Unforeseeable Circumstances

By Summer

The Immortal The Next Generation

Season Two

Episode 7

Beta read by: Saura and Kathryn Ramage

Class: Slash

Pairing: Dom/Elijah

Based on the TV series, The Immortal

Rating: R (Violence and Strong language)

Special Appearances: Illya Kuryakin (Man From Uncle), Napoleon Solo (Man From Uncle), Mark Slate (From Girl from Uncle Series), and Sean Bean as Lt Shawn Dean, and Orlando Bloom as Orlando Mccay.

Disclaimer: I don’t own them. Nope. And making no profit what so ever. This is for fun only.

Part 1

Fletcher and Saxon Medical and Science Institute (California) : Building D

His disguise worked perfectly. Lt Shawn Dean walked nonchalantly down the long corridor and walked directly into an elevator. Pulling out his fake ID card, courtesy of The U.N.C.L.E, he pushed it into the small control panel and waited. Hearing a small beep, Dean punched in the number code and felt the elevator slowly make its way downwards. His disguise was a three piece dark blue suit with a red tie and a long white overcoat jacket that had the forged name of one of the men who worked in this building. A man who had vanished from his apartment that morning so Shawn could fill in his shoes; by the time the real Shagnon gets free, he will be long gone. His job of course was to get in and get out as fast as he could with what information he could get in the Computer archives room. Which was somewhere down in the third level. Should be a piece of cake.

A few seconds later, the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened to reveal an almost identical corridor, Dean had just left. Stepping off the platform, the doors closed noiselessly behind him. Looking around, Dean saw that the hall was completely empty. He didn’t have time to wonder why everything seemed so empty. Most office places were busy with personnel at this hour. Although in many ways this worked more to his advantage, until he saw the camera on the side panel. Figures, nothing could ever come easy. Still, Shawn had an easy solution to get rid of the camera. Staying close to the outer wall, Shawn inched his way towards the camera and once he was close enough he pulled out a small microchip and placed it just under the camera lens.

The soft sound of a fizz was heard, informing Shawn that the camera had been successfully neutralized, at least for the moment. Glancing at his watch, Shawn nodded; it was time for the changing of the guards and that would give him at least a few minutes, perhaps five minutes at the most, before they noticed the security camera malfunction.

Moving down towards the long hall, Dean could see several dozen doors leading into private offices and various lab rooms.

Though there were many, he was only looking for a certain one. Reaching the last door to his left, Dean read the label and smiled. Saxon’s private Archive computers room and Lab.

Seeing the small control unit on the side of the door, Dean pulled out his card and pushed it into the slot and then hit the coded numbers. The door made a small sound and then clicked.

Glancing around to make sure the coast was clear, Dean pushed open the door and stepped into the room.

***

U.N.C.L.E British HQ, London

Mark Slate stared at his watch and shook his head, before glancing up to look into the face of Napoleon Solo.

“He should have called by now,” muttered Napoleon, who was slowly getting aggravated, and readjusted his tie.

The British officer looked on at the dark-haired American and smiled, pushing his own worries aside for the moment. Napoleon had grown impatient in his senior years. The days of being President had made him anxious for instant results.

“Patience, mate. Give the bloke a little time,” he muttered, before taking a seat behind the desk. Napoleon shrugged and also took a seat beside his old comrade and friend, still looking worried and agitated.

“A lot is riding on this? Can you be sure the codes you were given are up to date and reliable?”

“99 Percent sure.”

Napoleon looked at the red-haired older gentleman and raised an eyebrow. Mark smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I always leave a small percentage for error.”

Without replying, Napoleon got back to his feet and paced the small office.

“Are you certain Doctor Shagnon is well secured?”

“The Doc is being well looked after by April. As soon as Shawn gets out, we'll release him and by the time he sounds the alarm it will be too late for Saxon or Raven to do anything.”

Napoleon wasn’t convinced. “What if someone looks at Shawn’s I.D. and sees that it is not the Doctor?”

“The Doctor only just arrived a week ago at the institute. I really think everything will go like clockwork.”

The former president of the United States paused to look outside the window. A park could be seen below. On the swings several children could be seen. One of them he recognized as his daughter, Rebecca.

She was seven and half now and looked better than she had for some time. The blood she had been given had made her strong again. He smiled in relief; from the last tests results, the cancer was in remission.

Thanks to Illya, his daughter would live. Provided she continued to get a blood transfusion from him every two to three months. Napoleon looked to his left and saw a blond-haired man dressed in a black turtle neck sweater and matching pants sitting quietly on a park bench, reading a newspaper, all the while keeping an eye on the little girl on the swing.

If this all worked out, Illya, his daughter and he would be taking the next plane to Geneva. There they would be setting up talks with several powerful world agencies that could benefit U.N.C.L.E. Even possibly bring U.N.C.L.E back to the United States.

But, what were the IIA up to? Somehow Napoleon knew that Thrush, their old nemesis was mixed up into this whole mysterious scheme with Saxon and Doctor Paul Raven. But no one could be certain what they were all up to.

That was why Lt Shawn Dean had been sent inside the belly of the beast.

The facts were all on the table, Napoleon knew that General Emerson and Doctor Paul Raven, both so-called former Thrush agents were in league with The Saxon Institute and the IIA. Napoleon also knew Emerson wanted to get his hands on The Richards family. In fact to get his hands on their precious Immortal blood. Napoleon also knew that the IIA had delved into some illegal underground contraband the past few years. Mostly weapons and highly explosive chemicals.

That was enough to put U.N.C.L.E Europe on alert. With no major United States agency to keep tabs on these developments, the powers at be, The United Nations, saw no reason to interfere. The IIA was a legalized branch that could delve into secret science and medical experiments without being questioned. They did not care who was part of their group as long as it brought results to helping and benefit the rest of the world. There was no knowing how deep THRUSH had penetrated the United Nations and how many corrupted officials were in place to even attempt to stop THRUSH. And, naturally some of the best leading doctors in the country worked for the IIA and The Saxon and Fletcher Science institute. There had been even talk of finding a real cure for Cancer.

Napoleon and U.N.C.L.E Europe smelled something fishy. For some time now, they had suspected that many of the agents within the IIA had crossed the line. Not only that, but had also allowed several unethical men come to work for them. Although it was all kept very hush, hush.

And a great deal of these men were turning out to be retired THRUSH agents. The arch enemy of U.N.C.L.E. An old world organization believed dead and disbanded back in the early 1970‘s.

Napoleon suspected THRUSH had regrouped itself and was rebuilding from within a legal stand point to promote themselves as squeaky clean. Keep themselves above reproach. Napoleon knew better, they were up to their old tricks. World Domination. That had to be what they were up to.

What and how they were going to do this was not known. The only connection they had at the moment, of the IIA united with THRUSH, was that Saxon, who was having secretive meetings with Emerson and Doctor Paul Raven. Nothing else to go on, except for intuition, Mark and Napoleon had devised a plan to infiltrate Saxon’s institute in an attempt to find out exactly what was going on.

Napoleon glanced at his watch and continued to stare out the window. For some reason, Napoleon felt that, depending on what Dean discovered, they were running out of time in preventing something diabolical from happening.

And until Napoleon knew exactly what they were up to he wouldn’t get a good night's rest.

***

Dean found the desk and the filing cabinets a total waste of his time. He could find nothing related to the IIA or even the Immortals. The small laptop in the corner part of the desk was his last resort. Taking a seat at the desk, Dean put the computer on and waited.

Automatically, the computer asked for a password. Dean, already anticipating this, took out a small wire with a small computer chip and inserted it into the hard drive. Using the mouse, he clicked on a small button and heard a small beep. He only had to wait a moment before the specialized U.N.C.L.E disk overrode the password.

‘U.N.C.L.E, certainly has some interesting gadgets.’ Thought Shawn. Several folders popped up and Dean quickly scrolled down, reading them as he went. The second to the last file caught his attention. It read Destructive Virus.

Clicking on the word, the computer popped up another password request. Fortunately the special equipment from U.N.C.L.E overrode that as well in a matter of seconds.

Finally a document appeared and, reading just a few paragraphs, Dean gasped in surprise, his eyebrows drawing together in shock.

“You have got to be kidding me. Jesus…”

He took out a blank disk and quickly inserted it into the laptop C drive and copied the document. Leaving that folder, Dean went to the last folder and read the all too brief title. Project Immortals. He couldn’t pass this up and clicked on that as well.

Glancing at his watch and realizing he didn‘t have much time to even look at it, Dean simply copied that document and then pulled out the disk and removed the special U.N.C.L.E gadget off the hard drive. He then shut the laptop down and got to his feet.

Hurrying out the door, Dean was just closing the door behind him and placing the disk into his pocket when someone slammed right into him.

***

The young man, with dark brown hair and matching liquid eyes, had not watched where he was going and wound up slamming into a tall figure. The folders in his hand went flying and hit the ground hard, with the strange man landing right on top of him.

When the young man looked up, he saw an older man with blondish hair and emerald eyes. He had a weathered face and was drop dead handsome, rugged look that certainly gave him character. He was quite startled as he recognized this face…from his dreams.

Dean stared down at the young lad before him, who couldn’t be more than in his mid to late twenties.

“Sorry. I tend to be a bit clumsy.” Recovering from his surprise the young man underneath him found his voice, who had a hint of an accent that sounded Irish and British. The lad‘s tone seemed far younger than his years and those startling brown eyes were wide with innocence.

Getting to his feet, Dean helped the young man, who in return couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of him.

“It was my fault.” Dean quickly glanced up and down the hall, but seeing it was still clear, he nodded.

“No, no, it was mine…I should have been watching where I was going. I--do I know you?” The younger man blushed slightly and slowly looked down at his feet for a few seconds before his eyes came back up to look Shawn directly in the eyes. Yes, this was the man he had seen in his dreams. Just two weeks ago. A reoccurring dream that haunted him every night since.

The dream was always the same, Orlando would find himself on his knees, feeling frightened for his life and his hands were up in the air. He was in danger as two unknown men prepared to shoot him in the back and then…this man would appear behind those men. The stranger would shoot those men and then…then he woke up.

Dean thought fast and smiled, slightly amused to see the lad seemed to be awkward around him. “No, I just started today.”

“Oh,” Glancing at the older man’s I.D. he smiled. “Doctor Shagnon. I started a few weeks ago too. My name is Orlando Mccay. But most people call me Orli.” He then gave Dean a smile that revealed pearly white teeth. Dean looked at the young man and then bent down and began to help this Orlando with the paperwork he dropped all over the floor.

“Thanks. I, ah, work in the lab down the hall. Mostly boring stuff, like hair products and the results on rats and mice. It is like giving them a free spa treatment.” The lad then proceeded to chuckle and Dean narrowed his eyes; he didn‘t have time for this small talk. He had to get out of here fast. That was when Dean noticed something else. The way the young man touched his hand lightly, as they retrieved the rest of the papers and folders, the way his brown eyes glanced at him timidly under the long lashes.

“Fascinating.” Sean replied, all the while trying to figure the young man out. Was he trying to delay his escape or…really flirting with him?

“And you work?” Orlando looked at the door that the stranger came out from. “Are you Saxon’s new lab assistant?” Collecting the last of the papers, Orlando put the folders together in an unorganized heap.

Dean cleared his thoughts and looked up and down the hall. Still clear, he had to get going. “I have to go. Sorry. Maybe we can talk another time.”

Dean did a quick walk around Orlando and headed for the elevator. Orlando quickly followed behind him.

“That must be awesome. I never met Mr. Saxon. Well, I have seen him around with that beautiful new wife of his. But we never met. So, you’re new. Ah, unmarried? Single?”

Dean continued walking, but gave the young man an odd and yet amused and questioning look.

“I didn’t see a ring? Girlfriend?” Not getting a reply, Orlando tried something else. “Boyfriend?”

Dean punched the elevator door and thankfully it opened at once. He stepped inside, almost sighing in relief.

Orlando blinked and looked at Dean with an almost longing look. “Here’s my number.”

And before the doors closed, Orlando placed a small white piece of paper into his hand. After the door closed, Orli stared at the closed doors and licked his lips. Now, that guy was hot! Although, Orlando had to smile, whoever the guy was he was not Doctor Shagnon. After all, he had been ordered to assist the doc three days ago. Not that Orlando really liked Doctor Shadnon, who was always shouting at him for being so clumsy.

Whatever was going on, Orlando wasn’t exactly sure he wanted to know, especially with whatever happened to the real Doctor. And yet, a part of him hoped that he would get another chance to meet this…imposter. Turning on his heel, Orlando decided to head to the lab and take a look and see what this guy was up to. Couldn’t hurt?

***

Dean stared at the white piece of paper with an raised eyebrow. After a long moment, it finally hit him what the lad had done. He shook his head and started to laugh. Then in an after thought he put the paper into his pocket.

Dean waited for the elevators to come to a stop and when the doors opened, he made for the exit. He did not look back.

***

Orlando sat down at the computer and looked it over. No matter what he tried to do in the past three minutes, he couldn’t seem to bypass the security code. Shaking his head, Orlando was just about to give up and head back to his lab, when he heard the door open.

“Don’t move!” shouted a firm and angry masculine voice.

Looking up, Orlando saw two security men enter the room, they had a gun in each of their hands. He swallowed and slowly got to his feet with his hands raised in the air. He recognized the security men at once as the same men he had seen in his dreams. The ones that were going to shoot him.

Ooops.

***

U.N.C.L.E British HQ London

Napoleon was summoned to the main office. Leaving his daughter in the care of one of the secretaries, Napoleon took his partner Illya Kuryakin with him. Entering the office, Napoleon and Illya could see Mark was on the phone.

“When did this happen?” Mark cursed loudly, and then hung up the phone with a bang.

“What happened?”

Mark sighed and shook his head at his two old comrades. “He escaped. Seems April, the old girl, is getting a bit slow and the guy got away. She was able to catch him but not before he made a phone call.”

“Where is Shawn?” asked Illya.

Mark held out his hands and shrugged. “Don’t know.”

Illya glanced at Napoleon and folded his arms around his chest. “I knew I should have gone in myself.”

Napoleon only shook his head. “Not now Illya, right now let’s see if..” He stopped in mid-sentence when a loud wail filled the office.

All three men recognized the whistle as the communicator device formally used by U.N.C.L.E back in the 1960’s. Although communication devices had changed since then, Mark had given out a select few to certain agents. Including Shawn Dean. Mark grabbed for the U.N.C.L.E. Pen lying on his desk and flipped off the cap and twisted the outer part of the pen.

“Opening channel E….Shawn?”

“Hi. Yeah, it's me.”

***

Shawn got into the car and closed the door behind him. Safely inside he prepared to start the engine all the while holding the secret pen that was really a communication device given to him by Mark before he left the HQ office in London three days ago. It was really the coolest thing he had ever seen.

“Just letting you know, I got in and everything is a done deal.”

“You have it all on the disk?”

“That I do. I should be at the airport in twenty minutes and on my way back to London within the hour.”

“Great. We’ll be waiting.”

Shawn closed the channel and then, patting the pocket where he held the disk, he turned on the engine and was just about to put the car in drive when something caught his attention out the corner of his eye.

Three men were exiting the building he had just entered. Two men were holding guns over the third man. A familiar third man. The young man he had run into on the third level. The lad was being taken not to the security office but to the back of the building.

'Forget it,' thought Dean. 'Just go. You have more important things to be doing than…' Shawn sighed when he saw one of the security men give the lad a hard shove that sent him sprawling onto the ground. They then roughly picked him up and continued to lead him away to the back of the building.

Nothing was back there…except trash and waste—the perfect place to get rid of a problem without any witnesses.

Shawn swore softly under his breath and put the car back into park.

***

“What are you doing? I didn’t do anything? Look,” Orlando turned to the men and felt his back connect against a concrete wall. “Call the police but I am telling you--”

The security men only stared back in cold silence; the expressions on their faces completely unnerved Orlando.

It was then that Orlando realized what they were about to do. His nightmarish dream was about to come true. “You can’t do this! You can’t…what…I didn’t--this is insane!

The darker security guard pointed the gun. “We have our orders…kill any intruders. Turn around and count to ten…”

Orlando took a sharp breath. They were kidding, they weren’t really going to--? This was NOT happening.

“Turn around!” The light haired security guard sent a fist into Orlando’s chest. Doubling over, Orlando fell back gasping in shock, real fear filling his eyes.

They were! They were going to shoot him. They were going to kill him.

“Now!”

Orlando swallowed and slowly started to turn to beg and plead for his life if it was necessary. He didn‘t want to die like this.

“Count.”

Orlando barely held back a sob, his legs began to buckle and he found himself slowly going to his knees. ‘Please, please-’ he thought madly, ‘let the other part of my dream come true.’

“one--tttwwo--thre--.”

Two popping sounds came from behind him and then two loud thuds, like bodies falling? Orlando whirled around and saw the two security men lying on the ground on their stomachs, a gun still held in each of their hands.

Orlando swallowed and got to his feet still shaking from the shock of it all. A man stood right behind them, no longer wearing a white coat and in his hand he held a gun with a silencer, he knew this stranger though.

Before Orlando could say anything to the imposter he had met in Shagnon’s lab, and the man from his dreams, the man stepped forward and grabbed Orlando by the arm.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Orlando didn’t even hesitate and followed the stranger into a nearby car and he was just closing the door and putting on his seat belt when the sound of an alarm outside filled the air.

Shawn started the engine and slamming the car into drive he pushed down on the gas petal and made for the gates.

“Get down!” he shouted, just as Orlando saw the gates were closing and several security men coming out of the guard house with guns in their hands. They fired several shots. One of the shots hit the back window, just missing Shawn’s head. The second shot hit the mirror, shattering it into a thousand fragments, falling on Orlando’s back and head.

Shawn didn’t stop and slammed into the gates, throwing two security guards off balance and into a nearby ditch. Shawn continued down the road at top speed, he didn’t look back.

***

The plane lifted off and only when they were in the air did Shawn start to relax. He needed a drink and quickly made himself a shot of whiskey.

Glancing at his still scared, unexpected passenger, Shawn made him a drink too.

“Here….it will calm your nerves.”

Orlando took the drink but continued to stare at his hands and feet. Apparently the lad still didn‘t know what to make of all this. Well, Shawn probably suspected the young man had never been almost executed for just being too nosey.

“Next time, remember curiosity killed the cat.”

Finally facing the stranger, Orlando couldn‘t help himself to ask him a question. “I don't know what's going on. I don't know why they tried to kill me. You must know it–you knew they were going to bloody execute me! Tell me why! I've been in the lab helping Doctor Shagnon and now I'm a stranger they need to be get rid of!"

Shawn blinked when the lad finished that last part. “You…”

“Sure. I am Doctor Shagnon’s assistant. But don't worry; I didn't say anything about you in there. I suppose you are from… what? The FBI?"

Shawn smiled and sat down beside Orlando. “I can’t go into details, however..” He took out his badge and showed it to Orlando.

Orlando’s mouth opened in awe and blinking he smiled and looked at Shawn with new worshipping eyes. “YOU work for the U.N.C.L.E? Ohmyfuckinggod that is totally awesome! I mean…” He swallowed and softened his voice trying to appear far more worldy than he really was, which for some reason really endeared Shawn to the lad. “Cool. I figured that Shagnon and Saxon weren’t really up to legal standards. I mean, just look at their health benefits package.”

Shawn smiled at the young man and shook his head. “As soon as we land in London, I’ll see about getting you back home.”

Orlando shrugged; relaxing, he leaned back in his seat and took a sip of his whiskey. “No rush, I mean you may have to put me in protective custody and all that and keep an eye on me and everything… besides, I don’t have any family. My mom died in Ireland five years ago and she was all I really had in this world.” Orlando paused and smiled. “Secret agent…that is just…okay, well so what is your name anyway? I mean your real name?”

Shawn couldn’t help but chuckle, this lad was indeed too curious for his own good and yet, Shawn found he was really likeable.

“Shawn, Shawn Dean.”

“Shawn…Hi…I am Orlando Maccay…”

“I know your name already, Orlando.” Shawn replied taking another sip of his drink.

“Yeah…I just wanted to tell you again. That’s all.”

Shawn now laughed and closed his eyes. “Get some sleep, Orlando; we have a few hours before we get to Heathrow.”

The young man smiled at Shawn and replied softly. “Orli…I like to be called Orli.”

Shawn sighed but refused to open his eyes.  He needed a nap. “Orlando…go to sleep. We’ll talk later.”

Orlando nodded, and though he stopped talking he continued to stare at Shawn with eyes that spoke more than words could ever say.

***

Fletcher Estates

The Security guard waved him in with barely a nod. Funny, he didn’t remember the guy and yet the guard seemed to know him. Seated in the back seat of the cab, Dominic Fletcher stared at the open gates, seated in the back seat of the cab, and looked on at the mansion. Home. He was home and instead of feeling content about that, after all his sleeping in a car and a lot of times on the ground the past few months he should be happy to finally be able to get a chance to sleep in a real bed, or more to the point his bed. It should have made him happy.

It didn’t.

Dom was still feeling lonely and completely depressed. He had left Elijah with nothing but a note. No explanation why he had to leave. He had thought about it long and hard and in the end, Dom knew that if he told Elijah about the run-in with his Aunt and his reason for returning home, Elijah would have come with him.

Here. Right into the hands of the enemy. No, no matter how hurt Elijah was with his leaving, it was better and safer that Elijah went to Greece to find Jason Richards. It was time he, Dominic Fletcher, stopped running and come finally face to face with his past. Once and for all.

Dominic got out of the cab and, paying the man, he slung his duffle bag over his shoulders and headed for the entrance. He glanced around the estate and saw several security men but none of them even gave him a glance. The sound of the gate closing caused him to glance back. Three security guards now stood in front of it.

Great, he could get in but no getting out. Figures.

He was not surprised to find the door to the mansion unlocked. Stepping inside and wearily glancing around the room, Dom paused and waited. Nothing. No one was here to greet him?

Odd.

Where was Vincent? Closing the door behind him, Dominic was about to head for the stairs when he heard footsteps coming from down the hall. The study.

Dom put down the duffle bag and moving away from the stairs, he headed down the hall towards the den.

“Vincent?” Dom paused at the door, not receiving an answer he opened the door and started inside. The next thing he knew he felt an arm wrap around his neck.

“Hello, kiddo. Welcome home.”

Released and spun around, Dom’s eyes widened in shock to see Viggo Morton standing by the door with a pistol pointed right at his chest.

Dominic swallowed and went to speak when Viggo fired one clean shot. The dart hit him just under his shoulder. Gasping, Dominic took several steps back and fell to his knees onto the rug. A burning sensation ran up his arm and than a wave of heat followed all over his body.

“We’ve been waiting for you.” That was the last thing Dominic heard before he blacked out.

***

“Dominic? Can you hear me? Master Dominic? How strong was that dosage you gave him Viggo?”

“Not much, look he’s coming around now, Vincent.”

He moaned and tried to open his eyes. Dominic was lying on a couch…in the study, he guessed, and was trying to sit up but couldn’t seem to find any strength to do so. He felt dazed and shaky. The blond was also sure his head was going to pop off any second. Either that or he was going to die. Waves of nausea followed and he felt sick, really sick.

Vincent swore angrily and grabbed a nearby bowl where Dominic emptied out the contents of his last meal.

“Get me a towel…and some water…NOW,” ordered Vincent.

Viggo shrugged and did as Vincent bid. He returned to see Vincent sitting next to Dominic, rubbing the boy's back gently. He handed over the towel and water, and Vincent at once cleaned the boy's face and mouth and then offered the water.

Dominic sipped it and then pushed it away. He blinked and then, looking a little less green, managed to open his eyes and stare at the two men.

“What the hell?” Dom started and then stopped when he saw Vincent get to his feet and moved towards his desk. “You didn’t have to shoot me, for crying out loud…I came walking in here. What did you expect me to do? Run away?”

Viggo shrugged, moving to join Vincent by the desk. “You could have had a weapon. I needed to make sure and you and your friends have caused me plenty of grief. I didn’t want to be taking any more chances.”

Dom turned at Viggo and glared at him. “Fuck you!”

Then he turned back to Vincent, to see his Master and old mentor just looking at him with almost a bemused expression on his face. "This guy nearly killed me! What the hell are you keeping him around for? What are you doing with him!?”

Vincent only shook his head, turning the conversation to the important issue. “Where is Elijah?”

Dom paused and looking at Viggo for a full second, he looked back at Vincent. “Vincent, I came home because I need to talk to dad. I mean it. I need to talk to him…it’s important.”

Vincent didn’t even blink and replied more firmly. “Where-- is-- Elijah?”

“Didn’t you hear me?” Dom replied, he tried to stand up but his legs were far too shaky and he returned to the couch. “I need to talk to dad.”

“And I won’t ask again….Where is Elijah?”

Dom felt his jaw’s clench and he glanced at Viggo and then sighed. “Australia…he had a lead to find Jason Richards. Sidney. Now. Where is my father so I can talk to him!”, Dom yelled angrily.

Vincent took a deep breath and nodded at Viggo, turning to face the other man, Dom watched as Viggo moved to the side of the room and brought back a small black box. Vincent opened it and produced a sharp needle and a small bottle with white liquid in it.

Dom swallowed and watched as he loaded the needle.

“Vincent, please…I need to talk to dad. Aunt Liz…I saw her and she said some things. I can’t really..”

Viggo came up behind him and placed him in a headlock. Vincent rose and started towards Dom. The needle was loaded and in his hand, ready.

“Vincent, please…Don’t do this.” Dominic tried to struggle but Viggo’s hold kept him in place.

Vincent grabbed Dom’s neck and prepared to insert the needle. Dom licked his lips, thinking fast.

“Aunt Liz said that my mom had an affair with some man named David. I have to talk to Dad. Please!”

Vincent was just about to push in the needle and paused before he lowered the needle. Vincent then looked down at Dom, his eyes narrowed in confusion as if in debate what he should do next.

“Release him.” Viggo looked on at his boss with uncertainty and then did as he ordered. “Wait outside.” Viggo looked at the two of them and then with a shrug headed out the door.

Once the door was closed, Viggo moved back towards the desk and put the loaded needle back into the black box.

Facing Dominic, Vincent crossed his arms around his chest and shook his head.

“Start from the beginning? Was this in Hawaii?”

Dom didn’t look up, but nodded, and after a moment he started talking about his meeting with his Aunt Liz and the conversation they had. When he finished he added softly. “I left Elijah and the others and came here. I need to talk to dad and to know…I don’t want to believe it Vincent. But…”

Suddenly, Vincent was sitting next to Dominic. Although he did not touch him, Dominic could feel the protectiveness that Vincent once had over his pupil return.

“You were a fool to come back here. I have a job to do, Dominic.”

“I know that.”

“I have my orders to find Elijah Chevalier at any cost. Even if I have to go through you to do it. Your father will stop at nothing to get his hands on Elijah. You know this? When you turned sides did you think everything out so clearly?”

Dom met Vincent’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn't want to go against you Vincent. Or my dad. But, I love Elijah. I love him with all my heart…I couldn't betray him and deliver him like he was some kind of precious artifact. He is a human being! It's something that you might have chosen to forget, but that I can't!”

Vincent shrugged. “You know your father won’t hurt him. He would have kept to his deal with you and you would have both been together.”

Dom sighed and looked away. “In a cage. Even a cage made of gold is nothing but a prison, I couldn’t do that to him.”

“You know because of what you have done, Fletcher will not keep to his part of the deal now. He will do as he pleases with Elijah. Whatever deal you had is now void.”

Dom nodded slowly. “He’s pretty pissed huh?”

“That is an understatement.” When Dom met Vincent’s face he could see a small smile curled on his lips. Dom smiled slightly and then looked down at his hands and feet before rubbing his head with his fingers. He didn’t feel as sick as before but his head was still ringing.

“This wasn’t some minor transgression you committed. No broken window that you have to fix or…oh, Dominic. What am I going to do with you, boy? I told you from the start this wasn’t a game. This was for real!”

Sighing, Dominic didn’t dispute that fact. “I know that now. But my love for Elijah was, and still is, stronger than anything. I was a fool to have betrayed Elijah in the first place. I made so many mistakes…but joining him to help him stay free, was the right thing to do.”

Getting back to his feet, Vincent circled the room and then stopped and turned back to the young man to see deep sadness filling the boy's face. "Master Dominic?”

“Do you hate me, Vincent?”

Vincent was stunned by this question and then slowly he smiled. “Of course not. I don’t hate you, Dominic. I don’t hate Jericho or Elijah. But, I made a vow, and I have to keep my word, because my honor goes with it"

“He wants to be free, that’s all. To be able to do what he wants. Why can’t he?”

Vincent would not be baited. “You know why. Because he can still be killed by some fool or psychopath…because other greedy men will try and take him and they won’t be as kind or gentle as your father. Saxon for instance.”

“It’s not fair.” replied Dom.

“Life is seldom fair, Master Dominic. Listen; just tell me where Elijah is. I’ll go and get him myself and make sure he isn’t hurt. I’ll bring him here and we can talk to your father together and try and work something out.”

Dominic closed his eyes. “I can’t.”

“I will do whatever it takes to get to Elijah, even if I have to use drugs and even torture you to do it.”

Dominic reopened his eyes and looked at Vincent in shock. He wouldn’t. Would he?

"There are many ways to get out information from even the most unwillingly person, Master Dominic, and I am trained in every single one of them. I would use them all on you, if I have to, but I won't kill you because dead you wouldn't be able to tell me where Elijah Chevalier is. It's your choice to tell me now, or to know how to extract information from a prisoner, Master Dominic."

He slowly got to his feet; still a bit shaky Dominic stood in front of Vincent and held out his hands to him. “Call dad. Let me talk to him. Please. I just need to talk to him.”

Vincent sighed softly and seeing that Dom was still shaky from the drugs in his system Vincent pushed him back gently onto the couch and turning back towards the desk he went to the phone. He paused for a long moment and then started to dial a number.

***

“Your move, Ben.”

Steel Fletcher sat quietly in front of a table. A chess game was set up before him and sitting opposite him was Ben Richards. Ben Richards looked, for all purposes completely unharmed, and in good health. His clothes though were loose fitting were clean and wrinkle free. Ben also had no bruises or had received any injuries since his incarceration. None of that could be said for the guards who had been often beaten to a bloody pulp in his attempts to escape. Naturally all his escapes had proved fruitless in the end. Still even for all that, Ben had not been harmed. Fletcher’s orders. Ben’s feet however were currently chained to the floor and his left hand was chained to the arm of a chair. He did have one free hand, in which he currently held a drink, he put it down and then moved his pawn forward onto the board.

Fletcher seemed to preen in glee and moved his knight forward taking the pawn. Leaning back in his wheelchair, Fletcher seemed to also look in good health; in fact he looked younger than his 60 years of age. But then, that is the gift Ben’s Immortal blood in which he was receiving monthly dosages.

Ben of course was never harmed during the process, Ben allowed the procedures with the promise of that by doing this they would leave Elijah alone.

Fletcher was now reaping the benefits of the blood by not only surviving surgery but also looking young and strong again. His heart was as strong if not stronger than any 30 year old man's. The Immortal's blood however could not return the use of his legs, but he hadn’t felt this good in a long time. A very long time indeed.

He had placed Ben here on a secured and secret island. For his own safety of course, since Saxon had declared an all outright war upon his partner and for some absurd reason was trying to kill Ben and Jason Richards. Fletcher would not allow that to happen. Never. So, he had brought Ben here to be safe guarded as well as imprisoned. Not that it was all that bad; it was almost a resort in some ways. Ben had freedom to travel the entire island. There was nothing that Fletcher denied Ben, except of course his freedom.

“You are not concentrating, Ben. There, Check.”

Ben didn’t speak. He only looked at the board and then away towards the window. He sighed softly and then looked back at Fletcher.

“What is wrong now, Ben? Or do I need to ask? Restless? Perhaps a jog around the island might help?”

Ben gritted his teeth barely holding back his anger. He then lowered his eyes and shook his head. “Have you heard anything about Elijah? Is he okay?”

“I am certain the boy is perfectly fine. After all, he has such a wonderful group of friends now that will fight and protect him to the very end. Including my own son.”

Ben swallowed and tried again for what seemed the millionth time. “Please leave him alone. Let him go.”

Fletcher didn’t even laugh, though his eyes danced in amusement. He just shook his head. “No, Ben. He is not safe, so long as Saxon is on the loose. I need to get him and quickly. It is for his own good. You know this and I will not discuss it any further.”

“He’s just a child.”

“We have been over this, Ben. Enough, I won‘t discuss it anymore with you.” Pulling away from the table, Fletcher moved the wheelchair towards the door.

“Please, please, Fletcher, my son needs me. You promised!”

It was the small voice of desperation that made Fletcher stop. He had never heard Ben beg before. Never. Until now. For some reason it unsettled him.

“The men are treating you well, I hope? Any problems, just tell Stevens. He’ll take care of it.”

“Fletcher…Steel…”

Fletcher almost made it out the door and finally stopped and turned back towards Ben. He was still seated in the chair, but his eyes were filled with tears.

“You’ve lost too much weight, Ben. You must eat more and you look tired. Try to get some rest, and I will be back to see you in a few weeks.”

“Fletcher!” Ben called but Fletcher had already left the room with a security guard closing the door behind him.

***

Looking at the guard, Fletcher nodded. “What was the name of that Security guard that prevented Ben from escaping in that boat yesterday?”

The guard smiled and nodded. “That was me, Sir. John Harlan.”

Fletcher didn’t even blink. “You're fired.”

The smiling guard dropped his grin and stared at his boss in shock. “What?”

“I saw the monitors and you used excessive force, more than was necessary. You had already drugged him and didn’t need to hit him. I will not have Ben Richards damaged in any way. So, you are fired! Take your pay check and GO!”

Without a glance, Fletcher was rolling down the hall where Doctor Stevens and another security guard was waiting.

As Fletcher rolled past him, Stevens and the guard followed after him.

“Lt Readman, I hope in the future the men you hire will have more self control.”

“Harlan can be over-zealous. I am sorry about that, Sir. It won’t happen again.”

“It better not, for your sake. I allow only one mistake; you make one more and your you're through. No exceptions. Ben Richards is priceless to me and I will not have him treated like he was some common piece of meat to be manhandled by a bunch of Military wannabe rejects.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Fletcher dismissed the man, and headed down another corridor that took him to two huge doors. A guard, seeing the men, opened the door and Fletcher arrived just outside the building and onto a porch that overlooked a bunch of rocks and a small sandy beach. In the distance he could see a boat slowly making its way towards a set of docks off to his left.

“Doctor Stevens.”

“Yes, Mr. Fletcher.”

“I want a full report on Ben’s condition.”

“He’s fine, Sir.”

“I won’t ask again, Doctor Stevens,” growled Fletcher.

Doctor Stevens nodded and, taking a step, forward gave his report.

“His health is fine, I have checked him over and though he has lost ten pounds since his incarceration, it is really nothing to be concerned about.”

“Ten pounds? Nothing to be concerned about? But, it does concern me, Doctor. Why is Ben not being fed?”

“He is! He just won’t eat. Not much anyway. I can force the issue but…we could cause more harm then good.”

“I see, and his mental state?”

“Sharp but--”

“Yes.”

“He’s depressed.”

“Understandably in the circumstances. What can be done?”

“Not much, Sir, short of letting him go.” Steven’s laughed lightly, enjoying his little joke. Fletcher didn’t laugh and the Doctor stopped laughing. “Nothing really, Sir. Although once his son is brought to him I am certain he will do better.”

“Very well. Continue to monitor Ben and see to it that he is not harmed.”

“Yes, Sir.” Fletcher watched as the boat arrived at the docks and slowly made his way towards it.

***

He watched as the island slowly grew out of sight. They would arrive at the oil tank in an hour where a helicopter will be waiting to take him to his current hideaway. He hated hiding but for the moment with a bounty of his head, thanks to Saxon, he really didn’t have much choice.

Fletcher detested this game and wanted to end it. He wanted Saxon dead and he most certainly wanted his company back. There was no knowing what Saxon was doing to the Science Institute.

“Excuse me, Sir. Mr. Fletcher.”

Fletcher turned to see the captain standing before him, in his hands he held out a phone.

“You have a phone call.”

***

Vincent turned and handed Dominic the phone.

“Father…”

“Son.” Fletcher replied, but not in a loving way; it was said in a tone that had more than a touch of annoyance and barely suppressed anger.

“Please…I need to see you.”

“Really? And what for? Have you had a change of heart? Like your change of heart when you and I were suppose to have a deal?”

“Dad, don’t…Please I need to talk to you. For once, put away the hunter and business man and be a father. I need to talk to you. It’s about mom.”

Fletcher sighed and glanced out at the ocean. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“What about Anna?”

“I--I…Who is David?” Dominic asked softly.

Fletcher thought he had been kicked in the stomach and paled slightly.

“What did you just say?”

“Who is David? Aunt Liz…I spoke to her and she said…I mean…Dad?” His voice was filled with pain and anguish, confusion. Fletcher could sense every forced word coming from his son‘s voice was in complete distress.

Fletcher lowered the phone and tilted his head forward. His hand touched his forehead and he shook his head as he thought out his next move. After a long moment, he swallowed and spoke.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

At once, Vincent hit the intercom overhearing this last bit and spoke into the speaker. “Do you think that is wise, Sir? I could bring the boy to you.”

Fletcher only set his jaw and hissed angrily in the phone. “I will be there as soon as I can to talk to my son. Do nothing else.”

He hung up the phone with a bang and turned to the Captain with new orders.

***

Vincent put down the phone and faced Dominic. “He shouldn't be coming here with Saxon putting out a bounty out on him. He must love you to come and risk himself."

At once, the pain and fear inside Dominic seemed to lessen somewhat and that brought Vincent some relief as well.

Before he could speak the sound of a crash was heard, followed by a lot of screaming and yelling out in the hall.

Both Dominic and Vincent headed out into the hallway to see Viggo helping up a man on the floor. Beside the man was an overturned tray of food and a slumped form of a beautiful young oriental woman.

Dominic ran over and looked down to see who the woman was.

“Her! She…Vincent. She tried to kill Elijah and Jericho! What is she doing here? Who is she? Did dad hire her?”

Vincent only shook his head and stared at Viggo for an explanation.

“Sorry. She got out of her cell and tried to escape.” Said Viggo.

Pulling the woman onto her back, Vincent gently pulled out the sleep dart in her shoulder and then took her into his arms as carefully as he could and slowly led her towards a staircase that led downstairs.

Dominic followed Vincent down the stairs and into another long but dark hallway. It led to a small doorway. Vincent kicked the door open and entered. Dominic followed in to see the room was more or less a real cell. The walls were all in concrete including the floor. No windows and one bunk bed, in which Vincent was placing her.

“Is this what Elijah can expect?” asked Dom, staring at horror at this very small room. Vincent turned to Dominic and for the first time Dom could see anger in his mentor’s eyes.

“It is only temporary. I will not have her stay here in this place but I cannot put her anywhere else. She would know how to escape and I can’t allow that.”

Grabbing Dominic’s arm he led him back out of the room, where Vincent closed the door to the room and locked it once more. A guard was waiting for them in the hallway.

“Don’t open that door again. Under any circumstances. I will see to her when she awakes myself. Come with me,” replied Vincent, once more grabbing Dominic’s arm and leading him back to the staircase.

***

Dominic sat back down on the couch and watched as Vincent made himself a drink. Viggo had followed them and plucked himself down in a chair where he held out a green apple and proceeded to take out a long knife

After Vincent downed a fine golden scotch, Dominic repeated his question. “Who is she? And why are you keeping her here?”

Vincent shrugged. “Because if I let her go, she will kill you, Jericho and your other friends to get her hands on Elijah and to deliver him to Saxon. I cannot and will not allow that. So she stays here where I can keep them and her safe.”

Dominic was truly confused now. “I don’t understand. Why? Why not just kill her and be done with it? Then she can’t harm anyone?”

Vincent gulped the last of the scotch and putting it down; he stared at Dominic and gave him the answer he sought.

“Because she is my daughter.”

***

2

She lowered the window and showed her pass key to the security guard inside her car and smiled up at him. He looked over her security card and the pass key and checked his board before looking back at the silver haired lady, wearing dark sunglasses.

“Mr. Caesar said that all personnel were to be dismissed for the next few weeks.” The security guard asseverated, looking suspicious at the woman.

“He made a special call and asked me to come back. He said that Master Dominic was home and needed to have some home made meals. You may call him you like.” Seeing him about to pick up the phone, she added. “Although he may be upset if I am delayed and don’t get supper done on time. You don’t really need this job, do you?”

The guard had seen the woman here the past week and everything did check out; he paused one long moment in debate and then put down the phone and opened the gates.

With a smile and wave, the woman moved the car into the estate. She found a parking spot in the back of the house and once she shut off the car, she pulled open the glove compartment and took out the gun; making certain it was loaded, she put it into her bag of groceries.

A moment later with a bag in her arms, she headed for the servant entrance to the kitchen.

***

Still in the study, Dominic was taking two Tylenols with a glass filled with water, all the while watching Vincent put the black box with the needle away behind the shelf.

Vincent then moved to the window and stared out at the estate. Viggo was still sitting in a nearby chair and was beginning to peel the apple skin slowly.

“Your daughter? You have a daughter?”

“Yes. I thought she died along with my wife many years ago.”

“But, Dad saved them? Right?”

“He saved them in order to keep me. Yes. But, my wife was frail and…It does not matter. What matters now is my daughter. I must keep her safe.”

Dominic chuckled but it was more out of frustration than amusement, then paused and thought about his own father and doubts and shrugged. “Yeah, right, keep her safe. I think she can handle herself pretty well. Considering. Have you told her?”

Vincent shook his head. “I will.”

“Then what?” asked the young man, anger slowly rising again in his tone.

“I hope to learn what I can…what Saxon wanted her to do…and then talk her out of it.”

“And if you can’t?”

“Then I will take her someplace where she can’t cause any harm…to others or to herself.”

Dominic watched as Viggo peeled the apple. He did it in such a way that it sort of unnerved Dominic, especially the way Viggo seemed fully concentrated on that apple. As if it was an insect and not a fruit. As if it was the most fascinating object in the world.

“What is there to learn? Saxon hired her to kill us and bring back Elijah for himself. Done, that is all you need to know,” replied Dominic, his voice now impatient. When was his father going to get here?

Vincent only shrugged. “Master Dominic, for once think before speaking.” Turning and seeing Dom’s confusion, Vincent tried to explain. “Surely you know that there is so much more than just kidnapping Elijah for his blood.”

It was only then that Viggo’s head snapped up. Blood?

“Saxon has joined forces with several very important men.” said Vincent.

“The IIA?” asked Dominic.

“And Doctor Paul Raven,” filled in Vincent without missing a beat.

“So what? They all want to live forever? Doesn‘t everybody?” asked Dominic.

Vincent moved to the desk and picking up a folder he handed it to Dominic.

“Read it.”

Dom opened the file. All he found was a slip of paper marked Project V.

“What is this?”

“A file…a folder concerning the topic or a project that Saxon, Raven and the IIA with The Institute are supposedly working on. A project they call V. V as if for Virus.”

Dom still wasn’t getting it. He stared at the folder to see a small slip of paper that showed a full body with several sentences on it.

“So? What has this to do with Elijah?”

Vincent grabbed the folder from Dominic and threw it back onto his desk. “I don’t know!” He roared. “I don’t know. I have been trying to find that out and have come up with one brick wall after the other. I just know that it has something to do with Elijah and possibly a third party.”

“Third party?”

“Yes….it seems that Saxon and Raven have been hiring certain people at the institute the past few months. People with unsavory backgrounds. Underworld types that are not in it for immortality. Destruction, murder, sabotage, terrorism and even domination.”

Dominic slipped out the word before he realized it. “THRUSH?”

Vincent now looked at the boy in a new light. “You have heard of them?”

“Yeah…Illya…I mean, Mr. Kuryakin ah, Jericho’s Uncle, ah Cousin-- whatever…he used to work for an agency called U.N.C.L.E and that organization use to run up against this THRUSH. But they died out back in the seventies I guess.”

Vincent raised one eyebrow. “Did they?”

“I don’t know, you tell me?” the blond asked, now defensive and angry but at who exactly even he wasn’t sure.

Vincent faced Viggo, who now was cutting his apple in halves.

“Viggo do you know anything about this THRUSH?”

Viggo smiled lightly and popped a piece of the apple in his mouth. Chewing on it for a bit, he swallowed it. “I’ve heard of them. I think I even was hired by one of two men that use to work in that organization in the past. Rather inhospitable types. Bloodthirsty too. No sense of morals and no conscience. They kill for the pleasure as well as the means to an end. I don’t like them much. They are not reliable or trustworthy. In fact the last one I worked for I had to kill him. Well, it was either him or me.”, he shrugged nonchalantly.

Taking a seat beside Dominic, Vincent folded his hands together and tried to think.

Dominic watched him for a moment and sighed. “So, you think Saxon is in league with this organization…to get Elijah? But, why would he want to kill Ben or Jason? Why does he just want Elijah alive? Surely, Saxon knows Elijah couldn’t supply them with enough blood for all of them to gain immortality? Right?”

Vincent nodded. “Which means, they are not out to get Immortality from Elijah…at least not directly. They want him for another reason.”

“But what?”

Before Vincent could answer that, the sound of a helicopter was heard from outside. Dominic got to his feet and went to the window. The helicopter made a landing on the south side of the estate. Several guards met it and assisted someone out of it, someone in a wheel chair.

***

Vincent met Fletcher at the door. The two stared at each other for a moment and then finally Vincent went to his knees and looked pleadingly at his boss.

“Don’t be too harsh with him. Even in the end, he loves you. You are his father.”

Fletcher sighed and waved his hand at him in full annoyance. “Away. Leave us alone.”

Vincent did as he was ordered and with Viggo at his side they headed for the staircase. As it was time to let father and son talk, it was time for Vincent to speak to Jade.

***

Dominic stood up when his father entered the room. For a moment the two just stared at each other. Then Fletcher slowly made his way over to the boy. He stopped just a few inches in front of him, looking unreachable as ever as far as Dom could tell.

“Tell me about this David.”

Dominic didn’t waste any time and told him about Aunt Liz, how he had bumped into her in Hawaii and how she had been drinking and told him…told him about a man named David who was Aunt Liz’s fiancé and that he had fallen in love with his mother and had planned to run away. That Liz had also suggested that, in her way…that he…that he…and there Dominic stopped.

Fletcher didn’t speak and for a moment showed no emotion at all. Then, Fletcher slowly backed the wheelchair away, towards the fireplace. He looked into the flames and then back up…to the portrait of his beloved wife. Anna. She stood before them in her ballerina outfit, forever young and dancing like an angel for the eternity.

“Dad? Is it true?” Dominic waited and then when his father didn’t answer, he moved to the wheelchair. He gently placed his hand on his father’s shoulder. And still he waited for the information to come.

When Fletcher did speak, his tone was soft and low and full of an emotion that Dominic had never seen nor heard before come from his old man. It was obvious to him that his dad was shaken by his words and the memories of a past best forgotten.

“Unforeseeable Circumstances. I could never have expected this to ever come to pass and yet it has. And so I am left with either telling a lie or a painful truth. So be it–the truth then. I never believed in love. Not after my parents and sister were killed by a burglar when I was seven. I grew up alone and in time I grew accustomed and craved that life. No worries, no emotional sentiment, no roots…nothing that could be used to hurt me or be used against me. I did a fine job until the day I met your mother. Anna. She was so young and full of life. So vibrant and gentle. Innocent. Untouched by the coldness and evils of the world. I fought it, I did. I tried not to love her. In the end…I did fall completely and utterly in love with her. I grew to love her more than anything else in this world. Even more than my own life. We married and she was full of dreams and hopes and I crushed each and every one of them. Not on purpose and not all at once, but slowly through the passage of time.”

Fletcher turned to Dominic and seeing the confusion in his sons eyes he tried to explain. “I was never there. I was too busy chasing Ben…being the hunter. She was a typical woman, fragile and temperamental at times and so-- so very easily hurt by my words and though I know she loved me, she grew lonely with my ever increasing absence.”

Dom swallowed and let go of his father‘s shoulder, he turned away and closed his eyes. No, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true. Much he did not agree with this man, he was still his father. The only father he had ever known. And he had done his best to raise him. Hadn't he?

“David Bechman was a business man or rather a gigolo. A poor one at that and had taken many a woman’s wealth for his own use. Your Aunt Elizabeth was his last romance. He didn't love her, of course, he was with her only for her money. He was using her and when he realized that it was Anna that was far more wealthy and powerful, he turned his affections to her. And lonely as she was…she fell for him. Every line, every romantic interlude and every poisonous lie he could manage, she believed it all. He twisted and confused your mother and led her down a path of infidelity. Yes, she had an affair.”

Dominic took an unsteady step towards the couch and then covered his face in his hands, he just couldn‘t believe this. His mother, his perfect angelic mother. “No…”

“Yes,Dominic. She had an affair. She was human and she was swept off her feet by the charisma of such a handsome and vibrant attentive man.”

“Did you know?”

“Of course. Your mother told me. She told me in the hopes of making me stay with her. To give up my job...my hunt. I did not and would not give up Ben Richards. Nor would I be willing to surrender my wife to a low life as Bechman.”

Dominic turned and stared at his father. “What--What did you do?”

“What do you think? Dominic…I was a hunter. I took care of it. In short…I hunted him down like a dog and I had him killed. If you must know, by my own hand. And I did it with great pleasure.” added Fletcher with almost a sense of righteousness.

Dominic thought he was going to be sick, like father like son. Dominic couldn‘t believe that just a year ago, he thought just like his father--acted just like his father. Wanting to possess Elijah in every way. The horror was beyond imagining.

Fletcher then softened his voice and moved closer towards Dominic.

“Was…was he? Are you?” Dominic couldn’t get it out and Fletcher shook his head.

“She was already pregnant when she had her affair. No, Dominic. David Bechman was not your father. Sorry to break your heart and your hopes and dreams alas, I am your father. Blood is thicker than water. After all we are so alike in so many ways. We both crave a Richards. Don‘t we?”

Dom sighed and shook his head. “Mom…did she find out?”

Fletcher now lowered his eyes and took a breath before answering. And when he spoke it was filled with sadness “Yes. She found out. That is why she was leaving that day. To go to London. She wanted a divorce and I told her that I would not give her one. That she was mine and she would always be mine. And what was mine would stay mine.”

He was going to be sick again, Dominic just knew it. Because in the end, this strong sense of possession of his father included Dominic. And Elijah. So alike, so much alike it was scaring the hell out of Dominic.

“I went after her, of course and she tried to escape me…that is why she ran the stop sign. That is why…your mother died. In a way, I killed her too. And that is something that I have never told anyone and never wanted you…to know. But, you wanted the truth.”

Dom swallowed and stared at his father, his eyes horrified and filled with pain and anguish. “You didn’t mean for it to happen? You didn’t mean for her to die? Please tell me you didn’t mean for her…?”

Fletcher shook his head now completely annoyed, his face screwed up in disgust. “No, Dominic. I didn’t mean for Anna to die. I didn’t want-- I should have let her go. In time…I think she would have returned to me. But I have never been one for patience in my youth. And I very seldom admit to a mistake. It was a mistake. I regret it. I regret every day of what I did to your mother. I regret the pain I caused her and the loneliness and the hurt…I loved Anna. I loved your mother very much. Believe that. If nothing else, I loved her. I never wanted to hurt her. That was the last thing…the very last thing I wanted to do.”

Young Fletcher looked away, after a moment he moved to the window. He opened it and allowed the fresh air to enter the room. For some reason he was finding it hard to breathe. It was so much to take it. So much of his life now seemed like a lie. Everything seemed to be spinning and his head…it was still pounding.

“All this time I thought that it was my fault. That I somehow killed my mom. I thought you never got close to me because you also thought I was the only one guilty. But now. I don't understand. Why, dad? Did you think I would abandon you as well? Hurt you in some way?"

Fletcher laughed. “Everyone else has. Why not you? The problem is, Dominic, as much as a pain and sometimes an annoyance you have been to me, I have come…to care for you deeply. You are my son. And you are a Fletcher and you are going to act like a Fletcher. Now,-- that we have had this explanation and wonderful trip into the past reliving regrets …now it is time to deal with the present. You will tell me, here and now, where Elijah Chevalier is. Because if you don’t…I am going to make certain that you never see him again. Ever.”

Dominic slowly turned to face his father, his eyes wide and full of disbelief. “You won‘t do that?”

“Oh…but I will.”

“You wouldn’t…you wouldn’t kill me.” Dominic replied all too quickly, which revealed he was not quite so certain that his father wouldn’t.

Fletcher laughed outright. “Kill you? Dominic…my dear boy, I have no intention of killing you. Did you not hear a word I said? I care for you. As much as I would like to strangle you sometimes, killing you is not in the future I don't mean it for real, just like no father really does. No, if you do not tell me where Elijah is… in short I am going to do more than that. I will disinherit you and you will be penniless. You will not find a job nor will you be able to support yourself in anyway. I will of course make certain you have a roof over your head. Here in this estate. But you will be staying here in a more humble capacity. As for Elijah when I do find him… I will make certain where I place him… you will not be able to find him. How does that sound, my dear son?”

He sat down again and continued to stare at his father in complete horror. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do. Trust me…I do. Now, let us end the game once and for all. You tell me where Elijah is and We… together, you and I… will go collect him and we will go off to a nice little cozy get away. Like one big happy family.”

“Father… Dad… I love Elijah, I love him. Why can‘t you understand that? I can‘t betray him? Not again. Not ever.”

Fletcher only sneered back at the young man. “Love has nothing to do with this. Love has never had anything to do with this. It has to do with Richards's blood, it has to do with Immortality and what I claim is mine….STAYS MINE!”

It was then that the door to the den opened, and as Dominic turned he saw a woman with a silver wig and dark glasses enter the room, in her hand she held a gun.

She closed the door behind her and pointed the gun at Steel Fletcher, clicking back the handle.

“That’s enough. I have heard quite enough,” she said angrily.

With one thrust of her hand, she pulled off the silver haired wig revealing dark hair, and with one wave she removed her glasses.

Dominic was somehow not surprised to see who the woman really was, and yet he was..

“Aunt Liz.”

The woman only stared at Steel Fletcher her eyes filled with rage and something that could only be summed up in one word, insanity.

“It is time to meet the reaper, Fletcher.”

***

“I DON’T believe YOU! You are not my father, my father is dead.” The woman shouted back angrily though the door. Vincent, however, remained calm and shoved the medallion under the door to present the only proof he had to give her.

Jade pushed back her hair and going to her knees she picked up the small medallion. It looked familiar. Very familiar. Where?

She opened it and a picture… A picture, a picture of her mother on her wedding day, standing beside her husband who wore a dark suit and a medallion. This medallion? Silver with oriental designs with a tiger under a moon and stars.

Vincent faced Viggo and waved him away. After a moment, Viggo stepped back and headed to the staircase.

Jade swallowed and took a step away from the door. A moment passed and the door was unlocked and opened. Vincent Caesar entered the room and closed the door behind him.

The young woman stared at the medallion and then at Vincent. Not a second later, her eyes narrowed and she threw the medallion on the floor and charged.

She tried to kick him in the legs, but Vincent caught the kick and sent her flying backwards. She caught her balance and came in with her hand swinging. Vincent blocked each blow and countered a hit into her ribs.

She cried out and fell to her knees, seeing an open area she tried to do a scissors cut, but Vincent was much faster and jumped up evading the knock down.

She got to her feet and growling she attacked with a leap.

Vincent caught her in mid-air and swinging her around he held her in a head lock. She tried kicking and jabbing but each time he was able to avoid any injury.

She then stomped on his foot, and Vincent lost his hold. She turned and using her claws she scratched his cheek drawing first blood. She came back with her other hand, only for Vincent to catch it. She brought up her leg to kick him in the chest but Vincent evaded and holding her arm he turned and forced her around and then threw her over his shoulders and onto the ground behind him on her back. She landed with a loud bang and a painful cry escaped her lips.

Vincent wiped the blood off his cheek and stared down at her, still without any rage or anger. Only a deadly calm in his eyes.

“I am your father, Jade… I am alive and I am here. I don’t know what happened to you. Or to your mother. What brought you here into my life? How you came to be--like this. I only want to help you. No matter how long it takes.”

She got to her feet staring at the man in confusion and fear. Was it possible? Father? She watched him go to the door, he opened it and was about to close it behind him when she called out to him.

“Father. Please, don’t go.”

He paused and turned back to face her. He re-entered the room and reached out a hand to her.

Jade looked at it and then at him and shook her head.

“I know… we have a lot of catch up to do. And a lot of explanations to give.” He kept his hand out to her.

Jade stared down at the medallion. She picked it up and looked back at Vincent.

He wanted her to come into his arms, to reach for him. She didn’t. She only held out the medallion to him. He took it.

It was a start.

***

“Elizabeth. Of course you would be behind all this. Would you care for a drink?” Fletcher moved to the bar, but Elizabeth moved forward and menaced the gun in Fletcher’s direction.

“Don’t you move!“ She paused and swallowed down her anger so she could speak. “I always knew… I always suspected you had something to do with David’s death and now I hear it from your own lips. My David… you killed him! You murdered him and my own sister…”

Dominic started to go towards her but Liz now trained the gun at Dom. Fletcher held up his hand. “No, Dominic. Stay back.”

“That’s right… you listen to your father.”

“Aunt Liz… you used me? All along? How did you find me in Hawaii?”

Elizabeth only laughed. “How hard could it be having an investigator track down your credit card, given by daddy? I mean, really! I’m surprised Fletcher didn’t think of it himself.”

Fletcher shrugged with a wry look on his face. “No one’s perfect.”

Dominic took a step forward but his father raised his hand again, keeping Dominic back. “Stay put.” He ordered his son. But the younger Fletcher would not hold his tongue.

“So, you used me to find dad. Because you couldn’t find him to kill him? Right? But, why now? Why would you do this now?”

Fletcher didn’t even bat an eye. “Saxon… he hired you, didn’t he?”

Elizabeth only waved the gun at Fletcher her eyes cold and filled with rage. “Yes. I got a call from him. He wanted to see me. He was concerned with some information he learned about you and that he wanted me to clarify. About my David.”

He sat there for a moment unemotional and then suddenly Fletcher was laughing. Laughing hard and loud. Dominic turned and stared at his father and then at Elizabeth in disgust.

“Stop it. Stop laughing, you bastard!” she shouted. “I am going to kill you!” She moved menacingly forward but Fletcher didn’t stop laughing not until the gun was in his face.

“You foolish, stupid, drunken woman. You are a pawn, a pawn to be used and then discarded. What has Saxon promised you in return? Hmm? Money? Power? Sex?”

She slapped him across the face. But Fletcher didn’t even flinch.

“For twenty years I have suffered, unable to love another… sacked with your son and left alone…Not anymore. I will have my revenge. You took my David away from me…I am going to kill you, Steel. I am going to kill you.”

“Far greater men have tried, my dear. And they all failed.” Not even a flicker of fear was in his eyes.

“Not this time.” She replied and taking a step back she pointed the gun directly at Fletcher’s face. “This time, it is over.”

The next moment that happened was all in a blur to Dominic, one moment his Aunt was holding a gun and about to fire a shot into his father and then the sound of a pop was heard.

Aunt Liz’s eyes widened and she cried out and then she fell to the ground with the gun still in her hand.

Viggo Morton came through the window, with a gun in his hand. Once inside, he went to the woman and removed the gun from her hand, pocketing it behind the back of his pants.

“You okay, Mr. Fletcher?”

Fletcher only smiled. “Viggo Morton, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Sir. At your service.” He bowed almost as if he had truly performed his services without question.

“You are very good shot.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Viggo nodded with a slight smile on his lips.

“Hmmm, for the next time do please refrain from shooting my son again. Or I may have to have you killed. Do we understand each other?” (Reference, to All The Way To The President. In which Viggo shot Dominic.)

Viggo nodded again and dropped his smile at the same time. “Yes, Sir.”

As they talked, Dominic reached for his Aunt Liz. She was still breathing but she was bleeding badly.

“Aunt Liz… Father! She needs a doctor!”

Viggo glanced at Fletcher. “I only winged her. She should be fine.”

Fletcher nodded. “Don't worry, Dominic. She’ll get the best care I can provide for her, it is the least I can do for my wife’s sister.”

Dominic stared at his father in disbelief. “It wasn’t her fault. She’s sick with grief and pain. I won’t let you hurt her. She’s been hurt enough.”

Viggo went to the desk and made a quick call.

Fletcher shrugged at his son. “As always, Dominic, you overreact. She will be cared for at the nearest hospital and then placed in a special facility that will care for her needs. All those years of drinking have killed one too many brain cells.”

“That is all you have to say? That is all you have to say about all this? Don’t you take any blame for this? It is your fault! Yes, Saxon used her and me to get to you. Yes, but she wouldn’t have done it if…if…how could you? You're insane… you are all completely and utterly fucking crazy!”

Dominic moved to the doorway and without looking back he ran out of the room. Viggo made to follow but Fletcher stopped him. “Let him go. Let him go.”

***

He ran to the gates and angrily faced the security guards. “Let me out! Let me out right now! DAMN YOU! Let me go!”

The Security guards faced each other. A phone rang and the main guard picked it up.

“Yes… Yes, Sir… right away, sir.” The Security man put down the phone and hit the open button. The gate opened and Dominic ran. He ran and ran as fast and as far away as he could.

***

Fletcher stared out the window. The Ambulance had arrived and was taking Elizabeth to the closest hospital. The police would have to be notified, by the end of the day dear sweet Elizabeth would find herself in Whitmore’s Institution. Turning away, Fletcher confronted Vincent and Viggo.

“Why’d you let him go?” asked Viggo who truly didn‘t understand Fletcher‘s change of heart, nor the reason he would just let Dominic go without following him. “Wouldn’t have been easier just to force it out of him?”

Fletcher laughed and shook his head and looked to Vincent waiting for a confirmation. Vincent nodded once. “Brute force is not always necessary, Mr. Morton. After all, it is so unbecoming and barbaric. Besides, the homing device that Mr. Vincent placed in Dominic while he was unconscious is a far better means of getting what I want. He will lead me straight to Elijah Chevalier. You see…I always get what I want especially when I lay claim to it. What is mine stays mine? And as I wanted Ben Richards…I want Elijah Chevalier. Now…go get him for me.”

Vincent moved to the desk and pulled out a laptop. He opened it and saw a large map of the city… within the large vast city was one red dot…and it was making its way to the airport.

“And what about Master Dominic?” Asked Vincent.

Fletcher smiled. “What about him? When I have Elijah, he will come running home to me. And he will find that this time if he wants Elijah… he is going to have to have a very change of attitude. Go!”

Viggo and Vincent quickly gathered there things and headed out the door.

A few hours later, Fletcher was in his helicopter heading for parts unknown.

Viggo and Vincent with an added passenger, Jade, arrived at the L.A. Airport to get on a private jet. Fifteen minutes later their plane took off.

***

Already in the air and heading for Greece, Dominic Fletcher sat quietly in his seat. As a flight attendant passed by him, she paused when she saw the state the man was in. His eyes were closed and tears were running down his face. Absently, Dominic rubbed at his head. He still had a headache. It was sharp and almost felt like he had been hit with something made of metal.

He seemed lost in his own world. Sad, desperate---alone.

“May I help you, Sir?”

Dominic opened his eyes, wiping away the tears with his sleeve and nodded.

“Yeah. Ah, I have a terrible headache…do you have any Tylenol?”

“Extra strength?” she asked.

“Yeah. That would be great, thank you.”

She returned a moment later with two tylenols and a glass of water. Dominic took the pills and swallowed down the last of the water. An hour later, the flight attendant checked in on him. He was asleep and yet he was still shaking? She reached for a blanket and covered him before moving onto her next passenger.

***

U.N.C.L.E London HQ

Illya couldn’t believe what he was seeing on the screen. Napoleon just sat in the chair with his mouth hanging open, while Mark---Mark Slate, second in command at London HQ, had gone pale.

“I don’t believe it. They are mad. They have to be completely and utterly mad?”

Illya looked at Mark and shrugged nonchalantly. “That is THRUSH. Some things never change.”

“We have to stop them,” replied Napoleon.

Standing to the left, Shawn Dean stepped forward and shrugged. “A virus…they created the ultimate weapon but not to gain power or money….they want to end it…end it all. Kill billions of people. That’s insane.”

Napoleon turned Shawn and nodded. “They have to make sure they have a cure for their weapon. So as to make certain a few… a certain few would survive.”

Illya was completely disgusted. “That is why they want Elijah. If his body, his blood, has the immunities for this virus then they can unleash it…and then in the aftermath…THRUSH, once again comes out on top. They will build a new world. And they will be the Masters.”

“That is why Emerson and Doctor Raven are working together with THRUSH. But what is Saxon’s gain in all this? Why would he join forces with them?”

Illya didn’t even have to think about it. “Why did Saxon experiment with his son? Why has he married many different kinds of woman…all different walks of life…Woman that after a time he threw aside. Why did he go after Jean Chevalier? Why did he kidnap Elijah and take his blood and use it for himself when he is in perfect health? Why has he suddenly been very careful with his newly wed wife… his newly wed pregnant wife and mother of Elijah?”

Napoleon tapped his fingers on the table thinking it over. “He wants something… that they or rather he thinks Jean might have in her own body?”

It was Shawn who spoke out. “He wants the perfect child? An Immortal child of his own flesh and blood?”

Illya smiled. “More to the point, an immortal child of his flesh and blood that he can control.”

“And that is the deal. THRUSH gets Elijah….and he gets to start a new Master race? Still in control and on top of things.”

Shawn shook his head. “That’s,--that’s crazy, isn’t it?”

Mark leaned back against his chair and shook his head as his hands folded together. “Not so crazy, since THRUSH has always desired to have the control over the World. Now they have the opportunity to do so. All they need is one immortal…one boy.”

“But surely this is all a joke? I mean this Elijah… he’s not immortal? I mean that is fantasy, right?”

Illya smiled. “How old do you think I am, Shawn?”

“I don’t know…Forty?”

“I am over seventy.”

Shawn laughed but seeing Illya was not joining in he stopped. “You're not kidding?”

“Immorality exists or at least to a select few… how this came about and how many are there of us exist is not known. But all THRUSH really needs is just one of us… One Immortal to effectively use for their purposes.”

“But, why Elijah then? Why not you? Or find another Immortal? Why him specifically?”

Illya shook his head. “I don’t know. That, we still need to find out.”

Mark got to his feet. “Shawn…I am going to need you for more services.”

“I am yours to command, Sir.”

Mark nodded. “I need you to find Elijah Chevalier and the boys and bring them in as quickly as you possibly can.”

The blond Russian leaped to his feet at this. “NO!”

At once Napoleon got up and moved to Illya’s side, his hand gently touching his shoulder to calm his old comrade. “Illya. We have to get the boys to safety. They are not safe anymore. This has turned into an all out right war. THRUSH has returned and you know they will stop at nothing, allow no one to stop them from getting to that boy… including killing the others. Jericho. Billy. Dominic… Even Natasha. We have to bring them in and that way buy us time to stop Saxon and Emerson…before it…before it becomes the ending of everything. We need that time to find the virus and where they intend to unleash it upon this planet.”

Illya stared at Napoleon and then at Mark… finally back at Shawn.

“I will be as gentle as I can. I promise, Mr. Kuryakin.” and Shawn started for the door.

Illya swallowed and moved to follow Shawn his face set in determination. “I’ll come with you, I can talk to them and…”

Napoleon grabbed Illya by the shoulder and pulled him back. Mark nodded and Shawn was out the door.

“No Illya. You're not safe out there either. They find you; they will either kill you or worse… No. You have to stay here with me. Please. Let‘s leave this to the young ones.”

Illya waited and then after a long moment he lowered his eyes giving in. He always hated it when Napoleon was right.

Mark moved to the phone and picked up the receiver. “I’ll begin a full outright search for the boys… every agent I can spare… we will find them and bring them here with you.”

***

Shawn was just collecting his gun and badge when he noticed the young man he came with was still sitting in the lobby. Upon seeing him, Orlando rose from his seat and came towards him.

“Hey. I thought I would never see you again. They wouldn‘t even give me a tour to pass the time.”

Shawn laughed and looked at the young man. The lad looked like a love sick puppy.

“I thought I told you to go home?” He raised an eyebrow at the young man and tried his best to look put out, but his eyes gave him away.

“I didn’t want to.” Orlando replied back and Shawn gave him an exasperated look. “I want to stay with you,” emphasized the man. Somehow, deep inside Orlando felt as if his future, his destiny was somehow linked with this strange U.N.C.L.E agent and the last thing he wanted to do was walk away. Besides, Shawn was cute.

“I’m sorry, Orlando, but where I am going you can’t come. You have to go home now.”

“I don’t have a home. I mean I left Ireland to go to America and start my life and the Institute was my first job and well, now it's over…I don’t even have any money for a cab.”

Shawn headed out the exit door, and out into the streets of London. Orlando was right behind him. Once they were on the sidewalk, Shawn pulled out his wallet and started counting his money.

Orlando pushed the wad away when he offered it to him. “I don’t want your money. I don’t even have any friends, I mean real friends to turn to…Please! Can’t I stay with you? I could be helpful; I mean, I didn’t give you away. And besides, I am very clever.”

Shawn waved for a taxi. “Orlando…”

“Orli.”

“Orlando,” he replied slowly, dragging the name out to hit home his point. He just couldn’t have this kid hanging around him. “I have to go looking for someone and I can’t be looking for them if I am looking after you. Surely you have someone you can turn to? Someone that will take care of you?”

“No, I mean, well, there is Aunt Kassandra but… well but, not really and please, Shawn. I can help you, please!"

The taxi pulled up and Shawn opened the door. After a moment of thinking Sean surrendering to Orli charms, he waved his hand for Orlando to get in. Once Orlando was in, he closed the door and went to the driver. “Take the kid to 67 Cambridge Street.” Handing the guy a large sum of money, he turned to see Orlando rolling down the window.

“Shawn?”

He pulled out a key and handed it to the young lad. “My apartment is on the second floor and I haven’t even unpacked, so that will keep you busy for the next few days. I have some money in my desk use it to get some food to eat. I’ll call you later in the week, in the meantime I want you to contact this Aunt of yours and see if you can work out an arrangement to live with her. If I have to, I’ll talk to her. Goodbye, Orlando.”

“But…SHAWN!” cried out the young man.

Shawn hit the top of the cab door and with that, the cab driver rolled out of sight. Shawn watched as a very young looking and sorrowful face stared at him from the back seat window.

Shawn sighed. Kids….lovesick kids. He turned then and hailed for another cab; as he got inside and ordered him to the next airport, Shawn couldn’t help but feel…well, kind of empty. Like he was now missing something important.

THE END