Hi, sorry for the enormous gap between updates!! I've been literally drowning in homework! But here it is, it's a bit short, but i don't know when I'll be able to put the next one up, so it's better than nothing, i guess. Sorry again for the long gap and pathetically short chapter :(
Yassen span Wolf's gun in his hand, sending it spinning in quick circles around his finger, which he had inserted into the trigger guard. It was slightly heavier than his own and sat awkwardly in his hand. Sighing, he walked to the wardrobe and opened the door. He entered the seven digit code to open his solid steel gun cabinet and shoved Wolf's and his gun inside, locking it securely again.
He walked slowly to the door and looked along the hall. He could see Wolf's silhouette against the window; the younger man was standing by the glass, apparently lost in thought. Yassen turned away and tucked the key to the door behind a picture hanging on the wall, trusting the darkness and the weight of the frame to keep it hidden if Wolf were to come in.
He paused, suddenly realising that he was risking his life by taking Wolf in. If the SAS man decided that he wanted out, it would be pretty easy to sneak up and kill Yassen while he slept. Wolf was stockier than Yassen, slightly shorter but much more powerfully built.
Yassen swore softly; if he was going to make sure he was safe, he'd have to pretty much make himself a prisoner in his own house. And while Wolf had contacts and resources that he didn't, it seemed to be too much of a sacrifice.
He watched as Wolf walked back to the sofa and lay down, disappearing into the darkness. Yassen shook his head; Wolf had lost about two or three pints of blood and only had one useable arm, he wasn't a threat. All the same…
He pushed the door shut and wedged a chair under the handle. It wouldn't keep Wolf out if he wanted to get in, but it would give Yassen enough warning to get ready. He might be slimmer than Wolf, but he had infinitely more experience and was much faster. Satisfied that he wasn't in danger of being killed during the night, at least not any more than he was normally, he fell back on the bed and fell asleep fully clothed.
Meanwhile, Wolf rolled off the sofa, holding his wounded arm against his chest, and padded silently to Yassen's door. He heard the bed creak as the Russian lay down. The man had saved his life, but he was still, technically, the enemy. Wolf rolled his eyes, struggling with the conflicting signals from the training and his instincts. The training told him to go in there and eliminate the threat, while his instincts told him that Yassen had saved his life once, and spared it once that day, so he didn't want him dead.
After a brief internal struggle, Wolf stepped away from the door. Instinct had won. He walked back into the sitting room and closed the door, wincing as his arm slid a little over his chest. Lying down on the sofa, he propped his shoulder against the arm and settled down to sleep.
The light pouring in through the window was blinding when he woke. Forgetting the events of the day before, he flung his left arm over his eyes to shield them from the sun. Pain erupted in his shoulder and he let out a yell of shock and hurt. Yassen burst into the room, gun in hand.
"What happened? What did you do?" he asked sharply, taking in the hand clasped onto Wolf's shoulder and the heaving shape of his shoulders as he sucked in huge gasps of air.
"I moved it, what do you think?" Wolf retorted angrily, struggling to his feet and looking Yassen in the eye.
"You'll make it worse, you have to rest it," He said, tucking the gun back into his waistband. "And if you do move it, please don't yell like that again. I thought someone had broken in, or you had been shot again."
"Thanks for the sympathy," Wolf snarled. Yassen shrugged and turned on his heel, striding into the kitchen. Wolf hesitated, and then followed warily, his eyes darting from side to side.
"What do you think I'm going to do? Set a gang of ninjas on you?" Yassen asked sarcastically. It was worth it to see Wolf jump at the sound of his voice. Allowing himself a small smile, Yassen turned back to the bowl of cereal on the worktop. Wolf didn't answer. "You have to trust me; I'm helping you, remember."
"Like you trust me," Wolf said, walking over and helping himself to fruit from the bowl on the table. He glanced at Yassen in time to see the look of surprise leave his eyes.
"Ok, you want me to trust you. I can't promise anything, but I'll give it a shot." He said eventually, he hadn't expected a retort and was pleasantly surprised that he'd got one. He smiled slightly as he finished the cereal, scraping the last of the milk from the bowl and dropping it into the sink
"Same here," Wolf mumbled around a mouthful of apple. Yassen nodded once and leant back against the worktop.
"What should we do now? Skinner could be anywhere," he said. It was almost a test; he already had a plan, but he wanted to see whether Wolf would be able to work out a plan as well.
"He'll go somewhere he knows; somewhere he could see us coming, metaphorically at least." He said slowly.
"Yes, that's what I would do. Where would he go, though?" Wolf raised an eyebrow for a second, but gave the question plenty of thought.
"Well," he said eventually. "He'd probably go to the place he grew up. It could be either Bolton or Exeter. I think he'd go to Exeter, it's easier to hide there than in Bolton. And then he'll probably try to have one or both of us killed. It shouldn't be too difficult for him; he's got almost unlimited resources.
"I… I have a contact in the police who might be able to find out where he is." He volunteered tentatively.
"Can you get in touch with him today?" Yassen asked instantly, pouncing on the statement. Wolf shrugged.
"Possibly, but he's not exactly in the phone book. I'll do my best, though." He added quickly, seeing Yassen's eyes flash impatiently. The Russian nodded slightly, forcing himself to be tolerant. He felt as if he was fighting a losing battle.
Wolf was watching him curiously, his face contorted into a slight frown. Yassen returned the look with a blank stare, his icy eyes boring into the younger man's brown ones until he looked away. Only then did Yassen turn and leave the kitchen, walking purposely to his room. Scarcely able to believe what he was about to do, he unlocked the gun cabinet and pulled out Wolf's gun.
"Here," He said, walking back into the kitchen and tossing it to Wolf. "You wanted me to trust you, so…" His voice trailed into silence and he turned and stared out of the window.
"Thanks," Wolf said, trying to hide the tone of surprise in his voice. He paused, chewing his lip, before deciding that he'd risk it. "You want to give me yours, and I'll give it back?" Yassen smiled slightly, but hid it before he turned. He fixed Wolf with a sceptical gaze and his comment was greeted with silence.
"I guess not," Wolf said, shrugging. "Anyway, what do we do now?"
"You're going to try and find your contact, and I'm going to hack into a few hotels in Exeter, unless he has a house there?" Wolf shrugged.
"I don't think so," he replied.
"Well then, we've got a plan." Yassen said, his eyes suddenly gleaming.
there you are! Hope you enjoyed it! Please R&R! I might have something to do in Key Skills then... :)