Chapter Twelve: Across the Channel

"Uh-oh."

"'Uh-oh'?" Purdey protested. "We're flying over the Channel; you can't say 'uh-oh'!"

"Sorry," MacGyver offered. "But this dial seems stuck…" He tapped the offending instrument with a finger.

"How are you at flying blind?" Gambit questioned.

"Decent, I guess. But it's not just the gauge; she's not responding like she should be. Try your controls, co-pilot."

"Yeah…it does seem a bit sluggish," Gambit admitted.

"All right; take over for me while I try to find out what the problem is. Purdey, look in the back and see how we're fixed for parachutes and flotation devices…just in case."

As Purdey quickly disappeared to do as he asked, MacGyver dove beneath the seats and began unscrewing the panel with his knife. When she returned a moment later with the news that there didn't seem to be any such items on board, he was only half visible as he burrowed deeply into the mass of cables. "Any luck?" she questioned, choosing not to mention her own lack of it just yet.

"Yeah," MacGyver grunted. "Think I found the problem." Worming a hand free, he dug deeply into his pocket for a moment before plunging once more into the tangle.

"How's that, Gambit?" he questioned, his voice slightly muffled.

"Better," Gambit told him. "The gauge is still stuck, but the controls are responding."

"Good." Emerging from the plane's innards, he paused to screw the panel back on before pulling himself up by the arm of the seat and dropping into it. "Knew that heel of yours might come in handy," he remarked.

Purdey blinked. "You fixed the plane with my shoe heel?"

"Just a patch job," MacGyver cautioned. "But it'll hold till we're over land…I hope," he added under his breath.

"That's good, because I didn't find anything back there."

MacGyver grimaced slightly, but didn't comment.

"You have grease on your face," Purdey told him.

MacGyver pulled out a handkerchief and swiped at his face. "Better?"

Gambit snorted, glancing at him. "No; you've made it worse."

"Here, let me," Purdey told him, taking the cloth from his hand and spitting delicately in the corner of it before scrubbing the black smear from his cheek. "There; that's better."

"Want to take over, captain?" Gambit offered.

"Don't mind if I do," MacGyver agreed, folding the handkerchief with the grease on the inside before shoving it in his pocket and taking over the controls.

oOo

The rest of the flight over the Channel was smooth and uneventful.

"There's England!" Purdey exulted as the shoreline drew closer below them.

"Hope they don't shoot us down for German spies," MacGyver muttered.

"German spies would have stolen a British airplane," Gambit retorted.

"Likely," MacGyver admitted. "What's our heading, copilot?"

"Bear a little south…or I could take the controls."

"Go ahead," MacGyver told him.

As they began flying over the English countryside, the radio crackled to life. "German aircraft, please identify yourself."

"I know that voice!" Purdey exclaimed.

Gambit grinned. "Bill Murray," he agreed, reaching to press the radio switch. "Murray, it's Gambit."

"Mike Gambit?" Murray asked in disbelief. "What are you doing in a German plane?"

"Escaping from Germany," Gambit said dryly. "Can you give us clearance to land at Heathrow?"

"Right-o, mate."

"And do me a favor; call Steed and have him meet us."

"Roger."

"Thanks. Gambit over and out."

"Friend of yours?" MacGyver questioned.

"He used to fly for the Ministry, until he was grounded due to injuries. He's civilian now, but still one of the best."

oOo

"Steed!" Purdey cried, leaving the plane to run to a slightly older gentleman, embracing him and kissing his cheek. Though his left hand also bore a ring, MacGyver saw nothing romantic in their affection, but merely the warmth of a girl with a man who was like a father to her, and guessed that this was not Purdey's husband.

"Welcome back, Purdey," Steed told her. "I assume you two got it?"

Gambit patted his jacket. "Right here."

"Good. Who's your friend?"

"Oh, sorry; John Steed, MacGyver. Mac's an American agent; he was thrown in the same cell as Purdey, and helped her escape."

"He took a hard knock on the head, Steed, we should have Dr Kendrick look at him," Purdey added.

"No, I'm all right," MacGyver insisted. He smiled sheepishly, patting his pockets as if searching for something. "I will need your help, though…"

"Anyone who rescues Purdey deserves all the help we can give," Steed offered. "What's the problem?"

"They took my passport; you're gonna have to pull strings with your people to get me home."

Next chapter coming next week!

A/N: All right, so that was cheating… I wanted something to be wrong with the plane, but I didn't know what, and I wanted Mac to use Purdey's shoe heel to fix something, but didn't know what…so I just put the two unknowns together and left it at that! Barbie

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have only minimal internet access, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. (But they are much appreciated, even if you're reading this story long after I originally post it!) If you have questions regarding my MacGyver or Avengers alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie