Thank you to PeggsterLover and CrazyBeaver whom I have been tormenting for the past few weeks with all the teasing. And thank you for the reviews and support, your both incredible women.
-Chapter Three-
One Week Later
The team had now spent a week at the hotel and were now only getting close to the answers they needed. They had found the room Jason used for hacking into IMF, thanks to a group effort from everyone in the team, and would be sticking the room tonight. Everyone was busy to prepare for what their roles in tonight's mini mission, everyone but a detached William Brandt.
For the past week he had been disconnected from the team. He had kept himself to himself, staying away from the others for most of the past week. He realised, the mask he was wearing was slipping and truths would soon have to be revealed.
He had always tried to stick to the rules. You could say that he tried to stay inside the lines as much as possible. Even as a child when colouring in he kept within the lines, he played by the rules even when others didn't, which made what he did feel worse.
For the first time, in a long time, he disobeyed orders resulting in secrets and danger. He was ordered to quietly eliminate a growing problem. He was handed the case file he know held in his hands the day the mission was given to him. A brown folder with IMF typed on the back and front in large black lettering.
Twenty-seven pages filed this folder.
Eight pages with describing the ins and outs of five family members.
Six pages about three failed missions.
Thirteen photos with a mix of surveillance, family pictures, and crime scene photos.
And one face he knew.
Jim Phelps was in this folder. The man was as a legend at IMF history. His team were the envy of other teams in the IMF and possible would always be a legend. This was one of the only case files with their names connected to them that was still active.
He once believed that he would be able to outsmart the infamous Phelps and Co. but he had only caused people to get hurt.
The day this file had been given to him his view on the world had changed. He was no longer able to see the work IMF did as reasonable or even helpful.
He didn't think that one day he would meet one of the faces in that folder one day
"Sorry Benji," he said to the file before placing it inside his duffle bag, out of sight out of mind, and retrieving his black silk tie. "I shouldn't have let this happen."
Jane twisted the bracelet around her wrist fastening the lock, lose enough for it to move around her wrist, she wore a black dress that reached just below her knees which had gold embroidery over the shoulder and across her waist.
Ethan was stood behind her tying his bowtie. He, much like all the other men who would be at this evenings event, was wearing a black tuxedo. His unique twist on his chosen outfit was his white bowtie which he was currently tying.
Sighing she turned around to face him, "What's going on between you and Benji?" she asked.
She had tried to find the answers or reasonable explanations to her questions that where tormenting her mind for the past week. But she hadn't been able to. What she had started to see was the ever increasing meetings between Ethan and Benji. Ordinarily she wouldn't have been bothered by these meetings, they would have been normally for any mission, but because they should have been pretending that they didn't know each other it strike her as odd.
"Nothing," was his quick worded reply.
"What's with all the secret meetings then?" she questioned innocently, turning back to the mirror to arrange her alluring hair.
"Would you believe that we're having an affair?" he smiled laughing slightly.
"More than any other lie you'd be able to come up with. Ethan I'm worried," she confessed turning to walk over to him. "None of you have been the same since the briefing," she took the tie from his hands and quickly knotted the tie for him.
"Thank you. And Benji is just tired. We all are. We're just trying to negotiate time of after the mission," he told her picking up her purse from the bed and handing it to her. "Benji found this, said it may come in handy." He reached into his pocket to receive an owl pendant dangling from a gold chain. He twisted the owls' neck to reveal a long serrated knife. "He said you'll never be able to hide a weapon in that dress."
"Thank you," she smiled still uncertain about her friends troubles. "What about Brandt?"
"I'll be talking with Brandt tonight."
The ball was to celebrate the opening of the recently refurbished ball room, recently refurbished with Benji's help, and all the hotels guests were invited. There would be two honorary guest being Richard and Jason Dawson giving the team an opportunity they could not miss.
"Your masks Mr and Mrs Geller," Kevin said handing Ethan and Jane a mask each. Ethan's mask was black with a red tear under the right eye while Jane's was white with a blue tear her left eye. Both masks would only cover their eyes and nose.
"Thank you," Jane said taking the mask from his hands. They both turned to walk into the room.
The double doors were opened by two men, both wearing a mask with an angered face burned into the fabric. The ball room was large, about the size of a football pitch, with a stage which had an orchestra were playing soft operatic music. Golden beams went form the roof to the floor with painting of forests and skies.
"Didn't say anything about wearing a mask," Jane whispered to Ethan as they placed their mask over their faces.
"Maybe because they thought people wouldn't come," Brandt said, in a voice that sounded annoyed, walking up behind them with a drink in his hands. He too wore a black mask but beneath both of his eyes where green 'X's. "Benji got into the room safely. He said he'll let us know when he's out."
Preparing for tonight they had done a run thou of the plan. Benji had walked by the room he would be working in most of the night while the others where in the ball room. He had discovered that there was a single blocker that would interfere with their coms so he would pretty much be working solo.
"Something feels wrong," Ethan said looking around the room. "All of this feels wrong."
"Ladies and Getlemen," a bodiless voice, amplified by speakers, said. "May you please give your attention to our guest of honour, Jason Dawson."
A man walked onto the stage. He wore a white suit and a plain black mask. From his height and weight and also the shape of the scar on his jaw Ethan could tell that the man was Jason Dawson.
He pulled the mask of his face and smiled at the audience, "Sorry for the masks, my fathers' idea he sends his apologies for his absences he's taken ill. One of my brothers loved make believe. He loved to pretend he was someone else. My father saw it fitting to have a theme for the opening of this magnificent hall. While spit balling ideas my baby brother came to mind and the masks are our way to remember him."
Jason placed the mask over his eyes again and returned his attention to his audience.
"A toast," he was handed a glass that he lifted into the air with another smile, "to the wonderful work of Tim Hamilton, Sarah Taylor, and Michael West for their hard work and dedication in the refurbishment, for the rebirth, of this once glorious room. To my brothers who used to play with me in this room. I fill like there still in the building with me. Thank you all for coming, enjoy the free whine and each other's company."
As he walked of stage the audience burst into applause.
"Keep an eye on Dawson," Ethan ordered as he walked away from the other two.
Brandt walked over to the bar and placed his now empty glass in front of the barman. Ethan walked amongst the crowd like a man who knew where he was going. Jane was about to follow suit when she felt someone tapping her arm.
"Mrs Geller, could I have a word?" Kevin asked as the music began to become louder.
Jane smiled at him, "Of course. Is something wrong?" she asked allowing a hint of concern to slip into her trained voice.
Kevin handed her a folded piece of paper, "I can't tell you what I know here, but you're in danger. Your whole team is in danger Mrs Carter," he warned his voice low and worried.
"How do you know my name?" Jane snarled her fists clenching beside her legs.
"You've got to get out, today! I don't know what he's planning but it's not good. Your friend Tim, no wait Benji, he's in danger. Please leave!"
She was about to retort when she heard Benji breathless voice. "Guys, we've been compromised."
"Are you sure?" Ethan asked.
"He's got our files, he knows our faces, he knows who we are. They knew we were coming. It's a trap."
-End of Chapter-
I fill like I was writing most of the guys out of character, what do you think?
Also sorry the chapter lacked Benji. The next chapter will be full of Benji goodness.
Please review, they help.
