Chapter Two: Mutual Trust
"Ge' down!" MacGyver shouted, attempting to push Purdey behind himself but succeeding only in stumbling dizzily and half falling.
But a smile had spread across Purdey's face. "Mike!"
The man relaxed, smiling half sheepishly as he returned the gun to its holster. "Purdey. You all right?"
"Of course."
"You two…know each other?" MacGyver managed, forcing himself to his feet and leaning unsteadily against the wall.
"Oh, sorry. MacGyver, Mike Gambit," Purdey introduced briefly. "Gambit's here to rescue me, but as usual he's a bit late."
She gave him a dazzling smile, and he reached out and pulled her to his side, quirking an eyebrow at her. "Seems to me there were a couple times I was just in time to save you from getting shot."
Purdey smiled indulgently, and Gambit shook his head, knowing she hated admitting she had to be rescued. "Who is he?" he asked in a low voice, nodding toward MacGyver.
"I don't know," Purdey admitted. "They threw him in the cell with me, so I assume he's on our side."
"Or their spy," Gambit said grimly.
"No," Purdey said firmly.
Gambit raised an eyebrow. "Women's intuition?"
"You should learn to trust it," Purdey insisted.
"I will when it stops losing me money on the race-track."
"That's entirely different," Purdey protested. "Besides, he's got concussion…if he was a spy they'd want him to have a clear head, wouldn't they?"
"Hey, guys? Hate to break up your reunion, but I think I hear someone comin'."
Gambit threw a quick glance over his shoulder down the corridor. "Right. Come on, mate." Pulling MacGyver's arm over his shoulder, he quickly led them back the way he had come.
They made it to the door without incident, and Gambit shifted MacGyver to lean on Purdey as he drew his gun and looked cautiously outside.
"Guard's just going by," he reported, drawing back instantly. "We'll wait till he passes again, then Purdey, I'll cover you while you run for the woods. After his second pass, you can cover me while I take him." He nodded toward MacGyver.
Purdey bit her lip. "There's one problem with that…they confiscated my gun."
Gambit sighed indulgently. "Should've guessed." Hitching up his pant leg, he pulled a gun from his boot and offered it to Purdey handle first. "Try not to lose it; I'm especially fond of that one."
"You're especially fond of all your guns," Purdey pointed out, unnecessarily checking to see that it was loaded before tucking it in her waistband.
"Wunnerful," MacGyver muttered. "I hate guns."
"Yes, but that one was a birthday present from someone very special," he reminded her with a significant wink, paying scant attention to MacGyver.
Purdey smiled, remembering the birthday in question. "If I lose it, I'll buy you another," she promised, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "Be careful, Mike."
"You, too, Purdey-girl."
The guard moved past again on his rounds, and then Purdey was running across the open area for the shelter of the trees as Gambit watched narrowly for anyone who might see her.
"Our turn next," he remarked to MacGyver, holstering his gun.
"Yeah," MacGyver managed, still leaning against the wall for support. "Better leave me; I'll jush' shlow ya down."
Gambit glanced sideways at him. "Not a chance," he said firmly. He watched for the guard to pass and Purdey's wave, then unceremoniously hoisted MacGyver over his shoulder and made his dash for the woods and safety.
MacGyver gasped in surprise, clutching futilely at Gambit's jacket. Then he was being set on his feet at the edge of the woods, and Purdey and Gambit together were urging him deeper in.
"Shtop…I'm gonna…" Breaking free of their helping hands, he stumbled a short distance away and fell to his hands and knees, retching.
Purdey and Gambit looked at each other, then politely moved out of sight before sitting down among the tree roots.
"If he's a spy, now's our chance to give him the slip," Gambit remarked.
Purdey glared at him. "Mike Gambit! I owe him; he's the one who got us out of that cell, despite his concussion, and I wouldn't leave a sick man alone out here, anyway. Besides, did you hear his accent; he's American."
Gambit shrugged. "If the other side can have operatives who give the impression of being British, I don't know why they couldn't have American ones. But maybe it's just as well to have him where we can keep an eye on him, anyway."
Purdey scowled. "I know what it is, Gambit; you're jealous! You just wanted to rescue me yourself."
Gambit grinned and winked devilishly. "Did you get the papers?" he questioned.
Purdey shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't have a chance."
She looked up sharply at the sound of someone's approach, and saw MacGyver stagger to lean against a tree, his face dead white. "You look terrible!"
"Yeah…thanks." He glanced down through half-lidded eyes as if wanting to sit but fearing he would fall if he attempted it.
Gambit jumped to his feet and put an arm around MacGyver's shoulders. "Here, mate, better sit down," he encouraged, gently easing him to the ground.
"Thanks," MacGyver murmured, leaning his head back against the tree.
"Have another peppermint?" Purdey offered solicitously.
"Yeah…thanks."
Purdey nudged Gambit hard as she passed him. "See?" she hissed. "No way he's faking!"
Gambit winced, rubbing his arm theatrically. "Okay, they've never seen me, so I'll go back in after the papers," he decided aloud.
"Long'sh you're goin' back in…do me a favor?"
"What is it?" Gambit asked cautiously.
"I was after a little blue box…'bout so big." He framed the shape with his hands. "Saw it on the desk just before they got me…'preciate it if ya'd bring it out without openin' it."
Gambit frowned. "I assume you are an American agent?"
"Yeah…DXS," he slurred. He fumbled at his pocket and pulled out his wallet, letting it fall to the ground between them. "ID'sh behind licensh…if they didn't take it."
Gambit leaned over to pick up the wallet, finding the ID where MacGyver had indicated. "Looks okay," he admitted, handing the wallet back.
"How 'bout you?" MacGyver countered, holding the wallet without attempting to put it back in his pocket.
"British intelligence," Gambit replied, pulling out his own ID card and handing it to MacGyver.
MacGyver stared at it for a moment, then gave up and offered it back without really seeing it.
Purdey gave a soft snort of impatience. "If we all trust each other now, shall we get on with it?"
Gambit flashed a quick grin. "Right," he agreed. "I'll go in after the papers and MacGyver's blue box; you take him down to the car and wait for me there. If I'm not there in an hour, you leave without me."
Purdey's eyes glinted. "Would you leave without me, Mike Gambit?"
"No," Gambit admitted freely, "but that's different."
Purdey's jaw set stubbornly, and Gambit knew there was no point in arguing. "I'll be there in an hour," he promised instead. "Come on, mate, let's get you up." Reaching down, he offered a hand and hauled MacGyver to his feet. "Will you be all right to walk?" he asked as MacGyver accepted Purdey's shoulder to lean on.
"Yeah," MacGyver murmured, managing to scowl at Gambit. "Be better than bein' carried upside down."
Gambit grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that; it was the only way to get you out fast and keep my gun hand free."
"Shall I cover you into the building?" Purdey offered.
"No, thanks; I'll take the long way round and sneak in. You'd better start on down; it'll take you a while with him. MacGyver, don't let her come in after me."
MacGyver raised both eyebrows in surprise. "Do my bes'."
Purdey looked pointedly at her watch. "One hour, Gambit," she said icily.
Next chapter coming next week!
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