A/N: I must inform you in advance that I am a Brit thus I do not know much about the politics, the setup or the details of the FBI. If there are any inconsistancies which are blaringly obvious to more seasoned readers, do not hesitate to tell me. I will not take offense. That concerns grammar errors and general mistakes which I may have overlooked in my proof reading sessions. Also, thanks to those who reviewed to my previous chapters. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
Chapter Five
As soon as Don and Nikki reached the elevator, a hand caught Don on the shoulder. He turned immediately, his reactions sharpened by the apprehension he was feeling, and came face to slightly bruised face with Ian Edgerton.
"What?" Don hissed, too angry about Edgerton's decision to cut him out of the investigation to look him in the face, instead turning back to wait for the sliding doors to open. Nikki ignored them both and pressed the down button again, thinking to avoid any conversations or - no doubt - disagreements which would arise if they stayed much longer.
"Where are you going, Eppes?"
"For a jelly donut." Nikki snapped, quietly, still pissed off by their earlier altercation. "Does it matter?"
"Yes." He moved closer, so less of their conversation was heard by all of the agents positioned nearby. "You don't like jelly donuts." The implications of their statements and body language hit Don like a ton of bricks, and he felt uncomfortable intruding upon such a moment.
"No one can ever really know another person." Nikki quoted, still very hostile.
"Shut up Nikki. Just listen to me."
"Why should-"
"Meet me in the stairwell in five minutes and I might let Warner out of holding, and ignore the breaches in protocols that Granger and Sinclair are performing." He shot her a less than friendly look. "Not to mention I won't hold charges against you." Nikki faced forwards, and another two agents came up behind him, ones which she recognised from executive levels. She briefly wondered what the PR guys were doing on their floor. Immediately upon realising that these agents were within earshot, Ian backed away and spoke more clearly. Louder, as if wanting everyone to hear him.
"You should hurry back, Eppes. There's no knowing when the kidnappers might call." He backed away, and Nikki had to give him credit. He was quite the actor.
The elevator doors opened and they got in, their aim no longer the lobby, but instead to two floors below, where they had a legitimate excuse of chasing up files on their most recent case, which in comparison, seemed like a walk in the park. As soon as the doors slid shut, Don and Nikki swiftly changed their course, and instead of following their presumed path into the bullpen, they veered over to the stairs and slipped through the door discreetly. Neither drew very much to any attention to themselves; a skill that they had both learnt from undercover operations.
Edgerton took two minutes to show, and he did so from the unlikely doors behind them. He had clearly had the same thoughts concerning security. Like always, he was seen but not remembered.
Nikki immediately rounded on him angrily, and he backed away slightly, wary upon remembering the way their earlier conversation had come to a close.
"Well? Explain yourself Ian!" She said, shrilly, though keeping her voice quite quiet as not to be heard by the agents on that floor. Edgerton shook his head, holding up his hands in defense, as if he was scared she was going to jump at him. Which was probably the best move to make under the circumstances.
"Listen, I know what this looks like, but I can explain, Nik." Don watched Edgerton with narrowed eyes, not as easily calmed as Nikki.
"Explain then." He barked, harshly.
"Look Nikki, all I know right now is that this is bigger than you or me, or even you, Don. I get the call that I'm taking the case, even though I was at the scene. They don't question me about if I think I'm too close to the case. They would never do this normally." Don's expression turned to confusion, and he moved forwards sharply.
"What do you mean? Who is 'they'?"
"'They' is AD Wright. He phoned me up personally and told me to keep you out of the case. I thought at first that you'd been trying to take control, which you actually were, but I don't think that's the reason anymore." Ian told them, still in hushed tones.
"And that reason is...?" Nikki asked, eyebrows raised, but Ian shook his head.
"I'm not entirely sure what the reason is yet, but he didn't sound like he was giving the orders here. There's something going on with him, and I'm in no position to find out if you want me to find Professor Eppes." Nikki watched him carefully, and Don suspiciously.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" He asked, unforgivingly. Ian looked at the ground, then back up, but not at him. He looked at Nikki.
"What you said earlier. You were right. That's why I gave you my passcode." He raised an eyebrow at Nikki's surprised and ashamed expression. "What, you think I didn't know when you were lying?" She watched him coldly.
"I wasn't lying. I'm better at faking it than you know." She said, curtly, and he rolled his eyes.
"Whatever Nikki. But remember, you do not talk to me if any of my agents are nearby. The team was specially requested by AD Wright and they have a reputation of being asskissers. Any excuse and they'll sell me out." He sounded pissed off at her reply. "Before you ask, I don't think that there's going to be a ransom demand. These people are professionals. They would have called by now." Ian added, as an afterthought.
"Edgerton, just-"
"If I give you any more information about your brother's case right now, Eppes, you will try to interfere. I'm not stupid and I'm not naive. You will no doubt complicate matters, and perhaps even be detained. Your best chance to get Charlie back now is to check out Wright. He has tabs on my account so I can't specifically investigate him. Tell Granger and Sinclair that, then tell them to get off my account or I will detain them."
"I thought you were trying to help us."
"I'll need a little trust on your part." Nikki and Don watched him stony-faced. "Nikki, just please trust me. I've never lied to you." Ian said, staring straight at her so that she had to look away. He was right: she could not remember a single time when he had lied to her. It really pissed her off when he was right.
"Fine, but first minute that we think that you're not being honest with us, the rules change completely."
"Stop with the threats, Nik. They're not becoming of you." She shot him a glare. "But I do agree. Now clear off and log in under badge number 18723, passcode LADM2 from a remote location; I set you up an empty account with executive level security and level six access." Don looked impressed. He was head of Violent Crimes Unit and he only had level three. "I'll tell the surveillance team that security called and you went home." He backed away, and peeked cautiously through the door, while Don started away down the stairs. Nikki hovered in the middle, battling with her emotions. Finally, the guilty side won.
"Ian!" He pulled back just as he was about to go through the door, and looked at her curiously, though Don thought that he saw a little bit of hope in there too. Nikki's partner headed down the stairs, ignoring the strange pangs he felt by leaving them alone. He didn't know if he was worried about what he may do or what she might say.
"What, Nik?" Nikki moved forwards, and caught him in a loose embrace. Immediately, Ian stiffened, but relaxed within moments, burying his face in her hair.
"I'm sorry I doubted you. It's just..." She couldn't find the words to explain herself, though she felt that she should.
"It's okay, Nik. You had no reason to trust me, not when I was acting the way I was." She pulled back and kissed him, although it lacked the emotion which he expected. Something was still wrong between them, and it was nothing to do with their trust issues. "I'll see you later though. Good luck." Nikki stared at him for a moment, very close up, then gave him one last kiss.
"You too. You'd better find Charlie." She wasn't sure if that was a threat or a request. Either way, he was going to face consequences if he didn't.
"I will. Go now, Eppes isn't a patient man." He said, playfully, and Nikki chuckled.
"Damn right he's not." She turned on her heel and trotted away down the stairs, towards where Don was waiting for her.
Ian watched her go, waiting until the sound of her footsteps had faded away before he let the soft smile on his face fade. Mouth set in a grim line, he strode through the double doors from the stairwell again, heading back towards the elevator. He didn't care if he was seen now.
Agent Edgerton rode the elevator to the eighth floor, to the executive levels, and never once did his expression change. Once there, he knocked purposefully on the door of the Assistant Director's office.
"Come in." Came the calm, deep reply. Edgerton did, his expression still the same. He did not sit, even though the man behind the desk motioned to a chair. He wasn't staying long. "Have you done what I asked, Agent Edgerton?" Ian swallowed, feeling the slightest itch of unease at the man's cold composure.
"Yes Assistant Director Easton. Everything that you asked." The Assistant Director leant back in his chair, watching his agent with an air of cool authority.
"And is Agent Betancourt going to be a problem?" Ian shook his head, though he felt ashamed to do so. He felt sick.
"No Sir, she believed me."
"Are you certain?" He asked, sternly. "I don't want a fuck up because you can't keep your feelings to yourself."
"Yes." Ian nodded, making a clear effort to look more stern and composed. "Yes I am sure. Is Eppes okay?" AD Easton nodded.
"He will be returned to his family, as will Professor Rumanujan, when I feel that the time is right."
"They're already looking into Assistant Director Wright-"
"That will be all, Agent Edgerton." The completely unconcerned look which hardened Easton's face told Ian that it was time to stop arguing. He nodded, feeling the bile rise in this throat. This was fucked up.
"Yes Sir." He moved swiftly out of the office and moved down a floor, the Assistant Director's words still ringing in his ears. There was nothing logical or in control about this situation. Following orders was a new concept for Ian, and he was finding it pretty damn hard.
He made sure that there was no one in the mens' room before being copiously sick into the toilet.
