UNSCHEDULED RENDEZVOUS


by TraceCAT 98


Large metal doors squeaked under their weight, as the van access opened, and the mission statistics moved along the overhead read out.

Trace, Aly, and North, just back from a short mission in Beijing, filed out of the access, and turned to head for debrief. Waiting for them at the access entrance, was Operations and Madeline.

'How did it go?' Operations asked, his hands shoved securely in his pockets.

'Well, the mark got away, but I believe that the information is intact. I was just about to take it up to Birkoff, for decryption,' North answered.

Operations nodded his consent, and North turned and headed down the hallway. Aly and Trace waited, in silence, until they were dismissed. But, as they were walking away, Madeline called to Trace.

'Trace, can we have a moment?' she questioned.

Trace looked at Madeline, then to Aly. Aly nodded an okay, then turned and headed in the same direction as North had, on her way to debrief. Pausing a moment, then turning, Trace walked back towards Madeline and Operations, stopping a short distance from them.

'We were wondering how you were feeling,' Madeline began.

Trace looked from Madeline to Operations, trying to spy any tell tale signs of manipulation attemption. When she was pretty sure she saw none, she looked back at Madeline.

'Tired, frazzled, and in need of a long vacation. Other than that, just peachy,' Trace answered, but her tone was anywhere but light and flippant. In fact, it was sad and solemn sounding.

'We would love nothing better than to give you a vacation,' Operations interjected, 'but with Aly just back, Michael and Nikita in Nurenberg, and Shadoe still in mandatory refusal...'

'Yeah, I know,' Trace answered, 'we are too short handed, and can't spare the downtime.' Trace looked down at the floor, and sighed. 'Is that all? I really need to get to debrief.'

Madeline nodded, smiling weakly, and both watched as Trace walked down the hallway, and rounded the corner. After a few short moments, Madeline turned to Operations.

'I think our plan should go into action as soon as possible. I don't like the signs I am seeing here.'

'And just what signs are those?' Operations queried, both of them turning in unison, and walking side by side down the hallway.

'Signs of restlessness, depression, and eventually burnout.' Madeline stopped, and Operations took a single step, then stopped too. Turning his head, and looking back over his shoulder, he smiled, slyly.

'Okay, give the order. Keep me updated.' Then, turning back around, he rounded the corner, and was out of sight.

'I hope this works like it should,' Madeline whispered, but the sound fell on hallow walls.

~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~

Taking a dew out of her fridge, and twisting off the top, Trace gulped down a long, slow drink, then closed the fridge door. Walking over to her CD player, she put on her favorite Sarah Mclachlin music, and turned up the volume a bit. Closing her eyes, and swaying to the tune of *Building a Mystery*, she failed to notice that someone was knocking on her door.

When she turned around, and opened her eyes, she found Aly standing there, her hands on her hips, and tapping her foot. Only, she wasn't tapping her foot to the music, at least not to any that Trace could hear. Deciding she wasn't in the mood for a confrontation today, Trace moved over to her bed, and plopped down. Sitting the dew on the bedside table, she then proceeded to lay back against the pile of fluffy pillows lined along the headboard.

Aly, still standing and tapping her foot, was not about to let Trace get away with ignoring her. 'So?' Aly asked, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

'So what?' Trace said, trying to fluff up the pillow behind her back, but to no use.

'You know what!! What happened with Madeline and Operations? Come on, I am dying here!!' she exclaimed, jumping around nervously.

'Oh, that,' Trace said nonchalantly, while rolling her eyes. 'Just the usual...sorry you are in the dumps, but can't give you down time because, yada yada yada.'

Trace gave up on fluffing her pillow, and instead stood and walked over to the window. Gazing out onto the wood area that lie just behind CLHQ, she lost herself in thought.

'Well? Trace, answer me!!' Aly exclaimed.

Trace, jolted back to the present, looked around at her dear friend, and furrowed her brow. 'Answer what?'

Aly only hung her head, shaking it from side to side. 'The rumors that there is a new operative coming in. Something about him being a new recruit, and may be teamed with us. What do you think? Think its true?'

'Well, I dont' know if it is true or not, but if you ask me, he will wish he was never born,' Trace said somberly. Continuing to look out the window, her eyes fell on a clearing in the center of the wooded area, and what appeared to be a small building contained there.

'Aly, come here. What is that?' Trace asked, pointing to the clearing, and the building.

'Oh, that was Norths' idea. She got the funds from One to build a Gazebo in the forest. It is supposed to be a form of solitude, and comfort for when we are between missions. As far as I know, no one uses it. Why?' Aly asked, turning and walking to the fridge. Opening the door, and scanning the contents, she quiped back over her shoulder 'Sheesh, don't you have anything but dew in here?'

Trace, still staring at the gazebo, only half heartedly answered. 'There should be some Diet Coke on the bottom shelf, in the back.' Then, crossing her arms in front of her, and hugging herself, she whispered, 'a place of solitude and comfort. Might just be what the doctor ordered.' Then, a small smile formed on her lips, as a plan formed in her mind.

~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~

Holding onto her flashlight tightly, Trace advanced cautiously down the path. The beam from the flashlight shining only a few feet in front of her, she was beginning to think that this may not have been one of her more brighter ideas. Still, the walk in the cool night air had done her some good, and had already boosted her morale.

The darkness was almost complete, with the exception of the small area illuminated by the flashlight, and the night sounds threatened to envelope her completely. Yet, she wasn't afraid. She was very at ease, and confident. Then, when she saw the gazebo looming in front of her, her confidence gave way to elation.

Bounding up onto the wooden decking, she removed the box of candles and matches she had brought with her. After a few moments, the entire gazebo was awash in the soft, flickering candlelight. Speaking to herself, 'What a romantic atmosphere,' she was totally caught off guard when she heard the reply 'Yes, it is. But why are you depriving another of sharing it with you?'

Trace turned around so suddenly, that she almost fell. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her breaths were coming in short gasps. Thinking *slow down or you will hyperventilate* she only stared at the intruder.

He was not anyone that she knew, and did not look the least bit familiar. But, as he stood there, bathed in the flickering soft glow of candlelight, Trace couldn't help but feel as if he would soon become so ensconced in her life. That it would feel as if they had known each other across many lifetimes.

The intruder began moving towards her, and Trace could have sworn that he was floating on air. He glided across the decking with such ease, and confidence, that for a moment, she relaxed. But, then her Section training kicked in, and she was once more on her guard. She analyzed the situation, and the stranger, in the fashion in which Michael had taught her.

Drawing nearer to her, the intruder stopped, and simply stood there. He made no move to talk, or advance any closer. Thinking maybe she would be better off moving, making herself a less easy target, Trace began to slowly walk, circling the individual.

He was dressed in what appeared to be black slacks, with a black t shirt. The shirt was very snug, and from Trace's vantage point, provided a very nice view of his chest and abdomen. He wore an offwhite, light weight jacket over the t shirt, which as Trace came around behind him, he proceeded to remove, and drape over the gazebo railing. Finishing her walk, and ending up right back in front of him, Trace moved a few steps closer.

'Who are you? And what are you doing here?' she asked, making sure not to get too close.

'I am a friend. I am here for the same thing that you are,' he answered, smiling slightly.

'Oh, and what might that be?' Trace replied.

'To find what is missing in my life, to find love,' he said, then stepped forward, and held out his hand.

Trace only looked from the strangers hand, to his eyes, and back again. She studied his every move, with intent scrutinization. But, with all her senses on high alert, and all her training to seek a weakness or point of manipulation, she was unable to find but one thing of use in her current opponent. Well, not really of use, but more of interest.

He had the most alluring, and intense gaze she had ever seen. Never, in her life had she met someone with the type of gaze, that for lack of a better way to describe it, that she could lose herself in . His eyes were as intense and as disarming as any she had ever seen. And, that thought frightened her.

She saw softness, honesty, and unbridled passion in the depths of his eyes, and that was what was scaring her the most. She knew, that if push came to shove, that she could, and would easily lose herself in him. His touch, his feel, and his very scent. And, at this juncture of her life, that was a luxury she did not had, or could afford.

He was, quite frankly, unlike any other man she had ever known. He had an air about him, that said he was at ease with himself, and those around him. He was the very thing, that Trace wasn't, and could never be. He was free.

And for that very reason, and knowing how this would all end, Trace only turned, and walked from the gazebo, and back down the path to CLHQ.

~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~ >'-'< ~~~

Walking up the steps to the observation deck, Trace steadied herself for her meeting. Two months had passed since the stranger had come into her life, and each night he filled her thoughts and dreams. Each night, she would stand at her window, and gaze out towards the gazebo, hoping that she would see a light. Some sign that he would be there, waiting. But, each night, the only sign would be that of darkness, and solitude.

But, then as she fell asleep, she would find herself back in the gazebo with the stranger. The candlelight would cast small shadows across the floor, and they would dance. He would hold her so tightly against him, that it would take her breath away, and leave her weak kneed. They would sway in unison, to the mournful tones of some Sarah Mclachlin tune, and she would rest her head on his chest.

As the song would finish, she would pull back from him, and gaze deeply into his eyes. He would then lean in close, and lightly brush a kiss across her lips. He then would trail kisses across her cheek, and down to her jaw line. He would whisper how they were meant to be, and would always be together. He would then kiss that spot just below her earlobe, and she would close her eyes, and sigh.

Then, drawing her even more tightly to him, he would return to her lips, and claim them in a feirce, all consuming kiss. He would kiss her as if his very existed hinged on it. She would in turn give what she got, and get lost in him.

But, that was always where the dream would end. She would awaken, out of breath, and tangled up in her bed sheets. The first few weeks, she had written it off to lust. But, when the dreams had persisted, she knew then that she was on the verge of losing her mind.

And, as if to make matters worse, she had no idea who this mystery man was, or how to get in contact with him. That had been the real grind to all of this. If she could find him, maybe she could get to know him, and maybe make her nightly fantasies come true. But, she had no idea where to start, or how to begin.

And, now Madeline and Operations had called her to their office, for some sort of special project. Something to do with a new recruit. Thinking to herself, *can my life get any worse or more complicated* she walked through the doors, and into the observation deck.

Operations and another person had their backs to her, engaged in conversation, as Madeline walked towards her. 'Did you get the Belfast intel downloaded and the mission profile worked up?' she asked.

Trace continued to stare at the stranger, thinking there was something oddly familiar in his movements, when Madeline softly touched her arm. 'Are you okay Trace?' she asked, genuine concern in her voice.

Trace looked to Madeline, and smiled. 'I am fine. The profile is worked up, and on the teams pda's. Birkoff estimates that the mission will go green in about five hours, and everyone is on close quarters standby.'

'Good,' Madeline replied, as she moved her hand in front of her, directing Trace to proceed forward. 'There is someone we would like you to meet. This is our new recruit...'

Before Madeline could finish, the individual turned around, and reaching out his hand, took Trace's in his. Then, brushing a kiss across the knuckles of the back of her hand, he finished the sentence. 'Gray, Gray Wellman. It is very nice to meet you. From what I understand, I will be your material for the next six months.'

Trace, suddenly at a loss for words, took a moment to come to her senses. 'Uh, yes. My name is Trace, Mr. Wellman, and I will see to your training over the next few months.'

Gray stepped in close, and never releasing his hold on Trace's hand, whispered. 'You can call me Gray, and I am sure that I am in very capable hands.'

Trace smiled, and her eyes twinkled mischeviously. Gray smiled in return, and winked.

It was then that Trace thought *maybe life isn't so bad after all*.

THE END?

This Story ŠTraceCAT98 9/5/99


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