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A/N: Check out Virginie and Colette's apartment! Isn't it beautiful? Please note that Colette and Vivienne are the same person. I will be changing it throughout the novel in the future but for now, just know Colette is Vivienne. I changed it because a lot of people told me Virginie and Vivienne's names were too similar. Colette's name also has meaning now.

A loud honking from the street brought Virginie back to reality as she saw a car parked on the curb a couple feet away from her. She knew it was Colette. She got up with care, trying not to further injure herself.

She waved goodbye to Iris who sent her off with a wink and "See you at your next appointment!"

Virginie opened the door of a small black Honda civic and slipped into the front seat, not wanting to glance at the angry face of her friend.

Colette's terra-cotta face was scrunched up in frustration as her arched eyebrows were knitted together. Her bright green eyes burned with questions and her heart-shaped lips were pouted like they were whenever she was annoyed. Her pink stiletto fingernails tapped impatiently against the worn wheel as she waited for an opening in the street so she could start driving back to their apartment.

The car was warm and the seat was heated. The temperature wrapped around Virginie like a blanket and made her feel sleepy. She hadn't realized how tired or dizzy she was until she got in.

Colette stared at her, full of frustration as she pressed on the gas to head back to their Upper West Side apartment.

"Stay awake, idiot," Colette quipped, shaking Virginie. She could see her friend losing consciousness. She knew that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if she passed out, but she didn't want to take any chances. She didn't know how bad her wound was. Judging from Virginie's energy level, it had to be considerable.

"I'm awake," Virginie mumbled back, her body almost limp against the seat. Colette fought back the urge to cry. She knew Virginie would just make fun of her. But Virginie worried her, especially in times like this. Virginie worked herself too hard. The stomach bug she had yesterday had quickly passed but Virginie would hear nothing of it. She went anyway. Now she was half conscious and rapidly bleeding on her front seat.

Colette took a deep breath and tried to focus. New York traffic wasn't something to ignore and she needed to get them back ten minutes ago. The early morning rush wasn't doing her any favors.

"So, how did it go? Did you save another life?" Colette asked, trying to keep her voice even. She had to keep Virginie talking so she could stay conscious.

"Alex...is safe," she mumbled, her eyes opening and closing like an old dog about to fall asleep. "It was Les Joueurs...I need to find out more information..."

"Les Joueurs? Are you fucking kidding me? You could've gotten yourself killed!"

Virginie smiled and Colette blew out a deep sigh. She would be fine. "They're too scared of me...you should've heard them...'femme fatale,' they whispered...it was like they had seen a ghost."

"You know the boss babies you too much and he's gonna kill those guys, right?"

"Good," she replied, sounding satisfied. "Then Alex will be safe."

Colette rolled her eyes. She knew Virginie didn't mean that. Virginie hated it when people tried to fight her battles. Even when it came to people who were trying to kill her. Her half-conscious state had her saying all kinds of nonsense.

Virginie cared too much about people. She hated to admit that she had feelings but Colette knew her too well. She couldn't let anybody innocent get in harm's way.

After a long ride filled with mostly one-sided conversations and Colette jostling Virginie awake, they had arrived at the parking garage for their apartment. Their building was a modern, newly renovated high rise. The outside was a sleek dark grey and it was coated in glass.

Virginie walked in like everything was normal, even waving hello to their doorman, Louie, a man who had been kind to the girls ever since they had moved into the building. His skin was alabaster. He had grey hair and a sweet smile. Virginie loved to slip him the money that her current assignment gave her to help him pay for his wife's medical bills. He stood as keen and vigilant as ever before breaking into a wide grin as he saw the girls.

"Good morning girls," Louie bellowed, giving them each a small bow. Virginie blushed. "I do hope that you both have a wonderful day."

"Good morning to you too, Louie," Virginie replied with tenderness. "Same to you! Tell Sandra I said hi."

"That I will, ma'am," he answered, the grin still on his face.

"We have to go," Colette pressed, trying to rush Virginie. "Virginie isn't feeling well."

She felt Virginie shoot her a death glare but she didn't care.

"Please be on your way, ladies. I'm sorry to have kept you."

"She's being dramatic," Virginie assured him, rolling her eyes. "You aren't keeping us from anything so don't worry about it."

"I won't hear another word of it!" he proclaimed. "Good day."

Colette tugged Virginie towards the elevator before she could get out another word. Virginie was too exhausted at this point to even argue. Colette opened the door to their sprawling tenth-floor apartment as Virginie leaned on her shoulder, her body lacking its usual ferocity. Now Colette was getting even more worried.

Their apartment was huge. It had three bedrooms, a large living room, an enormous bathroom, and a kitchen. It overlooked all of the city and was surrounded by glass because Virginie loved looking at the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening. But they had blacked out windows so no one could see in but they could see out. The glass was military grade bulletproof. This was their home base for this mission and since it contained weapons and gadgets galore, they didn't allow any unauthorized guests through. Virginie loved having her own place. Many agents used their homes as a place to bring clients and missions alike, seducing them over cocktails and exotic cheeses but Virginie liked having a place that was hers and she wouldn't let anyone take that away from her. She didn't need to show any skin for men to be enamored with her anyway.

Virginie was struggling to keep consciousness. She knew passing out right now wasn't the best idea, but she didn't see any other option. She hadn't slept much in the past 24 hours, and the blood loss was beginning to take a huge toll on her body. Her vision was getting cloudy and her legs could barely move.

Colette grabbed a thick sheet from their closet along with a plastic cover and draped them both over the long grey couch. She didn't care about the fabric but cleaning blood off of furniture was such a chore. She gingerly laid Virgine on the couch and Virginie passed out the moment her body touched the plastic, becoming completely limp.

Colette snatched her friend's wrist to get her pulse. It was erratic, reminding her of hummingbird wings. Virginie's skin felt clammy and it was slick with sweat. Colette unraveled the scarf around her neck and around her shoulder. The bleeding had stopped for the most part but her whole arm was coated in dried blood. Colette grabbed a couple of paper towels from the kitchen, wet them, and cleaned the blood off her arm with extra care, making sure not to harm her. Most of it had congealed by now and it had gotten all of over her torso. Her bra was bloodied but Colette knew she couldn't remove it without Virginie freaking out.

Although Virginie was unconscious, she was always sensitive to touch, especially in her most intimate of areas. Even the brush of a knuckle across her skin unprovoked or by someone she wasn't comfortable with could have her throwing a person across the room with no questions asked.

She bandaged up Virginie's arm, but she knew that she going to have to get stitches. She had to call somebody at the Agency to retrieve some for her because she had run out. Then she would have to explain to the boss why Virginie, his favorite agent, was laid out on their couch unconscious and covered in blood. He was likely going to respond in a way that Virginie wasn't going to like.

It was worth the risk. She grabbed their house phone from the island and dialed the secret sequence to reach the Agency.

"You've reached Ronald's Pizza, the best pizza on this side of the USA. What can I get you today?" a cheerful voice on the other end asked. This was their security system in case anybody got the Agency's number who wasn't supposed to. The order changed weekly. The pizza order they gave wouldn't be on the menu either. You wouldn't be allowed to connect to the Agency if you did not give the proper order. They also delivered pizza just in case people asked to keep up with the cover.

"Hey! I'd like an extra-large stuffed crust pizza with white sauce and ziti on top!"

The line was silent and then: "Please state your name and business."

"Starfire, calling for medical help."

"Please state the name of the person you are trying to reach and/or the department."

"I am looking for Corey Hall in the emergency department."

"Please hold while I connect you with the person you wish to speak with."

Colette waited as her selected waiting music, "intro" by the xx played in the background. Corey would be in the office by now and he wouldn't have been called anywhere yet. Though there was training going on today, Corey was one of the top medics at the Agency and was on call for extractions. He could've easily taught the training so he didn't bother himself with it.

"What's up, gorgeous?" a husky voice answered. "Looking for an early morning rendezvous? Just say the word and I'll be right over."

Colette sighed. She should've known that he wouldn't behave. "Corey...shut the hell up. I don't have time for this."

"Whatever you need, I got it," he said, his entire attitude changing. "What's the sitch, Kim?"

"Our local vigilante got herself shot, and I ran out of stitches and anesthetic. Could you come over and help me out?"

"I'm already on my way, babe." He chuckled. "She's such an idiot."

"Tell me about it," Colette grumbled. "Hurry up, though, she's already unconscious and she's lost a lot of blood."

"Don't worry, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks, Corey."

"No problem, gorgeous."

Colette rolled her eyes as she hung up. Corey had been trying to get in her pants for years to no avail. She knew the majority of his nonsense was playful banter but there were some real feelings there. She just didn't know what to do with them.

She turned to check on Virginie on the couch. Her breathing was even and calm as her chest rose and fell at a good rate. She didn't understand how Virginie always managed to keep herself together, no matter the situation. Virginie always had her head on straight and knew what her next move was, even if she was in the middle of a battlefield and Colette admired her for it. But knew that one day, her lack of concern for her own life could get her killed.

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