They were already at the third floor when they saw another guard.He was sitting,reading a newspaper,and he had a gun.They didn't expect him to be there.When he saw them,he got up.
"Stay right where you are.Who are you and what do you want?"He pointed his gun at them with one hand and with the other tried to push a red button that was on the wall besides him.They pretended to be cooperative.
Emma kicked his arm and the gun fell on the ground.Then she hit him with both hands on the shoulders.Steed gaged him and hid him in an office that was unlocked.Soon,they were at their destination.Mrs Peel took off her hairclip.He took a piece of wire out of his pocket and gave it to her.She connected it to the hairclip and the door lock gave in after a few clicks.They closed it again behind them.
"We don't have much time Steed."
"I know,I know...".
There was a large file cabinet in the room.They went through as many files as they could.Emma used stenography to write down anything that seemed to be important.
"Who ordered the booth...Who..come on...".Steed tried to hurry as much as he could."It's really hot in here don't you think?".He whispered.
"You shoudn't have worn your tweed suit.Except..."She was smiling.
" It's not that kind of heat Mrs Peel!!"He looked offendedAfter all he was a gentleman..
They kept searching.After a while two drops of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"I'm hot too..".They turned around.Smoke was coming in the room through the small space underneath the door.
"You know what they say...there isn't smoke..."
"Without fire!"She hid behind the door and opened it.Large flames were leaking the door frame.It was impossible to pass through them.
"It's a trap.The entire floor must be on fire."Steed felt pushed into a corner for the first time in his life.So is this the end?Emma..
"There must be a way out Steed".She could sense the danger too.Not like this..I don't want it to end like this..there are so many things I want to tell you.Her eyes were searching the room.
They started coughing,the room was filled with smoke..Soon,they found their composure again.At least they were together...Steed took off his jacket,tore it into pieces and disappeared in the w.c. in the back of the office.He wet two pieces and gave her the one.
"Thank you."She covered her mouth and nose with it.He used the other one.
There was a phone on the desk close to the door.He tried to dial,but the line was dead.Mrs Peel had found what she was looking for.
"Look!"She pointed at the air vent.Unfortunately it was too small.They couldn't use it to escape.
"Damn these modern architects!!".He yelled.
Emma took a chair and broke the window glass.A part of the smoke left through the window.Some pieces of glass cut her cheeks.Steed looked outside.There was no pipe besides the window and the next one was ten feet away.He looked around.It was a long way down.The fire had burned the door and was approaching them.He took a deep breath.
"Steed it's over...".She was serene,she was strong enough to accept it and she was looking at him.The last thing she wanted to see was his eyes.
"No!It's not."Steed hit his fiest on the wall.
"Look at me...just look at me."
He looked straight at her.There were tears in his eyes,but no shame,no complaint.It wasn't difficult to die,it was difficult to stay alive.
"Emma forgive me..."He wiped the blood on her cheeks.
"There is nothing to forgive.We made the choices,we took the risks...together...".She worshipped that word with her lips.If only it could be heard for ever..."Look,I want you to know..I..I."He could see the veins on her temples and her mouth was slightly trembling but her look was sharper than ever.
He brought a finger to his mouth and uttered:"Shhhh...I do know now.. me too." He had find the streingth he needed through her.They shared a deep and long kiss.

I'm dying in your arms this moment and in your arms I'm born all over again....

"Steed,your umbrella!".She was the first to break their embrace.The umbella was about to be burned.Steed saved it the last moment.She tried to smile.The way Steed clung to it until the very last moment was funny...as if it mattered..He took a good close look at it.
"Mrs Peel this is not my umbrella!".
He was getting crazy,that was it.Poor Steed, you can't stand the thought of being burned alive.
He must have guessed her thoughts cause he exclaimed:
"It's NOT mine!"He examined the umbrella again and then his eyes lit up."Mrs Peel...we're saved!!!".
"Will you tell me what's going on?".
"This one belongs to agent Parker.He came to see me the other day and .."
She interrupted him."Who?The crazy inventor?The one who suggested that you should plant a propeller in your bowler so that you can...FLY from one building to another?For god's shake..."She obviously didn't think highly of him.
"That one was far fetched ,I agree,...but this one!...oh this one is exactly what we need!He must have left it on purpose or he must have forgotten it..I don't know which!It looks exactly like mine...I mixed them up,I took this one with me instead of the other one.That's why I thought it was heavier!".
"I still don't follow you."
Steed pulled out the handle and many meters of wire rope,connected to the handle,started to unfold.The umbrella stem was made out of steel and the wire rope was hidden in the stem.More wire rope was folded underneath the umbrella plastic.It wasn't made to open up like a normal umbrella!
"See..?"
"Steed..I might actually start to like your friend!This is ingenious!".She was relieved.Maybe there was a way out after all..
Steed hooked the handle at the file cabinet which was large and heavy and gave her the other edge.
"You go first.It can support only one person."The wire rope was thin,so that there would be enough space for it in the stem.
"No!I'm not leaving you here!".Emma was burning already,even before the fire had reached her.What if something goes wrong?
"Emma!There's no time for arguing.Please..."The flames were getting closer and closer.Forget about me and save yourself...
"I can't.I won't."Her independacy and determination always pushed her forward but this time..that was too much..he was asking too much from her.She'd rather die than live only to burry him,to burry what would be left of him.
He hugged her and caressed her back.
"Darling..we had promised to each other we wouldn't let our feelings get in the way.You were the one who suggested it."
She broke free.
"Don't patronize me!It's not the same thing and you know it!This is different,it's much more different..You are the one who couldn't let me breathe all these months.You!My feelings would never cloud my judgement.Never...".
So that was the problem.It hurt,but it was true..he had strong feelings for her.He was more alert,especially when they were out in the field.He wanted to keep her safe.
"Prove it then."I've found a way to make you go first,he thought.
"Very well then...I'm thinner and I should go first.We must ensure that the rope won't break,so both of us can escape.That's what an agent would think or should think,the facts."She paused.
"Goodbye John."She was almost whispering.Her voice was tender and her body was shaking.What I'm trying to prove and to whom?All I need is to be with you.But she was proud...oh too proud.And Steed knew it.
"Goodbye."Will I ever see you again?Steed fought to stay composed.
Emma took hold of the umbrella and started descending.Her weight made the wire rope unfold.There was smoke everywhere.She closed her eyes but she couldn't help coughing.A few minutes later,she stepped on the ground.She let go of the umbrella and soon the rope was folding again.The umbrella was going up to the fifth floor..to Steed.She looked up.The fourth and fifth floor were on fire and there was so much smoke!She couldn't see anything..where was he?She heard her heart beating in her chest and then she realised...He had fooled her!He loved her enough to know her,to predict her reactions.She shouldn't have left him alone..she shouldn't haveSome people were gathered in the street and then the sound of a siren approaching..The firebrigade..but it was too late.Half of the building collapsed in front of her eyes.It was too late...too late for him!She felt her body getting stiff,her mouth was so dry..She didn't realise that someone was touching her..
"Mrs Peel..long time no see!"
"It's not funny Steed.."Her eyes were filled with unleashed tears.She wouldn't let them fall..not ever!
"I'm so proud of you,so very proud of you!".He said.
"How could you do this to me?How?".
"I didn't have the streingth to leave you up there."He was covered in smoke,he didn't wear his jacket and his trousers were half burned.The only thing left intact was his bowler and he was proud of it.A bird passing by though,had a different opinion.It released its metabolism's byproducts right on it.Steed was stunned.
They both laughed.They needed it.
"Let's go home.Let's get out of here."
He drove her home.They didn't say a word to each other.There was so much to talk about... so much to process...but they could hardly keep their eyes open.
"I want them Steed."That was a close call.If Parker hadn't forgotten his umbrella..
"We'll get them".After all they 've tried to spoil his image!Another suit completely ruined!
"Goodnight Steed."She was grateful that he was safe and sound,sitting next to her.
"Goodnight Mrs Peel."He wondered if things were going to change between
them.
She spent one moment to look at him and then she left.

The next morning found Emma in her bed.Sleep had invigorated her.She got up quickly and casted a look at her catsuit.It was in a bad shape..She searched in the pockets and found the notes she had kept the day before.She worked on them almost all day long,making phonecalls,acquiring information..At the end,she was frustrated.Nothing important..nothing that could directly connect someone in the client list with the photo booth order.Mr Benson and Mr Cox were working for all kinds of people.They even represented some schools and a number of companies that once were familiar to Emma.A group of lawyers were running her own buiseness since she had met Steed.They consulted her from time to time but she found the adventurous life he could offer her by far more interesting.She rubbed her eyes and yawned..too tired.And then she heard a noise..something like..she couldn't describe it.Apparently it was coming from the street.Not the kind of noise that could scare you though.She run to the living room and opened a window.She looked down and...she couldn't believe what she was looking at.There was Steed and he had brought a small band with him.Such a wonderful tune..almost like a magic spell.Suddenly she was his muse,she had leaves in her hair and he was a young man playing the flute besides crystal blue water.He was playing just for her and the flowers blossomed,the earth gave birth,the sun spread his fire,every living creature was dancing,following the tune.She blushed.The last time she had a fantasy like this one,she was a teenager reading poetry.Paradise could exist only for one moment...When he saw her,he made a gesture to the band and the tune changed.It was late and the street was empty.The moon was full and shed its golden light.All she could hear was his voice.Although not trained,it warmed her up.

Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
In other words hold my hand
In other words darling kiss me

Emma smiled.Her body was light,trying to listen to the yearnings of her heart.
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forevermore
You're all I long for
All I worship and adore...

In the appartment next to Emma's Mrs Carol was filling a basket with eggs.She opened her window and threw one of them to Steed,but she missed.
"Stop!We're trying to get some sleep."
The musicians were on the run.Steed continued:
In other words please be true
In other words I love you..
"Please..don't!He's a friend of mine."Emma shouted.
Mrs Carol though was determined to hit her target.She suffered from insomnia and wasn't about to waste her precious sleeping time.She knew all about love..that poor thing has lost his mind.He could go on and on all night long.Steed used his hat to shield himself but an egg clashed against his forehead.Oh!He was embarassed enough last night.Well,at least he suffered in the name of love!Emma was trying so hard not to laugh.It would be inappropriate but somehow she couldn't help herself.Finaly,he decided to ring her bell.
"Come in.Let me help you .."She went to the bathroom to find a washcloth.
"And she seemed such a nice lady!I always believed that she was fond of me!"
"Obviously she didn't know what you're capable of!"She wiped his forehead with the washcloth.
"Desperate times demand desperate measures Mrs Peel."
"Thank you..that song is one of my favorites."Are you that desperate Steed?And am I responsible?
"You don't have to thank me."All I want is a chance to talk to you.
They both started thinking about the previous night.
"Silence can be spoken..but the circumstances were different".If you want to take back what you said to me yesterday Mrs Peel,I won't hold it against you.The words that you used belong to you and I won't claim them.
"I meant what I said,I meant every word of it."Emma is a smart girl.I meant all the good things,but I meant the bad things too.That was the message.
"If I pushed you into anything you don't approve of,I'm really sorry".but I'm taken with you..
"The deeper it gets,the more space I need.And it's getting deeper,Steed."I do care about you, but I'm not like you.I can't compromise easily.Staying hurts,going hurts too..Help me Steed..
"I guess sometimes love isn't enough."What do you want Emma?
"It should be enough.I chose this life....so that I could be free.Don't take back what you've given me.Peter never realised what I needed the most."I was a different person around Peter,I didn't know what I could be with you.
"I didn't set you free.The cage doesn't become you!"
"Oooh!The cage!I should have kept that feather outfit.It was interesting..".Her voice was playing with that last word.
And you were more interesting in it,Steed thought.At last,he could see some light..Desire had flooded his body.He planted soft kisses on her temples.She was whispering:
"I understand the way you feel.I believed I had faced all my fears ,but when you asked me to go,to leave you..".Nobody is beyond love, Steed.
She kissed him on the lips.She was looking at him,as if she has never seen him before.
"I promise you I won't bring you any more pain."We can always be like that day..that one god sent day that I met you.And you were smiling..there 's so much life in you Emma.
They were beyond words.Words had already been crumbled.
A sharp noise broke the silence.Something piercing the air.fast..deadly...It startled them.An arrow was nailed at the wall,just above their heads.It had come through the living room window which Emma had left wide open.The arrow was carrying a note.
"Steed.."Mrs Peel was alert.She read it loudly:
THE CHILD IS THE FATHER TO THE MAN.
They looked at each other,obviously surprised..

To be continued..