Part 11/End

Michael stepped forward as if to protect her. "Michael, stay out of this, unless you want to share the same fate she does." Michael opened his mouth to speak, but Sherry reached out and took his hand. "Michael, it’s okay. I’ll handle this."

Michael studied her face carefully and knew she wanted him to trust her. He would give her that much. Letting go of her hand, he nodded and stepped back.

Operations looked to Madeline. "Perhaps you should be taking lessons from her. She seems to be able to get even our most recalcitrant operatives to do her bidding." Madeline nodded her head to the side in acknowledgment of his statement. "So it appears."

Turning to the doctor who was hovering in the background he ordered, "I want her dressed and in the White Room in ten minutes."

Sherry’s cellphone rang again. "Hello." She listened for a moment and then handed the phone to Operations. "It’s for you."

Operations glared at her and then took the phone. "Yes," he barked into it. He listened for a few moments. "Of course, sir ... yes, sir. I see. Very good. I will. Thank you sir."

Closing the phone he handed it back to Sherry. "That was Mr. Jones, head of The Centre. He wanted to let me know how helpful you have been in the Crystal Sky matter over the past month or so. He suggested that I might even grant you a promotion."

Sherry sat there waiting for him to continue. "So, if it’s not too much trouble, would you please tell us what is going on?"

Sherry nodded. "If you give me a few minutes to change, I’ll meet you in your office. I’ll be glad to tell you everything."

"Fine," Operations nodded. "We’ll be there. Michael, you will join us."

"Of course," Michael replied. He watched Madeline and Operations leave and then turned to Sherry who was trying to get up. Reaching over to help her, he said, "So it was a mission. I thought so."

Sherry sighed, leaning against him. "Yes, it was a mission." And hitting him in the chest with her finger, she said, "You didn’t make it easy to keep quiet, you know."

Michael acknowledged her statement. "I’m sorry. But I had a job to do as well."

"I know. You’re very good at it," she laughed. Sobering for a second, she continued. "So, uh, about Davenport ..."

Michael put his finger over her lips. "Shhh. I know what you were doing. I understand. As for taking that bullet, I know you would have done that for any of us."

Sherry nodded. "Good. I’m glad we’ve got that out of the way." Michael lifted her hand and kissed it. "So just where is the ring?" he asked.

Sherry said very nonchalantly. "Oh. I gave it to Davenport." Michael looked at her and laughed, leaning over to kiss her gently. "Just so he returns it."

Sighing, Sherry stood up and wobbled a bit on her feet. Michael steadied her. "I better get a move on. Can’t keep Operations waiting any longer. Oh, before we go, I need to call Davenport." She reached Davenport on his cellphone and told them to come in. By the time they arrived, she knew they would be in the clear.

Michael helped her put clean clothes on and then stood back looking impressed. "Mr. Jones, huh? Quite an honor, meeting the head of Centre."

Sherry smiled. "Who said I met him?"

"Touche," Michael smiled. "So, were you surprised?"

Sherry shook her head. "Okay, okay. Yes, I’ve met him. Apparently you have too. Now, can we get going?" Michael nodded and walked with her to Operations office."

Once she was seated, Operations demanded answers. "All right. Now what in the blazes has been going on and why wasn’t I informed?"

Sherry felt relief at finally getting the story out. "Mr. Jones contacted me over a month ago. We met and he told me that he had come into some important information. Crystal Sky had a hit list of Section personnel. Michael was at the top of the list, followed by you and Madeline. There were other top level operatives from CLHQ and Section on the list, mostly Level 4 and higher. Those who have been here the longest."

Michael nodded. "Those with the most knowledge and skill. Take them out and Section would flounder."

Operations nodded. "So why wasn’t I informed? And why the ruse that you had been abducted?"

"You weren’t informed because Crystal Sky has been monitoring Section very closely. They were watching all your movements. That way they would know who was on a mission and could take them out, making it look mission related. It was pure luck that they didn’t get to anyone before I got you to focus on us."

"So you wanted to keep us out of the field," Michael suggested. Sherry nodded. "Yes. I knew if we disappeared and Section was thrown into a frenzy, Crystal Sky would think another organization had us and then we could focus on them without their realizing it. And if Section was focused on finding us ..."

"We’d stop everything else until we discovered what happened. If we all stayed close to home, there was less chance of anyone getting hit," Operations finished.

"Exactly," Sherry nodded.

"Impressive work, Sherry," Madeline stated. "Thank you," she acknowledged.

Michael again brought up a point. "So, it was you protecting us in the field."

"Yes. Davenport and I were on point, catching your attention. The rest of my team was watching your backs."

"Thank you," Michael responded.

Madeline smiled. "Your disappearances were very impressive. No one saw a thing."

Sherry smiled. "Well, it took a while, but Curlly and I figured out how to make it happen. We made each one slightly different so that we weren’t predictable. The tape switch was Curlly’s idea. I’m just glad it worked."

Madeline nodded. "Perhaps we should move you into profiling and training. It was an impressive job. We could use your skills."

Sherry shook her head. "Thanks, but it wasn’t just me, there were five of us. If any one of us had made a mistake, you would have been on to us and the mission would have been scrubbed. I also want to commend Davenport, Curlly, Brenna and Joann. Each one agreed to help me without any arm twisting. They knew how important this was and also how dangerous. I think that should be reflected in their files."

"Done," Operations stated. "I guess we owe you an apology and our thanks."

Michael stood to help Sherry up and back to her quarters. "Just one more thing," Operations said before they left. Sherry turned to him with a questioning look on her face.

"I understand that you two have a few days downtime in a day or so. I suggest you get away from here. And since you’ll need the time to recover, take two weeks."

Sherry smiled. "Thank you, sir." Michael nodded and they walked out of his office and headed back to CLHQ to pack.

Just as they were about to enter Sherry’s room, Davenport showed up.

"Davenport, you’re back," Sherry called to him. She would have hugged him, but her arm was in a sling. "Is everyone all right?"

He walked up to her and carefully hugged her instead. Nodding to Michael, he answered. "Everyone is fine. Much better that you." Michael watched them closely. He could see the friendship and respect they had for each other. But that was all he saw. He felt relief, realizing just how jealous he had been.

Davenport pulled back. "Listen. I owe you big time. You shouldn’t have taken that bullet. It was meant for me. Don’t ever do that again."

Sherry smiled. "You don’t owe me a thing. And if the occasion should ever arise again, I’d do it again in a heartbeat."

Shaking his head, Davenport inquired about her. "Seriously, how are you? Are you sure you’re going to be okay?"

Michael decided to join the conversation. "She’ll be fine. The doctor said she needs rest and then light duty for a while. The scans were all negative and the shoulder wound isn’t serious. Operations has given her two weeks downtime to recuperate."

Davenport nodded. "I’m glad to hear it. You know you were great out there." Sherry thanked him and he started to walk away.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I have something that belongs to you." He pulled out the engagement ring. Sherry couldn’t hold out her hand because of the sling, so Davenport walked back to her. He moved to put it on her finger when Michael grabbed it from him.

"If it’s all the same to you, I’m the only one who’s gonna put this on her finger." They all laughed and Davenport started to walk away. He turned back once more and called, "Michael, you’re a lucky man."

The End