This is a sequel to "Not Knowing". The team are starting to form relationships while the everyday business of saving the world goes on as usual. Home truths.
Once the agent had left the cupboard, Stella folded her arms and watched Frank fishing through the hole in the wall for the rest of his clothes. "It's a good job you've got a nice arse," said Stella finally. This made Frank bang his head on the roof of the hole in shock. By the time he had pulled himself out again, Stella had gone.
After school the following day, Frank nervously rang the doorbell at Dan's house. He was carrying two guitar cases. Dan's Mum opened the door. "Oh, Hello Frank !" said Dan's Mum, before she noticed the two guitar cases. "Come in," she said.
Dan was sitting in the living room on the sofa next to his sister. Dan's Mum smiled slightly at Frank. "She won't let him out of her sight. It's driving him mad," she said with a small laugh. "Tea ?" she asked.
"Please," said Frank. Dan and his sister had turned at the sound of his voice. "Dan, I've got a choice for you to make," said Frank, lifting the two guitar cases on to the coffee table in front of Dan. "How are you feeling ?" he asked.
"Oh, fine," said Dan. He looked a little bored, but rubbed his head without realising it. "Is that my guitar ?" he asked, pointing to the case with the big black scorch mark.
"Yes," said Frank. He opened up both of the cases and Dan and his sister peered into them. "This is your guitar, in MI9's case, but there's a slight scorch mark on the guitar. I bought this second guitar in case you want to replace it with an undamaged one," he said. "I've put it in your guitar case, so you can have that back as well if you want," he explained.
Dan picked up his own guitar and gently strummed the strings. Then he turned the tuning screws and listened carefully to the sound the strings made. "It sounds fine," he said finally.
"But there's a big burn mark on it," pointed out Sam.
"Its doesn't matter. It was Uncle Pete's," said Dan. "I want to keep it."
"Who's Uncle Pete ?" asked Sam, sounding puzzled.
"Dad's brother. He died when you were little," said Dan. "You probably won't remember him. He left me his guitar."
Frank was surprised. "Dan, you should have said that your guitar was special. We could have found another one for you to use," he said.
"It's Okay. I didn't expect anything to happen to it, but it's fine, so it doesn't matter," said Dan.
"If you're sure," said Frank. "I'd better swap cases back then," he said, lifting the new guitar out of it's case and sticking it into the scorched case. Then he picked up Dan's guitar case and handed it to Dan. Some of the inner casing slipped out of place as he was handing it over and something fell out on to the floor. "Oops, what's that ?" said Frank, bending down to pick up the fallen object. He held it in his hand in surprise. Are you keeping some of your antique spy stuff in your guitar case ?" asked Frank in surprise.
"No," said Dan. "I don't keep anything in there," he added, taking the object from Frank. He stared at it. "What is it ?" he asked.
"It's an old spy camera," explained Frank.
"Did you put it in there ?" Dan asked Sam. She shook her head violently.
"I might be able to explain," said Dan's Dad's voice by the door. Mr. Morgan was standing in the doorway in his work clothes. He closed the door and walked over to the sofa, sitting on the arm of the chair. "Your Uncle Pete worked for the secret services. We never told you, because it was supposed to be a big secret. You loved listening to him play his guitar. He died on a mission not long after his last visit. He said he wanted you to have his guitar when he died, although I don't suppose he expected it to be quite so soon," said Mr. Morgan sadly.
"I'm really sorry Dad," said Dan, stroking the guitar. "I'll look after it better," he promised.
"That's all right son," said his Dad, stroking Dan's hair. "He'd be proud of you. I think you'd better check he hasn't left any hand grenades in there though !" he said to Frank, before getting up and going to the kitchen to see Mrs. Morgan.
Frank did as Mr. Morgan suggested and searched the guitar case thoroughly. He found a bundle of money and three fake passports.
"Wow ! Is that real money ?" asked Sam excitedly. "Can we keep it ?" she asked, bouncing up and down on her seat.
"You might as well," said Frank, checking the currency. "None of it is valid currency any more," he said, handing it to Sam.
"What ? You mean we can't spend it ?" asked Sam in disappointment.
Frank smiled at her. "No, it's all out of date now. You can keep it if you want," he said. "If Dan doesn't mind," he said, looking at Dan.
Dan grinned at Frank. He finally had a way to get Sam off his back. "Yeah, sure you can keep it," Dan said happily. "Play at spies if you want," he added.
"Cool !" shouted Sam. "I'm going to show Mum," she said, dashing out of the room.
"Good idea Frank," said Dan quietly. "How are things at the music school ?" he asked.
Frank sat down on the armchair opposite, closing up the MI9 guitar case. "We captured 36 KORPS agents, but lost the Crime Minister. Again !" he said heavily.
"What about Moby ?" asked Dan. Frank grimaced. "That bad huh ? Have you told Tom ?" asked Dan.
Frank shook his head. "I'm waiting until he comes back to school. You're both due back the day after tomorrow. He's going to be upset," he said sadly.
Dan looked at Frank sympathetically. "Don't give up yet. Tom will have a go at fixing him," said Dan. "If anyone can, it's Tom. The guy is made of geek !" he said grinning. Then Dan's grin faded. "I don't like seeing him getting hit," he said, looking away. "It's not his job," he added.
"Unfortunately, sometimes it has to be," said Frank gently. "You are not responsible for the whole team Dan. That's my job. I know you put yourself at the front every time there's danger, but nobody expects you to do that. You're a team and you all have to share the risks too."
Dan looked up into Frank's face uncertainly. "I hate it though. I hate seeing them getting hurt," he whispered.
Frank looked at his hands, rubbing them on his trouser legs. "Me too," he finally admitted. "I send you all out into danger every week," he said, unable to speak any more.
"We do it because we want to," Dan assured him. "We feel necessary. What we do makes a difference, and not many kids our age can say that, can they ?" he asked.
Frank looked at the certainty in Dan's face and remembered how he had felt when he started his career with MI9. He smiled at the memory. He remembered his sense of pride when he had signed the Official Secrets Act and made his solemn vows to the country and the Queen. Yes, there was a reason why they all did this job and it did matter. "You're right Dan. It does matter and I'm glad we have you and the team on our side," said Frank.
Frank glanced at his watch. "Got to go. Stella's got some embarrassing pictures she wants to show me," he said resignedly. Dan looked at him in puzzlement. "You really should have made that hole in the wall a bit bigger !" scolded Frank.
Dan looked baffled and then obviously realised what must have happened. He burst out laughing. "You didn't !" he said.
"Oh yes, I did !" said Frank. "It's a good job we're such professionals," he said. "Otherwise, we could make complete fools of ourselves !" he said, before bursting out laughing too.