Disclaimer:

I do not own either of the Mission: Impossible series or any of the characters therein. I receive no compensation or other tangible benefit from this story. I am just a fan who enjoys taking the team out for an adventure every now and then. Please review. :)

Chapter 11

"Nicholas, you're taking too long!" Max was saying as he tapped his foot impatiently.
"It's chess, Max. You're supposed to think about your moves before you do them," Nicholas replied dryly.

"I don't have time for this," Max retorted, sounding so exasperated that his friend couldn't tell whether he was kidding or serious. "Move already!"
"But, Max..."
"You've got five seconds."

Really, Max?
"Fine," Nicholas grunted as he moved his chess piece. Exactly two seconds later, Max countered, and Nicholas stared incredulously. It was a great move.

"Genius," Nicholas said in awe. "How the hell did you do that?"
Max grinned. "Piece of cake. Your move, Nicholas. Five seconds."
Nicholas continued to stare at the chess board in disbelief.
"Nicholas? Nicholas!"

"Nicholas?"
He couldn't figure out what was going on. One moment he was back in Max's condo, reliving the chess match that had ended in raucous laughter and spilled pieces a few days before; the next moment the dream slipped away and he was aware that someone was calling his name.

Not Max, though the voice was male. Unfamiliar.

In the next few seconds, he realized that someone was holding his left hand. Probably Shannon, he realized. In his mind, he was smiling, and he wondered absently if it showed on his face. Then he noticed that someone's hand was resting gently on his right shoulder. It felt like a big hand. Max, more than likely, he reasoned.

His body stirred slightly. He shook his head from side to side a couple of times, then gingerly opened his eyes.
He blinked a few times at first. The lights were a little bright, but they had been dimmed. That was a good thing.
"Nicholas," came the voice again, from the man in the white coat. A doctor, then. But what was he doing in a hospital?

His eyes, now focused, quickly took in his surroundings. There were Jim and Grant, standing next to the window, looking stoic but worried. As he'd suspected, Shannon and Max were flanking each side.

"Nicholas," the doctor was saying. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes," he responded, his voice - getting used to talking again - barely above a whisper.

"How do you feel?"
Nicholas considered that for a moment. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel, because he couldn't recall what had brought him here in the first place. He took a quick inventory but couldn't find anything that was really hurting.

"I feel okay," he answered, for he didn't know what else to say.
"How's your head?" the doctor asked specifically.

So that was it. Nicholas thought back. His brain was a little fuzzy, but that was probably because he had been asleep for a while. Oh, yes. The last thing he remembered was going out to dinner with his team. And he had had a headache that night.

So that was it, then. But had a headache put him in the hospital? At any rate, it wasn't hurting now.
"It feels fine," Nicholas answered, his voice gaining strength now. "Just a little fuzzy."

"Well, that's to be expected, considering all that you've been through." The doctor finished his examination of his patient and smiled at the team. "He seems all right, but there's probably a great deal he doesn't remember. Just take things slowly and let me know if there's anything you need."

"Thanks, doc," Jim said on behalf of the entire team. Then the doctor wad gone and Nicholas was alone with his friends.

"Hey, there," he smiled.
"Hey, yourself," Shannon answered softly, squeezing his hand. "Welcome back."

"Where have I been?" he asked. Then there was a growing sense of panic. "What happened to me? Why am I here? How long have I been here?"

"Shhh, Nicholas, just relax," soothed Max, giving his friend's shoulder a gentle pat. "What matters is that you're safe, and you're going to be fine."
"We know you've got questions, buddy," Grant chimed in. "And we'll make sure they get answered. But we have to take it easy. All right?"
Nicholas nodded. He knew that his team had his best interest in mind; they always did.

Max sighed. God, it was good to have him back. He exchanged glances with the others. It seemed as if there were no signs of the volatility that had transpired between Nicholas and his friends just days before. Oh, he knew that Nicholas still had a lot of healing to do...physically and emotionally... But as long as his friend didn't shut him out, he would be there to help.

"So what am I doing here?" Nicholas asked, after the friends had made small talk for a half hour or so.
Jim stepped forward. "Nicholas, we don't have to talk about this right now."

"Jim, I have gaps in my memory," Nicholas protested mildly. "It feels like parts of my brain are missing. It's driving me batty. Wouldn't that bother you?"
"Yes, but the doctor said to take it slow-"
"I'm all right, Jim. Really."

Jim sighed. He didn't really blame Nicholas. He'd want to know, too.
"Okay, Nicholas, but if it gets to be too overwhelming-"
"I'll tell you. I promise."

"What's the last thing you remember? Let's start there."
Nicholas thought for a moment. "Our dinner," he answered, shooting a look toward Max, "when you got back from your flight."
Max nodded.

"What day was that?" Nicholas asked.
"Thursday."
"And today is...?"
"Saturday," Grant offered.
"So have I been here for two days?" Nicholas wondered out loud.
"No," Grant replied. "Just one. What else do you remember about the dinner?"

Nicholas closed his eyes and thought a moment. Blast, it was hard to think with a fuzzy brain! Max was about to ask about his well-being when he opened them again. "I had a headache."

Grant nodded. "And...?"
"My stomach felt funny. I didn't eat much." Nicholas shot a look at Max, remembering. "I spilled my coffee."
"You were trembling," Max confirmed.
"So did I catch some sort of bug? Is that what landed me here?"
It was Grant 's turn to sigh. "In a matter of speaking."
"Then why can't I remember?" Nicholas asked, becoming agitated.

Max's grip on his shoulder tightened, and Shannon spoke for the first time in several moments, after receiving an encouraging nod from Grant.
"Nicholas," she said softly, squeezing his hand, "we have reason to believe that someone drugged you and wanted you dead. The person is in custody now, and in a day or two - when you're stronger - we'll try to figure everything out."

"Then this..." Nicholas pointed at the heavy bandage on his left arm... "wasn't an accident?"
"We don't think so," Grant answered, looking for the first time that he was going to lose his composure.

"That's enough for now," Jim said with finality, holding up a hand when Nicholas opened his mouth to protest. "Get some rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."

Nicholas sighed. He knew he wasn't getting any more answers tonight, despite the fact that he had even more questions than before.
"I am pretty tired," he admitted.
Jim stood up. "We'd better go."

Nicholas hated to see his friends go home, but he didn't really feel like staying awake to talk to them any longer. He closed his eyes as Shannon kissed his forehead and the others said their goodbyes.

Jim paused at the door and looked at Max, who hadn't moved. He knew Max had his motorcycle there and could come and go at any time, but he expected the four of them to walk out together.
"Max?" he called. "You coming?"
"I'm staying here, Jim," he replied.

Jim sighed audibly. There were so many reasons why Max needed to go home. Nicholas was okay, Cameron - whoever he was - was in jail, Max hadn't gone home last night...

"Max, you don't need to do this-"
"Jim, don't," Max interrupted. His voice was low but dangerously tense. "What if he has a flashback and nobody's here?"

Jim had forgotten about the flashbacks, the possible residual effect of the LSD that the doctor had discussed with them. "Point taken, Max, but one of us can stay with him tonight. You didn't go home last night. You need sleep, and you can't get any here."
"I won't get any at home, either," he countered. "No matter who is here with him."

Jim knew there was no changing Max's mind, so he just gave him a fatherly back slap and walked away.
Max could be such a worrywart sometimes.
Max returned to his chair. Nicholas did not stir. Asleep, then. Max settled in for a long night, hoping his friend wouldn't need him but determined to be there if he did.

tbc...