Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 8

Mika's Note... SOOO close now, I can taste him...er it.  Yeah, the end.  LOL  This was originally titled Don't Make Me after a brand new song (at the time) and it actually fit. LOL  I still think this part needs some real work, but I'm at a loss.  :)  And now you get to meet one of my favorite characters out of this series - Paulo.  :)

Ali walked the perimeter of the building alongside the coordinator of this year’s SMA awards show. Despite the fact that she should be paying attention to this man, she couldn’t help but let her eyes wander in search of Blake. And where her eyes roamed, her mind followed.

“… will arrive shortly.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get that last part.”

The coordinator cocked his head slightly, measuring her mentally. “I was saying that not everyone has arrived yet, but will arrive shortly.”

“Do you have a list of those who are currently here?”

“Of course. It has been turned in to your Head of Security.”

“Head of…” Ali’s voice trailed off as her eyes met Caleb’s. “Yes, of course. Thank you for your time, sir.”

“You’re very welcome. We’re quite attached to our musicians, so we appreciate your every effort.”

“No problem. I’m quite attached to one or two myself.”

She watched him retreat and quickly scanned the area again. Damn! Still nowhere to be found.

“Looking for someone, Lieutenant?”

“Nope, just scanning the area for possible threats, Sarge.”

“MmmHmmm...”

Ali allowed her eyes to sparkle as she frowned at him; Caleb just laughed. “It’s so good to have you around again, my dear.”

*~*~

“Okay folks,” she said loudly, “I understand that tonight is just a rehearsal but the fact of the matter is, disaster can and will strike at any time. In all likelihood, it will be tomorrow, so that the threat is televised. But we can’t be too cautious until then.”

Ali’s friend and co-conspirator, Shana stepped to the podium beside her. “My associate, Ms. Hughes, and I will be heading the security for tonight’s rehearsal and tomorrow’s show. Should you see or hear or even feel something unusual, please let us know ASAP. Any questions?”

“Yeah,” came a familiar, sexy voice, “are ya available for body guarding?”

Shana and Ali glanced at one another and grinned. “All depends on who’s body I’m guarding, Cowboy. But seriously, yes, the firm is available 24/7 for any of your security needs. Now, if we’re finished, you may commence with the rehearsal.”

*~*~

“Ahh… I am so happy to be out of those freaking heels!” Combing her wavy brown hair with her fingers, she caught the bartender’s eye. “Another round, please.” He flashed her a killer smile with lots of white teeth and set to making two more margaritas.

“You make a lousy blonde, ya know.”

“Gee, thanks. Just what I needed,” she teased. “Main reason I washed that crap out as soon as I could. Not that I won’t have to go blonde again tomorrow though.”

“You’d make a great redhead though.”

Ali laughed at the thought of that. “I’m just surprised you-know-who recognized me in that getup.”

Taking a drink of her fresh margarita, Shana grinned. “I don’t think it was your face he recognized.”

Ali raised her eyebrows in question.

“The man was staring at your backside so hard, I was afraid your pants were about to catch fire!” When her partner nearly choked on her margarita, she sobered slightly for a moment and then asked, “So, since you’ve been around all this for awhile, I’m sure you’ve kinda gotten to know some of the music they were playing tonight, right?” At Ali’s nod, she continued. “So, can you tell me who that hunk was singing that ‘Why So Long Gone" song?”

“Ahhh… that studly, unshaven cutie pie.”

“Yeah, that’s the one!”

“That’d be Billy Tatum. And if my eyes aren’t totally blurry, I think he’s coming towards us as we speak.”

Shana swiveled quickly in her barstool, nearly falling off and onto Billy’s chest. “Oh my god…”

Ali just grinned.

*~*~

“Billy, this is Ali and…”

“Shana, Blake.”

“Ah, that’s right. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Noticing Shana glaring at Ali, he interrupted himself. “No, not from her. From the other two.”

“Other…”

“Albie and Bubble Gum Brain.”

“Oh, then now I’m REALLY mad!”

Blake honored her with one of his all-out smiles. “It’s not that bad, really. Can we join you?”

“What a stupid question!” Ali responded, patting the seat beside her. “Make yourself at home.”

Billy looked at Shana and smiled. Then, looking more closely at Blake’s companion, asked, “Weren’t you a blonde earlier?”

“Yeah, but it’s a long story…”

“And one you can tell them at a later date.”

Shana sighed and Ali lowered her head to the bar top. “Good Gods, why me?”

“Gentlemen, please say goodnight. These ladies have a long day ahead of them tomorrow.”

Ali gave Blake a pleading look and got off the barstool. Growling at Caleb, she blew her cowboy a kiss and stalked off.

*~*~

“Well, today’s the big day. Keep your eyes open.”

“Absolutely, boss!” Albert chimed in.

“Yes ma’am!” came Bazooka’s reply.

“Give me strength,” she muttered, “on some beach… somewhere.” Louder, she instructed, “Come on, dorks. Let’s go.”

They separated, each taking a different direction. Ali headed backstage while Albie took the seating area and ‘Zook went outside. Starting back by the dressing rooms, she began her rounds.

“Normal, normal, normal,” she mentally checked things off her list. “Normal, not so normal,” she mumbled as she came across one of the genre's more interesting duos teasing a young newcomer before the big show. “Normal, normal, nor-uhhhh….”

A large, sweaty hand clasped over her mouth while another arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a dark dressing room. Ali started to struggle until she saw the familiar bow and arrow tattoo on the forearm of her captor just as the door shut behind them, killing all light.

“Damn it, Blake…” she began to chastise, being cut off abruptly by his tongue in her mouth.

“Shut up,” he mumbled, breaking away momentarily, “I’ve missed you and we never got a chance to get started last night.”

“Please, just tell me this is your dressing room.”

“Sure is.”

Pressing her back against the door, he maneuvered his tongue back into her mouth and kissed her with all the pent-up passion of the last few months. She was just starting to relax into his embrace when she noticed something blinking just out of sight.

“Blake,” she murmured, pushing him back slightly. “Silly question, but you don’t have a razor or anything plugged in over that way, do you?” She turned him in the direction of the blink.

“No, now let me…”

“Not now, out!!” She pushed away from him shoved him out the dressing room door as fast as she could. “Quick – go find Albie – he’s out in the seating area. Please!”

Seeing the fear in her eyes, he obeyed. The idea that she could have radioed him at any time never crossed his mind. He ran for all he was worth.

Relieved that she’d gotten Blake out of the danger zone so quickly, she radioed Bazooka and informed him she’d found something suspicious. Grabbing two security guards, she instructed them to block off the area as fast as they could and to evacuate anyone already in the adjoining rooms.

While security did its job, she went back into Blake’s dressing room and pulled the make-up table away from the wall carefully. And there it was. Plastic explosives attached to the back and leg of the table. The detonator had given it away.

“It’s me,” Bazooka called out as he came inside, closing the door carefully. “Where is it?”

“Here.” She pointed and got out of his way. This was his area, not hers.

“Huh. How’d you find this so quickly? With the lights on it would’ve been pretty hard to spot.”

“Yeah, but with the lights off, it was pretty obvious.”

“But why would the…”

“Just disarm the damn thing, please?”

“Nice evasion tactic there, girlie.”

Bazooka was halfway through disarming the bomb when the door opened. “Hey babe, you were looking for me?”

Ali looked up and her jaw dropped open. “Get him out of here!”

“But…” Blake began.

“Crap! Allyson, why didn’t you TELL me there was a bomb?”

“Because, I figured you were smart enough to know that I sent him to find you for a reason! I could have just called, ya know? Now, out!”

Albie grabbed Blake by the arm and drug him back out to safety.

*~*~

“I don’t like her in there where there’s a…”

“Shh… not so loud! Besides, it’s her job. She’ll be fine.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“I don’t like it either, but I’ve long since given up telling her so.”

*~*~

Ali turned at another intrusion. “Albie, I said…” She paused when she saw the dark-haired cutie in the doorway. “Shit! Paulo! You…” she jumped up as he slammed the door shut and took off.

“Who?” Bazooka queried.

“Paulo! Keep working, I’m going to get him.”

She was out the door and hot on the terrorist operative’s tail in seconds.

*~*~

Paulo ran full out down the corridor, pushing celebrities and peons out of his way as he went. Smacking into Rogan, he stumbled. As he righted himself, their eyes met briefly. But long enough.

“Oh no, not you, you bastard!” Albert grumbled as the other man sucker punched him and took off again.

“Stop him, Albie!” Ali screamed.

Attempting to regain his footing after the punch to the stomach, he left Blake staring while he pursued the bomber. Ali was close behind. Down the corridor and across the common area they chased him. Paulo pushed through an opening that led to the stage.

“Go that way,” Albie pointed off to the left. “I’ll go this way and we can sandwich him.”

Ali nodded and took off. She landed on the stage just as Paulo appeared out of the darkness. Putting her all into the leap, she launched herself at him in a full-body tackle, taking them both to the ground. Wrestling her one-time lover and sometimes informant onto his chest, she bent one arm behind him and locked his wrist into a cuff. Albert slid to a stop beside her, panting.

“Nice tackle. Play much football?” he teased, helping her wrench Paulo’s other arm into the cuffs.

“Not since you took my charge from me.”

“Ah, so that’s what you two were doing in the hotel room that night. I see…” He clapped his hands together, laughing.

Growling, she replied, “Just help me get him up.”

*~*~

Caleb arrived on the scene momentarily. “Good work, you two. Bazooka’s still working on that bomb, but he’s making progress.” Two of Caleb’s men came and hauled Paulo away. “Lt. Rogan, damage control, please. Lt. Hart, go back and assist Bazooka. He doesn’t give you any lip.”

“Yes sir,” they replied together, snapping salutes and heading off.

*~*~

“Hey ‘Zook, Caleb sent me to help. Need a hand?”

He grunted his usual reply and went back to work. “Hand me that, would ya?” He waved his hand in the direction of the toolbox.

“Sure,” she replied sarcastically. “Luckily I know what that is.”

“Thanks.” He fiddled with the bomb again. “Ooops.”

“Um, oops?”

“Yeah.”

“Great.”

“Sorr-ree”

Bazooka leapt from his crouch onto his partner, shielding her from the blast that followed seconds later. Once the dust had settled, several pairs of curious worried eyes looked in.

“What the hell?” Caleb.

“Oh gods, Bazooka! The GREEN wire! The green one!” Albie.

“Oh holy hell!” Shana.

THUD! Blake.

“Aw, crap.” Ali. “Is he okay?” she asked, brushing plaster and bits of make-up table out of her hair.

Kneeling beside him, Shana gave him a cursory inspection. “Well, he seems to be alive, at least. That’s a good sign, right?”

“I’d like to think so.” This from an unfamiliar voice.

Ali and Shana looked up from Blake’s pale face into a stubbly one with sultry blue eyes. “Hey Billy, fancy meeting you here,” Ali teased. For the first time in her life, Shana was speechless.

Blake opened his eyes and smiled. “You’re gonna kill me, I think.” The smile widened. “But I think I’m gonna like it.”

Blushing, Ali helped him up.

“So,” Bryan announced, striding to the front of the crowd. “You think we oughta get this party started?”

Blake outwardly gaped at Leslie hanging off Bryan’s arm but inwardly rejoiced at the possibility of being rid of her. Even if only temporarily. Catching Ali’s eye, he winked.