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.

Sleeper

"Right, that should do it." Gambit straightened up and found himself at eye level with a pair of shapely, crossed legs. He grinned and added, "Do you want to come over and inspect the workmanship?"

Purdey looked up from the magazine she had spread out on the kitchen table. "Not while you're down there. I think you'd be the one doing the inspecting."

"You're the one who asked me over to fix your door," Gambit pointed out. "Not the other way around."

"Yes, but only because you were the one who broke it in the first place," Purdey reminded, uncrossing her legs with a bit of a flourish that Gambit thought wasn't strictly necessary; he had a sneaking suspicion she was teasing him. "If you learned to use a doorknob like a civilised human being, instead of attacking every door you encounter with your foot, you could have saved yourself a few pounds and your morning off."

"I was worried about you," Gambit said mildly, gathering up his tools and collecting the bits of rubbish that had been the packaging for the new latch. "The whole city was asleep, and you weren't answering."

"That's because I was on my way to see you." Purdey rose and Gambit watched her high heels traverse the few steps from the kitchen to her front door, in front of which he was currently sprawled.

"Which we would have known, if you hadn't locked yourself out of your own flat to begin with," Gambit teased. She was standing very close to where he was sitting now, and he could make out a faint swirl pattern on her pale pink stockings. He wondered idly how they'd feel against his palms. "Don't tell me you didn't try to kick in your own door before you headed over to mine?"

"Stop trying to change the subject," Purdey said tartly. She turned the latch and swung the door open and closed a few times experimentally, nearly hitting Gambit with it in the process. He scooted over just in time to avoid being banged in the hip, not at all accidentally. "The last fittings were only a few months old," she bemoaned, finally swinging the door shut with a click. "They were changed the last time my door was kicked in," she added pointedly.

Gambit raised his hands in surrender. "That was Steed, not me. Did you call him in to play handyman?"

"I didn't have to. He paid for a locksmith to do it." Purdey crossed her arms and smiled sardonically down at him. "But then he's not mean, mean, mean."

"It's not mean to do it yourself if you're up to the job," Gambit defended, climbing to his feet. "I'm good with my hands."

Purdey caught his cheeky wink and resisted the urge to smile. "Yes, so the typing pool keeps saying."

"I'm willing to demonstrate, if you don't believe me," Gambit offered, stepping in that much closer.

"Yes, I'm sure you are," Purdey said wryly. "Go on, then. What else do you have in your toolbox?"

"What else do I have…?" Gambit said faintly, eyes dancing, and he knew he didn't imagine the way Purdey's own big blue orbs were glinting in the early morning light. "You might be surprised."

"Oh yes?" Purdey said, that secretive little smile of hers in full bloom. She reached out and smoothed some of the wrinkles in Gambit's shirt. Then she leaned in, her voice a husky whisper, and said, "Well, then, why don't we start with…?" Gambit could feel his breath catch in his throat, Purdey's perfume drowning his senses. "The loo," Purdey finished, in much a different tone. "It keeps running on and off."

Gambit froze, felt a grimace twist his lips. "The loo?" Purdey nodded cheerfully in confirmation. "Right. Anything else you need doing while you're at it? Cracked tile, plugged drain, cupboards need repainting?"

"Let's start with the loo," Purdey pronounced, patting Gambit's arm condescendingly. "I'll make you a cup of tea, how does that sound?"

"Fine, if you make it coffee," Gambit sighed resignedly, seeing his weekend disappear before his eyes. Purdey had successfully turned his flirting into an excuse to get some free work done around the place, and she knew as well as he did that he was powerless to resist.

"Done," Purdey agreed, turning on her heel and heading for the kitchen.

"And a sandwich?" Gambit added hopefully, bending to retrieve his toolbox.

Purdey shot him a look over her shoulder. "Don't push it."

Gambit shrugged cheekily. "I work better on a full stomach."

Purdey narrowed her eyes a little. "Maybe," she allowed, which was as good as a 'yes' in Purdey-speak. She would have cut him down right away otherwise. "But that depends on your workmanship."

"Aye, aye, ma'am." Gambit treated her to an elaborate navy salute. "I'll get right to it."

That set Purdey laughing in spite of herself, and Gambit found himself chuckling along as he headed for the bathroom. On second thought, being alone with Purdey in her flat all weekend sounded like the best way to spend his time off that he could think of.

"Before you go," Purdey asserted suddenly, abandoning the boiling coffee and pulling open a drawer. She extracted something small and tossed it to him. "Catch."

Gambit did, one-handed, other hand full of tools. He examined it with interest. It was a small silver key. He regarded Purdey inquisitively.

"It's to my flat. So that I don't need another new lock next week." Her hands were on her hips in that no-nonsense way that told him she was trying to keep things professional. "And before you get a swelled head, Steed's getting one as well. I can't imagine what the neighbours think, with men kicking down my door at all hours."

"If only it was a little closer to the truth," Gambit said wistfully, then held up the key in acknowledgement. "Thanks, Purdey."

Purdey arched an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For trusting me," Gambit said frankly, tucking the slip of metal into his pocket. "I'd return the favour, but you already have one to mine."

Purdey blinked in surprise at the recollection. "I do," she said, half to herself. "I've had it since April. You gave it to me when we barely knew each other." She frowned in confusion. "How did you know you could trust me with it?"

Gambit smiled and shrugged, already en route to the bathroom. "I just did. Let me know when the coffee's ready."

Purdey stood alone in the kitchen and realised that she'd just been paid a rather large compliment. She smiled to herself and turned her attention to the coffee.