This is set after The Gurnius Affair from Season 4 and I'm sure there has already been plenty of fan fiction written around that episode! This is just my version of a sequel to it…

THE SAN RICO AFFAIR

ACT 1 "DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT…?"

The golden sunset was rapidly being overtaken by nightfall. The evening was warm and balmy. Outside a small, San Rico hotel on the outskirts of town, many of the visitors were sitting out, eating and drinking.

A small blue car drew up the driveway towards the entrance. The blond driver bit his lip and looked around nervously at the people outside. Alongside him in the front was another man who was half asleep, while a young woman with short blonde hair was asleep in the back. As the car gently jerked to a stop, the woman woke up.

'Oh wow…where are we?' she asked.

'Back at the hotel, Terry,' said Napoleon. The dark haired agent turned to look back at her. He gave her a smile but looked beyond weary. 'How about you go inside and see if they're still serving dinner?'

The young photographer smiled back. 'Sure. I'm starving! I'll meet you guys inside.'

After the door had shut behind Terry, Napoleon was left alone with the driver of the car. Napoleon shifted in his seat and winced. 'Get the car parked around the back. I'll get some clothes and bring them down to you.'

'Thanks,' Illya replied. He tugged awkwardly at the collar of his uniform. 'What will you bring me?'

'Who cares?' snapped Napoleon. 'Anything's better than walking around the hotel dressed as a Nazi, isn't it?'

'Yes,' Illya replied, quickly. He stopped fidgeting and settled his hands on the steering wheel. 'Napoleon, we should talk.'

'Yeah, maybe,' Napoleon replied. He opened the passenger door and slammed it behind him as he got out.

Illya watched Napoleon walking tiredly and with a slight limp towards the hotel entrance. He shook his head in dismay and pushed back his long blonde fringe.

* * * * *

Terry yawned. 'Sorry…I'm exhausted,' she smiled across the table.

'No need to apologise,' Illya replied. He continued tucking into his pasta.

'It's a shame Napoleon couldn't join us.'

'He's very tired. He wanted to go straight to bed.'

Terry put her cutlery down and looked around the small but pleasant dining room. The lights were dim, there was a single red rose on each table and a young man was playing a Spanish guitar in the corner. 'I really appreciate this though, Illya,' she said, quickly. 'You didn't have to buy me dinner.'

Illya continued focused on his food, having moved onto the side salad. 'You were very helpful today. You deserve some gratitude.'

'Still, it's a really nice thought,' Terry said, wearing her most charming smile. She rested her elbows on the table and leaned a little closer towards him. 'I'm sure you've got a lot on your mind.'

'I have?' Illya asked, disinterestedly.

Terry blinked. 'Well, you did have rather a difficult assignment, after all! I don't know how you managed it.'

Illya said nothing. He poked a meatball with his fork and it fell off the plate.

Terry sat back and sighed. 'I don't think I'm cut out for all this action.'

'You did very well today, helping us to destroy the observatory,' Illya replied. 'Though perhaps you should try to keep out of trouble from now on. Try taking pictures of celebrities instead of German war criminals.'

Terry smirked. 'Thanks for the advice.'

'A pleasure.'

Terry sighed and leaned forward on the table again. 'It's a relief to come back to such a nice place. San Rico is lovely, isn't it?'

'I haven't had much time to explore it, but I believe it's a very nice place.'

'Oh yes. I'd like to explore tomorrow.'

'I'm afraid we'll be flying back to New York in the morning.'

Terry's face fell. 'So soon? '

Illya nodded. 'Napoleon and I lead rather stressful lives.'

'So I gathered.' Terry sighed sharply. 'But Illya, you need a break! It's a shame to leave such a peaceful, romantic place!'

Illya's blue eyes looked straight at her for the first time during their meal. He cleared his throat and set his cutlery on his nearly empty dinner plate. 'Excuse me, Terry, I'm rather tired. I think I should get some sleep.' He stood.

'Alright, fine. I know when I've been dumped.' Terry looked up at him with her arms folded.

Illya flashed her a smile. 'Don't take it personally. I'll go and settle the bill. See you bright and early in the morning.'

Terry softened a little thanks to Illya's charm and smiled back. She sighed and knew she should go and get some sleep herself after her tough day. She sat back to finish her drink. Just a few minutes later, she felt a tap on her shoulder. A young man with longish dark hair and a soft tan stood at her side.

'Excuse me, miss, you look rather lonely now. May I join you?'

'Actually I was just getting ready to go, I'm afraid…'

'Already? But the night is very young!' the stranger replied. 'Please, let me get you just one more drink. Then see how you feel.'

Terry couldn't help beaming. She may not have had much luck with Illya, but at least one handsome man was keen to spend more time in her company. 'I guess one more drink won't hurt!' She stood and followed him to the bar.

* * * * *

The hotel was small and busy, so Illya wasn't able to get a room to himself. Instead he was sharing with Napoleon.

Napoleon was already in bed when Illya let himself in, though not asleep. He was stretched out on the top of his double bed, wearing his dark pyjamas. He frowned when Illya walked in, and shut his eyes.

The atmosphere was tense. They had been partners for years and had long had a habit of falling into companionable silence together, but this was different. There were things that needed to be talked about and neither of them wanted to talk.

Illya went to the bathroom and changed out of the clothes Napoleon had let him borrow. As he took off the white shirt and dark trousers that were more than a little loose on him, he remembered he didn't have any night clothes. After a quick wash he folded the clothes up neatly and went back into the bedroom wearing nothing but his briefs and a white undershirt.

'Do you have any spare pyjamas?' he asked.

Napoleon opened one eye and gave him a brief glance. 'No. I've only got the set I'm wearing.'

Illya sighed.

'You don't need them anyway,' Napoleon continued. 'It's boiling in here.'

'I prefer to sleep in pyjamas.'

'Well tough luck.' That appeared to be Napoleon's last word on the subject.

The room Napoleon had reserved was very small; there was only the main bedroom with one double bed and the bathroom joined on. Since there was no-where else, and Napoleon showed no sign of making any space for Illya in the bed, Illya tried to make himself comfortable on the green chair at the bottom of the bed.

After another period of silence, Illya spoke. 'Are you alright?'

'In what sense?' Napoleon asked, sleepily.

'Don't be obtuse,' Illya growled. 'Just tell me if you're alright.'

Napoleon sat up sharply. He briefly winced and then glared at Illya with controlled anger in his hazel eyes. 'I'm hot and feeling rather unwell, if you really want to know. I don't know if it's because of the damn heat or because I was tortured to within an inch of my life earlier today.'

Illya cowered slightly. He said nothing and Napoleon lay back down again. Illya swallowed. 'I suggested earlier that we talk about it. Do you want to discuss it now?'

'No,' Napoleon replied. He turned off the bedside lamp, and the room was lit only by the moonlight that seeped in through the gap in the closed curtains. 'Goodnight.'

Illya sighed and tucked his legs up as best he could in the chair. He shivered slightly. He tried to stay awake and think carefully about what had happened; his assignment to impersonate a ruthless German war criminal and what it had led him to do. Perhaps it could have been avoided. Perhaps there had been other choices he could have made. Perhaps he should have found another way of protecting Napoleon; one that didn't involve electronically torturing him. But he knew that there hadn't been another way. The alternative would have been death, for Napoleon, himself and Terry.

The sound of deep breathing and then gentle snoring came from the bed. Napoleon had drifted off at last. Illya relaxed. There was little point in thinking anymore tonight. Within a few moments, Illya joined his partner in sleep.

* * * * *

'Please…I don't know what you want…'

'Shut up, woman. I'm warning you for the last time.'

'Please! You can't rob me, I don't have anything! Not even my camera!'

'Enough!!'

Terry tried to struggle against the strong hands that were tying a gag behind her head. She didn't have the energy to struggle anymore. She had been putting up a fight since the charming young man had talked her into having a stroll under the star-filled sky in the grounds behind the hotel, before suddenly throwing her to the ground. Two other men had appeared and helped him to tie her up. They had dragged her to a parked car and pushed her roughly into the back. They had been driving for some time. It felt like hours to Terry.

The three men never spoke to each other, giving no clue as to who they were or where they were taking her. Terry put her head back and scolded herself for getting into this situation. What would Napoleon and Illya say?

The two U.N.C.L.E agents…she thought of them now. She desperately hoped that they would rescue her once again…