A/N: More? ok :)

Chapter 11 - Gotta Go

The only thing he'd told Ma-Ti when he asked to be picked up was that he had some things to sort out on the island. Wheeler wanted to talk to Linka before he officially started making plans but he'd finally come to the realisation that he wasn't going to get over her and it was time to do something about it.

He still didn't believe that she'd ever felt the way he did but he couldn't deny that things between them had been good. And maybe she was beginning to have feelings for me, she was really upset when I left... I shouldn't have left it so long but I needed that time to myself to get my head straight. I'll make it up to her! We can make it work, I know we can.

Gi and Kwame were waiting for them when the 'cruiser touched down but the American had to force himself to smile as his heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. There was no sign of Linka.

After enthusiastic greetings on both sides, Wheeler having genuinely missed his friends even if they weren't the reason he'd returned, Gi suddenly blurted out the question that was on all their minds. "Are you home to stay?"

Wheeler shook his head, "I still have stuff to oversee on the project and my college classes to finish." he swallowed, "I was kinda hoping to talk to Linka though..."

The others exchanged glances and it was Kwame that spoke, holding Gi's gaze as if to silence her. "She is in Russia at the moment but I will fetch her tomorrow."

Looking from one to the other and wondering what was going on, the American shook his head, "Don't interrupt her vacation on my account… And stop being mysterious, just tell me what's going on."

They found her someone else. Was his first thought, that after their first ploy fell through their illustrious leaders had selected another chump for her to 'fall in love' with and the Planeteers knew that she'd just gone along with it, without a second thought.

Kwame looked sad, "She took a job with her government, but I know she would want to see you."

"Sure she would." Wheeler replied, anger flashing in his eyes. How could she go and work for them after what they've done? Don't my feelings mean anything to her? "Like I said, let's not bother her."

"She was so upset when you didn't come back at New Year she… she didn't feel that she could stay here anymore." Gi tried to explain. The Asian looked up into his eyes and her voice held a note of pleading. "Go after her Wheeler, she thought you weren't coming back but she loves you and…"

"Don't! I don't want to hear it." He shook his head, trying to process what they were telling him but only able to focus on one thing. "She's gone. That's fine, it makes it easier. I didn't want to leave things the way they ended, I thought maybe we could say goodbye as friends, but it's not like I actually wanted to have that conversation, and this way I don't have to."

"You left her!" Gi cried hotly, "You told her you would come back for New Year and you broke your promise. She was hurt, she thought you didn't want anything more to do with her, what was she supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for you to notice her again?"

"Gi," Kwame gave a low warning, trying to check his friend before she said something she would regret.

Wheeler shook his head. His face was a mask, for once not showing his feelings and his voice was suddenly steady and quiet in a way that chilled his friends. "I think you have that backwards Gi. I left because she was playing politics and telling lies. I had no way of knowing if she'd ever felt anything for me or if it was all part of some sick power play. I needed some space to clear my head, and she tried to give me a deadline, which she knew I wasn't ok with. Well I missed her deadline and she moved on so I guess we both know where we stand."

Gi shook her head, tears in eyes but unable to speak any longer. It was obvious he wasn't going to listen anyway.

"I should go check in with Gaia." Wheeler continued, "Then I'll see about clearing out my room."

He turned and walked away, his stomach rolling and his heart trying to beat its way out of his chest. God, how stupid am I for thinking she'd still be waiting?

Wheeler had had all weekend to think about their late night Friday but it was still playing on his mind as he helped her set up the conference room for their team meeting. I keep forgetting we're just colleagues now, not even friends. It would be so easy to slip back into our old relationship, flirting, teasing… NO! I can't go there, I can't do that to myself!

The others began to drift in slowly, distracting him for a while as they exchanged commonplaces over their weekends. When they were all seated the American began by going over the progress they'd made on the project, then it was Linka's turn to speak and he sat down, his mind immediately going back to their argument. Let her think I'm a drunk… it's obviously what she does think, that bottle wasn't even opened but it was the first thing that came to her mind. I was never good enough for her, she made that clear so many times I just didn't want to see it.

He deliberately stoked his anger, wanting to hate her even though he found it hard to maintain it in her presence. She shouldn't have come here, what right did she have to force her company on me again after what she did? If she cared about my feelings at all she would've stayed away, this is all about her, she feels guilty so I'm supposed to tell her it's all ok, that she didn't ruin my life and then she can go on her merry way and forget that I ever existed, well I won't do it.

Linka was laughing at something one of the team said, her eyes sparkling and her golden hair waving as she shook her head. Wheeler closed his eyes, trying not to react.

"We can start again, forget it ever happened," In Wheeler's mind he looked up to see Linka smiling provocatively at him across the now empty conference table. "It will be just as you want it to be." His vision climbed easily onto the table and crawled across its surface towards him like a cat stalking its prey, "It works between us Jason, you know it does." He sat frozen in place as she brought her lips down to his, brushing against them slightly. "I do love you. Yankee…"

"Yankee!" Linka's voice broke through his reverie, and he opened his eyes to find her smiling at him, "Peter asked you a question."

Furious with himself, Wheeler glared back and said coldly, "You know 'Yankee' is an insult in some parts of America right?"

Linka blushed but he didn't see it as he'd already turned his attention to Peter, apologising for his momentary lapse.

Linka was feeling very bruised from a day of constant digs. Ever since their meeting that morning Wheeler had been doing a very good job of convincing her how much he still hated her. It was no doubt fuelled by their disagreement the previous Friday but that made no difference to a heart that was already broken.

She sighed and put the finishing touches to her make up, thinking she could do without the party at Tom's house, but not being able to come up with a good enough excuse to avoid it. Their boss and his wife loved entertaining and since he also considered it to be a good team building exercise, they were all expected to attend.

Tom lived in a large Georgian built house in an expensive area of London. There wasn't much parking space however so Karen had offered to pick up the 'girls' and Linka was her last stop. Getting into the front seat that had been left empty for her, the Russian made herself comfortable before looking back at the others but when she did, she saw the familiar sight of someone who had been doing a lot of crying. "Amanda? What is wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine." The young Englishwoman gave her a weak smile but Karen, beyond the age where she felt the need to be tactful, filled her in. "Boyfriend trouble. He's got a new job in Scotland and he expects her to go with him, never mind that she has a career here."

Olga shook her head, "It is good that you did not give in to him, you have a right to your own life and if he really cared, he would stay."

Despite having said the same thing to him herself, Amanda tried to defend him, "It's a huge promotion for him, he'll be earning a lot more than I do… he didn't actually say he expected me to not have a career, he just wanted me to go with him."

"Will you try and make it work long distance?" Karen asked.

"I… I don't think so." Amanda swallowed, "I'm not sure we're even still speaking."

Olga regarded her carefully, "You love him, da?"

Amanda nodded, "I just don't see how it can work, we obviously both want different things."

"What about you Linka?" Karen asked suddenly, "What would you do if you were Amanda?"

"Go with him." The Russian replied without hesitation, surprising all of her colleagues. "No career is worth losing someone you love."

Karen cast a sly glance in her direction, "That sounds like the voice of experience?"

The Russian shifted uncomfortably. "Da… there was someone, once."

"You have never mentioned him." Olga put in, "I have never seen you with anyone."

"It was before we met." Linka swallowed, "I managed to convince him that my patriotic duty meant more to me than he did… he even refused to believe that I had ever loved him."

The pain and remorse in her voice made the others sorry they'd pried but Amanda, conscious of her own situation, said, "You haven't got over him, have you?"

Linka looked down at her lap but shook her head, "I do not know how."

An awkward silence fell that only lifted with their arrival at their boss' house.

As usual Tom was in an excellent mood and ushered them into the drawing room where his wife was entertaining the male half of their team. Wheeler was flirting outrageously with Anna Sawyer, making the others roll their eyes, but it was all good natured. He didn't look round when they came in, even when Anna moved to greet them, but instead entered into conversation with Alexi.

Linka accepted a glass of wine and sipped it slowly, intending to make it last all night. The conversation they'd had in the car had lowered her spirits and what she saw as Wheeler's deliberately ignoring her made them sink through the floor, she could only be glad that no one knew their history.

By the time the dinner was over and they were back in the drawing room chatting, the lovely Russian had had her fill of polite small talk but she couldn't leave until the others were ready. She slipped behind the curtain that was hiding the patio door and walked outside onto the balcony. The late autumn air was chilly but even in a strapless dress Linka didn't notice. She arranged her long frilly skirt daintily as she sat on the stone steps that led down into the garden and sighed.

It is time to end this. She thought.

The usually beautiful blond blew her very red nose and started tidying her desk. I would have to get a cold now, she thought. As if I did not feel bad enough already!

Those few weeks until Christmas had gone by quickly. Linka had already spoken to Tom, and her superiors back in Russia about her decision, but she'd asked that it remain a secret until after she'd gone. On her last day, the day before they all started their leave, the others left early to get ready for the work Christmas meal. Only Wheeler remained at his desk and he would not be there long.

Linka finished collecting her things and approached Wheeler with some trepidation. Any progress they had made over the first few months had been lost after that one argument but she didn't want to leave without at least saying goodbye. "Jason?"

"Yeah?" He replied impatiently, not looking around.

"I am not going to the meal," She told him, "I have an early flight in the morning… I just wanted to wish you a good holiday."

"Whatever." Wheeler replied dismissively, still not looking up.

Linka bit her lip and turned to walk to the door, where she paused looking back at him for one long moment, and whispered "Goodbye Yankee, be happy."

Later that night, after the meal was over and the small group had moved to a local pub, Tom found himself next to Wheeler and couldn't help commenting, "You're going to have your work cut out for you next year, getting the new members of the team up to scratch and everything."

"New members?" The American was surprised, "I know Amanda is planning to follow her boyfriend up to Scotland to stop him giving up the job he has there, who else?"

"Ah Linka didn't tell you?" The older man looked uncomfortable, "I know she didn't want a fuss but I thought she might have mentioned it to you."

Wheeler was good at hiding his reactions where Linka was concerned but this time it was a struggle, "Mentioned what?"

Tom shrugged, "She came to me after my last house party and told me she wanted to return to Russia… devil's in it that the powers that be can't find anyone to replace her so you'll have to pick one of her team to step up into her role, and we'll get some junior to replace her when they get around to finding someone. Not ideal of course but we couldn't convince her to change her mind. Terrible shame."

The American agreed with him and was relieved that a rather drunk Amanda came over just then to make her goodbyes. He promptly offered to drive her home, wanting an excuse to leave himself. It didn't take long to see the young woman safely home and return to his own apartment, which was fortunate because he felt like he was going to fall apart any minute, but before she said goodnight she delivered what he felt to be the death blow.

"I forgot to thank Linka!" She'd announced suddenly as they reached her door. "Will you tell her for me?"

"What for?" Wheeler had asked, not sure he wanted to know, especially as he had no way of delivering the message, but he supposed he could relay it via Olga.

Amanda didn't answer because she was concentrating on getting her key in the front door, and not having much success. He took the key from her hand and opened the door before giving it back to her, and would have left but she spoke again. "Told me to talk to Carl, insisted on it."

"Your boyfriend?"

She nodded and then wished she hadn't as the floor started to move. Wheeler had to steady her, and then help her inside to the sofa. "I was goin' ta let him leave, I can't believe how stupid I was. When I called him he told me he was turning down the promotion, for me, that's when I realised Linka's right. S'not worth losing someone you love for your job… or'Duty', 's she said."

Amanda sank back against the cushions, her eyes half closing. She didn't object when Wheeler moved her so that if she was sick it would go over the edge of settee and she didn't hear him leave.

All the way home he told himself that Amanda had been drunk, that what Linka had no doubt said to her was 'someone you care about' because she never used the word love and even if it had been love, in her case it was the love of a friend. Clearly it had been her guilt about putting her duty first that had been speaking, as their situation in no way resembled that of Amanda and Carl.

By the time he arrived at his destination he'd resolved on forgetting the conversation ever happened but he couldn't banish the recollection that Linka was going back to Russia and wasn't ever coming back.

The American's flat was sparsely furnished, and messy and just then it seemed cold and uninviting too. He sank down on his sofa and put his head in his hands. All those months I wanted her gone, I tried to convince myself that I was over her and when that failed, that I hated her, and now she's leaving…

He couldn't believe how devastated he felt, knowing that when he went back to his desk, hers would be empty, or worse, someone else would have taken her place. I barely survived saying goodbye to her the first time, what am I supposed to do now?

Wheeler's eyes fell on the bottle of whiskey he'd brought home that night all those weeks ago and without considering the consequences, went to fetch himself a glass.

End Of Part Two