So far so good 'cause no one knows I'm faking
I wish I could show you the toll it's taking
Sometimes I live as if there's no tomorrow
So far so good

~ So far, so good - Thornley

June 15, 2008

Paige laid the large satellite photos down on the coffee table and
grabbed her screeching cell phone. "Hello?" she said looking over to
Brian who was busy reading a book at the dining room table. He hadn't
the heart to bother and play with the Playstation, Baz's playstation,
and it sat almost pushed all the way under the couch across from her,
abandoned, like some toy after the newness had worn off.

"I need you to come in," Gray's voice was quiet.

"Ok," she said simply and hung up the phone.

"That Gray?" Brian asked never lifting his head.

"Yep," she said getting up and stretching, "how'd you know?"

Brian shrugged, "who else do you say one word to and hang up on."

Paige nodded her head, certainly couldn't argue with that
logic. "C'mon, get some things together, we have to go in."

Brian moaned but got up nonetheless. "What am I supposed to do while
you're doing...whatever it is you're gonna be doing?"

"Why don't you pester someone, you're good at that."

"Bitch," he mumbled though he had a smile on his face.

"And watch your mouth," she scolded him half heartedly.

Safehouse 1
Midtown

The resemblance was undeniable.

"You're kidding, right?" Paige asked Gray.

They sat alone in a small conference room near the lockers. Brian was
off shopping (of all things) with Rebecca, Saf and Jordy were out in
Cali doing something, and the Safehouse was pretty much empty. Paige
looked again at the photo of the handsome young man with dark hair
and even darker eyes.

"I'm afraid not," Gray said softly looking at the picture. "we want
him brought in."

"And sending Bella is the best way?" Paige arched an eyebrow at Gray.

"We know he'll meet her."

"Yeah, and maybe put a bullet in her head while he's at it," Paige
scoffed. "It's not safe." Yeah, her mind echoed, not safe. Remember
last time someone went in alone? They ended up getting dead. Baz
ended up getting dead.

"We'll have to make it safe."

"I can't guarantee that by myself..." she shook her head. Maybe she
was just being overly paranoid after Baz's death. She should have
left the van sooner. He would have had a chance then.

"You won't be by yourself."

Paige peered at Gray, "what does that mean?"

"We're bringing in a new Agent, Declan McGill."

"A new agent...just like that? No training, no introductions, just
here's your new partner try not to get anyone else killed?" Paige
stared hard at Gray.

"It wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone on the team's fault," Gray
said gently.

Paige clenched her jaw. What exactly to say to that? "I know, just..."

"I don't need you guys walking around feeling guilty. What happened,
happened. We move on," Gray said softly.

"I know. I do. We're used to pushing things away. Coming here, kind
of made us lose that a little bit."

Gray nodded then got up. He squeezed Paige's shoulder, "give me a
moment, I'll bring Declan in."

"He's here?" she asked surprised.

"Yes, we'll be moving on this within the next day or two."

Paige watched Gray leave the room. Too soon. It was just a little too
soon for her taste, a mission like this. Putting Bella out in the
open against someone who knew her...probably better than she knew
herself. Or at least close enough to pull her strings. After all, he
had gotten this far hadn't he?

Another mission. Another chance to not get someone killed. But she
was going on a mission and that meant something didn't it? So far, so
good, she hadn't given herself up, hadn't let them see that she was
scared.

Gray entered the room with a tall individual trailing behind. She
stood and extended her hand.

"Paige, this is Declan. Declan, Paige Casey, she'll be with you on
Alpha team."

"Nice to meet you," she said softly. He was cute, but then people in
their line of work usually were. Thin, but a nice build nonetheless.
He certainly was nowhere near Joshua's size, then, not many men were.

"The pleasure's mine," he said amiably.

Her eyes flicked to Gray who looked over the duo apparently pleased
with his selection. They went over the basics of the mission, nothing
was really set in stone. It was more of an intel briefing. The fun
would start when Bella got there. Then, the real planning would begin.

After the meeting, Paige waited near Gray's office contemplating how
she could get into medical to see the Detective. Security was
unfortunately pretty damn tight around that place and especially
around that man. She eyed the cast on her wrist. Maybe she could cut
it? Or soak it in some water? That would be an excuse to go down
there, to get a new cast. That was definitely an idea. Her cell phone
rang and she answered it quickly.

"How's my girl?" the voice on the other end asked.

She smiled immediately curling into the couch she was laying on. "You
need to get a new line," she giggled.

"No, it's not a line. How's it going?" Jaime asked.

"Not too bad. How's Virginia?"

Jaime just laughed. "You know, I can't believe that at some point, I
was actually as naïve as these guys are."

"We all had to start somewhere."

"I know, but I'll tell you, they make me feel so old."

Paige giggled again, "you're only as old as you act. And the way you
act...you'll never get old."

"Uh huh, and you're the mature one."

"I never said that," Paige laughed.

"So, guess what?" Jaime asked.

"What?"

"They gave me my own digs here. My very own, off base, two bedroom,
one bath, spacious balcony, apartment. All mine."

Paige smiled and bit her lip. "That's awesome." She knew
instinctively what the next question would be.

"So, when are you coming to visit me?"

"Ugh," she sighed, "I'm going out again in a day or two."

"That's okay, maybe after that?"

"If nothing is coming down the pipe, I will definitely come down for
a day or two, maybe longer."

"That would be great. We haven't really had the chance to talk...or
anything."

"I know," she spied Bella walking into the waiting area. "I have to
go, meeting time."

"Call me when you get back so we can arrange things."

"Definitely, I'll talk to you soon."

"Bye, Paige," he said.

She disconnected the line as Bella flopped down on the sofa across
from her. "I am so fucking bored," Bella said with a sigh.

Paige grinned, "you won't be for long."