Hey! just letting everyone know, I dont know a single word of Russian lol all the translations I did on Google translate so if there are any inconsistencies, I do apologize. Thanks for reading!

Once Joyce wrote down a list of all the places that the mayor had the deeds to, they ran back down to the police truck. They got into the same seats as earlier, Joyce and Jim upfront and Christine in the back.

"Could you drive a little better please?" Christine snarked as she was thrown around in the back of the truck once again. Jim had taken a turn a little too fast, causing her to slide from one side to the other.

"Just hang onto something," Jim said as he pulled up to yet another abandoned house. Joyce and Jim had been so fast getting out of the car, they slammed their doors shut before Christine could even pick herself back up.

"I'll just stay in the truck I guess!" she yelled.

Once Joyce and Jim came back empty handed she knew it was onto the next.

"What is next?" she asked as Joyce pulled out her list again.

"It looks like Hess farm," she said as she marked off the one they were driving away from.

Christine laid down across the back of the seat in the back, closing her eyes. She had been on vacation for a whole 24 hours and she had worked harder than she had before. Jim had been careful not to involve her the other times something happened at the lab but he didn't have a choice now. She was an adult and she wanted to help anyway she could, these people were her family. But she had managed to doze off for a moment, waking up as Jim pulled into the Hess farm driveway.

"Well it looks like someone is home," he said as he came to a stop. "Stay." He glanced over his shoulder, back at Christine.

"No," she said as she got up to follow him.

'Yes," he said, turning to her this time.

"No," she said again, more forcefully this time, pushing his shoulder.

"Fine," he said, "Just please, stay behind me and if I tell you to run, you run." Christine took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever was going to happen as she nodded her head at him.

The three of them walked up to the house, opening the door easy enough. Once they walked in they were met by an empty home, a single cup sitting on the table in front of the kitchen.

"That is creepy," Christine said as they walked farther in, the lights in the house slowly dimmed before lighting up again. As they made their way through the house, Christine could feel something was there. They could hear something faintly like the humming of a machine. Joyce and Christine followed Jim into a bedroom, still not able to tell where the pulsing was coming from. She was standing there, her mind running through any scenario she could think of when suddenly Joyce dropped down to the floor. She put her ear to the ground, listening.

"It's below us," she whispered as Jim turned and looked at the both of them. Christine quickly did the same, dropping down and putting her ear on the floor. But once she did she noticed something.

"I think we can lift this," she said to Jim as she stood back up.

"What?" he asked.

"She's right, there is a vent and some kind of light under it," Joyce said. Quickly the three of them took a spot on every side of the bed. Jim counted to three and they all heaved, the bed lifting off the ground and folding back into the wall.

"What the fu-" Christine started.

"Stop talking," Jim said quietly, shining his flashlight in her face. She looked away immediately, holding her hands up and nodding her head.

Once the stars from his flashlight were gone she looked down. There was a single flight of stairs, the red light and machine sounds getting louder. Jim walked down first, Joyce next then Christine bringing up the rear.

Once they made it down the stairs, the room opened up. It was obviously newly built, everything looking like it was out of a science movie. But as Christine tried to look around, Jim kept walking, until she heard what sounded like someone talking.

"Hey, dipshits," Jim hollered, his gun trained on them. Christine watched from behind him and Joyce as two men stood, one in what looked like dark gray overalls, the other in a white button up, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. The one in the gray had dirt all over his face, like he had been working under a car, the other had glasses that he gently pushed up his nose as they both looked at Jim in terror.

"Hawkins PD, hands in the air," Jim said with his Police Chief voice. But neither of them did, the man with the glasses stepping slightly closer. "Don't make me say it again!" Still, neither of them did what Jim said, the man in the gray suddenly saying something in what Christine assumed was Russian. She continued to look at the man in the white shirt as he spoke to the other man in hushed Russian. "English, do you speak English?" It wasn't long until him and Jim started arguing, despite not being able to even speak the same language. Christine could tell he was desperately trying to explain something. But their argument was short lived when suddenly there was a heavy foot step above them.

"Jim," she said, trying to get his attention but he was still arguing with the Russian man. "Jim." she tried to get him again, another step above them. "Jim!" She said it louder this time, getting the attention of the whole room. She pointed up at the ceiling and he seemed to finally understand what she was saying.

He quickly grabbed the guy in the gray, tying him up and stuffing his mouth so he didn't yell and putting him on the other side of the machine he had been working on. He then grabbed the other, taking him to the other side of the room before handcuffing him to the pipe there.

"Where do you keep getting all these handcuffs," Christine asked as she was pulled over to join them by Jim.

"Now is not the time for jokes, stay here and make sure he doesn't make a noise," he said as he turned to walk away. Christine was about to argue with him when she heard another heavy foot step above them and quickly hid, ducking behind the pipe. She covered her mouth, startled when Joyce suddenly joined them. She looked around the room where they were, seeing if she could find anything to help her brother. But she didn't even know what she could do. She was a nurse, someone who helped people, not attacked giant Russian soldiers at least twice her size. She looked down at Joyce, she had her back to them as she watched Jim from around the corner. Then she looked at the Russian guy that her brother had handcuffed to the pipe they were hiding behind. He looked panicked, a thin layer of sweat covered the little bit of skin that she could see as he used his arm to harshly push up his glasses. He looked around, like he was trying to figure out how to get out of his situation when he looked at her. They locked eyes for a moment. If it had been in a different situation Christine would have gotten embarrassed and looked away before her cheeks could turn pink. But she was quickly pulled from her thoughts when there was a gunshot. She jumped, covering her mouth to keep herself from yelping and plopped down, sitting on the ground now instead of kneeling like she had been. She pushed herself as close to the piper behind her as she could, not realizing how close to the man next to her she was. But as she sat there she could hear Jim struggling to fight the giant man that had been hunting them.

"I have to help him," she said, more to herself than anyone around her as she pushed herself up.

"нет, не надо," she heard next to her. She turned to the man next to her, the look on his face almost pleading when there was a plethora of gunfire. Christine yelped, covering her head as she crouched back into her spot behind the pipe.

Everything seemed to run in slow motion and too fast at the same time. There was a reason she wasn't a police woman or anything, she didn't handle these types of situations very well and tried to avoid them at whatever cost. But here she was, in the middle of a gun fight between her brother and some Russian soldier. But everything around her seemed to catch up when she felt someone grab her arm and pull her up, thankfully it was Jim.

"Come on," he said as he pushed her towards Joyce. "You too, Smirnoff!" Joyce was quick to grab hold of Christine as Jim handcuffed himself to the Russian man. But as they all ran up the stairs, the soldier had gotten his gun back and started shooting at them again. Christine screamed, willing her body to move faster. Once they all made it up, back into the house, Jim slammed down the bed over the stairs again, but it was no use. Christine stopped for a moment, thinking it was okay when suddenly bullets came flying through the mattress. All four of them screamed, Jim pushing over a bookcase onto the bed as they all tried to run through the door at the same time. Luckily, being as small as she was, Christine managed to squeeze her way between Jim and the man handcuffed to him and ran for the door. It wasn't long before the rest of them followed her out the door.

"Christine," Jim yelled as he ran towards the passenger side, pulling the Russian man behind him. "Drive!" She looked up, just as he tossed the keys over to her. But she missed, hearing them hit the ground next to her.

"Oh my god!" Christine yelled as she bent down, trying to find the truck keys on the ground.

"Come on, Christine, stop screwin' around!" Jim yelled as he threw open the door. FInally finding them she opened the driver door, jumping in the seat.

"Are you kidding me!" she yelled back at him, as she quickly scooted the seat closer to the steering wheel.

"JUST DRIVE!" Jim yelled as everyone was finally in the truck.

"I am! I am!" she yelled back as she finally turned the key, the truck coming to life. She floored it, the tires spinning in the dirt before they finally got enough traction, the truck jerking forward. Christine turned the wheel, the heavy truck making it hard as she drove as fast as she could. Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough when the window next to her was shot out, shattering all over her. She screamed, wincing as she felt a few small cuts form on her face from the glass. She managed to push the gas even farther, trying to get as far as away as quickly as she could. But she could hear the bullets pinging off the truck as she drove down the driveway before finally the back window was busted out. Jim and the Russian man yelled, both of them ducking as Christine managed to make it to the end of the road, taking out the mailbox.

But they were finally home free, out of range of the giant soldier that was shooting at them.

"Still think it was our government?" Jim asked, Joyce turning and glaring at him.

As they drove down the road, the sun had started to come up. But as it got brighter outside, the truck seemed to die more and more until finally it stopped.

"Shit," Christine said as she tried turning the key, only for nothing to happen.

"Stop, stop," Jim said as he finally got up from the back seat, "Get out." Christine huffed, but did what he said nonetheless, getting out of the truck. Jim followed close behind her, pulling the man he was still cuffed to behind him before handcuffing him around a tree.

"Really?" Christine asked, Jim heading back over towards the truck.

"Yes, really," he said as he popped the hood, "I don't want Smirnoff running away."

"His name isn't Smirnoff," Christine defended before she even realized what she was saying. Why would she care what Jim called him? But Jim just ignored her, turning to the truck as Joyce joined him, trying to figure out what happened.

Christine turned and looked at the man handcuffed to the tree. He looked down at her, curiously as he pushed his glasses up. She hadn't realized before just how much taller she was than her, the top of her head just reaching his shoulder.

"So, what is your name?" she asked.

"Я не понимаю," he responded. She had no idea what he said but it didn't sound like a name. She stared at him a little harder, squinting her eyes slightly. The confusion on his face deepened.

"Name?" she asked again, this time pointing at herself, "Christine." then pointed at him. Luckily, that seemed to get what she was asking across, as realization spread across his face.

"Alexei," he said, also pointing at himself.

"Are you a soldier?" she asked, slowly. He gave her another confused look, his eyebrows drawn together. "Soldier?" she pointed at him then held up her fingers like a gun, "Pew, Pew?"

"O, солдат," he said, shaking his head, "я ученый." Now it was her turn to look at him confused. She squinted her eyes at him again, shaking her head slightly. "Ученый," He motioned like he was writing something. She assumed he meant that he was a scientist. But before she could ask him anything else Joyce came over to talk to him.

When she came over to ask him about what was going on, Christine couldn't handle her going on about it. She finally decided she was going to go over and try to see if she could help Jim at all. As she walked over to the truck, she glanced at Joyce over her shoulder as she held up some rocks, acting like they were the magnets on her fridge. But as she watched her, her eyes drifted to Alexei, watching him trying to understand what she was saying. She didn't realize she was still staring at him when his eyes met hers again, a small smile hinted on his face. She could feel her checks start to heat up, embarrassed that she got caught staring when suddenly she bumped into something.

"Hey, watch it," Jim said as she realized she had walked right into him.

"Oh, sorry," she said as she cleared her throat. Sparing one more glance at Alexei before turning to Jim. "Do you need some help?" Jim stared at her for a moment, then glanced in Joyce's direction before turning back to her.

"No," he said, frustrated. "Joyce, please! You're giving me a headache, all three of you."

"Hey," Christine said, offended when she just offered to help him. Finally, Joyce walked over to Jim, ready to keep arguing with him. Christine rolled her eyes as she huffed, walking back over to stand next to Alexei again.

"Они женаты?" Alexei asked as he pointed at the others.

"I have no idea what you said, but I agree," Christine said as she crossed her arms, smiling at the man next to her. He looked down at her, like he was trying to figure out what she said to him, but gave her a big smile instead.

Christine couldn't help the flip that her stomach did when he smiled at her. What had gotten into her? She quickly looked away, back at her brother and Joyce as she got into the car to see if it would start. She continued to stand next to Alexei as he leaned on the tree. But it was no use. The truck wouldn't start so Jim decided to get a closer look and stood on the bumper. But this time when Joyce turned the hey, Christine heard something weird.

"Hey, hey," Alexei said next to her and she assumed he heard the same thing. "Stop! Stop!" Even with his thick accent she knew what that word meant at least.

"Joyce, stop!" Christine yelled, taking a step to run over there and grab Jim before something happened but was taken aback when someone grabbed her.

"Это небезопасно," Alexei said as he grabbed her arm before she got too close.

"Shut up, Smirnoff," Jim yelled over his shoulder. But Alexei just continued to try to convince him, even though it was all in Russian. He refused to let go of Christine's arm.

"Come on, did you hear me? I said shut your damn mou-" Jim yelled as he finally gave in and walked over towards Christine and Alexei. But Christine had tuned him out, watching as more and more smoke rose from under the hood before the sound got louder, something busting. She jumped slightly, taking a step back. She watched as Joyce managed to jump out of the driver seat, getting away just as something exploded.

Christine yelled, jumping and ducking behind the closest thing to her, which was Alexei. She ducked, grabbing his arm, trying to shield herself away from the explosion.

"Stop," Alexei said, his accent heavy as he shook his head.

"Yea, Jim," Christine said, smacking him on the arm, still holding onto Alexei, "Stop."

After the truck blew up they knew there was no fixing it now. After Christine made sure Joyce was okay, giving her a once over, they decided they would have to walk. Jim uncuffed Alexei from the tree, giving him at least some freedom and not handcuffing them together again. Christine was strangely relieved when he didn't take the chance to run. But as they continued to walk, Chirstine was getting fed up with the constant bickering from her brother and Joyce. As much as she loved both of them, the sexual tension between the two was even starting to get on her nerves.

She walked a few steps in front of everyone else, trying to get away without falling behind. She peaked over her shoulder at the group behind her, watching and her brother pushed Alexei in front of him.

"You know, you don't have to be so rough," Christine said as she slowed down enough for Alexei to catch up to her. Jim just gave her a sarcastic look as he continued bickering with Joyce. She only shook her head, turning to Alexei instead.

"I'm sorry he's such an ass," she said, unconsciously taking a step closer to him.

"Что?" he asked. Christine thought for a moment about how to get across what she was saying. She finally decided, pointing at her own butt then pointing at Jim. That seemed to get the point across as he turned as well, a smile on his face.

"Oh, Мудак," he said as he also pointed at Jim, over his shoulder.

"Yes, mu-dak," she said, trying to pronounce it the same as he did. She gave him a laugh, smacking his arm lightly. Suddenly, their moment was interrupted when Jim grabbed Alexei.

"You know Joyce, I'm all ears. I'm not, however, listening to Smirnoff flirt with my sister," he said as he dragged him away.

"Jim, that is not what was happening," Chirstine said as she jogged slightly to catch up. However, her brother only stared at her before he kept walking.

It had been a few hours and they were still walking. Christine was exhausted and thirsty. She had fallen back into step with Alexei, Jim and Joyce behind them, bickering. She just wanted to get out of these woods, drink a tall glass of water and take a shower. She was covered in sweat now, glad that she had picked a dark shirt. But now her converse were ruined, covered in mud. She took a deep breath, pushing a small limb out of her way, not paying attention to where she was stepping. She miss judged, not seeing the root under her as she tripped, but luckily, albeit not very gracefully, caught herself.

"Ты в порядке?" Alexei asked. He looked down at her with concern, his handcuffed hands reached out.

"I just tripped," she said, not knowing what he said but she assumed he was asking if she was okay. She patted his arm and that seemed to relax him a little as they kept walking. She hadn't realized that Jim and Joyce had stopped, still arguing with each other as she and Alexei went.

They made it up to the top of the ridge and Christine hoped that they would be able to find at least something. But they were met with a road and the bottom of the hill. She put her hands on her hips, looking up and down the road, hoping there would be at least something, when she noticed it.

"Alexei," she said, patting his arm and pointing, "Is that what I think it is?" She thought she saw the corner of a gas station just up the road a bit. They both looked at each other for a moment before they broke out into a run. Alexei's legs were a lot longer than Christine's, causing him to be several paces in front of her.

"Son of a bitch!" she heard Jim yell as he started following them.

"No, Jim, wait," Chirstine yelled, trying to get his attention, "He isn't running." But it was no use. He had already run ahead of her, chasing Alexei. But once they stopped, she was finally able to catch up. "See," she pointed at the gas station in front of them, "not running." Jim only glared down at her as he aggressively grabbed Alexei's arm and made his way down the hill.

Once they finally walked in, it took everything for Christine to not immediately run to the drink coolers. They all stood there, almost in awe that they were finally going to get something to drink. As they stood there, Jim pushed his way past Christine and Alexei, Joyce following behind him.

"Come on," Christine said softly, as she grabbed Alexei's arm gently and led him to the cooler. She quickly got a Coke out, handing it over to him as she got one for herself. She watched as he struggled to open the can, the handcuffs in his way. She grabbed it out of his hands, opening it and handing it back.

"Спасибо," he said with a smile. She nodded her head, clinking her can with his as she quickly started gulping down as much as possible. He followed suit, nearly tipping the can upside down completely, a small out spilling down his chin.

"Hey," Christine heard, "Are you guys going to pay for those?" She turned, seeing the cashier throwing a skittle in his mouth as he stared them all down. She turned, looking at Jim for an answer. However, his only response was a loud burp. A small laugh bubbled up as she turned and looked at the cashier again as he rolled his eyes.

Once Chirstine had managed to get her fill she sat her empty can down on the counter behind her. She watched as Joyce and Jim walked around, getting a few things before going to the cashier.

"Oh, man," Christine said as she turned and saw a giant Slurpee machine behind her, "I haven't had one of these in ages." Alexei turned and looked at the same machine, looking at it curiously. "Ever had one?" she pointed to the machine, looking at him. He only shook his head.

"Что это такое?" he asked.

"Drink, drink," she said, motioning like she was taking a sip. "Yum."

"Nyam," he said. Christine quickly nodded her head, turning to get a Slurpee cup. But when she turned back, he had already poured a small amount in his hand, trying it. "Это вкусно!" Christine could help but laugh as he looked down at her, smiling so big his whole face lit up. She quickly filled the cup she had, handing it over to him as she grabbed one for herself. But just as she finished filling her own cup, Jim came over, grabbing Alexei's shoulder.

"Jim," she said sternly, watching as he pushed his out the door. But he just ignored her as he took a bite of the Slim-Jim he had hanging from his mouth.

"Just keep your mouth shut, alright?" he said to Alexei before turning to Christine as well, "Same goes for you." Christine just looked at Jim once she realized what he was going to do. He was going to steal this man's yellow convertible.

"Jim, you can't be serious?" she asked quietly just as he opened the door.

"Alright, alright, hop in," Jim said as he threw the front seat back, pushing Alexei into the car.

"Hey!" the man said once he realized what Jim was doing.

"Hey! Hey, you hey!" Jim yelled, stepping in front of the man as he tried to come around. "This is a police emergency!" Christine quickly got into the back of the car as Jim shoved the brown back full of snacks into her lap. "I need to commandeer your vehicle." Jim walked around to the back of the car, taking the gas hose out. "What is your name, sir?"

"Todd," he answered.

"Todd, listen to me," Jim started, "That man in there, I know he doesn't look it, but he is the most dangerous man in the world." Christine turned from the show her brother was putting on to look at Alexei, just as he stared Todd down, taking a slow sip of his Slurpee. It took everything in her being to not bust out laughing. She took a deep breath, looking away for a moment to gather herself. "Yeah, hes, uh, murdered…many children." Jim finished as he pushed past Todd, moving him out of his way. "Isn't that right Detective Hopper?"

"Oh, yes, he's a true psychopath," Christine said, turning to look at Todd. "Chased him over two state lines." Christine was about to lose it when suddenly Joyce joined them.

"Hey, what's going on?" she asked.

"Ah, Detective Byers," Jim said as he hoped she would pick it up and play along. Thankfully, it seemed like she did. "This is Todd, he has uh… agreed to lend us his vehicle to transport this dangerous criminal."

"Oh yea, very dangerous," Joyce said as he also climbed into the car, scooting to the passenger side. As they were talking, Alexei leaned over, unrolling the brown bag that was in Christine's lap. She held both of their drinks in her hands as he dug around in the bag, handing Joyce a bag of Funyuns and another Slim-Jim for her brother. But she couldn't hold in her excitement when he pulled out a pack of Reese's.

"My favorite," she said with excitement. He held it out for her to take but realized her hands were full when she didn't move. He moved to take his drink back from her, awkward from the handcuffs he still had on, his hand brushing hers as he took the cup.

"Извини," he said quietly. Christine couldn't help the blush that crept up on her cheeks, trying to hide behind her hair a little. She took the Reese's from him, pulling out the last snack in the bag, handing him a Hostess cake. He took it from her with a smile as Jim finally turned the car on, music blasted. It startled Christine, causing her to jump slightly at the suddenness of it. But she was instantly soothed when there was a gentle pat on her leg. She looked down to see a handcuffed hand retreating. She turned and looked at Alexei, a smile on his face. Again, her stomach flipped, and her cheeks heated up. But it was short lived when Jim peeled out of the gas station parking lot, turning so harshly that Christine went sliding across the back seat, slamming into Alexei.

"Sorry," she said awkwardly as she scooted back to her side.

"Все нормально. Он водит как маньяк," he said, nodding his head towards Jim. Jim only glared at him in the rearview mirror.

Now that they finally had a working car, it wasn't much longer until they where on their way to where Jim wanted to take them. With the top down Christine had managed to get cooled off from the heat, although now the sweat on her shirt was now making her a little cold. Granted, the giant cherry Slurpee she drank didn't help with that either. But as she sat there, she had her arm propped up, holding back her hair so it didn't blow all in her face. She had wished now that she had grabbed a hairband when she had left. It felt like ages ago that she had rushed over to Jim's after Joyce called her, but it had barely been over a day. She also wished she had known this is what she would have been dragged into, she would have packed some clothes. But as she sat there thinking about the last several hours, her mind drifted to the Russian man sitting next to her. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, watching as he seemed content just sitting there, sipping on his Slurpee. He was innocently looking around, watching everything that passed them before he turned her way. His eyes dropped to hers, a smile spreading across his face.

"Yum," he said, his accent so thick, it took her a second to register what he said until he pointed towards his own Slurpee. She laughed slightly, nodding her head before he turned again, looking back out over the road on his side. She smiled to herself as she did the same, looking out as Jim pulled onto a gravel driveway.

As they finally pulled up, Christine wondered if this was really where Jim wanted to bring them. She thought he was taking them to someone's house, this looked like a warehouse. But her questions were answered when Jim got out, moving the driver seat out of the way so she could get out. He held out his hand, helping her and she gladly took it. But regretting it when he then grabbed Alexei roughly, pulling him out of the car now.

"I thought you said this guy was a journalist," Joyce asked as they all walked towards the door.

"Yeah, yeah," Jim said, dragging Alexei, "He was."

"Was?" Christine and Joyce asked at the same time. Shocked that he left out that little bit of information. However, Jim just ignored them, buzzing on the intercom next to the door.

"Look at the camera," Christine heard. Jim looked around at them for a moment, leaning closer to the intercom, "The camera, above you, to the right." Christine looked around, seeing it in the corner, smacking Jim on the arm and pointing at it. "Identify yourself." Jim huffed, already done with this guy.

"Jim Hopper, Christine Hopper, Joyce Byers," he rattles off as he points at them all before he grabs Alexei's face. "Smirnoff."

"Alexei," Christine defends, smacking Jim on the arm again, but thankfully he repeats it.

"Surname," the man asks over the intercom.

"I don't know," Jim says.

"Family name!" the guy yells this time. But Jim was just as equally done.

"I told you, I don't know!" he yells back. "Open the damn door!" But luckily Joyce manages to calm him down some.

"It's alright, don't worry," Jim explained, "He is a bit eccentric, but completely harmless." They all turned to the door now, waiting for him to open it for them. But Christine was shocked when the door flew open, a large gun being the first thing she saw. And it was trained right on Alexei.

"Name," the man standing in the door said, gun in hand.

"Убери это от меня, лысая американская свинья," Alexei said, staring from the gun to the man in front of him. Christine was honestly shocked at first, that being the most she had heard him say. And it was the first thing she had heard him say that sounded mean.

"Я может и лысый, но ты в наручниках, советская сволочь," Jim's friend responded before turning to Jim, "Hi, Jim."

"Hello, Murray," he said. "Can we please come in?" Christine could tell her brother was already fed up. But thankfully, this Murray guy finally let them come in.

Christine didn't know what to expect when she walked in, but the quiet big band swing music wasn't on the list. But she followed everyone else, walking in and looking around. She had fallen in line behind Alexei, Joyce and Jim behind her. But they were all stopped before they walked in completely.

"Wait," Murray said as he turned and looked at them all, waving his hand in front of Christine and Alexei before turning away from them. They both glanced at each other, almost afraid of what he might do to them next. He already pulled a gun on them. But the machine that he pulled out his locker was the last thing she expected. It looked like a metal detector as he slowly walked back over to them, staring Alexei down. They were both in a lock down, trying to see who would break first. But as Murray flipped the machine on, Alexei rolled his eyes, looking away as he ran the machine down this body.

"What are you doing?" Christine asked but was immediately shushed. She looked at him shocked, her eyebrows raising at him.

"Смотреть это!" Alexei yelled, moving his hands.

"Молчи, мразь!" Murray yelled back at him. But that seemed to just anger Jim even more as he pushed past Christine.

"How long is this going to take, because-" he starts but is interrupted.

"No," Murray says flatly as they go back and forth, "No, you don't get to question me." As Murray talks he poked Jim in the chest with the machine he is using and Christine suppresses a giggle as it beeps at him. "You have dragged an enemy of the state into my home as carelessly as a child drags in shit on his shoe! I will search him until I am satisfied." Unconsciously, Christine grabs Alexei's sleeve, her mouth open in shock at what Murray said. She was about to say something when Joyce beat her to it, asking Jim to talk to her away from them.

They step away from the group, but Christine stands her ground. She just watches as Murray continues running the metal detector over Alexei's body but stops when he sees her still holding onto his sleeve.

"You know your boyfriend is the enemy right?" Murray says.

"He isn't the enemy," she said to his defense, "And he isn't my boyfriend." But Murray's eyes went from her face to her hand that still rested on his arm. She quickly withdrew it, taking a step away from Alexei and crossing her arms as he continued scanning him.

"Excuse me!" Murray yells, his focus now on Joyce and Jim. The both of them turned to him, "Do me a favor and move your lovers quarrel elsewhere."

"This is not a lovers quarrel, pal," Jim yelled as Joyce also denied it, shaking her head.

"Spare me!" Murray yelled back at them as he rolled his eyes.

"What is your problem?" Joyce now yelled, walking around Christine, pushing her into Alexei.

"Please, stop talking!" Murray yelled, but that was it. He struck Joyce's last nerve and she let him have it.

"NO!" she yells, "We have had a very long day! We have been shot at, nearly blown up, walked god knows how many miles in a hundred degree heat, stole a car, all while being chased by this gigantic…psychopath. All so we could bring HIM," she turns, poking Alexei hard in the chest, "to YOU," poking Murrary just as hard, "Because somehow, you're the closest person who speaks Russian, which I can't believe. But that doesn't matter because, unfortunately, we're here. So, if you don't mind, put that thing away, stop behaving like a jackass and ask him what he is doing that is making my magnets fall off my damn fridge!" She took a second, taking a breath. "Please!" As she walked off, she ripped the machine out of Murray's hands, walking away with it.

Murray stood there shocked for a moment, glancing at the others that still stood in front of him. But Christine only smirked at him as she pushed her way past him, heading for the bathroom to wash off her face.