It Takes A Village - Short Affair 12/14

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Prompts: hitch, powder blue
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"What's the hitch Illya?" The blond head tilted at the phrase as he queried the speaker with a look of supreme impatience.

"What are you saying to me Napoleon?  I really have no time for American colloquialisms right now, the bomb is minutes away from …"

"You have time for that reply."

The glare was unmistakable, the powder blue eyes that made women swoon were now icing over into that frigid shade of grey reserved for THRUSH and annoying partners.

"Just be quiet and let me do this."  Illya's fingers moved deftly through the wires that ran from the explosive device that was left behind by their captor.  Having been similarly left behind, the two agents had made a  predictable escape from their bondage and then raced to start the process of disarming the bomb.  Normally they wouldn't care if a satrapy was being blown to smithereens; this time it was not THRUSH territory being destroyed.

One final snip and the countdown stopped completely.

"Is that it?  We're in the clear?"  Illya leaned back against the wall, his veneer of calm only slightly disturbed by the intensity of the moment.  Even experts were subject to the nerve shattering prospects of failure.

"We are, as you say, in the clear.  I suppose we should finish searching the Abbey, make certain that there are no other victims."  His mind went to the sight of the elderly priest whose body had alerted them to the vicious nature of their foe.

Certainly innocents in this setting could not have been threatening to the man who committed the crimes here.  The dead priest, the bomb and who knew what other damage to the ancient site.  This Abbey had served this particular order of priests and parishioners for centuries, only to be threatened with destruction at the hands of a vicious man like Terrence Stoner.  His sociopathic trail of terror had led UNCLE to this European village, and in spite of the reprieve gained by their escape, Solo and Kuryakin had yet to apprehend the man.

Napoleon felt the adrenaline beginning to wane, noted once more the bruising on his partner's face and the memory of his own torment at Stoner's hands.

"We're lucky sometimes.  At least Stoner didn't succeed in destroying this place.'  He reached out a hand to his partner, helping Illya to stand.

"Let's get out of here, see if we can find a way to contact Waverly."  Illya nodded, suddenly weary and aware of a pounding beneath his skull that felt as though an explosion really had taken place.

"Where do you think he's gone?  This was our best opportunity to stop him, he could be anywhere by now."  Stoner was a madman who needed to be stopped.  At the moment, however, sleep was what the Russian really wanted.  Sleep and a hot shower…

"I think we have to find a new trail.  Stoner is clever, a rather unfortunate attribute of madmen in general.  He has contacts and safe houses… Perhaps there are clues here that will help us."

Besides the old priest whose body they had discovered at the beginning of this ordeal, they figured there might be two or three more who lived here.  As they searched the Abbey it was clear that no one else remained; it was empty save the two agents.

"Do you think they left on their own?  Perhaps Stoner let them go…"  Illya interjected the only other possibility.

"Or they escaped.  They will have found refuge somewhere in the village probably."

"Let's take a look.  There may be some clues as to where Stoner has gone, I doubt he's still close by.  He had a personal vendetta in destroying this place, and now that he's failed his behavior in the past would predict him laying low while he comes up with a new plan for his lunacy."

They walked out into the courtyard where statues of the twelve disciples ringed a rose garden covered in snow. Both men scanned the surrounding area looking for any sign of a human or animal, wishing to come upon a dead Stoner.  He was, sadly, not to be found, something that elicited a sigh from the tired Russian agent.

"And so we assume the chase again.  I believe, my friend, that we may spend Christmas in pursuit of this lunatic.  Not exactly what you had hoped for, I am sure."  Even Illya had begun to enjoy the Christmas season, the inherent warmth that seemed to infuse this time of year.  Only something as heinous as a man intent on inflicting pain and suffering made him realize that most of it was merely an illusion.

"Illya, we can hope to have this thing settled before Christmas.  Let's find a phone or a car, something to get us connected with Headquarters.  Every agency, every office will be on the alert for anything remotely related to Stoner's activities or whereabouts.' Napoleon looked at his partner, saw the obvious pain reflected in his expression and the way he was listing to one side.

"I think we need to get you into Medical before we head off into another encounter with Stoner; you don't look too good."  Illya winced at the effort it took to roll his eyes upward, deciding once more to break that habitual response to his friend's remarks.

"I am fine, although a good night's sleep will benefit both of us."  They agreed on that, and set off into the village in hopes of a means of communication and a warm bed.  Tomorrow would come soon enough, and with it the renewed efforts to capture Terrence Stoner.

Comments

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Tired, the two of them seem to just rest and regroup. Nice use of prompts

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and rest and regroup is a good policy.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a to be continued perhaps? If so it's off to a great start.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking yes, I just ran out of room today.

[susanpr.livejournal.com]

Great story. I hope you continue it. I want to know what happens next!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I think it deserves to be reconciled, thanks for the encouragement.

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

Really like this one, it's got a great atmosphere to it. Are you continuing it?

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I had in mind to keep going. I used up my word limit today.

[ssclassof56.livejournal.com]

I feel Iike I tuned in during a great episode. Hope you continue it.

"Powder blue eyes" *sigh* Perfect.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I'm sighing along with you ;) Thanks, I'll be adding more... hopefully sooner than later.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Not sure which eye color I prefer on the Russian, "powder blue" or "that frigid shade of grey reserved for THRUSH and annoying partners." Both would make me swoon. ;D

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Oh I like this! You've set the scene beautifully and I can't wait to see where it goes.