Memories destroy us.

Eleven lets the blind fall down again, obscuring our view of the people below.

I turn from the window, my eyes meeting Clays.

"I'll stay here." He murmurs and I nod my head, watching as he leans on the wall next to the bedroom door.

Cleo takes a seat on the bed, crossing her legs and facing the door. A box sitting unassuming beside her on the bed.

I glance back at her, shaking my head.

"What? It's a good vantage point."

"To get shot." Clay whispers, pointing to his side. "Get your ass over here," She rolls her eyes but walks over to him. He grabs her hand pulling her into him roughly yet still remains gentle.

I walk out of the room, Eleven by my side as I walk to the stairs, putting my back against the wall to remain hidden.

"Do you have a gun?" I look to the woman beside me, my curiosity and anger towards her still palpable between us. Like a live wire.

She silent for a few seconds before nodding, "Yes."She walks further up the hallway, in a position where she can see the people enter the house.

My eyes meet hers and I nod my head to my left, gesturing to the stairs. She nods back before creeping a step forward. Flattening her back against the wall and blending into the shadows.

The door below slams shut and I tighten my grip on my gun, feeling my fingers mould to the grips. The familiar feeling singeing my blood.

I hear their footsteps as they walk up the stairs. My mind entirely focused on them as I make eye contact with Eleven again, waiting.

She doesn't move, her eyes remaining on mine.

Three seconds' pass.

She shakes her head as the unmistakable sound of approaching people echoes up the stairs.

I remove my gun from the back of my pants as the intruder's approach.

Four seconds' pass.

"It's in the closet." A woman's voice murmurs, a slight tremor shaking the tone.

"Get it." Another voice pierces from below, the lilt decidedly feminine in nature. It knocks against a memory in my brain.

I press my back further into the wall.

Seven seconds' pass.

Elevens head flicks to the right and I spin from my position. Shoving my knee into the persons abdomen as they ascend the stairs.

They stagger back, slamming into the person behind them. A bullet erupts in the silence, and I duck, eyes surveying the house.

The man I'd kneed rights himself, steam erupting from him as he dives forward.

Another bullet flies and he twists, hands flying to his shoulder. I throw myself over the banister to the floor below, holding my gun to the people on the stairs.

"That wasn't very nice, Archer." A voice coos from the staircase. My eyes swing to hers, my gun aimed at their forehead, but I don't pull the trigger.

"You." I narrow my eyes.

The woman smirks, "Me."

"Glad we got introductions out of the way, should we continue?" Eleven says from the floor above, walking out of the shadows, her gun still aimed at the brute that I kneed.

My face echoes the sentiment as I glare at Jennifer, the girl from the casino. She leans back against the wall, holding the Doctor in front of her as two men crowd her sides.

The Doctors' eyes plead with me, glassy with unshed tears but I ignore it, focusing on the situation at hand.

Jennifer starts smiling, looking Eleven up and down.

"New team member?"

I grind my teeth, walking forward to divert her focus.

"Why do you want the Doctor?" Eleven asks, her voice strong in the silence of the room.

Jennifer ignores her, staring at me. "Did you get my message?" She pouts, ginger hair stark against her fair skin.

I don't answer, lifting the gun.

"Have you figured it out yet?" she laughs, the sound grating. "Never mind, if you had you wouldn't be standing here right now."

She rolls her eyes, face darkening and flicks her gaze to the Doctor, a gun following. "Where are they?"

"You won't find what you're looking for," Eleven spits, "I already destroyed it."

Jennifer looks at her as if she's stupid.

"And how do you know what we are looking for?"

Eleven's eyes swing to the Doctors', analysing her shaking form. "The box in the closet and the paperwork inside." The Doctor starts shaking more. My eyebrows furrow but I ignore it, keeping my focus on Jennifer and the men.

Jennifer's lips curl as she pushes the Doctor away from her. Daphne tumbles down the stairs, arms flailing, and I rush forward, catching the woman.

"Go." I push her towards the kitchen, putting my back to her.

She doesn't run, moving to shield herself behind my body and I grunt, feeling annoyance rise with me but I shift, covering her completely.

A bullet flies from Elevens gun and the trio on the stairs fuck, plaster raining down on them. Eleven uses the distraction to fling herself over the banister. She lands, rolling before running up beside me.

Her eyes focus on the Doctors, features hard with distrust.

"Get down." She spits, running up beside Daphne near the counter, hands diving for the drawers.

Feet rush down the stairs and I situate myself against the wall again.

Eleven stands beside the Doctors, the knives in her hands glinting with malice.

Her eyes mirror it as she lifts her hand, flinging a knife at one of the men's heads as they turn the corner.

Jennifer follows soon after, gun in hand.

I duck, jabbing my elbow into Jennifer's chest before forcing the butt of my gun into her skull.

Grabbing her wrist, I slam it into the wall.

Once.

Twice.

The gun falls from her grip, and I kick it away.

A crash echoes from above, bits of plaster raining down on us as a distant grunt is heard.

I spin, foot kicking into the other man's chest.

My eyes swing to the third but all I see is him laying still in a puddle of his own blood. A knife sticking from his eye.

Well, that happened.

My eyes swing to the Doctors' and Eleven as the sound of an opening door reaches my ears.

My eyes widen at the fourth man we'd forgotten about standing at the back door. Gun aimed at the Doctor.

"Sarge-" A fist flies for my face and I duck. My frantic eyes flicking between Eleven as she turns to the intruder, hair flying in the air to the man throwing his fist at me.

A gun shot goes off at the same time as my fist smashes into the guy's nose. My hands winding around the back of his head as I force my knee up and slam his face into it.

He crumbles to the floor, and I twist, pulling the trigger at Jennifer.

She ducks, her leg slamming into my side before she spins again, foot slamming into my wrist. My gun clutters to the floor.

I narrow my eyes, my hands grabbing her foot as it flies for me again and throw it back to her. Knocking her off balance.

"Archer! There's more." Elevens voice echoes in the kitchen as she throws another knife.

This time towards the door as another three men enter, one lingering slightly behind them, an air of authority rolling off of him.

I hear the distinct sound of feet rushing down the stairs and I roll my eyes.

Now they decide to show up.

Clay and Cleo round the bend and I grab Jennifer's shoulders, and pulling her to me tightly, trapping her body.

"Where have you been?" I grunt as I hold Jennifer to my chest, ignoring her cracked screams.

"There was more upstairs."

Where the fuck did they come from?

Jennifer squirms, nails digging into the flesh of my forearm as she cackles, blood dripping down her curling lip.

"We're everywhere." She laughs, spitting blood at the ground.

I shove the squirming witch into Cleo and Clay.

"Deal with her!" I hiss, turning away and towards Eleven as she fights off two of the men, the man of authority still remaining by the door. "Alive!" I reiterate as I see the third lackey rush for me.

"What?" Cleo's voice screeches, before I hear her sigh. "More trouble when they're alive."

I dodge out of the way of the incoming fist before shoving the man into Clay.

"He's yours."

Clay nods, cracking his knuckles.

My head swings to the backdoor but then fourth man is gone, the air of authority with him.

I ignore it, turning towards Eleven.

I separate the two guys, grabbing one of the knives and slashing as one approaches.

Blood splatters, a cut forming on his bicep.

"You're going to regret that, pretty boy."

"You think I'm pretty, thank you." I flash him a sarcastic smile.

He growls, his neck vibrating as he stomps closer to me.

Liam walks through the back door, pizza slice in hand and I glare hard at him.

"What'd I miss?" He says as he takes a bite.

One of these days . . .

I duck and jab, kicking the guy in the middle of the chest to force him back.

"Liam, where the hell have you been?" I spit, brandishing the knife his way before slashing at the guy again.

A cut on his forearm appearing.

"Pizza-"

"Fucking hell." I spit and spin, jamming my elbow into the guy's jaw before punching him in the nose.

He stumbles back, shoulder hitting Liam's.

"Hey! I could've dropped my pizza!" He spits, words slurred as he chews. He stuffs the rest of the pizza in his mouth and winds his hands around the guy's head, twisting.

A snap echoes across the kitchen. The guy falls before a gunshot echoes and the other man crumbles beside him.

Eleven breathes out, glaring at Liam.

"You went to get Pizza?!" Cleo screams across the kitchen, holding an unconscious Jennifer against her body.

"Yeah." Liam grins. "I have some left over, you want?"

She looks at him incredulously. "No."

"Your loss."

I grind my teeth before walking over to the Doctor. I hold a hand out to where she stays curled into a ball in the corner of the kitchen.

"Come on," I waggle my fingers, "we're going to get someone here to take you somewhere safe."

She reaches her hands out hesitantly, "Who are you?"

"Director sent us." I reply, helping her stand as she straightens her shoulders and drags the palms of her hands down her clothes, fixing them.

I turn to the team, seeing Clay watching curiously before he grabs his phone, "My father will send you somewhere safe."

Daphne visibly relaxes, "Samael sent you?"

"He didn't contact you?" Eleven asks, walking closer.

She shrugs, "They took my phone." I watch as she folds her arms around herself as if in protection, her eyes jumping all over the place. Her eyes settle on Jennifer. "They were here to kill me?"

I focus my attention on the unconscious woman. "Do you know why someone would want to hurt you?"

Daphne blinks in shock, wide eyes swinging to me. "Hurt me? No." Her attention diverts to Clay, "I've worked for your father for years and never had anything like this happen before." She clears her throat as if she's about to cry, "All I do is spend my time trying to remove the use of animals in experiments."

I turn my back to her, walking around the kitchen, my eyes straying to Eleven as she walks to the crystal clear window opposite us.

"It's clear we've stumbled into something much bigger than we expected." I murmur walking to her side.

She glances at me from the corner of her eyes before flicking her gaze to Daphne. "Seems like it."

I tilt my head at Eleven, before looking at Daphne.

"What's wrong?"

Eleven looks at me with raised brows. "What? Nothing."

I narrow my eyes at her, not believing a word from her mouth before looking back to Daphne, who catches my eyes and smiles.

"Don't do that." I mutter, turning back to Eleven.

"Do what?"

"Lie to me." I step forward, staring down at her. My lift my hand, resting my thumb on her chin and forcing her head up to mine, "Sarge." I hush, "What is going on in that head of yours?"

She pulls back, her shoulders dropping, "There's just something off about this whole mission," She looks to Daphne, "Her."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know." Eleven whispers, moving closer to the window, shifting the blind out of the way, and scanning the area outside. I follow her line of sight, scanning the hiking trail along the hill and trees.

My eyes go back to Eleven, staring at her side profile. "I believe you."

She tenses at my words but doesn't turn to look at me and I sigh, moving to her side as the woman of the hour walks towards us.

Daphne stops in front of us, her gaze flicking between both of us, her fear heightened, and I furrow my brows.

"I just wanted to say thank you, for saving my life."

I blink, feeling Eleven stumble back into my chest and I steady her with a hand on her hip before slowly removing it, stepping slightly around her towards Daphne who steps closer, her hand lifting to rest on my bicep.

A small huff comes from behind me and I grin, feeling the jealousy radiating off of Eleven.

"Thank you." Daphne says earnestly. I look down at her palm on me, before looking up and nodding.

"You're welcome."

Daphne smiles, and glass shatters.

"Eleven!" My voice is like a whip, my arms winding around her waist as I force her to the flop, my heart pounding double time in my chest. "Everyone down!"

Elevens hands rest of my shoulders, the pads of her fingers hovering over my pulse point and I look down at her, finding her eyes on me, brow furrowed.

I stare down at Eleven, scanning her features. "Are you okay?" My eyes take in her body, trying to find where she might be injured but she pushes me back.

"I'm fine, get off me."

Still, my eyes sweep over her, as if needing the confirmation before I fully let her go, shifting back.

"What you said before." I mutter lowly, "We're not done."

I don't let her reply before I'm pushing off the ground and turning towards Daphne, looking down at her still body, her blood spreading out around her from the bullet hole in her head.

"Is everyone okay?" I asks.

"Yeah." A chorus of voices announce.

My attention shifts, noticing Eleven standing up, her body moving towards the shattered window e ogre moving for the door.

"Sergeant, where are you going?"

"To have a look." Is her only reply before I'm following behind her, my senses on high alert as I stop at the threshold, scanning the hills once more but nothing jumps out at me, the stillness of night the only thing staring back.

• • •

"What's that?" Cleo asks when Eleven walks back down the stairs, a box under her arm.

"I think it's what they came here for." She shrugs, looking at the box as if it holds all the answers.

"What's in it?" I ask.

Her eyes flick to mine and I hold her gaze.

"Doctors notes as far as I can tell."

"Why would they need Doctors notes?" Clay mutters, looking at the box.

Eleven shrugs, "I don't know, that's why we need it."

A throat clears and I look to Clay, raising a brow.

"You're not giving it to Director?"

A smile stains Elevens features, "What he doesn't know won't kill him."

Clay grins, but the smile is anything but pleasant. "Unfortunately."

"Well then, get it out of here before he gets here." I say, throwing the car keys toward Eleven.

She catches them mid-air, eyes straying from one teammate to the next.

"What are you waiting for? A horn?" Liam question, clapping his hands, "Fitness tests begins in 3...2...1..."

Eleven scoffs, leaving the house, mysterious box clutched in hand. I roll my eyes.

• • •

"Utterly useless," Director spits, running a hand through his hair and glaring at each of us. His eyes narrow on Clay and swing to me, then find Elevens. "All of you."

"I told you how important it was this woman stay alive." He points at the Doctors dead body, before running his hands through his hair in agitation. "Get out of my sight."

He points to one of the men he brought with him, "I want this house swept, top to bottom. Everything is to be cleared out and brought to me."

He looks back to the team, narrowing his eyes. "Leave and don't say anything to anyone, this is an open investigation."