" Charlie challenged before he could continue, "Ray was one of our own."

"Who left behind two daughters and an ailing wife," Rossabi replied, "We're all pissed."

"Then why are you singling me out?" Charlie crossed her arms over her chest.

"Look, I know you are a more than capable agent, but you are also the one that watched him die," Vincent said, "I know how that sticks with you."

"I can handle this," Charlie asserted.

"Ok," Vincent tipped his head, "Let me know if you need back up."

"Have you had any dealings with a Yuri Karpov?" she inquired.

"Suspected arms dealer, smuggler," Rossabi tilted his head.

"Yeah, sounds like him," Charlie nodded, "Tanya is going to testify against him in our RICO case."

"I was just about to take Mike and Wes to go knock on his door," Rossabi revealed.

"You're looking at him for the triple gun runner murders?" Charlie questioned.

Vincent answered her with an affirmative tip of his head. "Want to tag along?" he offered.

"I thought you'd never ask," she accepted. They walked out into the bullpen shoulder to shoulder almost running into Mike and Wes.