Chapter 10: The Prodigal Son pt3...A Good Man Goes To War
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing- Edmund Burke
A/N: Hope you guys enjoy the chapter. I look forward to reading what you guys think of this OC. Please review.
Be warned...this chapter will have a high sexual content.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
(10-26-03) 5:02 am Dimitry's Apartment-Moscow:...18 y/o
Dimitry stood on the balcony of his apartment, and took a sip from the piping hot cup of coffee in his hand. When he looked down below him, he could see the city begin to rise from its peaceful slumber. As his gaze fell across the still darkened streets of Moscow, he felt something he didn't think he would ever feel again, he was happy. He couldn't stop the grin from appearing on his face, when he thought of how much he changed in the past six months.
After his initial meeting with Andrei, Dimitry was told to frequent the bar, and continue to attend his classes at the University. He still remembered Tomas saying, "Do not be too eager to join the Brotherhood, Dimitry. Become your cover, and let Andrei approach you."
At first, he was reluctant to return to the University and its hoard of students, but he was trained to do his duty. After a few weeks of dealing with his peers, he learned to ignore the people around him, and found how enthralling the classes could be. A month into his mission, and he was shocked by how much he enjoyed his time at the University.
While his days were spent thriving in school, his nights were spent relaxing at the Graffiti bar. Dimitry followed Tomas's instructions and frequented the bar often, but he stayed away from Andrei and his group. Since he needed an excuse to be there, he found himself talking to Natasha most nights. After his third night of being at the bar, he was stunned when Natasha asked him out, "Oh my god, Dimitry. I've been dropping hints to you for three nights now. You're brave enough to fight a dozen guys for me, but you can't find the courage to ask me out? You're taking me dancing tomorrow night. Got it, good looking?"
Dimitry was so shocked by her forcefulness, he was only able to nod his head in agreement. The following night, they went to a famous nightclub called the Garage. Dimitry was extremely nervous about the evening, and he wanted to make sure his beautiful date had a great night. The date went better than he ever could have imagined, and they danced the night away. Thanks to his training at the school, Dimitry was skilled in quite a few styles of dancing, and he shared them all with Natasha. He loved the feeling of her body tightly pressed against him, and never once dreamed of leaving the dance floor.
The weeks that followed, were a whirlwind romance for the new couple. Natasha would meet with him at the University cafeteria everyday for lunch, and he would go to the bar every night she was working. A few weeks into their relationship, and the two were nearly inseparable.
His time with Natasha, also afforded him rare access to Andrei. Within six weeks, Dimitry was able to ingratiate himself with many of the high-ranking members of the Brotherhood. When Tomas learned how deep he had gotten, he stopped their weekly contact. "You must be careful now, Dimitry. If the Brotherhood likes you, they will ask you to join soon. We must limit any contact, unless it's absolutely necessary. As a potential member, they will watch you closely."
His lack of contact with Tomas left Dimitry alone, for the first time in years. Every decision he made, was his own, and he enjoyed his new freedom.
After two months of dating Natasha, Dimitry realized she had no idea of her brother's involvement with a gang. It pained him to think he was lying to her, but he didn't have the heart to tell her the truth about her loving brother. By the time they were together for four months, he couldn't bring himself to lie to Natasha anymore. The feelings he was forming for her, began to crumble the walls he built around his heart.
Every moment he spent with her, Dimitry could feel the happiness that eluded him for so many years, and he refused to continue their relationship with lies. In a moment of rare stupidity, he told her the truth about himself.
At first he was afraid she would leave him and then he began to fear she would tell her brother. She didn't do either. Once she learned the truth, Natasha just cried softly on his sofa. After a while he sat next to her, and was surprised she let him hold her. They fell asleep, without saying a single word the rest of the night.
When they woke in the morning, Natasha asked him what he planned to do with her brother. Dimitry explained he was an Agent that was looking for the man that supplied her brother's gang with weapons. He assured her his bosses didn't care about Andrei. "I can't promise he won't go to jail, Natasha, but I promise you, I will try to do whatever I can to help him."
Dimitry spent the rest of the day answering all of her questions. Natasha was saddened to hear the things her brother was involved with, and she agreed he needed to be punished for his crimes.
Once Natasha heard his story in its entirety, he was stunned when she threw her arms around him and told him how much she loved him. Dimitry had never spoken to anyone about that awful night, and he didn't realize he was crying through his story, until he felt Natasha wipe the tears from his face. As soon as he felt her arms wrap around him while he cried, his fears of losing her over the truth disappeared.
The days that followed the confession, changed the course of their relationship. The strong feelings they once had for each other, blossomed into a powerful love. The day Natasha moved in with him, was the day he knew he was finally happy with his life. After years of feeling anger, sadness, fear and guilt, Dimitry was thrilled to feel the emotion that had been eluding him for so long.
With Natasha firmly in his corner, he was quickly able to get closer to Andrei. Soon his nights at the bar were spent drinking with Andrei and the Brotherhood, rather than sitting with his girlfriend. Those nights with the ruthless gang leader, allowed him to impress Andrei with his intellect, and he quickly found himself being invited to join the gang.
For the past two months, Dimitry did everything in his power to gain Andrei's trust. His relationship with Natasha endeared him to the gang leader, and his rise through the Brotherhood was swift. After months of hard work, all his efforts paid off, when he learned he would meet the gang's anonymous supplier.
Dimitry contacted Tomas, and gave the old man the details for the meet tonight. Once they had a strike team prepared to make the assault, they could arrest everyone that showed up at the warehouse for the meeting. His thoughts were interrupted when he smelled the familiar strawberry lotion behind him. 'Natasha.'
As he turned around in surprise, Dimitry's breath caught in his throat. His radiant girlfriend was dressed in a baby blue collared shirt, and she had conveniently forgotten to button it. His mouth watered as he took in her provocative attire, and he could feel his body become aroused by her presence. 'She's the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.'
"What are you doing up so early, sweetheart?", he asked her curiously.
"I'm cold lover," Natasha replied. "I woke up and my favorite heater wasn't in bed next to me."
Dimitry smiled at the faux pout that formed on her lips and said, "Than lets get back to bed. I wouldn't want you to feel cold."
"I'm awake now, Dimitry," Natasha said seductively. "Can you think of something to make me feel sleepy again?"
Dimitry stared at as his girlfriend, as she turned and walked back to their bedroom. He watched the shirt rise and fall with her every step, and he licked his lips, as he was teased by the sight of her gorgeous ass. His body yearned with desire to feel her touch, and he rushed from the balcony and followed her to the bedroom.
When he arrived at their bedroom, he saw his shirt laying on the floor, and Natasha waiting for him in the bed.
"Hurry Dimitry," she begged him softly. "I want you right now."
Dimitry crawled into bed and tossed the covers to the side. The sight of Natasha's naked body, made him pause in admiration of her beauty. His hand caressed her breasts, as he leaned down to kiss her waiting lips. 'God, I love this woman.'
Natasha's lips parted under his, and he could feel their tongues slide together eagerly. As their passion began to mount, he pulled her body closer to his. Her firm nipples pressed against his chest, and he heard her moans of pleasure, as his hand cupped her ass forcefully.
Natasha's breathing became faster, when Dimitry began to kiss her neck, and tease her ear with his teeth. She opened her eyes, and ran her hand down his chest, until she reached the hardness between his legs. It was Dimitry's turn to moan in pleasure, as she pushed down his underwear and stroked his manhood.
Dimitry could feel her fingers wrap around his cock, and caress its length gently. He was surprised when he felt her hand push him gently to his back. His legs widened, as he felt Natasha climb between them. When he looked down into her bright blue eyes, his body ached in anticipation for what was to come. He watched as she bent her neck and her tongue flicked teasingly around the head of his cock. He squirmed in her grasp, and heard her giggle at his discomfort.
After a moment longer of hesitation, Natasha took pity on his distressed situation.
Dimitry gasped in pleasure, when she took him into her mouth. He could feel the warmth of her lips engulfing him completely, and he used his hand to stroke the back of her head. His breathing became quicker, as he felt her pull the seed from his body. Not wanting the moment to end, he reluctantly pulled her body up from between his legs.
When Natasha felt him pull up on her arm, she pulled his cock out of her mouth and looked at him curiously. As soon as she looked into his eyes, she understood his desire, and eagerly rose to straddle his massive erection. She gasped in pleasure as his hardness entered deep within her, and her hips began to gyrate furiously against his.
Dimitry's heart raced as he heard her scream his name. His body yearned to complete its release, but he refused to finish before her. He wrapped his hands around the back of her thighs, and thrust up deep inside her body. He could feel his cock slide through her wetness and he smiled when he saw her back arch in pleasure. His thrusts became faster and harder, until he felt her lips clinch against his manhood. When he felt her body shudder from her orgasm, Dimitry finally allowed his body to join her in sweet surrender.
Natasha smiled when she saw Dimitry's face contort with the pleasure of his release, and she gently rocked her hips against his spent member. Once she was satisfied his orgasm was complete, she reluctantly rolled her sweaty body off her lover. When she felt the arms of the man she loved, wrap around her body, Natasha couldn't keep the smile off her face.
Since she was a little girl, she dreamt of a prince charming that would sweep her off her feet and love her for eternity. As she lay wrapped in Dimitry's strong arms, Natasha couldn't believe the man of her dreams paled in comparison to the man she found. 'I love you Dimitry,' she thought, as she drifted off to sleep.
(10-26-03) 8:41 pm Empty Parking Lot-Moscow:
Dimitry looked at his watch and shook his head in irritation. The Phoenix strike team still hadn't arrived at the empty parking lot, and he was tired of waiting. The meeting with Andrei's supplier would begin before long, and he needed to get back soon. 'Dammit, Tomas,' he thought in frustration.
Once he looked at his watch and saw the time, Dimitry pulled out his cell phone to call his unpunctual contact. Just as he was about to dial, he saw the headlights of a car enter the parking lot and he replaced his cell phone in his pocket. He watched in amazement as three luxurious cars and a motorcycle pulled up to his parking spot. As the vehicles got closer, he couldn't help but wonder if these transports were standard for all Agents.
When he saw the red motorcycle get closer, Dimitry instantly recognized it as a Honda Fireblade. He was a speed junkie, and he often dreamed of having a bike like the Fireblade. At a 1000cc, the bike had a liquid-cooled inline four cylinder engine, and he knew it could crank out 150hp. As he thought of the speed with which the bike could travel, he felt his body's desire to test it for himself. 'Maybe after the mission, the Agent will let me try it out?'
Once all the vehicles were parked, Dimitry saw his strike team for the first time. It was composed of four men and and one woman, but he wasn't surprised by the numbers of the team. He knew they were all graduates of the Phoenix program, and he was well aware of the training they received.
When his appraisal of his new team members was complete, he was surprised to see he recognized one of them. The rider of the motorcycle was a one time classmate of his named Helena Pletneva. He was about to acknowledge her, when he heard Tomas say, "Dimitry, go ahead and get armed. We will ride out to the warehouse as soon as you're ready."
After Tomas had given his instructions, the other Agents rushed to gather their weapons from the cars and Dimitry was confused where he should go. He was about to ask Tomas where he should get his weapons, but he stopped when he saw Helena motion for him to follow her.
"Over here, Dimitry," Helena called out.
Helena watched as Dimitry walked up to her, and she was surprised by what she saw. The scrawny little teen that flew through combat training, had grown into a well muscled man, and she was pleasantly surprised by the physical changes. Even though she was three years ahead of him, Helena remembered he was the darling student of the Director, but she never felt any attraction to him before. 'Surprise. Surprise. You look good enough to eat Dimitry.'
Dimitry waited patiently for the Agent in front of them to gather his choice of weapons. He could feel Helena's eyes bore into his back, and he began to feel uncomfortable with her copious attention. "So, how do you like being an Agent?," he asked her politely.
Helena shrugged her shoulders before answering, "It's okay. The killing is a little more than I thought, but the benefits are fantastic. Mr. Volkoff never skimps on his Agents."
Dimitry paused when he heard her mention the killing. He wasn't stupid. He knew as Agents, they would be required to use lethal force. He was prepared to take a life, if it was the last option available to him. He was just surprised to learn, that the killing was so extensive.
"You don't have a lot of arrests on your record?," he asked curiously.
Helena was stunned when she heard his question. She thought he was joking, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Arrests? Hah. That's funny, Dimitry. Since when do assassins arrest people?"
Now it was Dimitry's turn to be stunned. As her words registered in his mind, he couldn't believe it. Assassins? His mind raced as he thought what this meant for him. His years of training came to his rescue, and he managed to bury his emotions deep within him. His Agent mask firmly in place, Dimitry's mind began to analyze this new information. "Are all the missions assassination based?", he inquired.
Helena's smile slipped when she heard his question. "No," she replied. "Sometimes we have to infiltrate a place and steal some information. That's not too bad. The missions that suck are the seduction missions."
Even with all his training, Dimitry couldn't hide the surprise in his voice, when he asked, "Seduction?"
Helena laughed out his outrageous expression. "Yes, seduction," she replied with an amused expression. "Once we complete our first mission, we are evaluated by the Director and Mr. Volkoff. Those of us that do well, are sent to advanced Agent training. We learn Infiltration and Seduction, Tactics, and receive advanced small arms training. It's not too bad, and the teacher for the seduction class is amazing. Some say the instructor, Luciano De Silva, may even be better than the legendary Roan Montgomery that teaches in the CIA."
Dimitry didn't know who these people were, and he didn't care. As his "brilliant" mind registered the new information he was given, he wanted to laugh at his stupidity. All those years he spent training, he did so thinking he would use his skills to protect innocent people. To learn he was meant to be an assassin and not a protector, boggled his mind. How could he have been so stupid?
When he thought of his new status as an assassin, Dimitry was disgusted with himself. His self loathing was halted, when he realized why they were here. "What are the orders for tonight?", he asked hesitantly.
"Kill everyone," Helena replied with a shrug. "Mr. Volkoff wants to make sure none of the leaders will be alive to continue their operation. They were his chief rivals in supplying the gangs with guns, and he doesn't want them interfering with his business anymore."
Dimitry was stunned by her answer. He couldn't believe they were supposed to kill everyone at the meeting tonight. All the leaders in the Brotherhood would be there and he realized that would be at least twelve people dead. That much gunfire would be sure to alert the police. Hoping they hadn't realized this, he said, "If we're supposed to kill everyone, won't that draw a lot of attention? What if the cops show up?"
Helena laughed at his naivety. "Relax, Dimitry," she said. "Mr. Volkoff is a very powerful man. He has a Captain in the police that always handles all of our calls. Captain Medved will make sure his people will be late in arriving."
The moment he heard that name, Dimitry recognized it right away. He remembered the Captain that came to his rescue all those years ago and he could feel the rage building inside of him, as he realized their meeting wasn't a coincidence. "Can the Captain be trusted?", he asked.
Helena just shook her head at his question, and continued to smile. "Of course, Dimitry. I've worked with Captain Medved in the past and he's pretty reliable. He's been working with Mr. Volkoff for years and for awhile, he even helped to find recruits for the Phoenix program."
When he heard about the Captain's role in recruiting new students for the Phoneix program, it took all of his training to control the rage he was feeling. The moment he realized why the Captain came for him that day, he knew they killed his entire family, just to recruit him. An assassin with his skills, would be priceless for Volkoff, and now he knew how far they would go to get what they want. Dimitry wanted nothing more than to kill the people that had done this to him, but he remembered his promise to Natasha. 'I have to save Andrei.'
Helena watched as Dimitry's face scrunched up in concentration, and she couldn't help but smile at his expression. He was the perfect blend of sexy and adorable. She licked her lips, when she felt the familiar burn of arousal in her loins. She always felt excited before and after a mission. 'I wonder how he is in the sack?'
The more she thought about Dimitry naked, the more she wanted to fuck his brains out. Helena hesitated when she realized they wouldn't have any privacy to have their fun. Tomas had them all at a safe house in the city, until their flights the next morning. From her brief time there, she knew the walls were thin, and that she was a screamer. When Helena remembered Dimitry's apartment in the city, she smiled to herself. 'Jackpot.'
"Why don't we stop by your apartment after the meeting?", Helena asked seductively. "Maybe we can catch up on old times?"
Even through his rage, Dimitry's training took precedence. He forced himself to smile at the woman in front of him, and replied, "That may be difficult. I have someone there right now."
"You mean the busty blonde?", Helena asked with a smirk. "Don't worry about her, lover. Tomas sent someone to get rid of her. Can't have anyone linking you to the deaths tonight."
Dimitry's heart almost stopped when he heard the news. His mind raced, as he thought of a way to get away from the trained assassins and save the love of his life.
Helena saw Dimitry's change of expression, and she knew he was thinking of the busty blonde he had been sleeping with. Her competitive spirit rose to the challenge and she said, "Don't worry, Dimitry. I'm sure she was a good lay, but I'm going to do things to you she couldn't even imagine."
Dimitry was repulsed by the people he was working with, but he knew he couldn't let them see it. "Now that I would like to see," he replied, as eagerly as he could fake.
When he saw her smile and nod her head, Dimitry reached into the trunk of the BMW, and he pulled out a Glock and 2 spare magazines. Once he was armed, he turned to Tomas and said, "I think I should go in first, Tomas. We shouldn't begin the attack, until we know for certain the supplier is present."
Tomas looked at Dimitry and nodded his head in acceptance. "Okay, Dimitry," he replied. "You have ten minutes." He reached into the trunk of the car he was standing in front of, grabbed a comm piece and tossed it to the younger man.
Dimitry caught the ear piece with one hand, and he quickly inserted it into his ear. Once he was ready, he looked at Helena and said, "Since you get to use my apartment tonight, you think I can borrow your bike for a bit? I always wanted to ride a Fireblade."
Helena laughed at the enthusiasm on his face and tossed him the keys. "Sure. Enjoy yourself, lover."
As soon as Dimitry started the bike, he could feel the power of the machine between his legs. He popped the clutch and peeled out of the parking lot, praying he would get to Natasha in time. 'I'm coming Natasha. Please hold on baby.'
(10-26-03) 9:01 pm Unknown Location-Moscow:
Viktor waited patiently in his car, for his plan to unfold. He smiled when he thought how close he was to finally having everything he ever wanted. 'Soon Dimitry will be taken care of.'
When Dimitry got to graduate before him, Viktor had been furious. He hated that the Director didn't think him worthy to graduate, especially since he was a year older than Dimitry, and had been at the school longer.
Three days after Dimitry's departure from the school, Viktor was summoned to the Director's office. He was proud when the Director informed him that he was ready to graduate.
His first mission had been extremely simple. A man possessed a disc that Mr. Volkoff wanted and it was Viktor's duty to retrieve it. He was told to use any means necessary. It took around thirty minutes of torture, but he procured the disc easily.
After he returned with the disc and gave it to the Director, he was surprised to learn the truth about the Phoenix program. Most of the kids in the program, believed they were training to become a new breed of soldiers that would help the government. When Viktor learned they would be soldiers for Volkoff alone, he didn't care. Mr. Volkoff had saved his life, and he would do anything for him. His loyalty was always to Volkoff first.
When he said as much to the Director, the man was thrilled with his decision. "Excellent Viktor. The program requires complete dedication to Mr. Volkoff, and today you have proven your loyalty to him."
It was then that the Director explained to him about the advanced Agent training he was going to receive. Once he completed the training, he would be sent into the field as an Agent for Phoenix. Thoughts of traveling the world and seducing beautiful women, made Viktor eager to begin his advanced training.
The day after his meeting with the Director, he was sent to Saint-Petersburg to continue his Agent training. From the moment he got there, he was surprised by how well he did. Unlike his time at the school, where he struggled in all the subjects, the things he learned now, he excelled in.
Already gifted with abundant charm and charisma, when he started his Infiltration and Inducement classes, Viktor's technique was refined and perfected by the legendary Luciano De Silva. The instructor was so impressed with his natural ability, he assured Viktor, few women would ever be able to resist his advances.
His time during small arms training and tactics and strategy were equally as impressive as his time with Luciano. The instructors were stunned by his marksmanship and marveled at his adaptability during tactics and strategy. By the time his training was done, Viktor was one of the best students they had ever seen.
The day after he completed his training, he was thrilled when he received a call from the Director. Reports of his excellence were sent to the man, and he called Viktor to personally send him his new assignment. When he learned he was being sent to Spain to assist in arranging a new contract for Volkoff industries, he could barely contain his excitement. He had never been out of Russia before, and he couldn't wait to see what the rest of the world was like.
Upon his arrival at Madrid airport, Viktor was shocked when he was picked up by Helena. He remembered the woman from his time at the school, and he couldn't help but notice how amazing her body was. By the time they got to their hotel, he was so enthralled with her, Viktor realized he wanted to sleep with his new partner. He thought he would have to resort to using the skills De Silva taught him, but he was pleasantly surprised when Helena attacked him the first night.
His new partner had a voracious sexual appetite, and he was more than willing to accommodate her needs. During the three weeks they spent together, Viktor couldn't believe the things she would do to him. He didn't think sex could get any better, and he found himself looking forward to the different things she would want to try.
Once their mission was complete, Viktor returned to Russia, eager to begin his next assignment. He thought he would be sent to an exciting new location, and was dismayed to learn he would be remaining in the country.
As soon as Viktor received his new assignment, he was furious to learn his talents were being wasted babysitting Dimitry. Apparently his rival's undercover mission was taking longer than expected, and the Director wanted to keep track of his prized pupil.
Viktor hated his new assignment, but he did it to the best of his abilities. Thanks to the techniques he learned in advanced training, he was able to track Dimitry without being noticed. When he saw Natasha for the first time, he once again felt the green hand of jealousy wrap around his heart. She was the most stunning woman Viktor had ever seen, and he couldn't believe Dimitry was sleeping with her. It sickened him to think how lucky Dimitry was. The bastard could swim in shit, and still come out smelling like roses.
After a week of shadowing Dimitry, Viktor noticed how attached he was to the blonde goddess. Their closeness confused him, because he was told by Tomas that his rival was just using the girl to get to her brother. His curiosity got the better of him, and without permission, he increased his level of surveillance on Dimitry. He used his access to Volkoff security equipment, and planted bugs and cameras all through Dimitry's apartment. Viktor knew Dimitry wouldn't think to look for devices, but he still made sure they were all well hidden.
After a few days, his invasive surveillance confirmed his suspicions of Dimitry's affections towards the girl. He was ready to retrieve the equipment before Tomas found it missing, when he heard a conversation that amazed him.
Viktor heard Dimitry tell Natasha all about his mission and the Phoenix project. When he heard Dimitry claim to be an Agent for the government, he couldn't contain his amusement at his rival's mistaken assumption. By the end of their conversation, he knew everything he wanted to know about Dimitry. From everything he heard, he knew Dimitry could never accept the truth about the Phoenix program. As that information registered in his brain, his mind began to formulate a plan to finally remove Dimitry from his life.
Thanks to his time with Helena, Viktor knew the students that refused to swear loyalty to Volkoff, were eliminated. According to her, it was rare for someone to refuse, but it did happen. If he could get Dimitry to openly fight against Volkoff and the Phoenix program, not even the Director would hesitate to kill the bastard.
With the information he learned that night, Viktor had the perfect plan to get rid of Dimitry. He just needed to wait for the right time. It took another month of watching over his rival, before Viktor found the moment he was waiting for. When Dimitry informed Tomas of the meet with the Brotherhood's supplier, Viktor knew the time was now right.
Viktor's musings of Dimitry's demise were interrupted, once his phone began to ring. When he saw who the caller was, he smiled arrogantly. 'I love it when I'm right.'
"Dudin secure."
"Helena secure."
"You were right, Viktor. Once I told him the truth about Mr. Volkoff and the program, Dimitry didn't arrive at the warehouse."
Viktor smiled when he realized he won their bet. Helena didn't believe him when he told her Dimitry would forsake Volkoff and the Phoenix program for Natasha. She bragged about the things she would make Viktor do when she emerged victorious.
"I told you, Helena. I know Dimitry. He's too full of himself to be loyal to Mr. Volkoff. Now I can get rid of him for good."
"Should I inform the Director, Viktor?"
"No. Don't bother. I will call Director Shevchenko myself."
"Okay. I assume you want the usual tonight?"
"Oh no, Helena. I have something special in mind for you to do tonight. We need to celebrate Dimitry's demise."
"Fine. Whatever. I can't wait until I win one of our bets. I got so many things planned for you stud. Helena out."
Viktor grinned as he hung up the phone. Tonight would be the perfect night. First he would get rid of his nemesis, and then he would have Helena at his mercy. All night. No questions. 'I love my job.'
(10-26-03) 9:33 pm Dimitry's Apartment-Moscow:
Natasha stepped out of the shower, her body dripping over the cold tile on the floor. She grabbed a fresh towel from the counter, and quickly patted her body dry. Satisfied she had removed all the moisture, she wrapped the towel skillfully around her head.
She opened the bathroom door, and walked her naked body to the bedroom she shared with Dimitry. As soon as she walked in, she saw the clothes she picked out laying on the bed. Natasha reached for the damp towel on her head, and gave her hair a final pat down, before throwing it into the hamper. She walked up to the bed and slipped on the purple silk pajama bottom and matching halter top.
Once she was satisfied with her appearance, Natasha made her way to the kitchen. She was worried about tonight, and needed a drink to calm her nerves. She opened the fridge, pulled out a beer and popped the lid off. She took the drink to the sofa in the living room, and sat snugly with her feet wrapped beneath her.
As she took a sip of her beer, Natasha saw a picture of Andrei and her, sitting on top of the tv. She smiled, when she recalled how happy she was.
It was her fourteenth birthday, and Andrei was celebrating with her before he left for college. Their father passed away from a heart attack, six months before her birthday, and she didn't want to celebrate that year. Andrei refused to let her mope around the house, and insisted she go out with him. She still remembered how much fun they had. For that brief period of time, she was able to forget about the pain of losing their father. It was one of the best memories of her life. and she owed it all to her older brother.
It was also the last time she felt close to the brother she used to look up to. Once he got to college, Andrei would call home every day to check up on her and their mother. She loved hearing his stories about the parties he went to, and the people he would meet. Even though he was far away, those phone calls made her feel as if he was at home with her.
All that changed, as the weeks went by, and the calls began to dwindle. When her mom and her didn't receive a call for two months, Natasha grew worried about her brother. She called him on his cell, and was surprised when he answered and rudely told her to stop calling.
After her dismissal by her brother, Natasha was so furious, she swore she wouldn't call him again. For weeks she waited for her brother to call and explain, but she soon realized he wasn't going to.
Over the next few years, her contact with her brother was so limited, she didn't even recognize him when he came home for their mother's funeral. A week before he was supposed to graduate from college, their mother was hit by a drunk driver. Natasha texted her brother, but didn't expect him to answer. She was surprised when he showed up two days later.
When the time came to pay for their mom's funeral expenses, Natasha was going to sell all her jewelry, and she was stunned when Andrei gave her all the cash that would be required. She was suspicious of how a college student had so much money, but she was mollified when he explained he was hired by a private security company in Moscow. Natasha always knew her brother was smart, and she believed his story completely.
The days after the funeral were tough for Natasha. After her father's death, she got a job to help her mother with the bills. With Andrei having a full scholarship to his college, Natasha and her mom were able to survive with the money they made. Now that she wouldn't have the significant income her mother provided, Natasha wasn't sure how she would keep their apartment by herself.
That's when her brother came to her rescue. She was shocked when he offered to pay for the apartment and all her bills. Natasha knew she needed the help, but her pride wouldn't let her accept. Andrei had shunned her for so many years, he couldn't just come back and buy her forgiveness.
After she refused his offer of support, she remembered how hurt he looked. She thought he would abandon her again, but instead he begged for her forgiveness. He tried to explain that he was going through something bad at school, and he didn't want his family caught up in it.
When she worried over his safety, he assured her it was all in the past. He told her he couldn't tell her much because of his contract, but the company that hired him had taken care of all his problems, and even allowed him to carry a gun for his protection. He told her he was moving back to Moscow and begged her to let him be part of her life again. The story sounded suspicious to her, but she trusted her brother and eventually believed him.
With both her parents dead, Andrei was the only family she had left, and she didn't want him out of her life. Natasha missed her older brother, and decided to forgive him. Once she excused him for his past transgressions, he became persistent in his desire pay for her bills. Natasha didn't want to be beholden to him and agreed to his help, but only for the amount her mother used to provide.
Natasha was always very independent, and wanted to pay her own way. She didn't want to live off her brother's charity for long. When he gladly agreed to her stipulations, she was thrilled to have her big brother back in her life. For the next two years she thought she was happy. With her brother firmly back in her life, the only thing she was missing, was the man who would sweep her off her feet. After a series of disastrous relationships, she was beginning to think she would never meet that person.
Then came Dimitry. In a single night, he went from a creepy loser to her own personal hero. The night he rescued her, she knew she wanted to see what made him tick. As soon as they began their romance, she knew he was someone special. The way he doted on her and cared for her, made Natasha feel like the princess her brother always called her. They were just a few months into their relationship, but Natasha didn't think she could fall for him any harder.
Her life was so perfect at that time, she momentarily hated Dimitry for telling her the truth. When he showed her proof of her brother's dealing with the Brotherhood, she couldn't believe it. She thought he was lying, but then he showed her reports of the businesses Andrei's gang was involved with,drugs, guns, prostitution, and human trafficking. When she heard how her brother really made his money, it sickened Natasha. She couldn't believe what Andrei had become.
The day after she learned the truth, she woke up wrapped tightly in Dimitry's arms. As she stared into his peaceful face, she feared what the truth meant for them. She cried when she thought he had used her to get closer to Andrei. With a single truth, her world crumbled in front of her. Her loving brother was a horrible gangster, and the man she loved only used her for his mission.
Natasha thought to leave before Dimitry woke up, but her tears had already wakened him. The moment he saw the pain in her eyes, he told her he loved her. Her heart burst with happiness, when she heard his words. There was nothing in the world she couldn't overcome, as long as Dimitry was with her.
When they finally untangled themselves, he agreed to answer all of her questions. She was stunned when she heard about the Phoenix program and cried when she heard his horrible story. It broke her heart to see the pain in his eyes, and she rushed to console the man she loved.
The days after his confession, changed her life. The feelings she once felt for him, morphed into a passion she never imagined. When she finally moved in with Dimitry, she knew she found the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
When she thought of her missing love, her body tensed with worry. After hearing the things the Brotherhood was capable of, she feared for what might happen to the love of her life. Natasha glanced at the clock and frowned when she saw the time. The meeting with Andrei's supplier was supposed to start at nine and it was already ten o'clock. She wasn't sure how long such an operation took, and couldn't help but feel worried for the two of them.
Natasha was just about to take another sip from her beer, when she heard the knock on the door. 'Dimitry,' she thought, as she rushed off the couch.
The moment she opened the door, Natasha felt the fear enveloped her. The man at the door, was not her Dimitry. She feared she was about to learn of his death, and she could feel the tears forming in her eyes.
"Hello, Ms. Simonov. My name is Agent Mikael. May I please come in?"
In her state of shock, Natasha was barely able to move out of the way, so the Agent could enter the apartment.
"What happened to Dimitry?," she asked fearfully. "Is he okay?"
When she saw the Agent ignore her question and stare at her breasts, Natasha began to feel uncomfortable. Her time as a bartender had taught her to notice when guys looked at her lustfully, and she could see the lust clearly in the Agent's eyes. She folded her arms across her chest, hoping the action would make the Agent aware of where he was staring. "Agent Mikael, did you hear my question?," she asked a little forcefully.
Mikael was amazed by the beauty he was looking at. When Tomas called him to get rid of the girl, he thought he would come, put a bullet in her and leave. He never expected the woman that opened the door would be so gorgeous. The second he saw her, he knew he had to have her.
As he continued to stare at her perfect breasts, he heard her question break through his thoughts. When Mikael finally looked into her blue eyes, he smiled at her, and said, "Dimitry is just fine, Ms. Simonov. Unfortunately, he won't be returning. His mission is done, and you are a loose end. One that I am here to clean up."
Natasha's heart raced when she heard his statement. 'No,' she screamed to herself. 'Dimitry would never leave me. He loves me.'
Mikael saw the fear in Natasha's eyes, and felt his body quickly being aroused. "Do you like pain, Ms. Simonov?," he asked her nicely.
Natasha's mouth went dry when she heard his question. Unable to form a response she shook her head.
"Good," she heard Mikael respond. "I don't like pain either. Tonight, you're going to die. Sorry, I can't change that. How you die depends on you."
"Why do I have to die?," she asked fearfully.
"As I said earlier, Dimitry's mission is complete," Mikael replied. "You know him, and can link him to the murders of your brother and his friends. I'm sorry, but my orders are to kill you before I leave. Now please answer the question. How would you like to die?"
Natasha was so stunned to hear Dimitry's love was fake, she barely understood what the Agent was asking. "I don't understand," she said softly.
Mikael walked up to the frozen blonde goddess and smiled. "Resist me, and you die painfully. Please me, and I'll make it fast and painless. Impress me, and I might just let you live." 'Yeah right, but it would give her incentive to try hard.
As her situation finally became clear to her, Natasha could think of only one thing...she was a fighter. She saw the beer bottle on the table and remembered Dimitry's stunt the night she met him. Plastering on the smile she reserved for her customers, Natasha seductively walked by Agent Mikael. She picked up the beer bottle, and took a quick swallow before saying, "If those are my only options, Agent Mikael, than I intend to impress."
Natasha walked slowly to the smiling Agent, and let her hand suggestively climb under her purple halter top. Once she was certain his eyes were glued to her chest, she launched the beer bottle against his exposed bottle shattered against his head and she heard his scream of pain. Hoping he would be stunned long enough, she pushed him to the side and ran for the door. She barely took two steps, before she was yanked back by her hair. The force of the pull was so strong, she shrieked in pain. The powerful grip that held her hair, made her turn her head to look at the man she attacked.
"Big mistake, bitch," Mikael said with a smirk. "Now its going to hurt."
Dimitry was racing between the stopped cars, when he saw the red light approaching. His trip from the parking lot was hampered by the sudden onset of traffic, and he didn't dare waste any more time. He pulled back on the throttle and rocketed through the light. Dimitry heard horns blazing as he entered the intersection, and barely avoided hitting an oncoming truck. Once he was passed the crossing, he knew he was almost home. 'I'm coming Natasha.'
The pedestrians on the sidewalk, melded into blurs as he jetted past them. When he saw his street approaching, Dimitry leaned into the corner, barely allowing the Fireblade time to slow itself. He had just straightened out of his turn, when a car pulled out in front of him. His reflexes were honed from years of training, and he quickly leaned forward and slammed on the front brakes. Dimitry heard the front tire screech against the road, as the brakes kicked in and the back end of the bike lifted off the ground.
The smell of burning rubber exploded through his olfactory senses, and he feared he wouldn't stop in time. Just before he hit the unsuspecting car, Dimitry felt his bike about to stop skidding and he released his grip on the brake. As soon as the back tire was safely on the ground, he jumped off the bike and began to sprint towards his apartment. He ran up the stairs at full speed, and arrived at his door in moments. Dimitry already had his keys in his hands, and quickly flipped the lock open.
As soon as he entered the apartment, Dimitry saw the broken beer bottle in the living room. He was afraid he was too late, when he heard a muffled scream from the bedroom. He rushed through the open door and felt uncontrollable rage at what he saw. A man was laying partially on top of Natasha, pinning her to the bed with his body. Her hands were bound above her head by his left hand, as he used his right hand to grope her breasts through her purple halter top. She fought against his abuse, but he only laughed at her.
Dimitry ran into the room and grabbed the man by the back of the head. He pulled him off his girlfriend and slammed his head into the wall behind the bed. The man screamed in pain when his head collided into the wall and his nose broke from the impact. Dimitry watched as Natasha's assailant turned around with a surprised look upon his face. Before the man could have a chance to speak he unleashed a vicious haymaker against the man's face.
Once he saw his girlfriend's assailant go down, Dimitry knew his vengeance was still unsated. He couldn't believe what this monster was about to do to the woman he loved and he was unable to control his growing rage. He jumped on the fallen man, and continued to reign punches into his exposed face. His fists rose methodically over and over, until the man's face was covered with blood and Dimitry could no longer make out his features.
He was still pounding into the man that hurt his beautiful Natasha, when he felt a hand upon his shoulder. Dimitry spun with inhuman speed, ready to fight his new attacker, but stopped when he saw the person was his rage vanished when he saw the frightened look in her eyes.
"You came for me?", he heard Natasha ask.
Dimitry didn't understand why she would think otherwise. "Of course I did, Natasha. I love you."
Natasha felt the tears flow freely from her eyes, when she heard Dimitry profess his love. She refused to believe Mikael was telling the truth, and seeing Dimitry now, was proof their love was real. She wasn't just a mark on a mission. The love she felt for her savior was so overwhelming, she rushed into his strong arms.
Dimitry's body was rocked back, when Natasha jumped into his arms. He could feel her shaking in his embrace, and tried to soothe her worries.
"It's okay, baby," he said. "I'm here now. I won't let anything happen to you."
"He said I was just a mission for you," she cried into his chest. "He told me he was here to kill me, because I could link you to the deaths of the Brotherhood. Why would he say that? I thought you were going to arrest everyone?"
Dimitry couldn't contain his shame, when he told her the truth.
"I was wrong, Natasha," he said softly. "The Phoenix program doesn't train Agents for the government, they train assassins for Volkoff's personal army. The same man that killed my entire family, just so I could join his precious school."
Natasha gasped when she heard Dimitry's explanation. "What about my brother?", she asked in fear.
Dimitry shook his head slowly, his face imbued with sadness. "I'm sorry, Natasha," he answered. "When I learned they planned to kill everyone at the meeting, I thought I could still save Andrei. Then I found out about the man they sent for you, and I had to make a choice. I couldn't save both of you."
Natasha sobbed louder, when she realized the last of her family was now dead. Her world was spinning out of control, and she didn't know what to do.
When he saw his beautiful girlfriend, become lost in her musings, Dimitry knew they didn't have time to waste. He gently lifted her chin with his hand. When her blue eyes were staring into his, he asked, "Do you trust me, Natasha?"
"With my life," Natasha answered without hesitation.
"We have to go. Now. We can't stay here any longer. They might send more people. We have to leave the city and disappear. Are you okay with that?"
Natasha could hear his uncertainty when he asked his question, and immediately responded, "You're all I have left, Dimitry. I don't care about anything in this apartment or this city. I will go anywhere with you my love."
Dimitry could hear the conviction in her words, and he could feel the tension drain from his body. She still loved him. No matter what happened, she still loved him. His body became flooded with hope as he grabbed her hand and rushed to leave the apartment. The moment he opened the door, he was stunned to see a large man with a gun was blocking his path. When he recognized the man standing in front of him, he felt his body tense in fear. 'Viktor.'
Before he could think to say anything to his rival, he saw the large man smile at him and pull the trigger. As the tranqs erupted into his chests, he heard Viktor say, "You've been a bad boy, Dimitry."
1973: Stephen joins the CIA as a consultant
1974: Intersect project is initiated
1977: Stephen is assigned Mary as a handler
1978: Hartley is uploaded with the Volkoff identity; Intersect project ends; Stephen and Mary leave the CIA and get married
1979: Eleanor Faye Bartowski is born
1982: Charles Irving Bartowski is born
1985: Mary takes the Volkoff mission; Learns she is pregnant; Baby Bartowski is listed as dead at birth; Anton Kerilin is kidnapped by Volkoff
1986: Project Phoenix is initiated by Volkoff, in conjunction with his own Intersect
1993(8 y/o): Dimitry Bagrov is discovered by Volkoff; Dimitry joins Project Phoenix; Mary returns to Volkoff(Ellie=14 y/o, Chuck=11 y/o)
1996: Stephen leaves the children (Ellie=17 y/o, Chuck=14 y/o)
The rest of the timeline will appear in the fourth part of the chapter