Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

5:13 PM

Though everyone wanted to be one of the ones to scout out Blackworth’s place, you, Estela, Aleister, and Michelle were the ones to take a car over.

Estela pulls off the main street now into the neighborhood, just a block from Blackworth’s house. You pass a house undergoing construction and drive right by the house, taking mental notes. You park once you’re a safe distance away again.

“Well, she’s home right now. But only her car,” notes Michelle.

Aleister smiles. “It’s fortunate for us that it snowed an inch over the afternoon. Did you see the tire tracks on her driveway?”

Estela nods, catching on. “They didn’t reach the garage. Someone was here and left within the last few hours.”

“Alright, let’s make our second pass and head back,” you say. As you approach the house under construction, you have an idea. “Hang on, pull over here for just a second.” Estela obeys, and you walk up to the nearest worker.

“Did any of you notice a bright red Camaro come down here in the last few hours?”

“Sure did,” he says. “Based on the speed at which he left and the sound his engine made, he was pretty pissed.”

“Great, thanks.”

You re-enter the passenger seat.

“What was that all about?” Michelle calls from behind you.

“He saw the red Camaro recently. He was definitely here.”

“Good idea babe.” Estela gives you a kiss.

“It doesn’t confirm that the USB is here, but this is as probable as we’re going to get,” says Aleister.

“Well, let us head back then,” you say.

Back with the rest of your friends, the four of you relay the information to them.

“Sweet, so we know he probably did go to Blackworth’s right after with the USB,” says Sean. “Whether it was taken somewhere else is anyone’s guess, but there’s at least a good chance it was left there.”

Estela nods. “I’m guessing that Blackworth wasn’t letting him leave with it. I think it’s there, in her computer.”

You say, “Which might be why the construction worker said he sped away fast. Though I guess he’d be pissed regardless.”

Craig pounds a fist into his other hand. “Alright, what’s the plan then? When are we going?”

“If we wish to use the darkness to our advantage, we only have tonight,” mentions Zahra.

“Wait, are we seriously breaking into a house?” asks Quinn.

“Let’s call it minor trespassing to retrieve a possession.”

Raj grins. “Yeah! Just like a kid running into the neighbors’ yard to get their ball back.”

Aleister puts his head in his hands, and mutters, “This is not like that at all…”

Estela attempts to reestablish focus. “Semantics aside, yes. Unless someone prefers that we knock on her door and politely ask for it back.”

“Ha, you sound like Jake,” says Craig. “Speaking of whom, when’s he gonna be here?”

“Just about an hour and a half now. We’ll go once he’s here, so let’s get planning.”

Chapter Text

6:44 PM

Just as you’re finishing the final touches on the plans and preparations, you hear a knock on the door. You and Craig jump up from your seats, rushing to the door with Raj and Quinn not far behind you. You fling the door open to see your favorite pilot with a bottle of champagne.

“Jake!” You envelop him in a hug, and the others happily join in.

“Heh, what’s up, party people?” he says as you all eventually let him go and usher him into the living room.

“Champagne? Really, Jake?” asks Michelle.

He just shrugs. “I know we’re not all here just to hang out, but I also haven’t even seen this place yet. Consider it a housewarming gift for the trio.”

Craig slings an arm around him. “Plus, when we do accomplish our mission tonight, there will be cause for celebration.”

“Which,” Sean says, “will happen if we can remain focused here. Let’s take Jake through the plan.”

“Y’all better have given me a good role, that’s all I’m saying,” says Jake as he takes a seat with the rest of you.

Craig folds his arms and leans back. “Lucky for you, you were deemed fit for the infiltration team.”

“Sweet.”

Aleister lays out the blueprints of Blackworth’s house. “Alright, let’s review roles. We’re keeping the team as small as possible, though we appreciate all of the enthusiasm to help.” Craig crosses his arms again. “Zahra will be working from the back of one car, and will disable Blackworth’s security. Jake, you and Estela will be the two that will enter the house and attempt to actually retrieve the USB.” Jake turns to Estela and gives her a fist bump. “They will have earpieces, and will be listening to Taylor’s instructions. Instructions which will largely be based on the video from the mini-drone that I will be piloting. Everyone else is on standby as a lookout for pedestrians or other possible complications.”

You continue, turning to Jake. “When we made our visit to the house earlier, we noticed an egress window on the south side of the house. That will provide you and Estela with shelter while you work on getting the window open.” You point to the map. “We’re not sure exactly what Blackworth is doing with any of the rooms, but this one is small enough that it’s probably the best entry point. From there, set Aleister’s drone loose and let him scout out the area for you. He and I will let you know when to advance.”

Diego raises his hand. “Ok, so I brought this up a little bit earlier, but since the 24 hour lock was put on the USB, doesn’t this signal that we plan to come get it back? I mean, do we have an element of surprise, or will she be expecting us?”

“It’s an important question,” says Quinn. “Are we safe, and is this safe?”

“We’ll be fine.” Zahra finally speaks. “There’s a reason that we’re sending our combat experts in.”

Estela nods resolutely. “We can handle ourselves.”

“Plus,” adds Jake, “if I’m bein’ honest, I think it’s more likely that Blackworth is just sitting in front of her computer, just watching the time tick down and eating a bowl of ice cream.”

Sean nods. “We did do some fast detective work. If the USB is at her house like we think, I doubt they think we’d ever figure that out in time, much less be able to do anything about it.”

“All the same, do be careful,” says Grace. “That man was no joke…he was royally pissed off.”

“We got their backs,” says Craig as he pounds a fist into his other hand.

You look around at your amazing friends, feeling a wash of emotion and love for them.

“Let’s load the cars.”

Chapter Text

Splitting up evenly, you get in one of the SUVs with Estela, Jake, Aleister, Diego, and Zahra. The short drive is silent, save for the tapping of the keys of Zahra’s laptop. Diego, the driver for your van pulls up a safe distance from the house while you see the other van park further down on the opposite side of the house. Diego starts a call with Quinn to serve as communication between vans.

“Hello?” says Diego. “You guys there?”

“Reject van, we read you loud and clear,” retorts Craig.

“Oh, quiet you big baby,” yells Zahra from shotgun.

You all continue to greet each other virtually as Jake and Estela get equipped.

“Okay Katniss, I think I’m ready. Got the mini crowbar and the lockpick?”

“Yes. Earpieces in now.”

They each put in one, and turn to you and Aleister in the third row.

“Talk to us, Taylor.”

You turn on the microphone.

“Testing, Taylor to mi amor and el lobo.”

They both give you a thumbs up as Aleister produces the miniature drone.

“Here, for when you’re inside. Just press the on button, and I’ll do the rest.”

Jake nods and stores the drone in his coat pocket.

“Good luck,” you say as you give them both a hug. Everyone yells out their support as Jake opens the door and the two of them step outside.

The ten of you watch as they cross the street towards the alley, and then disappear around the back of a house.

“Still with us babe?” you hear as Estela checks in.

“Yep, I’m right here.”

“Ok, we’re approaching her house. Almost in view of a camera.”

You shout up to Zahra, “Alright, they’re ready for your magic. Hang on you two.”

She nods and makes a few keystrokes. “Just give me a moment to set the back cameras on loop. There, should be good.”

“All good, go ahead.”

A few moments of quiet rustling occur until you hear them drop down into the window well.

“Alright Princess, we’re down. Room is dark, we’ll start prying.”

You hear the faint noises of the crowbar on the window, and then soft cursing.

“We’ve got issues,” Estela says. “The window is unlocked, but we can see a secondary manual safeguard on the inside.”

“Can’t bust it open without making a ton of noise,” adds Jake.

Back in the car, Diego asks, “Are they in?”

You shake your head. “There’s another safeguard inside the window. Jake could bust it, but risks making too much noise and alerting Blackworth.”

A voice comes through the phone. “Sounds like they could use a distraction.”

“Craig? What are you talking about?”

“Well, I know we’re supposed to stay out of the way, but…Raj and I came prepared. Trust us.”

Everyone in your van eyes each other nervously as you hear commotion over the phone as Raj and Craig get out.

“Hey Taylor, just tell them that they’ll know when to go,” says Raj.

Back in your ear, Jake asks, “Any ideas there Princess? Getting a little nervous down here.”

“Yeah yeah, sorry. Um, get ready to pry the window, Raj says you’ll know when to go.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know, but get ready. They just went around into the alley.”

Moments later, you watch the two of them sprint back around the corner, followed by a few booms from the alley.

“You have got to be shitting me, fireworks?” exclaims Zahra.

You wait a few tense seconds before whispering, “Jake? Estela?”

Estela whispers back, “Seems to have worked. We’re in, and nobody has come rushing down the stairs. This is the last you’ll hear from us until we’re back out, but we’re listening to you. Love you.”

“Love you too. Go ahead and set the drone loose.”

A few moments later, Aleister’s screen is showing a dark room filled with boxes.

“Storage, as we thought,” says Aleister. “Have them open the door to let me out.”

You relay this and they oblige, and the drone advances to the main basement room. You look on with Aleister as the drone passes over a lounging area and arrives at the bottom of the stairs.

“Alright,” he says. “Upstairs we go.”

He maneuvers upwards cautiously, as the lights are on. The drone continues on through the empty kitchen and living room before stopping and lowering in front of a lighted room.

Aleister gives you a look. You nod, and he moves the drone ever so slowly into the room, just above the floor. He rotates the camera up, and you see a side view of Blackworth, sitting at a desk. Aleister quickly moves to put the drone in a box behind her, and out of possible peripheral vision.

You speak into your mic. “Ok, so we found her. In the room essentially right above yours.”

“And? USB?”

“Not sure yet. Aleister, can we get an aerial view of the desk?”

Without a word, he flies the drone up. Angling the camera at her computer, you see it plugged in. Aleister gives a thumbs up.

“Bingo. She’s got it,” you say as Aleister re-hides the drone.

“So now what?” asks Jake. “How do we get her to stop babysitting the computer long enough for us to swipe the drive and get away?”

“She has to go to the bathroom at some point, right?” asks Diego.

Zahra jolts up and turns back towards you. “Bad news, someone is trying to access the security cameras.”

Just then, you hear a faint ringing coming from the drone’s audio. Aleister flies it up and watches Blackworth pick up the phone.

“What is it, Cal? The cameras were out?” She gets up and starts looking out the window.

You start talking back into your earpiece. “Guys, she knows something’s up. Someone is calling her, saying the cameras are out.”

“...I heard you, you’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“Shit, someone else is on their way here. You guys have a few minutes to get the hell out of there.”

“We can work with that,” says Jake. “Katniss, replace the window. New plan, the rest of you gotta scram, now. Not negotiable. Talk to you in a few.”

“Jake. Jake!” But neither he or your wife answer back.

You speak to the other car. “Guys, we gotta go. Jake sounds like he has a plan, and we have to be long gone before this Cal dude gets here. Quinn, Diego, back to your place.”

With only a moment of hesitation, Diego starts the vehicle and accelerates out of the neighborhood. You look back and see Quinn’s car go out the other way. You take a last look at Blackworth’s house as you pull onto the main street, your wife and good friend in your thoughts.

As Estela

“Katniss, replace the window.” You quickly scramble to re-fasten the security device as Jake talks to Taylor.

“New plan, the rest of you gotta scram, now. Not negotiable. Talk to you in a few.”

You hear a few yells from Taylor before you both take out your earpieces.

Adrenaline now in your veins, you turn to Jake. “What now?”

“I’ll create a distraction, you get the drone and the drive. And then we run like hell, east towards the park. Follow me.”

You both quickly ascend the stairs to the kitchen, and you can hear Blackworth still talking on the phone. Jake motions for you to hide behind a chair in the living room, and you do as he sneaks into a bedroom down the next hall. After a few moments, you hear a pair of crashes. Blackworth comes rushing out of the office and down to her bedroom. You waste no time moving into the office. You grab the drone off the shelf and rip the USB drive from the computer, and nearly run right into Jake as he flies by the office door and flings open the front door. You both run out the door and slam it behind you as you hear shouts and footsteps from Blackworth. Looping around the house, you follow Jake off the street and back into the alley, running as fast as you can…

As Taylor

After a tense drive back, the ten of you are just getting out of the cars as your phone rings.

“Yes, babe? Are you both ok?”

“Yes. We got it.”

“Where are you now?”

“About the most inconspicuous place ever, the grocery store. Come pick us up?”

“Yes, be there in a few.” You look around at the anxious faces of your friends. “They’re fine, they got the USB, and they’re hanging out at the grocery store. We’ll be back with them in 10 minutes. Drive us, Diego?”