For Whom the Bell Tolls
Part 1
Napoleon Solo and April Dancer entered the cafeteria laughing and calling out greetings to the agents and other people that they knew there.
Seeing Josephina Kuryakin sitting in her wheelchair drinking a cup of tea with papers spread out all over the table, they headed toward her.
"And what are you two happy about?" she asked grumpily.
"It's the holiday season and we've been shopping," Napoleon said as he and April sat down pushing one pile of papers to the back of the table.
"You sound awfully cranky. Be happy, at least medical is allowing you to move around the building."
"In this darn thing and only for two hours at a time," she sighed pointing to the chair.
Napoleon smiled at the woman he loved. He knew that she hated being out of the action and had fought just to get the okay to run around headquarters in a wheelchair.
Having learned to control her temper at most times, this injury brought back her feelings of uselessness resulting in her anger rising to the surface more easily.
"At least you can work on some of your computer programs. Oh don't forget we're having Christmas dinner by Aunt Amy," he said.
Her glare of irritation bought a smile to his face again.
"I'm still not sure that is a good idea," Jo said. "To meet someone who means that much to you at Christmas might put a bummer on the holiday."
"Now that American term she gets right." He laughed to himself. "No backing out, I've already told my Aunt to expect you. Well, we need to get to a section two meeting, see you later."
"I could just sit in on it," Jo suggested. A shake of his head let her know that wasn't going to happen "Sorry, you're still on medical restriction."
He left the table humming a Christmas carol with April following him.
….
A week later Jo was able to lose the wheelchair and advanced to crutches having been discharged from medical. Illya helped with her release by guaranteeing that he would allow her to stay with him until medical felt she was ready to be on her own.
On the ride to their apartment building, Napoleon sang along with the Christmas music being played on the radio. Though Jo frequently teased him about his singing, it was wonderful to hear him take so much delight in the upcoming holiday.
His joy with the season was obvious in everything he did and said. When they reached the apartment building, he bid Happy Holidays to everyone they met.
Before exiting the car Napoleon said, "You do know that neither of you have a guest room where I do. I think Jo should stay there, so that she can be watched much closer."
Seeing that Jo was in favor of the arrangement Illya said, "Remember little sister, I guaranteed you would behave, do not let me down."
A quick kiss on the cheek and she assured him that she would do as the doctor had ordered.
As they entered his residence, a large Christmas tree stood twinkling near the window. There were decorations throughout the apartment and mistletoe hung in every doorway. A nativity scene was placed under the tree. When Jo raised her eyes at it, he shyly shrugged his shoulders.
"It's what Christmas is all about, that and family. You do remember we're having dinner at Aunt Amy's on Christmas Day right?"
"Napoleon Solo, you are just an old softie. And yes I do remember, however, I am not sure it is such a good idea."
He ignored her comment, and instead he began to lead her into the guest bedroom but as they walked under the doorframe he grabbed her and kissed her passionately.
He pointed upward when she gave him a questioning glance. "Mistletoe," he explained. "You do know that it's traditional to hang, don't you?"
"Everything is so beautiful. Yes, I know it is traditional but leave it to you to make the best use of mistletoe. Now when you volunteered to allow me to use your guest room so that I would follow directions is this room did you plan for me to sleep in," she teased.
"I do have this guest room if you want to use it, but I was hoping….." he suggested.
"Well I think you could keep a better eye on me if I were closer to you. Maybe staying in your guest room would be easier for you to watch over me," she hinted.
After a nap, she woke up to the smell of Chinese food and her brother's voice. "Smells good," she said coming out of the room.
"Only way I can afford to feed your brother, and have enough for all of us," Napoleon indicated the full plate Illya already had in his hands.
"You did say to help myself?" Illya defended his eating habits.
They each enjoyed the food and company and after dinner was over, Napoleon suggested they go to her apartment a few floor below to retrieve some clothes and other things she would need. Jo thought about how dull her apartment would look when compared to Napoleon's decorated one.
When the three reached her door, Illya opened the lock and undid the alarm system, then walking into her apartment, Jo stopped in the doorway. Her small apartment had been converted into a Christmas wonderland.
"How?"
"Illya and I did it the other day when the doctor said you could be released. I hope it's okay with you?"
Napoleon knew Jo didn't celebrate Christmas on December 25th but that Ukrainians celebrated it on January 7th, but he wanted to include her in his celebration of the holiday.
She spotted the mistletoe over her hallway to the bath and bedroom. Leading Napoleon to the doorway, she returned the passionate kiss that he had given to her earlier.
"Thank you. It is perfect," she smiled at him.
….
Early in the morning on Christmas Eve, a group of agents stood before Waverly in his office. Jo, who had been cleared for desk duty, hid in the back hoping that he wouldn't notice that she was there. Napoleon stood next to his boss while Illya, Mark, April and Andreas each stood with another three agents.
"Okay everyone. We're going to take out the Thrush site by the waterfront. Each group will come in from a different direction and meet in the center of the suspected building. Remember we want to take as many of their people alive as possible," Napoleon reviewed the plan.
"Sir, anything to add?" Napoleon said turning the briefing over to him.
"Yes. Mr. Solo will be coordinating the attack from the mobile headquarters," he looked at this CEA and could tell this order didn't set well with him. Waverly knew that he rather be in the middle of the action but they needed his ability to problem solve and control things on the fly.
Waverly noticed Jo in the back of the room. "Miss Kuryakin," he began. As he said her name, he saw her try to melt back into the background. He understood her desire to be part of the invasion but knew she was still on medical restriction.
"Sir?" she answered unsure if he would dismiss her or allow her to help.
"You'll handle the communication aspect of this mission from the communication department in Head Quarters," he informed her. The smile she gave him confirmed his belief that his people would do anything just to be involved.
….
The attack force penetrating the building though the designated entrances so far was unmet by any gunfire. They slowly advanced deeper into the building, heading toward the basement.
"Napoleon, something is wrong. There seems to be no other people in the building," Illya informed his partner.
"Team leaders have your men stand back, and go to the basement and check it out. Let them know when you need them."
With that Andreas, April, Mark, and Illya proceeded down to the basement.
As they reached the area, Illya suddenly yelled.
"Evacuate! Get out now, it is a trap. Napoleon a bomb has just been set…" the sound of an explosion cut off the rest of his communication.
….
Those agents still in the building and not out helping with the rescue would stop in the communication center as they walked by, "Jo? Have you heard anything about them yet?" was the frequent question.
"Nothing yet" Was her standard answer. She won't allow herself to admit she was extremely worried about them herself.
….
Napoleon abandoned the mobile unit and ran to the building as members of the assault teams exited it coughing from the debris in the air.
"Sorry, Napoleon, there is too much dust for us to see anything," one of the men told him.
The sounds of sirens and emergency vehicles broke the silence of the early afternoon as they came in response to the explosion.
They were unable to re-establish communications with his missing agents, even though Jo continued to broadcast continuously. Napoleon and the remaining team members helped emergency personnel to remove the wreckage in order to get to the basement.
The fire chief ordered Napoleon out for a break and he reluctantly sat by himself in UNCLEs mobile headquarters.
Flashing lights from the fire engines and police cars outside lit up the darkening sky as the dusk of winter was fast approaching as it reached four pm.
Solo tried to figure out what had gone wrong, what was it that he missed that would have made him have realized it was a trap?"
"You couldn't have known Mr. Solo," Waverly said as he came up behind him. So involved in his private search for the missing facts that he hadn't heard his boss enter the van.
"There has to be something we missed sir," he insisted.
"Whoever set this up, knew what they were doing. I believe we'll need to look into our own headquarters for the source of this catastrophe Have we heard any more from our people," he asked his CEA.
"Just sounds sir. Seems Illya's communicator was never closed. They're homing in on it. Excuse me sir, I want to get back out there and help." With that, Napoleon left his boss and headed toward the site.
On his way back to digging, he heard bells tolling and noticed the gold steeple of a distant church. He had long ago given up believing in a specific God, but he did believe there was someone who watched out for spies and agents.
"If you could help us out a little," he silently asked, "I'd really appreciate it." He stood another moment, continuing to stare at the steeple before heading back into the building.
As the chimes from the steeple rang out 6 o'clock a yell rose from those closest to the missing agents. An open area could be seen within the fallen bricks and as they were removed the four agents were visible. All were unconscious but breathing.
Slowly the agents were removed and placed on stretchers before being rushed to waiting UNCLE ambulances.
….
"When I saw the bomb, I grabbed a piece of metal roofing that was leaning against one of the walls and we held it above us," Illya explained. "After the bricks stopped falling we were buried but not hurt though the space was small and we eventually ran out of oxygen."
"Speak for yourself, gov," Mark complained. "I am going to have a rather large bruise across my back."
April smiled at her partner, "Really Mark, considering you could have been crushed, a small bruise is the least of your worries."
"Small!" he huffed but he did give her a small grin in return.
"Andreas," Jo looked over her bruised and bandaged partner. "I cannot let you out without me without you getting hurt."
"It wasn't me who was on medical leave for the last month because I couldn't stay out of trouble," he said in mock annoyance.
Andreas and Jo's relationship like that of April and Mark was often subject to gossip from the UNCLE staff, but there was no romantic interest between the partners. Their relationship was one of mutual respect and friendship. Each included the other in their circle of family and friends.
The doctor had ordered them a few days medical leave wanting them to stay for the evening for observation but by the looks he received from all of them had given him; he changed his mind. After their assurances that they would take the time to recuperate, he released them to go home.