The horse and rider raced across the field, oblivious to anything save the ground beneath them and the sky above them. Anything else, they ignored.
The sound of the stallion's hooves pounding against the ground was like that of thunder in the sky.
How long they were like that, they couldn't tell. Finally the rider signalled for the stallion to slow to a trot and then to a walk.
By the time they returned to the ranch house, the sun was setting and the sky was several shades of red.
"Thanks boy." Serenity Lang said as she dismounted and patted his neck. "You always manage to live up to your name." She teased.
Streak nudged against her, pushing her slightly.
"Hey! Watch it you!" Seren laughed.
"Hey Sky!" A man's voice interrupted her laughter and she turned.
"Hi Daddy." Seren led the stallion over to where her father sat in his wheelchair on the wide porch. "He did great as usual."
Jason Lang nodded, a wide smile on his handsome face. "Typical. That horse doesn't know how to run at a normal pace. Its all or nothing with him." The former FBI agent glanced down at his lap then met the concerned eyes of his daughter.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Seren looped Streak's reins around the porch railing and fixed her father with a glare.
"Your mother called for you while you were out. The office has an assignment for you." Jason watched his daughter's eyes cloud over but he held up a hand to forestall any comments. "You've had enough time off Seren. As much as you'd like to, you can't keep going the way you have been. There's more to life than riding Streak every day." He reached out to grasp her hand, keeping her from backing away. "Allie is gone. There's nothing you can do to change that. Besides, your sister would have a fit if she could see you now. This isn't living Sky, its hiding."
Seren frowned at her father. She knew he was right but she wasn't about to admit it. "What kind of assignment?" She asked finally.
"Its not with the Bureau." Jason responded. "Remember Orrin Travis?"
Seren smiled slightly and nodded. AD Travis was an old friend of her father's and she'd met him a couple times over the years. "Yeah. He still works with the ATF right?"
Jason nodded. "Yes. He still works with the ATF. And its the ATF you'll be working with."
Seren raised an eyebrow. "The ATF? They're not the type to use profilers much."
"No, they're not. But Orrin has a special team in mind for you." Jason grinned. "Team seven I believe."
Seren blinked in surprise. "Oh now that should be interesting." She noted with a wry smile. "I have to say. Orrin definitely knows how to peak my interest."
Jason nodded. "I told him you'd agree."
Seren looked sharply at her father. "Well I never said I've agreed."
Jason laughed. "You've agreed. You just have yet to say the actual words." He put his hands on the wheels of his chair and rolled himself back slightly. "C'mon inside. The Team Leader wants to meet you tomorrow so you'd better get packed and head back to the city tonight." With that he turned his chair around and wheeled inside.
Seren sighed heavily and followed her father. Maybe it was time to go back.
'Time to rejoin the land of the living big sister.' Allie's voice echoed in her head and Seren quirked a smile.
"Maybe so, little bit." She murmured to herself. "Maybe so."
The next morning, Seren pulled into the underground parking lot and sat quietly in her SUV for a moment.
She almost couldn't make herself get out of the jeep.
This was the first new job she'd taken since Allie's death. It just didn't feel right starting it without the good luck phone call from her little sister.
A small meow caught her attention and Seren was surprised to see a cat sitting on the hood of the car next to her.
Opening her door, Seren grabbed her shoulder bag and stepped out. "Hello," She murmured, holding out a hand to the cat.
The cat took a couple steps forward and sniffed delicately at her fingertips before rubbing against her hand.
"Well what brings you here?" Seren queried, scratching the cat behind its ears.
"His name's Cuervo." A quiet voice said from behind her.
Seren spun and found herself looking at a handsome, lanky, man with long light brown hair and intense blue eyes. ATF for sure.
Seren managed to contain her small startled cry of surprise, and composed herself. "Scare a girl half to death why don't you?" She said, walking toward him. "Who are you? And what team are you with?"
Vin surveyed the beautiful brunette as she walked toward him.
A definite professional, he decided. A real pretty one too.
When he'd first seen her. The woman had been back on. But that was still enough to convince him of her beauty. She had long brown hair and a slender, somewhat athletic build.
When she turned to face him, Vin found himself confronted with the saddest blue eyes he'd ever seen.
"Team 7." He answered somewhat belatedly.
The woman nodded, coming to a stop before him.
Vin smiled slightly. "And who're you?"
She blushed slightly and smiled. "I'm Seren Lang." She held up her shoulder bag which held the files and the like which she thought she'd need. "The new profiler."
Vin blinked. "You're the new profiler?"
Seren obviously picked up on the tinge of disbelief in his voice and smiled faintly. "Thought I'd be older?"
Vin nodded. "Yes, ma'am." He drawled, unembarrassed.
Seren shrugged. "Its not the first time." She quirked a smile and glanced back at Cuervo. "Guess bringing Reilly to work is out of the question." She fell into step with Vin as they walked toward the elevator.
"Who's Reilly?" Vin asked as they waited for the doors to open.
"My dog. An Irish setter." Seren answered, smiling cheerfully.
They stepped into the elevator and rode up to the offices of Team Seven, chatting back and forth.
When the elevator stopped, Seren sucked in a steadying breath.
To say she was nervous didn't quite cover it.
Suddenly she found herself being assailed by more doubts than she dared even consider.
She'd been out of the professional loop for almost a year. A rusty profiler could mean innocent lives lost, the loss of a major suspect, or (Just as bad) the conviction of the wrong person. And none of those things was something Seren wanted on her conscience.
Seren was so caught up in her fears that she didn't notice Vin get off the elevator until he turned and spoke.
"Ms. Lang? You comin' ?" He asked, holding the doors open.
Seren snapped out of her reverie and flashed a nervous smile at him. "Oh, sorry." She stepped out and pointed a mock-stern finger at him. "And its Seren. Ms. Lang is my mother. She's also a profiler but that's neither here nor there."
Vin grinned. "All right, Seren. Call me Vin." He took a step forward then glanced back at her. "They're a great bunch of guys. A little intimidating at first but once you get to know 'em they're a'right."
Seren blinked in surprise.
She hadn't even realized she was nervous about meeting the team yet she was. And somehow, a man she barely knew had picked up on it.
As she smiled at walked in with him, Seren couldn't help wondering; If all of Team 7 was as intuitive as Vin then why did they need her?
links
Main Page
The Ladies Profiles
The Beginning Page of the story
Round One: Angel (Next In the Line)
