Title: East meets West
Chapter 1 – A New Face – A New Partner
Rating: Rated PG-13
Series: Original Thriller Story
Author: Andorian Ice Princess
Summary: Sheldon Alexander has to welcome a new CIA Agent to Washington by the name of Caleb Kwan. But when they are assigned to a new case together will more than bullet's fly? A story before they were partners!

A/N: Dear readers. Okay so I have always wanted to go back and write some stories when Sheldon and Caleb just meet. The sparks, the flirting, the fighting and the falling in love. So I have written a few of them just meeting. So here is the first one. Oh and this story focuses more on their meeting and how they interact then the story itself. Hope you like it and review if you do! That's what keeps them alive! PS: this will be a short story, only 3-4 chapters.

January 17

'This is Dahlia Burke reporting from the small town of Pashuri, just outside New Delhi where I'm told the death toll just keep rising. So far the body count is into the thousands but officials and the hazardous waste team have yet to give us a firm number. The person or parties responsible for this terrible tragedy have yet to come forward which leads officials here to wonder who the next target is, if there is one. Reporting live outside New Delhi for CNN this is Dahlia Burke.'

"Oh they just can't stop talking about me," a sly sinister voice snided as its beady eyes kept themselves fixated on the TV screen in front of them. "Little do they know who's next..."

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3 MONTHS LATER

April 17

'This is Sara Ling reporting outside Beijing near the outskirts of the small city of Lang Pour. It seems a deadly toxic gas has been released into the air by some kind of explosive device. We are getting only preliminary reports now but it appears the death toll could be in the thousands. We are told the area is still to "hot" for even the hazardous waste units to enter. The person or parties responsible for this terrible tragedy have yet to come forward which once again has world leaders baffled and wondering who will be next. Reporting live outside Lang Pour for CNN this is Sara Ling.'

"Of course you won't find the device you silly girl," a set of beady eyes explained to the TV they were glued to. "The carrying device is bio-degradable…they'll never know who did it!" The male voice started to laugh as it leapt off his chair and headed over to a small, yet very messy work station. "Now did the money transfer?" He asked logging onto his old computer. "Yes it has!" He said in glee. "Now I can really celebrate tonight." He turned his little chair towards a selection of take-out menus and stared at one in particular. His eyes next fixed themselves on the picture of a midly smiling woman. "Tonight it's for you my dear. All for you…everything for you…"

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1 WEEK LATER

"Nick we finally confirmed that this is the second one just like it."

"I know Cecil. I'm reading the same file you are," Nickel said with a frown as he sat behind his desk, two other men in chairs before him. "What did we gather this time?"

"Same as last time," Milton quipped.

"So nothing?" Cecil lamented.

"Okay so no demands, no reasonable targets…no reason to target these places…" Nickel started as his eyes started to scan the rest of the files.

"There is not even a major seat of government anywhere near these locations," Milton mentioned in an exasperated tone.

"Think we can expect another attack?" Cecil asked gravely.

"Think we better start preparing ourselves for that idea. Sadly we have no place to even start," Nickel sighed. "No idea who the next target could possibly be."

"How about from the beginning and work from there."

"Right," Nickel said picking up the phone. "Agent Benson…I need a CIA forensic field team sent to India and China. Tell the team they leave tonight."

"Yes sir," Garth replied as he hung up the phone. "Here we go again."

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1 WEEK LATER

"What do you mean they found nothing!" Nickel's angry voice boomed into the speaker phone.

"Sorry sir, but it appears the device carrying the chemical agent has dissolved."

"Dissolved?" Nickel asked the field agent in an incredulous tone. "How is that possible?"

"Well we found bits of vegetable matter but nothing mechanical or synthetic. Whoever this guy is, he's good."

"Damn it!" Nickel cursed as he hung up the phone and stared at Sheldon in a glum way.

"Nothing still?" She asked with a heavy frown.

"This guy is either a chemical genius or has just figured out a way to cheat the system."

"Maybe he's both," she remarked as she picked up a file and started once again to dissect it.

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3 MONTHS LATER

July 14

"Nick we have been over these files and we need more help," Cecil told Nickel.

"I agree," Sheldon added from behind her pile of files. "This guy goes into a town, murders it with a chemical agent that appears to be able to completely dissolve itself and then he goes into hiding. No one knows his face; no one has heard a whisper on the down under; and no one is coming forward to collect the reward money. We need a fresh perspective," she finished as her beeper went off. "We need it fast."

"I know," Nickel said shutting the file as he watched Sheldon dash out of the room. "But where do we start?" He asked himself as he opened the file once more and stared at the Intel information before his eyes. "I think I know…" he started and then looked up at his two friends. "Garth…" he said into his speaker-phone, calling the young CIA Intel Agent into his office.

"Yes sir?" Garth said quickly.

"Boys we need help on this one," Nickel said looking at the Directors of the NSA and FBI.

"What kind of help Nick?" Milton asked eyeing Garth. "What does he know that the rest of us don’t?"

"Funny," Nickel mused. "This file says that some kind of very rare material was discovered at the blast site in China. Only it's all in Chinese and we don’t have an operative around that is skilled in decoding this and fast. Plus we have learned that some of the chemical used have components in them that are only found in remote parts of China. We need help from within Chinese Intelligence. I know of a very reliable operative in Beijing and I'm going to bring him in on this case. He'll work point with Sheldon and Garth will run Intel from our end."

"The CIA now as an operative in China?" Milton snided. "What does he do all day? Decode fortune cookies."

"Funny," Nickel responded dryly.

"A new Agent?" Cecil asked in wonder. "Sorry Nick, but just bringing in a new Chinese Agent isn't going to help crack this case. Even if he is CIA."

"We are running out of time. What if he strikes tomorrow? What if his next target is the US? We need help and we need it fast. Caleb Kwan is the best at what he does and knows all the underground connections in China. We didn't have this kind of help in India but we sure as hell are going to use it this time. He wasn't available a few months ago, but he is now. Garth I want Caleb here tomorrow. Find him and bring him on board, send the briefing notes to the plane. He can meet Sheldon when he arrives. They'll be working together on this."

"Oh she'll love that," Milt mused under his breath.

"She'll have to endure it for the sake of national security!" Nickel sighed. "Garth!"

"Yes sir," Garth who was lingering; stammered; turning to leave the meeting of the Directors.

"Nick what if DC is the next target?" Cecil asked gravely. "We have no way of knowing when this guy strikes or what his target will be."

"Cecile, we haven't even pieced together why he blasted those two seemingly unrelated places on earth with this toxin, let alone figure out who is next. And we don’t even know all the chemicals used," Milton said quickly.

"That's why we need help. Cecil I want you to run point on this. I need to know what those two places have in common – if anything. Milt get to every…" Nickel started as Garth rushed into his office.

"Sir we might have caught a break," he said handing a piece of paper to Nickel. "Here is the latest from Cecil's Intel team."

Nickel looked at the file and then up at Milton and Cecil. "Oh…my…god…"

"What?" Both asked at once.

"It seems we don’t have to wait too long for the next target," Nickel said showing them the piece of decoded paper that held the two letters DC in bright red in about four places. "We are next."

"Damn it!" Milt cursed.

"He's coming here. Garth, get Caleb Kwan over here tonight! Sheldon will still need help with this one. Milt, get to every underground source. Someone always knows something about these kinda guys. I don’t care how lame the lead might seem we need it. And get me Sheldon!"

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"Stop right there!" Sheldon shouted as she carefully made her way over the small beam in the old warehouse, rushing towards one of the cities most wanted hitmen; a man she had been chasing for days now.

"Give it up babe!" The large man laughed as he fired off another round at Sheldon, forcing her to duck behind some old rotting wooden beams.

"I will kill you if I have to," Sheldon warned.

"Right," the man laughed as he fired off another shot from his hiding spot.

Sheldon examined the area around her and noticed a way to get at her suspect without him seeing her. She quickly tucked her gun back into its shoulder holster and dropped herself onto a heavy cable, below the floor she was on. She quietly inched her way along the underside of the wooden flooring, trying to creep up to the area the suspect was still holed up in.

"Why'd you stop firing baby? Did I hit you?" The man snided as he dropped the empty clip onto the ground and quickly shoved another into the gun barrel and fired off another shot.

Sheldon used the noisy distraction to carefully push herself back onto the wooden flooring, come up just behind the wanted suspect. "Looking for me?" She said smugly, making the large man turn and look at her in shock. Sadly to her dismay he took a step in her direction, causing a large plank in the flooring to jar itself loose, making her temporarily loose her footing. The suspect charged her. Sheldon felt herself tumbling over backwards towards a set of stairs, the large man right behind her.

Sheldon rolled to one side, stopping herself from rolling to her demise into a large piece of glass and kicked at the large man in his gut. He tried to grab her foot to knock her off balance but failed. Sheldon side-stepped his grab but this allowed him to get to his knees. Sheldon wasted no time in kicking the man in the chin, snapping his head back and causing him to land flat on his back. He tried to get up but was met once more in the face with the heel of her boot and he was out cold.

"Right on time boys," she mused to herself as she heard the sirens of the NYPD fill her ears and the warehouse she was standing in. After the suspect was in the car did she then stop to see all the important papers he was concealing.

"Did he have it?" One of the young officers asked the seasoned CIA Agent.

"Everything we wanted," she said holding up a sheet that outlined a plot to assassinate several key political officials. "See you at the hearing," she called out as she headed for her own black CIA issue Crown Victoria.

"Sheldon, where have you been?" A very anxious Garth called over the two-way.

"Why what's up?" Sheldon asked with a frown as she spied a hole in her new suit jacket. "Damn it!" She lightly cursed. "Sorry continue…what did you say?"

"It was your dad's order…"

"What is?"

"Your new partner," Garth said softly, an inevitable cringe on his face.

"New partner?" Sheldon have shouted as she hung up on Garth and dialled her father's number. "I don’t have partners remember? And I don’t want a rookie that…"

"Sheldon this is my order," Nickel said in slight exasperation. "Besides he's a seasoned field Agent just like yourself and..."

"I don’t want baby sitting duty. And why do I have to have one anyways?" She moaned as she steered her car back to the CIA field office in Washington DC. "I can get this guy on my own."

"Because we need help with the toxic bomber and Caleb Kwan's our man. Besides he coming here to DC and we don't have time to waste. If Caleb can shed new light on this matter then I'll take it. Time isn't on our side this time Sheldon."

"One case right? One case and he's gone right? Then back to normal?"

"Give you my word," Nickel said firmly.

"Fine," Sheldon huffed as she hung up. "A partner! Damn it!" She cursed as she neared the underground parking lot. "And an out-of-towner. Seasoned? Great…just great…now I'll be stuck baby sitting some wizened up, old Chinese man. That's just great!"

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"I'm off to New York dad," Caleb called out from his room as he continued packing a small duffle bag. "I left the keys to my place on your table. They should be finished painting it by the time I get back."

"What is this case about?" Nolan Kwan asked his son as Caleb exited the bedroom he was staying in.

"You know that toxin that killed all those people in Lang Pour? Well they need help on it and I'm it. I have to work with a partner," Caleb moaned. "This will be a first."

"Just mind your manners," Nolan warned.

"I’m told it's some seasoned field Agent. Great stuck with some by the book fossil," Caleb sighed.

"Just mind your manners son," Nolan reminded him.

"Best behaviour," Caleb mock saluted his father.

"Return home safely," Nolan said as he gave his son a big hug.

"Tell mom I love her and will call you when I'm settled in my hotel," Caleb said heading for the door. "Oh by the way care with her," he said tossing his dad the keys to his BMW. "I just had it painted."

Caleb sat in the cab with a stony expression. "Some fossil," he mumbled in misery. "Just great…what, they don’t have people in New York that speak Chinese?" He lamented to himself. "But just one case right? How bad will it be?"

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Caleb arrived in DC early the next morning and headed straight for the field office Nickel was stationed at. He walked through the double doors and immediately noticed strange looks and stares. The handsome Asian Agent steered himself for the Directors office and wondered which set of eyes belonged to his new and hopefully temporary partner – Sheldon Alexander.

"Caleb good morning," Nickel said shaking the young man's hand. "Let me bring you up to speed. Sheldon should be arriving shortly."

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Sheldon angrily paced her apartment trying to find something to wear. "Why do I have to baby-sit," she moaned as she reached for a pair of black dress pants. "Wait!" She said looking at herself in the mirror. "Why am I stressing like this? Who cares what I look like to some old Chinese relict!" With that she quickly donned the black pants, grabbed a fitted ¾ length sleeve top in purple and her short black leather jacket. She tucked her gun into her hidden shoulder holster and headed outside for her truck.

"At least I don’t have to play taxi service," she mumbled as she headed for the office, her mind still wondering why her father thought she needed help on this case. "I always work alone," she had protested in vain.

"Not this time sweetheart." Her father had tried to explain that night in a calm tone.

"But we know his next target. This Caleb guy will just get in the way. In my way!"

"He might be able to shed light on areas we haven't seen yet," Nickel continued. "End of discussion."

Her father's words tormented her entire trip to the office and all too quickly she found herself parked next to a rented black BMW.

"BMW, figures," she snided as she locked her F-150 and headed inside.

She rounded the corner but instead of heading straight for her father's office headed for the cafeteria to get some much needed coffee. She entered the lonely room and noticed a tall, well built man with dark hair, his back to her standing in the corner. She paid him no heed as she headed for the Irish Cream coffee and started to pour herself a glass.

"Ah I needed the same pick me up this morning," the man said looking at her side-ways.

"Good for you," Sheldon said in a low tone, not looking back. Probably married, she ventured in her mind.

"Sorry," Caleb mumbled back as he turned to stare in fascination at the beauty that had instantly captured his attention. She was tall, with long dark hair and a very well taken care of body. And the way she walked as she entered the room told everyone she commanded their attention until the minute she left. He was smitten. Probably married, he told himself inside.

"It's…" she started as she turned to face him. She was immediately aware that her cheeks flushed instantly as she continued to stare at the handsome Asian man before her and was thankful the lighting was dim to hide her obvious instant attraction. She had always had a weakness for Asian men, especially mixed ones, and the man before her did a number on her mind in an instant.

"Sorry. Late night," she said turning back to her coffee, quickly capping it and heading for the door.

"Now why can't she be my partner," Caleb said not knowing the truth of his words.

Sheldon hurried into her father's office and slumped herself down into a nearby chair. "Is her here?" She asked quickly, remembering the man in the cafeteria was Asian-American.

"Good morning to you too dear," Nickel snided in sarcasm.

"Is he here!" Sheldon hissed. "The Chinese relic I'll be forced to work with?"

"You mean me?" Caleb asked in mock innocence as he walked into the door and came face to face with the woman he had hoped he could see at least once more. Her? Really? Caleb smiled to himself. Oh this will be a fun assignment indeed.

"Sheldon Alexander I want you to meet your new partner Caleb Kwan," Nickel said firmly.

"Oh hello," Sheldon said weakly as she extended her hand for him to shake.

"Nice to meet you," Caleb said firmly, holding onto her hand a bit longer, making her pull away first.

"Sorry about the uh…fossil comment," Sheldon said lamely.

"Hear it all the time," he teased making her relax a bit; flashing her a broad smile that made her go weak in the knees.

"Right so uh what do we do now?" Sheldon asked, trying to get her emotions back under control. Her father looked at her with a hint of amusement and knew there was an instant connection.

"I want you to first of all start with this," he said handing it to Caleb. "Can you translate?"

Caleb studied the paper with an intent look and knew it was killing Sheldon, who was obviously used to being in charge and getting the Intel first, and then finally looked up with a thoughtful glance. "49th and Elm? It says other stuff about chemical compounds that I am familiar with but this seems to be the only solid lead in this information. This all you have?"

"For now," Sheldon said snatching the paper away from him. She too looked at it and then up at Caleb. "You mean 49th and Alma," she corrected him with a smug look while Nickel just looked at her and sighed. He knew Sheldon would hate this partnership but hoped inside they would both live long enough to catch the bad-guy. They can kill each other when this is over, Nickel mused inside.

"Oh right," Caleb said looking at her in wonder.

"Sheldon speaks some Chinese," Nickel said with a sigh. "Okay so start there and then report what you find and hopefully Cecil's men will have another lead to go on. We know he's coming to DC but we don’t know what his target will be. Course Cecil and Paul have surmised the obvious, the president, but I don’t want to put out an alert until we are sure. Caleb I have sent over the chemical files to your hotel for you to look at tonight. Just tell me where."

"Thanks I will," Caleb replied.

"We'll find him," Sheldon said grabbing her coffee and heading for the door, Caleb behind her. "Talk soon," she called back.

"Can't wait," Nickel sighed as he watched them leave and then picked up the phone. "Milt, talk to me…"

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Sheldon and Caleb spent a painfully quiet ride in the elevator and then a slow quiet walk to the Crown Victoria.

"So I guess I was a bit of a surprise," Caleb ventured in a meek tone as they got into the car, desperate to break the silence with the beauty he was happy to spend the day with.

"I expected Mr. Miagi," she said quoting from the Karate Kid, making him lightly laugh.

"And I expected Margaret Thatcher," he said making her lightly laugh.

"Better than Martha Stewart," she smiled. "I usually work alone," she said turning the car into the busy DC streets, heading for their destination.

"Me too," Caleb said looking out the window. "Oh can we at some time just find a Motel 8 or something so I can get a room."

"You don’t have a room yet?" Sheldon asked softly.

"No. Do you know of a place I can spend the night? Someplace warm and cozy?" Caleb asked with a slight smile.

Sheldon looked at him and immediately the smile disappeared. "I'm not that easy."

"What? Oh wait a sec," Caleb said putting his hands up. "I might be attr…distracted…uh…look I didn't mean it that way," he said in haste, making her laugh once more.

"I was just kidding. I know of a Holiday Inn beside the office if that's not to upscale for you," she replied. Did he just say or was going to say 'attracted'…'might be attracted…'. Get a grip Sheldon, she said inside. He's probably married!

"Upscale? Nope that will be just fine," Caleb said firmly, trying to keep his eyes from wandering back to the woman beside him. But he just couldn't help it. She had sparkly green eyes, olive skin and a smile that would melt even the hardest of ice-packs. She was everything he wanted in a woman to look at. But what's underneath, he wondered to himself? Is she kind? Loving? Can she fight at all?

Sheldon knew Caleb was studying her – maybe even judging her and knew she was doing the same. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Asian-American like she favored. Tall, dark hair, dark eyes, a body that begged to be touched and a smile that melted her to her core instantly. But was he kind? Could he love? And was he a good fighter? She was always a sucker for a good martial artist but wasn't about to let that slip just yet. She wanted to see him in action, telling herself it would be worth the wait.

"So…" Caleb said deciding to break the silence first.

"I'm sorry," Sheldon said quickly. "I guess I'm just used to going over the job details in my head. Not used to anyone sitting beside me unless the backseat is filled," she smiled lightly. He probably has a girlfriend, she said inside. A guy that good looking? Unless he's gay…that'd be worse…can't seduce him…Sheldon! She scolded inside. He has a girlfriend, she told herself. Get a grip!

"I'm the same way. I like to work alone and so usually talk about the job details to myself," he said looking out the window. A woman this good looking probably has two men on the go. Unless she's well...gay…can't be…she seems to…Caleb, he told himself. She's not available to you! Get that through your head!

"So you got the job details right," she said as they neared their first stop. "Any ideas?"

"Well I know the two towns seem unrelated and that they wouldn't be a target for anyone. But Lang Pour is a major underground drug operation. At least that's the word. So that's why some of the chemicals seem familiar…" Caleb rattled on.

Sheldon listened to the deep calm of his voice and felt herself starting to melt once again. Oh man I'm sad, she sighed inside. But he was smart and intelligent and didn’t care if he came across as knowing everything about the area he was supposed to, he wasn't arrogant about it at all.

"I haven't heard anything about Pashuri but we can check it out when we get back to the office," she said bringing the car to a stop outside their first stop.

"49th and Alma," Caleb smiled. "Can you really speak Chinese?"

"Very little. I just wanted to show you up on your first day," she teased in a flirting way just as she exited the car.

"Well it worked," Caleb muttered as he felt his smile grow wider as he too got out of the Crown Victoria. Both stood looking at the old abandoned apartment building and turned to each other and frowned. "Why did we come here again?"

"A lead?" Sheldon offered in a small tone. "Let's go and find out exactly what it is," she said looking at the main entrance.

"Just lead the way," he said holding out his hand. "You are afterall in charge here right?" He challenged in a soft tone.

"Yes I am," she said proudly, trying to hide her smile and turning away before it became obvious. They headed into the darkened building, both turning on small flashlights as they entered.

"I hate the dark," Caleb whispered in an almost inaudible tone.

Sheldon heard the remark and wondered how someone as seemingly strong and brave as Caleb could hate the dark. She wasn't a big fan either but still thought it strange.

"Where do we look?" Sheldon asked in a soft tone, as if in the dark people naturally whisper.

"I don’t know…I don’t live here remember?" Caleb lightly snided.

"Cute," Sheldon said dryly. "Okay I'll take the second floor if you want…"

"Are you sure? You want to go up there alone?" Caleb asked weakly, looking at her in surprise.

"Look! I'm not some wimpy female that you might be used to working with over there. On this side of the water women can kick ass as well as the men," Sheldon said sharply.

"I wasn’t meaning…" Caleb tried in his defense.

Sheldon cursed herself for letting herself speak before thinking once more. Of course Asian women she heard were demure and gentle. But surely over there there were Agent's that could fend for themselves. "I'll see you soon," she said not wanting to discuss it any further.

"Okay," Caleb replied in a sheepish tone. Way to go Caleb, he scolded himself inside. Now she'll probably think you're sexist or something.

Sheldon felt her heart starting to pick up speed a little as she drew her gun and started to slowly climb the stairs. But it wasn't for fear of what she might face but fear that she might fail before Caleb. Sheldon knock it off, she scolded herself. Like he cares if you can fight…probably makes you less appealing to him. She heard a soft noise to her right and quickly spun her head around to see who or what was there. She took a few more careful steps towards the closed room and with a swift kick the door was open. She was about to take a step inside when she heard a noise behind her. She turned to see a rather scruffy looking man standing before her.

"Who…" she started just as she was grabbed from behind.

"Sheldon!"

Dear readers…do you like the story so far? It will be a short one with only a few chapters. I had written this one before I broke my arm and now that it's on the mend I thought I would do a few touch ups and post. Hope you'll review and keep our two hero's alive and their stories going! Thanks…love you all!