Chapter Text
Gen was the first one awake the next morning. She looked over at the other bed. Shaw was sprawled on her back, one hand tucked behind her head, the other wrapped around Root. Root was curled into Shaw’s side, her head on the other woman’s shoulder. Gen smiled. “Not dating. Sure.” She went to the bathroom, showered, and put on her clothes from the day before. She opened the door quietly and peeked out. Shaw was awake, gently running her hand along Root’s back.
Gen mouthed to Shaw. “I’m going to go get breakfast.”
Shaw mouthed back. “Take a knife and your phone. There’s cash in my bag.”
Root woke to the click of the door closing behind Gen. She craned her neck up to look at Shaw. “Good morning sweetie.” In response, Shaw bent down and kissed her deeply, then untangled herself from Root’s arms and got out of bed.
“What was that for?” Root asked.
“Because Gen is getting breakfast.” Shaw explained. “I’m going to shower, then we need to eat and get going.”
“Hmm. It would be faster if I showered with you.” Root offered.
“Are you sure about that?” Shaw smirked.
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When Gen got back from her excursion, Shaw was double checking that her holsters fit under her dress jacket, and Root was carefully applying makeup in front of the bathroom mirror. “I brought breakfast.” Gen said, hoisting a bag of muffins and two cups of coffee. Shaw immediately dropped her gun on the bed and took the bag and a cup from Gen. “Mmmm.”
Gen took the other coffee to Root. “Here you go.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Sure.” Gen shifted from one foot to the other. Root met her eyes in the mirror and quirked an eyebrow. Gen spoke all in a rush. “Would you mind helping me with my makeup and clothes? I don’t get much practice because I wear school uniforms most of the time, and none of the other girls really hang out with me much so I can’t ask them about makeup and Shaw doesn’t really wear it, and while Harold has great fashion sense, I think he thinks I’m too young still, or something . . .” Gen trailed off, ducking her head.
Root smiled. “I would love to help you, Gen.”
When they left the hotel, there was a limo waiting for them. As they rode, Root quickly briefed them on the mission. “Gen, you are Jessica Crane, daughter of the reclusive billionaire Harold Crane. I am Beatrice Bering, a lawyer / nanny / person of all uses that’s taking you on a tour of Europe for summer vacations. Shaw, you are Dani Reese, Jessica’s bodyguard. ‘Mr. Crane’ has arranged for us to have tours of all the interesting stuff. Our number is Gerald Brown, an aide and translator for Mr. Lee, a dignitary who will be getting the same VIP treatment as us.”
“Okay.” Gen said. “Do I need to act any way in particular as Jessica?”
“Just be yourself.” Shaw said.
“Perhaps not talk about espionage though.” Root quickly added. “And remember to call us by our aliases.”
They reached the Houses of Parliament quickly, and were greeted by a charming aide. He even bowed to Gen as he let her in. Root was next, and she went to stand next to Gen, who was looking at the first display. Root smiled a little when she heard the slight argument at the door when it was Shaw’s turn to enter.
Root came over. “What’s the problem?”
Shaw schooled her expression and voice. “I’m sorry, Ms. Bering, but they want me to give up my weapons, and I feel that would compromise my ability to protect Miss Crane, as well as yourself.”
Root cocked her head as she listened to the Machine, appearing to think about it. “I see.” She eventually said. Refocusing on Shaw she continued. “I don’t think you’ll need them here. I’m sure, if there is any incident, the security here will be able to handle it. Besides, your hand to hand combat skills are more than proficient and we will be in close quarters.”
“Fine.” Shaw said, and allowed the guard to take her guns. Even the one in her ankle holster. She kept the knife in her boot.
They were joined by a couple other influential people (and entourages). Introductions were made all around and everybody made much of Gen, who easily relaxed into her role as a curious student (not so far from the truth after all). Root made polite conversation with the other adults, particularly the one their number worked for, and Shaw lurked in the back, keeping an eye on everyone. Eventually, their number came up and tried to make conversation. “Hello.”
Shaw glanced at him, then looked away, scanning the room. “Hello.”
“Who are you here with?”
“I’m Miss Crane’s bodyguard.” Shaw answered, nodding at Gen, who was deep in conversation with their guide about how exactly the British government functioned. Their number smiled. “Miss Crane? Isn’t it a bit unusual for a child to have a bodyguard?”
Shaw shrugged. “Tell that to the last guy I shot.”
He laughed. “I’m Gerald.” He held out his hand. “Aide and occasional translator for Mr. Lee.”
Shaw looked at his hand for moment, then shook it. “Dani Reese.”
“Do you like your work?” Gerald asked.
“Yes, I do.” Shaw answered. “I’m very good at it.”
Gerald ran his eyes over her body appreciatively. “You certainly look fit . . . for the job.”
Before Shaw could decide whether to punch him or keep flirting, Gen ran up to them. “Guess what?”
“You’ve decided you want to see the Tower of London next?” Shaw ventured.
“No, we’re doing Buckingham Palace, remember? After lunch?”
“Right.”
“It turns out Mr. Lee is going there too! And he invited us to have lunch with him and he’s going to teach me some Mandarin!” Gen was bouncing a little again. “Do you know any Mandarin? Bea does. She’s been learning it.”
Shaw shook her head. “Mandarin is not one of the languages I know.”
“Ah. But lunch with Mr. Lee, and then Buckingham Palace!”
“Okay.”
Gen bounced off to go ask more questions.
Gerald looked at Shaw. “Languages, plural? Brains and beauty. Lethal combination.”
“I could definitely kill you.” Shaw replied.
“Really?” Gerald moved a little closer. “That’s promising.” The guide began ushering them into the next room and Gerald managed to be close to Shaw for the rest of the tour.
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Shaw allowed Gerald to flirt with her more over lunch. The others were too busy talking about Mr. Lee’s business in Britain, though if Shaw knew Root, she already knew more about his business than he did, courtesy of the Machine. It didn’t really matter, Shaw supposed, since Gen was having a good time. The young girl was listening closely and asking lots of good questions. Root was asking a few questions too, getting very revealing answers. And Root was frowning slightly at Gerald when she thought Shaw wasn’t looking. They all rode together to Buckingham Palace, where Shaw had to give up her guns again. Entering the building, Root drifted towards Shaw, and bent down to whisper in her ear as they walked through the doorway. “Mine.”
Shaw smirked and lightly nipped Root’s ear as she whispered back. “All yours.”
They stood together in the foyer, watching Gen examine the paintings on the walls.
“She needs friends, doesn’t she.” Shaw said.
Root glanced at Shaw. Her jaw was tight.
“You’re her friend, Sameen.” Root said, quietly. “You do a good job with her.”
“Yeah, but she needs normal people in her life. People who can talk to her about all the stuff I don’t understand.”
Root opened her mouth, but Shaw interrupted. “And don’t say Harold or John.”
Root closed her mouth again. That was exactly what she was going to say.
Shaw continued. “She likes you. And you’re normal.”
“I’m normal? Really, Sameen?”
The guide called for attention then, and Shaw moved closer to Gen and their number, leaving Root to decipher what Shaw was trying to say.
Everything went sideways, (as was to be expected) as they left their tour of Buckingham Palace. They were behind the palace, on the side closest to the park, headed towards their limos, when someone started shooting. Shaw grabbed Gen and pushed her down behind one of the wheels, drawing her gun. “Finally! Someone to shoot!”
Root had grabbed their number and was crouched behind the other car. Root looked over at Shaw. “May I have a gun?”
Shaw nodded and slid her extra handgun, followed by a spare magazine, across the pavement to Root.
“May I have another?” Root made puppy eyes at Shaw.
Shaw rolled her eyes, but passed Root the nano from her ankle holster.
“Stay down.” Shaw warned Gen, then quickly stood up and fired a few shots as she assessed the situation.
There were three masked men ducked behind cars on the other side of the street, two with handguns and one with a rifle. Settling back behind the car, Shaw looked around. People were screaming and panicking and running away, but the expected security from the Palace was nowhere to be seen. She rolled her eyes, and shoved her phone at Gen. “Call the cops. 999. Don’t say anything, just let them hear the gunfire.”
Gen nodded, her eyes wide. Root stood up and fired off a few more shots, which were returned with gusto. Root ducked, then stood up again, firing back.
Suddenly, Root swung one arm around and shot behind her, still focusing her main fire on the men across the street. Shaw looked around to see another masked man twitching on the ground behind them.
Shaw leaned around the car and fired across the street.
As more shots rang out, Root winced and grabbed her side, dropping back behind her cover.
Root’s hand came away bloody.
Shaw looked across the open space between them.
“It’s just a scratch.” Root reassured her, peeking out around the car. She drew her head back as another burst of gunfire flew past them, the men making a move across the street.
Shaw didn’t say anything, but her jaw clenched. She reloaded her gun, stepped out from behind the car and, with six precisely placed shots, dropped their opponents to the ground.
She turned to the young girl beside her. “Get their guns and phones. Use your gloves.” Gen nodded and carefully approached the groaning men. She cautiously picked up the guns that had fallen out of their hands and unloaded them, as Shaw had shown her, then patted them down, pulling their phones (and a few knives) out of their pockets.
Shaw turned to Root and pulled out a handkerchief. She pressed it against Root’s side. “Keep pressure on it.”
Gerald, cowering behind a wheel with his hands over his ears, slowly straightened up. “Are they done shooting?”
“Yes.” Shaw said shortly. “And the cops should be here soon.” Gen walked up with a handful of weaponry and telephones, placing them on the ground next to the car. “Where’s Mr. Lee?” she asked.
Gerald looked frantically around. “I don’t know!”
Root sighed. “Mr. Lee was the one who arranged all this. You apparently overheard something you shouldn’t have. Getting you killed in a supposed assassination attempt was the easiest solution.”
“Oh.” Gerald looked stunned. Shaw quirked an eyebrow. Root tapped her right ear and said “She decided to explain things, now that the problem is taken care of.”
Shaw stared. “Would it kill her to give us this information earlier?”
Root just gave a half smile, leaning her head to one side.
Shaw turned back to Gerald. “Tell the cops what you know, and make sure they interrogate those jerks. And quit your job.”
He nodded, dumbfaced. Shaw grabbed Root, ushering Gen in front of them, and the three quickly crossed the street and disappeared into the park. They caught a taxi on the other side and gave the driver the hotel address. Shaw turned to Root, who was leaning back in her seat, trying to stop the bleeding. “I hate to ask, but the security feeds of the tour. We need to get rid of our faces soon.”
“Already taken care of.”
Shaw raised an eyebrow. Root smiled. “She takes care of her own, Sameen.”
The trip was quick, fortunately, and Shaw rushed them from the taxi to the hotel. As soon as they entered their hotel room. Shaw shoved Root down in the chair. “Stay put.”
“What are you doing?” Root asked.
“You’re shot.”
“Does that mean you’re going to play doctor?”
“Shirt off.” Shaw began digging through her bag for her medical kit.
“Why, Sameen! You could at least buy a girl a drink first.”
Shaw glared at her, violently pulling a pair of forceps out of her kit. “Take your shirt off and put your arm over your head.”
Root complied, wincing slightly as the bloody fabric pulled off the bullet hole in her side. “We hardly need all that.” She glanced at the rows of medical equipment and bandages Shaw was laying neatly on the vanity.
“You want to go do this in a hospital?” Shaw retorted.
“Are you propositioning me?”
“Shut up and let me do my job.”
Root subsided and lifted her right arm over her head so Shaw could easily reach the wound. She couldn’t resist moving her leg though, so that Shaw had to straddle it to be in a good position to take care of the bullet hole.
Shaw efficiently cleaned off the blood that was still oozing and reached in with the forceps. Root bit her lip and dropped her head back, moaning slightly. Shaw pulled the forceps out and examined the bloody bullet. “9mm and still whole. Lucky.”
She dropped into onto a cloth on the table and began cleaning the wound more thoroughly. Gen came up and handed Root a cup.
Root blinked. “What’s this?”
“Hot chocolate. You have to replenish your fluids and energy. And it tastes good.”
“Thank you.” Root took a sip.
Gen perched on the edge of the bed and watched Shaw carefully wrap Root’s side as Root finished her cup of hot chocolate. Root stood up. She picked up the remnants of her shirt. “Why is it that every time I’m with you, my clothing gets destroyed?”
“Really, Root? This is just pathetic. You had much better pick-up lines the last time you were shot. Take some painkillers and go to bed.”
“I don’t need any painkillers.” Root protested, swaying a little. “I’m perfectly fine. But if you want to take me to bed, you know I won’t object.”
“It’s a good thing I spiked your hot chocolate.” Gen said.
The corner of Shaw’s mouth twitched up. She grabbed Root’s shoulders, spun her around, and gently walked her to the bed. “Lie down, you obstreperous woman.”
“But She needs me.” Root struggled to stand up. Shaw pushed down on her shoulders and Root slumped to the bed, falling sideways onto the pillow.
“You tell Her that if She needs something done, I can take care of it. She obviously has my number. You are not going anywhere.”
Root attempted to grumble a few more protests but the combination of painkillers and blood loss put her to sleep quickly. Shaw carefully lifted Root’s feet onto the bed, pulling off her shoes, and draped a blanket over her.
“She’ll need something to eat when she wakes up.” Shaw whispered. Gen nodded. Shaw continued. “I’m going to go to the store. I won’t be long. Lock the doors behind me and don’t let anyone in.”
Gen rolled her eyes. “Duh.”
Shaw double checked her guns, pulled some cash from her bag and left. She paused in front of the door until she heard the locks click. She was halfway to the store when her phone buzzed. Sighing, she pulled it out of her pocket and tapped ‘answer’.
“Yeah?”
“Ms. Shaw, I just heard a rather disconcerting report about a shootout in London. Is everything all right?”
“Harold. Why would you assume we were involved in a shootout? There are plenty of criminals in London with guns.”
“Because the report said the men had been kneecapped while attempting to assassinate a visiting official! While I appreciate your restraint in not killing them, I must remind you that you are on vacation. With Miss Zhirova. Your main imperatives are to keep her safe and to keep a low profile.”
“Relax, Harold. Gen is fine. She’s with Root at the hotel.”
“Ms. Groves is there? I am not sure that is a reassuring statement.”
“I swept the hotel. No surveillance, multiple exits, good locks on all the doors and windows. Root’s great with a gun, even when she is shot, and Gen is pretty good with a knife in a pinch. They’ll be fine for the twenty minutes I’m gone.”
“Miss Groves was shot? I think perhaps this vacation was a bad idea.”
“Harold? I think you’re breaking up. I must be going through a tunnel.”
“You know very well, Ms. Shaw, that my phones do not have trouble . . .” Shaw tapped her phone again, cutting off Harold’s indignant protest. She entered the cafe just down the street from the hotel and bought a whole bunch of food. Sandwiches, pastries, exercise drinks, anything that looked like something Root would eat. She hurried back to the hotel and knocked on the door. There was a pause, then the locks clicked open and Gen let her in. Root was still asleep on the bed. Shaw set the food down on the counter and began unloading the bag. She handed a sandwich to Gen, and opened one for herself. They chewed in silence for a while. Eventually, Shaw swallowed and said. “You did good today.”
“Thanks.”
“You all right?”
Gen looked up, a little surprised. “Yeah, I think so.”
“I mean, I’m fine with shootouts, but you know I’m wired differently.”
“I know.”
“So, if you need to talk, or anything?”
Gen smiled. “Thanks Shaw. I’ll be fine.”
Shaw nodded, hastily turning back to her sandwich.
Gen finished her sandwich, then turned to Shaw. “You know, your girlfriend is pretty cool.”
Shaw looked over at Root, who was peacefully curled up with her back to them. “Yeah. I like her.”
Out of sight, Root smiled. There was nothing quite like hearing Shaw admit she cares.
After a few minutes of basking in it, she rolled over. Shaw and Gen immediately focused on her.
“What do you say to a movie night tonight?” Root suggested.
Shaw got up. “As long as it will keep you from moving around too much. Here. Eat this.” She shoved a sandwich and a drink at Root, and settled down on the bed next to her. “But no romantic comedies!”
“All right then.” Root said. “Let’s have Gen choose.”
Shaw grabbed the remote from the side table and threw it to Gen. “Get over here kid. Looks like you’re in charge.”
Gen happily squeezed onto the bed next to them. “Can we go to the gun range tomorrow? And then maybe the Tower of London?”
Shaw shrugged. “Sure.”
Root smiled. “I bet I’m a better shot than Shaw.”
Shaw snorted. “Good money says you’re not.”
“Oh!” Gen said. “That reminds me. You still owe us for the bet about the number.”