Title: You Can Never Escape Your Past
Spoiler: This story is a continuation of Viva Las Vegas.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer I have nothing to do with The Agency and receive no
compensation
Since Stiles and Terri are now secretly married. I've changed some of the scenes to have it play out a little different. This part deals with Our Man in Korea.
Chapter 16
Boy did Terri and Stiles pick the wrong day to come back from vacation. As they walked into work things were going crazy. "Well I guess if we didn't come back, we would have been called back." Terri smiled at him. She knew he was right, they just had no way of knowing the effect this would have on them.
Fear was quickly spreading through Langley. Fighting between North and South Korea was escalating. Tom was very worried. "We could be fighting this war in San Francisco. North Korea has the missiles capable of reaching us they just don't have the guidance system." They had to find a way to stop them, they knew that the North Koreans were trying to get the guidance system from Russia.
North Korean Colonel Lin who was working with the CIA was killed mysteriously. They were waiting for information from him. They were desperately trying to divert another World War. They had no knowledge of his cover being blown. The last report from Lin was that they had bought the guidance system, it was being shipped through Accu-Trans.
Stiles, Lex and Haisley were at work digging into Accu-trans files. They were trying to find the right person to contact. Brian Magnunson part owner. Lex looked up his file. "Had some mental problems, he is the co-owner of the company with his wife. Was treated for depression when him and his wife separated."
Terri walked in and Stiles got up to let her sit down. Terri looked at the computer as Lex said "Next" and started to pull up the next one.
Terri stopped him. "Lex, make his hair a little longer, put glasses on him and take off 15 years." Stiles didn't like this he knew Terri knew this man, his suspicions were confirmed when Terri announced "I know him."
They decided it would work if Terri tried to make contact with him. Stiles wasn't sure about this, but he didn't say anything. He wasn't sure if he was just jealous, Terri didn't say how she knew him. So Stiles imagination started working overtime. He was just glad that he was being sent to Montreal with her.
Terri was confused about what to do. She really didn't want to get into this with Stiles right now. Terri went to her mentor and father figure Joshua. "Can we talk?"
"Sure Terri. What's up? Did you have a nice vacation?" He said with a big grin on his face.
"Yes, but that's not what I want to talk about." Terri didn't know where to begin. "I need your advice." Joshua looked at her and nodded for her to continue. "We are going to try to recruit a man I knew in college. A man I dated. He was kind of messed up back then and it doesn't sound like he's any better. I knew him personally and now I'm going to try to take advantage of him. I'm not real comfortable with that."
Joshua talked to her about a book, The Great Scoundrel Terri was getting a little confused. "What's the point?"
"The greater good is always subjective. In your case, your ultimate goal is to stop a certain missile system from falling into the wrong hands. For that, it might be worth hurting an old friend."
"Would you do it?"
"I.... have done it." He really didn't want to go there with Terri, so he changed the subject. "How does Mr. Stiles feel about you getting together with your ex-boyfriend."
"Stiles doesn't know I dated him."
"Oh. I think I would tell him that if I were you." Joshua gave Terri a hug and held her tight. "Have a safe trip."
"Thanks."
Terri and Stiles boarded the plane. As they sat in there seat Stiles wanted desperately to find out about Terri and Brian. He was having a hard time getting into mission mode because of this. Terri could sense this, but she wanted to see if he would bring it up. "What's wrong Stiles?"
"Nothing." he took her hand in his and kissed it. "You know I love you right?"
"Stiles yes of course I know. I love you too." She kissed him lightly on the lips. She knew he wanted to know but wouldn't ask. "I dated Brian in college. It wasn't a big deal. He had some emotional problems even then." Stiles was looking at her, and got very tense. "I'm not afraid of him if that's what you're thinking." Stiles took a deep breath and relaxed. "I met Jeff, and broke up with Brian and the rest is history. Maybe I shouldn't have dumped him for Jeff." Terri smiled.
Stiles didn't smile. he was wondering if Terri really regretted that. If she hadn't dumped him for Jeff, he wouldn't have cheated on her, and she wouldn't have met Joshua at that dinner party when he recruited her, she might have never ended up working for the CIA, and never would have entered his life. Stiles was letting his insecurities get the best of him. "So you're sorry you ever broke up with Brian?" Stiles asked in an accusing tone.
"Stiles that isn't what I said."
"Yes. It is."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know, I don't think we should discuss this right now." Stiles was in a mood and pouting the rest of the flight. Terri didn't understand why he was so upset. Terri never thought her and Brian would have made it past college. She was only thinking about avoiding the pain she went through with Jeff. She wasn't thinking it had anything to do with Stiles, but he took it that she would have been better off if she was still with Brian.
Stiles was trying to keep this professional. They checked into the hotel, and set up their equipment. He was still feeling insecure and hurt so he had to get a dig in. "You better call your boyfriend."
"Damn it Stiles. He is not my boyfriend. He is my ex-boyfriend. I promise you I won't try to bring him back to Washington with us."
"What does that mean?"
"Dacia."
"Oh come on Terri. I thought the boy was my son. What was I supposed to do? Look we are on a mission. Let's just leave our marriage out of this right now."
"Fine!" Terri was very hurt by Stiles' attitude and Stiles was equally hurt thinking Terri would rather be with Brian.
Terri got on the phone and made arrangements to meet Brian in the hotel bar. Terri and Brian sat at the bar and talking. Stiles was nearby listening.
Brian told her. "I had such a crush on you."
"Come on."
"No I admit it, you were so beautiful. You still are."
"Thank you." Terri was beginning to feel uncomfortable
"How long are you in town for?"
"Just a couple of days."
"Maybe we could get together for dinner or something?"
"Your wife won't mind."
"Hardly." The last thing Brian wanted to talk about was his wife, he quickly changed the subject. "You know even to this day. I still dream about you and when I wake up it is with such a sense of loss."
"Oh come on you've got a great life. Your wife. Your company."
"I'm still the CEO but, she keeps me out of the loop. Its ok. Look will you have dinner with me?"
Terri was feeling nervous about where Brian wanted this to lead. "Would you mind if I invited a friend?" Brian looked at her confused. He was asking her out and she wanted to bring a friend.
Relief came over Terri's face as Stiles got up and walked over to them. "Brian, this is Aidan."
"How are you doing? I work for the government and so does she. We have reason to believe that your company is transporting a guidance system to North Korea and we want to know what ship it is on and its location."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Your wife may be doing this without your knowledge and we are willing to believe that. We want you to get the information and give it to us."
"You want me to spy on my wife."
"Cooperate and we'll protect you. Otherwise you both go to prison."
Brian looked at Terri confused "Who are you?"
Terri was feeling bad about what Brian must think of her. Stiles was just thinking he was an idiot if he didn't know what was going on in his own company.
Terri and Stiles went back up to their room. Terri wanted to talk this out with Stiles, but she knew he was now officially in mission mode. Stiles couldn't believe that slime ball was coming on to Terri. Stiles got into bed, Terri came and laid down next to him. She got close to him hoping he would at least hold her. Stiles didn't say anything he just took her in his arms and kissed her forehead. She fell asleep feeling safe in his arms. She knew that they still were going to have to talk this out when they got home. Neither one understood what the other was feeling.
Stiles got up and ready for his first day at work for Acu-Trans. He was hoping they could get the information and get out of there. As much as he didn't want to admit this, he was jealous of Brian.
Terri woke up and smiled. "A suit and tie, wow." She always liked when Stiles got dressed up she thought he really looked great.
Stiles leaned over and kissed her. "Gotta go to work."
Stiles and Brian walked into his wife's office. "This is Aldan Stone. The man I hired."
Carolyn reviewed his resume, which Terri did a great job making. She asked him a few questions and was satisfied that he would be okay. She was mad at Brian though, as Brian was taking Stiles to his office Carolyn said. "Brian, don't ever hire anyone with our my approval again."
As they walked out Stiles was glad that he had Terri as his wife and not someone like her. The thing that bothered him was he figured Brian was thinking the same thing.
As Stiles was getting set up in his office. He was also setting up surveillance. He called Terri from his cell phone.
"Ok, the bug in Carolyn's office is working and I have visual on you." Terri was looking at Stiles on the monitor. "Can you talk?"
"You can."
"Brian called me."
"What did he say?"
"He wants to meet me to talk."
"So meet him. Maybe he talked to her."
"I'm worried Stiles. He wants to leave his wife. He's unstable. I'm not so sure he was the right person to choose for this."
"He got us in didn't he." Before he could say anything else Carolyn was standing at his desk complaining about some mix up. "Hold on Mom."
Carolyn told him to fix the problem as she walked away. "One more thing, call your mother from home."
"I gotta go. Look if the guy wants to talk, talk."
Terri was looking at the monitor she wanted to see his reaction. "And if he wants something more than that." Stiles just got a funny look on his face. He couldn't believe Terri was even asking him this. Carolyn came walking back by.
"I'll talk to you later Mom." Stiles hung up and thought hard about what just happened.
He wanted to call her back, as her husband he wanted to say 'Stay the hell away from that asshole.' The IRT leader trying to see this mission through wanted say. 'Just get the information, do what you have to do.' Stiles hated being in that position. He hated that Terri was in this position.
Terri met with Brian, he told her "I'm starting over, I'm leaving Carolyn and Acu-Trans." He told her it was because of her. "You opened my eyes. I never used to let people treat me like this. I mean if Terri Fremont liked me, I must have been something."
"You still are."
"Not now, but I will be. This is just a first step, I need to know you will be around for the second, third."
"Brian, we need to find out what ship is carrying that guidance system or none of us will be around."
"I looked around, I couldn't find anything."
"You can talk to your wife."
"No I can't. She won't tell me."
"My friend wasn't kidding. He'll send you to prison."
"Would you let him?"
"I don't have a choice." Terri put her hand on his. "You can't leave the company or your wife right now."
Carolyn walked up behind them. "I didn't know he was leaving anything.. Who are you?"
"This is Terri. An old friend."
"Old friend. What brings you to our parking lot Terri?"
"I'm meeting Aidan Stone."
"Our new employee? Is he an old friend too?"
"Actually he's my husband." She looked at Brian, she hoped he too would believe this, it was after all the truth, and hoped he would then realize there was no chance for them. "I'm meeting him for lunch."
She looked coldly at Brian "And where are you going?"
"Nowhere." He walked away, after giving Terri a nasty look Carolyn also walked away.
Terri couldn't believe what just happened, she really felt terrible about what she was doing to Brian. She wanted to talk to Stiles about it, but he wasn't her husband at this point he was in mission mode and was the IRT leader, set on finishing this mission. She was afraid of what he would tell her to do.
Stiles was working at his desk when Carolyn showed up. She was surprised that he was working so late. "So how does your wife feel about you working so late."
"Not a problem."
"I met her this afternoon in the parking lot. It would have been nice if Brian would have told me he was doing her a favor by giving you this job."
"With all due respect, I'm over qualified for this job."
Carolyn walked up behind him and put her hands on his shoulder. "How long have you been married?"
"Six years." Stiles didn't like where this was going. He hoped Terri wasn't watching the monitor he stood up and walked away from the desk so he wouldn't be on camera.
Carolyn ran her fingers along his jaw. "Are you faithful?"
A million thoughts went through his mind. If he played along could he get the information, but what about Terri, he would never be able to look her in the eye. He realized he couldn't do that to her. "Yes, yes I am." He told her proudly.
"That's too bad." Carolyn took as step back. "Is she? Faithful I mean."
"I'm not sure this is any of your business." After he said that Stiles wondered why he couldn't be so sure that Terri was faithful. He was letting his insecurities get the better of him. Deep down he knew Terri would never cheat on him, but he needed to hear that from her.
"I wonder why Brian didn't tell me about your wife."
"I have no idea. Why don't you ask him?"
Stiles finally walked into the hotel room. "Hey. So I stayed late to get my own private tour of the offices. The boss lady wouldn't leave me alone. She thinks you are having an affair with her husband."
Terri sighed she couldn't believe it. "Poor Brian."
"Poor Brian, poor us. That ship is 24 hours closer to reaching its destination and we still have nothing. Maybe you should sleep with him." Stiles was hoping Terri would tell him she could never do that. He was letting Carolyn's words get to him. Terri couldn't believe he would even suggest that. She answered him in anger, although her voice remained calm.
"Well I would if I thought it would accomplish anything." Stiles couldn't believe what he heard. He just looked at her. How could she. Before either one of them could say another word, the phone rang and Terri answered it. "Hello"
"Terri"
"Brian, are you all right." Stiles picked up the other phone and listened. He told Terri he found a way to get what she needed just to follow his lead.
Stiles and Terri walked into the office. Brian shot himself in the head. Carolyn began to question Terri. "Why did he do this? "
Terri didn't know what to say. "I don't know."
"Did he call you?"
Stiles could tell Terri was in shock, he didn't want her to badger his wife anymore. In spite of what he was feeling, he was going to protect his wife. "Brian called me, he said you were trying to kill him."
"My husband told me what you said, that you suspected me and Brian of having an affair."
"Who cares."
Stiles asked her "So why did you kill him?"
Brian set it up perfectly, he wore a glove so there would be no residue. Terri walked over and took the glove off. "He really must have hated you." Terri told Carolyn.
"He was trying to frame me?"
They finally got down to business Stiles told her what they wanted, and she was eager to cooperate.
They replaced the guidance system with faulty ones. The mission was accomplished. Jackson and Holland stormed into Gage's office. The mole tipped off the North Koreans, they now knew about the switch.
Holland asked. "Where is Miss Lowell?"
"She is on a plane back from Montreal."
Terri and Stiles got on a plane back to DC. Stiles could tell Terri was upset. He didn't know what to say to her, again Stiles was misreading the whole thing. Why was Terri so upset about that loser was all he was thinking. Again he was letting his jealousy take control.
Terri was still upset that Stiles would even suggest she sleep with Brian to get the information. They hardly said two words to each other on the plane. In the privacy of their own home they would talk this out.
As they walked into the house Stiles put on a jogging suit. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going for a jog."
"Stiles we need to talk."
"Terri, I need a little time. I'll be back in a half hour." Stiles kissed Terri on the forehead. "I love you."
"Really." Terri walked into the other room. Stiles left he needed to clear his head. He loves Terri with all of his heart. If they had this discussion right now, they would just end up fighting and making it worse. Jogging always calmed him, it helped him get perspective.
After Stiles left Terri took out the home pregnancy test she bought. She should have started her period while they were in Montreal. She figured it was probably stress, but was hoping she was going to have a baby. She watched as the test formed a plus sign. She was pregnant. She couldn't help but smile. The phone rang. "Hello."
"Miss Lowell this is Owen Holland, I need you to come in and answer a few questions."
"Mr. Holland, I just got back from Montreal, can't this wait until morning."
"No."
"Ok, I'll be right there." Terri left Stiles a note about going in to talk to Holland.
Terri couldn't believe she was being accused of being the mole. It hurt even more that Jackson was sitting with Holland questioning her. Jackson asked if Carolyn could have doubled back and told the North Koreans. He was trying to protect Terri.
Holland showed her the autopsy report from Lin. He was killed with cobra venom. Terri was beginning to put things together.
Jackson could tell Terri was getting upset. "Terri no one is accusing you." She knew that wasn't true, she was definitely being accused.
Terri looked Holland in the eye. "Mr. Holland you've been here a long time, you know that in 1975 the Church commission ordered all the Cobra Venom be destroyed. We have much more sophisticated ways to kill someone today."
"In 1975 I imagine you were barely out of preschool. How do you know about the Church Commission? Did you read it in a book?"
It was all clear Terri went to Joshua's book club. "Can we talk?"
"I heard about your friend in Montreal. I'm sorry." Joshua began to tell her stories to try to make her feel better.
"Joshua I'm not here to talk about me." Terri began talking about the book. "Maybe they didn't want to see the truth maybe it was too painful."
She told Joshua about the autopsy report, she knew he had experimented with DMSO which was used on Lin, to absorb the cobra venom.
"I told Mr. Holland all of our cobra venom was destroyed in 1975."
"So it was."
"Are you sure?" Joshua stood up and walked away. "Joshua." Terri now knew the truth she looked at Joshua then walked away.
Terri got into her car and headed back to Langley. She called Holland and told them she needed to talk to him. All of a sudden her car was rear-ended. As Terri and the man were talking a police officer showed up. They shot him and put a gun on Terri. They tied her hands and put duct tape across her mouth. They threw her in the trunk of the car, and drove away with her.