Wolves and Sheep

There was a slight tapping on the table. Looking down, Dozer saw it was his trigger hand nervously twitching.

Gee, thanks, brain.

Clearing his throat, he crossed his arms.

"You don't say."

Whelp, here we go. I'm droppin', better catch me.

"Well then, I'd better help clear up the discrepancy. Our little 'CIA friend' walked out with it."

It was suddenly very quiet as he let that sink in.

"She asked nicely," he lightly shrugged matter-of-factly, "and promised to bring it back."

FBI Miami Field Office - Armory

Ellie's eyes drifted to nervously tapping finger and then back to his face as the clearly anxious agent responded.

"I see," she intoned, her mouth drawing taut in slight frustration and disappointment as she continued, her tone doubtful, "And did she say how she would be bringing it back to you?"

"She didn't, no," Dozer said, lightly scratching his eyebrow with his thumb, "Though I did give her my challenge coin and a place to call."

He looked over at his charging phone.

"I've been waiting for a message all morning."

FBI Miami Field Office - Armory

"Uh huh," she intoned, her voice even "I hope you're telling me about the challenge coin because it has a GPS tracker on it." Her steely eyes shifted towards Dozer's phone, "And the message you're waiting on is this 'Beatrice's' location."

A quick exhale of breath was the only hint of frustration Ellie betrayes, "Or perhaps you recall some additional detail on our mystery spook? We checked all the passengers. All those with any sort of Asian ancestry were either to old, to young, or the incorrect sex."

"No and yes, in that order," Dozer said, "I gave her the coin so she could identify herself later. Additional details, though... Lessee, she was about..." he held up a hand, "Yay high. Skinny, in a fit way. I think a bullet might have grazed her shoulder? I definitely remember that she took a pistol whipping to the face. Actually she was pretty bruised when all was said and done, now that I think about it. Too old, too young, or the incorrect sex, huh?"

Thinking, he gave a chuckle.

"Think she had one of those rubber masks they have in the movies?" Dozer did the pulling motion with his hand.

FBI Miami Field Office - Armory

Ellie's brow quirked up, clearly unamused at his loose description of what she still wasn't so sure should be a real cause for concern. "Need I remind you that at this point in time the SEER program, the program the Russians stole from us and Kevin Medroff was trying to sell, is on a hard drive somewhere ... in the hands of a maybe/maybe not CIA agent. Who is ... yay high," she exclaimed while mimicking the approximate height Dozer had indicated, "And took a beating."

She snorted in frustration, her eyes shifting to Dozer's phone, "I really hope your phone rings Mr. Barnum and not mine ... informing me China has SEER."

Dozer laughed. He laughed loud and hard.

"I'm sorry, Agent Thompson," he said, wiping a tear, "I just have a hard time imagining Captain Charmaine collaborating with the Chinese, let along giving them SEER. Ah ha ha, ha."

FBI Miami Field Office - Armory

Ellie's eyes narrowed, face flushing with color and clearly unsure of what was so amusing or if she was being made fun of. "I'm not sure I follow. And choose your words very carefully," she said with a bit of bite in the tone, "Lest your CIA friend not be the only one to catch a beating."

Dozer raised his hands in a defensive posture. Nevertheless he was still smiling.

"Hey hey, take it easy, friendly fire."

After giving Thompson time to cool down a little, not that her hard stare died down any, Dozer continued.

"Captain James Charmaine. Former Military Intelligence, and," Dozer tilted his head a little, "if he hasn't made another career change recently, Army CID."

---

Past...
"That, that right there is what we expect you to do. Just be yourself. No overcomplicated tricks, just react how you would normally."

---

Present
God, Jazz, I hope you know what you're doing.

Dozer sighed, leaning back against the table.

"I got the call just before the mission. He was warning me about a friendly agent being in the AO. When we were trying to figure out how to board, I initially wanted to breach behind the second car. But, as we were riding, it struck me that they might be in with the other passengers, and might be in trouble. It also seemed reasonable that if we boarded quickly, we could catch the tangos off guard."

---

Past...
"I don't know, sir. I'm not sure I'm cut out for this frontline cloak and dagger stuff."

"You are a good, honest man, Dozer. I wouldn't put you anywhere without considering that, and I definitely wouldn't ask you to push yourself into a zone you weren't comfortable in."

"Hell, sir, I lose at cards all the time because I'm a terrible bluffer!"

"Hey," Jazz put his hand on Dozer's shoulder, "I've got your six, my brother. As I always do. Blood and sweat, through hell and beyond."

---

Present
"When I said I made my own check, it was to try to tell her I was there to help. And I screwed it up badly. But her stated goals matched with what he said she was supposed to be there for. Plus she had that file. So we continued on. We even got all the way to the finish line, stopped the upload, saved the passengers, hooray."

Dozer wiped his face.

"Then she had to spring at the last minute that she needed what was on the hard drive, but didn't have time to download everything without getting away cleanly. She could have stolen it, but she asked me first. Explained she needed it to find a link with that Katja Mikabalonowichwhathername. I know that SEER was on it, but I also trust James to make sure it got where it needed to go."

Dozer looked down at his right palm, clenching and unclenching his hand.

"He also gave me that coin. I expect him to get it back to me."

FBI Miami Field Office - Armory

Through a narrowed gaze, her face slightly pinched and flushed in a touch of anger, Ellie carefully weighed the information Dozer was sharing. If she had any sort of knowledge on what he was talking about, it wasn't betrayed on her face.

"CIA ... now, DIA," she finally responded, "You spin quite the tale Agent Barnum." Her eyes shifted to his still charging phone sitting on the table. "Get that drive back," she all but commanded as she spun on her heels and began to stalk towards the door. "And send me your AAR," she added over her shoulder, before exiting the clean and well organized armory.

Outside the door Ellie took a calming breath as she leaned against the wall, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration before pulling her phone from her pocket. "Jubal," she said in way of greeting, "Put a trace on Agent Barnum's phone. And use your computer-fu to follow him ... facial rec, gait analysis, the works. He goes to the head I want to know how many times he shakes."

Pushing herself off the wall and remembering something else Dozer had mentioned she add, "And Jubal ... tell Dani to reach out to her other contacts. Inquire about a James Charmaine. Military."

"Yeah, it's a real alphabet soup," Dozer muttered to himself as she walked away, "And it's CID."

Cho then walked back in.

"What was that all about," Cho asked.

"That, my friend, is my commendation flying out the window," Dozer sighed, looking at his phone. He unplugged it, and walked out.

"Where are you going?"

"The firing range. Gotta blow off some steam," Dozer said over his shoulder.

"*Ahem*, and what about your AAR?"

"Take care of those files for me, will ya? I'll get back to it later. Not like they're going anywhere."

---

Man, I'm gonna miss being able to do this, Dozer thought, checking his range M4, a personal little number with all the fixings: ACOG, rail laser, sling, foregrip, muzzle brake, the works. (OOC-basically an M4 SOPMOD) Definitely won't be something he'll easily get in the civilian market (at least not with full auto). That's, of course, assuming he gets kicked there.

He ran over what he told Agent Thompson in his head, a for the umpteenth time wondered if he should have kept his mouth shut. Didn't he just send her on the trail of his contact? But that was supposed to be the fallback plan in case Dozer was caught doing something: Jazz is Army CID, and was just phoning in a favor with an old buddy on the force. Maybe if Dozer just stayed quiet, she would have just stormed out all angry, and Jazz's neck wouldn't be sticking out.

Pulling back the charging handle, Dozer then gave the gun a good slap.

Damnit, Captain, I said I wasn't good at this!

No doubt, if they weren't following him before, they were now. Well, if that was the case, might as well give them a show to watch.

It might not the blaze of glory I expected, but I'll take it.

Setting the targets at the hardest difficulty, he slipped an earbud in under the ear protection, and queued his range music on his phone, before proceeding to shred...

Many, many 5.56mm bullets later

Dozer let out a content breath. For some reason the lingering smell of gunpowder always cleared his head. As he was putting his gear away, set to go back and plug at that AAR, his phone rang.

He looked at the caller ID.

James Charmaine.

No secret number, no blocked call, just his name, right there.

All of a sudden it felt as though a huge weight was lifted from Dozer's shoulders. He thumbed Answer.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I'm sorry, hello to you, too, Bill. I know I didn't return your message, but I'm a busy man, and I don't answer to you."

"Right, sorry. Days been going downhill for me."

"So I heard. Things got complicated at the end?"

"Let's just say it was a lovely feeling having the person, who patted your back the day before, screaming in your face like you'd dumbly hit the 'end the world' button."

"Hey man, you did me a real solid, I appreciate it. You tell them about me?"

"What you mean? Of course I told them about you, Captain CID. *Sigh* Now she thinks I'm dumb and a terrible liar."

"Ooooooooh, it's a girl! Was she cute?"

"James, this really isn't..."

"Was she wearing tactical gear?

"Yes, she was, it's her job."

"Oh you were crushing on her hard~."

"James, this is really not the time to be talking about that."

"Because of them tapping your phone, I know. HEY ALL YOU LISTENING IN."

Dozer pulled the phone away a little as Jazz spoke up.

"If there are any hot OSA chiquitas there, my boy Bill's super available right now!"

"James..." Dozer grunted.

"Guy's one big bulldozer-sized puppy dog~. Phrase things like an order, and he'll carry all your groceries!"

Dozer was standing over a nearby wall now, lightly tapping his forehead against it.

"And you should see how much he keeps in shape! Guy's ripped from carrying all that heavy gear over long distances! Not to mention he's an expert at two-person close-in coordination!"

"James! Come on, man, don't do this me!"

"Jeez, seriously, Bill, you need to get laid, loosen up a little. You're in flippin' Miami right now. Go down to the beach, pull off your shirt, and flex. You'll have babes hanging off your arm."

"Right now that's really not on my mind," Dozer said through gritted teeth.

"Oh let me guess, you're still holding a flame for that busty redhead. C'mon, my brother, she's moved on from you. I think it's time you did, too."

Dozer face was just smooshed against the wall, no doubt his face beet red, "God, just strike me down now."

"Well I hope he holds off a little, because you've got a package that needs picking up."

Dozer stood bolt upright, "You'd better not be yanking my chain right now."

"Hey, blood and sweat, through hell and beyond, I got your six, my brother. Taco Spot on the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, 1900 hours. They're expecting you to go alone. YOU HEAR THAT OSA?! DON'T SPOOK THE DELIVERY GUY! I've already given up my future yacht paying for their services, I don't need to add a second to the bill!"

Dozer quickly looked up the location on his phone, since they, no doubt, were looking it up themselves.

"Alright, I'll be there. Thanks, man."

"Hey, hope you weren't sweating on my account."

"What me? Nooooo," Dozer laughed not at all convincingly, "I was cool as ice. The sweat's from the workout I just had."

"Yeah I bet,"Jazz laughed, "Burning through their entire ammo pile, most likely. I'll see you around."

"Not too soon, I hope. C'ya, man."

---

Later
"And where are you going now?!" Cho called as Dozer walked out of the building in his civvies. "You've still got to finish that AAR!"

"I'm taking care of one last detail," Dozer waved back.

"Bullshit, man, you just want me to do your paperwork for you!"

Cho shrugged at the back of Dozer as the grizzled agent walked away.

Office of Special Assignments - Civic Center

Jubal 'Jay' Kekoa leaned back in his ergonomic desk chair with a satisfied smile, his biceps straining the sleeves of his witty and very nerdy t-shirt as he folded his hands behind his head.

"Is this for real?" Special Agent Daniela Flores exclaimed in disbelief of the recording Jay had just played for her.

"All true," the big Samoan replied with a nod of his large head and winking added, "particularly the part about stripping down and flexing." Grinning he flexed his gigantic arm, "the ladies here sure do love a chiseled physique."

Dani rolled her eyes her eyes shifting between the bank of monitors and her 'chiseled' computer specialist, "Any cameras we can work with?"

"Already hacked and ready to go. Facial rec and gait analysis are running as well," Jay replied with a touch of cockyness.

It sounds like our evidence will be returned ... but follow the delivery man. I want to know who this mysterious Beatrice is. I think we could use someone with that kind of talent" Dani said, tapping her lips thoughtfully.

As Dozer calmly walked his weaving path down the beachside roads to the meet, he took a minute to look at the women walking around. Ever since he parked his relatively new (but well used) Chevy pickup at Margaritaville Public Parking (Because of course they would name it that), and he made sure to do his due diligence to make sure other people besides the OSA weren't following, he had plenty of chances to see the ladies spending the afternoon around here.

Pull off my shirt and flex, huh?

Dozer shook his head. By all means he was a healthy young man, so of course he'd look. It's why he was wearing a nice pair of sunglasses, after all, so he wouldn't have to turn his head. And as a little clique walked by, he couldn't help but lean to get a good look at a particularly bouncy number who had some rather nice work done on her.

But, unlike what the common joke was, he always followed up by looking at the face, at the eyes. And this one, with her puffed up lips and vacant stare, reinforced by her voice carrying over, turned him off faster than a switch.

Oh let me guess, you're still holding a flame for that busty redhead. C'mon, my brother, she's moved on from you. I think it's time you did, too.

While the smell of the ocean dampened the effect, the sand threatened to take him back. To the noise, the gunfire, the pain. And a fiery mercenary, rugged from the effects of battle, setting his heart ablaze with just a look.

Sure, she'd look amazing filling out a two-piece, but she'd also know that wouldn't be what would get me going. Where the hell else are you going to find someone like that?

His mind then flashed to Agent Thompson.

I mean someone that isn't completely pissed off at me?

Snapping back to the present, he checked his watch, then picked up his pace.

---

He made sure to loop around and approach The Taco Spot from the north about a half-hour before the meet. No doubt the contact had gotten there sooner, but Dozer wanted whomever it was to feel comfortable, since they were the ones with the thing Dozer needed.

Wearing his navy blue camo cargo jeans (OOC- Seriously, they have those now. I've got a pair of them myself), tight black t-shirt, with a blue camo pocketed jacket wrapped around his waist, Dozer pulled out a blue tuque and slipped it on as he approached the restaurant.

He then found a table out front, and took a seat, eyes scanning his surroundings behind his glasses.

About ten minutes passed after Dozer had sat down, Stephen taking the time to make sure the man wasn't followed. Finding that no one, Stephen made his way over, and got in line at the Taco Spot."Yeah, I look awesome, you can say it," Dozer turns his head towards the guy, and gives a joking smile.

Looking a little dejected, Stephen sighed and moved toward the table.

"I take it you're Dozer?" with a slight stammer

Dozer slowly lowers his sunglasses, "Depends on if you're willing to buy me a drink."

Stephen extended a hand to shake, which Dozer returns. As they do so, Dozer felt something being slipped into his hand.

"Name's Alex. And sure, I can get you something. Just you?"

Dozer looked at his palm. In it was the coin he gave Beatrice.

Huh, why is it scratched like someone banged it on something?

"Yep, just me. Though in this day and age of cameras, is anyone really alone?"

Alex kind of shrugs, "There are ways. What'll you be having?"

"Aah just a soda for now. Still gotta drive after this."

Alex went to get back in line. Dozer put the coin in his pocket while he waited, pushing his sunglasses back up while he scanned the area some more. Pausing occasionally to watch the volleyball game, of course.

After a few minutes, Alex returned with 2 large drinks, and set one on the table for Dozer, taking a seat at the table.

"Ah, thank you kindly."

Looking around some more Alex adds, "I'm somewhat surprised. I didn't think you would actually show up alone. Hardly anyone ever does."

"Oh don't worry, I explained how an old buddy of mine working at Army CID was in contact with you guys. It helped that said CID officer called up and vouched for this meet."

Alex took a long pull at the straw in his drink.

"Still, given the stakes, I figured they would have someone following you, whether or not you knew about it. But if they are, they're good. I didn't see any signs."

"Well, I did do my due diligence, just in case someone else was interested."

"That's good to hear. You seem like someone who knows what they are doing."

Dozer waved a hand, "I've been around the block a few times."

"Sorry to have to drag you out here. We considered just setting up a dead drop for you to retrieve but the contents of the drop were too sensitive to leave unattended."

"Hey, no problem," Dozer gave a small chuckle, "a nice excuse to go for a walk away from paperwork."

A small pause.

"So how's your lady friend?" Dozer asked, "She got a bit bruised last we parted."

"Recovering. She said you were someone we could trust which . . . is a rare thing coming from her."

"Trust is rare. Particularly when it comes to the people and the ones in uniform." Dozer shrugged, looking away briefly, "It's a sad thing, really. Hope to change that in the future."

Alex chuckled, "Well, pulling someone's ass from the frying pan goes a long ways towards earning trust."

Dozer chuckled back, "Yeah, that it does."

"Bea probably wouldn't have survived the train without your intervention." And then his voice takes a more somber tone. "I'm sorry about your man."

Dozer leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table.

"It's a risk we all have to take. When I first entered boot I wasn't alone in dreaming to be the one soldier that would never lose any squadmates in combat.

"It's a dream that shatters quickly."

Dozer then picked up his drink, "So we remember those that fall, and dig in to shoulder the burden," a sip.

"Everyone's lost something in this line of work."Dozer noted that Alex seemed lost in thought, as if reliving a memory of his own, with a distant look in his eye. Dozer let the moment pass without a word, aware of the feeling. Alex shook it off.

"What's important is what still here, though," Dozer said, leaning back as he looked out beyond, "Y'know, I fought my ass off over there to keep shit like that over there," He takes another sip, "I come back here, and there's a gunfight on a train."

"Unfortunately, everything is becoming globalized. Even the bad stuff."

Alex pulled an old style, flip dumbphone from his pocket and flipped it open. Looking at it, he starts to get up. "You mind walking with me while we talk?"

"Yeah sure," Dozer then gulped down what he could from his drink before getting up.

As they were walking, both Dozer and Alex kept scanning around, making sure they still weren't followed.

Dozer looked at the dumbphone, "Wow, you must shop the same places my mom does."

While continuing to talk, they walked south along Broadwalk, before taking a right on Grant.

"They told me if you weren't alone to abort but since you seem to be a man of honor. . ."

Alex unzipped his fanny pack and pulled out a small, grey, hard plastic case.



And handed it over to Dozer, "This is what you are looking for."

Dozer grabbed it, and carefully opened it up, taking a peek...

Inside was the hard drive, as well as a 3x5 index card with what looked like a phone number on it.

Content, Dozer closed it back up. "Just to be sure," he said.

"They wanted me to give you that. You can use it to contact us in the future if you need anything. We DO owe you one."

"Ah, thank you kindly again."

"I can't guarantee that phone will always be ON, but if you leave a message, we'll get back to you as soon as we can."

"It might be cliché to say it, but I was just doin' my job."

Alex again chuckled, "Jumping onto a moving train is going above and beyond."

Dozer laughed, "Hey, it beats jumping out of a plane."

As they approached Highway A1A, Alex again looked at his phone, "Well, my bus will be here any moment but I have a feeling we'll meet again in the future."

"Yeah, I got that sinking feeling, too," Dozer pulled down his sunglasses and winked.

Walking away, Dozer waved over his shoulder, "Catch you on the flip side."

No, you won't, 'Alex' thought with a smile.

---

Shortly after, Alex boarded his bus going north. After 3 stops, he disembarked, finding a restroom. Soon a mostly bald man with khaki shorts, and Hawaiian shirt left the restroom.

This same man would disembark a southbound bus, before walking over to his car.

---

Dozer took a less meandering path back to the parking lot. When he got to his truck, he quickly searched it over to make sure no one made any 'modifications' while he was gone.

He'd watched too many movies (and suffered too many real IEDs) to fall for that trick.

Happy that he didn't find anything, he got in, and drove directly back to FBI HQ.

As he drove, he glanced at the case the computer was in. What was he going to do with the index card? It was meant for him on good faith. But he was already in hot water for letting the hard drive walk off in the first place...

He was still mulling it over even as he pulled into FBI parking.

The Taco Spot - Hollywood Beach

As the two gentlemen stood and began to walk down the boardwalk one of the friendly and enthusiastic staff quickly moved in to clear the table, quickly removing the plastic cups and wiping down the table before heading back into the kitchen. Grabbing a freezer bag from the back storage room, the staff member carefully placed the cups inside and sealed it. Later, when that same employee went to empty the trash and catch a smoke he was met by a fairly attractive, and fit woman dressed in functional tacti-cool attire. The woman took the freezer bag and handed the young man a $100 bill.

---

Office of Special Assignments - Civic Center

Specialist Jay Kekoa sat back in his desk chair, the chair squeaking under the hacker's heavy muscled physique as he leaned back and shook out his tired hands. It had been a couple hours of intense typing as he hacked camera after camera, in an attempt to track Agent Barnum's delivery guy back to the mysterious Beatrice. The DMV records and image of a fairly nondescript young man dominated the main screen in front of him. Sinking further back into his chair, a broad satisfied grin split his chiseled face ... only to be wiped clean as he sat up with a start and cursing, the visage of a striking and intense woman of Cuban descent suddenly filled every monitor in the screen. How does she always know when I find something ...

"Do you have anything for me?" Special Agent in Charge Daniela Flores's sultry voice questioned.

The massive hacker shrugged, though the beginnings of a smile betraying that he did indeed, "I have a name ... but it's not Beatrice. As soon as Ellie gets back we'll know for sure. The mad scientists just have to run what she has against the pistol from the train."

---

Pulling into a parking space, Dozer finally pulled off his tuque, glancing once more at the case.

Ah screw it, it's probably to a burner phone anyways. They try to use it without me he'll probably ditch it.

...but since you seem to be a man of honor...

Dozer scratched his head furiously.

Damnit brain, I'm trying to be! But right now I can't risk looking even more suspicious!

Dozer picked up the case, card and all, got out of the truck, and locked it behind him as he started heading for the offices.

Office of Special Assignments - Civic Center

Smiling as he keyed up the number, Jay Kekoa continued his rather involved video game as he waited for Ellie to pick up. Fortunately he got her voicemail, or perhaps unfortunate as it was fun to annoy her as she dislikes when he plays games while talking to her.

"Your boy's back with the prize. Though I've been watching him all day so don't expect your report. Oh ... and Dani says make the pitch. Bring the good stuff."

---

FBI Miami Field Office - Armory

A bottle of Macallan Reserve Single Malt Scotch suddenly appeared on Dozer's rickety work bench and as his gaze drifted from the bottle up the hand and arm that put it there, his eyes met the smiling face and piercing blue eyes of one Special Agent Eleanor Thompson.

It's my understanding you might have something for me?" she said by way of greeting.

Dozer let a small smile out as he tapped his pencil. Opening a drawer, he pulled out the plastic container.

"One computer hard drive, as ordered," he then paused his motion before handing it over, and shook it slightly, "as well... as an index card the guy gave me, with a phone number to contact them. He did so as thanks for saving his cohort's life, said they owe me one," he kept his voice even as he spoke, looking at the case, "And after I proved myself a 'man of honor', as he called it, at the meet, I believe they trust me. However, I realize I might be walking near an edge right now, and can't afford to step too much closer to it."

He looked Agent Thompson, his blue eyes meeting hers.

"So with your permission," he said, holding the container out for her, "I'd like to keep the index card for myself."