The street was quiet as the four men walked out of Inez's saloon and headed for their respective vehicles.

Vin Tanner was about to climb into his Jeep Wrangler when his sharp eyes picked up on a flicker of movement on a rooftop across the street.

Stopping, the sharpshooter's eyes narrowed and he followed the flicker as the shadow slunk along the edge of the stone roof.

"Hey, Cowboy," Tanner called over his shoulder. "Check it out." He nodded toward the mysterious figure.

Chris Larabee closed the door of his Ram and walked over to stand next to his friend. "Well now, that looks out of place." He walked back to his truck and pulled his Sig Sauer out of the glove compartment. "Josiah, Buck, get your guns. We'd better check this out."

A quick word and a flashed badge got them past the night watchman, into the building.

"What floor do you think he's on?" Buck asked as they stepped into the elevator.

"6th." Vin answered crisply, his mind already fixed on what was ahead of him.

Buck nodded and checked the clip of his 9mm. "Someday, somebody's gonna explain to me how we always end up chasing after shadows? Specifically ones that *shoot* at us?"

"I'll explain it now." Josiah clamped a hand on Vin's shoulder. "The good Lord, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to bless Brother Tanner with extremely sensitive eyesight."

"Hallelujah." Buck muttered as the elevator doors slid open.

When they stepped into the hallway, Chris uttered his trademark line. "Let's do this."

The hallway's main lights were off, the only illumination being provided by lights at either end.

Using hand signals, Chris broke the quartet into teams of two. Vin with him and Josiah with Buck. As the four men crept down the hall, Chris found himself very grateful the floors were carpeted. Otherwise the sounds of their boots would have been like thunder in the intruder's ears.

The two teams slunk along the hallway, keeping to the shadows. They would pause at each door to listen, moving on when they'd discerned no one was inside.

The sound of a door easing open sent them flying into a pair of recessed (more elaborate) doorways.

They watched from the darkened spaces with bated breath as a slender, black-garbed, figure crept along the hallway, his gaze intent on a small device in his hands.

Chris waited until the intruder was directly between the two teams before giving the signal.

Almost as one, the men rushed forward. Vin got a hold on the intruder first, one arm around the waist while the other went across the neck.

The intruder struggled violently, arms and legs striking out at the other three men while attempting to reach back to Vin. In an attempt to subdue him, Josiah grabbed the free arm.

Chris stepped up then, carefully avoiding the intruder's free legs, gun in one hand and ID in the other. He flashed the ID before shoving it back into his pocket. "ATF, you're under arrest." With that statement, he reached out and pulled off the intruder's mask.

Their expressions turned from professionalism to that of shocked disbelief when the mask came away to reveal layers of dark brown hair and snapping dark eyes.

He was a she.

Instantly Vin, ever the gentleman, adjusted his grip as Buck & Josiah stepped back.

"What the..." Chris trailed off as the beautiful woman's irate eyes fixed on his face. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Exactly what I was about to ask you!" she snapped. "This wasn't a part of the deal! Nobody said anything about the ATF being here!"

"What deal?" Larabee asked, feeling a headache building. "What is going on here?"

"Well, if your goon'll let me go I'll explain." The brunette's dark eyes shot sparks as she twisted lightly in Vin's arms.

The men smirked at Vin's expression. Clearly he didn't think himself a goon.

"Let her go Vin," Chris sighed out.

Quite happy to oblige, Vin released the woman.

"Now, that explanation would be real nice of you," Buck said with his most charming smile. "Why don't you start with your name?"

"Shaun O'Hara," She said simply.

"Alright Ms. O'Hara, what are you doing here?" Larabee leaned against the wall.

Shaun sighed and pushed a hand through her hair. "I'm a security systems analyst. I test the security systems in the facilities of whatever company hires me."

"Test them? By breaking in?" Josiah raised his eyebrows. "Mighty interesting way of goin' about it."

Shaun shrugged. "It's the most logical way to do it. Best method of finding a security system's weak spots is to attack it the same way a professional thief would. I cleared it with the Denver PD first. I always do." She folded her arms across her midsection. "I wasn't aware I was supposed to contact the local federal authorities as well." The last statement was delivered in a wry tone, accompanied by a raised eyebrow.

Chris reined in a sarcastic comment as he felt heat flood into his cheeks. For some unknown reason, he felt like he was being chastened like a high school student caught somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. He didn't like it. Not at all.

Noticing Chris's reaction, Josiah reached for his cellphone. "Well, Ms. O'Hara, I hope you understand why we have to verify your story."

The petite brunette nodded curtly and gave him the name of the lieutenant she'd dealt with.

It happened to be an old friend of Josiah's and after a short conversation, he hung up, nodding at Chris. "He confirms her story."

"Good!" Shaun exclaimed, crouching down to pick up the device she'd dropped.

"What's that?" Buck queried as she checked it over.

A wicked grin crossed Shaun's face. "It's a special little toy that'll help me get past the electronic lock of that door." She nodded at the door in question. "Observe."

Somewhat amused, the four men watched as she walked down the hall and inserted the card, which was wired to the device, into the slot and intently watched the readout on the device's small screen.

After a few moments, the machine emitted a small beep, the lock's light turned from red to green, and Shaun smiled exultantly. "Yes!"

"Now what?" Vin asked, standing behind her as she opened the door.

The brunette shrugged. "I go in and take something to prove I was actually in the office."

Ducking inside, she left the four ATF agents standing in the hallway.

"So, what else did your friend tell you?" Buck looked to Josiah.

The older agent thought over the information he'd been given. "Ms. O'Hara doesn't have a criminal record per se."

"Meaning?" Chris interjected, an eyebrow arched.

"Well, she's never been convicted of a crime. But, she is a known associate of Amanda Montrose. The running suspicion is that Ms. O'Hara was a protege of Amanda's, possibly an accomplice. She has been in several European cities where a high priced theft has occurred but there's no evidence to connect her to any of the crimes. It seems she and Amanda are officially friends, not business partners." Josiah smiled, his mind on the master thief. "Ran into Ms. Montrose once. She's a real character." He winked slyly at Buck. "Pretty too."

A familiar gleam appeared in the dark-haired agent's eyes and he smiled slowly. "Oh? How pretty?"

"Amanda's a knockout," Shaun reported, stepping out, a file in hand. "Well, I don't know about you gentlemen but I'm done here."

Walking down the hallway, Shaun stopped, picked up a small pack she'd left there and eased out the open window next to her.

Automatically, the four ATF agents moved to the window and looked out.

"Oh, I like her," Buck announced, as they watched the lovely brunette rappel down the side of the building to the street below.

Chris just grunted slightly.

"So, what you are saying, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra drawled over his expensive, first cup of the day, mocha latte. "Is that you, along with Misters Larabee, Tanner and Sanchez, had an encounter with an extremely attractive lady who apparently earns her employment by ascertaining the effectiveness of a business's security system by attempting to breach said system."

JD looked confused and glanced over at Nathan.

"A pretty lady who tests security systems by breakin' in." The tall man translated with a shrug.

"What'd she look like?" JD asked after flashing a grateful smile Nathan's way.

Buck's smile nearly split his face. "Pretty as a picture, kid. 'Bout yea high..." He held up a hand to demonstrate. "Dark brown hair, just down past her shoulders and big dark eyes. *Real* pretty little thing."

"Who displayed very little interest in our dear Brother Wilmington." Josiah rumbled, sitting down with his coffee.

JD laughed and slapped at his knee. "What? Your animal magnetism failed you Buck? I'm shocked."

Buck made a face. "Naw...It's just takin' a little longer to sink in with her." He leaned back in his chair. "I'll bet she's gonna show up today, wantin' to spend a lil' time with ole Buck." Clasping his hands behind his head, Wilmington turned his chair around and looked smugly at his computer screen.

Ezra raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Mr. Wilmington, I would lay money on the opposite occurring."

If he did, Standish would lose half his bet. Shaun O'Hara would show up at the office that day. But her reason for doing so would have nothing to do with an attraction to Buck Wilmington.

Having worked the night before, Shaun slept late and ate a leisurely breakfast in bed while reading the paper.

Which is where she was when her assistant, Ross Harmon, arrived.

"Shaun McKensey O'Hara!" The dark haired man stood in her bedroom door, arms folded across his chest. "What do you think you are doing?!"

Shaun raised one slender eyebrow. "I am reading the morning paper. What's it look like?" She directed a wry smile at him. "And good morning to you too."

"For your information it is 2:00 in the afternoon and it looks like you are a slugabed!" Ross strode across the room and yanked the nearly floor length drapes open. "Now, forget about the cartoons and get out of bed! I'll go run your bath." He tossed her robe at her and went into the bathroom.

"Well aren't we cranky today." Shaun remarked dryly, slipping out of bed and into her robe. "What's the matter? Keith have a headache last night or something?"

Ross stuck his head out and made a face at her. "Shut up and get in here. I want to know how last night went."

Shaun walked into her bathroom, grabbing a hairbrush off her makeup table as she went. "It went well." She said, her voice noncommittal, as she brushed her hair.

"What happened?" Ross turned away from the tub, bubble bath bottle in hand and frowned at her. "Did you get caught or something?"

Shaun set the brush down and picked up an elastic, pulling her hair up in a makeshift bun. "Or something. Some bunch of ATF agents were coming out of that bar, Inez's Saloon, and one of 'em saw me. Instead of calling the police they came in after me."

"How the hell did he see you?" Ross asked, turning away to give Shaun a little privacy as she pulled off her robe and pj's before getting into the raised tub. "There are no streetlights up that high and the lights on the outside of the building aren't bright enough to light up the shadows."

"He's some kind of sharpshooter, I think. Really good eyesight." The brunette rested her head against the edge of the tub, sighing as she relaxed under the bubbles. "He's got that look in his eyes."
 

"Did they blow the job?" Ross asked, sitting down next to the tub.

"Nope. They didn't have any security guards with them and I didn't get a call from Detective Delarosa, so I figure the guards didn't follow up on the 'false alarm'." Shaun picked up a sponge and squirted her body wash on it. "Easy money."

"Watch it..." Harmon cautioned. "Over confidence leads to unemployment."

"Or beheading." Shaun tacked on somewhat soberly.

Ross slapped her lightly on the forehead. "Why is it you Immortals always manage to switch moods so fast?" He shook his head. "One minute you're on top of the world and the next you're brooding about living forever."

O'Hara grinned. "Naw, I don't do that because I'm Immortal, I do it because I'm Irish." She winked. "Now, what was in the mail?"

Her assistant stood. "We'll go through the mail when you get out of the tub." He walked to the door. "Relax and enjoy the water." With that, he left the room.

*********************************************************

When Shaun walked into the kitchen, Ross was sitting at the oak table in the breakfast nook, looking at the file she'd brought home. "Shaun...Have you looked at this?"

"No. I never bothered. I picked the lock on the file cabinet and grabbed the thickest one." The Immortal fixed the belt on her robe and sat down across from him. "Why?"

Wordlessly, Ross pushed the file across the table.

Shaun silently read through the papers. "Bloody hell..." She whispered when as she leafed through the file. "I had no idea."

"What are you going to do with this?" Her mortal assistant asked, worry glinting in his eyes.

Shaun closed the file and stood. "I'm going to go see those ATF agents I met last night." She tapped the file. "Unless I miss my guess, this falls under their jurisdiction."

The office was blissfully quiet for once. JD and Buck were both staring intently at their computer screens, Ezra was reviewing his report from a recent undercover stint, Chris was sitting on the edge of Josiah's desk and they were quietly talking while Vin and Nathan waited for the coffee to perk.

As quiet as the room was, it got a whole lot quieter when Shaun O'Hara walked in.

Gone was the stealthy figure in the black jumpsuit. In her place was a elegant and composed business woman dressed in Armani.

Noticing the lack of quiet conversation, Buck, JD and Ezra looked up.

"Well, hello darlin'!" Buck smiled broadly at her.

Shaun nodded at him and smiled slightly. But, instead of walking over to him, she turned and strode over to Chris. "We need to talk."

*********************************************************

Chris stared at the file then looked up at Shaun. "Did you have any idea what this was when you took it?"

The pretty brunette shook her head. "No. I just opened the file cabinet and grabbed the thickest file. I didn't pay any attention to it till this afternoon when my assistant read through it." She smiled slightly and shrugged. "For once his nosiness has proven to be a bonus."

"So, what's in there and can we use it?" Buck asked, leaning forward and resting his hands on the conference table.

Its documentation on what looks like an extremely large and extremely well organized arms ring." Chris leafed through the pages. "High tech weaponry by the looks of it. I'd say somebody at that law firm's keeping this for insurance." He passed several of the pages around to the men. "And as for legality...Ms. O'Hara, what are the terms you laid out for your job?"

Shaun opened up her shoulder bag and pulled out a folded contract. "This is my copy of the contract. Its pretty close to the standard contract I use for most of my consulting jobs. I thought you'd want to take a look." She passed it over to Ezra. "When I'm hired to do a security check, the company is always told I'll take something from the facility. I don't specify what but I make it very clear that it could be anything. From a paper weight to a file. That's quite explicitly detailed in the contract." She frowned. "Problem is I have a meeting with the senior partner in an hour. I have to take the file with me."

"Well then," Buck said, glancing at Chris. "A trip to the copy machine's in order."

As they waited for Buck and JD to finish the copying, Josiah brought Shaun a cup of coffee while she talked with the remaining members of Team Seven.

"Ms. O'Hara, might I inquire as to emolument for the procurement of your services?" Ezra queried, sipping his own coffee.

Shaun shrugged. "I would depend on the level of security involved and if the job requires any travel."

"Well what would be your highest fee to date?" Nathan prompted.

The brunette thought it over for a moment then grinned. "That would be upwards of half a million dollars."

The reactions of the men earned her a laugh.

"*But*," She stressed. "That was for testing the security system of one of Addington International's more important labs and it was money well earned I assure you."

"Need a partner?" Vin joked.

Shaun flicked an appraising look over him. "Well, you certainly *look* fit enough to keep up with me." She waited a beat then grinned. "But I doubt I could lure you away from this place."

"Quite right." Josiah rumbled. "Brother Tanner is an integral member of our team. We couldn't let him go even if he wanted to." The older man smiled down at both Vin and Shaun.

"I know Vin wouldn't want to leave here." Chris shared a long look with his best friend then grinned. "He wouldn't give up the free coffee and donuts. Never mind all the desserts the secretaries keep bringing in."

Vin laughed along with the rest of them. "Damn straight cowboy." He countered with a smile. He looked over at Shaun. "Although, five hundred thousand dollars is a mighty sizable temptation."

Shaun grinned. "Well if I ever need a temporary partner I'll call."

"Done!" Buck announced as he and JD walked into the room, each carrying a file.

Buck handed the original file back to Shaun then passed the copy to Chris. "It's a damn shame this stuff isn't more detailed. We wouldn't even need to break a sweat on an investigation."

"Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to do a little work on this one, Buck." Chris thumbed through the photocopied file. "Ms. O'Hara, go with Nathan. He'll get you wired up."

"Excuse me?" Shaun raised a slender eyebrow and adjusted her shoulder bag's strap. "Wired up for what?"

"Your meeting." Chris responded, flipping the file shut. "When those execs see what file you took, they're going to get mighty suspicious."

Shaun shrugged. "I can handle it."

Larabee shook his head. "Just the same, we're going to back you up. Its too dangerous. In fact, you're not going in there alone," He stated, his expression stern.

The petite brunette frowned up at him. "Meaning?"

The team leader looked over the men surrounding them and then nodded. "Vin'll be going with you."

Shaun opened her mouth to argue then thought better of it. With a shrug she turned to Vin. "Well, Mr. Tanner, looks like we'll be working together sooner than I thought."

"All right, Miz O'Hara, just say a few words to make sure this thing's workin' right." Nathan instructed, picking up the earphones.

Shaun thought for a moment then spoke. "May your road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back and may you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you're dead."

The tall African-American agent laughed. "Nice one."

Shaun grinned sweetly. "Mom used to say it a lot." Fixing her coat she looked up at the friendly man expectantly. "So, am I ready to go?"

Jackson nodded. "Now just try to avoid them frisking you." He cautioned with a concerned look. "They find that wire and it's all over."

Shaun smiled. "They're businessmen, they won't get their hands dirty. They'll wait for their goons to do it but Agent Tanner should deter them from trying it." At that, she tossed a mischievous smile back at the lanky Texan who, in true 'bodyguard' fashion, was leaning against the wall closest to Shaun.

Vin returned a somewhat reserved version of her smile and nodded. "No worries, Nathan. There ain't gonna be anybody touchin' Miz O'Hara."

The complete assurance with which the agent delivered that statement brought Shaun's opinion of Tanner up considerably. And her opinion had been quite high to begin with.

Glancing at her watch, Shaun pursed her lips. "Well, if we want to make the meeting, Agent Tanner, we'd better get going."

Vin pushed away from the wall and nodded. "Miz. O'Hara," He smiled slightly. "You'd best start callin' me Vin. Wouldn't be a good idea for you to call me Agent Tanner in front of those lawyers."

Shaun ducked her head slightly a blush blooming to her cheeks. "Quite true...Vin." She smiled. "That would be slightly damaging to your cover wouldn't it?"

"Slightly." Vin agreed.

"Here's your coat and bag, Ms. O'Hara." JD carried the aforementioned objects into the room and handed them to her.

Shaun flashed a dazzling smile at him and nodded. "Thank you, Agent Dunne." She slipped into the coat, thankful she'd left her sword in her car, which was in the parking garage. If she'd had it with her, hidden in her coat, then the young agent would have found it. And that would have been a complete disaster.

Slipping the bag's strap over her shoulder, Shaun looked over at Vin. "Shall we?"

Vin nodded and gestured to the door. "After you."

*********************************************************

Chris stared at the photocopied file and rubbed the back of his neck. "Buck, remind me to leave Santa a thank you note. Not only did he come early but we cleaned up."

"You said it, ole pard." Buck agreed, from where he was stretched out on Larabee's couch. "Course, it makes you wonder...Who was the idiot that left this file in such a vulnerable spot? Whoever it is, they're gonna be in a slight bit of trouble when this all explodes."

"Slight." Chris agreed with a wry smile. "I wouldn't want to be that guy." His eyes turned cold. "I wouldn't want to be any of them, not when we're through."

*********************************************************

Vin pulled into the parking space and got out of Shaun's Jag, hurrying around to open her door.

When they'd left the office of Team Seven, Vin had immediately, and very quietly, asked for permission to drive. It wouldn't look right for a bodyguard to be riding in the passenger seat.

Taking her hand, Tanner helped the lovely woman out of the car, his eyes scanning the parking lot warily.

He didn't like the place. There was something about it that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention.

"This place gives me the wig." Shaun muttered, following Vin to the elevator.

"Then why'd you take the job?" Tanner queried, hitting the floor button that his companion indicated.

Shaun raised a slender eyebrow. "And turn down a twenty five thousand dollar job? Are you nuts?" She quirked a smile at him. "This place may make me nervous but it doesn't make me stupid. Even for me, twenty-five thousand is a *lot* of money for a regular job."

There was a pause and then she spoke again. "Course, given the trouble this job's bringing, I'm definitely starting to reconsider."

Glancing down at the petite woman, Vin chuckled softly. "Trouble?" He gave her his best devilish smile. "This ain't trouble."

"Then what is it?"

"A milk run." Vin responded simply.

Shaun blinked in surprise at that but said nothing.

An amused smile still on his face, Tanner turned his attention to the lights.

Listening to the couple's conversation, JD laughed and leaned back in his chair.

"They in the office yet?" Josiah queried from where he and Nathan sat in the van's front seat.

JD pulled the headphones he was wearing down around his neck. "No, they're in the elevator on the way up."

Both older agents nodded and turned in their seats. The space between the driver's and passenger's seats was wide enough to allow both men to sit side-on comfortably.

Sitting that way allowed Josiah and Nathan to include JD in their conversation without JD having to leave the equipment or the two agents to strain their necks.

"Coffee, JD?" Josiah held out one of the large Styrofoam cups Nathan had brought back from a nearby coffee shop.

"Thanks!" JD scuttled forward to take it, his head bent low to avoid smacking against the van's roof.

Back in his chair, Dunne removed the lid and inhaled appreciatively. "Smells great."

"Fun part of surveillance in the high brow business section." Nathan laughed. "Gourmet coffee, decent prices."

They fell silent for a few moments, savouring the coffee.

The silence was finally broken by JD.

Reclining in his chair, with the headphones held to one ear, JD looked over at his friends.

"So, who's running this ring anyway?" The dark haired man asked, blowing lightly on the hot coffee.

"No one's ever seen him." Nathan reported, cupping his coffee. "We're not even sure of his gender."

"We've never been able to infiltrate his organization far enough to get an ID on him." Josiah added. "He's got an impenetrable inner circle."

JD nodded, beginning to see why Ms. O'Hara's discovery was so important. That file possibly held the name of the ringleader.

He opened his mouth to make a comment along those lines but a more important matter demanded attention.

"Heads up guys, they're going into the meeting!"

*********************************************************

Unconsciously, Shaun moved closer to Agent Tanner as they walked into the offices.

A week before, she'd walked into the law firm's ornate offices without batting an eyelash. To say she hadn't been intimidated by the gothic feel of the decor was something of an understatement.

In her nearly six century career as a professional thief, Shaun had pulled jobs in some very intimidating buildings, including the castles of a couple monarchs. So the offices of one pesky little law firm didn't hold much of an intimidation factor.

Today, however, Shaun was *very* intimidated. It wasn't like they could kill her, she was Immortal, but they could hurt her. And Shaun had this little thing about pain. She didn't like it.

Besides, she'd just set up shop in Denver and she liked it. Enough that Shaun had no intentions of leaving any time soon.

Vin noticed Ms. O'Hara's hesitance and placed a calming hand at the small of her back. He was rewarded, almost immediately, with a nervous smile.

Vin didn't like putting her in the middle of the investigation. She was a civilian who'd just happened to stumble across evidence accidentally. And that one accidental discovery had put her in the line of fire. Unfortunately there was no way to remove her from danger. The law firm would know the ATF's evidence was the file Ms. O'Hara had stolen as a part of the security test. And they'd tell their client and she'd become a target.

"Ms. O'Hara," An older 'gentleman' walked over, a decidedly slimy smile on his face. "A pleasure to see you again."

Shaun plastered a bright smile across her delicate features. "Likewise Mr. Kruell."

The lawyer beamed and nodded. "Excellent, and this is?" He queried, surveying the ATF agent next to the petite Immortal.

"This is my bodyguard, Vin." Shaun explained simply.

Playing his part, Vin nodded once but didn't speak. Instead, he glanced around the room, a stern look in his blue eyes.

"I wasn't aware you were in any danger," Kruell's expression of false concern made both Vin and Shaun feel slightly ill.

Shaun smiled thinly. "Well, these days you can't be too careful."

"Quite so." The silver-haired man agreed. "Shall we adjourn to the board room?"

Shaun nodded and, with Vin keeping a watchful eye on the office staff, they followed Kruell into the boardroom.

"Kruell..." JD scribbled down the name and passed it to Nathan.

The agent glanced at it then picked up his laptop, balancing it carefully on his knees, he entered Kruell's name into the search engine.

After a moment he nodded. "Alexander J. Kruell. Founding partner of the law firm. Guy's been practising for almost thirty years. Nothing in his record, not even an unpaid parking ticket."

Josiah grunted slightly. "Even Satan himself can masquerade as an angel of light."

"Amen." JD piped up. "This guy's voice alone makes my skin crawl."

*********************************************************

Standing in the boardroom, Vin felt about as comfortable as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

The feeling the decor inspired was even more oppressive than that of the outer office.

Adding to the oppressive feeling was the fact that not one of the people sitting at that massive mahogany table, save Ms. O'Hara, appeared to be under the age of sixty. A few, in Vin's opinion, looked to be three days older than God. All were staring at the petite brunette before him, their eyes fixed on her face. Decidedly unfriendly.

The file had, apparently, been missed.

Kruell leaned forward and folded his hands. "Well Ms. O'Hara, I understand you've completed the job we contracted you for?"

Shaun nodded crisply. "Yes, sir." She reached into her shoulder bag, coming up with two files. One being her report and the other, the one she'd retrieved from the office. "You'll find no record on the security system because I didn't trigger the alarm. There is no video record as I bypassed the video cameras."

Sliding the file across the table first, she then placed the report on top of it. "The report details all the flaws I found in your security systems. Including, by the way, your security guards laxness in not following up a report from some ATF agents on a possible break-in. I removed the file, underneath the report, from one of your offices."

Vin stepped up to stand directly behind Shaun's chair, staring intently at Kruell, letting him know that nobody messed with Ms. O'Hara.

The older lawyer cleared his throat nervously and gripped the file as if his life depended on it. Which it probably did. "Uhh...Ms O'Hara, this is a highly sensitive file. You'll have to excuse me, but I must ask, did you examine the contents of this file?"

Vin adjusted his posture slightly so he could see Shaun's face.

Her brown eyes were the picture of innocence mixed with insult. "Mr. Kruell! Are you trying to imply that I don't respect the privacy of my clients?"

Vin bit back a chuckle. The lady was good! He almost believed she hadn't read the file and he knew better.

Kruell backpedaled quickly, stammering an apology, and went on with the meeting.

"Think they believed me?" Shaun inquired, as they stepped into the elevator.

Vin chuckled. "Hell, I almost believed you."

"But that doesn't count for much unfortunately, does it?" The petite Immortal asked soberly.

Tanner hesitated then shrugged. "Depends on what his employer's reaction is when he calls 'em. They ain't gonna be too pleased that file was left somewhere easy to reach."

Shaun looked mildly offended. "Easy?" She repeated, folding her arms across her midsection and staring up at him.

Vin quirked a smile at her. "Well, easy for a professional like you."

"Much better." Shaun said appeased.

"Either way, you might need to keep a low profile for the next few days." The ATF agent cautioned. "Don't take any chances."

The tiny brunette nodded. "I'll be fine. The security in my penthouse is the best." She smiled cheekily. "I would know. I tested it."

Chuckling, the duo stepped out of the elevator into the parking garage.

"Let's get you out of here." Vin said, grasping his charge by the elbow and steering her toward her black Jag.

Alexander J. Kruell was scared out of his incredibly over educated mind.

He would sooner face the ATF agents mentioned in Ms. O'Hara's report than make the phone call he was about to place.

Sitting down at his desk, Kruell pressed the number into the key pad and waited, the receiver held loosely to his ear.

"Have you retrieved the file?" The distorted voice of his employer demanded immediately. No pleasantries or greetings. Just questions. Like always.

"Yes, Ms. O'Hara returned it today." The lawyer marveled at the calm tone of his voice. It sounded so even when he was inwardly shaking.

"Did she read it?" The anonymous voice spoke again.

"She claims not to have." Kruell responded, already knowing the response that comment would receive.

"And if she had, would you honestly expect her to *admit* it?" Despite the electronic distortion, the anger in his employer's voice was apparent. "This is unacceptable...I will be sending a 'specialist' in to better assess the situation. If he deems it necessary Ms. O'Hara will be...taken care of. Is that clear?"

Kruell swallowed heavily. "Quite."

"Have the file ready for his arrival tomorrow morning." Without waiting for a response, his employer hung up.

Shaking, Kruell collapsed back into his leather padded chair. "What have I done?" He murmured, rubbing a hand down his face.

Audibly, no one answered but he already knew the answer. Depending on what the 'specialist's' decision was, he'd be responsible for an innocent young woman's death.

Forcing the guilt aside, the lawyer pulled the infamous file to him and began flipping through it. Certain items within the manilla file would guarantee his safety should the specialist decide Shaun O'Hara wasn't the only one who needed to be 'taken care of'.

Inwardly, he felt another twinge of guilt at the callousness with which he referred to the young lady's death but he soon pushed that aside as well. After all, business was business.

When they got back to the ATF building, Nathan helped Shaun get out of the wire then accompanied her up to Team Seven's offices.

"So," She queried pleasantly of the team leader as she dropped into one of the boardroom's chairs. "Did you get what you wanted?"

Chris half-smiled at her. "Well, we're certainly on the way there, thanks to you."

The reformed thief shrugged. "More like thanks to Ross Harmon. I'd've never even bothered with the file if he hadn't looked at it first."

"Well then, please extend our most heartfelt thanks to Mr. Harmon." Ezra drawled, leaning back in his chair.

"Of course." Shaun replied with a graceful incline of her head. "Well gentlemen, if that's all..."

"We may need you to testify." Chris interrupted calmly. "Depending on how the investigation goes of course. The prosecutor may need you to verify the information was obtained legally."

Shaun nodded. "I figured that. Anything else?"

"Don't take any jobs for the next few weeks. I don't doubt you're already under suspicion, if not surveillance. We'll be keeping a close eye on you just in case." Larabee cautioned her. "It would be very easy to eliminate you during one of your jobs and pass it off as an accident. All they'd need to do is plant someone in the guards or staff and have you shot. It would be a terrible accident of course..." He stated wryly. "But officially an accident nonetheless."

The petite woman sighed ruefully. "Well, I could do with a little vacation...A few weeks lazing around the penthouse sounds good."

Chris smirked. "Well I'm glad we could fit your schedule so well."

Rising to her feet, Shaun smiled widely. "It was a pleasure to meet you gentlemen but, let's keep our association out of our respective workplaces. Its bad for my business if ATF agents keep crashing my jobs."

"Well, you stay clear of crooked law firms who've got arms dealers for clients and we'll do jus' fine." Buck winked at her.

"Deal." Was her emphatic reply.

"Ms. O'Hara," Ezra, still reclining comfortably, spoke up. "Perhaps you would care to grace our quaint imbibing establishment tomorrow evening and partake of some libations with us?"

As it was one of his more complicated statements, it took everyone a moment or so to run it through the Ezra-lator and come up with the English equivalent to the Southerner's words.

Not yet having such a device, it took Shaun a half-second longer but when she did translate it she nodded. "Sure. Where and what time?"

"Inez's. I believe you are aware of it's location." He looked to Chris. "And at what time will we be released for the evening."

Chris shrugged. "Around six."

"Then I'll meet you boys there around...Nine?" O'Hara asked, stepping toward the door.

"Great!" JD beamed at her. "We'll see you there!"

The dark-haired Immortal nodded slightly and left.

When Shaun walked out of the elevator into the lobby she nearly collided with a tall, beautiful, blonde.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" She immediately apologized, reaching out to steady the mortal. "I didn't see you standing there!"

The blonde smiled at her. "Oh, its all right. I wasn't paying much attention either. Are you ok?"

Shaun grinned wryly. "Yeah. With me that's a given. I always come out all right. You?"

"I'm ok." The taller woman held out a hand. "I'm Mary Travis."

"Shaun O'Hara."

The two women shook hands.

"Nice to meet you." Mary smiled widely. "Are you a new agent?"

Dressed in a simple Donna Karan suit, Shaun certainly looked the part. Although, with the exception of Ezra, few agents dressed as expensively. She'd seen some female agents walking around in similar styled suits.

The petite woman laughed and shook her head. "No, I had some business with a team of agents."

"Team Seven?" Mary guessed.

Surprised, Shaun nodded. "Yes, actually. You know them?"

Mary smiled. "Very well. My...son's grandfather is their superior."

Given the way she'd stumbled over that sentence, Shaun realized her husband was most likely deceased so she chose not to comment.

"Well, I'd better let you get going." She grinned. "Otherwise, we're liable to spend the rest of the day, standing here talking and blocking the elevator entrance."

Mary laughed and nodded. "True." Moving to let the shorter woman pass, she hit the call button for the elevator again. "It was nice meeting you."

Shaun smiled widely at her. "It was nice meeting you!"

The elevator doors opened then and Mary stepped inside, waving as she went.

"What a rush!" Mary murmured excitedly, leaning against the wall and brushing her fingers over the tattoo on her inner right wrist.

Over the previous years, she'd witnessed (and participated in) many of the debates that the Watchers had faced. The debates about Immortals and having contact with them. Whether or not it would destroy the Watchers or increase their knowledge.

Mary had been firmly against Watchers having any contact whatsoever with Immortals, having lost her husband to Jakob Galati thanks to Horton and his death squads.

But now, having just bumped into her own assignment...The thought was tantalizing. It made it easy to understand why some Watchers were envious of Joe Dawson and his relationship with his assignment.

There were a dozen questions in her head. Questions that made Mary want to run after Shaun and interview her.

Like was it as much fun to experience her crime sprees with Amanda as it was to read them?

Or just how scared had Shaun been when she'd narrowly avoided a meeting with Lady Guillotine during the French Revolution?

What was it like to watch the Eiffel Tower be built?

What did it feel like to steal the Mona Lisa? Twice.

Mary resisted the temptation to hit the lobby button. There were rules and she'd agreed to follow them so follow them she would.

Telling Shaun O'Hara about the Watchers was definitely a violation of those rules and one Mary wasn't about to commit.

But nevertheless...

It was tempting.

The next day was spent, for the Seven, in surveillance of the law firm and Shaun O'Hara's building, waiting for Kruell and/or his employer to make the next move.

No one out of the ordinary turned up at the security consultant's home but they hit paydirt at the law firm.

Buck walked into Chris's office with a wide grin on his face and a file in his hand.

"Guess who showed up at that lawyer's office?" The lanky, dark-haired, agent dropped into the chair in front of Chris' desk and put his feet up.

Larabee looked over the top of a file at his friend. Taking in the location of Buck's boots, he directed a warning look in the agent's direction.

Feeling too cheerful to care, Buck moved his feet and leaned forward. "Antonio Baluducci."

Chris set down his file and stared intently at his friend. "Tony 'the Tiger' Baluducci?" He whistled. "The big guns."

"Yeah." Buck nodded. "I'm thinking we may want to double the guard on Ms. O'Hara."

Chris looked at the picture of the burly faced thug and nodded. He didn't want this guy anywhere near their informant.

Tony was lethal and swift. Hence the nickname, (although he was purported to love frosted flakes) and he almost never missed.

"Put a tail on him." Chris instructed. "Don't let him out our sight."

Chris and Mary were sitting together at a table in Inez's when Chris touched Mary's right hand.

He turned the slim extremity slightly, getting a better view of the mysterious tattoo on the inside of her wrist.

"Are you ever going to tell me what that means?" The ATF team leader questioned, tracing the tattoo with one finger.

Mary smiled enigmatically. "Just something I picked up in Paris. Steven and I both had one."

"His and hers tattoos..." Chris mused with a smile. "Interesting."

Mary laughed softly, squashing the twinge of guilt at lying about her tattoo. She couldn't tell him yet. Especially not until she'd gauged his view of Shaun. Possibly not until he'd found out about Immortals on his own.

It'd been easier with Steven. They'd met at the Watcher Academy. She'd been attending classes, he'd been working in research.

There'd been no need to lie about Immortals. They both knew.

But now...

She hated lying to Chris. She really did.

It seemed, from the day they'd met, that a relationship was inevitable. Sure they had come from quite different backgrounds but the magnetism had been impossible to ignore.

It still was.

And now, in the early stages of a real relationship, she was lying to him.

Mary hated it.

"So, when does this informant arrive?" Mary kept her tone neutral, giving no hint as to whether or not she knew said informant.

"Should be any minute now." Chris looked in the direction of the door and nodded. "There she is."

Sure enough, Shaun O'Hara had just walked in the door.

The part of Mary that was the Watcher, kicked into analyze and record mode automatically.

Mary took note of everything. From the shoes on the Immortal's feet (Strappy heeled black sandals) to the earrings she wore (silver pearl drops) as well as the expression on her lovely face. (Excited but wary)

"Oh?" Mary forced herself to sound surprised. "Shaun!"

"You know her?" Chris looked equally surprised, his was genuine though.

"Barely. We bumped into each other yesterday in the lobby." Mary explained. "She seemed nice."

Chris nodded. "She is."

With that, their conversation drifted back to other topics but Mary's attention was now divided between her date...and her assignment.

Tucking her long hair away from her face, Shaun looked around Inez's sizing the place up.

A few years before, Amanda had taken her to some blues club in Seacouver. Apparently, the owner was a good friend of hers.

Shaun had liked the place instantly. There was something about it
that made her feel at home.

Inez's had that atmosphere.

"Shaun!" Buck Wilmington's voice caught her attention and she looked over to see most of team Seven clustered around a small group of tables.

When she didn't see Larabee amongst them, she looked around and grinned when she spotted him at a more secluded table with an arm slung around Mary Travis' shoulders.

Walking over, she smiled at the team pleasantly.

"Hey guys, how goes the cops and robbers game?"

"We're winning." JD reported with a wide smile.

As Ezra, very gallantly, pulled out a chair for her, Shaun looked over at JD and wondered if she'd ever been that young.

"Thank you." The Irish Immortal smiled gratefully at the Southerner before relaxing back in her chair. "So...My bad guys after my cute little butt yet?"

"Possibly." Buck responded.

Shaun frowned lightly. "Well...If I need to get out of town just yell."

"Naw..."Vin drawled. "We'll just keep an eye on you and we'll take good care of you."

Shaun winked merrily at him. "Promise?" The suggestion in her voice brought laughter from the rest of the men.

Vin's cheeks colored slightly and he hurriedly finished his drink.

"Good evening." Inez approached the group, a friendly smile on her face. "What can I get you?"

Shaun considered it. "Vodka martini for starters."

Vin held up his glass. "I'll have another beer."

Inez nodded and whisked the glasses away.

"So," Shaun crossed her legs and adjusted the hemline of her dress. "Tell me how did you guys get together? Were you just assigned to the team or did you volunteer? What?"

"Chris handpicked some and they brought the rest of us in." JD explained.

Shaun noticed the grin on Buck's face. Pointing at him, she smiled. "All right you, out with it. What's so funny?"

"JD's being just a touch selective with his answer." Nathan volunteered.

A faint blush coloured the youngest agent's cheeks as amused smiles appeared on the other men's faces.

"Anybody feel like explaining those looks?" The brunette queried, a laugh lurking in her eyes.

"Well, Brother Larabee originally had no intention of bringing our young friend into the team." Josiah rumbled.

"Said I was too young." JD muttered.

"But he eventually relented and requested Mr. Dunne join our illustrious group." Ezra drawled.

"Translation: JD drove him crazy until Chris let him in." Buck chuckled.

Shaun surveyed the men around her, none of them seemed to be taking any malicious enjoyment from JD's discomfiture. Just fond amusement. Comraderie.

With a pang Shaun found herself longing for the days when she and Amanda'd travelled around Europe on their idea of a crime spree. Occasionally they'd been joined by Jeremy "Dex" Dexter, another
on-again/off-again lover of Amanda's. It had been fun. When they weren't trying to avoid being beheaded or losing their hands thanks to a heist gone wrong.

"Persistence is a good thing." She noted, her attention still divided between two times, two Shauns. "Proves you've got endurance."

She brought herself back to the present with an internal shake. Smiling wickedly, she looked at Buck. "And after all, endurance is *so* important in some things."

"Yes ma'am it is." Buck agreed with a grin.

The rest of the evening was spent dancing, laughing and talking.

By the time they'd decided to call it a night, Shaun had gotten a very good look at the dynamics of the team, not to mention a little back story on several of the men.

She found out from Inez that Chris was a widower who'd lost his wife and son in car bomb, that Mary Travis's husband had been killed in Europe and that now they were taking tentative steps to a relationship. Shaun thought those steps were a lot more than tentative; Larabee's attitude toward Mary wasn't that of a new boyfriend. More like an old lover.

The bar owner also told her about JD and Buck's unique friendship; how they seemed to thrive on the silliest arguments.

Next came Vin and Chris. Inez was very emphatic that she'd *never* seen a friendship like theirs before.

Shaun was inclined to agree. In her lifetime, she'd seen few friendships like it and her lifetime consisted of six centuries thus far.

Inez swore they shared some sort of psychic link. Shaun thought that was a bit farfetched but she did have to acknowledge they seemed to share an unusual link.

Even without Inez's input, Shaun recognized a kindred soul in Ezra Standish. Like her, Standish presented a facade to the world while hiding the real person underneath.

It was that shared trait that allowed Shaun to see beyond the southerner's defenses to the man underneath. Allowed her to see how heavily he relied on his friends, yet how he tried not to.

Dependance meant vulnerability. And vulnerability was terrifying.

Josiah was a touch harder to figure out - he seemed to have an almost Immortal knowledge of the world. Shaun could also see a sadness in him. He'd been hurt severely in his life and was still carrying it with him.

Of all the men, Nathan Jackson was the hardest for her to pin down. It wasn't so much that she couldn't tell what kind of man he was. Even if Shaun were blind, deaf, and mute, she could still see that the tall agent was the kind of man that every mother wanted their daughter to marry. The kind that most daughters dreamed of marrying. No, what was hard was trying to figure out what was driving him. Whatever it was, it hurt and it hurt badly.

All of them were carrying hurts. And those hurts were not minor either. That she could tell.

All in all, Shaun was thoroughly impressed by the team. They were survivors. They'd survived great adversities and still managed to find a family in each other.

It was a rare gift and clearly it was one they treasured.

When closing time came, Shaun was escorted to her car by Vin, Buck and JD.

When they walked up, the youngest of the three informed her that he was to be the guard on her penthouse the following day.

Shaun beamed at him. "Well then, you'll have to join me for brunch."

"I don't think that would be a good idea." Buck interrupted.

"Why not? There'll be another agent downstairs right?" She queried, unlocking her car door. "JD can come up for a few minutes."

JD grinned at Buck. "Yeah Buck. I can come up for a few minutes. Make sure nobody's trying to break in."

Vin opened Shaun's door for her and she smiled at him as she slipped into the car. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Vin said softly, winking at her, he continued with, "Miss Scarlett."

Shaun looked down at her red dress and laughed.

Leaning out the open window, the pretty brunette glanced at the still arguing JD and Buck before speaking.

"Pity, you're not on guard duty too." Her smile turned shy. "I kind of like having you around."

Tanner crouched down next to the car, in order to be at eye level and matched her shy smile with one of his own. "I kinda like being around."

Completely unaware of this little exchange, Buck pulled JD aside as they started a quiet argument. (One of many)

"Maybe sometime...You can drop by the penthouse, y'know, when you're not working?" Shaun asked hopefully.

Vin surveyed her speculatively. "You like horses?"

"Yeah."

"I keep a horse out a Chris's ranch." Vin's voice was calm but his eyes betrayed his nervousness. "Maybe you'd like t'go ridin' sometime?"

Delight appeared in Shaun's eyes. "I'd love to go riding with you."

Vin straightened up as she started the car and smiled at her. "We'll have to work on a day."

She nodded at him. "See you tomorrow JD!" The brunette waved as she called cheerfully.

Backing out of the lot, the Immortal smiled at Vin again before speeding off into the night.

Silence reigned before Buck realized something.

"Vin? Did you just make a date with Shaun?"

Smiling (just a little smugly) at the incredulous tone in Wilmington's voice, Vin nodded. "Yep."

When JD knocked on the door of Shaun's penthouse the next morning, it was opened by a tall man with dark hair and eyes.

"Ah, you must be Agent Dunne!" He announced cheerfully, his voice tinged with traces of a British accent.

JD nodded at him. "Yeah, you're Ross Harmon?"

"The nosy Assistant." Came the good humoured response.

Ross held out a hand which JD shook briefly.

"Nice to meet you Ross." JD flashed a smile at him as the taller man stepped back to allow him entrance.

"Likewise," Ross agreed, closing the door behind him. "Her royal highness is out in the solarium."

The dry tone in the older man's voice brought a burst of laughter from JD. "Thanks."

Shaun was reading her mail and munching on a croissant when JD walked in.

In a sharp contrast to her impeccable appearance the night before, the petite woman still looked a little fuzzy around the edges. Clearly she wasn't a morning person.

"Morning." JD said in a chipper tone.

The security consultant looked over the top of a letter at him, her eyes not quite focusing. "No one should be *that* cheerful anywhere before twelve."

JD laughed, seating himself across from her. "Sounds like Ezra."

"Smart man." Shaun decided. "So, how goes the investigation?"

The dark haired young man fidgeted with a napkin. "Its progressing well."

"Baluducci's behaving himself hmm...?"

The question was delivered so casually, JD didn't pick up on the significance of it until several moments later.

When it did sink in, his jaw dropped and he stared at her. "How the hell did you know that?"

Shaun sipped her coffee delicately and shrugged. "I have my sources."

"ATF sources?!"

"No. Sources of a more...shall we say...Shadowy nature." The brunette hedged her answer looking just a little guilty.

JD frowned at her in a very Larabee-sque fashion. "Criminal?"

Looking at him, she couldn't help smile. If Shaun could have had a younger brother, she'd want him to be like JD. "Yes. Criminal. I called a friend and had her ask around. She called back about a half hour later with Baluducci's name."

"It's out on the street?" JD was reaching for the cellphone.

"No. My friends have very good connections." Shaun looked to the door then, as Ross was standing there. "You taking off?"

Ross nodded. "Everything's straightened up." He pointed a finger at her. "You behave yourself while I'm gone."

Shaun looked innocent and gestured at JD. "I'm surrounded by ATF agents, how much trouble could I *possibly* get into?"

"Knowing you? World war III." Ross looked at JD sternly. "You guys keep an eye on her."

"You got it." JD agreed.

Shaking her head, the Irish Immortal looked at her mortal best friend. "Have a nice time, and tell Keith you can stay at the lodge as long as you like."

Ross looked mischievous. "How about forever?"

"You wish." Shaun retorted. "Seriously though, take a nice long relaxing vacation." Rising gracefully, she walked over and hugged her friend. "Y'know the kind, up atrociously late, in bed atrociously late...Generally do everything atrociously."

"Yes ma'am." Ross stepped back, waving slightly at JD. "Again, nice to meet you, Agent Dunne."

JD nodded at him and watched the other man leave, a thoughtful frown on his face.

"Who's Keith?" He asked after a long moment.

Shaun took her seat again and offered JD a cup of coffee. "Keith is Ross's partner of..." She paused to think. "Oh...Going on six years. It's the sixth anniversary of their first date this weekend so I gave Ross a week off. They're heading up to my lodge." She smiled fondly. "It's a nice, quiet, romantic, spot."

"He's gay, huh?" JD queried.

"Yeah, he's gay." Shaun grinned impishly. "Will to my Grace."

"Vin'll be happy." The young mortal murmured to himself.

"What's that?" The petite brunette asked absently.

"Nothing."

She gave the young man an analytical look but let it slide.

They ate and Shaun quizzed JD on the case.

Then, when they were done talking, Shaun put together a doggy bag for the agent down in the car.

They were half way to the front door when Shaun stopped dead in her tracks, her expression wary.

"Shaun?" JD looked at her in confusion.

"JD, I just remembered, the elevator's scheduled for maintenance today, you'd better go down the back way." A too-bright smile on her face, Shaun led him back toward the terrace.

They never reached it. Instead they found their pathway blocked by the very hitman the Seven had been trying to track.

"Damn." Both ATF agent and former thief muttered in unison.

"Chris," Buck burst into the team leader's office, a worried expression on his face. "We've got a problem."

Larabee groaned. "Why is it, you never bring me good news?"

"That's Vin's job," his old friend retorted automatically. "We've lost Baluducci."

"WHAT!?!" Chris was on his feet in a flash, grabbing his jacket and storming around his desk. "When?!"

"Ten minutes ago. He got onto a bus and when our guy followed...He wasn't on it." Wilmington's expression seemed to darken. "And we radioed the detail watching Shaun's place. There's no response."

"Damn!" Chris's pace didn't slacken as he moved through Team Seven's bullpen. "If JD has so much as a hangnail, I'm gonna give Baluducci a detailed view of his own entrails."

"Not if I get him first." Buck vowed as the rest of the team followed them out the door. Each muttering their own threats against the hitman.

When they arrived at Shaun's building, Chris dispatched Ezra and Josiah to check the surveillance car while the rest of the team raced to their witness's penthouse.

The horrific scene that greeted them was met with exclamations of shock and rage.

His back resting against the divan near the solarium, JD held his gun loosely in one hand, Shaun lying across his lap. The young man was bleeding from a wound in his thigh...Shaun was dead.

"JD!" Buck, Nathan and Vin rushed to their teammate's side.

Vin pried Shaun's lifeless body from his friend's iron grip, cradling her in his arms, while Nathan and Buck fussed over JD.

Holding JD upright so Nathan could examine the wound, Buck looked down at him. "What happened?"

"Baluducci..." JD said weakly. "Showed up. Tried t'shoot me..." He made a faint gesture in Shaun's direction. "Shaun...Pushed me outta t'way."

He tried to pull himself away from Buck, suddenly animated.

"He was gonna . . . "JD fought for the next breath. "Chop off her head!"

Chris frowned and started to open his mouth to question that, when his radio crackled.

"Larabee!"

"Chris, the agent in the car's dead. Single shot to the forehead." Josiah reported succinctly. "Baluducci must've taken him out before he headed up to the penthouse. How's JD and Ms. O'Hara? They up there?"

"JD's been shot in the leg. Ms. O'Hara's dead." Chris looked back at the scene in the living room. "Come on up. We'll make the necessary calls from here."

"Be right there."

"A'right. Out." Larabee flicked off his radio and walked over to crouch next to Nathan. "How's he doin?"

"Lost a lot of blood . . . But he'll live." The other agent answered absently, tying up a bandage.

"Unlike our witness. "Chris murmured quietly, turning to look at the body of the woman in question. "What the hell!?!?" His expression turned to one of shock at the scene being played out before him.

Shaun's eyes snapped open and she drew in a shuddering breath, arching slightly in Vin's arms.

"Good Lord!" Josiah exclaimed from the doorway.

Fully revived, and remembering the threat, Shaun launched herself from Vin's arms and spun to face him.

Surprise registered on her lovely face when she realized who'd been holding her.

"Oh boy . . . " The Immortal looked around the room at the astonished men. "Surprise!" She smiled weakly.

"That's one hell of an understatement!" Buck snapped over at her. "This ain't a surprise! It's a damn shock!"

"I'll explain later." Shaun knelt next to JD and smiled again. "Told you I'd be ok."

"How?" He managed faintly.

"Short version? I'm Immortal. Can't die unless you chop my head off. Pretty much everything else I can heal from." She shrugged.

"Immortal?" Several of the men chorused as one.

"Yes. Immortal." Shaun started to address Chris but Buck wasn't done with her yet.

"Hold on a minute there darlin'," He grabbed her arm. "You drop that on us and expect us to just nod and smile?"

"No, I don't just expect you to just nod and smile!" Shaun countered in frustration. "But at the moment we don't exactly have the time for me to trot out the whole story. Which, I might add, is *very* long. Right now, I expect, JD's health is a touch more important than my life span."

"Yes it is," Chris interjected. "But until you explain it to us, don't you even think of going anywhere without one of us."

"Fine!" Shaun sighed heavily then switched topics. "Have you called the ambulance yet?"

"About to." Larabee said, yanking out his cellphone.

Walking a few feet away, the team leader first called the paramedics and then the coroner and appropriate authorities to deal with the body downstairs.

"They're on their way." He reported a minute later.

"Good." The dark-haired Immortal stood to her feet. "I'd better change. I may have promised to explain things to you, but I have no intentions of expanding that promise to the rest of the local law enforcement community."

Disappearing around the corner, she left the ATF agents very confused.

"What the hell just happened here?" Nathan questioned.

"Beats the heck outta me." JD decided then lost consciousness.

"I'll second that." Vin said standing.

*********************************************************

At the hospital, while they waited for the doctor to update them on JD's condition, the remaining members of Team Seven dragged Shaun into one corner of the waiting room and grilled her on Immortality.

Understanding the intensity of their questioning was rooted in concern for JD, Shaun patiently answered all their questions but kept a few facts to herself. (Like the length of her criminal career.) Nevertheless, she sighed with relief when a doctor appeared in the doorway.

"Agent Dunne will be fine." He announced to the men. "We've replaced the blood he lost and stitched up the wound."

"When can he leave?"

Well aware of the Team Seven's animosity for hospital stays, the doctor compromised. "In a few days, on the condition that he gets as much rest as possible."

"He'll get it." Nathan promised seriously.

"Good." The doctor nodded. "Now, he can have visitors but only two at a time."

Chris and Buck were elected to be the visitors while Vin and the rest stayed back in the waiting room.

The next day, the six non-hospitalized team members threw themselves into tracking Baluducci with a vengeance.

Ezra got a hold of a few of his mob contacts, asking them to check on Baluducci's movements while Chris checked with a few of his FBI friends, trying to find out what the Bureau had on the assassin. Josiah drew on some of his profiling experience to try and figure out where Baluducci was headed. Vin meanwhile, hit the streets, talking to his informants. To the people who were easily overlooked, the ones that saw *everything*. Nathan served as the hub of information, checking in on each team member, finding out what they had.

In the end, ironically enough, Baluducci's location came, not from any official (or street sources) but from Buck's little black book.

A flight attendant he'd been dating, spotted a picture of Baluducci on Buck's desk (when she came to pick him up for lunch) and remarked she'd had that man on her flight the previous day.

Destination of said flight?

Cascade, Washington State.

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