This is Prompt No. 95-Work

Shane stumbled out of his room the next morning, rubbing his eyes and trying to wake up. He yawned widely and leaned against the doorframe, trying not to groan. He and Mitchie had arrived late last night, tired but happy after their day free from espionage and constrictions. He smiled as he thought back on the day and determined that no matter how tired he was, the day had been worth it.

"You must be tired," someone said.

Shane opened his eyes and squinted to see who was standing in front of him. "Hi, Caitlyn," he muttered.

His sister-in-law grinned widely and said, "Hi yourself. Boy, you and Mitchie are terrible today. I went to get her up, and she fell right back to sleep."

"I wish I could do just that," Shane replied, rubbing his hand over his face and then smoothing down his hair.

Caitlyn cocked her head to the side. "Why can't you?" she asked. "Are you on an assignment or something?" The look on her face told Shane that she was rapidly going through all her mental files to make sure that she hadn't missed a briefing by the general.

"No," Shane assured her, "you didn't miss anything. I got back to my room last night and found a summons from the general. He wants to see me this morning, bright and early." Shane's dry excitement told Caitlyn that he was more tired than he let on.

"What did you do this time?" she teased.

Shane rolled his eyes. "It's not that kind of summons, sister of mine." He batted his eyelashes at her and said, "I've been the perfect little angel."

"Ha!" Caitlyn chortled. "That'll be the day!" She grew more serious and put her hand on his arm. "I hope everything goes well."

Shane nodded his thanks and forced his body to move down the tunnels towards the general's office. When he reached the office, he knocked on the door and was bid to enter. "Yes?" he asked as he walked in.

"Ah, Shane!" the general said. "Do sit down." He watched as Shane sat down in the chair in front of his desk. "You look a little tired," he remarked. "You're hair's a mess as well."

Shane groaned, knowing that the general was teasing him, and unconsciously ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, well, it was worth it," he told the general.

The general smiled. "I'm sure it was," he replied. Then, his expression changed and he grew serious again. "We have a job for you to do."

Shane nodded. "Okay."

"It's dangerous," the general warned.

"Aren't they always?"

You'll be away for a while."

Shane paused, thinking of Mitchie, and then nodded, realizing that in the general's mind, the wellbeing of the country was more important. "Aren't I always?" he responded again.

"You might have to kill someone."

Shane winced. He hated to have to kill someone unless it was absolutely necessary, but his job usually required that he do so. Sometimes, the horrors that he faced would revisit him during the night and he would wake up in a panic. When he had first started working for the UUS, he had woken up almost every night, screaming from the nightmares that plagued him. At that time, Nate had been his constant companion, many times leaving Caitlyn alone in bed to sit with Shane until he fell back to sleep.

"Don't I usually?" he asked.

The general nodded. "Yes, but I just want you to realize what you'll have to go through on this mission. It'll be long and hard."

"Understood," Shane assured him. "What do I do?"

For the next two hours, Shane and the general discussed the specifics of the assignment, examining the pros and cons of the work Shane would soon be doing. By they time they finished their meeting, Shane had a sinking feeling in his stomach that refused to go away. He nodded and smiled mechanically as the general talked, but was really off in thought.

"Is there anything else you'd want to know?" the general asked, closing the meeting. "Any questions you might have?"

"Just one," Shane said, sitting forward.

A/N: What will Shane's question be? Any guesses? Please review!