"Twelve Days and Counting~ PART TWO" for Day Twelve of the 12 Days of Christmas

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

December 3rd found three porcelain figures of hens and a small replica of the Eiffel tower on Solo's desk. That was at least a relief to Napoleon as he picked up the newspaper he'd spread on the floor.

On the 4th, there was a birdcage on his desk with two pair of blackbirds cawing rather loudly.

"Hey I thought they were supposed to be 'calling' birds," Napoleon complained.

"You are thinking of the Americanization of the original lyrics of 'four colly birds'. Colly is vernacular, meaning black and refers to the European blackbird Turdus merula." Illya answered without looking up from his paperwor

The racket made by the Turdus merula could be heard all the way down the hall as they were taken away by Security.

December 5th, found Illya playing with five golden magicians rings stacked nicely on his partners desk.

"This is a rather clever one," he said, picking them up as individual rings, then after manipulating them, they were all linked together. With a one-two-three flick of his hands, and they were back to being separated.

"That was pretty good, where'd you learn that?" Napoleon smiled.

"When serving for many long months on board a submarine, one learns to amuse oneself with some of the most unusual things. I picked up a few magic tricks, that is all."

December 6th arrived, with nothing found in the office that morning. Both agents had an afternoon meeting with Mr. Waverly and when they returned there were six toy geese on Napoleons desk and when pressed down they laid candy eggs. Again Napoleon cleaned up more newspaper from the floor.

These unwanted gifts by this unknown admirer were starting to disrupt Napoleon's dating schedule; he began cancelling his appointments one by one as he wasn't sleeping well. He kept dreaming of partridges, doves, and chickens while his mind was spinning, trying to figure out who this person could be.

"This has gone far enough, " he finally said, "Illya, I want you to set up a separate security camera here. We're going to catch this culprit once and for all."

Illya did as he was asked, mounting a small surveillance camera on the wall opposite the door, giving them a direct view of who ever came in.

The next morning they could hear a hissing sound coming from inside the office, and when the door opened there were seven young swans swimming in a kiddie pool and wandering about the floor.

"Aw Jeeze, "Napoleon moaned. He hadn't put down any newspaper. Once the office was cleaned out and up they directed their attention to Illya's camera.

He pulled up the footage, with the two of them watching it on a small video monitor.

A hooded figure, dressed very much like a ninja walked into the office around midnight, bringing in the pool, filing it with buckets of water and finally carrying in the swans one by one. When the job was  quickly done, the dark figure turned and waved to the camera."

Illya and Napoleon looked at each other in frustration. "I told no one about this set-up,"Illya insisted.

"Neither did I tovarisch." Napoleon picked up a notepad and wrote one word. "Bugged?"

Illya nodded silently and they went about searching the office. He was on his hands and knees when he reached up, holding the offending device; handing it off to his partner.

"Time for a little feedback," Napoleon announced as he tossed it on the floor, crushing it with his heel and knowing who ever was at the other end would get an earful of high-pitched squeals.

The next option was a stake-out, to which Illya declined. "I am sorry my friend, but I am not going to lose sleep because you have an ardent admirer. Good night and I wish you luck."

"Thank a bunch."

Napoleon pushed the sofa out from the wall, and tossing a few pillows there, he gave himself a convenient hiding place. Hours passed with no sign of anyone. He looked at his wristwatch...4 am. He was exhausted and closed his eyes for just a minute.

"Napoleon?" Illya peeked over the back of the couch, having heard his partner snoring. "It is time to get up my friend, sadly you failed at your stake out."

Napoleon pulled himself up, bleary-eyed as he peeked over the back of the leather sofa.

"Damn." He mumbled, spotting on his desk, eight porcelain cows with maids a milking that were actually creamers, each filled with milk.

"December 9th should be interesting," Illya smiled as he sipped his glass of tea.

"Yeah right, "Napoleon groused.

"Perhaps we are looking at it the wrong way," the blond said. "Could there be an underlying message to all this?"

"As in what?"

"Do you not know what the song represents?"

"Sure, its the twelve days before Christmas, sort of a gift giving calendar from the old days I suppose."

"To the contrary my friend, it has religious significance to it."

"Religious, right, and this coming from an atheist."

"Napoleon the bible is a book, and you do know I like to read." Illya smirked.

"All right so enlighten me then." Solo folded his arms defensively across his chest, waiting for the lecture.

.

"One true Love refers to God and Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments.”

“Three French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues.”

“Four and five refer to the history of man's fall from grace. Six geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation. Seven Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments."

"Eights Maids A-milking relate to the eight beatitudes...Nine Ladies Dancing. the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Ten Lords A-leaping represent the ten commandments, Eleven Pipers Piping... the eleven faithful apostles."

"And lastly twelve Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed."

.

"Wow, I never knew it had religious meaning, and all this from a Godless Russian who likes to read. I stand corrected and I now think I have my answer as to who's been up to this." Napoleon grinned for the first time in days.

"Who?"

"Patience my dear fellow, patience."

It was now Illya's turn to huff as his involvement in this whole mishegas now had his curiosity piqued more than ever.

Napoleon walked out of his office, with Illya following a few steps after him. "I am not being left out of this reveal, my friend."

"Suit yourself."

The two of them stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the main floor, and when the doors reopened Napoleon headed directly past Alexander Waverly's conference room, to of all places, the chapel.

The doors opened to a softly lit room, with a stained glass window behind an altar. It contained no religious symbols as it was non-denominational, and there was only a lit red pole lamp somehow reminding those of the presence of God as it stood next to a pedestal upon which a vase of colorful flowers rested.

In the front row of pews sat a lone woman, a redhead with whom both agents were very familiar with, including in the biblical sense.

"I was wondering when you'd figure it out Napoleon," she said. "I've been waiting here every day."

"Actually it was with Illya's help." Napoleon had finally deduced it was April Dancer as she was the only woman he'd ever engaged in any sort of discussion in any length regarding religion and morales beside his partner.

"Hmm, figures a man that doesn't believe in God would manage to do that before you Napoleon Solo."

"So what gives April, they weren't really gifts from an admirer were they?" He sat next to her in the pew. “You trying to tell me something?”

"Maybe they were you silly goose. I just thought you needed a reminder about God; my midwestern upbringing gave me that feeling. Maybe it's time to slow down in your, ahem, lecherous ways?" She smiled at him.

"I'm not lecherous...I just love women and they love me. I don't see anything wrong in that."

"I suppose not, as long as it's in moderation, but when it comes to women, that's something you don't practice. And to be honest, it's something I don't like competing with, a lot of women that is."

"April are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Yes you silly goose,  I am."

"Why didn't you say so?" Napoleon reached out, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. He'd never really been a one woman man before and thought he might give it a try, at least with April. He'd have to have a talk with her though, about sending him these convoluted messages.

"What say you and I go dancing tonight," he smiled as he released her. " there's a great band playing in the Starlight Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria, that would sort of take care of days nine through twelve...you know ladies dancing, Lords a leaping, pipers piping and drummers drumming. I hear Buddy Rich will be there..."

"Sounds like a plan," April sighed dreamily.

Illya disappeared from the chapel with stealthy discretion; the feelings he thought he once had for April Dancer were long gone.  He realized they were simply an infatuation and that was fine, as there was a new redhead at headquarters, a Section II female agent transferred in from London, one he was finding himself very, very curious about…*

Finis. And Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night…

* reference to my OC Elliott McGowan, part of my AU ‘Saga series”

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yep April has turned out to be a pretty sneaky agent. Hmmm yes, that partridge probably hooked up with a pidgeon in Central Park...chuckle. Thanks so much for reading the story and taking the time to comment!