Never Say Die

[Nathaniel Cordova]

Nate's figurative Spidey sense was tingling. Slipping unseen past the restricted crime scene tape and inside the burned-out husk of what was once an abandoned warehouse had been illegal, but so very, very easy. The police had cooled on the investigation, making the location well-suited to meet with his CIA contact – except for the troubling part where said handler hadn't shown. Something must have gone wrong.

Most people, given the same situation, would have long since panicked, drawing their holstered weapon and waving it wildly around. Sure, his mission could have been compromised, but Nate wasn't most people. His training – among the best in the world – accounted for his ability to remain calm even in the most intense conditions. Nonetheless, Nate remained cautious, alert to the usual signs of danger. Like the sound of something clattering against the floor. He hadn't spent the last years of his life dead just to experience the real deal now. He drew his sidearm.

The CIA didn't typically advertise their presence. No, this was someone else. Someone that had just arrived. Nate crept towards the source of the commotion, stepping down on the balls of his feet for maximum silence. Delta Force didn't get in the habit of letting you know that they were coming either. Keeping to cover as he advanced, Nate peered around the corner.

"¡Maldita sea!" Nate cursed under his breath in Spanish. The person, facing away from him, was wearing a CSI jacket. So, not an intruder, but someone that had every right to be here – to do his job. If there was at least one CSI resuming the investigation, then that meant there might be a detective or two here as well. The last thing Nate wanted was to get into a shoot-out with law enforcement. Operators were trained to get out just as silently as they went in: he could sneak back out the way he had come in. This part of the city had a handful of abandoned, nearly dilapidated buildings such as this – most of them used for drug deals or other nefarious activities. He could hole up in one of them and wait the police out.

Nate sighed. A few more days and he would be able to put this behind him. All he needed to do was cut the head off a terrorist organization and deliver it gift-wrapped to the CIA. Then he could get on with his life.

Jia Lei Yang

[Jia Lei Yang]

Yet another day, it was the way she had felt most of that week though that day seemed to be the worst of it. It had all started at the beginning of the week with an email she had received every year since Nate’s death. The same marketing email for soccer tickets and every year she read it, seeing the offers for each game and then avoided almost everyone she knew and threw herself back into her work while forgetting to cancel the subscription. Ironic that she even held onto the tickets she had gotten him for a game which arrived two weeks after she had been informed of his death.

It was crazy she knew but the idea of throwing them away, well she could never bring herself to do it. That day however she wanted to work on any case that would provide her with an escape of life. Jia had exactly what she was looking for when she was faced with the ‘we have no evidence to go on’ situation that raised its head the minute she had walked through the doors of the station. Of all the bags and tags she had done on the warehouse fire none of it had come back with anything conclusive which meant a revisit to the site. The CSI guys were going to love her today she thought as she made the drive back out to the site glad of the distraction from her own head.

She noticed the CSI van already there as she walked the perimeter of the warehouse trying to see anything that she might have missed first time around. It was easy to see where the fire department hoses had been, the multiple footprints of fire-fighters, by standees and on lookers who had been there for the event. Jia loved the fact her job was never easy but then figuring out the puzzle when you had the end events and your crime scene was in cinders, a warehouse that was shell of its former self it was tough to see the end game.

That was beside the point to her, there was nothing better than a puzzle as she heard the clattering from inside. Instinct took over as she made her way inside, her side arm drawn as she saw the CSI guy there. Jia kept her gun drawn aiming it towards the back of the warehouse trying to see if anything was off. “Hey, you okay?” She asked the CSI not knowing if the clatter was intentional or if someone else was there. Jia hardly waited for an answer as she pulled out her torch and motioned toward the back of the warehouse.

“Just going to check things out back there...” She said as she moved forwards shining her torch around followed by the aim of her gun, there was something that felt off here. It was one thing to have CSI back out again, another entirely if she managed to get one of them injured for the trouble. Jia moved quickly forward methodically checking behind the charred and burned out things that had barely survived the blaze.

(notes: Please feel free to chanage anything if you want/need too.)

Nathaniel Cordova,

[Nathaniel Cordova]

Trent nodded at the detective. He'd gotten the opportunity to work a couple of cases with her previously – and even if he'd never quite managed to learn her name – he thought she seemed a tad touchy today, rushing into the warehouse with her gun drawn. Not that he intended to point that out to her. "I'm good, detective. Probably just Danny being Danny. I swear, sometimes I think he has two left feet. Hey, Danny, you okay?"

---

Nate knelt over the CSI he had incapacitated – the man would live, but he'd be sporting a nasty new headache when he woke up. Not an ideal solution, but it was a solution. For someone that needed to escape unseen, Nate couldn't afford to be picky. The noose was tightening around his neck – his handler probably dead, law enforcement closing in.

Still gripping his sidearm in the Center Axis Relock position – a favorite among the Special Forces community – Nate shifted the weapon to his right hand. Ambidextrous, Nate was just as accurate with his left as he was with his right. It was a preferable stance for close quarters combat, providing additional fluidity.

The flashlight beam played across the open space between himself and the entrance he'd used earlier. Someone didn't like an unresponsive CSI. Nate analyzed the situation, his options chalk full of various forms of not great. Mostly because lethal force was not on the table. He could try to make a run for the exit straight ahead – by far the riskiest of his options. He could try doubling back for one of the other exits, but this was a numbers game in which the police likely held the advantage. And Nate wasn't bulletproof. He could also try waiting the cops out, but by doing so, he risked them dictating the encounter. Then there was the proactive approach – the one that he had the most control over. The CIA could still block his picture from ending up all over the evening news, if he ended up getting arrested over this. Popping up from cover, Nate faced the person on the other end of the flashlight.

"Drop the gun and I won't—" The words 'hurt you' died on his lips. The person – the detective – staring back at him… Nate had practiced what he might say in front of a mirror, if he ever saw her again, but this… this was an absolute worst case scenario. His practice involved a far more favorable scenario – one where the two of them weren't pointing guns at each other. "Jia?"

Everything Nate wanted to say would have to wait. Either because he couldn't say anything since it was classified. Or because he was holding a gun on the woman he had once proposed to with an unmoving body behind him. Yeah, so that probably looked bad. Professional approach it was. Nate lowered his aim to the ground. He couldn't do this – not with her. Shifting out of the way, Nate inched towards the door. "He's alive. You can check on him."

Jia Lei Yang  

 
(OOC: Nope. Don't need to change a thing. Part of the fun is in the unexpected.)

[Jia Lei Yang]

Trent seemed like a good guy the few times she had worked with him before, he knew his job well enough which was all she could really ask of anyone. Jia smiled when he mentioned Danny, yes he had a point the man had likely kicked something or dropped it. Jia hovered with Trent listening out for the reply she expected though when there was nothing it was that feeling of everything being out of whack that came back to her. “Yeah I’ll go see he hasn’t broken anything important with his feet.” She joked though she felt a little more nervous than a dropped evidence bag or a kick of a metal bucket in there.

Jia moved cautiously toward the back of the warehouse, her right wrist holding her gun over her left which held the flash light that shone to light up any space she was unable to see. She could use her left hand to shoot but it was hardly going to be anywhere near accurate, perhaps a case of hitting the side of a barn though she favoured her right side. With a knife it was different, either hand she could slice up a cabbage in seconds but a gun was a different kettle of fish.

It was easy to keep her eyes trained on the beam of light in front of her but it was a rookie mistake to make. Tunnel vision helped no one as she glanced around while shining the light, it was easy to get too focused on one spot but she had been military police and now Chicago police to two sets of training for basically the same set of rules. No tunnel vision. Jia hoped that she would find Danny with headphones in or on a call yet nothing sat right with her about not hearing a response.

Jia felt herself tense when she saw the person pop up from cover, instinct took over as she aimed at them hearing the sound of their voice as she almost had a heart attack right there. Those two unspoken words seemed to hit her first, Nate would never hurt her and would never pull a gun on her either at least she hoped he would never do that. It felt like she was in a different universe for a moment while she stared at the face in front of her. Her breath caught in the back of her throat as she tried to say anything but speech seemed to be an issue for her until he said her name.

“Nate? Is it really...” She questioned in almost a squeaking tone. Jia could feel the familiar smile on her face. The smile that said she was unbelievably happy to see him until it hit her once again. He was gone, she had the notification. The military said he had been killed and that was her truth. The beginning of a beaming smile for those few brief seconds turned into a glare. He was dead. She was being utterly ridiculous and her mind was obviously far from work where she hoped to distract herself. Just another guy trying to break into a crime scene or find a place to sleep for the night. The daylight would show a different face and that would be it. Nate was gone. "You're dead." She muttered feeling like she had just been hit with the news again.

She had been there for the funeral, no her mind was playing tricks on her. It was dark; the light was catching this person the wrong way. She was going crazy, it was the only explanation as she glanced at the gun in her hands almost wanting to throw it to the floor for aiming it at him. Jia could barely think as she shone the flash light around to see the unmoving body of Danny behind him, no that was far from Nate, he would never do that she told herself seeing her hand shaking as she steadied herself. “Alive... you had better hope he is.” She stated feeling ridiculous for even thinking it could possibly be her dead fiancé from years back.

Jia edged forwards as she kept her gun raised, her mind trying to rationalise what she was seeing and hearing. It was just the day or the week or she needed to check herself into the hospital this afternoon but only after she arrested the guy who had taken out a CSI. “Stop moving!” She snapped as she shook her head trying to shake the image she was seeing away. “Drop the gun; step back and on your knees. Hands behind your head. Now!” She ordered gulping lightly each time she attempted to catch her breath and see who it really was standing there because there was no chance it was Nate.

There were many things in life Jia believed in, a bigger picture, karma, dragons, Yeti’s, the supernatural, ghosts from the great beyond and yes aliens all thanks to her mother’s stories from when she was little but zombies especially people rising from the dead. Even for her that was a step too far, no she was in the middle of a mental break down and either she would wake up from a dream, shoot at a shadow in the dark or she was about to entered into a psych hold for three days.

Nathaniel Cordova ,

(Notes: Very true but the offer is there if you need to on any posts from me.)

[Nathaniel Cordova]

You're dead. Jia's words rang in his ears, a reminder of the uphill climb he faced. "I got better," Nate quipped. The response, perhaps, a bit more cavalier than he would have liked, but faced with the unexpected, Nate fell back on familiar territory: his trademark dry sense of humor. Though the years, that was one thing that he had never willing abandoned. Not like his parents. Not like Gracelyn. Not like Jia.

You could hold out false hope, but when the military told your loved ones you were dead, why would you believe otherwise? Jia had no reason to think he'd been undercover, attempting to take down a dangerous terrorist organization. The things Nate wanted to say to her! But he couldn't. What he could do was convince her it was him – a fact she was still trying to come to terms with. "I proposed to you in our favorite park by the lake. The ring was a diamond solitaire. I have an adopted sister, Gracelyn. She plays professional soccer for the Chicago Red Stars. I like breakfast for dinner – especially pancakes with maple syrup and strawberries. My favorite color is seafoam green. You can feel free to stop me, if any of this sounds familiar."

This assignment had cost him everything – or had it? A piece of his past was staring back at him, threatening to arrest him. Mostly because he'd made a huge mess of things, but he could still work to correct it. Even if it only served to tick the CIA off. Hell, they could tell him he made a mistake later, but this could only end one way. Nate wouldn't fight Jia on this. He held up his hands in the classic 'I surrender' pose, as he lowered his pistol to the ground and kicked it towards her. Continuing to follow her instructions, Nate got down on his knees and placed his hands behind his head. "I have a sheathed karambit on my waist. Backup piece is in an ankle holster. Left leg."

Nate had known that if this day ever came – and today it had – it wouldn't be easy. Not for him, and most definitely not for her. Sure, this wasn't quite how he'd envisioned it happening, but he couldn't blame her for doing her job. Their past aside, Nate had broken into a crime scene and assaulted a CSI – not two of his finer moments. Nate closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He gave her a little nod, letting her know that he was okay with whatever came next. "Do what you have to. I've always trusted you."

Jia Lei Yang

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia could hardly stop herself from laughing at his quick response; his dry sense of humour was something she loved about him. Was she crazy for laughing at a man who was in all her knowledge dead, the military told her he was. His own family had told her he was and despite her wish for that all to change the days passed and it never did. She had come to terms with it as best she could and now she was stood there, staring at the man she loved who she had long thought gone from the world. And he was making jokes.

Her laugher changed the moment he spoke of one of the best days of her life. That day in their favourite park by the lake, the diamond solitaire. It seemed like yesterday, his sister the professional footballer. His breakfast and dinner swap they were all things that Nate would know. “Stop talking.” She asked feeling the lump rise in her throat, no Nate would know these things no one else no matter how much they tried to learn. It sounded like him, looked like him, said things that had been familiar to her and he was alive.

“You are dead and all you’re telling me is your sisters a professional soccer player, our engagement, breakfast and dinner habits and your favourite colour?” She said hardly believing that he could possibly just think that it was all there was to say. Jia had never contemplated hitting him before but right now, she was seriously considering having him trade places with Danny until she could be sure of her own sanity. This was far from real, she had to wake up she thought as she pinched her arm expecting to wake up in her apartment.

Only when he held up his hands in the classic I surrender pose did she become even more indecisive. Jia watched in disbelief when he kicked over the pistol and followed her instructions. She knelt down to pick up the pistol making sure it was secure in her belt before she could think of what else to do. Jia furrowed her brow when he told her what weapons he had on him, knife and back up gun well that was new from any suspect she had dealt with. Usually it was a tackle to the floor while trying to pat them down before they tore chunks out of anyone.

Jia watched him closely as she tried to smile though suddenly she felt guilty for having to do her job. “Thanks for being honest. I’m sorry I have to, you know.” She said even though the word honest hurt to say right then. Honest was far from what had gone on though he was alive, that had to be a good thing. “I trusted you too but...” Jia could hardly even say it, did she even trust him after he what ‘faked’ his own death for whatever reason it was? Maybe he just needed to get away from her and his own family knew about it? The engagement was a step too far and after time to think about it he had thought it was his only way out.

Her mind was awash with reasons for it none of which came close to a truth she had no knowledge of. Jia moved over to him as she holstered her own gun, she took the karambit and back up piece from him before she attempted to poke him in the shoulder just to make sure he was real. “You are here? I mean really here, in Chicago, in my crime scene and you really did that?” Jia asked pointing to Danny as she pulled the set of handcuffs off her belt. Could she really cuff him? Her hands seemed to shake more as she wanted to shoot him for what he had done but she wanted answers to her unasked questions more.

No she had to do her job and figure out the rest later. “Nate you’re under arrest.” She stated reading his rights as she always did to anyone else that crossed her path as she could barely manage to look him in the eye while she said it. He was the very last person she would have ever thought to arrest let alone think he was alive to do so. Jia moved behind him for a moment tapping the cuffs in her hand, feeling like she wanted to cry. No he had no right to see that not after this stunt. He was dead and that was what she had made whatever peace she could find with, which happened to be none at all but it was still an understanding of sorts. “Hands please.” She asked trying to keep any kind of emotion or feeling out of her voice though she was failing miserably.

Nathaniel Cordova,

[Nathaniel Cordova]

Nate ducked his head under what felt like an accusatory stare. It could have been his imagination, or perhaps it was the guilt gnawing at his conscience, but Nate found himself unable to face Jia. Words were cheap – they would never repair the damage he'd done to their relationship. Jia was going to arrest him, take him down to the precinct, and probably question him, but where did they go from here? Now that Jia knew the truth – or a small piece of it – things had become a million kinds of complicated. She wanted to know why he had nothing else to say? "Because I don't know what else to say! We should have had our whole lives ahead of us, but I abandoned you. Is that what you want to hear?"

Admitting it to Jia proved easier than he'd anticipated, but Nate had always found it easy to confide in her. Coming clean about his involvement had been, in a way, therapeutic, even if he couldn't tell her everything. After all, with the help of the CIA, he'd faked his death, lied to her about it, and let her bury a body. "It's me. I'm really here."

Struck by a sudden, terrible thought, Nate lost any thought of remaining professionalism, pleading with his ex-fiancée. "Jia, promise me. You can't tell my parents or Gracelyn that I'm alive. I'm mixed up in something dangerous. Something I'm trying to protect you – all of you – from." As if realizing he'd said too much, Nate promptly clamped up, refusing to say anything more. The CIA didn't like people revealing their secrets. Even saying that much had been skirting the boundaries of what they would consider acceptable.

Nate didn't resist as Jia cuffed his hands behind his back. Awkward didn't begin to describe the experience, but he was still holding a get out of jail free card – one he would have no choice but to call in down at the precinct. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about arresting me. Because this… isn't going to last long. Assuming I still get to phone a friend."

This couldn't end well, Nate knew. Jia wouldn't get the answers she was looking for, and he was going to walk out of the station a free man – and if history had taught him anything, that wasn't going to be a winning combination. Unless he did exactly what he shouldn't and told her everything… Nope, Nate took it all back, as he wrestled with this decision. This really was going to be a very long car ride.

Jia Lei Yang

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia wanted answers and in the same breath she never wanted to hear what they were. The weeks after she was told she had imagined him coming back through the front door, happy and alive and things would go on as normal. It had taken her a while but slowly her belief in the unimaginable had faded no calls to say things had been a huge mistake. No Nate, no nothing just tears and heartache were left which was whys he had moved to Chicago. To get away, to run away and to be close to whatever family she had left even if it was the worst idea she had ever had.

Ironic but the one person he would have spoken to about all of it was alive and in front of her and now all she wanted to do was to shoot him herself. Funny how the world worked. “Why Nate, why did you do it? What is going on with you and why are you in my crime scene? If you didn’t want to be with me, there are easier ways. I thought we talked about everything, you could have said ‘Morning Jia, I don’t like you anymore. It’s over.’” She snapped back at him. “It works a lot better than a fake death and hurts a hell of a lot less too.” Her usual calm and quiet demeanour was all but lost for a few seconds as she struggled to control what she wanted to say and what was perhaps better left unsaid. Right now it was likely all that she had said in the last five seconds.

No this had to be a nightmare or a dream. She would wake up and it would be distant memory if that because he had no right to be there. No right to be in her crime scene, her life, he was dead and now he was telling her he was there. Nate was actually there with her. What did she even do with that information, tell his family or would they think she had really lost it this time. ‘Hey Cordova family, remember me the would be fiancé, well Nate’s back and he’s alive. Just thought you deserved to know’. She was sure they would have her committed faster than she could call her commanding officer to ask for a day off.

At this rate it was likely to be a month until she got her head checked. Jia found herself staring at Nate with disbelief; did he really just ask her that? “You never did... you’re alive and you want me to keep it a secret for you? Only because your parents and sister would think I'm crazy, I'll do it but this... you have to tell them. They'll be happy to know your... alive” Jia wanted to scream at him until she realised what else he had mentioned. The world dangerous and protect you came to mind as all in one she wanted to still scream at him but help him with whatever it was that he was mixed up in the middle of. Great, today she was helping a dead guy who was really alive. She was going to need serious therapy for this.

“No you don’t, you don’t get to stop there.” Jia explained, practically accusing him with her stare. “What is it you’re mixed up in Nate, what do you need help with? What can I do to help you?” She asked as if suddenly fearing the worst. Was that why he had faked his death, to keep everyone safe from whatever this was? Biker gang, drugs, money laundering the list was endless and so where the affiliations that went along with it in her mind. “I can help you Nate you just have to talk to me.” Jia almost pleaded as she cuffed his hands.

If he was with her he was safe, the precinct was safe. It was safe until he seemed to sure about his stay not lasting long and that hit her almost as hard as his reappearance was doing. He was leaving, again. Jia stared for a moment as she motioned for him to walk to the door. “So you’re going to disappear again, why bother even coming back Nate? Why do this?” She asked not sure if he had wanted to hurt her because he was making a good job of it so far.

“Your under arrest, it lasts as long as I say it does and that won’t change no matter who you call. I’ll trace the call too, you know that right? No one gets to break you out.” Jia stated trying to gather what thinking ability she had left. No one other than lawyer could break anyone out and maybe the military but was he even military still if they thought he was dead. No, it was hardly possible which lead her to the only conclusion she could think of. Mafia, gangs and the long list of bad people she could think of. He had to be involved with something serious bad to do all of this.

Nathaniel Cordova,

[Nathaniel Cordova]

Things weren't as easy, or straightforward, as Jia seemed to think. Of course, it didn't help that, per every rule in the CIA handbook, he couldn't tell her much. Even informing his family that he was alive would be much too risky. This was why he wanted Jia to keep his return to the world of the living quiet. It was bad enough that she knew the truth about his so-called demise. But what he wouldn't give to be able to tell Gracelyn… to be able to tell his parents. Maybe a part of him didn't want to – yes, he couldn't deny a certain amount of trepidation over facing them after all this time. How would you even begin to broach that conversation?

Nate knew he had put himself into this difficult position and he had no one to blame but himself. At the time, duty had overridden all other concerns. In hindsight, it sucked, but he couldn't go back and change things. That it had all led to this… he couldn't help but stare at Jia incredulously. She definitely had this figured all wrong. "You think this is because I stopped loving you? That's just crazy talk. I never stopped."

Shrugging, which probably came off in a poor light, Nate just didn't know what else to do or say. Some version of 'I'm just doing my job' probably wouldn't go over very well, even though the truth was usually a safe option. In the end, he decided to go with that option anyway. If he was going to get lambasted, at least it would be for being honest with her. "I'll… disappear as long as I need to."

The need to fire off a trademark quip came rushing back, though Nate settled for something a little more appropriate given the circumstances. Jia had failed to consider several possibilities. Had his character lost all credibility with her because of this? Nate shook his head before she could start escorting him out of the building. "Other than an armed federal agency, you mean? The CPD isn't the top of the alphabet soup pecking order. You aren't going to have the final say in this."

Trent had overheard most of the conversation between the two – including the part where Danny had gotten the short end of the stick – and came wandering over. Though he was talking to Jia, he was staring daggers at Nate. The arson investigator had actually been engaged to this guy? Talk about a poor life choice. "I called it in, Detective. There's an ambulance on the way. You can bring him down to the station. Make sure he doesn't get off the hook."

Jia Lei Yang

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia might have told his family if he had failed to mention not to but despite everything she would keep his wishes even if it seemed like a mad idea to her. Yes there was always the possibility that they might take it worse than she had but in his defence, yes she could barely believe she was defending him in her own head. He was alive, that had to count for something as it was far better than the alternative she had believed since she was told of the ‘incident’. He was alive and still it seemed much like a dream that would be taken away at any moment.

His incredulous stare was unsettling as she felt she had just disappointed him in a sense. What was she to believe in all of this? People never just got up and left there was always a reason, people never faked their deaths either without a good one so she was trying to reason it all out. “You never stopped?” She asked as if checking her information, no keep it together she told herself not sure if she wanted to cry and hug him to death or shoot him right there for even saying it when she saw him shrug. This was, she had no clue what this was anymore.

“This is crazy Nate, if you still love me then why?”Jia asked still not sure she was making any head way in what was going on at all. “We could have left the military, done anything you wanted to. Run away, started over so why do this?” She wanted an answer she knew was unlikely be too said, interrogation 101 if they had said nothing by now then it was likely a puzzle piece that was going to be missing a while. It only served to infuriate her more and yet she was happy he was alive and angry too given she had heard nothing from him at all when he claimed he never stopped loving her.

Who did that? Was Nate even Nate now? The man she loved and still did always did the right thing, she trusted him like no one else and right now he was the one hurting her like no one else could. “You can’t disappear.” Jia stated as if not giving him an option about it. Like her saying no to his disappearing would make much of a different given he had done it once. “Please, I can’t lose you again. You...” Jia had no how to finish that sentence without completely breaking whatever composure she had left for the day.

“Armed federal agency, are you kidding me?” She mumbled, Nate was right there was more of an alphabet to consider before the CPD even made any order or an alphabet. “What alphabet are you involved with? D.E.A? F.B.I? D.O.D? D.H.S? C.I.A?” Jia said trying to catch any reaction from him for any of those letters; it was a nightmare if any of those were involved as the Army had seemed like an easier life compared to the bureaucracy outside of it. Her head was already filling in the other ten thousand reasons for any of those agencies to fake his death which just made matter a whole lot scarier for her as she tried not to show the realisation of her face though for a brief few moments she knew she failed.

Jia was stuck in her head until Trent started talking about calling it in. “I... Thanks Trent and yes just to make sure. I’m sure he’ll be fine but just in case. You okay to handle things here until patrol arrives?” Jia asked knowing Nate would never hurt anyone without a cause though really what did she know of late. “I’ll do my best to make sure of it Trent, no one gets away with this.” She said firmly as she glanced at Nate not entirely sure now she wanted to take him to the station and start the alphabet nightmare. “Come on, we need to go before you mess up my scene anymore.” She stated as she glanced at Nate and motioned to the door.

For a brief moment Jia considered asking Nate what he wanted, he was the one person she went to when she was in trouble or in a situation, at least he had been. Did she offer to kidnap him to get him away from things because kidnapping of a dead person, was that even an offence she could be arrested for these days? Then again if any of the agencies she had named were involved then she could be disappeared as well and where her family was concerned it was less likely they would even notice she had.

Nathaniel Cordova,

[Nathaniel Cordova]

As Jia began to escort him out of the warehouse, Nate found himself being asked difficult questions. He could have handled something – anything – about his work. Maybe something like what he was doing here, in this warehouse, at this very moment. The type Nate had been conditioned to easily answer under any circumstances. No doubt those were questions she would eventually get to, but the reason why he'd left? That was a different sort of beast entirely. So Nate used the only sort of answer he had readily available. "I had a job to do. I'm a soldier – it's all I know."

The answer might not have addressed everything, but Nate hadn't had a lot of time to prepare that response. If only Jia could let it go – could understand he was doing what he had been trained to do. If she couldn't accept that… well, how could she not? She was a detective with the Chicago Police Department. Once, she had been military too. Were those genes still in her DNA? She knew, better than most, you didn't leave a mission unfinished. Closing his eyes for a moment, upon opening them, Nate still found himself somewhere between a rock and a hard place. That was when they started getting to the questions he could answer.

"NCPC," Nate replied without batting an eyelash to Jia's question. It was a practiced lie – one he'd gotten very good at being able to tell. Even to someone Nate knew and loved. The CIA didn't let you out of the office to play, if you couldn't effectively sell a cover story. He was reasonably certain he knew what her reaction would be. Some federal agencies were more well-known than others. The National Counterproliferation Center probably wasn't the first agency anyone thought of when you started talking alphabet soup. Just because they lacked immediate name recognition didn't give them any less authority. "It's a thing. Google it."

Nate couldn't believe what he was hearing. The conversation between Jia and Trent was bad enough, but then she had turned her scrutiny back on him. He snorted in barely contained disbelief. "Mess up your scene? You're way above your jurisdiction here, Jia." Oh, once he got his phone call down at the station, things were going to take an interesting turn. If Jia thought the CPD could hold him in their custody, she was mistaken. "My partner is going to have a field day with this."

To be fair, Jia had thrown a whole lot of personal questions at him. Maybe it was time for one of his own. They could continue to snipe back and forth at each other, but it served no purpose beyond reminding him how much things had changed. "Have you spoken with my parents or sister since the funeral? I've tried to keep an eye on them as best I can from a distance, you know?"

Jia Lei Yang

[Jia Lei Yang]

A soldier, that was his reason. Jia was unsure if she was more frustrated now than she was five minutes ago though all in all considering he was alive. Was this even a good day? It felt like her world had once again been turn on his head, no centre point and no way of knowing what way was up in a world where she believed him to be dead when all along he had been alive. It felt like betrayal but not on his part on hers, there should have been some lasting feeling that he was alive. Anything to cling to but the feeling that she had been through the funeral, the army she trusted, the army that had taken everything told her he was dead.

Being a soldier, it was the one thing she understood. The one thing she knew how to do above most other things in life and it irked her that he knew she understood it. She could even feel the pull of the invisible string to stand straight, to listen for orders, feet together hands by your side. It all made sense to her until the day he had died. Then it became movements she did, things to get through the day until eventually she could take no more.

“Yes you are but it is never all you are. Not to your family, not to me. You know more than just being a soldier but I get you’ve a job to do.” She said trying to keep any sense of spite from her tone even if she still hated the military for what it had taken and now never more so for what they had done. Kill off a girls fiancé and she is hardly your biggest fan. Hearing which part of the alphabet he worked for now Jia raised her brow, well the least common one she could think of that had to be said. “You sure you never got that one out of a cereal box? NCPC.” Jia replied trying to keep her face serious but she could hardly help the laugh that she tried to hide.

Cereal box soup, yes Nate had the alphabet mixed up she was sure. Jia pulled out her phone and looked up the letters, she expected a Rice Krispies competition or a joke page though she was surprised as she read a few lines. “Intelligence community... spread of weapons.” Jia glanced at him not sure if she was more annoyed now for knowing what she could only assume was the truth or if she was relieved that she felt like she had a truth to hold onto. Jia wanted to rip into him about dying for letters but there were bigger issues to sort out first mostly the kind that came with him questioning her jurisdiction.

The conversation with Trent was fair she thought, he had hurt someone and Jia wanted to make sure that Nate escaped whatever punishment the CPD could dish out mostly because she had some of her own she wanted to dish out first. “Do you think I care about that right now?” Jia asked as she glared for a second, “You’re partner huh well where is he or she right now Nate? If they were going to do anything you never would have been caught so do you want me to inform this NCPC that you were caught by a lowly out of their jurisdiction cop?” Jia asked as tried to make sense of how she could possibly stop the inevitable happening. The government always won especially when you were on the wrong side which she had a feeling this time she was.

Jia had misjudged how asking the personal questions could hurt when turned back at a person. If he had screamed at her or tried to fight her even maybe a bullet would have hurt less than that question. “I’ve spoken with them a few times since yes. They are coping as best they can. Your parent’s and Gracelyn would love to know you’re alive Nate.” Jia said as she decided to leave out the dodging their calls because it hurt too much to be reminded of the person she lost. “Gracelyn is with the Chicago Red Stars, she’s really good at soccer, been to a few of her games.” Jia added, she had tried to keep an eye on his family but everything was at arm’s length simply because she had never known what to do to make any of it better. She was sure she reminded them as much as they reminded her of Nate.

Talking about it, she could feel the uncertainty in her, the feeling of complete lack of control of what might be said or asked of her next. No it was just like the military police, ask the next question. “What are you doing ‘here’ Nate. Why are you in my crime scene right now?” Jia asked, judging by what had happened it hardly seemed like it was a cry for help to come back from the dead.

Nathaniel Cordova,

[Nathaniel Cordova]

One phone call and the CIA would pull whatever strings needed to be pulled to get him released. That was one agency that had gotten good at giving everyone else the middle finger when it came to their personnel. Chalk up the CPD as just another number in that casualty report. With a major player on the overseas threat list having surfaced on US soil – it fell on Nate, the Delta operator who had managed to infiltrate the organization – to cut off the head. For a matter of national security, local police would defer to federal oversight every time. Nate would be out before the end of the day.

As part of this operation, Nate maintained several covers. In the event local law enforcement interfered, as it had now, he claimed to be working with the NCPC – an identity that afforded him a tremendous amount of leeway, given how dangerous the weapons they worked with could be. The CIA would take care of the rest. Sometimes keeping everything straight could be a challenge The bigger challenge could be separating the cover from the real him. Explaining the truth to Jia about his involvement – here, now, in this crime scene – meant going against every order he had. So Nate would continue to lie. Even if the initials sounded like they had come out of a box of Alpha-Bits. "That would be classified well above your paygrade, Detective. Not my rules."

Nate had shot himself in the foot at least a half dozen times already, but if he came out and told Jia anything more, the CIA would be having conniptions. One more time sounded just about right for the way things had gone so far. If Nate managed to get out of this operation alive, some level of damage control would be required. Both with his family and with Jia. Maybe he could get around to taking some leave and watching Gracelyn play with the Red Stars. Nate softened his stance some. Maybe he could skirt the rules just a little. He was already claiming to be with the NCPC. This wouldn't be much of a stretch for the police to assume. "It involves stopping some very bad people planning on doing some very bad things. I can't tell you more. Please don't ask."

By the time the two of them had reached Jia's vehicle, Nate had more or less clammed up again. Telling her specifics about his mission here was out of the question, unless the CIA suddenly decided to read the CPD in on the situation. If Nate was being realistic, that was about as unlikely as it sounded. Get us to the precinct. "Give me my phone call. You can meet my partner." Of course that made one very big assumption. "Assuming she hasn't been compromised. She should have been here." Given who they both were dealing with, it was a possibility Nate would prefer not to think about, but that he needed to prepare for. The absolute worst case scenario involved his own identity being compromised as well – either because his handler had given him up, or because the terrorist organization had somehow managed to uncover the truth.

Jia Lei Yang

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia simply nodded, “Not my rules either but that doesn’t mean you just get to show up with an alphabet and be all mysterious.” Jia was attempting to reconcile the fact that her fiancé was still alive, he was right there talking about the NCPC, law enforcement and how there was no way he was going to be in custody long. Jia hardly wanted to arrest him but she knew she had to, if anything to keep him safe and do her job and also a cell provided her with thinking time. The precious minutes that might give her an answer or two or at least if it was a dream, then that would be the moment she woke up.

As his stance softened some Jia smiled at him, her Nate was still there even if it seemed like the strangest day. Jia had about a million questions still but he had asked her not to ask and he was unable to say more. The Nate she knew would stick to that as she realised there was little point in trying to argue over it. “I will not ask anymore but let me tell you something.” Jia said doing her best to be serious though the anger she had felt seemed to be fading. “Do not die again. Promise me that right now.” Jia added knowing it was a ridiculous request but a second time, she had hardly gotten over the first time.

“And you’re not on your own with whatever classified, well above my pay grade thing this is. Bad people, bad things remember it was my job in the military and out of it. You need anything, I mean anything you call. Dead or not dead, I know you are alive now so that changes everything.” Jia doubted it might change much for him as she was sure whatever classified would still be classified. However she never wanted him to think that he was on his own, she could never forgive herself for that no matter how angry she was about him allegedly dying in the first instance.

The clammed up state of things returned and Jia knew there was little more to get out of him regarding the what of his mission. For a moment she wished she had known he was alive, she could have helped though maybe it was easier to just walk away when people thought there was no one there? Jia reached for her phone deciding that at the very least a phone call would make someone show their face though as Nate spoke about being compromised she winced. “Wait, your partner should have been here? This place has been a crime scene for a few days.” Jia explained, her mind was about to scream at her once again as she pulled open the passenger side door to her car.

There was no way she was putting him in the back of the car with the criminals. It went against everything she knew as she took a breath. “Here, make the call on my phone. Do you think that you have been compromised? Any suspicions toward that other than a now show?” Jia asked as she shoved her phone into his pants pocket before she pulled the key for the cuffs out of her pocket. Jia moved so that if anyone watching would never be able to see as she placed the key in his hand before holding the car door as she motioned for him to get in. “Try anything and I will shoot you.” She warned though more for show than anything else.

Jia doubted she would be able to shoot him in the first place no matter how much she wanted to for what he had done. The key she had given him, well he had to use his hands to make a call though it went against the rules. Jia was sure she could cuff him again for show at the precinct once they got there and she had no doubt in her mind Nate would be able to get out of the cuffs in the car.

Nathaniel Cordova,

[Nathaniel Cordova]

It wasn't a promise Nate could realistically make – at least not in this line of work. The both of them were fully aware of that reality, but the second Jia insisted, he found himself nodding. There was no way Nate was dragging her into this, no matter how much she tried to convince him, but neither was he was he going to purposefully jump into the path of a speeding bullet – this mission wasn't a protection detail. Take risks, yes. That was part of the job description. Either way, Nate didn't want to put her, or the rest of his family, through a second funeral. "I promise. I'm not dying again, Jia."

Crime scenes made surprisingly good meeting places. If you were a criminal, you probably weren't going there just to get busted on some lesser charge. Civilians generally weren't going to be breaking the law to begin with. And, as for the police, they rarely went back after the initial investigation. So Nate chuckled when Jia appeared taken aback. Provided you weren't seen when breaking in, you pretty much had a golden ticket. This hadn't been the ideal final outcome, but he'd been meeting at crime scenes without issue – right under the CPD's nose. "I'm undercover," Nate reminded her. "Did you want my handler and I to meet at the precinct?"

Of all the things Nate assumed might happen next, Jia directing him to the front seat didn't rank super high on the list. She continued to surprise him by stuffing her cellphone in his pocket and giving him the key to unlock the handcuffs. To be fair, Nate could pick the lock even when bound – a part of his operator training. The instructors made certain you could get out of a sticky situation, even given extremely limited resources. To some extent, Nate supposed, he was MacGyver, but with a gun.

"She's never missed a meeting before," Nate explained. Maybe that wasn't suspicious to someone else, but when you were dealing with terrorists this dangerous... you trusted your partner. You didn't just dismiss a bad feeling. And, right now, Nate had a bad feeling that something had gone very, very wrong. Taking a lull in the conversation to dial his handler's cell phone, he waited for his call to connect, hoping maybe – just maybe – he was wrong. "Come on... come on... answer the phone... Damn it!" Nate cursed in Spanish and redialed the number. The second time didn't figure to be the charm.

Jia Lei Yang , Elizabeth Gidon