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Chapter Text

Bette Porter is woman of many talents- too many in fact that a minute of sitting down without doing anything would be simply criminal and unthinkable. She would berate anybody who stands in her way and she carries it with her regal persona with height so tall, it was intimidating.

Which is why it was considered a horrible crime that the very same woman is sitting on her living room at one in the morning irritatingly watching police officers patrol around her apartment when she could’ve had spent the entire time working and forgetting this even happened.

“Peggy, this isn’t necessary, really. I’m completely fine”Bette spoke, standing up from her seat like it was on fire and she could no longer sit in it for a few more minutes.

The older woman in front took a sigh, “You heard Detective Williams, Bette. It is simply not safe for you to be left without security, let alone go to the museum”the woman continued. “I’ve doubled the security in there so there’s nothing to worry about in that end”

Bette let out a deep sigh, starting to feel quite overwhelmed with the amount of people in her space. “Can some of you just please step outside, it’s suffocating me! I might as well just die before the killer comes after me” She said dramatically, facing the four officers hovering around the stylish living room they were in. “Surely, no one will try to kill me if your officers will stay outside my door, Detective”She added, now facing the woman beside her boss who’s just as fed up because of her.

Detective Williams have dealt with a lot of high profile clients over the years and it was normal how some would act out like teenagers when asked to stay put but nothing could have prepared her for one Bette Porter who thinks she can take on the people who have been on NYPD’s list for years.

The detective sat back and clenched her jaw for the nth time that evening, reminding herself that this woman just happened to be her girl’s bestest of friends and the last thing she needs is her girl berating her over not protecting her best friend enough.

“Bette, you just witnessed a murder tonight. The killers have seen you saw them and considering how this was planned from the moment the last guest stepped out of the charity gala earlier, to the hour of the heist in which you weren’t supposed to be at, they know who you are”She calmly explained for the third time that night. “These criminals aren’t just normal art thieves, Bette, and what had happened wasn’t just a simple art heist. They are connected to one of the most notorious group of criminals that we have been hunting for years now and this wasn’t the first time that they left a bloody trail behind and i’m sure as hell that it will not be the last”

Bette looked outside her window, to the still busy street below. It was crazy to her how everything just continued the fast pace life in that city while hers suddenly stood still and put to a stop. It had been such a great night, the gala was so successful and it would’ve been even great if it weren’t because of the circumstances she found herself in- or rather, a messy situation that just happened to involve a very heinous crime.

When she decided to not go home and spend the rest of the hours at the museum after the gala, arranging all the paperworks for the arts that have been sold, she thought she was just simply avoiding the loneliness that was awaiting for her at her big apartment. She was delighted, in fact, to stay and do more work when she had made the deal with Senator Grisham who advised her that night that her people will be personally moving the art piece the same night-she had thought it was weird, that the transfer usually takes at least a few days but she was just happy to get the added work that night and nothing could have prepared her for what will happen next.

It was almost a blur in Bette’s mind what had happened but the image of the senator lying lifeless in her museum floor, with two gunned men around her, stayed rather clear in her head. The art piece long gone leaving a trail of bodies of the senator’s team behind. It was disturbing to say the least, and it had definitely shook her to the core though she would never really admit that.

She saw their faces- the two men. Their lifeless eyes meeting hers, as if they’ve done it countless times and they’re on clock work that were just so inconvenient that they have to kill one more. She wasn’t really sure what had happened next but she can remember how fast she ran, like her life depended on it because well, it was- and the sound of sirens that suddenly covered the entire area. She can somehow remember how the two men contemplated whether they should finish the job and run after her or just not risk it-eventually choosing the latter as the sound of shouting officers were heard.

They were so clear yet so blurry that it made her head hurt and the next time she opened her eyes, she was inside an unmoving ambulance with a nurse hovering over her with a flashlight, making sure she was alright and letting her know she had passed out during the incident. She told her she was fine, ignoring the gnawing feeling in her chest of what had just occurred before she was called to share her statement of what happened.

That was how they find themselves in her living room, with officers around her apartment making sure that she was fine. But it had been hours and she was exhausted- all she wanted to do now is to curl up in her bed and be alone before she can bury herself with work when she wakes up and forget the entire thing.

Peggy Peabody stood up, making them all look and pulling her out of her thoughts. “Right. It’s final, then. The security are staying in that door until we are sure that they will not come back for you”The older woman said in final. “Don’t worry about work, you will go back until we’re sure you are safe”

“But Peggy-“Bette tried to argue but the woman is already at the door, two security guards following her, before she could finish.

“Great. Now, I don’t have a job and my life is ruined”She said, raising her arms in defeat as she slump back down in her sofa.

Tasha shakes her head, “You and work”the woman said to Bette. “Your life is at stake here, you know”

“You don’t say”The brunette replied sarcastically, standing back up and walking towards the bedroom. “Look, Tasha, I just really want to get some sleep now. It’s been a long day”She added, sounding serious now. “You don’t need to stay. I only have one door out, I’m sure your officer in there can take care of it had anyone tries to get it”

“You have a fire escape”Tasha argued, not giving in. At the end of the day, the detective reminded herself that this was Alice’s best friend which technically makes her her friend even though they’ve only hanged out a couple of times because Bette doesn’t have time to. The woman was all about her work at the museum and in times in which the woman was free, Tasha would be stuck in her work at the precinct or in some cases. She was well aware how the woman is though, Alice, her girlfriend speaks so highly of her and babble too much that she feels like she knows Bette enough.

The detective removed her shoes and unbuckled her belt, “You don’t happened to have Alice’s clothes in here, do you?”She said and grinned.

Bette narrowed her eyes at her and in normal circumstances, Tasha would’ve felt scared but she didn’t show it which seemed to have work for the next words she heard was “Have I ever told you you’re insufferable as a Detective?” without flinching before marching into her closet to get the clothes.

“Nope because we rarely hang out!” She playfully replies.

Bette rolled her eyes and retrieved back, bearing her best friend’s clothes. “Yeah well, if this is how you are off duty, I’m never hanging out with both of you ever again”She said seriously, making the woman laugh much to her annoyance. “You can sleep in the guest room” Bette added.

Tasha shakes her head, “I’m staying in this sofa where I can watch that window over there where the fire exit is. Who knows who might creeped up in there”the woman shrugged, fixing the sofa to be her bed.

Bette didn’t want to argue over that. The thought of those men breaking in her space is the last thing she needs before bed and the detective constantly reminding her of the danger she was currently in, she wonder if she will ever get some sleep that night.

—

The sound of shouting woke Bette up. The sun gives out bright orange rays outside the window and she instantly assumed that it was just a few hours, feeling as if she never slept at all.

“Porter, wake up!”She heard followed by a pounding in her bedroom door.

It was then that she remembered what happened the night before and an instant fear covered her entire body. Breathing out, she walked towards the door and opened it, ready to face whatever might greet her there.

If she was mad that her space was being consumed by strangers earlier that day, she was even mad now that the amount of people in that room seemed to have doubled- the bustling of whispers and foot stomping staining the carpet she had bought from Spain.

“What the fuck is happening?”She asked, completely overwhelmed by everything.

“Two officers were shot in your door, they’re alive, don’t worry. The killers seemed to have disguised themselves as police officers for the next shift, trying to get to you”Detective Williams explained straight away, “I was able to call for back up but the men got away before we could lockdown the building”

Bette’s mouth agape, trying to register how the hell can two officers be shot and her not hearing a thing- as well as the entire information that was just shoved to her.

“Hey, everything is good for now but we need to transfer you to a safe location”Tasha explained softly, noticing how the woman’s color seemed to have left her system.

Bette looked at her friend then and that’s when she noticed the cloth safely wrapped in her arms with blood stains clearly visible and the first aid kit in her table- with the people wearing a medical uniform that was then retrieving their things. “Oh my god, Tasha, you’re hurt”she said, covering her mouth, instantly thinking how Alice would hate her that she involved Tasha with this mess.

“No, no, no, I am okay. This was just a graze. I am fine”The detective told her, assisting her to sit down. “I am okay, Porter, really. You, though, you are not safe here. You don’t have to worry about anything else but you need to come with us to safer location until we decide where to put you until we catch these guys”Tasha explained.

“And, what if you don’t catch them?”She asked, sounding small and frail. Her entire life flashing before her eyes, her job, her friends.

“We will”Detective Williams confidently replied and somehow, Bette trusted that they will.

“But until then, we need you to be safe so we will put you in a temporary spot until we find a more permanent site”It was a guy who spoke in which she only noticed how there were two more people sitting in her living room and three officers standing at the different corners of her apartment- it was suffocating.

“Wait, I’m sorry, what do you mean by permanent?”Bette immediately asked, the word ringing in her ears.

“I meant official site”The man replied almost too cockily and it ticked Bette the wrong way.

“No- you said permanent”She barked back, narrowing her eyes at him. “What, so when you don’t find these killers, I will just go somewhere and leave my life here?”She asked in panicked, the thought of leaving everything she worked so hard for invading her mind. “Tasha?!”

Tasha took a deep breath, “Bette, you have to understand that these men are professional killers. They are criminals. They know everything there is to know about you and not even a few hours later, they found where you live. They will come back and they will keep coming back”The woman looked her in the eyes as she says this, almost flashing it in Bette’s face how her life is much more important than anything else but the brunette failing to understand. “The only option we have for now is to get you out of this place. You are under a witness protection program, a very good one at that, you are in good hands”she added.

Bette sat in defeat then, completely losing control of everything she hold dear but she stayed still because she understands what they are saying. Staying in the city can only cause more damage to more people and she couldn’t forgive herself if anyone else get dragged into her mess even more.

“Fine. Will I at least get to say goodbye to my friends?”She asked, folding her arms in defense.

“That’s not ideal. It is better that nobody knows about this”The man replied in which Bette rolled her eyes at- the man annoys her and she can’t really control that either.

“Will you at least tell me where we’re going so I know what to pack?!”She tried again, now sounding like a stubborn child that even she don’t like.

Only a shake of the head was the answer she received before the phone rang to tell them that the car that will safely transfer them is here and ready.

Chapter Text

Bette looked outside the window of the jet they were in, the fading sight of the city from above looked stunning as she drank the last bit of whiskey in her glass and the reality of her leaving the place that was so dear in her heart.

She has no idea where they’re going as nobody even tried to include her in this plan. She tried seeking the answer as she was packing her suits just an hour earlier but failed miserably so she packed god knows what. They also asked her to leave all her gadgets including her cell which she argued as well, but failed just as much.

Tasha was watching her as she tried to find answers in her head, a scoff escaping the woman’s mouth. “I can hear you thinking from here. Will you relax?”

Bette glared at her, not finding anything relaxing in that situation. “I will once you tell me where we’re going”

Tasha took a sigh, “you’ll never let this go huh?”

“It’s still my life, you know. I’m grateful that you’re trying to protect me but I need to know where we’re going. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Alice or Shane or anyone! Even Peggy!”She started.

“Ray, Wyoming”The detective finally gave in. Simply tired of the woman whining about everything.

Silence.

“you okay?”Tasha asked reluctantly, suddenly nervous by the silence that the woman is giving.

“Y-Yes. I’m sorry, for a second there, I thought you said Wyoming”Bette said, slightly laughing by the absurdity of her brain making her think she’s going to the middle of nowhere.

“I did”Tasha replied back, now handing her a set of ids and a passport. “and here are your temporary IDs, had you need one. You will be in seclusions but this is just in case”

“Wait, you’re not coming with me?!”Bette asked in panicked, a thought of her in an unfamiliar place alone suddenly got too much.

“I gotta go back to find these guys.”Tasha further explained.

Bette looked at her in disbelief, then to the IDs now in her hand. Elizabeth Kennard, it says. 32. Female. 5 foot 9 inches. Brown Eyes. Married.

Married.

There were some burglar words brewing inside of her but she tamed them by swallowing real hard and giving the detective a sharp but nice enough look. “Married? How am I supposed to explain why I, a married woman, is in the middle of goddamn nowhere alone?”She asked.

“You won’t be alone, Bette. Do you really think we will leave you in there alone? There’s an undercover Agent who will be staying with you. You will meet her when we land”Tasha calmly explained, popping a peanut in her mouth as she pick up a magazine.

“Her?”

“Oh I’m sorry, should we have chosen a husband for you?”Tasha grinned then, a playful smile in her face. “I figured since you’re insufferable now, how else would you be if we give you a pretend husband?”

Bette forced herself not let out the smile that was begging to come out because at least they got that one right. She would have rather die than have a man following her every steps “You know, I am a person of importance, it’s unprofessional to call me insufferable”she said, throwing a death glare which only made Tasha laugh.

“For what its worth, Alice told me that if anything happens to you, I will never see her again so you better follow your wife because she will protect you and I still want to marry your best friend”The detective said, smirking at her.

As much as she hates the situation, that made Bette smiled. She figured at least there will be something that will come out of this entire thing and it is her realizing that her best friend is in good hands with Tasha.

“I can take care of myself”She said before she pour herself another whiskey and watch the clouds outside the windows.

—

Wyoming Airport - 4:30pm

Bette looked around the pretty decent but tiny airport around her- if she can even call it an airport. It was mostly a small establishment with a runway big enough for a small plane. The humid breeze instantly made itself known, the arrival hour matching the scorching temperatures of the sun, forcing her to remove her blazer because of the heat.

“Porter, alright?”Tasha asked, carrying her big Louis Vuitton luggage.

“Did that even go through a security check? Is there even a security check?”She asked, looking the place up and down. The place was small enough that even the gate from the runway already has a glimpse of the door outside. She was well aware that she was sounding so snob but that was just the New Yorker in her and the surrounding is too remote for the fast-paced life she was accustomed to.

There was barely anyone at the airport and the inside looks like a decent office that just happened to have a big door that you can go through from one gate to another. It was modern though, she liked how cozy it looked. The security was merely an officer with a baton that they call Smiley Jerry who would simply scan you and your bag with a stick and wish you a great day after. She was definitely too far from new york now.

“Why, you have any drugs in here?”Tasha asked seriously, clearly joking but Bette shook her head immediately. “Good and be nice. The place is charming”The detective added as she walked passed the tall brunette towards the awaiting truck in-front.

Yes. Charming indeed. Bette reckons.

The humidity seemed to have doubled as she steps out of the establishment, sweats now starting to form in every parts of her body. Surrounds them are thousands of acres of land, under the hot sun. She can mentally hear the country song playing in her hand from that one movie she once saw and it made her giggle. How silly to find this all somehow amusing.

Beside the truck, a blonde woman wearing a brown flannel and a brown boots was on her phone, her back turn as her golden hair flows with the humid air. She was roughly around 5”5-6, Bette measured and she shakes her head at the thought of this woman who is evidently smaller than her, protecting her. Bette made a quick scan south and mentally slapped herself. she was no better than a man, she thought although the result did not disappoint her.

“Agent Kristina Kennard got here this morning and was briefed by everything, she will explain everything else to you. If you have any questions, she’s the one to ask”Tasha told her, now nearing the blonde woman. “And please, Bette, don’t be too stubborn”her friend added.

“I am not!”Bette whispered as they stop to wait for the woman to finish her conversation.

“…yes, Sir, they just got here. We’ll talk to you soon”was her last words before she faced them, tucking her phone safely on her pocket. “Detective Tasha Williams, as I live and breathe”She greeted cooly and Bette was taken a back by the pretty face in front of her, like a sunshine, almost but the breeze is fresh and green- the humid air momentarily forgotten.

Tasha laughed then, letting go of the luggage which made a little flat sound, making Bette groaned as she recalls the price of the luggage to just be thrown around.

The two women hugged and it was clear then that they were old friends. Bette stood there awkwardly as the two starts embarking on their reminiscences of their youth- not that they are old or anything but they do talk as if it has been 84 years.

“How rude of us, you must be my wife that needs protecting- my god, they never mentioned how tall you are!”The blonde spoke, a grin on her face as she let go of her friend and offer her hand to Bette. She was clearly joking but Bette doesn’t really know her enough to know that “Tina Kennard”

Bette looked at the hand, then to her friend Tasha who is raising her brows telling her to not be rude. She wasn’t and she really didn’t want to be but Bette Porter is many things and one of them is unfortunately never admitting that she needs help- even to a beautiful woman.

“and they never mentioned how I’d be taller than my dear protector who would most likely need my help than me hers”her mouth instantly rebutted, before she can stop herself. She really didn’t want to be rude but her first line of defense is to bite back and she can’t help it.

“Bette”Tasha said, disappointingly sighing as Bette made her way to her luggage to put it in the back of the truck herself. It was heavy as hell but she wasn’t going to admit that after she what she just said.

She wanted to slap herself and apologize but the intention immediately dissolved as she hear the Agent simply laugh, not even phased by the blatant attitude she just rudely displayed. “No worries, Williams, I’m sure Elizabeth will be taken by my charms in no time”Tina cheekily replied, clearly pushing her buttons more.

“It’s bette! and I very much doubt that”She replied, giving the blonde a sarcastic smile.

Tina understood then that she has some kind of a hold on the brunette, even though it’s to annoy her for now. She gave her a genuine smile as she contemplated that maybe this experience will actually be fun.

“Well. Let’s hope you kids get along because I have to go back”Tasha intervened, having just enough of the bickers. “Do not get in any troubles, the last thing we need is you two getting all the attention in this town”she continued.

“So soon? you’re not even going to get me to where ever the hell i’m staying at?”Bette asked, her worry creeping back into her as the last thing she’s familiar with about to leave her for god knows how long.

“I’m needed back in the HQ, we’re going to get these guys, I promise”The detective replied, smiling softly at the clearly worried brunette. “We’ll come get you as soon as we can, I’ll even bring Alice once it’s all safe. Kennard will take good care of you, she’s a good friend and hell of an agent, you’re in good hands”She reassured her.

Bette stayed silent then, not wanting to show too much that gives away the fact that she’s scared shitless and nothing is in her control to even do something about it. She’s now in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people and unfamiliarity has never been her strongest suit.

She watched as her friend walked back to the establishment with the new agent, whispering about something- probably the mission or tasha warning her about her stubbornness which wouldn’t be surprising. The new agent wasn’t that bad, she thought, she’s clearly charming, it was just the entire situation that is fucked up and Bette hated it.

She watched them hugged and patted their shoulders like old buds bidding farewell. She watched them looked at her direction and she had to look away feeling slightly embarrassed by how helpless she felt. Then, she watched as Tasha waved her goodbye before disappearing into the building back to the plane and Agent Kennard walking towards her with a grin she finds somehow so annoying.

“Now what?”She asked.

Tina simply shrugged her shoulders, “Now we go and be a well-behaved married couple”The blonde replied, going straight to the driver seat of the truck. “I’d offer to open the door for you but I have a feeling you’d find that infuriating”She said to the still standing brunette.

Bette wanted to smile at how easily she can pick up on her pattern of behavior but she refused to give the blonde the satisfaction of her charms slowly getting to her. “Good, because I can open my own door just fine”She said instead and open the door herself.

The agent simply shakes her head in amusement as she started the car.