| Subject: Chapter 18 - Providing some Answers!!!! |
Author:
Mary
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Date Posted: Tuesday, September 13, 09:05:29pm
In reply to:
Mary
's message, "The Healing Touch II - Chapter 14 +" on Sunday, September 04, 02:35:16pm
Chapter 18
Michael stayed and watched her through the night. Her breathing seemed to even out and she slept calmly for many hours. Michael fell asleep for a while in the chair next to her bed. He wondered if they were being monitored. He had been careful to search for surveillance equipment, but he was jaded enough to realize that there was always new technology and things that even he might not be able to detect. He said, ‘to hell with it’, mentally because he wasn’t leaving her side no matter what. Some unknown medication had been given to her and even though he trusted Walter enough to do that, he was worried.
She stirred and Michael checked the clock, nearly 6:00 a.m. She had a few hours that she could sleep yet. She needed the rest. He checked her forehead and found it to be warm, but not hot like last night. She murmured his name and he shushed her back to sleep.
A couple hours later Nikita awoke and looked over at the clock. 9:30 a.m. Michael was sound asleep in the chair next to her, still in the clothes from last night. She realized right away the she felt much better as she sat up. The headache was almost completely gone, no dizziness, she didn’t feel feverish or nearly as achy. But she did want a long hot shower and breakfast, she was starved.
A knock on the outer door of the apartment startled Michael from his slumber and with Glock drawn he was instantly alert and on his feet moving towards the sound of the intrusion.
“Michael, put that thing down. It’s probably Mick and you’ll terrify him again.”
Michael registered that she was awake and talking to him, “You’re better.”
“Yes, I am. Now I bet that is Mick with breakfast.” She said throwing on her robe. “I’m starved, would you let him in?”
She was right and Mick had a huge breakfast prepared, “Good Morning all! Can’t go to our little meeting without the most important meal of the day now can we?”
“Oh Mick, for once I am actually glad to see you.”
“Hmmm, Love, I’m not sure I know how to take that. Hey, you look much better this morning.”
“Oh, please I haven’t even showered yet.”
“Nothing a little soap and makeup can’t fix.” She shot him a deadly look. “Well, I mean you do look much better than last night. And you are a natural beauty, you know I feel that …”
“Stow it Mick. Let’s eat.”
****
Breakfast was eaten, they all went their separate ways, prepared for the day and came together again to drive to the meeting.
And the meeting was grueling. Long hours spent pouring over data and charts, Nikita and Nikolai back and forth at each other, both trying to better the other. Mick tried to help but he didn’t have the business expertise.
Michael knew his orders and he knew that he had to make this deal work, the consequences were staggering. If, on the rare occasion, Nikita would slip or miss something Michael was quick to ask about it but in a neutral way so it didn’t look like he was helping her. Finally after ten almost straight hours of work they still had not come to an agreement. They did agree to retire for the night and begin again tomorrow.
“I’ve taken the liberty Nikita to have dinner delivered for you, Mick, and Michael. I am afraid that I have other work that I have to attend to or we would enjoy an evening out in Hungary.”
She smiled, “Thank you. Perhaps another time.”
He smiled back, “Perhaps.”
*****
The three of them were exhausted after the long day and Nikita was glad that it was over so she could rest for a while. Michael had watched her concentration waver a bit as the evening progressed, she was still a bit pale and shaky, but seemed much better than last night at this time.
“So,” came Mick’s voice from the back seat, “do you suppose old Nikolai sent us some yummy gourmet food for dinner? I’m thinking Hungarian caviar, steaks, potatoes. Or maybe seafood, ohh, lobster would be good tonight.”
His list was starting to make Nikita nauseous and Michael noticed her discomfort, “Uh, Mick, it’s been a long day perhaps we should just wait and see.”
Mick met Michael’s eyes in the rear view window and understood the silent message, “Yeah, sure. Hey, we’re here anyway.”
The tired threesome made their way upstairs and as Michael opened Nikita’s door he immediately knew, just sensed, that something was wrong. But years of Section had taught him that he was too late to do anything about it. He turned on the lights and protectively sheltered Nikita behind himself. He didn’t want a fire fight right now, it was too likely she would get hurt, so he never reached for his weapon.
Nikolai, his entourage of from the negotiations and another group of men, not in suits but extremely well trained and deadly Michael was sure, were waiting for them inside of Nikita’s suite.
“Good evening, so good of you to join us again. I am sorry that I didn’t bring dinner but other business seems more important right now.”
“Bring them!” he ordered the men to herd Michael, Nikita and Mick out of the doorway and into the suite.
Michael noticed they were heavily armed and had communications. Nikita was terrified and shaking, Michael could feel it through her coat as he placed his hand on the small of her back and assisted her into the living room.
“I really think there has been some kind of mistake here. I’m just her assistant. Nothing more…”
“Shut up!” Nikolai ordered. “You will speak only when you are spoken to. You Section people think you are so well hidden. Well your not. You all stunk of Section! You,” he pointed at Michael, “You had me quite fooled for a while. I assume you are from One? Not many could have fooled me and I allowed you access to everything. I’m sure Cecelia is proud of you.”
He waited for a reaction from Michael, but got absolutely nothing, “Hmmm. So since Section has sent so many I can only assume they are cognizant of my little operation here and wish to shut it down. Not there haven’t been attempts in the past, don’t think yourselves too special. But, this one was pretty good. You had me fooled. A beautiful woman with an amazingly complex background. I should have seen it right away. You’re not as good as he is, but your visual assets carried you along quite well.”
“And Mick you are just an open book. It’s almost like they wanted me to find out about you. Long term snitch for Section one and now doing some work for Oversight, maybe even Center. Moving up the ladder.”
“Well now the three of you are mine. I don’t intend to kill you immediately. You have information that I want. Come let’s go. You will be my guests, not nearly as comfortable as here, but it will have to do.
*****
Cecelia got the call on the priority line and took it immediately. She knew not to keep anyone from Center, much less Alexandria herself, waiting.
“Alexandria, this is a rare honor.”
“There’s a problem with the mission in Hungary.”
“Michael is on site….”
“I know who is there. There has been a breach in the mission integrity. They are exposed. Probable hostage situation. Get them out.”
“I can have a team in place in six hours.”
“It has to be faster than that.”
“Ma’am I have to pull people from the …”
“I don’t care what it takes. You have two hours to have a team in place. And Cecelia, don’t fail, Nikita Wirth is my daughter and she is ill. If she dies, you die.”
*****
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