A/N: This is quite a big chapter as it is Sasha's first day in Section D and not everyone is willing to accept him into the team...
Enjoy and be sure to let me know your thoughts!
Chapter Four
The subsequent week passed all too quickly for Sasha and Emma. Each day followed a similar routine. They'd lie in bed until noon, dozing and cuddling before finally getting up to indulge in brunch. They'd spend the afternoons curled up on the sofa with cups of tea, reading, or watching daytime TV. They went out for dinner on quite a few evenings, often succeeded by a trip to the cinema. These occasions were really making up for the dating stage that they were unable to experience in the first few weeks of their relationship due to their work commitments, not to mention the disapproving colleagues and relatives who had initially frowned upon the partnership.
A real advantage of dating in an established relationship is of course that the '3 date rule' so to speak, no longer need apply-an advantage with Sasha and Emma fully exploited, naturally. Each evening after returning home, they would end the night with a session of love-making, sometimes tender, sometimes more lustful, but always utterly exquisite. They had never spent so much time together, yet it was still not enough, and never would be, in Emma's opinion at least; she was desperate for it not to end. On Sunday morning, she awoke slightly saddened by the fact that she would be returning to work the next day. Obviously she was grateful that she would be spending her day in Sasha's company at The Grid from now on, though she understood that their relationship would need to transform into a working one; the romance would have to be saved until they returned home each evening.
"Come on, Emma, we're gonna be late," Sasha called out through the bathroom door.
"We've got plenty of time, don't worry," Emma replied, calmly, continuing to rub hand cream into her skin leisurely.
"I don't think I should turn up late on my first day," Sasha said, clearly sensing the lack of urgency about his girlfriend.
"Harry's not going to hold it against you; he is your Dad after all, and besides, we are not going to be late, so relax," Emma told him.
"If we don't leave in the next minute then we will be," Sasha insisted, tapping his fingers repeatedly on the dresser in agitation. "And if you don't come out of there soon, I'll be forced to leave without you."
"Alright, alright," Emma surrendered and finally vacated the bathroom. "I'm ready, we can leave. We'll most likely be early, though."
"I'm willing to take that risk," Sasha said, as he handed Emma her coat with an overt smile.
"Hi!" Emma called out to everyone as she stepped out of the pods, Sasha remaining apprehensively behind her, his hands in his pockets.
"Nice to have you back, and welcome, Sasha," Ruth greeted the pair of them warmly.
Sasha then called out to Tariq, "hello," as he rushed past with various pieces of heavy-looking computer equipment, though he elicited no response.
"Sasha, Emma," Erin nodded at the pair. "I trust you are well rested. You sure do have a lot to catch up on," she told them, whilst intermittently glancing at the iPad in her clutches.
"Decided to drag yourself back in at last then I see," Dimitri said jokingly, pinching Emma's arm affectionately as he came over to join the group. "Hey, Sasha, great to have you in the team man, let's just hope you can survive the mad house."
Sasha laughed in response to Dimitri's comment, but abruptly stopped as soon as he saw his stony-faced father walk out of his office.
"You're late," he announced, to which Sasha responded by shooting Emma a glare that was usually reserved for espionage-fuelled shoot-outs with terrorists. "Everyone in the meeting room, now."
His team obediently followed Harry's orders, Ruth racing ahead in front, Emma lagging behind as she whispered an apology to Sasha, all the while stifling a laugh.
"Come in," Harry called out pleasantly, even in spite of the fact that it was out of office hours and he was getting ready to leave; he was just so thrilled that someone had actually taken the time to knock on his door instead of just barging on in ahead as was the normal protocol.
Tariq entered into the room, a little sheepishly, Harry noted.
"Do take a seat," he gestured to the chair in front of him. "What can I help you with?"
Tariq hesitated in speaking, shuffling in his seat as he tried to figure out how to word what he wanted to say correctly. Although he'd been thinking about it all week, everything he'd come up with had sounded either offensive or just down right out-of line.
"Do try and make it snappy Tariq," Harry urged, "I've got a pie and chips waiting for me at home with my name on it, and I'd hate it to get cold."
Tariq decided he had better just come out with it, "I'm concerned that you've employed an FSB agent to work in the British Intelligence Services."
"Ahh," Harry sighed, this was inevitable he knew. He was unsure as to how his decision would go down with the team since he'd told them all last week, and if he was being completely honest, he was surprised that only one of them was voicing their concerns.
"I know he's your son, and you trust him but…" Tariq faltered.
"You're not so sure that I should?" Harry suggested.
"I've never questioned your judgement before Harry, but in this instance I feel it might just be a little…clouded," Tariq was stepping carefully, not wanting to sound disrespectful towards his boss.
"I understand," Harry remained rational, aware that it must have taken some real guts for his technician to broach him on the subject, "and I admire your tenacity. But I must try and reassure you by explaining the reasoning behind my decision to recruit Sasha."
Tariq nodded, prompting his boss to continue.
"First and foremost I must remind you that Sasha is now a former FSB agent, no longer working for the Russian government. Over the years I have dealt with double agents, triple agents, and probably even a few quadruple agents come to think of it! So I think it's fair to say that I know a traitor when I see one…"
"But what if you don't want to see someone for what they truly are?" Tariq blurted out.
"If you are implying that sentiment has rose-tinted my metaphorical glasses Tariq then I must urge you that they do in fact remain crystal clear. Sasha may be my biological child, but we are from father and son; I've been absent most of his life. I don't see him in that way at this moment," Harry felt that at the present moment in time it was best not to bring up the fact that he wished for his relationship with Sasha to become closer, "instead I see him as a talented officer who showcased his skills and abilities to me in the trial operation the other week, and who I believe will integrate well into this Section, proving to be a welcome addition. Furthermore I hope you will come to agree with me on this matter soon enough. In the meantime, I ask you to just give him a chance, sure keep a close eye on him if you like, but I'm confident he will surprise you."
Tariq took in his monologue, but still only felt minimally reassured.
"It's just…you've seen what his mother was capable of," Tariq said, "for all we know, Sasha could have been using Emma and manipulating you as a way of getting into MI5, all to then feed information back to Russia."
"Sasha has been through intensive security tests, using techniques and machinery that was not available to use on his mother back in the 80s I might add," Harry attempted to lighten the mood a little. "Of course, as you know, we can never really be certain about anyone or anything in our line of work. For all we know I could be working for Libya, and you for Iran. But I like to think we trust each other. Trust is always a risk, and where Sasha is concerned, I really believe he is a risk worth taking."
"I understand," Tariq replied, and he was not lying completely. Some of the points Harry had made had resonated with him and did make sense. He was still not totally sold, but he would give Sasha a chance. He hadn't gone into the office with the hope of convincing Harry to go back on his decision, he had just wanted to check that his boss had not been overwhelmed with sentimentality all of sudden, and he was now confident that this was not the case. Harry was still Harry! So he left feeling at least somewhat satisfied. "Goodnight Harry, enjoy your pie and chips!"
"Oh I will, don't you worry!" he called back as the door shut behind Tariq.
"Tea?" Sasha called out from the kitchen to Emma, who was padding out from the bedroom, having changed out of her work clothes and into something a little more comfortable.
"Ooh, I'd love one, thank you," Emma replied as she reclined back into the sofa, exhausted from her first day back at work. "So, how did you find it today?"
"It was good, hectic, but no more than what it was like with the FSB. However, the team is a little friendlier than I'm used to," Sasha explained as he poured the hot water into the tea pot.
"I can imagine," Emma hummed. "I'm sorry about making us late, by the way, it's just I'm used to never being early!"
"Don't worry, it was just first day nerves making me little irritable, so I'm sorry if I was a bit off. I never knew the prospect of working for my father would be so intimidating," Sasha confessed.
"Harry is such a powerful presence, and I was absolutely terrified of him when I first started. But over the years I've realised that he's just a big softy inside, made evidently clear since his relationship with Ruth has been official. Saying that though, I'm still in awe of him; he's done so much over his career, been part of so many operations, met so many agents, gathered so much intelligence, and still managed to remain totally loyal to his country throughout. That's why I look up to him so much, and aspire to never disappoint him," Emma revealed, making it clear that she understood where Sasha was coming from. "So, I imagine that pressure is a hundred times greater seeing as he is your father."
"It's strange, I haven't known him very long, but I already feel like there is a connection between us, and a much stronger one than was ever between myself and Ilya, so I guess that's why I just don't want to let him down," Sasha spoke down into the mugs of tea that he was stirring, finding it easier to pour his heart out without resuming eye contact with Emma.
"You won't, and even if you ever do mess up, he'll still always be on your side, because he's your father, and as you say, there is a bond between you, one that is virtually unbreakable. Harry claims that his job comes first, but he's reached an age now where I believe his priorities have finally changed. He's got Ruth, and now he's got you, and I truly believe that he'll always be there for you, supporting you, in one way or another," Emma told her boyfriend reassuringly as she accepted the cup of tea he handed her.
"You really think?" Sasha asked as he took a seat beside her.
Emma nodded, before lightening the mood by adding: "But I will promise to get ready a bit quicker from now on so that we are definitely not late again, as to not irritate Harry!"
Sasha laughed heartedly, before planting a soft kiss on Emma's cheek. "I really do love you, you know," he said softly. He meant it too; he had really appreciated Emma's heartfelt words that evening. He was even starting to believe she may be right about his father too, at least, he hoped she was.
A/N: I know that Harry contradicts himself slightly in what he says to Tariq about his relationship with his son when compared to his conversation with Sasha in the last chapter. But in my mind Harry HAS in fact become more sentimental (Ruth has changed him) but he does not want to let on to Tariq so he alters the truth slightly. Furthermore, he is trying to convince himself that he hasn't made a decision with his heart and not his head, as he does not want to appear vulnerable. That is my take anyway. Let me know what you think.