Ethan woke up the next morning, suit on and wild hair fixed. He knew he was going to have to give Courtney $500. He said he would. He HAD to! He just had one problem: he didn't have $500. How would he get it? Maybe Julia could lend him the money. Maybe she would forgot about it. He rummaged through Julia's purse (handbag for those Americans) and found the amount he needed. How did Julia get that much?

Courtney woke up to August staring at the ceiling.

"Are you alright?" She whispered, making him look at her.

"I'm fine." He replied, whispering back to her.

Courtney sighed and looked at him.

"Are you alright, Courts?"

"Meh.. I don't have feelings. I guess I'm fine."

"You're not. You're clearly nervous."

"I said I'M FINE! Jeez... can't you take fine as an answer?"

She frowned and got out of bed, heading straight to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and gazed at her reflection. A lifeless reflection. How did August like THAT? She just hated the way she looked. She was always like that. She came from a strict family; a family that abused her; a family that hated her.

The only one that loved her was Oliver, her older brother. He was only a year older than her but he was the best brother she could ever have. He was protective, like August, and cared for her a lot. She could talk to him about her secrets. He would never share them. But, because of MI6 and CIA, she couldn't see him. When she had the chance, she would call him, text him or write to him but that was it.

Flashback 1

I wake up to my father's screams. Miranda, my stepmother, is at work. I can already tell it's going to be a bad day. I get up, go downstairs and see my abusive father pushing Oliver, my brother, into a wall. Being 12, I didn't know what to think of it. Should I stop it? Nah, I couldn't. I'm pretty sure I'll get punished for it. Dad notices me and leaves Oliver alone. He picks me up.

"Hello, Princess. Ready for some fun?"

"N-no! Let ME go!" I cry, trying to break free.

Oliver tries to help but he can't. Being 13, he had NO idea what to do. Dad places me onto the bed and smirks.

"Stay STILL!" He yells and slaps my leg, ready for the torture. "BOY, sit down. Clothes off!"

Oliver looks at me, terrified, but does what he's told.

"Don't hurt her. Don't hurt me. What did we do wrong, father?"

"Everything." Dad pulls my clothes off and I, being self conscious, find a towel and wrap it around my body. But Dad, being the abusive and sexual Dad he is, takes the towel away from me.

"Be a good girl and sit on your brother. No moaning, alright? Good girl! *pause* Perfect."

I look at Oliver and I can tell he's scared.

"KEEP GOING!" Dad yells and locks the door.

Tears stream down my face as I'm forced to continue this torture. Oliver, being Oliver, wipes the tears away from my eyes, concerned.

"Keep going!"

"Keep going!"

That's all I picture in my head. Dad slapping me and Oliver hugging me.

August sensed something was wrong with his partner in crime. He got out of the bed and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Courts? Are you alright?" He asked, opening the door.

"Fine, I'm fine." She replied, obviously not fine.

She looked at him and smiled slightly before looking away again.

"You aren't fine!"

"Why wouldn't I be fine? There's nothing wrong."

August walked into the bathroom and looked at her.

"How do I know there's nothing wrong with you?"

"Because there's nothing wrong, obviously."

"Tell me what you were thinking about."

"Past, the past."

"Why?"

"Just came to me."

"What happened in the past?"

"That's something I won't be talking about."

"Just tell me." August smiled sadly and closed the door. "You've got plenty of time."

"I don't have plenty of time. I'm supposed to meet Ethan at 7am."

"It's only 4:30am, Courts. Plenty of time!"

"Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

Courtney sighed and told him everything. Every detail; every bad memory; every time her abusive father abused her; everything.

August's eyes widened. His eyebrows furrowed.

"You're concerned, aren't you?" She asked, looking at him.

"Why wouldn't I be concerned?" He replied, holding her hand gently.

Courtney wanted to push his hand away but she couldn't. She hated hand holding with men, even women. But, this time, she actually liked it; this time she wanted to hold his hand.

August was shocked that she didn't let go of him. It was strange though, very strange indeed. He knew she hated hand holding. But, this time, she didn't let go. He could see a small smile appear on her face. Then, he couldn't contain himself. He would wait until she blinked, then he would do it.

Courtney did have a small smile on her face. She didn't know why. She just did. She could tell that August noticed it and that he was going to do something. Something extraordinary; something that she wouldn't expect.

She blinked. It was a very slow blink. That's when soft and gentle lips pressed against hers. She immediately knew it was August. That's probably why the door was closed; so he could kiss her. Her lips curled. She couldn't contain herself. She kissed back, clearly enjoying it. She knew she was blushing. He was probably blushing lightly. Yeah, that's what she thought.

August quickly pulled back, Courtney doing the same. He looked at her, blushing lightly like she thought. She was blushing more than him. They both had to admit, they kind of liked it.

"Shit, sorry." He muttered, sighing quietly.

"No, it's fine." She looked at his eyes. "You don't need to apologise."

"Are you sure?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly embarrassed.

"I'm sure." She held his hand tighter, still blushing. "I mean, we could do it again. But that could be another time."

"Yeah, fine. When will it happen?"

"Later, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after the day after tomorrow, the day after the day after the day after tomorrow? Your choice."

He stayed quiet, unsure of what to say.

"Also, you'll be in control. I hate taking the lead."

"That's... fine. What about this $500? Are you going on your own?"

"Umm... no. You can come if you want."

"What if he doesn't have the money?"

"I'll kill him."

"But then he'll know you're an assassin, won't he?"

"Good point. What do I do then?"

"That's entirely up to you."

Ethan placed the $500 in his pocket and left the building. He was slightly terrified. What if Courtney killed him? Would she get caught? He was wearing a watch underneath his blouse. Courtney, in a black jumpsuit, and August, in a white blouse and black trousers, were walking towards the end of the street.

"You can leave me here, alright? I won't be long." Courtney looked at him.

"Are you sure about that, Courts?" August asked. "What if he hurts you?"

"He won't hurt me, August." She smiled. "Trust me! I know what I'm doing."

"If you're sure then." He sighed quietly. "I'll wait right here."

"Actually," she paused. "Do you want to come?"

"I honestly don't care."

"Fine," she frowned. "Be like that all you want. I don't care."

"Listen, I'll just wait here. You really don't need me to come with you, do you?"

"Well, why did you come in the first place?"

"Because you said I could."

"You can stay here then."

She glared at him and walked over to Ethan.

Ethan looked at her. A small smile appeared on his face.

"Do you have the correct amount?" She asked.

"Y-Yes, I do," He handed the money. "Can I leave?"

"No, not until I count this."

She counted the money.

"There should be 50 $10 notes here. There's only 49."

"D-Don't kill me, please? I didn't mean to hurt you like that."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Seemed like you meant to hurt me."

"Courtney, I wasn't thinking straight."

"Fine, I'll let you off with that." She sighed. "Do you have a bank account?"

"Umm, yes. But I left the card at home. Why?"

"You'll need $10, won't you?"

"Well, yes. But no. You don't need to be nice."

Courtney rolled her eyes and walked towards a cash machine.

"Come on!"

Ethan followed and stood beside her.

"You'll need to give this back to your wife, won't you?"

"Wait... how did you know about that?"

"I have my ways."

She inserted the card into the machine and typed the numbers quickly. Ethan was shocked at this. He couldn't believe how fast she could type. 30 seconds later, the money and the card came out of the machine. Courtney handed him $500 and kept $10 for herself.

"What time are you picking us up at?"

"Umm... is August with you?"

"Mhm."

"We can go now."

"What about the money?"

"Julia will understand, Jenky."

"Call the taxi. I'll get August."

"It's not a taxi. Someone from my team will get us."

"Fine, I'll be back."

"Wait... do you have a phone with you?"

"You need to call someone on it?"

"Yes, I do."

She sighed, typed the password in and gave him the phone.

"Don't waste my data."

"I won't."

Ethan dialled the number and smiled.

"Hello? Luther! Where's Benji? Ilsa's busy? Get Benji to pick us up now! Thanks! I'll meet you there."

He turned the phone off and waited patiently. Just as the call finished, Courtney brought August with her.

"You finished with the phone?" She asked.

He nodded and handed it back to her.

August gave him a look meaning 'don't hurt her or we're going to have problems.'

Courtney sighed and sat on the pavement. She tied her hair into a high ponytail. August kept his eyes on her. Ethan leaned against the wall. Luckily, barely anyone was out.

Sometime later, a white jeep came to the end of Crawford Avenue. A man opened the door and came over to them.

"Ethan!" He smiled and shook hands with Ethan.

"Benji, you'll like these people." Ethan glanced at Courtney and August.

Benji nodded and kept talking to Ethan, making him laugh.

Courtney looked at August as he held his hand out for her to take. Instead of declining, she took his hand. She quickly got up and smiled kindly.

"Thanks." She mouthed to him.

"No problem." He mouthed back.

"Alright, this is August Walker, skilled fighter from the CIA." Ethan said, looking at them.

Benji held out his hand for him to shake. August, being August, shook the hand.

"And this is Courtney Jenkins, Walker's partner in crime and also a skilled fighter." Ethan continued.

Benji held his hand out for Courtney to shake but she declined.

"I don't do hand shakes." She mumbled.

Benji led them all to the jeep and opened the door.

"Ladies first." He said, letting Courtney in the vehicle.

Courtney nodded and got into the vehicle. August and Ethan sat in the back with her. Another man was in the front with Benji.

"Jenky, Walker, this is Luther Stickell. Luther this is Courtney and August." Ethan said. "Is the face mask ready?"

August hated Ethan's nickname for Courtney. Jenky? It would be fine if he called her Jenkins but ? That was going way too far. Ethan kept talking to Luther; Benji said the odd joke, focusing on the road; Courtney was tired so he allowed her to sleep on him. It was the least he could do. She was freezing cold, slowly warming up with his body heat. He quickly kissed her forehead, noticing a smile appear on her face. The smile stayed on her face as she fell asleep.