#jtf12

-

Emily nearly jumped out of her seat when a paper bag landed on her files.

“What-”

“Dinner time,” said Tsia brightly. “And don’t even try to argue; I know you skipped lunch.”

Emily hadn’t thought anyone had noticed. Then again, you didn’t get picked for elite task forces by being unobservant. She managed a smile. “Thank you,” she said, “but I really should finish this first.”

Tsia’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been working nonstop, Emily. You are allowed to take breaks, you know.”

“Clyde needs this done,” Emily protested.

“Not at this time, he doesn’t,” said Tsia. “And even he doesn’t expect you to examine four years worth of incidents in one afternoon.”

Emily bit her lip. That was true, and Clyde had made it clear that this case would be a long one, but at the same time they needed this data. The sooner they could narrow down some suspects the better.

Clyde was trusting her. He had trusted her in picking her for this team. She didn’t want to let him down.

“Emily.”

Emily looked up to find Tsia watching her. Her dark eyes were very soft as she crouched in front of Emily’s chair. “You don’t need to prove yourself to us,” she said gently. “We know how good you are.” She reached forward, and when Emily didn’t react took her hands gently in hers. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t believe it.”

Emily’s cheeks burned, and she had to look away. She was the youngest in the team and she had so much still to learn, but it was impossible to ignore the sincerity in Tsia’s voice. Tsia squeezed her hands and rose to her feet, pulling Emily with her. 

“Come and have some food. The case can wait a little while, and you need to take care of yourself.” She smiled suddenly, and the warmth in it took Emily’s breath away. “I don’t want to see you work yourself into a hospital bed.”

Emily managed a smile. “Yeah. I definitely wouldn’t be able to help much from there.”

Tsia quirked an eyebrow. “Emily, I don’t want you to get sick. This job isn’t worth your health.”

Emily felt her blush deepen at that. Her concern was as genuine as her earlier words had been, and it left Emily tongue-tied. She wasn’t used to people caring about her health. Or about her at all.

Her stomach was starting to twist. Tsia was so warm and so kind, but they had only been colleagues for a few months. She didn’t know just how much of a screw up Emily was. Work was the only thing she was good at, and Tsia would learn that sooner rather than later.

She was still holding Emily’s hands. Emily couldn’t quite bring herself to let go, but Tsia’s smile was starting to crease into a frown and Emily couldn’t bear to see her upset, and so she summoned a smile of her own.

“I guess I could use a break.”

She could always come back later. She wouldn’t let her new team down. Tsia brightened again, and reached round her to snatch up the bag of take-out, but paused instead of starting for the door.  

“You know, Clyde wouldn’t have picked you if he didn’t think you could do this,” she said. “And he may be an ass, but he’s got good judgement.” She smiled again, softer but no less breathtaking. “You’re good at your job, Emily. You deserve to be here.”

Emily’s throat was too tight for speech, but Tsia just squeezed her hand and guided her away from the desk. Emily followed without protesting, heart fluttering in her chest.

-

Emily was no stranger to infiltration missions. It was part of the job, and she had known it from the start. She had been both the one undercover and the one providing back-up many times, and she could handle it.

The Valhalla mission was different. It wasn't just the scope of it, though that had been daunting, or spending so much time to someone as dangerous as Ian Doyle, as nerve-wracking as that had been. Emily was good at her job. She had known what she was getting into.

She hadn't known about Declan. She hadn't realised just how far she would go to save someone who deserved so much better.

Emily shook those thoughts away. The mission was nearly over. There was just the debrief to go, and the multitude of reports to write, but first...

Clyde was the first one she saw. He stood in the centre of the room, flicking through a stack of files as he listened to a constant stream of reports, and something in Emily's stomach unclenched at the sight of him. After months surviving on her own strength and skills, she could finally let herself rely on someone else.

She stepped into the room, and Clyde's head head snapped up. He caught her eye, and the tension only she and a couple of others would have been able to spot drained from his shoulders. Emily leaned against the wall, and watched as he excused himself from the crowd and came to join her.

"Are you all right?"

Emily hesitated, but she knew better than to lie, at least at a time like this, and managed a shrug. "I will be. I'm glad it's over."

Clyde held her a gaze for a moment, then nodded. "Let's take a walk."

Emily relaxed a little as they made their way through to the quieter areas of their temporary headquarters. It took some time to adjust after so being undercover for so long, but it was easy to feel like herself when with her friend. It was easy to fall back into old habits.

"You haven't been eating properly again, have you?"

The look Clyde gave her was equal parts fondness and exasperation. "You don't have to worry about me when you're the one who spent the last eight months with a psychopath, darling."

Emily rolled her eyes, but didn't try to argue. Clyde came to a halt at the end of the corridor and leaned against the window.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Emily."

"I knew what I was getting into," said Emily quietly. "You've had missions that were just as bad."

One reason she respected Clyde so much was that he never asked anything of her that he wouldn't be willing to do himself. Clyde frowned.

"That's different," he said. "In any case, your debrief is scheduled for tomorrow morning, and then you've got three weeks leave. Don't even start, Emily," he said, when Emily opened her mouth to argue. "You've earned it, and you need it."

The worst part was that he was right. Emily knew the feelings of burn-out, and the last few months had been some of the hardest of her career.

"Besides," Clyde continued, "someone needs to keep Tsia company."

Emily blinked. "Excuse me?"

A sly grin was spreading across Clyde's face. "Did I not mention that she is also owed several weeks leave? It would be highly irresponsible of me not to encourage my team to take advantage of their offered benefits."

If she didn't know how uncomfortable he was with physic contact Emily would have hugged him. "Thank you."

A rare, soft smile touched Clyde's face. "It was the least I could do."

Emily could only smile back. Clyde's eyes flickered past her, and he straightened up.

"I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost."

Emily spun round and her breath caught in her throat.

"Tsia."

Tsia didn't reply. Instead she stepped closer and pulled Emily into a fierce, almost crushing hug. Emily's eyes burned, and she buried her face in Tsia's hair.

"I missed you too," she whispered.

Clyde was safety and security, and Tsia was the unconditional love she never thought she'd find, and after months of lying and fighting it was too much to bear. Emily clung to Tsia and let herself go for the first time in far too long, and Tsia just held her close.

"It's okay," she murmured. "Everything will be okay."

Clyde hummed his agreement, and Emily squeezed her eyes shut. It wouldn't be that simple. Doyle was still alive and his organisation was still a threat and she still had to work out what to do about Declan, but Tsia was in her arms and Clyde had her back, and Emily couldn't help but believe them. She let out a shuddering breath, and Tsia drew back enough to kiss her.

"I've got you," she said. "Always."

"I know," Emily whispered.

-

Emily knows she’s in trouble the moment it happens.

The sentry’s eyes harden, his hands twitch, and Emily starts to back-track but it’s too late and she reaches for her gun but his is already in his hands and she knows she’s not going to be fast enough-

A shot rings out and the sentry falls with a bullet between his eyes, and Clyde’s voice crackles through her earpiece,

“We’re done here. Get to the south stairwell; Tsia will meet you there.”

“Understood,” Emily manages.

Guilt burns in her chest, but she can hear alarms sounding and shouts echo through the corridor, and she turns and runs. It’s not easy in heels and a short dress, but she’d half-expected it and she’s had plenty of practice.

Tsia is waiting for her, another unconscious sentry at her feet and her own gun out, and open relief flashes across her face as she looks up.

“Good. Let’s get out of here.”

“Clyde?”

“Covering us,” says Tsia. “He’ll be fine.”

Emily nods, but she doesn’t feel any better. This was not the plan. Tsia gives her a long look, and her eyes narrow. “We knew this was a long shot,” she says. “We’ll debrief in a bit, but now we have to go.”

She offers Emily her hand to help her down the stairs. Emily takes a breath. “Right. Let’s go.”

They don’t meet any further resistance. Emily keeps her eyes away from the bodies. Clyde is nothing if not thorough. The lower floors are swarming with SWAT, and Tsia finally relaxes as they make it out into the open air.

“The locals can take it from here,” she says.

Emily just nods. Now that they’re out of danger, adrenaline and fear are shifting to guilt. “I fucked up.”

“It happens,” says Tsia bluntly. “You did everything you could.”

“It wasn’t enough.” The words are bitter on her tongue. “If they were able to get rid of that data-”

“Emily, it’s done now,” Tsia interrupts. “Whatever they find, it’s more than they would have had without you.”

Emily looks, but she can’t find a trace of blame in her eyes. They’re out of danger, but Tsia still hasn’t let go of her hand, and now she gives it a gentle squeeze. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Emily shivers. If not for Clyde…

“Where is Clyde?”

Tsia frowns, but even as Emily reaches for her earpiece her expression clears. “As if that lot would slow him down.”

Emily spins round and relief leaves her light-headed as she spots Clyde weaving his way through the crowds. His bag with his sniper gear is slung across his back, and some of the tension drains from his shoulders as he joins them.

“You’re both all right?”

“Fine,” says Emily. “I messed up. I’m sorry.”

Clyde shakes his head. “It happens to everyone, Emily. We’ll go over it tomorrow, but for now the important thing is that you’re safe.”

“Thanks to you. You saved my life.”

If he had been just seconds slower, she wouldn’t be here. Tsia’s grip on her hand tightens, but Clyde just raises an eyebrow.

“That’s what your back-up is supposed to do,” he points out. “But you’re welcome.” He settles his bag more comfortably and glances round at the officials swarming the building. “I’ll deal with this. You two head back to the hotel.”

Emily frowns at him. “I can help,” she begins, but both Clyde and Tsia are shaking their heads.

“This is my job,” says Clyde firmly. “You’ve done yours. And don’t do that,” he adds, when Emily can’t suppress a grimace. “We always knew an infiltration at this stage would be risky, and despite everything you still got what we need.”

“But-”

“Emily,” Tsia interrupts, “listen to him. We’ve all had undercover ops go south; that’s just part of the job.” She squeezes Emily’s hand again. “You’re safe. That’s all we care about right now.”

For a moment, Emily can only stare at them. Growing up, the only acceptable result had been perfection. Making mistakes, but still getting praised for overall performance would have been incomprehensible.

She’s just screwed up an important mission, but not even her boss seems to care.

Her thoughts must show on her face, for Clyde’s mouth twitches into a smile.

“Of course, I can rake you over the coals for not controlling every single one of your micro-expressions if you want,” he offers. “But I’m happy to skip that part if you are.”

Tsia snorts and Emily has to smile. “Okay, I get the message.”

“Good,” says Clyde. “Now, both of you clear off.”

“Yes, sir,” says Tsia, with a bright smile, and she ducks away with a laugh when Clyde rolls his eyes. Emily lingers a moment longer.

“Thank you.”

Clyde’s expression softens. “You never have to thank me for that, darling.”