Part 9

"What’s going on?" Operations demanded. Michael walked over to the intercom and checked with Birkoff. "Explosive charges have been planted in all critical areas of Section. They have just been activated."

Operations whirled on Sherry. "So, that’s what you meant. Well listen to me, missy. We’ll have those charges deactivated in no time. And then it’s over. Do you understand?" She was cringing at the noise.

"Shut those blasted alarms off, Birkoff," Operations ordered. Once the noise stopped, Sherry relaxed. "Thank you. But I’m afraid you’re wrong. The charges can only be deactivated from a remote. It will happen only when I give the order. Until such time, you can waste all the manpower and time you want trying to deactivate them, but you can’t. There are also similar charges set at Oversight. I imagine you’ll be hearing from George soon. Just tell him what I told you."

Operations was livid. Madeline was impressed, although she didn’t let it show. "Obviously there is something more you need to accomplish. You’re holding us hostage until it’s done. Would you care to enlighten us?"

Sherry smiled. "Madeline, I don’t know why you’re not running this place. You’re so intelligent. But no, sorry, I can’t share any information with you just yet. However, I am expecting a phone call in an hour or so. Once I have given the orders and hear that things have gone according to plan, you will be informed. Until then, you’ll just have to sit back and let it play out."

She didn’t know if it was the drugs, the pain, or what, but something made her want to taunt them. "By the way, how does it feel to be used and have your life on the line for something you know nothing about?"

Operations headed towards the bed, but Madeline restrained him. "Fine, we’ll leave you for now. You’ve obviously been very well trained."

"I learned from the best," Sherry quipped. Having been trained by Michael and recently having worked with Madeline, they knew it was true.

"If you need to reach us, you know where we are," Madeline said as she steered Operations out of Medlab.

Once they were gone, Michael walked over and sat down beside her again. "Why?" She wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t; not yet. She was under orders. "Michael, I just said I couldn’t tell you. When I can, I will. Can you leave it at that for now?"

"It was you, wasn’t it? You were protecting us out there." Michael decided to try and get what information he could, using what he had already put together himself.

Sherry stared at him and then looked away. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. You shot me, I was unconscious. How was I protecting you?"

"I didn’t shoot you. Xavier did. And he was aiming at your boyfriend, not you. Why did you take the bullet for him?" Michael asked softly as he caressed her hair.

Sherry sighed. She knew he was doing his job, but she also knew he was hurt by her actions. She needed to tell him the truth, but until everything was accomplished, she was under orders to keep it to herself. It was making her feel even worse. "Because I didn’t want him killed, Michael," she simply stated.

Michael decided to change tactics. "Crystal Sky was shooting at us. Are you working with them? Is that how they knew we would be there? You deliberately set us up so they would take us out. Clever plan. Too bad someone else was out there watching over us."

She knew what he was doing, but it didn’t make it easier to stay silent. Having him think the worst about her didn’t make it easier to lie to him. "Believe what you want, Michael. Davenport and I were simply buying a ring."

Michael picked up her hand and noticed her engagement ring was missing. "I see. Were you planning to return my ring? Don’t bother. You can keep it. I won’t want the reminder once you’re gone. I hope he is worth your life."

"He is," she said quietly, "you all are." Michael wasn’t quite sure he heard what she said, but he had a good idea. The longer he talked to her, the more certain he was that she hadn’t turned. She had to be on a mission. But for whom? She had Section and Oversight both in her sites with the explosives. Then again, it never bothered Operations to risk everyone to accomplish his end game. Maybe that was it. Maybe Operations knew what was happening and this was his plan. Michael still needed more information, but he was becoming more certain.

"You’re working with Operations, aren’t you? This is a mission." Sherry turned her head to look at him. "Don’t be ridiculous. Why would Operations abduct us and then bring me back here to blow up Section and Oversight?"

"As a ruse. Because the rest of your team is doing something else while we are distracted with you. It’s the only thing that makes sense."

Sherry sighed. "Michael, I know you’re more intelligent than that. No, it’s not the only thing that makes sense. It’s the only thing you want to believe. I could very well have orchestrated this whole scenario just to escape. Too bad you caught me, but maybe I’ve taken steps to remedy that. Maybe I’m waiting for Davenport to come and get me. Once I’m out of here, I’ll deactivate the charges. Or, maybe I’m working with Crystal Sky. Perhaps they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, or didn’t want to."

Michael studied her face. She was good at hiding her emotions and feelings, getting better all the time. But he knew her. Deep in his heart he knew she wasn’t working with Crystal Sky. As for wanting to escape ... it was possible, but he didn’t believe it. They had made plans to go away this weekend. If she had been seeing Davenport, and it was serious, then why go away with him?

Once again he began smoothing her hair. "You wouldn’t have made plans to go to the mountains with me if you wanted to be with Davenport," he suggested, gauging her reaction.

"How do you know I wasn’t going with you simply to break it off? It would be easier on both of us to break it off away from here with all our friends around. Maybe that’s what I had planned," she countered.

Michael nodded. "Fine. If that’s what you want, we can do it here and now. No need to waste a trip to the mountains."

Sherry shook her head. She didn’t want to have this conversation, didn’t like where it was going. She hoped the team would call, but knew it was still too soon. She wanted this over with now. It was getting too complicated. "I’m tired, Michael. I need to rest. We can talk later," she said as she closed her eyes. Michael checked with the doctor to see if it was okay to let her sleep and the doctor assured him it was. Michael made sure she was asleep and then went to Operations’ office to report.

"Did you get anything?" Operations demanded as soon as Michael set foot in his office.

"Nothing concrete. I don’t think she has any intention of detonating the explosives, though. When I asked about why she took a bullet for Davenport, if his life was worth it, she mumbled something to the effect, ‘Yes, you all are.’ So whatever she is up to it’s not of her own choosing."

Madeline nodded while Operations paced. Michael decided to lay it on the table and see what reaction he got. "Are you behind this? Is she working with you?"

Operations stopped and turned to Michael. Madeline quirked an eyebrow at Michael’s never-ending nerve. "Are you questioning me, Michael?"

Michael nodded. "Yes. She denied it, but it’s about the only thing that makes sense to me." Madeline watched him closely. "Are you sure that it’s not the only thing you will believe, Michael? You’re in love with her. That clouds your thinking."

"No. I’ve known something was off about this from the start. The message we received that our people were alive. What terrorist simply sends a reassuring message - no demands or threats? It didn’t make sense. And now she’s got us where she wants us. You can’t cancel her or we all die. As soon as she’s finished her "mission," she will deactivate the charges. That doesn’t sound like someone working for Crystal Sky."

Operations snorted. "Sounds exactly like that to me. Let’s put another spin on it. She’s holding us all hostage here. That doesn’t sound like someone working for me. And what assurance do we have that she won’t simply leave and detonate the charges anyway? No Michael, I think Madeline’s right. You’re too close to this one to see it clearly." Michael knew he wouldn’t get anywhere with them, so he went back to his office. He had given the doctor instructions to inform him the minute Sherry woke up.