5x21: Going Under

***

Grey was at the front with Tim and Hunter in the morning briefing. "All right, let's get to it. Special of the day: Frank Teska. Frank spent two decades working his way up from a street-level enforcer to a proud boss of a renaissance crew that ran everything from prostitutes to drugs."

"Then Frank's temper got the best of him. took an eight-year fall for involuntary manslaughter." Tim replied.

"Although there was nothing involuntary about it. More recently-- that is, last week-- Frank exited prison and, we believe, took out his brother, Ed, to reestablish leadership." Hunter speaks up.

"We have prison intel over Frank's last few months inside. He was making a push to get into the ghost gun business." Grey said.

"Specifically, 3D-printed weapons, which are invisible to metal detectors. Next-generation ghost guns are printed using a high-strength, nylon-based polymer, which is illegal to buy in bulk without proper paperwork." Hunter explained.

"Now, this morning, Metro raided Ridgeside Chemicals based on intel that Frank was about to take a delivery of 300 gallons of that polymer." Tim added.

"Which leaves Frank without a supplier." Grant comments.

"Exactly." Grey replied.

Tim turned to Hunter. "Which is where Detective Lopez comes in. She'll be going undercover at Southland Chemicals in Venice, the only other local manufacturer of the polymer."

"And I'll be living at the Langholm Apartments." Hunter added.

"So until further notice, if you see Detective Lopez out in the world, do not acknowledge her," Grey points at Tim. "All those assigned to support, see Sergeant Bradford. Everyone else, let's get to work." Everyone filters out the room.

***

Tim and Hunter were in the bullpen talking. "I called Hard Luck." Tim said.

"What--really? He's such an unreliable CI." Hunter said.

"No, he's just a little twitchy sometimes. He's the only informant I got who has an in with Frank Teska. So he's gonna point Frank in the direction of your new identity at Southland." Tim replied.

"Yeah, or he'll go on a three-day bender and wake up in Reno." Hunter deadpanned.

"No, he won't, 'cause I told him it was for you. He knows it's important to me." Tim replied.

Hunter smiled. "Aw. Undercover love." She said, Tim gives her a confused look, Hunter just waved it off.

***

Grant managed to intercept Hunter on the way to the women's locker room so that she can get changed. "Hey, how're you holding up?" He asked.

"Good, still haven't told Tim but I managed to score an appointment with Patrice's OB/GYN as I've told her and she promised to get me a discount and now all I need to do is tell Tim and then Angela." Hunter said. "I swear the hormones are giving me feelings."

Grant laughed. "Probably, I mean they gave Angela feelings." Hunter smiled slightly. "So when's the appointment?" He asked.

"Next week, hopefully the UC op will be over by then." Hunter replied.

"Still worried?" Grant asked.

Hunter smiled. "A little bit, yeah." She replied. "I was actually planning on asking you a favour." Hunter said, Grant looked interested. "I was wondering if you wanted to be the baby's godfather."

Grant smiled. "Uh, yes, I would, I'm surprised you felt the need to ask me."

Hunter grinned at her friend. "Now, I should get changed into my UC clothes." Hunter walked off and Grant watched her go, jumping when he saw Lucy and Lexi staring him down.

"What's up with Mom?" Lexi asked.

"Yeah, Lexi and I have been talking and you're the only person that really knows what's going on." Lucy replied.

***

Hunter walked into Southland Chemicals office wearing a light blue shirt, black pants and boots, she was wearing a loose shirt and loose pants as well, she wasn't showing yet but she felt bloated and prefered the loose clothing.

She was waiting for the manager, Larry Ellis who walked in holding a folder. " Hello," the two shook hands and Ellis opened the folder. "I'm Larry Ellis, and you must be Jamie Hall. I can't tell you how excited I am to be part of this--"

Hunter looked around nervously. "Oh, uh--uh, it's nice to meet you too, Larry. Um, maybe you could show me to my office." Hunter interrupted quickly knowing what he was going to say.

***"DAY 1"

Ellis shows Hunter to her office. "Anything you need, I'm here. So just let me know. And again, I am so happy to help the LAPD. "NYPD Blue" is my favorite TV show, so you can imagine." Ellis was saying.

Hunter sighed. "Uh, Larry, I really appreciate the offer, but you know, the best thing you could do for me is to treat me like all your other employees. And you know, this should really be the last time that you mention the LAPD, okay?" She requested.

"Yes, of course. Copy that. Uh, I've been practicing all the lingo." Ellis said.

"No lingo." Hunter said shaking her head.

"No lingo. Yeah, okay." Ellis said.

"I'm just a regular plastics salesperson." Hunter replied, Ellis walked out and her landline rings. "Jamie Hall."

"You all set up, Jamie?"

Hunter smiled. "Yeah, all good. Although we should probably keep an eye on my boss. He's a little overeager." She said.

"Want me to have a talk with him?" Tim asked.

Hunter smiled slightly. "No, no. I've got it. Are you good?" She asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, we got you covered out here. Wherever you go, we go." Tim replied.

"Well, that's comforting, but I meant, like, are you good?" Hunter asked.

"Do you mean do I miss you already? No. I'm fine."

Hunter smiled slightly amused. "You are such a jerk. Hey, will you keep an eye on Lexi for me? You know, just check in on her every once in a while? I mean I know you will but I--" She was saying.

"Of course," Tim interrupted. "And don't worry about her, Lexi was at the station this morning interrogating Grant with Lucy so I think she'll be fine. You just focus on the job."

Hunter tensed up. "What were they interrogating Grant for?" She asked trying to keep her voice steady.

"No clue but he didn't crack and Lexi was staring him down because of and Lucy continued pestering him as they walked out of the station." Tim replied.

Hunter smiled. "Well, I can ask him about it when I get back, I could be able to get him to crack." She replied.

"Day 2"

Tim and Hunter are talking on the phone. "How long do you think this'll take?" Hunter asked.

"Day, week, couple months. Hard to tell."

"Oh, do not finish this season of Top Chef without me." Hunter told him.

"I can't make any promises." Tim replied.

"You ever wish you had a normal job?" Hunter asked as she walked through the hallway at Southland Chemicals.

"One where people don't shoot at you? Not once." Tim replied.

"Yeah, me either." Hunter said, sitting down at her desk.

***"Day 3"

"Making any friends?"  Tim asked.

"There's a lovely lady, Delores. She's got a lot of cute stories about her grandkids. This past weekend, apparently, little Jimbo ate a dozen marbles. She saw a photo of you and Jack on my lock screen and asked about you both." Hunter replied.

"What did you say?"

"The truth, that it was my nephew and boyfriend." Hunter shrugged.

***"Day 4"

Hunter is walking toward her building; we hear her phone conversation as a voice-over. "Is the monotony getting to you?" Tim asked.

"I don't mind it. I just don't want it all to be for nothing. Frank must be in a rush to make those guns and get paid. Can't be much longer." Hunter said.

"I'm sure he's checking you out, seeing if the story Hard Luck has fed him is true." Tim said.

The call ends and Frank Teska walks up to Hunter. "Hi."

"Good morning." Hunter said starting to walk past Teska.

"We need to talk." Teska said cutting her off.

"Uh, I'm sorry. Do I know you?" Hunter asked.

"No, but I know you. I know your real name's not Jamie Hall." Teska replied.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about, but if you'd like to buy plastics, I'm happy to invite you in. Otherwise..." Hunter was saying.

"Lisa Thompson," Teska interrupts and Hunter's face falls and she looks around nervously. "Born in Flagstaff, currently wanted on two counts of felon fraud for cashing bad checks. Now, you want me to go inside and tell your boss, or are you gonna take a little ride with me?" Teska asked.

"Why don't we go for a walk?" Hunter suggested.

***

Hunter and Teska were walking on the side walk while Tim was on a bridge watching the two of them while talking on the phone or pretending to talk, Hunter wasn't sure. "So what do you want?" Hunter asked him.

"To get to know each other a little better. If we're gonna be in business, we gotta establish a rapport. Trust." Teska replied.

"Who said we're doing business?" Hunter deadpanned.

"Me." Teska replied.

"Look, I came to LA to start over, so I am very respectfully just gonna pass, okay?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah, well, that's not really an option. I need access to certain protected plastics, and you need to not go to prison. But this is a very low-risk thing for you. A few barrels a month get misplaced. That kind of loss is normal, and it's built into the company's profit margin. I just need you to hide the missing inventory from your boss. You do that, and I'll pay you 5,000 bucks a month, huh? How's that sound?" Teska asked.

"Tempting, but I think I would just prefer to give my notice today and let you make this deal with the next girl that sits behind my desk." Hunter said, she starts walking off.

Teska once again cut Hunter off. "Look, I'm trying to be nice here, hmm?" But the alternative to you saying yes is me drowning you in that canal. So how about you get onboard, like, right now?" He asked.

"Yeah, when you put it that way, I guess I'm in." Hunter replied.

"Great. We'll have dinner tonight? Hammer out the details, hmm? I'll pick you up at your place at 8:00?" Teska asked.

"Okay." Hunter agreed.

"Good." Teska walked off and Hunter turned around and locked eyes with Tim knowing he'd been listening the whole time.

***

Hunter was walking in the hallway of St. Vincent's hospital and stepped into a room where Wesley, Nyla, Grey, Grant and Tim were waiting for her, she was wearing a cap, black pants, black shirt and black long jacket with heeled boots. "Hey." She said as she stepped in the room and closed the door.

"What's up?" Tim asked. "How you doin'?" Grey asked at the same time.

"Better, now that we've got some movement on Frank. I was bored to early onset rigor mortis." Hunter deadpanned.

"Yeah, crooks have their own schedule. We call it "dope time."" Nyla replied.

"Hmm. So where are we, case-wise?" Grant asked.

"Yeah, he made contact, asked me to dinner." Hunter said.

"Romantically, like a date?" Wesley questioned.

"Well, ostensibly, it's about business, but he did just get out of prison, so odds are he's hopeful for a little somethin'-somethin'." Hunter replied, Grant and Grey look at Tim who ignores them and focuses on Hunter.

"Legally, there's two forms of entrapment. The first is offering so much money that an otherwise reasonable person commits an illegal act. The second is sex." Wesley said.

"Yeah, if a UC puts sex or love on the table as inducement to crime, it automatically becomes entrapment." Nyla said.

"The courts realize that love makes people do crazy things." Wesley deadpanned.

"Right, so I'm-- should we cancel dinner?" Hunter questioned.

"No, but keep it professional. If he starts saying that he's doing it for you or for love, you gotta walk." Wesley said.

"Yeah," Hunter agreed. "Hey. Should I push a little about his brother?" She asked.

"No, because you're still trying to build a foundation. Once he trusts you, he will hang himself. But we should get a decent wire for her, because he could get a little handsy." Nyla said.

"Mm. All right. Pull the top of the line from HIDTA. We'll reconvene and brief two hours before your date. Any questions?" Everyone stayed silent. "All right." Hunter walked to the door and Tim followed before closing it, Grey walked over to him and spoke quietly. "You okay?" He asked.

"Five by five." Tim replied.

"You gotta treat this like any other op and treat Hunter like any other UC." Grey said.

"I know." Tim replied.

"All right." The cops and Wesley all left the room.

***

Hunter was sitting across from Teska in the restaurant. "You're right. I'm a little freaked out. I've never done anything like this before. If I get caught, I'm looking at serious time." Hunter said to Teska.

"Prison's not so bad. You do your time, meet new business associates. Most importantly, you learn what you're really made of. Helps you see the world more clearly." Teska replied.

"What did you learn?" Hunter asked.

"Family can't be trusted." Teska replied.

"Yeah, I hear that. I mean, the whole reason I cashed those bogus checks was 'cause my dad stole my rent money." Hunter replied.

"My brother made a move against me. I put him in his place." 

"What place is that?" Suddenly a car drove by and started shooting into the restaurant. "Get down!" Hunter yelled and everyone ducked behind their tables until the car drove by.

***

Tim was watching from his car, keeping his gaze on where Hunter was sitting before ducking down, he kept staring and spoke into his radio. "Shots fired, 93107 Wilshire Boulevard, black Honda Accord headed east.

"Copy that. Units are on their way."

"Okay. In pursuit." Tim starts going after the drive by car.

***

Hunter stands up and looks around seeing the other civilians still hiding but starting to look up carefully. "We gotta help these people." She said to Teska.

"Gotta go! Cops are on their way!" Teska leads Hunter out of the restaurant. 

***

Tim drove and parked the car outside an alleyway. "Suspects are out of the car and on foot. Driver is a Black male with a hoodie, headed north. I'm in foot pursuit of the shooter. He's a white male, brown pants, headed south," Tim ran down the alley after placing his radio away the suspect turned to him and tried to shoot him with the gun, luckily for Tim it was empty, Tim takes his down and cuffs him. "You're under arrest. Let's go. Get up." Tim hauls him up.

Officer Jan arrived. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. Gun was empty. I got lucky. Otherwise..." Tim trailed off not wanting to finish that sentence, so he just hands the suspect off to Jan.

***

Hunter and Teska were walking down a street. "What the hell was that? Were they shooting at you?" Hunter asked.

"They weren't gunning for the busboy." Teska deadpanned.

"Hmm, well, it's been nice knowing you." Hunter breezes past him

Teska grabbed Hunter's arm and pushed her against a car. "Hey! You're not backing out here. Our deal's still on, you understand me?" He asked.

"Yeah, ju--just relax, okay?" Teska let her arm go and she back away slightly from the car. "I'm--I'm scared. I just--I've never been shot at before." She lied.

"I have. You'll get used to it." Teska replied.

"Do you know who's after you?" Hunter asked.

"Two choices. His guys or my guys." Teska replied.

""His guys," who? Your brother?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah. Some of his people didn't come onboard when I took over, and some of my people might be feeling I'm weak enough to take a shot at. But they're gonna find out quick how wrong they are." Teska explained.

"Well, look, I am in way over my head. I get that I don't have a choice on whether or not I'm helping you, but if you could just keep the body count out of my backyard, that would be great." Hunter requested.

"No promises. Are you okay to get home by yourself?" Teska asked him.

"Yeah, no problem. Thanks for dinner." Hunter said.

"Yeah. I'll be in touch." Teska walked off and Hunter waited until he was gone before calling Tim.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, you?" Hunter questioned.

"Yeah, I am now. We got the shooter, but the driver got away. Meet me at the laundry room in your building." Tim replied.

"Yes. See you in 30."

***

Hunter walked into the laundry room where Tim was already folding clothes that he'd found in a washing machine, he looked over once the door opened. "Hey." He said to Hunter.

"Hey," Hunter puts her own basket down on a machine and wrapped her arms around Tim. "That was really scary." She said.

"Yeah, I about had a heart attack," Tim and Hunter pulled apart but Tim kept his hands on Hunter's waist. "Does Frank know who took a run at him?" He asked.

"Not for sure, but he's clearly in a tenuous position, even with his own crew." Hunter explained.

"If you need to tap out--" Tim was saying.

"No," Hunter interrupted. "The fact that he can't trust anyone actually strengthens my in. He needs an ally. I can be that and hopefully bring the whole thing down from within." She said.

"Has he tried anything?" Tim asked, he doesn't think he could handle Teska getting handsy with Hunter.

Hunter shakes her head. "No, but I can handle it if he does. But it could result in him getting killed, I hate when marks get handsy with me during UCs." Hunter hugged Tim again.

"I know." Tim replied.

Hunter pulls away again and she looked at Tim thoughtfully. "Yeah, knowing and feeling okay about it are two different things."

"Look, it's not my first time." Tim replied.

"I know. It's probably what makes it worse." Hunter comments.

"All right, now's not the time to talk about this. I know you'll bail on the operation if you don't feel it's safe. So if you are good, I'm good." Tim said.

"I'm good." Hunter said.

"Good. I gotta get back to the station. Grey's waiting for a status update." Tim started walking towards the door.

Hunter kept a hand on Tim's arm and turned him around. "Wait, no, hey. Lock the door first." She whispered, even though she had a higher chance of miscarrying her doctors told her that sex every now and then was fine but not everyday.

***

Teska arrived outside the apartment building. "Get in!"

Hunter looked up. "Frank.

"Now!" Teska yelled.

Hunter walked towards the car. "O--okay," Hunter had her UC phone out and texted Tim 911 before putting her phone away in her bag. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"I know who shot at us. I gotta take him down. I need a lookout." Teska said.

***

Teska arrived at a warehouse. "Where are we?" Hunter asked as the two exited the car.

"This is where all the magic happens. 3D printers are inside." Teska replied.

"Okay, wait, so you think it was one of your guys who took a run at you?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah, Grant," Hunter had to remind herself that the Grant Teska was referring to wasn't her partner as he was still at the station. "You stay out here. Call me if you see anything." Teska walked in and Hunter stayed outside.

She pulled her phone out and called Tim. "Hey. Why are you here?"

"Okay, so Frank's driver was the shooter, and now I'm acting as his lookout while he goes inside to kill him. What exactly is my play here?" Hunter asked.

"First priority is to stop a murder. So be a good lookout. Every cop in LA is about to land on this location."

"Okay." Hunter said.

"All right, bye." Tim hangs up.

Hunter walked inside the warehouse and carefully looked around for Teska and she found him. "Hey, we gotta go. The cops are coming." She whispered.

"How?" Teska asked her.

"I don't know. But we don't have much time. Frank, you are an ex-con with a gun. I don't know anything about law, but I'm pretty sure that sends you back. Let's go. Come on." Hunter and Teska walked out.

***

Teska pulls up outside the apartment building. "That was crazy. How the hell am I supposed to go to the office after that?" Hunter asked.

Teska pulls a gun out and points at her. "You got ten seconds to convince me you're not a cop." He warned.

"I'm not a cop. I..." Hunter was saying.

"Then how the hell did you know they were coming?" Teska asked.

"A police scanner app. I can show you." Hunter said.

"A what?" Teska frowned.

"A police scanner app," Hunter grabbed her UC phone out and showed him the app. "Can--can I just... Look. I have never been a lookout before, okay? So when you ran inside, I thought this might be useful. I downloaded it, and the first thing I heard was the warehouse address. I--I almost had a heart attack!" Hunter placed the phone away

"You could've just run, left me inside to get killed or arrested. Why didn't you?" Teska asked.

"Honestly, it didn't occur to me, although at this moment, I--I really, really wish I had." Hunter replied.

"When you're about to be released from prison, those last few weeks, you're just dreaming, you know, about the outside world. All the things you're gonna do, all the meals you're gonna eat, all the money you're gonna make, the women you're gonna--" Hunter gives him a look. "Well, you get it." Teska explained.

"Yeah." Hunter said softly.

"But you know, then you get out, the world's different. It's moved on without you. And the place you thought you held in it, it doesn't exist anymore. You realized you've, you know, lost a step or two." Teska explained.

"Eight years is a long time." Hunter comments.

"Yeah, and I wasn't exactly a millennial when I went in."

"There's gotta be other things you were dreaming about inside besides money, food, and women."

"Yeah, my kid. But she took off when I got out." Teska replied.

"Why?" Hunter asked.

"Look, I was never a good dad. Always wrapped up in being the tough guy, causing mayhem, getting paid, making money. She--well, gave her no time at all. She deserved better."

"You could reach out now, try to fix things. Where is she?" Hunter asked.

"Ohio. She tried going off the grid so I couldn't find her, you know? But I found her pretty easy." Teska said.

"You could visit. You know, try to make things right." Hunter suggested.

"Nah. She'll never forgive me." Teska shrugged.

"Maybe not. Even if she doesn't, though, it'll matter that you tried. I just met you. I don't know you. But it really seems like you don't wanna be living your life like this anymore." Hunter said to him.

"I should go." Teska said.

"Okay." Hunter replied.

"Hey, uh, thanks again. And I'm sorry about, you know..." Teska trailed off.

"Threatening my life on multiple occasions?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah."

"Bygones. Frank. I'll see you later." Hunter got out of the car.

"Hmm. Not if I see you first." Teska drove off.

Hunter grabbed her actual phone out of her pocket, her iPhone 13 mini rather than her Android phone that was used for her UC op. "Where are you?"

"I'm outside the cover apartment. Frank just dropped me off." Hunter replied.

"We grabbed Grant and the other two, got enough weaponry to hold them until we try to get a ballistics match for the restaurant shooting and Ed's murder."

"Yeah, fingers crossed. I think this op is done." Hunter replied.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, he's got no crew, no product. It's over."

"That's too bad."

"Why?" Hunter asked.

"I was looking forward to another laundry room hookup." Hunter just smiled.

***

Hunter and Tim walked into Tim's house and placed their bags down, Hunter wrapped arms around Tim's torso as she spoke. "I need a big meal, a hot bath, and some quality sexy time, and then I'm gonna sleep for 24 hours," Hunter looked up at Tim noticing his expression. "What, what is that? What?" She asked.

"I just-- Isabel used to always crash after a long-term assignment. It would take her months to come back to life." Tim replied.

"Well, this was only a week, so I think one night's sleep will do me," Hunter pulled back slightly and looked at Tim thinking. "You know what? I do have to come clean about something, though. Um... I know I made you promise to not watch "Top Chef" without me, but I couldn't wait! I'm sorry!" Hunter exclaimed.

Tim points at Hunter and heads off to the bedroom. "Bad girlfriend." He said.

"No." Hunter pouts following him.

"No." Tim said walking into the bedroom.

"No, I'm sorry!" Hunter exclaimed following him into the room.

"Horrible." Tim grumbles.

Hunter sits beside Tim on the bed after taking her shoes off and placing her head in his lap. "So... Why didn't you tell me you almost died chasing down the shooter at the restaurant?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Because I didn't. Who told you?" Tim questioned, running his hands through Hunter's hair.

"It doesn't matter. We'll set aside the fact that you left it out of the report so I wouldn't find out." Hunter replied.

"I did not." Tim huffed.

"What?" Hunter asked staring him down, although it was a little difficult when she was starting to doze off.

"Okay. The gun was empty, right? So this is much ado about nothing. Besides, I know for a fact that you don't tell me everything that happens to you when you're undercover." Tim replied.

"N--no, no," Hunter denied. "You know for a fact that Isabel didn't. If this is gonna work between us, I need to know that you can see the difference." She replied.

"Of course I can. Okay?" Hunter gives Tim a look before closing her eyes again. "But... listen, I need you to take it seriously if I ever sound the alarm about something. Otherwise, the pain of what I went through will have been for nothing, and I can't lose you the way I lost her." Tim said.

"You won't. I'll walk away before it ever gets close to anything like that, okay? I promise." Hunter said, knowing that she would especially now that she was pregnant. "Anyways, you keep running your hands through my hair so I can sleep." Hunter said before yawing.

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So, one of my readers suggested that Tim propose in s6 which I was actually planning on doing anyway, I just want to know which episode you guys think it should be.

Which episode of s6 should Tim find out Hunter's pregnant, as she'll probably start showing around episode 3-4 of s6 but still won't tell Tim as the bump won't be very obvious.

Can't wait for the next episode.

I started this book like a week ago and I've almost finished s5 already.

Hope you enjoy.