Chapter Text
“You want me to WHAT?”
Harold swiveled in his chair to face Sameen Shaw directly. She was standing alongside the old subway car, throwing darts at a battered dart board. Said dart board had been brand new two days ago. Even though she was glaring at Harold, her last dart slammed precisely into the board, finishing the ‘S’ shape made of her earlier darts.
Harold carefully repeated himself. “I want you to leave the country. Just for a while, until this trouble with the authorities dies down. We may no longer be the focus of a secret government organization, but you are still on the police wanted list. There is only so much Lionel and John can do while you are still here making trouble.”
“So you want me to go where? And do what?”
“Well, Miss Zhirova has summer vacations soon. I thought maybe you could take her on a tour of Europe.”
“You’d trust me to take care of the kid?”
“You did an admirable job of it the first time.”
“What about the numbers?”
“There are others who are capable of handling the numbers.”
“Like who?”
“Mr. Reese, Detective Fusco, Detective Silva, Ms. Morgan. Even Ms. Groves, if she is available.”
Shaw scowled.
Harold continued. “It would a great help to Miss Zhirova, and we will do our best to get you back soon.”
Her scowl deepened, but Shaw finally grunted out. “Fine. I’ll go.”
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The next day, Harold stood at the front of the boarding school, scanning the faces of the exiting students for his ward, Genrika Zhirova. A voice behind him announced her presence. “Hello, Harold.”
He turned, smiling faintly. “Hello, Miss Zhirova. How are you today?”
“Fine.” She stared at him. “What are you doing here?”
“It is the start of summer vacations, is it not?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then.” He looked rather pleased with himself.
“You’re here to take me on vacation?”
“Unfortunately, I am unable to leave the city right now. However, Ms. Shaw is also on vacation at the moment. I suggested she take you to Europe and she seemed quite keen on the idea. So here we are.” He smiled down at the young girl.
Gen grinned in response. “Shaw is taking me to Europe? For how long?”
“That is still to be determined.”
“When are we leaving?”
“As soon as you are packed.”
“I’m already packed.”
“Indeed?”
“Always have a go-bag with all the essentials ready, so you can leave as quickly as possible.”
“I see.” Harold turned and gestured her towards the dorms. “Let us go fetch it, then.”
They slowly made their way to the dorms, Gen matching his pace. “How are you liking school?” Harold queried.
Gen shrugged. “School is interesting; I’m learning a lot.”
“Oh? What are you learning?”
“Well, the usual. English, Algebra, History. Also that a structured schedule is so much easier to work around when you’re spying. It only took me a week to bug the teacher’s lounge. And that hacking is harder than it looks.”
Harold paused. “Perhaps I can help you with that?”
“Really?” Gen furrowed her forehead. “You don’t disapprove?”
“I can hardly disapprove of something I do on a regular basis. And you have significant potential in the field of espionage. It would be a sin to not encourage you to develop your talents.”
Gen suddenly threw her arms around him. “You’re the best!”
Harold smiled, cautiously patting her on her back.
They reached the doors to the dorm and Gen ran in to grab her bag while Harold waited outside. In a few short moments, she came running back out. She had changed out of her school uniform and was carrying a small duffel.
“Is there anyone you wish to say goodbye to?” Harold asked. “You may be gone for a few months.”
“No, I’m good.” Gen replied.
“Very well. My car is over there.”
They drove back into the city, parking a few blocks away from the subway entrance. As they walked to the entrance, Harold turned to Gen. “Miss Zhirova, I know you are a discreet young lady, however, I implore you to not speak of this location to anyone. And, please, be very careful to be unobserved when you come here.”
Gen quickly nodded her agreement. As soon as they got through the gate, she turned to Harold. “This. is. SO. COOL.”
Shaw looked up at Gen’s excited exclamation. “Hey, kid.”
“Hey, Shaw! Hey, Bear!” Bear trotted up eagerly and Gen bent down to rub behind his ears.
Harold set his keys on the desk and turned around. “Are you packed, Ms. Shaw?”
Shaw pointed to a duffel, slightly larger than Gen’s, sitting on the subway seats next to her.
“Excellent. Your flight leaves this evening.”
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They left the subway separately, Shaw going first and taking the motorcycle Root had left after one of her visits. Harold and Gen went together and took Harold’s car to the airport. Shaw met Gen on the other side of security. They were traveling together, but not officially, since Gen was traveling under her name and Shaw was using an alias. Gen bounced on the balls of her feet all the way through the airport, bounced in her seat on the flight to London (until Shaw told her to settle down and sleep), and bounced through customs.
Between the length of the plane ride, the time difference, and the bureaucracy required with anything international, it was late afternoon the next day when they finally got out of the airport.
Gen stepped out of the airport and spun around. “This is so amazing. I want to see everything!”
Shaw nodded. “Sure, kid.”
Gen turned to look at her. “I bet you’ve seen it all before, haven’t you?”
“No. My work didn’t take me to many tourists spots.”
“That’s great!”
Shaw raised an eyebrow.
“That means we can see all those places together!” Gen explained.
Shaw looked at Gen. “Let’s drop our stuff off at a hotel first.”
They made their way (via two taxis, the tube, and lots of backtracking) to a small, out of the way hotel where the proprietor barely gave them a glance and they paid in cash. Gen nodded approvingly. “Can’t be traced.”
“And can’t be found.” Shaw replied.
They dropped their bags in their room, and Gen turned to Shaw. “Can we start with the London Eye? I want a good vantage point to get a feel for the area. If I’ve followed where we are correctly, it’s not that far. We could walk!”
Shaw shrugged. “Sounds good.”
Some minutes later they were walking along the banks of the Thames. Well, Shaw was walking, Gen was dashing from the rail by the water to the buildings to peer in windows then back to the rail to peer into the water again. The London Eye was still a ways off, but neither of them minded the exercise. As Gen dashed past Shaw on one of her excursions she pushed a note into her hand. Shaw quirked an eyebrow, but read it discreetly.
Someone is watching you. I don’t think they’ve noticed me. Draw her off onto that street up there and I’ll come up behind her.
Shaw smirked a little. Trust Gen to notice someone watching them. She casually made her way to the next street and turned down it, ducking into a doorway to watch the people coming around the corner.
She barely had time to register that one of those people was Root when Gen stepped up and held a knife to Root’s kidney. “Why were you following Shaw?” the young girl demanded.
Root spun out of Gen’s reach and pulled a gun on her. Well, she tried to. As soon as Root turned around, Shaw grabbed the hand holding a gun, pointing it downwards, and wrapped an arm around Root’s torso, pinning Root’s other arm to her side. Root relaxed into it, obviously knowing who it was who was grabbing her.
“Why hello to you too, sweetie.” Root murmured, sliding her fingers across Shaw’s leg (the only part of her in reach). “Who’s the apprentice?” She nodded at Gen, who was scowling and still holding the knife protectively. Gen looked at Shaw around Root’s body.
Shaw sighed. “Put the knife away, Gen. She’s all right. And what did I tell you about threatening people?” As Shaw spoke she released Root and stepped forward so she was between the woman and girl. Root adjusted her coat, the gun disappearing as she did so.
Gen slowly put her knife away. “You told me only to threaten people if I can make good on the threat. But I’ve been practicing! I’m really good with a knife now!”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
Gen sighed. “Okay. But what about her? You know her? Why was she following you?”
In response, Shaw looked at Root.
Root smiled. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t busy with something. We would both be very unhappy if I compromised an operation.” She looked at Gen. “You must be quite good, to spot me. Who are you?”
“Who are you?” Gen retorted.
Root turned to Shaw, with a smile. “Sameen. Won’t you introduce us?”
“What, She didn’t tell you?”
“You know She likes me to figure things out on my own. Especially now.”
“So figure it out.”
“Pretty please, Sameen?” Root batted her eyelashes.
Gen flicked her eyes between the two women, absorbing every word or the conversation.
Shaw glared for a minute, then relented. “Fine. Gen, this is Root. I . . . work with her. Root, this is Gen. I’m taking her on a tour of Europe.”
Root pouted. “You’re taking her on a tour of Europe and you didn’t invite me?”
Shaw rolled her eyes. “What are you doing here, Root?”
“I just took care of a small terrorist cell.” Root reached forward and tucked a stray hair behind Shaw’s ear. “She told me you were in the area, so I thought I would stop by and say hi.”
Shaw frowned. “She told you voluntarily? You didn’t ask?”
Root raised her eyebrows, smiling slightly.
Gen took that moment to interrupt. “How long have you two worked together?”
“A few years.” Shaw replied.
“Okay. And how long have you been dating?”
Shaw glared even fiercer than before. “We’re not dating. I don’t do relationships.”
Root grinned broadly. “Whatever you say, honey.”
Shaw shook her head. “Come on, Gen.” She stalked off down the street towards the London Eye. Root fell into step beside Gen, looking down at the girl curiously. “You two seem pretty close. How did you meet?”
“Shaw saved me.”
Root nodded. “That’s what she does.”
Gen turned her penetrating gaze on Root. “How did you two meet? Did Harold hire you too?”
“No, I don’t work for Harold.” Root chuckled. “We work in the same business though, and occasionally coordinate on missions.”
“Oh.” Gen accepted it easily. “If it wasn’t work, then what was it?”
“I tased her while pretending to be a psychologist, then kidnapped Harold. She shot me when she came to rescue him. It just got better from there.”
Gen looked suspiciously at Root. “I’m not sure I should believe you, but whatever. Who told you we were here?”
Root thought for a minute. “My . . . boss.”
“And she knows who I am?”
“She knows who everyone is.”
Gen frowned. “What’s wrong?” Root asked. If Sameen cared about this girl (and it was obvious to Root that Sameen did), Root didn’t want to upset her.
“How am I supposed to be a good spy if people know who I am?”
Root smiled. Gen was practically a Shaw mini-me. “You don’t need to worry about that. She knows you want to be unknown. I mean, She wouldn’t even tell me about you.”
“You guys coming?” Shaw had turned and was waiting for them up ahead.
Gen nodded, and ran off to look at another building up ahead. Shaw began walking again as Root drew even with her. They walked in silence for a few moments, both alert for any threats. Root was eyeing a fellow that was just a little too close to Gen when she felt a slight tug. Shaw had looped her arm through Root’s, pulling the two women closer together. Root glanced down at Shaw, who was carefully looking the other way. Root went back to scanning the area for threats, enjoying the feel of Shaw’s arm in hers. “Gen seems like a precocious young lady.” she finally ventured.
Shaw smiled. “She spotted me following her when we first met.”
Root laughed. “Really?”
“Really.” Shaw smiled slightly, remembering their first meeting. “She’d bugged her apartment building. The whole building, right. With a tape recorder. She managed to record HR making a deal with the Russians, which was fine until the Russians found the recording equipment. That’s why her number came up. John and I followed her until she spotted me, then the Russians kidnapped her. We got her back. When that was all dealt with, Harold put her in a boarding school. Got her away from that scum cousin of hers.” Shaw smiled even more. “I gave him a good beating.”
Root absorbed the story, determining to get the full details from the machine. “She spotted you without any training?”
“She’s a natural. Hadn’t had any training at all.”
“And since then?”
“I may have given her a few suggestions now and then.” The corner of Shaw’s mouth twitched. “And some fighting lessons. Harold was not happy about that, but he eventually caved.”
“What changed his mind?”
“The last time he got called to the principal’s office about her ‘extracurricular’ activities. He came back and told me to make sure she’s prepared for anything because no matter what he does she’s bound to get into trouble anyway.”
The group of spies reached the Eye without any more trouble. Gen found the two women as they joined the line. “There’s a security check. No weapons of any kind. What am I supposed to do with my knife?”
“All weapons? Even tasers?” Root asked.
“They mentioned that one specifically.” Gen told her.
“What’s the security look like?” Shaw asked.
“Like the airport.”
“All right.” Shaw pulled them out of the line and towards the nearby buildings, ducking into a doorway. “Give me your knife, Gen, and anything else you have on you that they won’t like. And Root? Your guns and tasers.”
“What are you going to do with them?” Gen asked.
“I’ll take them back to the hotel.” Shaw explained, tucking Gen’s knife into her pocket. She turned to Root, “Root? Come on, hand ‘em over.”
“You’re serious.” Root said.
“Yeah. It’s easier than sneaking them through.”
“And if we get into trouble?”
“Please. There are more than enough cameras around here to avoid any trouble. Besides, I’ll be switching our weapons for something that can make it through security without setting off lots of obnoxious alarms.”
Root reluctantly handed over her side bag and began pulling guns out of her clothes. Shaw tucked the truly astounding collection of weapons away, and set off at a quick walking pace. Root watched her out of sight. She turned to Gen to see the young girl looking at her knowingly. “You really like her.”
“Yes.” Root admitted. “I do.”
“I think she likes you too.”
“Yes, I think she does.”
Shaw returned soon. She handed a ceramic knife to Gen and a plastic gun to Root. Root raised her eyebrows. “Where did you get this?”
“I convinced Harold to buy a 3D printer.”
They secreted the weapons away and rejoined the line. The line moved quickly, and Root bought their tickets. Shaw went through security first. Root nodded to Gen. “Your turn.” Gen looked up at Root, biting her lip. “You sure they won’t find it?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fine. Watch this.” Root turned to the guard at the checkpoint. “Excuse me, sir, could you help me with my coat? I can’t seem to get it off.”
“Certainly ma’am.”
“Oh don’t ma’am me!” Root said, giggling slightly and putting her hand on the guard’s arm. “I don’t feel old enough for that.”
“Just policy.” The guard said.
Root glanced to Gen, who was walking through the metal detector, still biting her lip. “Say,” she moved closer to the guard and ran her hands up his jacket. “you’re pretty cute. Can I give you my number?”
The guard stepped back. “No, ma’am. You may not give me your number. Now, if you’ll please walk through the metal detector? You’re holding up the line.” Root gave a small pout but turned and walked through the detector, flouncing just a little. The guard on the other side handed her her coat and gestured to the capsule. “Enjoy your ride.” Root joined Shaw, who was glaring, and Gen, who was smiling. “There. He didn’t notice a thing, did he?”
Gen laughed. “No, he didn’t.” As soon as they were in the capsule and the door closed behind them, Shaw grabbed Root’s arm. Root turned to her. Shaw glared for a few seconds, her jaw tightening, then finally grunted out “Mine.” and strode to the opposite end of the capsule, where Gen had her face pressed against the glass.
Root smiled softly; a smile far more genuine than the one offered to the guard moments earlier. She wove through the other occupants and came up behind Shaw, wrapping her arms around Shaw’s waist and pulling the woman close. Root whispered into Shaw’s ear. “All yours.”
They rode in silence for a while, until Shaw turned her head back, looking up at Root. “Since when has She given you international numbers?”
“Since She gained access to international security feeds.”
“What, She’s trying to prevent terrorism everywhere?”
“She’s trying to protect people. That is Her purpose. She sends the relevant numbers to the appropriate organization for each country, now that Samaritan is gone, but still needs me to take care of the occasional urgent problem.”
“And the irrelevant numbers?”
“She also sends me to take care of the linchpin irrelevant numbers.”
“Linchpin?”
“The events that, if not prevented, would cause a cascading bout of trouble.”
“What about the other irrelevants? You can’t do them all.”
“No. I can’t.” Root tightened her grip on Shaw.
Shaw turned back to look out the window. “Is there anyone I can shoot for you?”
Root relaxed, dropping a kiss onto the top of Shaw’s head. “Not right now, thank you.”
Gen, who had been very carefully not listening to their conversation, (well, okay, she had been listening, but it sounded like a bunch of mushy sweet talk, except for that bit about terrorism and linchpin numbers that she was so going to follow up on later. Anyway she pretended she wasn’t listening because what spy admits that?), interrupted.
“Look! Buckingham Palace!” She pointed out of the window at the beautiful building.
“Want to go?” Shaw asked.
“Yeah!”
“I bet I could get us a VIP tour.” Root mused. “As long as no one recognizes me.”
Shaw looked up eagerly. “What’d you do?”
“Oh, nothing really. Just a minor assassination.”
“A minor assassination?” Gen looked at Root, her eyebrows raised.
“It was before I found Her.” Root assured Gen. “I’m reformed.”
Shaw sniggered a little. Root hastily changed the subject. “I’ll get us a tour for tomorrow.”
As they descended from the London Eye, Shaw nudged Gen. “Where do you want to go next?”
“I don’t know. There are too many options!”
“If I may offer a suggestion?” Root answered.
Gen and Shaw turned towards her, with identical expectant looks on their faces. “Knowing Shaw, and what I’ve learned about you, Gen, neither of you have anything quite appropriate to wear for a VIP tour of Buckingham Palace. We still have a couple hours at least before shops close, so why don’t we go get some clothes?”
Shaw glowered, but Gen perked up. “What kind of clothes?”
“Nice ones.” Root said. “Expensive ones. And don’t worry, Sameen,” she continued, turning towards Shaw and stepping forward to brush up against her. “I know your size . . . intimately . . . so you can wait outside if you want.”
Shaw huffed. “Just make sure I can hide a gun in it.”
Root drew back, faking being offended. “As if I would ever ask you to go unarmed!”