Unrequited || N.C (#2) ONGOING

14

It was early the next morning, the crisp November morning hitting the windows as frost started to form. Soon it would be Christmas, my first one in New York!

It was strange walking around the office in my sweats, no makeup and this bloody early. Myself and Caffrey had left Ian on the sofa soundly sleeping, I think his adventures around the office and the city with Clinton had left him shattered.

Bless him.

"Morning all" Peter welcomed me and Caffrey pretty much as soon as we headed into the meeting room.

We were the only two that were in our casual clothes, Diana, Clinton and the rest were in their usual attire.

"I feel a bit exposed" I admitted sitting down in a chair that Neal had pulled out for me to sit on. He's a real gentleman.

I was met by half laughs across the room. I quickly caught on.

"Then again, I guess my sweats will be the most conservative clothes I'll wear in a while"

The team nodded and Peter passed a black box over to me. It was almost a sterile exchange, I tried to put a smile on my face to joke with the rest of them. After all I had asked to be put back on this case. I begged for it no less.

Neal looked over at me, his blue eyes trying to place any emotion on my face. But I kept my face in check, and masked my fears. "Don't worry" I said breathily, putting a hand on his arm. "I'll be fine. I promise"

But in hind sight I didn't know what promise I was making.

"Right, let's get our plan of action sorted" Peter said, just when I realised that everyone had been staring at our moment.

Neal didn't say a word, but gave me an unconvincing smile and turned towards Peter. I had never seen him so invested. That only worried me more.

***

"The NYPD have been wanting to catch this guy for years now" Jake said urgently over the phone. I could tell he was urging me not to go through with this case, I had him on speaker as I was getting ready in the bathroom.

I opened the black box I had been dreading. I took out a long black fitted velvet dress, not so bad. And then I reached further in, and it revealed a three piece black lace lingerie set. There it is.

"Peter said it was just a suspected murder, and I was confused why that would be our department and not yours. I mean, we generally deal with the worst cases." I said casually as I stepped out of my gym trainers and started to undress.

The line went silent.

"Jake?"

"Didn't he tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Okay now I was worried.

"He's been trafficking the girls, kidnapping them from their homes, feeding them drugs until they can't move and then selling them to the highest bidder."

My heart stopped.

"That's why we've passed the case onto the FBI. And why we needed someone to go undercover. The suspected murder isn't the important bit." He paused. "We need someone to save the girls, it's a rescue mission."

I stopped. I couldn't breathe. Why didn't Peter tell us this before hand? What more did he know? What was the Beuro keeping from us?

***

"Wow" Caffery breathed as I walked into my office where he was sat.

I could have said the same. He was sat in my chair on his phone, his hair styled neatly but still had some style to it, and instead of his sweats and a black t-shirt, it was replaced by a impressive looking tux that probably cost more than my first years rent as a trainee.

"Yeah, I could say the same." I smiled, which he returned. "Although I'm sure yours cost a lot more than mine"

"Well I guess that makes sense." He smiled half heartedly as he remembered what the case was about. "I really don't like this Lil" he started

"Look I know but-"

"No. I don't think you do know. I understand you have to go undercover, but as a prostitute?... it's just... it'll be hard to find a silver lining to this."

I could tell how upset he was as he kept stuttering between words.

He took a breath and looked at me intensely.

"I know you want to do this. I'm not going to stop you, I'd never stop you doing something you wanted. But I'm just asking you to be careful. I feel like this 'suspected murder' isn't all what Peter has told us. I had my doubts since he called us when we were in England. Surely a suspected murder wouldn't mean that the FBI were needed."

Shit. He was right. I knew he'd get there quicker than I did though, I knew he'd figure it out.

I had two choices, tell Neal the truth and risk any chance of going through with this case. Or lie, act dumb, like Peter and save those girls.

"I'm sure it'll be fine Neal, we'll be home by Christmas." I smiled, kissing him on the cheek.

I chose the second option, it was these girls who were making it home for Christmas. Even if that meant I missed out this year.

//
We'll it's been.... Years. But finally we're back in commission. If anyone is still reading, I love and appreciate you so much. I needed to come back to this and after re-reading the other works, I'm ready to be more creative.

Enjoy the journey x