Christmas Mission

By Curlly

Part One

Curlly walked into CLHQ, looking like someone dragged her through a thornbush backwards, after a two-week mission. One that was only supposed to be a 3-day mission. But due to unforeseen... "Unforeseen my rear end," snorted Curlly under her breath.

"Curlly, nice to see ya back! You're just in time to help with Thanksgiving dinner," reported Trace.

"No thanks, I'm not one for turkey," told Curlly. And without even a smile Curlly turned on her heel and headed for her room. Ya, thought Curlly, the last thing I wanna do is celebrate the holidays.

"Was that Curlly I saw coming in Trace?" asked Sherry.

"Ya. At least I think it was." replied Trace.

*****

After taking a nice long bath (for she just LOVES bubble baths) Curlly put on her fave pair of jeans and her evergreen mohair turtleneck. On second thought she took the green shirt off and put on a ribbed, black cashmere sweater. "Ugh! Look at that Cinky," she said to her cat, "it's snowing! My life just keeps getting better and better." Her cat just tucked her head under so that her face was smushed into the bed spread in total agreement. Curlly went over to her bookcase, but found nothing she wanted to read. She went over to her stereo put in her fave CD and turned up the base. Then she wandered over to her laptop to surf her favorite web sites, but they didn't contain anything new.

All through the halls she could hear people laughing and singing. Curlly got out of the chair to turn the music up. Just as she reached down to the volume knob a knock sounded at the door. "No one is here!" called Curlly. Opening the door a giggling Grace and Rita entered.

"Hey chickabee, glad to have you back!" Grace told Curlly as she hugged her.

"Yah, I heard it was a rough mission. You okay?" asked Rita

"Not a scratch on me," boasted Curlly ironically with her arms open wide. She was one of two people that didn't die on the mission. "I knew I should have become Walter's assistant. Whether he was just flirting or not!"

"Do ya wanna talk about it?" asked Grace.

"No."

"Good!" said Grace as Curlly gaped at her in surprise. Rita looked a little shocked herself. "Cause Rita and I are going sledding and you're coming with us."

"Gee. Let me think about it. Done. NO."

"That wasn't a request young lady. As your senior her at CLHQ, we're going sledding," said Rita in her best command voice. "We will meet ya in the entryway in 15 minutes."

"What if I don't have any boots? And i don't have a sled," related Curlly triumphantly.

"That's okay. Just bring a garbage bag," joked Rita.

"How bout a body bag!" threatened Curlly with her eyebrows lowered dangerously.

Laughing at them both, Grace said, "Not a problem Curlly! Walter hooked us up with some sleds."

"Oh, that really makes me wanna go!"

"Hey now sugar! No need to be insulting," said Walter from the hallway. Nikita, Birkoff, and, Sylvia were with him. They all looked like they were going out sledding, too.

Flushing, Curlly said, "I'm sorry Walter. I just don't feel like having fun right now. The mission went really bad. It just doesn't seem right to be having so much fun when so many people are suffering."

Nikita walked into the room. "Guys we'll meet you down there in a few minutes." Taking the hint everyone vacated the room leaving Nikita and Curlly alone. Curlly plunked down on the window seat; Nikita took a nearby chair. "Well?" asked Curlly.

"This isn't a lecture Curlly," said Nikita. What most of her sisters at headquarters didn't know was that Nikita was Curlly's trainer. "It always sucks when we lose ops. And it's even worse when you know it could have been prevented."

"How would you know?"

"I've had that look on my face once or twice before," said Nikita with a harsh look in her eyes.

"It just seems so wasteful! If section is just so all seeing... hey! Nikita what's going on?"

"Curlly, I was on my way to warn you when..." Nikita started to explain when her cell phone rang.

"Josephine?" said the voice Curlly heard emanating from the phone.

"Yes," said Nikita. After a few moments listening, Nikita told Curlly they were called in.

*****

Nikita and Curlly parted ways once inside section. Nikita to go get briefed and Curlly to find out what was going on before they fed her a bunch of half truths. First Curlly went over to Birkoff's station. Since they met before Curlly came to section, they'd become friends rather quickly.

"Hi Birkoff. What's happening?"

"Uh... hi Curlly. We can't talk about this here," Birkoff warned in a low voice. Then louder, "The Panama mission is heating up, and your mission debrief will start in a hour. Since the mission profile is being filtered, and won't be done for a while..."

"Sure. Let's go get something to eat. See ya in ten minutes."

"Okay." Looking relieved, Birkoff turned away from Curlly and started securing his station.

Curlly then headed over to Walter. "Hi Walter!" said Curlly with forced cheerfulness.

"Gee, I'm sorry we didn't get to go sledding."

"That's okay Walter. We can try out those sleds when the mission is over."

"Ya! I bet you'd make one nice snow bunny" flirted Walter as he leaned closer to Curlly. "Umm, I just love that perfume. What it is, sugar?"

Laughing, "It's called 'happy'. Come closer and I'll share another little secret!" Both were keeping light expressions on their faces. Curlly asked Walter to open up a Comm link with three units that were hooked into the frequency. Walter whispered that they would be in a third back up cartridge for Curlly's 8 mm. and if the mission didn't require her to have it, he'd slip it to her somehow. Giggling to keep up appearances, Curlly kissed him on the check and left to go meet Birkoff.

One of the first things Nikita taught Curlly after she became a level one operative, was to find a place in section were no one could hear or see her. Nikita and Michael had his office and their little corner in the bowls of section. Now most of Curlly's thought processes went to food, sleep, and more food. So the most natural place for Curlly to disappear to was in the kitchen and storage room areas. Curlly discovered one day when she was "borrowing" some of her favorite crackers from a storage room, that there was a hidden door at the back behind an ill-fitting shelf. After going over may blueprints of section, Curlly became convinced that no one else knew about it. So whenever Curlly and Birkoff made plans to "grab a bite to eat" they went to that room to discuss things that they wanted left unheard.

Curlly got there first. On her way in she snatched some raspberry tarts. Plunking down in the corner she took out some Oreo’s she picked up for Birky. It always made it easier for him to give her some sensitive Intel on a full tummy! She had just finished the tart when Birkoff came in.

"How's it going Birkoff?" asked Curlly as she handed him the cookies.

"It just got much better," he said eyeing the cookies greedily. "I found out why your mission went sour."

"You can tell me about it when I get back from this mission. Is there anything I need to know about?"

"You'll be getting close to some SOTW, they'll tell you he's an innocent. But I haven't finished his background check. Something's off. I don't know what yet so keep your eyes open.

************

PART TWO

She studied the sim of Sinjn. He had dark auburn hair, gray eyes, a goatee, and an accent. "Well," thought Curlly suppressing a grin, "this shouldn't be too painful!" Then her eyes narrowed. This man was just a little too much her type. Troubled, Curlly finished changing into the outfit she'd chosen earlier and went to find Nikita.

She found Nikita working at her station in systems. After looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to them she said to Nikita, "Why was I chosen? There are plenty of ops much more suited. I'm surprised they didn't send you out."

"Curlly, I don't know. Your strengths are in other areas. I think this is a political mission."

"Political?"

"Leaning in closer to Curlly, "Operations and George are like two little boys struggling to out do the other in a bid for power."

"And we're caught in the middle of it!"

"Exactly, Operations and Madeline are trying to show oversight how versatile and flexible all their operatives can be. That way they'll have first pick of the talented new recruits."

"So middle ground outcome isn't an option. Not that it ever was."

Nikita put her hand on Curlly's shoulder, "Best go pick up our gear from Walter. We'll meet in van access in twenty minutes."

*****

"So Walter, what's on sale at the shop today?" asked Curlly.

"Ahh, your gonna love this, sugar," said Walter. As he explained the modifications he'd made, Walter slipped the extra Comm units Curlly wanted to her. "They're fixed on 'F' channel."

"Thanks handsome! I'll see you when I get back." With a wave Curlly was gone to say goodbye to Birkoff.

As she talked polite nonsense to Birkoff, Curlly bent down to bring her face level with his. Birkoff was seated at his station. Placing one hand on the desktop and the other on his thigh, Curlly dropped his piece of the Comm set between his legs. She then said, "All's FAIR in love and war, Seymour!" Giving his leg a squeeze, she left for van access. The little quote let Birkoff know that she'd be on 'F' channel, and Curlly didn't mind watching the boy blush either!

*****

It was misty and cool outside. Most unusual for December. There should be snow on the ground, but the day's high was in the fifty's. The lights along the bridge lit the mist to a golden huge. A black van was parked at one end of the bridge. Two women were talking softly at the other end. The taller of the two said to her companion, "They have visual. Wait ten seconds after I leave. See you in a week or so." The woman fingered the Comm set in her pocket and said, "Contact me anytime you need to." Then the woman walked away.

Curlly fluffed her hair and started walking up the bridge. Almost under her breath she said, "I've commenced up the bridge towards the target." Then she came to the top and "accidentally" bumped into the man coming the other way. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" Flashing her best smile at the man with a goatee, the man responded, "No harm done, dearie." He had a nice soft baritone.

"Well, have a nice night," and with that Curlly turned on her heel and continued on her way. The man watched until she disappeared enveloped by the mist. Then shrugging his shoulders continued on his way.

As soon as Curlly knew she was out of sight she ran down to the base of the bridge where Michael and Gray were waiting.

"Did you tag the target?" asked Michael.

Rolling her eyes at Gray, "Yes I tagged him." As the two men picked her up, leaning her backward over the railing, Curlly warned them, "Don't make me lose a shoe or anything! I know where you work!"

"Do you have a good grip?" asked Gray.

Nodding in the affirmative Curlly started to scream at the top of her lungs for help.

************

PART THREE

Sinjn was contemplating what to have for dinner when he heard someone scream. Rushing back up the bridge he beheld two men dressed in dark colors with ski masks. They were preparing to throw the girl that had bumped into him over the bridge. The two men noticed Sinjn and finally managed to push the struggling female over the railing. As Sinjn ran towards them, the men collected the bags the woman had been carrying and drove off in a black van.

Fearing he'd have to jump in the water, Sinjn leaned over the railing to see the woman clinging to a support beam. Her blue-green eyes wide with fear, "Please help me! I can't hold on much longer!"

"Don't worry!" called Sinjn as he locked his legs around the middle rung of the railing. Bending over he latched onto the girl's upper arms. With a slight grunt, he began to pull her up. "Put your arms... around my... neck." Painstakingly, he straightened until they were both erect. Him with his arms around her shoulders, and the woman with her feet dangling in the air.

***

Curlly heard Sinjn say, "Now, climb over the railing." Her face was partly pressed against his shoulder. In a shaking voice she replied, "I'm trying. But my legs just won't respond."

Cursing under his breath he told her to hold onto his coat with one hand and the railing with the other. As soon as Curlly responded he unlocked on of his legs and started leaning backwards. Once he felt gravity join the effort he said to Curlly, "Let go!" Startled, she complied. As her knee cleared the railing it appeared Sinjn would regain his balance. So Curlly used her foot to gain some leverage on the railing and pushed. They both toppled to the pavement. At the last moment Sinjn shifted his weight to take the brunt of the impact. Both of the ground and of Curlly landing on his chest.

Grateful that she'd pulled off the first phase of the mission without killing either of them, Curlly laid her head on his chest and took a few deep breaths.

Once he could breath sufficiently to speak, Sinjn asked the woman lying so still on top of him if she was hurt. He thought he heard a stifled sob the a, "I'm... fine. Are you okay?"

"Just let me stand up and catch my breath," said Sinjn Tyler.

"Right," said Curlly allowing a blush to light her cheeks. Putting on her most innocent expression, Curlly purposely slid her body off of his. Taking much feminine satisfaction at the look she saw flash across his face.

Sinjn stood up and leaned agaist the railing. Once he felt his heart rate slow to a safer rate, he looked down at the girl he'd saved. Her head was lowered allowing her waist length hair to hide her face in a curling veil. One of her fingernails ran up and down a run in her stockings. His eyes followed the movement. She looked so small and fragile that he felt his newly slowed pulse speed up with a vengeance. The urge to protect her, and to hurt those men came with surprising strength.

Bending down slowly he brushed the hair away from her face. "Are you sure you're not hurt?"

"I am unhurt. Just very upset." As she spoke she raised her eyes to meet Sinjn's. He noticed her eyes were now a grayish blue. A very angry grayish blue. "Thank you for coming to my aid. I would not have been able to pull myself up."

"You're welcome..." he stopped realizing he didn't know her name.

"Curlly," she said as Sinjn helped her rise.

"... And I am Sinjn Tyler. If you feel ready, I'll escort you to the police station. There is one only a few blocks away."

"NO!" Seeing the surprised look in his eyes, Curlly continued in a suitably frail voice, "Please, I just want to go home. Will you please take me home? It's just a few blocks in that direction." She pointed in the opposite direction of the police station. Seeing the moisture enter her eyes, Sinjn decided he better take Curlly home. He could always call the police once they arrived.

Putting an arm around her shoulders he guided her steps in the direction she'd indicated. They walked in silence to Curlly's apartment building. Once they reached her door she turned to him to thank him again and wish him a good night.

"But what about the police?"

Curlly sighed, "I just want to go to bed I’ll fill out a report tomorrow."

"May I come see how you are tomorrow afternoon?"

"Please do." With that Curlly opened the door and slipped in. Shutting the door softly behind her.