Chapter 2

It was probably a good thing Ethan was sleeping. Had he known what was going on in the front of the main cabin, he would have probably run instantly - regardless of the fact that they were in a plane that was traveling a couple of kilometers above the ground. And he might not even have bothered to take the time to grab a chute on the way out.

Sitting together, Brandt, Jane, Benji were talking softly as they put together the details of a mission. One that, as they all agreed, would not be led by Ethan. Because this time, Ethan WAS the mission.

The outline of the plan was simple enough.

Step 1: Take Ethan home.

Step 2: Make sure Ethan went to bed.

Step 3: Be there when the other shoe dropped, which – as they were sure beyond the shadow of a doubt – it would, and soon.

There was only one unknown factor in the plan.

Ethan Hunt.

So they knew they had to plan carefully. Very carefully.

A lesser team would have probably scrapped the mission right at that very point, surrendering to the inevitable fact that you could not 'plan' Ethan Hunt. In that regard, he was very much like lightning – impossible to predict and deadly when he hit.

So, in a way, they were trying to catch lightning in a bottle.

It was crazy. But somebody had to do it.

After some thinking, Brandt saw to the first part of their plan:

"They'll probably have a car waiting for us at the airport. If I can get a hand on the keys before Ethan, I can offer to drive you all home, and it's gonna be just like a normal drop-off, we've all done that before. He'll think I'll be taking you two home after we let him out."

Jane nodded, seeing Brandt's point and agreeing with it. Brandt would do the driving. Benji was now smiling as well.

"Perfect, then I'll get to stock up Ethan's kitchen tomorrow," Benji chimed in happily, having found the ideal role for him to play in the plan.

It instantly got him a sharp look from the other two.

For a moment Benji simply gazed right back at them, completely clueless as to what he had said wrong. Then it hit him like a brick.

"Oh, … oh! Right. I'll get real food this time, no fish and chips," Benji hastily elaborated as he realized they had apparently remembered the last time he had gone food-shopping for the whole team. It had been the morning after Jane's birthday party. And that had indeed been one very memorable breakfast.

Brandt and Jane slowly relaxed as they saw that Benji understood the importance of getting real food this time. The idea wasn't to make Ethan sicker. The plan was to help him get better.

"Thank you," Brandt heartily appreciated Benji's reformation, and the man's willingness to let British breakfast traditions be bygones for the duration of this mission.

"Alright, then I'll take the night shift," Jane concluded their planning, "You can pick me up tomorrow morning, if all goes well."

Jane then spared a long glance at the closed curtain behind which she hoped Ethan was still sleeping. Any rest he got now would help them later-on. And depending on how Ethan was doing in the morning, they would then decide whether to set up further rotation plans.

'Provided our mission even gets that far,' Benji thought worriedly as he, too, found his gaze now drawn to the curtain at the end of the small corridor, "I just hope Ethan doesn't take our heads off, once he realizes what's going on.'

And there would come the point, when Ethan found out.

But, personally, Benji planned on being safely hidden somewhere behind Brandt and Jane when that moment happened. He just hoped that Brandt and Jane were not thinking along the same lines, or they would all end up hiding behind nothing when Ethan came after them…

-o-o-

The remainder of the flight was pretty much uneventful. Ethan had joined them again shortly before the landing. He didn't appear to have slept well at all, and there was now a distinct flush to his cheekbones and around his eyes, but he still didn't let on that he was feeling anything but fine, as they got ready to get off the plane. With slow deliberation, Ethan grabbed his bag from underneath his bunk, and on his way out he even thanked the pilot for the smooth flight.

The pilot took the compliment with gratitude.

Jane took it for what it really was. And she could see from the shocked look on Brandt's and Benji's faces that they had noticed it, too.

To hear Ethan, who normally thought smooth equalled boring, actually thank someone for a smooth flight – it was yet another piece of evidence that hinted at how Ethan was really doing underneath that invincible armor of his.

Once they left the plane, they were met by a second IMF team right on the tarmac. The agents took Handerez off their hands efficiently and quickly. After that, Ethan's team was told that they were free to go home. Their reports weren't needed until next week. In light of their private little 'mission', Jane, Brandt and Benji were glad to hear it. Ethan was, too, although he tried not to show it.

As expected, they were then provided with a car, for which Brandt managed to grab the keys without Ethan even looking twice at what was happening. Benji almost sighed with relief as he saw that first part of their plan work without a hitch. Jane, too, was relieved.

In fact, her first reaction was to chalk up their success to their good planning, or maybe even the luck of the brave. But then she realized she was making the very dangerous mistake of underestimating Ethan. And it suddenly dawned on her that their current driving arrangements may not be the result of their planning after all.

'Don't get too sure of yourself, Jane. Ethan deliberately let Brandt take the keys. He knows that if someone else is driving, it lowers the chances of him slipping up and giving away how weak he's really feeling…'

She couldn't believe how easily she almost fell for it. Even in this condition, Ethan was still outthinking any of them. But so far, his actions were helping their plan. If they could keep this up, this mission could actually work.

With Brandt now driving the car, Jane in the front passenger seat, and Benji occupying the backseat with Ethan, they were headed back to the city. Seeing how Brandt was taking a route along the interstate leading them past downtown, they were obviously headed for Ethan's home first. It was a choice that Ethan was fine with. For his own reasons.

He didn't know that Brandt, Jane and Benji had another reason of their very own.

As they finally pulled up alongside Ethan's house, Jane got out of her seat, making it look like she was simply helping Ethan by opening the car backdoor for him to get out easier.

In a move that belied his true condition – and that made Jane wonder where he was taking the energy to put up this front for them – Ethan slid out of his seat, his bag in one hand, while giving a small wave of goodbye to them with his other hand, obviously thanking them for having dropped him off.

Only he didn't know that he wasn't being dropped off this time.

He still didn't notice anything was wrong as Jane pushed the passenger door closed again – until he realized that she had done so while still standing OUTSIDE the car.

Before his feverish mind could fully grasp the sight, Brandt was already pulling the car off the curb, the roofline sliding out from under Ethan's hand as the car gained speed almost instantly.

It took about two point one seconds, before Ethan's eyes narrowed.

Then he slowly turned to face Jane.

"What… is …this?" Ethan's voice was almost toneless.

And as the process of realization began to flicker in his eyes, she could also see his carefully constructed mask of 'fine' slowly start to slip. The expression on his face was a battle between his anger at having been betrayed and the fact that his knees were slowly starting to feel like they wouldn't hold him up much longer if he didn't put all his concentration on staying upright.

"Ethan…," Jane began. The concern in her voice as well as the look on her face left Ethan with no doubt that he had guessed right. This had been planned.

His real problem right now, however, was that he wasn't in any condition to do much about it. But that didn't mean he couldn't at least try an orderly retreat.

"I'm okay. Really, I'll be fine…" he turned just a little too fast in his hurry to get to his front door before Jane would see him collapse right here on the street.

It was a near thing, but with sheer willpower, Ethan managed to catch himself from falling. Barely.

Jane almost darted forward, but she forced herself to stay where she was. She knew if she took the choice from him now, that would be the end of any future cooperation. She had to convince him. Not take him hostage in his own house.

As soon as he had found his feet again, Ethan scowled. She wasn't sure if he was scowling at himself or at her. His eyes wouldn't really focus, so she couldn't tell.

As she saw him sway again slightly, Jane knew her time was running out. She had to get through to him, and soon. It was time to tell Ethan the truth. At least as much of it as was necessary.

"Yes, the plan was to help you... but for that, you have to let us help you," she hesitated for a short moment, before adding in a soft voice, "Please, Ethan, let us help."

He could no longer think clearly.

She saw Ethan struggle with himself.

And she saw the moment he surrendered.

As he looked up again, she could see the hesitant plea for help in Ethan's eyes. He was now clearly unsteady on his feet.

And this time she immediately moved forward.

Putting his arm around her shoulder, and her other arm around his side, she helped him get into his house. At the back of her mind, dimly, she realized that their first objective had been accomplished.

Ethan was home.

Now, it was time for the next step.

Get Ethan into bed.

-o-

-o-

To be continued … and NO, I'm NOT thinking what you're not thinking, because if I were thinking it, this story would go places I don't want it to go. So we're taking the moral road on this, okay? :o)