---
They decided to take the sleeper train to Edinburgh. Don saw Colby's smirk when Hannah decided it would be a new and fun experience for her, and groaned. He was starting to recognize the gleam in their eyes and the expressions on their faces. He shook his head at himself, laughing as he decided he'd spent too much time with them. Still, he was looking forward to the weekend trip.
Carter had been 'generous', supplying them with gun permits and guns to go with the permits. Well, he should, Don thought sourly. They were saving MI-5 the trouble of coming up with officers to protect Eleanor. He'd also heard that one of MI-5's officers was on trial, and it was important enough to run through the weekend. Carter had been even more tight-lipped than usual about the officer on trial. And Don hadn't wanted to ask.
It didn't take any of them much time to pack for the weekend. They would be spending Friday night on the train going to Edinburgh and also when they returned on Sunday night. Don was happy to see some of Eleanor's gloom dissipate as she made plans for the trip.
Somehow they lucked out and got two cabins next to each other. Don looked at Eleanor suspiciously, wondering if she had pulled strings to make that happen. She smiled innocently at him when he caught her eye. He rolled his, and made her laugh. He saw Colby with his hands on his hips, "What are you doing?"
Colby pursed his lips, "These beds are little narrow."
"The steward will be by to put the two beds together, Colby," Eleanor couldn't help being amused. She was quite sure she knew what was on his mind.
He flashed a grin at them, and went looking for Hannah, who was exploring the train.
"£5 says they're at it the moment they get back," Don's sigh was long-suffering.
"That's as sure a bet as I've ever heard. I'm not taking it, do you think me a fool?" Eleanor's eyes sparkled with amusement.
To Don's surprise, it was very comfortable, and he had no trouble sleeping till morning. The ticket included a light breakfast in the cabin which he and Eleanor enjoyed. He smiled at the sparkle in Hannah's eyes when they disembarked. And he could tell by the gleam in Colby's eye that they'd enjoyed themselves the night before, despite the fact that Don hadn't heard anything through the cabin walls. He shook his head and smiled at the younger agent.
"This is Princes Street, the transportation centre of Edinburgh." Eleanor pointed out the tour bus stops and the public transportation stops as they got out of the train station. "And of course, the cabs." One of which they took to the hotel.
Hannah's eyes widened when they got to their hotel. The Sheraton Grand Spa and Hotel.
"My treat," Eleanor looked at their startled faces a little ruefully. "Consider it thanks for all that you have to put up with."
Don gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "You don't have to."
She rubbed her cheek against the palm of his hand and smiled, "I know. Come on, we might as well enjoy the luxury!"
----
Despite their luxurious surroundings, they were out and about very quickly, stopping only to shower and refresh themselves.
Don grinned when Colby hopped out onto the busy street to get a picture of their tour bus. "The Edinburgh Tour." Colby was unabashed when Hannah fussed at him. "Just want something to remember it by."
"As long as you don't become a memory," she retorted tartly. He'd scared her with that quick dart out into traffic.
They took the tour once around, just to listen to the tour guide's spiel.
Don rolled his eyes when they passed a strip joint named Burke and Hare. Then his jaw dropped as the tour guide talked about the original Burke and Hare. They had been partners hatching a serial murder scheme to provide the Edinburgh University of Medicine with corpses at up to 10 pounds each. But since they barely got along, the scheme eventually fell apart, with Hare testifying against Burke. There were a total of 16 deaths over the course of a year. "I guess there are lowlifes everywhere," he muttered in disgust.
The tour rolled along through the Royal Mile. At one point, the bus passed a statue of King George IV. "The Edinburgh elders wanted to know if King George IV wanted pudding or pie, and he said he wanted both. Hence the line in the nursery rhyme, 'Georgy Porgy pudding and pie'. Then he ordered all the women to line up so he could kiss all 240 of them, where he then 'kissed the girls and made them cry'."
Even though the tour guide did a great job pointing out the sights from the bus, they were all glad to get off at the base of Edinburgh Castle. They took their time walking up the hill, taking breaks whenever Hannah needed one. There was no doubt when they got to the top of the hill that it had been worth it. The views were spectacular. Don and Colby in particular were disappointed when they found out that the military tattoo wasn't performed until August, but cheered up immensely when they walked around the cannons in the castle batteries. Eleanor and Hannah laughed at the enthusiasm they showed while sighting down a cannon.
Then it was Don's turn to laugh when they arrived at Crown Square, the heart of the Castle. "So this is why you were so eager to visit Edinburgh Castle!" Don teased Hannah.
She giggled at being found out. The Scottish Honors of Destiny were housed in the Crown Room. "Don't worry, Don, it won't take nearly as long as it did at the Tower of London. There are only four items in the Scottish Honors of Destiny, the Crown of Scotland, the Sceptre of Scotland, the Sword of State of Scotland, and the Stone of Scone. Ten minutes, tops, I promise!"
"There's no hurry, Hannah," Eleanor elbowed Don playfully.
"There's a whole history behind the Stone of Scone, isn't there?" Colby looked at it curiously. "Something about wanting it back because they can't crown a King of Scotland without it? I'm guessing they'd like to break away and be their own country again."
"It's just a block of stone!" Don was amazed that so much fuss had been made over a plain stone.
"Well, just think about it. How would you like it if something you've had for generations was stolen?" Eleanor tried to explain.
"It's like the CalSci cannon being stolen by MIT," Hannah teased Don. "It's the principle of it." She laughed at the comical face he made at the mention of the cannon. She remembered Charlie's tizzy over it. He'd tried to get Don on the case, calling it a felony to end all felonies. She moved on to the next storyboard. "Oh, Colby, look at this display!"
Everyone crowded around to read it, and Don laughed heartily at it. "So a Mrs. Granger and her lady-in-waiting smuggled the Honors of Destiny out from under Oliver Cromwell's nose!"
Colby grinned from ear to ear, "I wish I knew for sure that I was descended from this woman, but it was a proud day for Grangers everywhere. The first in a long line of strong Granger women!"
He put his arm around Hannah who wrinkled her nose at him. "I'm not a Granger woman!"
"Yet!" Colby muttered under his breath.
They wandered into the Scottish National War Memorial to honor those who gave their lives. Don expected it to cast a somber pall over their sightseeing, but was surprised at the sense of peace instead.
"The Souls of the righteous are in the hand of God. There shall no evil happen to them. They are in peace." Hannah read as she turned around in the Shrine, "Others also there are who perished unknown. Their sacrifice is not forgotten and their names, though lost to us, are written in the books of God."
"She's lost in her own world," Colby murmured affectionately as she sketched the bronze friezes and the stained glass windows. He stayed close to her while Don and Eleanor found a place to sit and wait, out in the Hall of Honor.
Then, satisfied with the time spent at Edinburgh Castle, they strolled down the hill to get back on the tour bus.