Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners (Dark Angel, Fox, etc.) The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note:A special thanks to Kita, the kindred soul who deals directly with my grammar crimes as the beta reader of the story. And to Jenna, the designated voice of reason who's input helps me to improve this story.

To all of you who had reviewed…thanks a lot. To the ones who haven't done yet, don't you think now it will be a good time? :)
Whether you do it or not, I hope all of you would enjoy this chapter.

Kindly Unspoken

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Alec's Apartment
23:59 pm

Destiny works on mysterious ways, or at least that's what people said. Sitting on his living room and sipping on scotch Alec was starting to believe that more than mysterious ways, destiny has a twisted sense of humor.

Surrounded by dark shadows he contemplated the events of the past six hours, next time Logan needs help Max could go find another transgenic to do the job. His Good Samaritan act was over.

It all had started with a simple question 'Where is the beautiful Katrina?' meaningless five words to another person, but the trigger for a new batch of memories for him. At least now he knew who Katrina was, or better what had Nicole been doing at that time.

Embassy of Georgia
20:20 pm

A quintessential part of his training included the capacity to be able to fit into any kind of circumstances, to be anyone and no one at the same time.

When Alec felt someone grabbing his arm and calling him Nikolai instead of Dimitri many thoughts crossed his mind in barely fractions of a second. The most important fact to be cleared was if the stranger should be considered as a friend or a foe. The smile on Evgraf Sokolov's face put him temporarily in the 'friends' side, for previous and personal experience he knew that appearances could be deceiving.

Now the big question was to find out why Sokolov regarded him as an old acquaintance.

There had been a flicker of recognition the first time Alec saw the picture of the former Georgia's Defense Minister at Logan's place. He knew somehow that it wasn't the first time he saw that man, at the time he hadn't been able to figure out the time and place.

Sokolov's attitude toward him could be both a good and a bad thing. If they had parted on good terms he could get the information he needed for Logan faster than he expected; on the contrary, if the man reckoned him as an enemy and was just pretending for the sake of his guests, Alec's near future had a couple of black clouds on it.

One way or the other, Alec knew the cardinal rule now was to keep it cool. No matter how desperate you are, never let it show.

"Nikolai, it's been too long my friend. I had no idea you were invited here."

Alec had smiled in response; it had been a perfect invitation to play along. As he came closer to hug the man the smell of his cologne triggered another memory.

"Why did you let Evy win the game?" The mocking voice with a hint of sarcasm told him that she was in a playful mood.

"Evy?"

"You really expect me to call him Evgraf every time we talk about him

He knew perfectly well that tone of hers, it was the one used when logic and common sense was on her side and no argument will change her mind.

"Evy sounds girly." He couldn't picture himself calling the big man 'Evy'; it was like calling an alligator 'softy'.

"Have a better nickname for the man?"

If he thought about it for a sec, he didn't have any options in mind. Ev? Sounded like a letter, too guttural. Graf? Nope. The man didn't look like a female tennis player.

"Evy will do." He finally accepted, after all Quintilian used to say 'When defeat is inevitable, it is wise to yield.'

Alec blinked away the voices as he focused again in the man in front of him. Sometimes he wished the memories will have stay as dreams, having these flashbacks at any given time was frustrating.

Testing the waters he used the nickname, the result was an easy-going smile and a question that unleashed new memories.

"Not as good as you. Look at yourself all grown up. Where's the beautiful Katrina?"

As the words let Evgraf's lips his brain was overflow with information, Nicole was sitting with him and two other guys. A debriefing about Georgia, the first time he heard the name of Sokolov.

Alec smiled sincerely for the first time since he entered the party. He knew exactly who was the man standing in front of him, he also had found the answers about the when and where. He even remembered the why.

He had regained the control over the situation. Now it was time for his own questions.

"She was needed elsewhere Evy, so tell me what brings you back to the States?"

Embassy of Georgia
20:30 pm

Evgraf Sokolov led the young man to his studio. Ever since the death of his wife he considered social gatherings as his personal form of torture, long idle chats and never ending meals that surprisingly enough repeated themes of conversation with the same frequency as menus. The current situation of the world and salmon puffs were a match he believed was made in hell.

That was the main reason to explain his fast reaction on leaving the party taking along Nikolai. It's been more than four years since the last time he set eyes on the guy or his always present companion, the ethereal Katrina.

He met the pair when both of them were just a couple of teenagers assigned to collaborate with him in order to avoid by all means necessary an armed conflict with Azerbaijan.

He had been suspicious during the first meeting, after all most part of the people in their age he had been in contact with had no idea of discipline; but, the professionalism portrayed by the pair when explaining the situation and the kind of work they will be doing outweighed his initial doubts about their preparation.

In two weeks they found an interesting approach to deal with the growing supporters' base of Ivan Kerensky, it came from the most unusual source, Anna Kerensky the twelve year old deceased daughter of Ivan. How they got the information linking him with his daughter death and then implicating him with war crimes was something he never found out. What had been clear was that a month after their arrival, Kerensky had lost the support of Azerbaijan Prime Minister and his own people inside Georgia's borders had started to abandon his cause.

The crisis between both countries solved itself without a single bullet being shot. The recognition for the achievement had fallen upon him, despite that he had not been completely aware of the details and circumstances involved and maybe that was for the best.

There were many reasons why he regarded both Nikolai and Katrina fondly. Endzela's well being at the time was one of them; his wife's life had been saved by the hand of Katrina's accurately aim. They were ordered to protect his life and collaborate in solving a conflict, still they bended the rules and included protecting his wife in the deal.

"Are you avoiding my question for a specific reason Evy?"

Alec's voice made him realize that he had been watching the space for the last two minutes. He was still holding the bottle of Furvus 04'. Evgraf consider himself as a man of wine better than a man of Vodka; the bottle he had chosen was a present from the Ambassador of Spain. Filling two glasses with the burgundy liquid, he offered one to Nikolai.

"I wasn't avoiding Nikolai. I was merely caught up in memories, happens a lot when you became older." He added smiling at the younger man as his nostrils were filled with the particular smell of the grapes juice.

"I'm older too – "sighed Alec – "- How is your wife? I haven't seen her yet."

A sad smile crossed Sokolov's face.

"She died last year, lung cancer. Ironically she never smoked a single cigarette, but she fought until the last moment."

He watched as Nikolai assimilated the news, Endzela had been on good terms with Katrina since they met, but only gained Nikolai's appreciation as she personally took care of the younger girl's recovery after she saved her life. And while Nikolai never said anything to his wife to express gratitude, he left a small crystal angel on her hand when he was leaving. Nikolai had always been a complex mystery.

"I'm sorry for your loss. She was an exceptional woman."

Alec's mind had been working at an inhuman speed as his brain provided him with information related to the different missions regarding Georgia or Sokolov. Debriefings, profiles, targets, strategies, everything passed through his eyes as both men talked. Finding out about Endzela Sokolov death's, left him with a bittersweet taste, unsure of the correct approach. He had seen first hand Evgraf's devotion for his wife; he could only imagine the loneliness the older man must felt now.

"She was Nikolai, she was. She made these kinds of things bearable."

"I can relate to that" Alec chuckled.

Evgraf laughed as both men raised their glasses in a cheer motion.

"Your people actually requested to have this shindig tonight. I thought that was the reason you were here."

Alec's eyes had narrowed at his answer, that piece of information was definitely priceless.

"Sorry to disappoint but I got here for other reasons. Who exactly will be my people this time?"

Evgraf looked him with an amused face "The DSCA of course. They had been coordinating all our movements in American territory."

"I see. I thought you had been assigned specifically to the NSA." Alec replied casually while drinking his wine.

He was surprised for the change of agency and completely unaware that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency had been cleared of to deal with Georgia's package.

If his memory served him right the NSA had fought tooth and nail for a special permission from the President to gain exclusive control of the Georgia Agenda. The winning argument from Deputy Director Thomas Hathaway had been the potential treat of former Kerensky's followers on being absorbed by Rising Moon, a new terrorist fraction operating on Azerbaijan.

The NSA main interest had been to keep Rising Moon operations inside Georgia as non existent, even if the NSA was unable to act with its own human resources, all the operations from the other agencies regarding Georgia needed to be approved by them. And while it seemed to be more bureaucratic than anything else, the excessive control provided the NSA with enough time to double check any actions. After the pulse the agencies learned not to trust on technology with closed eyes.

For Alec the change seemed suspicious, although considering that his Intel was outdated, maybe it wasn't that strange.

"Orders from above. At least that's what they told us." Sokolov's expression mirrored what he was feeling about the situation.

"Is Georgia currently exporting something to us?"

"Our higher ranking soldiers in order for them to be trained" Evgraf chuckled, "Nothing else besides that."

And that comment from Evy confirmed Alec that something didn't match the profile. Sokolov had no reason to lie; Alec was conscious regarding Evgraf's position when it comes to white slavery and the laws he had promoted during his time as the right hand of president Lebedev. There was something missing in this equation.

"Do you mind if I tag along during your unofficial meeting?"

Evgraf watched as Nikolai lips twitched on a smirk.

Raising an eyebrow, he asked "Should I be worried already?"

"No need for that."

Embassy of Georgia
20:45 pm

Max had decided that no matter the circumstances, there was no way in hell she would venture herself back into the 'Ladies Room' again in what was left of the night. She glanced at the closed doors by the end of the corridor; two security guards were posted at each side of it.

Alec and Evgraf Sokolov had crossed the same doors fifteen minutes ago. She had spent half of that time dodging the not so subtle advances of the secretary of some office who was three times her age and not taking the hints, and avoiding the idle chat from the younger girls. Finally she had escaped here, where she was able to get a clear view of the doors without rising suspicious.

Suddenly a figure blocked her vision range; she let her eyes lingered on the body in front of hers to focus at the end on the intruder's face. Light brown hair and gray blue eyes met her gaze, the guy was tall and with an athletic complexion, for the clothes he was wearing Max suspected that he probably was what Alec had been faking to be during the last hour.

"Did I pass the test?" The stranger asked her in a tone that was half mocking half serious, obvious having noticed the way she studied him.

"It depends what do you think I was testing you for?" Max cringed inwardly at the sound of her voice with that overly sweet tone.

The guy made a face and chuckled loudly.

"Please, I've seen you from the other side of the room and you are not what you're pretending to be. From the distance you seemed to own a brain. Hold on the sugary voice and I'll promise to entertain you with an interesting conversation."

Max eyed him suspiciously. Her mind and training were telling her to smile and turn around without a second look. Her instincts were quite a different story; there was something about the stranger that made her feel at ease, something telling her that he was not a threat.

Finally deciding to trust on her gut Max asked, "You seem to be quite confident about me, what makes you think you are correct?"

"The fact that you asked me a question without using a term of endearment." He replied with a suffered sigh.

Max laughed at the tone and offered her hand. "I'm Emily Michaels."

"Nice meeting you Emily. I'm Tyler Scott."

"Well Tyler, you realize that you'll have to deliver your end of the deal, don't you?"

"Of course Emily I'm planning to have you entertained during the whole party. After today you will never see these people the same way you used to." Tyler's enigmatic answer was followed by his hand liking her arm to his as he walked her away from the corridor and back into the party.

Max glanced at the door.

Still firmly closed.

For now, she will have to check on Alec from the distance.

Embassy of Georgia
20:45 pm

Neil had been watching closely at the pair since their arrival. He had seen Alec as he worked his magic on the people around him. He always compared it with a magnetic force; people have the tendency to gravitate around Alec, for better or worst. The guy could attract with the same ease the interest of the most important people or the worst scum on earth.

He had seen the flash of recognition in Alec's eyes as Sokolov greeted him. He gave it to the guy, even when he wasn't himself he was able to pull on the mask and pretended to be cool about it. Neil estimated that by now, Alec had probably remembered the most important parts of the 'Tbilisi Engagement'.

According to May, Alec's memory could be triggered by the smallest things at this stage. Biggs decision of not interfering today has been a bold movement on their part, Neil just wished that they wouldn't have to regret about it in the future.

His eyes widened as he listened to the conversation between Evgraf and Alec. Last time he had checked the situation of Georgia, it was the NSA which was on command of it. Last time he checked that Intel had been two weeks ago. The DSCA had no matters on it. Something wasn't right.

Neil watched as Max stood closer to the corridor that leads to the studio. If things get out of control, he wanted her as clueless as possible about Alec's relation with the whole ordeal. That's when he decided to interfere, and introduce himself with the alias for the night, Tyler Scott at your services.

He walked right in front of her, and successfully got her attention on him instead of the people at the other side of the doors.

As he led her back to the ballroom, he started telling stories about the guests. She wasn't as bad companion as he had guessed from watching her when he followed Alec. Her voice and facial expressions during those times had been way unfeminine not really fitting her, quite a change from her current behavior.

A knock on the studio's door and a quick exchange of words told him that the main meeting will be held soon and in a different location inside the house. Now he needed to keep Max's attention on anything besides it.

Embassy of Georgia
21:00 pm

A soft knock on the door stopped momentarily the chess game between Alec and Evgraf. The latter stood up and nodded at guard before closing the door.

Evgraf Sokolov walked toward the table where they set up the chess board but remained standing.

"I'm sorry Nikolai but we will have to finish this at some other time."

"Don't worry about it. Meeting time?"

"Indeed. We should go to the library."

Alec stood up as both men walked to the door, the guards then escorted them to the library where they found four men dressed in dark suits.

As the heavy oak doors of the library were closed the introductions began.

"Good evening gentlemen, I hope all of you enjoyed the party."

Sokolov's words were supposed to act as the ice breaker, however one man keep looking straight at Alec.

"Who's the newcomer?" The older of them asked.

Alec smirked before casually replying. "Nikolai Meslav, MI-5 and you gentlemen?"

"Of course where are my manners, these gentlemen are Josh Turner, Ted Nielsen, Adam Clay and I'm Peter Green. I wasn't aware of the MI-5 involvement?"

"As well as I wasn't aware of the DSCA engagement. It seems to me that both of us suffered from an ill communication. I believed the Georgia Agenda was still of the NSA's domain".

Peter Green had been working for the government for more than thirty years. When he accepted to be part of this operation he was well aware that it wasn't something clean. To put it simple, he was throwing away thirty years of career for a substantial monetary reward after seeing that been in the good boys side wasn't leading him anywhere.

The moment he heard the tone used by Meslav he knew two things. First, this mission has been blown out, and second even if he survived this night the rest of his life didn't look promising if Meslav ended up alive.

Nikolai Meslav had become Green's target the moment he mentioned the NSA and his connection with the MI-5. They could contain the situation if they successfully eliminated Meslav, although the agent seemed to be in close contact with Sokolov, which meant that they will have to eliminate Evgraf Sokolov as well.

The death of Georgia's Ambassador and former Defense Minister could be used in the cover story they had been working on. In fact, the proofs they had fabricated linking Sokolov with white slavery and illegal armory traffic inside the US territory could be easily supported by his death.

Looking straight in the hazel eyes of Meslav, Green nodded before replying.

"It seems that way Agent Meslav."

Alec had seen the panic in Green's eyes when he mentioned the NSA. It only confirmed his suspicious that these people were working on the sidelines. NSA never lost control of the Georgia Agenda. Maybe Logan's source wasn't so far from the truth; he or she was only misguided about who the real bad boys were.

By the speed of how things were progressing, Alec knew that if he and Evy didn't leave that room in the next two minutes an unfortunately accident will fall upon both of them.

"Well look at the time. Gentlemen I apologize but I have to leave. Mr. Sokolov do you care to show me the exit from these labyrinth you call embassy?"

It was stupid, but who knew if they will fall for it. Four raised guns told Alec that his intention has been futile and extremely naïve.

"I don't think so Nikolai, after all we haven't even started the meeting."

"What is going on Nikolai? Mr. Green?"

Evgraf Sokolov had been in thigh situations before, but being in one at his 65 years old was something he hadn't expected. He tried to gain some time for Nikolai, he doubted that these people will do something against him after all he was the Ambassador for his country, but the young man could use the time.

As Green got distracted and moved only slightly his eyes to glance at Sokolov's side, Alec used the time to grab the engraved pen from the table and hide it inside his sleeve.

"I don't have all the facts but I'm guessing that the NSA had no idea regarding the DSCA involvement with your country. There have been some rumors flying around about white slavery and armory traffic; I believe Mr. Green might have more information about it. Don't you Peter?"

Alec asked calmly while his eyes scanned the possible exits they could use, he needed exit routes for a man in his middle sixties. He was convinced that if he left Sokolov here, these men wouldn't hesitate in killing the politic and possible framing him for it.

Looking at the men in front of him Alec wondered how come the bad guys always came in large sizes, the bigger the better was apparently the slogan when recruiting them. The only good thing was that the bigger they were the funnier their fall will be.

"Brilliant Nikolai, it's a shame you're not going to share that piece of information with anyone else." Green commented unaffected and then looked in Sokolov's direction adding, "I'm deeply sorry Mr. Sokolov, but it seems like you're no longer useful to us."

Four pairs of eyes were focused on the two unarmed occupants of the room, ready to shot and erase the treat to their mission.

Embassy of Georgia
21:20 pm

Max had to admit this was probably the first formal party where she had really enjoyed herself. Tyler has proved to be an excellent company and had told her so many interesting stories about half of the party, that she was sure she would be able to have conversation topics for a couple of months.

She glanced at the watch of one of the waiters and realized that Alec had been gone for an hour. She looked in the direction of the studio and noticed that the guards were gone. It could only mean something, Alec and Sokolov had left that room and where somewhere else. How could she miss that, she needed to find out where they were and she needed to do it faster.

"I have to go the ladies room. Be back in a minute." Max smiled as she untangle her arm from her companion.

"Hell's branch on earth? Brave girl, I'll be around." Tyler laughed and let her go.

Max walked in the direction of the bathroom, turning around before entering she watched as Tyler got in a conversation with an old man he introduced her before. She bent down as if picking up something from the floor and used a group of people standing in front of her as a cover as she walked outside the Embassy building.

She needed a change of view.

Embassy of Georgia
21:21 pm

Neil could have made fun at Max's excuse if it wouldn't have provided him with time for himself. He needed to put his plan on motion.

After exchanging a couple of words with Gilbert Ashton, he walked toward the bathroom's ventilation duct and removed the cover. He closed his eyes concentrating in reducing the air pressure; he was aiming for a cold and strong wind.

The temperature in the whole building started to drop in a matter of seconds in opposition of the strength of the air from the ventilation ducts which seemed to be increased. A minute later he heard the first complains regarding the cold environment, hopefully this distraction would be enough to keep people out of the loop of the critical events taking place inside the building.

For now, his job was done. Probably cutting of the electricity could have worked too, but it would also have called Max's attention. This was better.

Embassy of Georgia
21:21:05 pm

He only needed as second.

Actually he only needed a couple of fractions of a second.

Alec stood next to Evgraf as both of them looked at the four Glock 17's aimed toward their heads, his mind defined the strategy the moment the men raised their guns now he was only waiting for the first man to make a move.

Ted Nielsen couldn't believe how fast the situation has deteriorated; it was supposed to be a simple mission, mostly surveillance barely any interaction. And now he was pointing his gun at a diplomatic member and an MI-5 agent.

He was nervous, and as an unintentionally reflex his right eye blinked. The sharp pain on his throat took him by surprise; his legs gave out as his body connected heavily with the floor. In the distance he heard the hiss of a bullet passing through the silencer and a quiet moan of pain. It was then that he noticed the blood on his shirt, on his hands, all around himself. The carmine substance flown from his body as well as his life, he was dying. It only took a second.

Adam Clay had not realized what had happened until he felt something warm on his face, followed closely but the burning pain of a bullet impacting on his chest, his lips opened on a pained hiss. The world stopped as he collapsed on the floor. Maybe it was better that Adam Clay didn't realize that the warm liquid on his face was Ted Nielsen's blood.

Since the first time he decided to join the agency, Josh Turner always took for granted that if someone was to die he was the one making the killing. Not once in his life he speculated with the possibility of him being in the other end. Not until now. The fear and surprise paralyzed him as he watched Meslav's actions in what seems to be slow motion. It was less than a second as he felt the pain exploding in front of his eyes, and then there was nothing.

Embassy of Georgia
21:30 pm

It only took a second.

Peter Green lay on the floor of the library surrounded by the fallen bodies of his men. He closed the phone he had been holding, he had called the chief.

It had only been a second.

He had watched as Nikolai stabbed Nielsen in the neck. Before the body touched the ground Meslav had shot Clay and Turner. But he never intended to kill him. The bastard had shot him on the knees. Never in his life had he seen someone move so fast, three men were killed before the first one had fallen dead.

And here he was soaked in his own blood, barely containing the pain and surrounded by dead bodies. Thirty years of his life went down the drain in only a second, maybe even less than a second.

Saint Mathews Hospital
21.40 pm

The car swayed at a dangerous speed and he could hear the distant sound of a siren. Logan was going to kill him if something happened to the car. Max was going to kill him for letting her out of the action. And Evgraf was going to kill him for endangering his life not once but at least three times in the last hour and a half.

"We're about two blocks from the hospital. You will be safer there."

"I'm not exactly worried about me Nikolai."

"Don't Evy. I'm always alright; you should know that by now."

The car stopped in front of the hospital emergency entrance. Alec looked at Evgraf's shocked expression. The man didn't need all the action he had seen today.

"I'll visit you soon for that game of chess."

A nearly invisible smile could be seen in Sokolov's face as he opened the car's door and walked out of it. He turned around and saluted towards Alec.

"I'll be waiting then."

The black Porsche speeded up getting lost on the avenue in seconds. At the same time Evgraf Sokolov's was being attended inside of Saint Mathews Hospital by a panicked nurse who was frantically looking for injuries in his body, not hearing a word about his explanation that the blood wasn't his.

As he drove back to the Embassy Alec's mind replayed the events that transpired less than twenty minutes ago. He had killed three men and left one crippled for the rest of his life. Strangely enough guilty was not the emotion reining his feelings, these men tried to kill him and an innocent bystander; he was not guilty about his decision although he knew that there will be hell to pay later.

He could visualize the swift movement of his wrist as he dug the pen deeper on the jugular of the first man and took his gun with his other hand. The natural reaction of his own body as he moved backward avoiding the splatter of blood as the man kept falling down. The automatic action of aiming and shooting the second man in the heart and moving instantly on the third, aiming to his head this time.

Green could have tried and ventured to shoot him, even if that would have been useless, but he didn't even try. Peter Green had stood up rotten to the carpet as Alec shot him on both knees. No vital organ had been injured; Alec was not interested on killing the man. According to Alec, for some people living was worst than dying, and he had the suspicious that Green fitted on that category.

These men were not even following a protocol, and he had acted on self defense. He knew that Max and Logan will be on his neck for it, on their book killing is always bad, and on his book it was better killing the enemy than get killed by the enemy.

Then there was the other thing.

As an X5 he was faster than a normal human, but tonight he was even faster than what was normal for an X5. Today has been a day of discoveries, first his enhanced sight, then hearing maximized, and now super speed and strength. When he thought about it, he was slightly apprehensive about what tomorrow may bring.

Embassy of Georgia
21:50 pm

Max finished telling the officer her story by the second time, the fact that she looked like a ditz didn't imply that she was one. All the guests to the event had been kept inside of the building as the police proceeded to take all their declarations. Three dead bodies were found in the library and a forth guy had been gravely injured.

It was a guard who heard the screams and found the bodies, alerting to the police and calling an ambulance.

She knew that Alec was no longer inside the building. She saw him leaving with Evgraf Sokolov; in fact she bumped into him when he was leaving.

She had walked out of the embassy building in search of an alternative entrance route only to find Alec walking out of a window accompanied by Georgia's Ambassador.

Max remembered demanding and immediate answer, which she didn't get at the end.

"What is going on?"

"Emily, I swear I'll explain later. For now just trust on me, OK?"

There had been something about the tone of Alec's voice or the look in his eyes that told her that he was more than capable to handle the situation.

"Fine"

Max wasn't sure why she had agreed on that, she was thinking exactly what excuse she will do when the rest of the people will remember that she had been accompanied by Alec at first and Tyler's next.

That had been half an hour before.

She felt a hand over her arm, and as she spins around she found Alec standing next to her.

"You have a lot of explaining to do."

"I know Max. By the way thanks for covering me with the cops." He whispered in her ear, pretending to be comforting his girlfriend. Max tensed for a second. She hadn't said anything about him to the cops.

From the other side of the room, Neil watched as the police finally started letting the people go and as Max and Alec walked out of the door. Taking in consideration all the things that had happened in the last 120 minutes, he could consider himself lucky to have been able to keep some sort of order in all the mayhem. He had even contacted Thomas Hathaway from the NSA.

It hadn't been a boring night, and at least for him it wouldn't end until he hit the last stop.

Saint Mathews Hospital
22.10 pm

Evgraf Sokolov's mind was trying to catch up with the events he experienced during the past two hours. Nikolai had been gone after leaving him inside of the safety walls of the hospital. However, even now he was trying to understand what had happened.

A young man in his mid twenties and his companion, a more mature looking guy who was rubbing tiredly the bridge of his nose stood in front of him. The older guy started talking.

"Mr. Sokolov, please let me offer you my deepest apologies about all that happened tonight."

Tonight Evgraf decided that politics and diplomacy could easily go to hell. "I'm not having a good night so let's make it quick, who are you?"

"I'm Thomas Hathaway, NSA Deputy Director of External Affairs."

"Are you going to explain to me what had happened?"

"I'm sorry sir that is classified information." replied Hathaway.

"Then why in God's name did you come for?" an exasperated Sokolov muttered.

"To let you know that something like this won't happen again." Added quietly the younger man.

"You're in the NSA too?"

"No Sir. I'm in the MI-5"

Sokolov let out a tired sigh. "He left a while ago."

"We know Mr. Sokolov; he wasn't supposed to be there in the first place."

Evgraf's eyes became hard. "I see."

"We will escort you back to your hotel."

"….." A single nod had been the only answer he gave to the pair.

Neil watched at Evgraf's reaction, he didn't blame the guy, even he was feeling a little stressed. Sokolov will be safe now, the NSA was not exactly his favorite bunch of people inside the government, but at least he knew that Artemis had a stronger hold on that agency.

Alec's Apartment
00:15 pm

On the other side of the city, Alec looked absently at the sleeping city from his window. He wonders if tonight he would dream about his life and another piece of the puzzle will fit back in place.

He walked to his bedroom and fell over his bed, burying his face on the pillow. Minutes later he's completely asleep.

It all started in Tbilisi, around February of 2015. That was when he was reminded that with Nicole some things were better left unspoken…

To be continued