After learning of Annie's situation, Sharon decided to work on the time line Eyal had asked for. Best to keep herself occupied while trying to come up with a strategy for reading him in on Annie's whereabouts.
Eyal entered their room and found her surrounded by papers and photos.
"Ok we are officially on our way to Washington. See you didn't take long to baptize this oversize bed! You didn't nap?"
"Couldn't sleep. Here, you might be needing this."
Eyal read the paper, smiling he continued "You do realize I don't need a list of Hebrew swear words…."
Teasingly he added "I know them by heart! You want an English translation to them?"
"No, living with you made me also know them by heart as for the English translation don't need none! Just thought you might want to keep it close, think you're going to be reciting them shortly and will not want to forget one."
"Did the time-line reveal something we missed?"
In a barely audible voice, she said "No, this is something new."
Handing him the phone and giving the instructions on how to access Annie's message, her thinking was: 'The direct way is the best way!'
As he listened, Sharon could see the dimple on his chin quivering and his eyes… let just say she didn't need to ask how he felt about Annie's message!
"Sharon, what does this mean? Why did Annie contact you instead of Joan?"
Keeping her head down, she mumbled "Because we had planned it that way."
"WHAT?"
Sharon grinned her teeth, closed her eyes and blurted out
"Before leaving Israel for Paris, Annie was already on the verge of infiltrating Sana's group. She didn't want to read you or Joan in for fear you'd stop her.
She asked me to be her handler and I agreed. We came up with a sophisticated communication protocol, I gave her a couple of MI-6's spy toys and called in a couple of favours for a possible future extraction if ever needed."
Eyal squeezed her shoulder and said "Annie's mission was to work to get an invitation to join Sana's group then report to Joan for further orders. Please tell me you two didn't go over Joan head?"
Still looking at the floor, "We kinda did… before the facts. Technically a person can't disobey an order not yet received."
As she had thought, Eyal recited the full page and more. He crumpled the piece of paper, threw it at her and shot out of the room. Sharon had stopped breathing when he had started his monologue and only let some air out once alone. It was a surprise the door was still standing!
'Now what? How can I explain that I'm with Annie on this? Sana's group is always one step ahead of us. Annie plan is reckless, but what might be needed to 'shock treat' this mission. Only problem: Syria, that we hadn't planned on!'
Eyal came back in the same mood he had left: MAD! He turned on the three flat screens. Sharon saw Joan, Robert, Ryan and Auggie appear on the screens.
Looking at Eyal with a questioning stare she lipped "WTF?"
Fighting hard not to lose control, he ignored her and talked to their guests
"I have some breaking news! Seems Annie and Sharon decided to take matters in their own hands. Result: Annie's infiltrated Sana's group and is now heading to Syria for, as she said in her coded message; 'training or brainwashing'."
Now all were looking at Sharon. She decided to take the bull by the horns. One way or another, she had nothing to lose.
"Look, Annie asked me to be her handler and I accepted. We both thought something had to break in this mission. Knew you wouldn't agree to let Annie infiltrated the group without proper backup. Backup is 'predictable' and old fashion, we were sure they would discover it, use it against us and all Annie's hard work would be lost."
Joan spoke "Sharon are you telling me; Annie, when she left for Paris, had already infiltrated Sana's group?"
Biting her lips, not daring to look at Eyal, she answered "Not quite but Sana had approached her."
At seeing them all sigh in unison, she upped the tone.
"When are you going to realize Annie (and I) are not jobnikits (Eyal translated – paper pushers)? I happen to agree with Annie's point of view. Sana's group knows pretty much all of your MO's. In other words: You are all burned/predictable. Annie and I not as much. That was our leverage for building this protocol. We didn't act foolishly, Annie had some good intel."
Eyal turned Sharon towards him and lifted her head for him to be able to look her strait in the eyes
"Are you telling me you two withheld some critical information from us?"
"Not critical information, we are not dumb. I analysed all of Annie's surveillance intel, put it against our weekend ops and nothing came in conflict with our planned strikes. I was to read you in once Annie was officially a Sana team member: That's what I'm doing! "
Robert (Sharon's father and MI-6's director) looked at his daughter and said
"Dear, see you haven't loss your touch for surprising me with the most unorthodox work methods! Joan/Eyal, I'm getting to old for this. You have something to say that could knock some sense in that girl."
Joan crossed her arm, closed her eyes and took a deep breath "Robert, Annie is hard enough to handle, two Annie's is just impossible. Have a question through: Sharon, since you and Annie seem to have all your bases covered: What are you going to do now?"
Eyal added "That I'm looking forward to hear!"
Giving all an 'I dare you' stare, she spoke: "Easy: Trust Annie's judgement.
Eyal spoke "Care to elaborate a bit more?"
Undaunted, she continued "Here goes - Our thinking entering this op was: To catch one you have to become one. I consulted with Robin (Sharon's sister) for the latest communication technologies terrorists are presently using. We avoided CIA's, MI-6's and the Mossad's usual protocols, Sana's group would be fast to recognize them. I tinkered with what Robin had given me and fixed Annie up with a secured communication line. I coded it in a way that Annie will seem to be talking about the weather or something as irrelevant, made the message bounce against worldwide web towers and finally redirected Annie's message to this phone, translated/decoded and a computerize voice will do the talking. And before you blame Robin for 'helping', she doesn't know anything about our plan. Told her it was for the timeline I was asked to build."
Auggie asked "Sharon are you telling me you can trace Annie, meaning you can pinpoint her present location?"
"Yes and no, Annie is in control. She's an astrology nerds, with her help on that subject, I put together a tracing plan combining new/old technology and the names of many stars. I can't trace her but she can trace me! Let's just say all our planning is 'upside-down', irregular… very irregular. In other words, it's what you guys would never do."
Auggie spoke "So 'upside-down' it sent her to Syria instead of Paris or London! Since when do you or Annie have contacts in Syria?"
"I have some but impossible on such a short notice to put them to good use. Again, I trust Annie's judgement. If she didn't ask me to extract her in Paris, I can only believe she's on top of it."
Auggie continued "Sharon, I'd just like to know where in the hell is Annie? This is Syria we are talking about: 71,479 sq. mi of hostile land and about 18 million people, most of them not liking Americans… especially American CIA! Add to that a raging civil war, human rights being among the worst in the world and last but not least: Having virulent tension with ALL its geographically cultural neighbours. Do you get the picture or do I have to draw it out for you: Impossible to organize a safe extraction! Sharon what were you two thinking?"
Sharon came back fighting "I know damn well what Syria represents! Sana is not going to leave Annie in that hell hole, she's too valuable. Forget about Syria and look at the big picture! This might be a chance to finally get a handle on this mission! What's done is done and I stand by my actions. We didn't do this to spite you. Annie is putting her life on the line (again) to help us put this mission to rest. Why is it OK for Joan/Eyal/Auggie to plan actions and not inform the rest of the team but not for Annie and I? You seem to forget (often): We are also spies and, like it or not, good ones at that! As I see it, she's fighting both currents (ours and the enemies), not a winning combination."
Ryan spoke "Guys, don't approve of how they went about it but we need to get our heads out of our butts and move! Sorry to burst your bubbles but that Red head is right. Sana's group has been on top of us every step of the way and that made use conclude that they've been studying us for some time. Meaning - They know all of our buttons and that we want to admit it or not; they are pushing them one by one. Annie and Sharon weren't part of their equation since the girls were not implicated in the Chinook mission (helicopter crash). Like Sharon just said; there's the leverage we should also act on! "
Arthur, in Berlin with Robert, had been listening to the conversation from a distance. He sided next to Robert and said.
"I also don't agree on how they went about it but I'm with Ryan. I've handle many black ops and black badge agents. Those kind of agents are few and, at times, border line schizophrenics but have to admit: They are a skilful and talented bunch and we owe them more than we care to admit. We need to accept/realize: Annie is one of them, a natural and a damn good one at that. My advice: Let the old Annie Walker go. She's no more somebody's employee, friend or even somebody's girlfriend: At this moment, she Annie Walker, black badge spy at the service of her country and friends!"
Shaking his index finger at Sharon, he continued.
"Sharon it takes one to know one! The two of you are playing what we call a poker mission. You've counted the cards that were already drawn and came up with a viable strategy. Syria is the unexpected/unwanted ace of space card! In popular old legend and folklore – the death card."
Sharon nodded and said "Well summed up!"
Arthur continued "Sharon, you and Annie should have trusted yourselves to come forward and, as you are doing now, explain/defend your views of the situation. You've convince Ryan and myself of your actions. I can see Robert slowly accepting it all. Joan, Eyal and Auggie have their pride to swallow before getting there but they will join ranks. As for Ziva, Tash and Andy, they've been on the girls' side from the start. Is there somebody I'm not reading right?"
No one spoke, Arthur scanned his audience and continued.
"Sharon, you girls should have faced us before planning this solo op and that Ace of space might have been avoided. Advice from this old, experience and once black badge: Never underestimate the forces of a team. Especially you, Sharon. You are lucky to have a spy, a very talented spy, as a partner and lover. That he wants to admit it or not; you've got him wrapped around your little finger. I should know, I'm in the same situation. We will bark but will never bite our soulmates. Joan learned early on in our relationship how to use me. Sharon you should do the same with Eyal. Use him well, he's your best asset …I'm guessing you already know it but are still a little, it will come! But I'm guessing Annie's plan was adrenaline gold and you were reluctant to pass over the trill of success this kind of mission can bring by risking us putting a halt to your plan. I've been where you are at; I launched a drone strike with faulty intel that Annie had received from the Mossad for sensibly same reasons. (Arthur eyed Eyal and lipped 'That bring back memories my friend!' – It did!) So Sharon I can't condemn but would like to tell you that 'adrenaline trills' should be a warning sign and not a green light to push and shove forward. You get my drift?"
Arthur didn't leave her time to answer but moved his head from right to left and said.
"People, we need to join that poker game if we want to have a chance to win the hand (and game!)."
Robert saluted Arthur army style and added "Should have sought your help when I was raising that girl! Joan keep this man on a short leash. That kid of yours is going to need that kind of guidance growing up!"
Then turning toward his daughter, he continued "Sharon, hate how you went about it, but count me in. Always loved a good poker mission!"
Sharon winked at her father and addressed Arthur.
"Arthur thanks for the vote of confidence and advice. There's something I want to set straight; I'm not quite the black badge type. My mother was and she died being one. I don't think I can love my country or want redemption enough to work in that fashion – (looking tenderly at Eyal she added) I have too much I want/love in my life. Nevertheless I will always accept to help when asked. My thinking being: If my help can keep one of them alive long enough for her/him to realize that they don't have to die to prove themselves, in a way I might just be saving somebody's mother."
Eyal finally spoke "Think I just got an important lesson in humility. Still, we can't just leave Annie enter Syria without proper backup."
Joan was quick to respond "Why not? Eyal, how many time have you put yourself in that kind of situation for the Mossad? I know I've done it often when in the field! Why do WE think Annie will not be able to not handle it? Sharon is right, while working she's not a friend or girlfriend…..she's one of us and a damn good one at that. Annie's ways are different that I admit but she's first and foremost a spy. We need to treat her like one."
Sharon just said "Thanks Joan… from me and Annie!"
Joan smiled at Sharon and continued "To get back to the matter at hand. Think of it: Sending Annie to Syria might just be a decoy. They know our MO, the predictablecourse of action would be to go in and extract Annie. We do that and we blow Annie's cover and put all our lives in jeopardy. I say we leave her fence for herself. If it goes sour we do what we can to help her and that's that. Sharon and Annie made their bed let them lie in it. That's what I would do if it was Arthur, Robert or Eyal, why should I act different with Annie?"
Sharon stepped up "Agree with you 100% Joan! Syria as a decoy, brilliant! Hadn't thought of that."
Auggie spoke "Can't believe you are playing with Annie's life so casually."
Eyal spoke "Auggie, Annie's in the driver's seat. You and I have risked our life numerous time for her, but we both have to realize our girl took off her training wheels. I will always be there for her but only if she asks for my help. This face off made me realize I was treating Annie as a friend more than a spy and Sharon as my companion first and then a spy. Joan is right, they are spies and we need to treat them as so. Arthur, thanks for the advice on swallowing my pride!"
Arthur lifted his eyebrows, chuckled and responded "Son, been there, done that…often! You accepted it far better than I did the first time my wife faced me with those same facts!"
A smiling Joan asked before they all signed off. "Sharon could you draw us a time line WITH Annie's intel. This mission is going faster than my brain can keep up with. Also get that number 6 theory of yours on paper. What I'm hearing from Eyal on that subject is mind boggling."
Eyal added "I'm ahead of you Joan. She's on it… look at the bed…"
Ryan just couldn't leave that go "Lavin, get your priorities straight! Only you would design the interior of a company jet with no work quarters: Flat screens all around a bed serving as a desk, is that your solution for a 'two in one' quarter? A security company is serious business, it's not the jet-set glamour life it projects!"
Eyal chuckled and added in a teasing tone.
"The 'desk' is her doing. Think she was scare of facing me with the Annie news so decided to work where she was. For your information Ryan, we have excellent work quarters, personally seen to that. Ryan, I'm also not what I project."
It was Ryan's turn to chuckle while massaging the shoulder where Eyal had shot him the first time they met. "I know, oh how I know!"
After all had signed off, Eyal and Sharon were left facing each other. Funny each seemed not to know what to say to each other.
Eyal spoke first "This is awkward – think our work life just collided with our personal life big times and to make matters worse – in front of all!"
"Yes you got that right! As I see it we are even."
"What?"
"Well, I got mad at you when you admitted working with Joan and you got mad for me working with Annie. That been settle, think we need to talk about how we should deal with future episodes. There will be more of this Eyal and I don't want for us to get at each other's throat every time! Don't know about you but what Arthur said sunk in. My father could never hold on to a relationship but Arthur and Joan are doing something right."
"I agree." He sat on the bed and pulled her next to him. Surprisingly she didn't resist.
"Sharon, think we need to trust each other a bit more. I've always lived by the idiom 'There can never be trust between spies'. Think I need to add to that line of thinking – 'with the exception of my partner/wife'."
"That goes for me also, we need to work as one. There might be occasions when we will be working different missions and we will not be able to share intel but when working together, we must trust each other. Think you can handle that?"
"Yes, it might take some getting used to, but I'm willing to try. You?"
"I won't have a problem. I was partnered with Ziva for that reason: She was to show me the 'black op' side of our job and my input was to train Ziva to trust a partner. Eli (Ziva's father and Mossad's director) saw that we both came out of that partnership with the required qualities!"
"You never talk much about that experience, Ziva either. Guessing Eli was as 'evil' as rumours had it."
"Let's just say; Eli was Eli. E maybe one day I'll come clean with that experience but I'm not yet ready. Too many secrets and memories, not all good. Please don't push, in time I will, promise. Your entered university immediately after completing your secondary school education agreeing to serve 5 years military service instead of the usual 3. After quitting your studies, you served three years with IDF, (Israel Defense Forces) on the Field Intelligence Squad, then two years with Magav (Israel Border Police) in the Golan Heights as a member of the special operations unit - The Yamam (counter-terror and hostage rescue unit). You became a Mossad agent in 1998. Then for five years you were with Kidon, 'The Hard Squad' department within Mossad. You received combat training, CT (counter-terrorism), riot control and special training as a sniper, buggies-driver, bomb detonations and last but not least; kill on demand know-hows. Here's a couple of your missions: The capture of a terrorist group hidden in the Arab town of Tayibe; the rescue of Eliyahu Goral; the killing of the Hamas head in Hebron and Abbedullah Qawasameh. You ready to tell me of the inner turmoil those trainings/missions stir up in you?"
Eyal pulled her to him and laid her head down on his legs. "No, and, like you, in time maybe, but contrary to you, I can't/won't promise you nothing. Sharon, I understand perfectly and will never push you to go there. Sorry I brought it up. What we made of ourselves and what we are today is what we need to focus on. I happen to love the woman I have in front of me, nothing else matters. Now that we've got that settle, can you read me in on Annie's intel. I'd like to decide for myself if it's irrelevant to our weekends' hits."
Sharon squeezed his hand. She knew Eyal was purposely changing the subject after having settle the subject matters that were important to him. As spies they did 'things' that were foolish, dangerous and often questionable while on missions. When they came back to the 'normal world' those actions would often haunt them. Dealing with those memories was often quite a challenge. Ziva was presently overpowered with the 'reminiscent disorder' a bit like the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in returning soldiers.
Sharon answered Eyal's question "There not much, it's Annie's surveillance of Sana for the last month or so. Funny Annie was keeping an eye on Sana to protect her from possible attacks of Henry's proxies. Never had she thought Sana was the diabolical team leader!"
"Typical of Annie to worry about an asset!"
"Well here's what I know: Sana's cover is perfect: Being a licence psychologist, she acts as a grief therapist. She organizes group sessions every night of the week. She has offices in Paris, London and Washington. The same towns Henry's Lexington Global has its offices. Coincidence - don't think so! After you uncovered Sana as a target and not a victim, Annie decided to drill down on Sana's 'patients'. She was fast to ID a couple of rogue Russian spies and even an ex-CIA gone rogue – a certain Nathan Mueller. Just saying… Nathan has 6 letters in his name and many inner demons, CIA inflicted. Plus and this just jumped in my face – Demons has 6 letters!"
A pensive Eyal added "Demons - Sana seems to play on that a lot, it's her recruiting MO. As for the number 6 theory, I must admit; I'm sick of it. It can't believe it's all coincidences, but don't think any human being can plan so many '6' occurrences or Sana has cosmic powers we don't know of!"
Sharon agreed and continued. "Annie managed to put traces on 14 of Sana's people, Hanna included. Bold move but necessary. Annie used 'Mosquito bite' tracking devices. Seems you introduced her to them!"
Eyal smiled and said "Continue, this is getting interesting. I just thought of a possible theory but want you to continue."
Sharon flashed him a 'WTF look', took the remote from his hands and flashed the results of Annie's surveillance on screen. "See for yourself."
She proceeded in giving him the whereabouts and travel details of the 14 targets (Hanna included) Annie had bugged.
Looking attentively at the screen, he said "I'm impressed, you and Annie did some fine work. Can you add to Annie's surveillance the dates and times of the attempts on our group?"
Sharon was fast to answer his demand, she asked. "Will do, what do you expect to find?"
Eyal smiled and pointed at the screen. "See for yourself."
Taking a look, Sharon face fell. She swallowed hard, closed her eyes and whispered
"Annie had what we needed to be one step ahead of them and missed it! No, I MISSED IT. God, I want to slap myself crazy for not figuring it out."
Eyal chuckled "Don't implicate G_d in any of this. Bad habit you North-Americans have, never could understand it! Sharon, you're not the first agent to come up short. It happened to all of us. Tell me what you see on screen. Darling, you're still missing something."
Having lost her usual poise, she continued.
"Every time Sana personally hosted a grief session, we were hit. She was in Washington and the next day CIA's New-York secret facilities were hit by a missile (result my father was presumed dead); she had a group session in London the day before the missile was launched on Boris's limo (result you narrowly escape death); She hosted a group in Tel Aviv two days before the bomb attempts on you. I don't know of the dates McQuaid's was stiffed out of an arms deals but my guess Sana was presiding a grief session beforehand. Every time she personally hosted a group there was an attempt on our team or an arms shipment delivery went sour. She's not giving 'grief therapy' she's organizing the hits! Her phycologist work is her NOC (non official cover). Damn I feel like an idiot for not seeing it all."
With a very stern tone Eyal said "SHARON, stop feeling sorry for yourself and do your job. Look at that screen, there something you're still missing."
It was Sharon's turn to recite some French swear words. Eyal chuckled and said
"Nice language to use in front of our unborn child! Funny hearing them in French seems to put a certain class to swear words! OK recess over, do your job agent Welby, give me what's missing."
Sharon refocused herself, looked at the screen and it hit her; hit her hard!
"Sana hosted a group session in Berlin yesterday. My father and Arthur's op might be compromised. Eyal, I have to warn them and get them out of there."
"By George I think she's got it"
"Eyal, this is no time to joke."
"You want me to treat you as an equal, a spy well that's what I'm doing. Do your damn job! Remember you are in charge of your father's extraction. He specified that very early on."
Looking at him with a defiant stare, she went to work. First getting everything she could on Sana's latest group session. That was pretty easy, she had contacts and a willing asset in place to get her the needed information. Learned, from that asset, that Sana would be 'hosting' a second meeting in just a couple of hours. It was a private and on 'invitation only' type of meeting so trying to get an invite was out of the question. That would raise suspicions. Better get the intel/photos from the outside. Suddenly a look came across her face.
Eyal, relaxing on the bed, had been watching her work. She was methodical and knew what to do. He had often worked by her side but not in this way. What Arthur had said was sinking in: She was, as he, a spy and could do her job as well as he could. Joining up and working together and not for the other could only make them stronger team (on and off work). Suddenly he saw her facial expression change and said to himself 'She just had a 'hamster in the wheel' idea, brace yourself Lavin!'
"Eyal could you manage to get your butt off the bed and help me, think I might have a plan."
"As Joan/Arthur said: You want or need my help, I'm yours to use! What up?"
Sharon rapidly put Eyal up to par.
"Sana, by now, must know my father is alive and with Arthur in Berlin. With her success in bugging us, it's the least I can assume! What she doesn't know (well I hope) is that we are on to her! That 'grief counselling session' is a private one but it has been openly publicized. What if my father, pretexting having read of her presence in Berlin, sought her out for some 'private' counselling? He could explain his stressful situation (needing to stay off grid as a dead man), having asked Arthur for help but Arthur couldn't come through and as a last straw, and he is asking her for advice. Telling her he is at wits ends with his 'dead man' act. He trust she would know to keep their discussion confidential since she was once Henry's wife and confident. At the time my father is with Sana, Arthur goes into action (earlier than planned) and destroys the warehouse where they are holding the gun shipment that was stolen from Israel. Robert will be with the devil when Angel Arthur hits Sana organisation. Meaning we will be in the devil's den when she's hurting. Best way to better understand Sana's MO and more! It's last minute but Robert and Arthur are no rookies. I'm confident they can pull this off."
"Brilliant but what about collateral damages? I'm realising more and more Sana is also not a spy rookie. Your plan goes down and she's on to us. The warehouse being destroy as Robert is seeking her help… spies don't believe in coincidences! Think of another way Sharon."
"Listen, I'm not finished: Arthur will 'destroy' the warehouse but it will look like an accident. I arranged for a helicopter to crash in a nearby field and Arthur will help mother-nature take over: The warehouse containing Israel's stolen arms shipment will become a gigantic bomb fire because of the outpouring fuel of the heli. Sana did us a favor by stashing those ammunitions in an abandoned industrial area: lots of space and no people! The perfect place for a helicopter with mechanical problems to choose to crash. Plus the heli won't crash on the warehouse but in a neighboring field. Sana won't have reasons to think it was a set-up and best of all will stay the hell away from the action: Germany's foreign intelligence agency (BND) will be fast to cover the scene (again Arthur's doing, he has many assets here). Germany is presently a country where questions of national security are used as ammunition in political squabbles. Just think of the present 'Industrial espionage' scandal touching the US NSA's off grid cooperation with BND. (Eyal chuckled at the mention of that 'rumour'). Think BND/Germany will be in damage control toward IDF (Israel Defence Force) to avoid another scandal with another Intelligence agency! Sana is wise and won't take the risk of staying close by since the accident scene will be swarming with spies of all agencies! She'll cut her loses and leave the country quickly!"
"Impressive, you have a way of taking advantage of headlines and using them in your interventions! I'd love to be a bird on a wire and see how Schindler (BND boss) explains to our new/wanting to prove himself, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot: Why and how Israel's stolen arms ended up being 'accidently' destroyed in a Berlin warehouse! Timing for this plan is perfect! Is your asset willing/capable of going to such extreme?
"I'd also love to be a little bird! As for my asset, I have worked with HER before (Eyal shot her a surprised look!). Kathy knows she gets a new heli if she crashes an old one for me! The only sticking point was that I wanted a corpse in that wreckage but she came through at my suggestion: Universities have more donated for science bodies than they can manage. Think you know what I mean?" (Eyal smiled, he had gone down the same road to help Annie 'die' not so long ago!)
Sharon continued "It's just a little fact I added for Sana not to think this 'accident' was our doing. She knows none of you guys would kill to complete a mission. As for my asset, don't worry Eyal. She's one of Red Bull's finest daredevils. Plus Robert assured me MI-6 will pick up any tab. We are doing MI-6 a favor by arranging to 'resurrect' their director!"
"Again, I'm impressed! Robert and Arthur still need an extraction, what's your plan?"
"Don't have one. Sana's group might be on the lookout for an extraction since they are 'standard protocols'. They spot one and our 'helicopter accident' is uncovered. Don't/can't risk that happening. Arthur knows Berlin's underground well. He's extracted himself and many CIA spies when Berlin's wall fell. I was there, I know what he is capable of! Those two can fence for themselves. If all goes down as plan, we'll have destroyed one of Sana's munition stash and Robert having shaken the Devil's hands will bring us one step closer to knowing how to put an end to the Sana/Henry infernal duo. My father is the best to extract/read valuable information from unsuspecting targets."
Eyal shook his head, "I'm getting to understand more and more the hell your father went through with you. He had a volcano always ready to erupt. You are not only unconventional but, as you do with intel, connect ALL the dots to better your intervention protocol."
Laughing she answered "And guess who is now stuck with that volcano? It's takes one to know one, you work in the same fashion, Love!"
Shaking his head, he kissed her and said "Sharon think you better hurry and read-in your father and Arthur on your plan."
"Our plan. If it weren't for you, I'd have sent my father and Arthur to a death squad!"
Eyal just answered "Just following Joan's and Arthur's very good advice! We need to forget our egos and work as a team."
Rapidly getting Arthur and Robert back on line, explaining the situation and the intervention plan was a breeze. They were 'suits' at their respective agencies and no longer in the field but once a spy always a spy. Eyal could only smile at seeing Robert and Arthur's eyes light up as Sharon was reading them in on the plan. It was a go from both of them. They had enough experience to take the bases of Sharon's plan and run with it! Sharon gave them her contacts and it was time to cut all sort of communication between them.
After Robert and Arthur had signed of, Eyal read in the others of what was going to go down.
Eyal asked "Do you think Annie has identified most of Sana's grief stricken 'clients'?"
"No, we didn't have access to facial recognition technology since we were on our own in this. Just sent all of Annie's photo to Auggie. We should be getting names rapidly."
Eyal looked sideways at Sharon and said "That is one reason Annie is not ready to work 100% off grid: She doesn't have the necessary contacts. I've worked alone most of my career and developed, in the process, quite a network of friends, 'I owe you' notes and more. You, in a different way, also have. To be a successful black op one needs that kind of web. Annie is jumping the guns; if she wants that type of career, she needs to take the time and build her entourage. You, I or Auggie can't do it for her."
"I know Eyal and your last conversation with her wasn't lost, it stuck. After this mission is over she plans on doing just that. Eyal, want you to realise you are her role model. What she wants in a career is pretty much based on what you've become. Could even say you are her spy father!"
Eyal winced "Spy FATHER, ouch… I'm that old ah? OK enough with my compassion side, I need to get back to being the arrogant, condescending and infuriating ME."
Sharon hung her arms around his neck "No, please don't. That's the man I love: A role model of elegance and sophistication but having enough compassion to break protocol and accept to get disciplined for it… just what Annie is now doing!"
Eyal shook his finger at her. "I've just been had at my own game haven't I?"
"Love when I get the upper hand on you! Doesn't happen often…
Eyal shushed her with very enticing hip movements and inviting kisses. She surrendered and they properly baptised their bed.
Waking up in a daze Eyal rapidly eyed the surroundings, remembering the location, his heart settle in a more regular rhythm. Being targeted twice in a 24 hour period had played with his usual self-assurance. Turning on his side and holding his head up with his elbow, he looked at Sharon nestled in his body. He pulled a sheet over them, chuckling at that last move! Being naked had never bothered him or Sharon, but having teens capable of intruding at any time had brought on this new self-consciousness.
Reminiscing the last 20 months, the journey from playboy to boyfriend to head of a family and finally to husband had been rapid. He didn't miss his old life; the nightclubs, alcohol, or sex as primary source of entertainment, although those memories were fun, the mornings after were often a source of awkwardness than accomplisments. He felt as if he'd constructed a new man around the wreckage of his commuter spy travelling in flirt class former self!
He had met Sharon at a turning point in his life and career. Funny the girl responsible for his then inner turmoil was Annie. At a crossroad and knowing his biological clock was ticking, he felt it was time to search for a strong emotional attachment. Annie had caught his eyes in many ways but it was her love/trust of people and compassion that had gotten into his very guarded heart. For Annie those qualities were necessities, for him they were luxuries he couldn't never afford. Nevertheless two bigger hurdles presented themselves before him: Annie's penchant for Auggie and National Security versus Annie's personal insecurities. Eyal could see this woman was a natural and a very good spy. But he knew what was coming: To protect her country she would have to accept sacrificing her ideals, her life and her heart. He had been there, done that – Timing wasn't right for them: One can never change things by fighting existing realities – Kismet!
A need for a relationship but not at any cost. His marriage with Hanna had left an open wound. He had made a promise to himself: Never would he accept to be the lone puppeteer holding the strings of maintaining/sustaining a relationship and the happiness of his partner.
The closer he got to Sharon, the more he realised he wanted to be courting her and not only dating her. The difference lied in the purpose: people date with the selfish goals of having fun and enjoying short romantic attachments (too much of that in his lifetime), but people court only under the assumption of an exclusive relationship. He could see Sharon complimented and enhanced him naturally with no changes needed/asked. 'The no change needed/asked' being the imperative words. The only thing left for him was to accept to leave a woman get/play with his heart. His brother Gaby had succeeded in helping him take a baby step in that direction and Annie of all people had made him see 'the light' as she cunningly organised a 'date' for them. Annie's matchmaking had worked miracles on Eyal questioning mind. Hence he would never admit it to her! Eyal knew the road he needed to travel to have a long term relationship with Sharon but also knew it wasn't going to be an easy one.
Meeting Sharon, for a second time, at that point in his life was kismet at its best: While in medical school (both were 18 years old), they had met briefly, made love (for both it had been their first time) and from there on their life went on separate journeys for the next 22 years. That Life had taken them down many similar paths; missions; heartbreaks and entourage, but it seems timing was never right for them to meet again. Sharon's father having studied Eyal's Mossad file made the numerous connections/parallels between the two. Too much coincidences, (spies don't believe in coincidences) Robert had arrange for both to work a mission together. Robert's goal was for them to finally properly meet and deal with each other. Daddy had been right – those two were destine for each other. Eyal had finally found/accepted his true soulmate, sometime even pinching himself just to check if it wasn't a dream. Now with a baby coming, he was starting to think he had come full circle and that life could be good to him! He knew it was the same for Sharon.
Eyal was pulled out of his thoughts at hearing "Like what you're seeing, playboy?"
Gliding his hand through her hair, he answered "Must admit you have a 'Je ne sais quoi'"
Pulling his face to her, she kissed him tenderly. "You also have a little something that keeps me coming back to that sexy body of yours."
"What about my mind/personality, don't they count?"
"Well that too but you are the best I know for satisfying my carnal desires!"
Eyal shot her daring eyes. "And don't forget….the only one! Hate breaking this coming to term moment but we have to put those carnal thoughts to rest for a bit. Your father and Arthur are going to be in action soon. We need to monitor them, you never know when hell can break over. I presume you have a backup plan in place?"
"Yes, but it's Robert and Arthur we're talking about. They will create their own if needed."
"Whatever, we need to stay on top of this op. Another thing: Bad timing – we will be landing in Berlin while their hit is going down."
At that Eyal turned on the screens that sent Sharon running to pick up her clothes.
"Eyal shut those off, it's a two-way communication method; meaning our guess can see us naked! "
Laughing he indicated that the screen were not connected to an outside source. She came in close and whispered "Eyal, those screen have to go. Practical but not here. Please?"
"I'm way ahead of you, Ahavah. I will see that they find their proper place… outside our quarters. We need them, we'll go to them. This is our place. There's a Dark Control team waiting to make the changes during our two hours down time. I also have to talk to Boris so you'll be on your own to monitor Robert and Arthur. Sorry! Two tech ops from Dark Control can assist you in any way you need. They've been read in the need to keep all of this 'confidential' I trust Jamie (Eyal second in command at Dark Control)"
Happily surprised by the news, Sharon said "Thanks, didn't expect as much!"
They kissed but both came to a halt when the captain's voice announced that they were preparing to land.
Eyal gave her a last teasing peck and said "Save by the captain's bell! Seem you'll be able to monitor Robert/Arthur's mission from the ground!"
To be continued.
For the reader who asked, when I use the word NOC it means: In espionage, agents under non-official cover (NOC) are operatives who assume covert roles in organizations without ties to the government for which they work.
Please review, I'd love hearing of what you think of my writing and story line.
