"About time" ~ for the Picfic Tuesday challenge 6/3/14

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

They each had hold of his arms and wrists...two immense T.H.R.U.S.H. goons; one grabbed Napoleons hand forcing his Walther into it and making him point it back towards his temple.

“You got him?”

“Yeah do it, do it now!”

Solo grunted, trying to wrench himself free of their grip as the trigger was going to be squeezed to make it look as though he’d committed suicide.

They’d planted incriminating evidence in Napoleon’s breast pocket that would show him to be a traitor in hopes it of demoralizing U.N.C.L.E.  Their best and most devoted agent being a turncoat would have to have some effect. Even if it didn’t, the fact that Napoleon Solo would be dead was a plus in and of itself.

There was a sudden crash and the sound of glass shattering as a dark figure dove into the room though a pair of French doors;  his gun blazing as he fired at the two men.

They dove for cover taking the Walther with them as they fired back at their unknown assailant.

Being weaponless Solo threw himself behind an overturned table until the shooting stopped.

He finally peaked out, seeing the bodies of the Thrushmen sprawled across the floor.

“Napoleon? Are you all right?”

He recognized the voice of his partner. “About time!” Napoleon called out.

Illya stepped up beside him, offering him a hand up off the floor but the Russian’s head spun round; hearing a car door slam.

“We have company,” he said calmly. He reached down pulling his backup pistol from its ankle holster and handed it to his partner.

Solo slipped aside a curtain, looking at a carload of men climbing out into a drab yard filled with dried leaves and debris from the fall.

The American and the Russian headed out into the foyer, charging up the main staircase, opting for a higher vantage point. They made it to a second floor bedroom in the front of the Georgian-style house, and there they positioned themselves at two windows.

Illya fired first, picking off two of the new arrivals, Solo a third and fourth. That left two from their reckoning who had disappeared out of sight.

They waited and watched;  listening for footsteps coming up the stairs but there were none...instead something else came, something more deadly.

“You smell that tovarisch?”

“Smoke,” the Russian coughed but it wasn’t from that, it was from the bullet wound in his side.

Napoleon saw the blood on Illya’s hand and grabbed a pillow case from the bed to staunch the bleeding.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“To what purpose, there is nothing that can be done at the moment.”

As usual Illya was right… Solo grabbed the other pillowcase, heading down the hall, where he found a bathroom.  He tore the cloth into two pieces and soaked them under water from the tap; after which he returned to his partner.

The smoke was becoming thicker now as the fire downstairs was intensifying.

“Here take this,”Solo shoved the wet cloth into Illya’s other hand. “We’ll have to make a run for it. They’ll be covering the roof and the front door but I think we have a better chance taking the direct route.”

“Agreed,” Illya stood, letting his partner help him walk as it was becoming difficult.

He held the wet cloth to his face as did Napoleon, and slowly they made their way down the stairs.  The smoke was near blinding now, stinging their eyes, making it more difficult to see as tears ran down their cheeks.

Burning debris began to fall around them, and a burning beam just missed them as they made it to the last step.  At least the way to the door was clear.

Napoleon made Illya lean to the side of it, taking his Walther from him.

“There’s no way you can move fast enough chum,” Solo pulled open the door and came out with the two guns blazing, and hitting the last two assailants.

“Come on, let’s go,” he grabbed Illya and helped him across the porch, heading to the grey sedan parked in the gravel driveway.

There was a sudden crunch of footsteps behind them and Illya reacted first, grabbing his Walther from Solo’s hand and spinning round; getting off a single shot.  

He slipped from his partner’s grip to the ground as the remaining Thrushman fell dead.

“Miscounted,” he mumbled before passing out.

.

Kuryakin woke in the infirmary of the small U.N.C.L.E. field office in Rhode Island. Surprisingly his partner wasn’t sitting there waiting for him and that made him concerned. Did he miss something? Was Solo injured as well?

A comely raven-haired nurse entered the room, giving him a welcoming smile.

“Ah you’re awake...good. You’ve had surgery and the bullet was removed. Luckily nothing vital was damaged, you just lost a lot of blood.  Your partner got you here in record time.”

‘Where is Mr. Solo?”

“...is right here chum,” Napoleon smiled, ducking his head into the room, followed by the rest of him. “Sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up. I needed to speak to Mr. Waverly and get a cup of black coffee.”

“Yes,” Nurse Precious said,” Mr. Solo was up all night, staying right by your side.

“I have only one thing to say,” Illya broke a small smile. “When is dinner?”

That gave both men a chuckle, though the nurse wasn’t quite sure what it was all about.

“You feeling okay chum?”

“As best as can be expected after being shot.  Now I am sure you have a date with some lovely nurse do you not?” Illya announced.

“Well, as a matter of fact now that you mention it.”

“Go, enjoy yourself.  I will be fine,” Illya shooed Napoleon with a wave of his hand. “After all I have a beautiful nurse to look after me, do I not?”

“Oh Mr. Kuryakin,” Precious practically purred at him.

“See?” Illya was almost gloating. “Perhaps Nurse, you could give me a sponge bath a bit later?”

Napoleon grinned, flashing a ‘you dog’ sort of look at the Russian, thinking he was finally changing. Yet Solo canted his head to one side, looking as though he had a question to ask his partner.

Illya, anticipating his partners thoughts answered without waiting for that query.

“I learned from the best and have decided to put it to good use.”

Napoleon Solo repeated the phrase once again to his partner,

“About time...

Comments

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Oh, very nicely done! Action both of the U.N.C.L.E. enforcement agent variety and the friends variety.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Appreciate the comment very much and glad you enjoyed the story.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

You left me guessing about the title until the very last line! About time is right. Enjoyed this. Thanks.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, well Napoleon did say in once in the beginning when IK arrived, the the one at the ending I suppose stands out for a different reasoin, Thanks for the comment and the help. Glad you liked it.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a good one. Nurse Precious might just volunteer for an extra shift.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Heeee thought you'd like that, 'Precious..." that raven-haired beauty. Thanks!