The Mission From Hell
Chapter 4
"Busted"
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker


The cold wind whistled through the dark and spacious warehouse, mingling with the muffled grunts and nervous whines that emanated from the multitude of thick wooden crates spread haphazardly throughout the building. Besides the occasional ruffling of paper from the biting wind, the only movement was the random nervous shuffle of feet as the guards strategically placed throughout the complex scanned their stations warily. Everything else was eerily still and silent through the harbor... that is, except for one dimly lit room situated in the far corner of this particular warehouse, out of sight and out of mind from the rest of the world.

In this cramped room, several voices swelled together in agitated tones, every once in a while, one being able to be heard above the rest. Inside the small quarters, a meeting took place between the heads of this entire covert operation, and it was quickly coming to a peak.

"Gentlemen please, we're getting no where with all this bickering. I understand that last night was a closer call than we all would've liked, but that doesn't give us reason to bicker and decide who to pin the blame on." A tall man called out loudly over the five or so other voices, and the other men looked up at him begrudgingly.

Another man nodded, this one much shorter, but much more burly. He stood to his feet, speaking out in a gruff voice. "Jackson's got a point here. Let's quit with the arguing and try to find a way to catch whoever's trying to sabotage us."

One called out against this man. "Well, if surveillance hadn't been so lax, we might've already had them by now."

Several angry voices rose up at that comment in both protest and agreement, and Jackson called out in a booming voice for silence. The burly man who had been cut off nodded to him and continued, gaze turning to a lanky fellow with glasses and a fidgety air about him. "Bill, you were supposed to get in contact with our sources in the British Ministry of Magic. Did they tell you anything?"

The man nodded, hastily pulling out a bundle of papers and rustling through them as he spoke up, the other members listening intently. "Yes, though they couldn't find much. All they know is that the Brit Ministry sent out two agents to help the American Ministry, and ours don't know it."

One man impatiently cut him off, waving his hands irritably. "We know that already, and Gordon's supposed to be here with the list from the airport about people fitting that description that have taken up residence in Boston. Tell us something we don't know."

A swell of grumbles arose, but the fidgety man spoke out louder before they could progress. "Yes, but they also just found out that it's a British man and woman, strongly thought to be a couple, that has arrived approximately two weeks ago."

A renewed wave of comments washed over the excited group of head officers, and Jackson called out to a Bill. "Go find Gordon and narrow down the list with what new information we got. I want to see the list in fifteen minutes."

The man nodded, hastily rising and rushing out of the door with his papers. A fellow leaning back in his chair called out with cockiness. "I hope you have a plan once we find these couples. I'm fighting these damn Muggle port officials enough as it is with the delays we've had due to these agents. We have to start shipping out the beasts soon, or they're gonna get suspicious and start sending their poor excuse for law enforcement in. I can only take these magicless buffoons for only so long."

"Don't worry about that, I got a group of our own tactical espionage experts standing by in case something like this arose. I can have our targets brought in almost as soon as I send my boys out." Another more serious member spoke out with confidence.

Jackson nodded, though warned him. "We'll see... we're not sure exactly what we're up against yet. So far they've managed to elude us quite efficiently..."

"My, you seem to have lost a lot of confidence since these guys started hitting us Jackson. Not getting soft are we." A man taunted dangerously, and Jackson narrowed his eyes angrily as he hissed.

"I'd be careful of what you say Francis, lest you find yourself working the docks with the rest of the crew hands. And you know I can do that, I know you're boss, we're pretty good friends."

Francis glared at him challengingly, but didn't comment as Bill rushed back in with a single sheet of paper, handing it to the burly man who stepped out from the table.

All quieted as the man read it over quickly, looking up and speaking aloud. "There's only two couples who fit the descriptions that have recently taken up residence in Boston, and we have their exact locations down."

A murmur of approval washed across the table of men and Jackson smirked as he commented. "Good. We shall soon find who are little mice are, and then we shall send out the cats."

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Severus awoke in the morning, groaning as he shoved Alexis off of him, in serious need of a bathroom. He stumbled toward the bathroom and made it just in time. He walked out of the bathroom feeling a bit more relieved until he looked to see that Alexis had gotten up and his ears picked up a noise in the kitchen.
"Good lord, she's gonna try to cook!" Severus thought as he scrambled out to the kitchen. He sighed as he witnessed her making herself a bowl of cereal. Composing himself the best he could in his pajamas, he nodded to her and walked over to the kitchen to try and find something edible for him to silence his rumbling stomach with. Deciding that he wanted toast, he pulled out the toaster and made himself some toast. He noted that the apartment was a mess and he immediately decided that today would be spent cleaning. Besides, he needed to get clean laundry. He stood and ate his toast, thankfully downing a cup of coffee out of the pot that Alexis had brewed. She had massed the art of making coffee as well. Chalk one more up for her achievements... He thought smugly to himself, seeing her put her dishes on top of the other dishes there from last night's dinner, which had been spaghetti.

"So what are we doing today?" Alexis asked him and he smirked at her, shaking his head.

"We are cleaning house." He stated as he walked back toward the bedroom.

"Wh- What?" She asked him and he shook his head.

"I'll get laundry started, you aren't allowed to do that anymore after the bleaching fiasco, so you can get started on doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen." Severus told her and she whined at him.

"But I wanted to watch Mission Impossible 2!" She called and he shook his head at her.

"Well, I don't like to live in a pigsty and I didn't make all this mess. You are cleaning. Now get to the dishes." He told her as he walked into the bathroom and grabbed the dirty clothesbasket. He watched her stomp into the kitchen as he walked out onto the back porch/balcony thing. He opened the laundry room door and shivered, damning himself for not grabbing his coat. He separated the clothes and put a light load in first, purposely not touching Alexis's underclothes but maneuvering them into the washer. He turned it on and turned to walk out of the room and then he saw it. A glimmer of something in the apartment across the street, even with their own. He swore for a minute that he saw a spyglass, but now it was a darkened empty window. Shrugging and assuming he had not gotten over last night's near discovery, he walked back into the apartment, shivering.

"What took you so damn long? How do I get this out of the bottom of the pan?" Alexis whined at him and Severus sighed, seeing the grease in the pan had hardened.

"Elbow grease." He told her and gestured for her to scrub. After that he walked into the bedroom and made the bed, noting that it had not been made since they arrived. He shook his head began to pick up random napkins or whatever else Alexis had had in her pockets and she decided to toss on the floor. After dumping his handfuls into the garbage can he went to check on Alexis. She was clearing off the table of its mess of cups and he shrugged, heading to straighten up the living room. As Alexis finished the kitchen, he called out to her.

"You've got bathroom too." He yelled and Alexis stomped into the room, now wearing his sweatshirt and jacket.

"WHAT? What about you? I'm not your maid you know." She hollered and Severus shook his head.

"I cleaned the bedroom, the living room, which by the way, no more popcorn on the couch for you, and am doing the laundry. You can manage the kitchen and bathroom." He told her and she shook her head at him, glaring with anger.

"You got the easy jobs! How hard is it to do laundry?" Alexis pouted and he shook his head.

"Very hard when you have to go outside in the cold to do it." He told her and she thought about that a moment.

"Fine, but next time, I get the living room and the bedroom and you get my jobs." She pouted and he shook his head, walking toward the backdoor.

"Whatever. And don't forget to clean the shower." He told her as he left the slightly warmer living room for the back porch. He opened the laundry room door and switched the laundry over to the dryer and put the other load in the dryer. He was disgruntled that Alexis truly had only brought warmer weather clothes.

"Great, now I have to take her shopping." Severus snarled as he turned and this time he knew he saw a spyglass. He shook his head and pretended to look over the edge of the porch, actually looking toward the dark apartment window.

It's just some nosy American brat... Severus told himself as he went inside. He spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning behind Alexis and finishing the laundry.

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Alexis grumbled to herself as she grabbed the cleaning supplies from under the bathroom, wondering why she had to clean the bathroom. "I understand the laundry argument, but the bedroom and living room? What kind of chore is that? I get stuck with dishes, cleaning counters, now mirrors, bathtub... damn... I should be getting paid for this bloody nonsense..."

Alexis growled darkly, spraying down the mirror, then drawing a Snape look-alike with vampire teeth and horns in the suds. Snickering to herself, she wiped it clean, tossing the dirty paper towels in the trash like a basketball player.

She decided to go through the cabinet behind the mirror, seeing that Severus had actually taken the time put stuff in there. She found a bottle of cologne, opening it and smelling it warily. She drew back with a disgusted look, capping it and quickly putting it back, mentally remarking on his bad taste in scents.

She sighed with boredom, sitting down on the edge of the bathtub and picking up the shampoo bottles and soap, wondering to herself. "Hmm... Wonder if I pour this all over the tub... no, he'd probably break his neck when he falls..."

She put the bottles up on the shower rack, spraying the walls with cleaner and scrubbing them with a yawn and taking her time as much as possible. She heard a cough and turned to the doorway, seeing Severus standing there with a raised eyebrow.

"What, need me to mop and wax the floors now?" Alexis asked sarcastically, and Severus rolled his eyes as he spoke. "No, I'm needing you to get out of here so I can finish cleaning the bathroom."

Alexis looked at him in confusion, speaking curiously. "But, that's what I'm doing..."

"Not any more. Don't question me, you can go unpack the rest of your clothes that have been sitting in your suitcase for two weeks now." Severus told her, not looking at her as he took the cleaning supplies from her and pushed her out of the bathroom. Alexis shook her head as she left the bathroom and plopped down on the bed, taking out the contents of her suitcase, guessing now would be the best time to.

Presently she finished that, and Severus walked in from the bathroom. Alexis smiled at him, jumping up and rubbing her hands together. "Good! Now that we're done, we can go watch Mission Impossible 2!"
She skipped out of the room happily, Severus grumbling behind her as he trudged after her, Alexis plopping on the couch as she flicked on the television. Severus plopped down onto the couch beside her, shaking his head.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Geesh, you act like you want to do chores. Just enjoy the show."

"How can they make a sequel to a movie that leaves nothing at the end to add on to?" Severus criticized and Alexis shook her head.

"It's called imagination. Now shut up. You might learn something. And then after this, we can watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and I also rented..."

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After eight hours of mind-numbing movies about spies and/or action heroes, Severus was done. He had already thought of picking up the television and throwing it at Alexis, the wall, just throwing it in general, but he realized that in doing so he would have no way to shut her up later. Taking their teacups and placing them on the coffee table he prepared his escape from TV land. He looked at Alexis and shook his head as the credits for yet another James Bond movie, rolled down the screen.

"I think it is time for me to crash. And I can't sleep with the television on." He stated as he yawned, getting up from the couch. Alexis looked at him and rolled her eyes.

"But we didn't even get to watch 'Monty Python and The Quest for the Holy Grail'!" Alexis whined and Severus shook his head, turning the television off. Alexis got up and pouted, shaking her head.

"Spoil sport." She growled at him and he ignored her, locking the front door. Alexis turned off the light as he went to the back door, intent on locking it. He looked up from locking the door and saw the glint of metal again in that same blasted window. And this time, there was a fully armed man behind it and he could sense a watching spell being worked. Severus stood up and turned to Alexis who was crossing the room to the bedroom door. He quickly moved toward her and pushed her back against the wall, his hand on her waist as he faced his back to the back door.

"What th-" She began and he silenced her.

"Shh... We are being watched." He spoke lowly, his lips right next to her ear. She froze and nodded her head slightly that she understood.

"Where?" She asked and he sighed, not liking his proximity to her.

"In the apartment across the way from ours. They are wizards, I felt a watching spell." Severus told her lowly once again, her hair in his face.

"Damn it. For how long?" Alexis questioned, trying to look over his shoulder but he blocked her view on purpose. It would not bode well for the effect he was about to create if she blatantly looked their direction.

"Since this morning. I didn't realize they were spies until I felt the spell." Severus replied and Alexis turned to look at him seriously.

"Ok, and why are we this close to each other?" She questioned and Severus sighed at her, actually making her shiver from his breath.

"For one, it keeps them from thinking I am informing you, and for two, it looks as if I am whispering 'sweet nothings' in your ear." He told her, putting it as bluntly as he possible could manage, She tensed and he shook his head.

"Don't ever say that again." Alexis told him and he nodded in agreement.

"So what do we do? Attack them?" Alexis questioned and if Severus weren't creating a visual effect he would have smacked his forehead.

"We were told no confrontation unless circumstances are dire. As for what we are going to do, you are going to smile at me and walk back to the bedroom and change into your pajamas. Then, you are going to crawl into bed and lay down. I'm going to do the 'manly' last check of the locks on the doors and come to bed. Then we are going to have to... cuddle... As much as I distaste it, I fear that they are watching our actions through the walls. Are we clear on the plan?" Severus asked lowly and Alexis nodded her head at him. Severus backed away from Alexis, letting his hand slowly let go of her waist and she smiled at him and walked out of the room. He walked over to the front door and made sure it was locked and then did the same to the back door and all the windows. He could see his breath in the house and shivered a bit. He walked back to the bedroom, grabbing his pajamas and headed to the bathroom. He took his time getting changed, trying to figure out how they were going to survive with the apartment being supervised by, what he assumed was, the target.

He walked out of the bathroom, turning off the lights and he crawled into the bed. To his surprise Alexis immediately curled up to him as he lay on his back and he put his arm around her back, holding back the shiver and the grimace. He looked at Alexis, who made a mind connection with him.

(This is all kinds of messed up man...) Alexis told him and he nodded his head, grimacing at the sheer thought of what he was about to do, but he knew he had to. He leaned over and kissed Alexis's forehead softly.

"Goodnight Lindsey, get some sleep." Severus told her as she tensed up against him, probably shocked out of her wits.

"Night Harry. Sweet Dreams." She played along and he mentally laughed. Oh yes, sweet dreams knowing that there are men watching us and I have to act like I like being this close to you... Oh yes, sweet dreams... Severus sighed as he glanced over by the head of the bed, seeing the shape of a baseball bat handle nearby. He knew having Alexis bring that along was a good idea. He also knew that if need be, his wand was right under him under the mattress. He sighed, feeling very insecure for once and tried to go to sleep. Alexis somehow managed to go to sleep like this and he soon followed her thereafter.

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Alexis was grudgingly going towards the bedroom, although she wasn't tired and was in the perfect mood for watching Monty Python. But nooo, Severus has to go and ruin all the fun... finally get the chance to watch TV, and he wants to sleep!

She glared after him as he went past her to lock the back doors, shaking her head at his paranoia. That's okay; I'll make him watch all the Monty Python movies I can find by the end of this mission... I guarantee it... Alexis thought with a smirk, but that vanished as Severus was suddenly in front of her, shoving her back against the wall, his face mere inches from hers. And she swore his hand was on her hip. She tensed, having to fight from lashing out with a punch as she hissed in confusion. "What the-" Severus, a dead serious look on his face, shushed her and replied quietly, moving his head to the side of hers, making her all the more nervous. "Shh... We are being watched."

Alexis froze; dread building in her chest along with a growing anger as she nodded imperceptivity, relaxing a little as she asked. "Where?"

"In the apartment across the way from ours. They are wizards, I felt a watching spell." He told her softly and Alexis felt stupid for not noticing anything before. Good thing he did, or we'd probably be busted pretty badly by now...

"Damn it. For how long?" She asked, moving slightly to the side, but Severus moved his shoulder, keeping his head beside her and not letting her look past him as he replied softly.

"Since this morning. I didn't realize they were spies until I felt the spell."

She sighed, looking to Severus, getting pretty uncomfortable with their bodies barely a few inches apart. "Ok, and why are we this close to each other?"

She asked him quietly, and he sighed, his warm breath on her cold neck making her shiver involuntarily.

"For one, it keeps them from thinking I am informing you, and for two, it looks as if I am whispering 'sweet nothings' in your ear." He said simply, and Alexis mentally cringed. She never would've imagined Severus would ever say something like that and refer to her. And she knew why, it was downright disturbing.

"Don't ever say that again." Alexis ordered in total seriousness, and Severus nodded with agreement.

"So what do we do? Attack them?" She asked, trying to get her mind off that disturbing picture Severus had portrayed.

"We were told no confrontation unless circumstances are dire. As for what we are going to do, you are going to smile at me and walk back to the bedroom and change into your pajamas. Then, you are going to crawl into bed and lay down. I'm going to do the 'manly' last check of the locks on the doors and come to bed. Then we are going to have to... cuddle... As much as I distaste it, I fear that they are watching our actions through the walls. Are we clear on the plan?" Severus asked lowly and Alexis nodded, knowing she was going have to put her renowned acting abilities into play perfectly now. Severus nodded, backing away from her, his hand slowly slipping off her waist, making her feel even more violated. But Alexis bit it back and smiled sweetly at him, slipping away from him and calmly sauntering into the bedroom as Severus walked back towards the doors to 'check' them. More manly... where'd he come up with that? Alexis thought changed into her pajamas in the bathroom, shaking her head and also wondering how the hell this was going to eventually work out. They were supposed to be spying on them! What was wrong with this picture!

She finished dressing, crawling into the bed and yawning, pretending to stretch comfortably and lay on the bed tiredly, when in fact she was wide awake and ready to jump to the defense if need be. Severus finished changing in the bathroom and crawled into the bed, and Alexis remembered what he said and curled up beside him as if it were a normal occurrence, even though what she really wanted was to jump away and go sleep on the couch, regardless the cold.

She tried not to tense too much as he put his arm around her, and he looked down at her, and she spoke along the mind connection with unconcealed disgust. (This is all kinds of messed up man...)

He nodded in silent agreement and then did something that shocked her to the point of a stupor. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, whispering quietly. "Goodnight Lindsey, get some sleep."

She tensed up in his arms, fighting to stay put as she forced out. "Night Harry. Sweet Dreams."

Just pretend it's Ron you're sleeping next to... that's all... a bigger, paler, sarcastic Ron... it's not too hard... no, not at all... my god, I'm going to kill every last one of them in the Auror department after this... It'd be worth going to Azkaban for...

Alexis thought as she closed her eyes, laying her head against Severus's chest and falling into an uneasy and fitful sleep.


Imagine how this is going to turn out... I mean come one, remember, DS is working on this too...
And yeah I can update...
Chao peeps,

EckoStalker