A/N: Thanks for the feedback. My aim is to update once a week, but we'll have to see how that works out ;o)

5 A.M. C.A.T.

Kilmer sipped his second cup of coffee and tried to make himself more comfortable on the wooden chair. He glanced across the table at Frankie, surprised to see she was drinking water instead of coffee. He knew she must need the caffeine boost as much as he did, and was about to comment on it when Okapi spoke.

"I want to thank you again for coming out here on such short notice."

Kilmer told himself to stop thinking about Frankie. "To be honest, I'm not sure why my government has such an interest in keeping peace in a country as small as this."

Kilmer noticed Frankie attempt to hide her smile. He gave her a questioning look; she shook her head slightly and took another sip of water.

Okapi's tone was grave as he continued, "Kivu has a very violent history, Agent Kilmer. Corruption is the way of life here." He paused, and looked at Kilmer and Frankie in turn. "We tend to think of our problems as our problems, and prefer to handle them without outside interference."

"And yet here we are."

Frankie nudged Kilmer's knee with hers, silently urging him to be patient.

"Agent Kilmer, I see you're someone who likes to get to the point quickly." Though there was no one else in the hotel's restaurant, Okapi lowered his voice. "There have been reports of a terrorist training camp just inside the border near Rwanda."

"What kind of training camp?" Frankie asked. Though she and Kilmer already knew this much, they didn't have all the details.

"Al-Qaeda."

"In the middle of Africa?"

Okapi shrugged. "No one would think to look here, would they?"

"Hmm." Kilmer glanced at Frankie again, but her attention was fixed on Okapi. "Alright, where is this camp?"

"I'm not entirely sure. My informant is a very scared young man. What I do know is they're teaching them how to build explosives." Okapi picked up a Halliburton case and laid it on the table. He opened it, then turned it so Frankie and Kilmer could see the contents.

"They're training suicide bombers." Frankie looked at Kilmer. "He's right; no one would think to look here. Kuva's not even a Muslim state."

Kilmer was surprised at Frankie's apparent trust of Okapi. Usually he was inclined to believe where she was a little more cautious. He turned to the African. "Could we have a minute alone?"

"Of course." Okapi left the room.

Frankie leaned her elbow on the table, cupping her chin in her palm. "You don't trust him."

Kilmer frowned; was he that obvious?

"You forget how well I know you." Frankie smiled. "I think he's hiding something, but I don't think he's a threat."

"What about this?" Kilmer gestured to the Halliburton, and the vest inside.

"I don't know." Frankie rubbed at her eyes. "I've never been inside a terrorist training camp."

Kilmer bit back his smile. Frankie was irritable, which meant she was tired. It was going to be an interesting day. He slid his mug across the table. "Have some."

"No, thanks."

"You always drink coffee."

She arched an eyebrow. "John, we're in equatorial Africa. It's too hot for coffee."

He shrugged, reclaiming his mug. "So, what's the consensus? We trust Okapi, see if we can get to meet this mysterious contact of his?"

"Well, we could always go sightseeing instead."

Kilmer was about to respond when Okapi re-entered. He sat down and started speaking immediately.

"There is a hangar about fifty kilometers west. My informant tells me that the trainees often enter the country there. He will meet us there at seven."

Frankie looked at her watch; she'd set it to African time as soon as they had arrived. "Great. We've got a bit of time to rest."

She stood, smiled at Okapi, then exited. Okapi looked at Kilmer.

"You've worked together often?"

Kilmer nodded and thought, you don't know the half of it.

"She must be very brave, to do what she does. In Kivu, the women are not so . . ." Okapi gestured, casting about for the right word. When he couldn't find it, he shrugged. "The women here are more conservative. Agent Elroy will find it hard to blend in. Do you know if she brought a skirt or a dress?"

"Frankie? A skirt?" Kilmer shook his head. "It wouldn't be very practical."

But, Kilmer thought, remembering the black dress she'd worn at the club for a stakeout operation, she looked damn good in it. Then, deciding the conversation was taking him places he shouldn't go, he decided to turn it around.

"You speak excellent English. Where did you learn it?"

"I was schooled in South Africa."

"And how did you get involved with the CIA?"

Okapi smiled. "I'm sure you're aware that's classified, Agent Kilmer."

"I'm just curious." He stood; he could always get Jelani to find the information for him. "If you'll excuse me, it was a long flight. I'll see you in about an hour."

"Of course."

Kilmer left and climbed the stairs to his floor. He knocked on the door to the room he was sharing with Frankie. When there was no answer, he tried the handle. It opened, and he thought about telling Frankie she should have locked it. Then he realized she had the only key.

He closed the door behind him and stepped further into the room. Frankie was on the bed, fast asleep. Kilmer wondered if he dared lie down next to her. Deciding the risk was worth it, he slipped under the mosquito net and lay behind her.