In 26

Disclaimer: I don't own The New Avengers, nor the characters of Mike Gambit, Purdey, and John Steed. They're the property of The Avengers (Film and TV) Enterprises. This story is written for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Gnaws

"A giant rat," Gambit muttered under his breath, as the trio cut a grim path through the sewers in search of an exit.

"I did warn you," Steed reminded, neatly sidestepping a patch of slime.

Gambit passed a hand over his brow. "I know, but…a giant rat? And I thought the man-eating plant I read about in the files was far-fetched."

"I'll have you know that that plant was very real, and very voracious," Steed defended, offering a helping hand to Purdey to negotiate the same patch of slimy cement. She smiled her thanks but leapt nimbly over it without incident. She'd somehow managed to keep her pink ankle-strapped heels, and indeed her entire floral ensemble, unsoiled, despite having left her wellies behind on this particular sojourn. "It took several years before I could look a Venus flytrap in the eye."

Gambit was still shaking his head in disbelief, as though he hadn't quite heard Steed. "I used to see rats all the time when I was aboardship, Some of them were massive. I thought that was as big as they could get. But that one…"

"To be fair, this one didn't grow to its impressive stature living on hardtack alone," Steed pointed out mildly.

Purdey was also thoughtful. "It's funny when you think about it."

"Hilarious," Gambit said dryly.

"I mean," Purdey went on, ignoring Gambit, "I've always rather liked rats. I know they're not exactly sanitary, but they actually make quite good pets. They're very intelligent."

"Perhaps we ought to have offered this one a position in Westminster," Steed suggested mildly, hooking his umbrella over a rung of a nearby ladder and peering inquisitively up into the blackness at the manhole cover above. "It might have had some innovative ideas to address the state of economy."

Gambit cracked a grin at that. "Wouldn't be the first politician to be called a rat…Purdey, where are you going?"

Purdey was halfway down a side tunnel before she turned and put her hands on her hips impatiently. "Obviously, someone has to check on Chislenko."

"Ah, yes, our Russian friend. He proved quite helpful in the end. We might not have reached you in time if not for him." Steed nodded at Gambit. "Go with her. These sewers are rather too well-populated for my liking." He caught Purdey's scowl, but was unmoved. "I'll feel better if you're together."

Gambit touched the handle of the gun in his holster. "And have a gun that can stop a tank at 20 paces."

"Yes, it did perform quite admirably, even if it did take two shots to put down our furry friend. You'll have to ring the manufacturer and tell them to adjust their boast for giant rat encounters." Steed started up the ladder, then glanced down at his colleague. "You will be all right?" he queried. "Watching over the corpse? I know it's rather unnerving."

Gambit's grin was broad this time. "I'll stay down here all night if it means seeing the look on McBain's face when he gets a look at it."

Steed laughed hard enough that he almost lost his grip on the ladder. "His paperwork will certainly make for interesting reading. I'll see you later."