Chapter X
Six Weeks Later
"Illya, I have to tell you, Partner Mine, that Mr. Waverly still is not completely over this 'marriage business' as he calls it. It is probably a good thing you are not somewhere he can get to you easily, like my apartment or your place."
The two agents were sitting in the living room of the home Luba had bought earlier in the year and that now served as her and Illya's marital home. It was late spring and Illya was still recovering from gunshot wounds he had sustained six weeks earlier. He had been in excellent shape and was healing faster than the doctors had anticipated. He was still not well enough to return to duty but, he was able to move around better and had already started physical therapy. It was Friday afternoon and Napoleon was spending the weekend.
"I know, moi droog," Illya sighed, "I spoke with him at length yesterday regarding my immediate futurewith UNCLE, among other things. He told me that you and Wolf have been pleading my case ever since my marriage came to light. He did admit that the circumstances were highly unusual so, he will more than likely consider the matter closed."
"'More than likely?' What did he mean by that?" Napoleon asked.
Illya sat up a little higher on the couch so he could see through the patio doors. Luba was about six feet from the end of the patio measuring a plot in which she intended to grow herbs for the kitchen. Comfortable that she was out of earshot, he answered, "If the doctors at the rehab center are correct, my wife only has six weeks, more or less, to live. The Old Man feels that any punishment beyond that would just be cruel."
Napoleon resisted the urge to move from the recliner to the couch to hug his partner. He'd probably punch me for getting too emotional. "How do you do it, Illya?" he inquired softly. "How can you be with Luba day after day and not let on that something is wrong?"
Illya smiled ruefully and took a sip of vodka, his painkiller of choice. "This helps," he said as he held up the glass. "I also work on getting better and stronger, I talk to Wolf, I talk to you, sometimes I cry. I will not lie and say this is easy; it is not but, Napoleon, everyday, I am more and more convinced that I did the right thing for Luba and for me. I love her and so does her brother. If we had told her months ago that her days are numbered, she would have lived the rest of her life in fear; thinking it was the end every time she felt a headache or heartburn or anything. That is no way to live. Her death is coming and she doesn't know it. Just like the rest of us."
They sat in comfortable silence, each glad to be near the other. A few minutes later, Luba walked out of their line of sight and Illya assumed she was walking around to the front of the house to put her gardening tools back into the garage. Sure enough, the men heard the door swing open between the garage and the kitchen. They heard the water turn on and off in the utility room off the kitchen and a moment later Luba Kuryakina strolled in holding a bottle of Beck's beer in her hand.
"Boys, I am not in the mood to cook. How about I get us barbeque from Dickey's?"
The Russian stood up carefully to give his wife a hug and kiss. "I have a better idea; how about we all go to Dickey's. Napoleon can drive. We'll call Wolf and make an evening of it, da?"
Napoleon clapped his hands together. "Great idea! Luba, why don't you call your brother and ask him if he wants me to pick him up or meet us there?"
MFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFU
Forty – five minutes later, they were sitting in their preferred booth in the back of the restaurant drinking sweet tea and waiting for Eunice to bring the mountain of food they had ordered. Illya noticed Luba examining her glass and smiling. "My love, the tea is especially pleasing to you tonight?"
"Yes, haven't you noticed it's not as sugary as it normally is? I like it better this way."
Illya kissed her nose and replied, "I thought so but, I was not sure." This tea tastes exactly the same! What is happening?
Wolf glanced over at Napoleon but, said nothing. Napoleon had been thinking that he should have gotten the lemonade because the tea was so sweet, it was setting his teeth on edge but, knew enough not to offer his opinion.
Eunice came over with a large tray balanced on one hand and a tray stand in the other. She expertly opened up the stand and placed the tray upon it. "OK, people; Luba, you have the barbeque chicken; Eddie, here's your ribs with extra potato salad; Navarre honey, you have the ribs and cole slaw and Wolfie sweetie, you have the fried chicken dipped in Dickey's Secret Sauce. And, I got your biscuits right here in this basket along with hot sauce and extra napkins. Enjoy your dinner!"
Illya, as usual, attacked his meal with the single-mindedness he always exhibited while eating so, he did not notice what Wolf and Napoleon saw, at first.
"Luba," Wolf said, "is something wrong? I thought you were hungry."
"I am but, I should have ordered the fried chicken; this doesn't seem to be too tasty."
"No?" her brother replied, "Here, let's switch; take a piece of my chicken." They traded thigh for thigh and Luba happily bit into it but, grimaced after chewing for a few seconds.
"I don't know why but, this doesn't taste right to me either. I must be coming down with a cold or something."
Instantly concerned, Illya put his fork down and felt her head. "You do not feel warm," he observed. "When did you start noticing things did not taste the same?"
She waved her hand, "I don't remember," she answered, "Not too long ago. Stop fussing over me, liebling, I am fine."
Wolf had already gotten Eunice's attention. "Luba is not well, so may we have take – out boxes for our food?" When his sister started to protest, he stated, "It is fine, we'll just eat at your house and then Napoleon can take me home." She shrugged and did not argue which in and of itself, concerned Illya greatly.
If she were feeling one hundred percent, he thought, she would not give in so easily. "Maybe it is not a bad idea to take the food home; that was your original thought, was it not?"
Just then, Eunice arrived back at the booth with take – out containers for everyone. "Feel better, darlin'. I'm sure it's not the food 'cause me and those guys in the kitchen been eatin' this stuff for years and we're all healthy as horses."
"Thank you, Eunice, I'm sure I'll be fine. You know how protective of me Eddie is; if I were to sneeze right now, he would probably rush me to the ER." She did not see the look her three companions exchanged.
MFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFU
"Napoleon, I don't know if Illya has mentioned his conversation with Mr. Waverly to you…" Wolf said hesitantly. He was sitting in the passenger seat of Napoleon's rental. They had dropped Illya and Luba off at home and now Napoleon was taking Wolf to his house.
"He did but, he only told me that he and our employer had reached an understanding about the marriage."
Wolf sighed and went silent. When Napoleon pulled up in front of his house, he asked, "Do you have a few minutes? Would you like to come in?" The response was Napoleon cutting off the engine and exiting the car.
They sat in the living room with German beer and slices of Red Dragon cheese to munch. "I have a key so, I'll let them have some privacy for awhile before I head back," Napoleon said as he popped a slice of cheese into his mouth, enjoying the mustard – like taste and the sensation of the seeds bursting as he chewed. He took a swig of beer and asked, "Why did you bring up Illya's conversation with Mr. Waverly?"
Wolf opened another beer for himself and passed one to his guest. "Illya told me that he has requested that when, when…when he needs you, you will be given time off to help him cope."
Napoleon stared. "Of course I'll be here for him. That really goes without saying. What else did he tell you?"
"It is best that I leave that for him to tell you. I will tell you this: He is frightened, Napoleon. He is terrified of losing her; much more so than I am." At Napoleon's surprised look, he commented, "Remember, she had been in a coma for five years. I have already grieved her loss. I had hoped she would live a normal life span but, I consider it a blessing to have gotten my sister, my twin, my Luti back for lo, these many months and to know she has been happy in her new life and yes, even to know, to hope, that she does not go back to the living death of a coma but will die like Agents Sloan and LaSalle." He looked down at his hands. "For Illya, it has been a curse."
MFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFU
After Napoleon had dropped them at home and driven away with Wolf, Illya and Luba went into the kitchen. "Illya, darling, I know you are hungry. Please, eat. I will eat too; I will eat the cole slaw. You know how much I like it."
She took the containers, plastic utensils and napkins out of the bag while Illya watched her. Look how she puts the food in front of me, he thought. It is funny; the only two people who have ever truly been concerned about whether or not I need to eat are Luba and Napoleon. He watched as she gamely tucked into the food in front of her and forced his features to remain neutral when realization struck. She cannot taste it! If I comment again, she may become suspicious about my concern.
"Oh, Illya, this is good, would you like some?"
"No, my love, I am happy with my potato salad. Would you like some of my ribs?" She is lying; she does not want me to worry. When she turned down his offer, he thought, I do not think she can handle meat with no taste.
Illya made short work of his meal and Luba finally finished the slaw. He cleaned off the table and took the garbage outside. When he returned, Luba hugged him and said, "I am tired, I think I will turn in now."
Illya hugged her tight for a moment and said, "I have some reading I would like to do but, first, I want to lie with you until you fall asleep. Would you like that?"
"Ja, Husband, I would."
MFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFUMFU
Illya gently moved away from Luba so as not to disturb her rest. Once he stood up, he moved around to her side of the bed and kissed her forehead gently. He was struck once again by how beautiful she was, and the notion that she might be only days away from death caused his chest to feel constricted with fear even as his heart swelled with love for her.
He walked into the kitchen to get his vodka from the freezer. As he was pulling a glass down from the cabinet, he heard Napoleon's coded knock and then the key turning the lock on the front door. He watched silently as Napoleon came into the kitchen.
"Hey, Tovarisch, I saw the light on, I thought you and Luba would be sleeping by now."
"Luba is sleeping. I stayed with her until she fell asleep." He got another glass and held it up to his partner. When Napoleon nodded, he got ice for it and pointed to the cabinet that held the Chivas Regal scotch his partner favored. "Tomorrow, I'm calling Dr. DeChiara to ask him to find out whether Sloan or LaSalle complained of losing their sense of taste or any other symptoms prior to their demise." He drained his glass and put it on the counter. "Moi brat, may I ask for something?"
Napoleon said, "Of course, Illya. What do you want?" He moved a little closer when he saw the Russian's shoulders slump dejectedly.
"A hug. Please."
Without a word, Napoleon closed the distance between them and pulled the smaller man into a bear hug. You are my brother, he thought. I'm here for you, I love you and I will help you get through this. After a moment, he patted Illya's back and leaned back to look at the blond's face. "Better?"
Illya smiled shyly, said "Yes, thank you" as he let go and went into the living room to sit on the couch.
Napoleon followed and sat next to him. "Illya, what else did you discuss with Mr. Waverly? Wolf mentioned that there was something you need to tell me."
Illya laid his head on the back of the couch and looked up at the vaulted ceiling for a few minutes. "I did something very stupid. I told Wolf about it and he told me what he would have done if one of his subordinates had approached him 'spouting the same nonsense' to quote him. I would rather you hear this from me first than from Mr. Waverly. Napoleon, please understand. To say the least, I have been living under a cloud ever since you told me about LaSalle and Sloan. This entire situation has brought back my fears of being abandoned. I think that is one of the reasons I married Luba. It was my desperate way to try to hold on to her, as if the fact that she is my wife will somehow keep her alive even though I know I have no control over what is happening and will happen. I felt that I did have some level of control over you, Napoleon so, I let my fear overcome my common sense and…and I asked Mr. Waverly to pull you from the field."
Illya watched as different emotions played across his partner's face. Shock, disbelief, embarrassment and then, finally, anger. Napoleon's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward and whispered irately, "How dare you! You had no right to do that! What did Mr. Waverly say?"
"He was livid," the Russian replied. "He said he was appalled that I had the temerity to ask for such a thing but, do not worry, your field status is secure. And, for what it is worth, I am sorry for overstepping my bounds. It was an idiotic thing to do. My only excuse is that I am convinced that if anything happens to you and then, I lose Luba, I will become…What is the expression? A basket case?"
Napoleon had calmed down listening to what Illya had to say. He moved to sit next to Illya and bumped him with his shoulder. "Tovarisch, listen to me. There are no guarantees in life; we both know that but, I also believe that things happen for a reason. If Ludwig Bowler had not captured us on Jost Van Dyke, he wouldn't have had a contact when he wished to defect from THRUSH. If we hadn't helped him rescue his sister, she would still be in a coma. If we had not found out about Sloan and LaSalle, you would not have married her. Even your getting shot when you did has afforded you the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time with your wife that you otherwise would not have had."
"Illya, all of that to say that I believe things play out the way they are supposed to and it makes no sense to worry about 'what ifs.' If you do, and right now, you are, you are only making yourself even more miserable. You are strong and getting stronger everyday. Your wife loves you, I love you and neither one of us wants to leave you but, sometimes, it's not our call. So, just enjoy us while we're here."
The Russian listened to what his partner was saying. He is right. I cannot allow my fears to run and ruin my life and what is left of Luba's. "Thank you, my friend," he said sincerely, "I promise you I will not let my fear control me again." He punched Napoleon in the shoulder, laughed and then stood and stretched. "I am going to bed and hold my wife and be happy for the opportunity. Good night, moi droog."
"Good night, moi brat."