by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
QT's notes: Are you curious as to where this is heading? Is there something you want to know, something you'd love to happen? If it's do-able, I'll consider it. The outline of this story can't be altered. The ending is almost concrete.
Chapter 12: Minor Hiccups
So far, everything's moving along perfectly. Tash surveyed the crowded ballroom. It was just a curious sweep. That was until her eyes found a very familiar face and her heart skipped a beat. Dean? What are you doing here? The woman he was standing next to she recognized from the Logistics department, a really sweet lady, very professional and beautiful. Melissa Bergman. News had gone around that she'd recently married a serviceman. Tash ignored the stabbing in her chest and took a good look at them. They did make a very glamorous-looking couple. It was possible that the office gossip chain had confused federal agent for serviceman somewhere down the line. They were kind of similar.
Thinking back to their time together, she couldn't help the heavy feeling building inside. Blinking back tears that threatened to make a fool out of her, she quickly turned away. Tash brushed her cheeks self-consciously. Get a grip. You're over it. There are hundreds of people here. If you play it right, you might not even bump into him. Taking a deep breath, she searched the floor for Alec. She spotted him at the foot of the right-wing staircase leading to the balcony floor.
Alec caught Tash's eyes on him and smiled. He gave her a small wave and turned away when a hand touched his arm. "Can I help…" Deep, innocent, hazel eyes collided with his. His throat closed and his heart thudded a mile a minute in his chest. Suddenly he found it incredibly hard to breathe.
"I feel really stupid asking you this, but do you know where the ladies room is?"
He tried desperately to force his mouth to move, her hand didn't rest on his arm anymore but he could still feel her touch. It was burned into his skin.
Tash had caught his wave and smiled back, she'd been about to head over when she saw a beautiful young woman approach him. She thought to hang back and let him have a little fun, but that was before she saw the look on his face. He looked like he'd seen a ghost. She lost no time, stepping onto the dance floor and making her way towards him.
"Sir?"
Rachel, it's Rachel. Alec tried again to force words out. Anything. He was standing there like a gaping idiot. Say something. She's here. "You're here?" Great. Wonderful. So smart Alec. Stupid, stupid. The words slipped out before he could think straight.
She gave him a confused look. "Do I know you?"
Alec clenched his fist uncomfortably at his side. "You're Rachel…"
"Rachel, darling." A tall, white-haired man approached them. His bars and pins covering most of his broad chest.
"Papa." Rachel held out her arms to him as he reached the staircase.
The older man wrapped a strong arm around her waist, and grinned proudly. "Admiral Mitchell." He extended his hand to Alec, warm smile still lighting his face.
"Alec Ross, sir," he replied, recalling the name Jones had created for him. He remembered what Tash had said when she'd first heard it.
"Ross. You like the name, Ross?" Tash smirked. "It means promontory in Gaelic. Nah, doesn't suit you."
The Admiral shook Alec's hand. "Alec Ross, nice to meet you. Anyone whom captures the interest of my Rachel must be quite a fellow indeed."
Rachel blushed and elbowed her grandfather discreetly. "Papa."
Her embarrassment didn't go unnoticed by either of the men.
"She was just asking me if I knew where the ladies was. Shortest route? Up the left-wing stairs and you should see it on your right." Alec gave her an awkward smile. She honestly doesn't remember.Looking at her, he wondered if that was a bad thing.
"Thanks." Rachel smiled at Alec. "Please excuse me." She kissed her grandfather's cheek and walked away.
Alec watched her go, and noticed Tash approach.
"Admiral Mitchell. I'm so glad you could make it." She smiled warmly, extending her hand.
The Admiral took it and placed a kiss across her fingers. "Always a pleasure, Natasha."
Tash have him appreciative look. "I see you've met my friend, Alec."
"Yes, quite the gentleman."
"He was taught well." If only he knew, Tash mused. "Was that your granddaughter I saw leaving?" She sent a curious gaze over her shoulder to where Rachel was ascending the stairs.
The Admiral lifted his chin proudly, smiling. "Yes, indeed. Rachel is my son's daughter, my only grandchild. My own daughter died young. Cancer. When my son asked if Rachel could stay with us, Maggie and I were only too happy to have her."
"How wonderful for you both." Tash sent Alec a look and turned to the Admiral. "Please excuse me, Admiral but I just have to borrow Alec before the next announcement. Wonderful to see you again."
"You too, Natasha," the Admiral gave her a grin.
"Alec?" Tash said sweetly.
Alec caught the veiled undertones in her voice and hastily said his pleasantries. "Nice to meet you, sir."
With a nod from their guest, the little group parted company.
Alec hurried after Tash. "I've got to take the balcony level in two minutes, what's up?"
Tash kept walking but spoke without looking in his direction. "Maggie told me once that her son, Henry, couldn't have kids. Rachel's not his daughter."
Alec grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadow of a marble column. "I know she's not."
"What? How?" Tash eyed him suspiciously. He was acting fairly strangely for someone who was usually the coolest head in the room.
Alec sighed in defeat. "I never brought it up because I was trying to forget…" Judging from the raised eyebrow and the slight inclination of her head, he was anticipating the lecture to come.
"Cut to it, how do you know her? I know that look I saw back there wasn't one of, Oh hey, how you been."
Hanging his head, he ran a tired hand through his hair. "Remember a few months back, I went to Seattle. Even though you and Max said it was a really bad idea."
"I also remember saying it was stupid to go alone," Tash said her frustration resurfacing at the thought.
"Yeah, well...it was something I had to do. Alone. The first girl I ever really got close to. Rachel. She died after being in a coma for two years, from a car bomb I planted. When I saw her grave...so..." He balled his fists and grimaced at the memory. "Now, I don't know what to think."
Tash didn't say a word. A realization dawning, she touched him gently on the arm. "What was her name?"
"Rachel Berrisford."
"She's here. Left-wing balcony. Heading your way, Evan," A bald man said into his comm. piece. The big silver ring on his left pinkie caught the overhead lights.
"Beac, subject in range. Cut it, on my go." Evan looked at the floor below and spotted his other two men. They acknowledged his motion.
Downstairs, standing beside the column with Tash, Alec glanced up to notice a man striding purposefully across the balcony. Looking over the dance floor he noticed two other guys, moving steadily through the crowd toward the left-wing stairs. Something's up.
"Alec?" Tash queried.
"Hold up. Something's about to go down." Alec checked his watch and reported to his control room team. "We've got three guys. One on the balcony, and two headed for the left wing stairs. Track them on the monitors. I want to know what they're up too. Guy up top is about 5'9, black hair and medium build. Two guys down here - one's a shaggy blonde, heavy build. His friend has curly dark hair and glasses, both about 6'.
Tash spotted the men he was describing and just seconds later the ballroom went black.
"Now." Evan ordered Beac.
Somewhere in a poorly lit storage room, a circuit board exploded, sparks bursting all directions. The lights flickered and when out, the electricity buzzed dead.
All the men pulled out their pocket night vision goggles. Schmit and Burkley had already reached the top of the stairs. Raven wasn't far from the right-wing staircase. His ring no longer caught the light since the room was blanketed in complete darkness.
Screaming and loud crashes could be heard all around, as people scrambled for the exits. Tash quickly made her way to the podium and grabbed the mike. "Please, stay calm. The lights will come back on. Please stay where you are."
Alec saw the men and pinpointed where they were headed. In his gut he had a sickening feeling that he knew who their target was. He'd never reach her in time.
A gunshot cracked like the sound of a whip and Tash didn't have time to heed the hesitation in her heart. She dove off the podium and pushed the two girls out of the way. Just seconds before the enormous chandelier crashed to the polished wood floor, right where the girls had been huddled.
Her arm and left hip aching, she sat up. There were lots of harsh voices demanding answers and crying going on around her. The girls were fine. Thoroughly shaken but okay. They seemed to know they'd narrowly missed being part of the decoration. She looked up to see Alec jump the balcony rail from the staircase. He was going after the men.
"Please don't leave us." One of the girls grabbed Tash's arm.
"I have to help other people. I promise, someone will come and get you in a minute. Just sit tight, okay?" Tash saw them both nod slightly, and quickly got up in search of her brother.
Just then, security burst through the main entrance and two of the exits, holding floodlights.
"Everyone all right?" One of them asked.
Another one spotted Tash. "The circuit for level 1 has been burnt out. It's going to take awhile to get it back up. The manager has said you're all welcome to move to the Crystal Hall on level 3. Our sincerest apologises for the inconvenience.
"Inconvenience?" someone spat in disgust.
"Please. We're very sorry for what's happened. But don't give up on the night yet." Tash addressed the crowd. "Sir, if you'll show people the way, I'm sure they'll be happy to follow you out of here," she assured the hotel supervisor.
Alec ran as fast as he could. His arms and legs burning, but he ignored the sensations. He only had one concern, that he get to Rachel before they left the building.
"Boss, you've got company. It's only one guy but he's moving really fast." Beac watched the thermal sensors. This guy's more than fast, he's incredible. "You gotta get movin', he's too close."
Evan looked at Raven. "Take care of it."
Raven gave him a curt nod.
The rest of them moved through the door to the emergency stairwell and barricaded it behind them. Evan noted the look on their faces. "He'll find another way to the designated point." Without another second hesitation he paged the roof. "We're ready." Almost immediately, thick black cords dropped through the open skylight from five levels up.
On the other side of the door, Alec hid around the corner leading to the emergency escape door. It led to both the roof and the basement levels. His comm. was still active, the security centre was on B1 and ran on it's own circuit. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out his taser. Footsteps started toward his position. Now or never…