Part Four

Curlly woke up the next morning early. A feat practically unknown to her. But she had a lot to prepare for. She ran a diagnostic on the surveillance on her apartment, started baking, and spent two hours deciding what to wear. She finally settled on a suitable comfortable outfit. It was a white V-neck shirt with ice blue fleece pajama bottoms. Her hair was piled carelessly on top of her head. The look took about an hour to create. Smiling in the mirror as she coaxed the last few curls to frame her face, Curlly was satisfied that she looked like she just woke up.

"Birkoff are you there?" asked Curlly activating her mission Comm unit.

"No. It's Nikita. I was just getting on to let you know that Mr. Tyler will be there in 20 minutes."

"Thanks Nikita, that's just what I wanted to know. I'll keep him here for about 45 min. Is that long enough to search is office?"

"That will be fine." Then the line went dead.

So Curlly took what she was cooking out of the oven and put it in the fridge. She just finished feeding her cat when the doorbell rang.

Looking at the monitor by the door to confirm it was Sinjn, Curlly patted her hair and opened the door.

"Hello. Oh, did I wake you up?" asked Sinjn.

"No, I was just getting ready to make some pancakes. Come in." Curlly stood out of the way as he entered and took his coat. After hanging it up she asked him if he was hungry.

"No thank you. But please go right ahead." Curlly busy herself with cooking while her told her about the two cops who'd come by is place of business to get his side of the story. And they were named Rita and Grace. Sinjn thought it odd that both of the cops were female.

Smiling Curlly said, "What they need a male to watch over them?"

"Now you know I didn't mean that! I've just never heard of a department allowing that."

"Well that's okay then. Say what are you doing tonight around six?"

"Well nothing that can't be put off. What did you have in mind?"

"As my way of saying thank you, I'd thought I'd cook you dinner at your place. I'm just dandy in a kitchen!" Sinjn looked unconvinced. "What?"

"It's just that you looked a little self doubting."

Curlly was thinking of the time she was involved with a little explosion at headquarters kitchen. "I really am a good cook. I was just thinking about making a desert without frosting."

"I'm almost scared to ask, but why no frosting?"

"I just have no luck with it. The first time I made frosting was for my grandfather's birthday cake. I didn't know I wasn't to use regular sugar. Needless to say, it was a wee bit crunchy."

Once he stopped laughing, "Well, I think I might risk it."

"Great. But I do have one thing I need to get done first. Wanna come?"

"What is it?"

"I need to pick out my Christmas tree. And there is a place about 15 minutes outside of town. Are you game?"

"Sure. I'll pick you up at six?"

"That will be great." After a little more chit chat Sinjn took his leave. And Curlly went to finish her cooking.

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

Part Five

Curlly was ready at 5:45, which in and of itself was a small miracle. She had all the things she need for dinner ready to just be put in the oven. They resided in a picnic basket by the door. Sense snow had been falling for a few hours, and Curlly dressed accordingly in a deerskin coat over her cream cashmere sweater and blue jeans. On her feet were dark brown snow boots, and on her head a cream ski had allowing her hair to stream down her back. Sinjn arrived right on time.

He took the picnic basket down to his jeep and off they went. On the way they talked about Christmases of their childhood. Curlly told him that it was her first one that she wouldn't be spending with her family. How she always set the tree up with her mother and sister. Just then they arrived at the tree farm.

The sales man was quite a tall fellow. "Must be a logger or something," said Sinjn to Curlly.

"Maybe, his eyes sure match the trees."

Curlly hemmed and hawed. She wanted a blue spruce, but one was just a little to big. The other was just a little to small. "Curlly, as much fun as this is, I'm getting cold. And much more importantly, hungry!"

Curlly laughed, "Ah, a man after my own heart. Okay, I'll take the smaller blue. If you go load it, I'll pay the man." As soon as Sinjn went off with the tree, Curlly turned to Michael. "You make a really good tree salesmen. I think you missed your calling in life."

Ignoring her humor Michael said, "We found nothing on his computer at work. He may have more sensitive files at his home." He handed her as small device. "Put this on the back of his hard drive. And you knew which tree you wanted before you got here. We had it flown in from Vermont."

"I know. But I thought Nikita might want to warm up a chilled Michael when you got home." And with that she ran to the car before Michael could retaliate!

***

"This is a nice place you got here," said Curlly as she admired his home.

"I've worked hard, and I really like the result." said Sinjn as he placed the basket on the counter.

Curlly got busy as Sinjn put up her coats and boots. She got the enchiladas in the oven, along with the apple pie. She started to reheat the refried beans when she realized she "forgot" the extra jalopenos. "Sinjn, if I give you the keys to my apartment would you snag the can of peppers sitting on the kitchen table? You do like your a... food with a bit of kick, don't you?"

"I'd be delighted to. I should be back in about 20 minutes."

"I should have everything done by then."

Two minutes after he left Nabiki and Roy came in with a tray of hot food. Curlly and Nabiki exchanged the uncooked food with the food Curlly had prepared earlier that day. The other two ops had cooked it in the apartment across the hall. Meanwhile Roy tried to hack into Sinjn's computer. When Sinjn had been gone for 19 minutes Roy gave up. "If I had 30 more minutes I'd be able to crack it."

"That's okay Roy. We'll just have to be a bit more patient. And remember Curlly, we want leftovers," said Nabiki.

"Sure, you guys better scoot."

About thirty seconds after they left, Sinjn walked back in. "I don't think your cat was very happy when she realized I wasn't you."

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

Part Six

After dinner they watched one of the all time greatest movies, The Princess Bride. They then did the dishes and Sinjn invited Curlly to his company Christmas party. It would be on the top floor of the company's building. "I'd love to meet the guy that was smart enough to hire you!" agreed Curlly.

Smiling slightly he said, "Well, I don't do much with getting the money to us. I just take care of it afterwards." Once they finished, Sinjn took Curlly home. At her door she asked if he would like to come help her decorate. He agreed and said he'd see her three days hence, the night before the party.

During those three days, section and Curlly prepared for the party. The mission profile was changed. New intel confirmed that not only would they seize the accounts, but the president of the company was the head of the terrorist group. Therefore Curlly was to eliminate him.

Curlly was glad Sinjn was helping her decorate her tree. If she couldn't do it with her sisters at CLHQ, she wanted to do it with Sinjn. She had already put the white lights in her windows, with icicle lights suspended from the ceiling. Greenery dripped elegantly across the windows and doors. All the boxes of ornaments were by the tree, and the kissing bough hung from the ceiling before the fireplace. Sinjn had called to say he'd bring over dinner and he was bringing a surprise. Now Curlly wasn't truly greedy. But she really loved surprises! As she contemplated what it might be her doorbell rang. Jumping up off the sofa, Curlly went to the door to let Sinjn in. He was carrying a thermos of some liquid and a large pizza.

"What's in the thermos, and what kind of pizza is it?" asked Curlly.

"Do you trust me?" asked Sinjn.

"Well, men with goatees aren't to be trusted. Then again, you did save my life. Well the vote is in, I trust you."

"Good. Go get two plates and glasses." Curlly brought over the required items to the table in time to see him open the box.

"That looks like extra cheese, sauce, tomatoes, and... is that spinach!" screeched Curlly.

"I know it looks strange, but it tastes wonderful. Maybe not as spicy as your Mexican, but my taste buds needed the rest."

Curlly took a cautious bite and decided that it really was yummy. Not as good as cheesecake, but a definite keeper.

"Now close your eyes and I'll let you taste the drink I got." Curlly looked at him suspiciously and closed her eyes and opened her mouth. Now Sinjn was thinking of something he'd rather do to that open mouth, but carefully placed the glass of whitish liquid and with care poured some in. Curlly's eyes popped open, "What is that?"

"It's just hot milk, sugar, some spices, and a little something to help keep one warm."

"Well, it's very good. Thank you for making it for me. Let's eat so we can start on the tree."

Once they finished eating they started on the tree. Curlly was very specific on how to wind the white lights on the branches. They put 700 lights on a five and a half foot tree. Sinjn was a little worried about the fire hazard, but Curlly assured him she did this every year. Sinjn was in charge of the shiny gold, silver, white gold, and black bulbs, while Curlly put up the frosted gold, silver, apricot bulbs, and the icicles. Then they circled the tree with strings of small black beads and larger pearl beads. The crowning piece was the star of frosted glass with golden iron works.

"I really thought this was gonna turn out looking like the Adams Family Christmas tree, but it is very elegant." confessed Sinjn.

"Thank you for your vote of confidence! Now because you were such a good boy, we can watch the bestest of holiday movies!"

"Not "It's a Wonderful Life!"

Curlly looked hurt and said, "No silly, it's how the Grinch Stole Christmas. With that Curlly put the tape in the VCR and snuggled up with Sinjn on the sofa. After they were done Sinjn said he better get going. He had a lot of work to finish before the party tomorrow.

"Wait! Will you please put up these stockings while I get your Christmas present."

"You didn't have to get me anything," said Sinjn accepting the stockings.

"I know."

So he turned around and hung them on the fireplace. He noticed one was for Curlly and the other for her cat. Smiling he turned around to comment on it when he almost knocked Curlly down, she was standing so close. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, she pointed up at the mistletoe. "Don't you just love the holidays?" asked Curlly.

In response he bent down and placed a kiss on the skin her boatneck shirt thoughtfully left exposed. "I hope there are a large amount of berries, " he said between kisses. He slowly made his way up her neck to nibble gently on her ear. As he heard her slight moan he decided it was time to do what he wanted to do sense before dinner.

Now Curlly had only been kissed a few times in her life. But this one took the cheesecake. After several more heart pounding kisses he wrapped her in his arms and just held her. "That was one of the best Christmas presents I've ever been graced with."

Looking back up into his eyes Curlly said, "I put it on the table."

Giving her one last quick kiss, he went over to pick up the package and told her he'd pick her up at 7:30 tomorrow night.

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

Part Seven/End

Curlly had dragged Nikita from shop to shop the morning and afternoon of the party. After that kiss, nothing in her current wardrobe would do. Curlly narrowed it down between two, when Nikita became fed up and told the saleswoman they would take both. That way Curlly could decide at home. Thanking Nikita for her help, Curlly let Nikita off at her apartment and went home to get ready.

It was 7:35 when the door rang. Curlly wasn't quite ready yet so she shouted, "It's open, I'll be right out." She heard the door open and shut followed by, "Don't rush on my account." Curlly pulled the dress she decided on over her head, zipped it up and pulled on her shoes. Giving herself one last look in the mirror she left her room.

Sinjn's jaw went slack when he saw her. Feeling his pulse race he took it all in. She was wearing a ice blue dress fitted to the waist. It flared slightly all the way to the floor. Gulping his eyes fixated to her bare shoulders. The only thing that covered them was the netting of silver that made up her necklace. All the exposed skin shimmered with soft glitter. Whatever she'd done with her makeup made her now gray eyes seem so impossibly bright. A silver comb caught up one side of her dark honey colored hair leaving the rest to fall down her back. Her hair also sparkled. The only thing he could think to say was, "It's hard to believe that's all natural."

"You don't like it. I'll go change."

"NO!" he almost shouted. "I can't imagine you'd look more beautiful in anything else. Here, I brought you your present. I thought we could open them after the party. I left mine in the car. I'll bring it up when we get back. But I thought you'd want to shake yours and try to figure out what it is."

Smiling Curlly said, "I'll just get my wrap and we can go." As she went back in to her room to get the wrap off the bed she heard her Comm unit switch on.

"It's me Birkoff. Are you alone?"

"Yes what is it?" Curlly felt great unease at the tone of his voice.

"I just found out who the head of the terrorist ring is."

"Who is he?" she asked fearing he'd say Sinjn.

"It's Valerie Singleton."

"A woman?"

"Yes. And Sinjn's little sister."

****

Curlly was amazed at how her training kicked in. She'd smiled and joked all the way to the party, all the time knowing she was going to kill his sister. Once they were at the party, Sinjn introduced her around. Lastly he introduced her to his sister. When they saw each other they embraced affectionately. It was all Curlly could do to play the role section had forced on her.

Part way through dinner, Curlly excused herself from the table to powder her nose. Once she was out of the banquet hall Nikita guided her to Valerie's office via the main Comm channel. Once she broke in and started the computer, Nikita feed her the codes they'd gotten from the device monitoring Sinjn's computer. After sending the needed files to section Curlly fed a virus to the hard drive effectively destroying it.

Suddenly Madeline's voice replaced Nikita's. After giving Curlly her egress route for leaving the party, she told her she would assassinate Valerie when she got up to give her speech.

"In front of Sinjn?" exclaimed Curlly.

"Is that a problem Curlly?"

"When housekeeping goes to clear the apartment, would you please have them bring the present on the table?"

"Of course."

Curlly felt cold. Taking several breaths Curlly returned to her seat just in time for dessert. After dinner there was dancing. After the last waltz Valerie went up to the microphone to give her annual speech. As she made her way up, Curlly turned to Sinjn and said, "I wanted you to know how much you are to me. And that will never change. I've never meet anyone like you. I know I'm a better person for it." Seeing the surprised look in his eyes, "I'm going to get some punch and let what I've said sink in." With a quick kiss on the check Curlly left him.

Curlly circled around the crowd until she was by the door with a perfect angle to shoot Valerie. During the course of the speech Curlly pulled out her gun and attached the silencer. No one was paying any attention to her. During the speech, Valerie had called up several individuals. One of them was Sinjn. As she raised her arm to shoot Sinjn's searching eyes found hers and widened at the sight of the gun.

She fired and did not miss. And she'd never forget the look in his eyes.

***

"You did a good job Curlly. You are to be commended." said Operations after Curlly finished her debrief.

"Well, if there is nothing more, I'd like to return to CLHQ." said Curlly.

"Yes. That will be all."

By the time Curlly got to her room it was late Christmas Eve. In a few minutes it would be Christmas day. On her bed next to her cat was the present Sinjn had gotten her. Walking over she picked up the box and unwrapped it. The first thing she noticed was a piece of paper. On it were the instructions for making the milk drink he'd given her. Underneath was a loose gray pearl on a cushion of black velvet. Another notes, saying, "For the most luminescent woman I know." Flipping the note over was a certificate for a star. The newly discovered star was named "Curlly".

***

After the funeral Sinjn got in his car. After adjusting the mirror he noticed a package in the back seat.

The End