It had been a terrible afternoon for Anna, although her mates had tried their best to cheer her up, taking her at first round the city, and telling stories of the multiple occasions when they could have been fired but were not. She had stayed silent about what had happened, and bitterly regretted the lashes she had given the two MI6'es. For all she knew, she could be kicked out... very probably those two would demand it. She had finally told the lads to leave her alone but they had bluntly refused to do that. Finally Anna had given up, and started to prepare dinner, although she had no appetite.
"Come on, Anna. You won't be fired." It was maybe the tenth time when Ray had spotted her stir the stew like a robot, with glazed eyes.
"HALT with that salt!" Bodie launched at her and snatched the caster just in time to prevent a triple spicing. "TABASCO too!" He hastily cleared from sight all the spices he had seen already be added before taking a tea-spoon and tasting. "Out from here now, woman. This is just perfect, don't spoil it. Set the table. Shoo." He blocked Anna away from the stove, turned the heat down to minimum, and put the lid on. And a minute later he was busy sweeping shards of glass as the doorbell had rang right at a critical moment.
"You'd better keep your shoes on, Sir."
Hearing Bodie's comment from inside Anna's apartment Mr Cowley raised his eyebrows questioningly at Doyle who took his jacket. "Yeah, the doorbell proved too loud for Anna."
Stepping in, the Controller saw shards of glass in a dustpan. "Och, did I startle you, lass?"
Anna looked ashamed and embarrassed bringing the bread. Bodie calmly moved the dustpan to kitchen and brought fourth set of cutlery with new glasses with him. "Never mind, Sir. We were ready for a dinner, do you want to wash your hands first?"
The Controller shook his head at Anna. "Ach, thank you but I'll have my dinner at my place, only wanted to talk with you face to face."
Bodie calmly set the fourth plate. "Do sit down for the meal with us, Sir. There's plenty as Mrs Autopilot here added every ingredient at least twice. Besides, she's not able to eat herself anyway before she hears that we're right."
Mr Cowley sat down. "Right about what?"
Ray offered him mineral water which he accepted. "That you won't fire her from the Squad."
Anna was pale when mr Cowley gave her a glance. "Of course I don't fire you, silly. Did you really think I would let that happen? Besides, I haven't had such entertaining afternoon for a long time! Made the blood flow."
He chuckled but grew soon serious again. "You will be dismissed for a month though, and I sincerely hope you get bored enough to think twice before giving in to your impulses in the future. At least I would be most grateful if you opened your mouth in advance. Ralston did demand more, but I gave him a couple of... eh, educational comments using no uncertain terms, as you Anna might have put it, and he decided to stay quiet after that."
Anna was mute, the relief surging through her was enormous.
"Ralston himself can be happy if he manages to escape with any post in MI6 though. I got tired of him and I certainly won't stay quiet. McAllister will be a lot more careful in the future and I think he will not offer a very strong shoulder for... och..." A quick kiss on his cheek distracted the Controller for a moment. "Now, now lass, you make the lads jealous."
But the agents only grinned and Ray placed the stew on the table turning the spoon to Controller's side.
"Where was I..." warmth in his chest was indeed very distracting. "Aye, McAllister, he probably leaves Ralston to fend for himself. I almost feel pity towards that man. He must have had a nervous breakdown or something of the sort, he used to be quite good but this was pathetic..." The stew smelled delicious so the Controller gave in and started to fill his plate.
"I have to say though, that I was most impressed by your self-control, Anna. I have no doubt that the thought of starting to feed Ralston pieces of his own jaw was very tempting."
Anna gave her superior a dark glance. "It wasn't exactly his jaw that I wanted to feed him. Otherwise you are correct, Sir. And if it had been any other place or situation..." she almost snarled.
Both agents' gazes sharpened. "What's that about, Sir?"
Mr Cowley snorted before replying to Bodie. "Efficient man, Ralston. He managed in a couple of sentences insult Anna's husband, as well as Anna herself and her competence, CI5, and me. But this lady made sure Ralston probably only dares to breathe inwards if he knows she's anywhere within 200 yards. Even I got worried for a moment."
Ray put his glass down. "Please don't tell me she threatened a MI6 officer!"
Controller chuckled. "Threatened? Nooo... She only volunteered to offer him... what was it... ach, a personal demonstration of every single skill and talent that she has gained from her combat teachers. Scared the hell out of that man, she did, and never even raising her voice. Och, you would have loved to see that, lads. Anna growled the man to dig himself into the cushions of his chair... and totally ridiculed McAllister when he interrogated her. Aye, you would also have got a field day out of that! She was being very... hm, helpful, offering those educational comments like that the men should have been more interested in what she has above her shoulders than below them..." Both agents almost choked to their mouthfuls.
"Lass, you didn't exactly make friends today."
Anna had finally filled her own plate. "Those two made their hostility against us both clear already to begin with. But McAllister and Ralston together were not half as scary as you were, crushing them, Sir." She gave the Scot a pondering look. "I was certain of course that you had made a background-check on me, but I had no idea you had searched information about Dad, Grandpa and TJ as well."
For once, the Scot looked a little embarrassed. "Ach... also about your mother, lass. Some time ago, actually. I do hope you don't take my curiosity ill. You are such an... unusual person that I was simply interested to find out more about the ones who raised you. And I think that even your husband still raised you to a degree. But I could never have imagined that Ralston be such a low-life that he tried to attack you through your husband." Anna's face was blank and the Controller started to feel guilty and even almost ashamed of himself. The frowns of the agents didn't much help either.
"I have copies of everything for you and your brother, lass. In case you want to learn more about things your family-members may not have mentioned to you or him. And I must say that I feel very sorry I never got the chance to meet your family-members in person."
Anna was quiet for a while. "They would have liked you, Sir. And the two of you, misfits. Yes, I guess that TJ also needed to raise me, the brat that I still was when I met him. Thank you, Sir, I would love to see those papers."
After a while her lip started to twitch. "Unusual... see now guys, that's a mark of a gentleman, you would have said weird instead."
Bodie pulled a face at her. "What would you have said yourself?"
Anna thought for a moment. "Wacky." And this time the Controller didn't need to stay serious.
Bodie was still chuckling when Anna suddenly remembered her greatest fear. "Sir, if you didn't mean to fire me, what did you mean by the new arrangements?"
Her eyes were suddenly full of anxiety but the Controller didn't hurry, savouring the tasty stew. "Och, well, I did quite some talking with Macklin today. He wasn't exactly happy about your dismissal, but luckily your group has advanced so much that they can manage without you. For a while, I mean. As when you return to the HQ, you start their combat-training. Also, I agreed to Macklin's requests that Fischer and Jackson are to receive training from you too, as well as a few male agents Bodie, Doyle, Murphy and Jax will handpick for you. NO buts, young lady!" The Controller had seen Anna opening her mouth to protest. "That is an order. Macklin himself starts to participate in your rehabilitation and physique-training. And he wants to start that on Monday assuming it is all right with you."
Bodie grimaced. "It's best then that I restock all our medicine cabinets tomorrow. Macklin is almost a human being with Anna but still he'll make her hurt."
The Controller looked at the sulking face. "No use pouting, young lady. None of us expects you to instantly have a grip on teaching something that has become instinctive for you. But start from simple basic self-defense, and with those who are more advanced, you play by the ear. You have a month to give thought to it. Things and thoughts and ideas will become clearer with time. And Macklin will help you with yourself. "
He took a swallow from his glass. "There is so much you can teach. So much you are capable of. Right, lads?"
Bodie's eyes met his. "I agree, Sir. Anna is a gift, if she only started to really have faith in herself anywhere near as much as we have in her." The look the agent gave her was very soft. "And I mean outside the office hours too." Anna looked at him but didn't say anything.
Ray accompanied Bodie. "Yeah, there's some work to be done 'bout that. See, Sir, she faced terrorists, right? Fought them without flinching. And she faced the two from MI6 who were after her scalp and didn't give a shiver there either if I understood you right. But when the doorbell rang she panicked, fearing your disapproval, although we had spent the day trying to tell her she wouldn't need to worry."
Anna had blushed. The Scot hemmed and smiled, feeling oddly moved, both by Anna's fright, and by the caring the two hellions showed towards her. "Didn't know I was that scary. But maybe that spares me some day from the handling she gave those two." Anna's blush deepened.
"Well, I suppose that Macklin and we are able to sort her... sensitiveness out between ourselves. Or what do you think, lads?"
Bodie grinned. "Sure, Sir. And Macklin's version of TLC is so deeply touching that it serves her right. "
Anna lifted her fork in a warning gesture. "Shut up or I tell Mac you've been gaining weight." That muted Bodie for a moment and set the two other men laughing.
Still guffawing, Ray got on his feet. "I remembered I brought something." He soon returned with a bottle of sherry and more glasses. "As we all are here now, why not a moment of genuine celebration? I've been told that gloating is considered bad manners despite it being such a sincere joy, but we could instead have a little toast on the persons who have been raising Anna, past and present. For a job bloody well done." And even the embarrassed educant agreed to that toast.
The dinner had been tasty and pleasant. The plates were already pushed aside when mr Cowley consulted his watch. "Och goodness, I'd better get on my way. Stephen comes for a game of chess. Thank you, Doyle, for the fine sherry. Anyone needing a lift?" He was on his feet.
"Actually I could use a lift, left my car home. And maybe I get company for the evening." Ray got also on his feet.
Bodie nudged Anna. "Well we could go and watch some film or something then? Whaddya say?"
She thought for a moment and then grinned. "Ok, if you do the dishes..." Bodie rolled his eyes but started meekly clear the table under the subtle smiles of his chief and mate.
Mr Cowley touched Anna's cheek. "Thank you for the delicious dinner, lass."
Anna's eyes were very bright. "Thank you for everything, Sir."
He smiled. "Och, you're welcome, bairn. Now, do you want to send regards to Stephen? You were so fond of his needles."
Anna rolled her eyes in her turn. "I did really start to suspect he has a sadistic streak, with all due respect... but actually, I suppose it's time for a checkup. Would you please tell him that I'll phone tomorrow for an appointment? And do have a good time but please don't beat him too badly tonight, he may want to have revenge on my hide." She smiled though.
"Well then, we're on our way. I wish you both a pleasant evening."
Ray also raised his arm for goodbye. "Thanks Anna. Have fun but don't break any more tableware. And Bodie, maybe not Schwartzenegger, eh?" He winked an eye.
"He loved your kiss". Bodie by the sink had that inimitable and infuriating scoundrel look of his, and Anna tried to ignore his eyebrow.
"Who?" She was packing the leftover for the fridge.
"The old man. Clear as day, that was. And he called you silly. And bairn. And patted your cheek."
Anna gave the agent an ugly glance. "So? Besides he didn't pat my cheek. He simply touched it. If you start acting up, I may even consider giving him another kiss."
Bodie brushed soap foam on her cheek. "I don't mind, and you know that, silly bairn. I just realised how much he... oh never mind, go and have that shower of yours now so we get on the move today. By the way, what do you want to see?"
"So, Sir, whaddya think? Is it going to be Commando or Casablanca?"
The Scot chuckled behind the wheel. "Och, hard to tell, both are fitting. Casablanca for Bodie and Commando for Anna."
Ray already opened his mouth to protest for his mate, but after a moment of thought he started to laugh. "Yeah, maybe. Anyway, whatever it will be, it's good for them. Besides, about time, bloody hell."
His chief smiled. "Aye, my thoughts exactly. About time."
END OF CHAPTER 9