Code Red: TFM ~ Prologue

Mika's Note: I wrote this about a year after I started the original as a way to sort of introduce the characters to people who didn't already know them.  Nothing bad in this one.  :)

“Come in, Lieutenant, we’ve been waiting on you.”

“Sorry, Caleb. Didn’t mean to be so late.”

“You’re not late; we’re early, for once.”

Allyson nodded at her commanding officer and smiled. “Thanks. What’s going on?”

“Something odd, really.” He handed her a folder of information and sat down. “There seems to be a rash of attacks being perpetrated against musicians in the last few weeks.”

“Random?” asked the other, quieter man in the room.

“They appear so, but there are other things that suggest otherwise, Bryan.”

She looked to the dark haired man sitting next to her. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, listening for what was coming next. They both trained their eyes on the blonde seated in front of them. “So, what makes you think otherwise?”

“This.” He held up a piece of navy blue cloth for their inspection.

“That looks like…” she began but was cut off.

“It is. It’s half of a Brotherhood insignia. It was found on the scene of the most recent attack.”

“That’s not good,” Bryan observed.

“No, it’s not,” Caleb agreed. “After discovering this, we went back over all the data collected at the other four attacks and have found many similarities. We think they’re linked.”

Caleb guided them through all the particulars in the files before them. They discussed the similarities and differences as well as possible courses of action. When they’d all agreed on a game plan, Caleb stood. Holding up several folders, he handed one to Allyson and the others to Bryan. “Lieutenant, this is your next assignment. Read it over and find three more to assist you. Bryan, find and form four more teams.”

“Yes sir,” they responded in unison.

~*~

“What’s that?”

Ali looked up from the folder she’d been studying and grimaced at her roommate. “My next assignment.”

Shana moved closer to the back of the couch so she could look over Ali’s shoulder. She grinned, approving. “He’s a hottie, I hope you don’t have to kill him.”

“No, worse. I have to baby sit him.”

Her roommate laughed. “Ooh, what a hardship!”

Unable to disagree, Ali shook her head and laughed along with her. “No doubt. Says here his name is Matson-Comma-Blake, 6’ 5”, dark brown hair, blue eyes. Occupation: singer, born: Oklahoma.” She flipped past a couple pages detailing his attack and held up the folder. “And from the look of these he’s got a pretty cute backside too.”

“Ooh!” Shana squealed and grabbed the folder from Ali. “Damn!”

“That was my first thought, too.”

“And your second?” Shana giggled.

“Ladies? Are we having a problem here?” The deep voice intruded on their lustful thoughts.

“Oh hey, Caleb,” Ali stalled, grabbing the folder back from Shana and closing it quickly. “No, no problems at all.”

“Aside from the fact that you and dorkwad there never seem to knock before letting yourselves in, no, no problems,” the redhead groused.

Caleb glared at her and then glanced at Ali. “Got your team together?”

“Yes sir,” she straightened herself on the couch. “Schofield, Mitchell, and Stewart.”

“Good choices.” Bryan confirmed.

“So glad you think so.”

“You got to choose and you didn’t pick me?” Shana pulled a fake look of hurt.

“Sorry, Red, I was explicitly instructed not to choose you.”

“That’s right, Shana,” Caleb scolded. “I wanted to be sure that Mr. Matson actually survived his tour.”

“Hmph!” She crossed her arms across her chest.

“Anything else?” Ali asked her two superiors.

“Just making sure you’d chosen your team and that you’d been doing your homework. Looks like you’re doing what you’re supposed to. For once.”

“Yay me. Now get. If I’m supposed to be in Austin tomorrow afternoon, I’ve got a lot to do.”

Once their good nights had been said, Shana followed the two men to the door, locking it behind her. Turning back to Ali, she growled, “I really wish I could strangle those two sometimes!”

“Yeah, me too.” Ali sighed and put the dossier onto the coffee table. “You’d think that Bryan at least would get a clue. We split up close to three years ago and yet he…”

“Still acts like he owns you? Yeah, I’ve noticed that.” She sat down next to Ali and picked up Blake’s file. “He is a doll. Look at that smile!” She laughed at his very white teeth. “Caleb’s getting to be just as bad as Bryan was there at the end.”

She watched her friend for a long moment. “You need to do something then. Either make it clear you won’t put up with it or leave. Don’t let it get out of hand like I did.”

“Trust me, I’m not gonna put up with that kind of crap. Thanks.”

“Anytime, babe.”

“So, tell me really,” she grinned, tapping the folder in her lap, “what was your second thought?”

Ali grinned and shrugged. “Nothing really. Just how badly I’d like to get my hands on him and see what other surprises he holds!”

“Just remember to be gentle,” Shana reminded her. “You’d have an awfully hard time explaining to his band how you broke him!”