femmejosephine | A few revelations

It was a risk to go to the gun range. She knew it. One of these days someone was going to recognize her and ask interesting questions about why the restaurant owner was extremely proficient with firearms. On the other hand, not keeping up her skills was stupid, especially considering she was armed nearly every minute of every day. She didn't carry at the gym, obviously, and if she was working the floor at the restaurant she tended not to, but other than that, always.

She tried to reduce the risk at the gun range by always going at different days and times so no pattern could be established, by using different routes to get there, and of course by always renting a gun and choosing different lanes. Not the same gun, either. Just some gun, whatever her eye landed on first. Her shooting glasses were slightly darker than normal, too, although they didn't impede her vision.

She'd done all that today too, and now she was getting ready to leave. She'd had a good day - her targets had been well-clustered, and because the range had been almost empty, she'd let herself be a little better than usual. Normally she didn't work to her full capacity because that would raise questions too, but sometimes it was satisfying to cluster the shots so tightly. She was sure that said something about her psychology since she'd given up that life and yet maintained her skills, but Madeline wasn't here to ask her about it.

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"Sounds like you've made a good life. You don't miss the old at all?" He wouldn't pull her away from a good place. Not if she didn't want it, even if he though she'd be useful for what he suspected was coming. He didn't have the full picture yet, but what little he knew he didn't like. Sooner or later, he'd need to act and having someone with Nikita's skills would be useful, but not necessary.

He was probing for something, although he was doing it very nicely. He'd hit the right note for practically this whole conversation, and she wasn't quite sure whether it was because he was just that good at this or because he was being sincere. It might actually be both.

"If you're asking whether I'm permanently in retirement, no. A friend here has asked for my help a few times and I've given it."

Porthos' work was his own business, so that was all the detail she'd be providing.

"Would you be interested in doing it again if the situation arises?" It would be something to keep in his back pocket. He had other people he could call, but more would always be better. Time would tell, but even if his current suspicions didn't pan out, sooner or later, there was always need for a gun arm or some spycraft. And he needed people he could trust. Regardless of her past, or where she came from, he trusted her and that was a short list to be on.

Ah. That was what he was looking for. So he wasn't quite right when he said that he didn't want anything from her, but he was making it her choice. That was something.

"It would depend," she finally said. "My personal code of ethics doesn't always line up with the world's laws, but if it didn't go against it, I'd be willing to discuss it."

"That's all I ask. And honestly all I will do is ask. If anything comes up." He honestly hoped it wouldn't, but he was a pragmatist. Something always came up, but he respected Nikita and wouldn't force the issue. Or her. From what he'd just heard, she'd had enough of that and he wasn't stupid enough to make enemies when he could recruit allies.

"And 'no' is always an acceptable answer. I'm not here to force things."

"You're actually going to try to tell me that you're not going to blackmail me into working for you now that you know what I can do?" she asked skeptically, because if he wasn't, he would be one of the few people who hadn't tried to use her past against her. The juvenile authorities, the prison, Section, hell, even her mother. All of them had used the things she'd survived as a cudgel for their own goals.

She had trust issues. They should add that to her file.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. You just told me what was done to you. I'm a lot of things, but never one to make another person's mistakes." He leaned forward, dropping his voice a bit. He didn't think they were in danger of being overheard, but he didn't want to take unnecessary risks. "An agent bound in fear and resentment looks for any opportunity to bite the hand that holds the leash. I don't want someone like that on my team, I've had enough trouble watching my back in the past, it hurts being stabbed." Loki was one thing. Ward had been another. He'd been stabbed literally and figuratively. It wouldn't happen again.

"When I told you I didn't want anything from you, I was honest. I don't. But if you offer I won't turn you down. If you want to stay in that cafe for as long as you're here, that's where I'll leave you. And I hope that's going to be the case. But things are happening. I don't know what and I don't know who, but I will eventually. If I can handle it on my own, I will. And if I can't, I have other resources. But I'd like a friend at my back and I hope we're still at least that."

She had definitely bit the hand that held her leash in many ways. But most of the time it just meant she got hit harder in the end. It hadn't actually accomplished anything. Without Michael's intervention, she'd be dead now. Section always won. Walter had told her that once - not to be cruel - just to be honest. Section always won.

She stared at Phil for a while, studying his face and his body language, watching him react to being stared at distrustfully.

"I'd be willing to discuss it if you really need me," she finally said again. As agreements went, it could have been stronger.

"And that's all I ask. I promise." Leaning back, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills, enough to cover the drinks if they hadn't been paid. And if they had, they'd pay for her next round. "I'll let you be, I figure I've given you enough to think about today and I know you just wanted to blow off some steam. For that I apologize."

He got up and started for the door.

"None needed," she said honestly. The bills would go into the delayed coffee and pastry fund, since she knew he wouldn't take them back. "Enjoy your afternoon."

She didn't follow him out, or not yet at least. Part of that was because she wanted to consider whether she'd just made a fatal mistake in trusting Phil enough to not only tell him what she'd done but also agree to talk to him if he needed her skills. Part of it was that if she did follow him, he might be justifiably concerned that she was planning to just make sure he couldn't tell anyone.

In the end, she would have Phil's back. And maybe he'd have hers.

A few revelations

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