A Phonecall

'Absolutely not, Root. This isn't happening,'
Root sighed; Shaw was beyond pissed, and she wasn't listening to reason no matter how many times Root tried to reassure her that she would be safe.
'Safe? Like getting shot twice and letting me think you're dead safe?' Shaw had replied. She can't lose her again. She just can't.
Everything was fine when Shaw woke up, she had been in a fantastic mood and didn't even bother denying it. She had even turned around to face Root and kissed her gently, and she didn't even do gentle.

It all went to hell when Root broke off the kiss and whispered, 'Sameen, I have something to tell you.'
Shaw ignored Root's serious tone, and said, 'If you tell me that I snore, I'm going to punch you.'
Root smiled halfheartedly, 'No, Shaw, I'm serious. It's about the machine.'
Sameen's face fell and her smile disappeared, 'What about it?' She asked, cautiously. She was beyond grateful for the machine that it had kept Root alive, even if it did lie to her and make her think she's dead right until the very last second. But she didn't trust the machine. Never had. After all, it wasn't human, it didn't have a heart and it always had a hidden motive.
'She wants me to go on missions again. Samaritan might be dead but the numbers are still coming, and we're the only ones left to help them.' Root had said, shrinking back expecting Shaw to blow up. She wasn't disappointed.
'What the actual hell, Root. You tell your machine it can kiss my ass, you're barely even rested to even think about leaving the house, nevermind going on dangerous missions that will put you in harm's way, again.' Shaw yelled stressing on the word 'again'. She rose up from the bed, pulling the covers away from her.
Pointing a finger at Root she said, 'You know what. Screw this, and screw your stupid machine, I should've just let it die.' She stormed out of the room, and slammed the door with unintended force, making Root jump.
Shaw knew that what she was doing was illogical, and she was always the logical one because usually feelings weren't an issue. The whole head over heart thing was never a problem because she supposedly didn't have a heart. But now she did, and god help her, it was definitely winning.

Shaw had come back reluctantly a few minutes later, crawled back into bed and kissed Root's forehead whispering a soft 'sorry'. Root had nodded and hugged her, placing her head on her girlfriend's chest, feeling how rapidly her heart was beating.
'Sam, your heart's racing, you need to calm down,' Root told her, trying to soothe her but Shaw just scowled, 'I'm not letting you do this, Root. It can't stop me.'
'Technically she can't,' Root admitted, 'but, I do want to do this, Sameen. And you can't stop me'
Shaw sighed, frustrated. She knew no matter how hard she argued, Root would find a way to sneak out and go do something reckless. And she wasn't going to let that happen, not this time.
'Fine, Root. But I'm going with you and before you refuse, let me just say that if you do, I would tie you to the goddamn bed if I have to,' She stopped, noticing how Root had smirked with the mentioning of 'ties'. Shaw smiled and tried to look serious again, 'I'm not joking. Either I go with you and I do all the hard work, or we both stay here. Agreed?'
Root nodded, knowing the machine wasn't going to like that. But as Shaw said, the machine can bite her.

The machine was indeed not happy with Shaw's decision, but she wasn't going to let Root go anywhere without her and the machine knew that. It understood their feelings, their love, that didn't mean it felt it or that it didn't consider it a weakness.
Shaw helped Root pack some clothes that Veronika had bought for her, by orders of the machine. She also found an entire stash of money and weapons. It seemed like they were never going to escape this life. But with John gone, and Harold living the rest of his life with Grace, they were the only ones left to save the numbers, and Shaw knew that the numbers never stop coming. People were in danger, and it was up to her and Root to help them, even if they risk their own lives in the process. Being one of the good guys was terribly exhausting.
'We can contact Lionel, ask him if he wants to join our little team again,' Root suggested, as she lay in bed, watching Shaw pack a backpack with all the supplies they needed. Shaw's movements were erratic; she was clearly nervous.
Sameen shook her head, 'No. No way. He barely made it out alive, Root. He can have a normal life, and apparently, we couldn't thanks to your other girlfriend. So lets not risk any more lives, okay?'
'Fine. But just imagine his face when he knows I'm alive,' Root chuckled, ' ''What the hell cocoa puffs, are you immortal or somethin?'' ' Root imitated Fusco perfectly, and was happy to see a small smile on Shaw's face.
Shaw cleared her throat, 'So did your girlfriend give you details about the number? Or are we going to have to do all the work for it?' She asked her, glancing at Root who still looked pale and tired. She hated the machine for doing this. It seemed like every time she got Root back, something had to happen. And somehow it always connected with the goddamned machine.
Root sighed, 'Sameen, the only girlfriend I have, the only one I want is you. So stop calling her my girlfriend. And no, she'll provide us with the details on our way out tomorrow.'
Shaw closed their bag, placed it carefully on the floor, and climbed back into bed, moving closer to Root, placing her head on her chest. Just feeling her chest rise and fall calmed her, reminded her that her safe place is alive, and she was going to make sure she stayed that way.