Eyal was fast to react, angrily he outed, "Sharon, get your emotions in check!"

Victor closed his eyes and put his hand on Eyal's shoulder, "Hey pal, I get it, you're exhausted but don't take it out on her. Time to step aside Dr. Lavin and leave her to do her job. Let's take a breather and you'll read me in, OK?

Eyal passed his hand on his eyes, lightly kissed Sharon's head, and whispered, "Sorry, I'm way past overtired!"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you later. Still love you! Eyal, I'm in my element, will have these two on the heli in less than 15 minutes. My emotions are in check… was just surprised to see them here, don't worry, I've seen worst. Go debrief Victor. Dr. Kensi is on his way, he'll take over while you get some R&R. I'll stay with Dr. Kensi, if Auggie or Annie wake up, they will see a familiar face."

"I'd prefer to tend to them, but my body is winning over my mind!"

Victor put his arm on Eyal's shoulder, "Come, we need to talk, now!"

Outside, they both double-checked their surroundings and only when they were sure no eyes/ears were on them did they start talking.

"Eyal, do you have any idea of what happened to those two?

"None whatsoever! I notice two DOA who were killed by a professional – headshot. They did not fit in with the rest of our casualties. Covertly took their prints, facial photos, extracted the bullets, and sent it all to the Mossad lab with word to give you and you only the follow-up. Then I turned and … saw our CIA couple.

Eyal handed Victor a brown paper bag. "It's the gun Annie had on her. Quite sure you will be able to match that gun with the bullets I extracted. Get it to our lab."

"Eyal, have you any idea when I'll be able to talk to them?"

"Can't even guess. I put Auggie in an artificial coma, he's worst off than Annie. For Annie, it's the possible internal bleeding that I'm worried about."

"I need to call Joan and tell her I have two of hers lying on stretchers in Israel."

Eyal nodded, "I agree, CIA needs to know."

"Can I tell Joan you are their treating physician? It might help her better deal with this shit!"

Eyal smiled, "No problem, me now being a doctor is common knowledge. Make sure to add that I'm still tied to the spy world. It's more that bit of news that will reassure her."

Both smiled as Victor said, "Eyal, I need to ask. Are you sure you're physically capable of doing both - doctor and spy? Friend, you look like hell!"

"Don't worry, I can handle the double duty, must admit I thrive on it! Sharon will take over while I take a breather. Thanks for accepting my demand to take on Dr. Kensi as a backup. Is he read in on his future role?"

Victor smiled, "He's warned to forget what he hears or sees, he's read in Victor style, get my drift, Lavin?"

Smiling, Eyal answered, "OK, I can now get some ZZZ seeing you have this covert response team under control."

Victor rubbed his hands together and put them on Eyal's shoulders, "Sharon Welby will never be under my control! She's had a lifetime of practice with the Director of MI-6, her father. That girl is not impressed by titles, orders, or ultimatums! Let's put Sharon aside, I think I'm going to need to stay on top of this… well whatever it is! My little finger is telling me we have a "dire situation" on our hands and it's only the point of the iceberg!"

Eyal sighed and added, "Yup, it is usually with one Mrs. Walker! Victor, we can't do anything for Auggie and Annie and you need to brief Joan. I'm here, you're here…. we need to talk about Sharon and the relationship the two of you are carrying on."

Victor shot a sideway look at Eyal, "Would Dr. Lavin be a bit jealous."

Eyal stopped, turned toward Victor, put both his hands on Victor's shoulders, and said "I'm not talking about a "lover's relationship" and you damn well know it. Sharon has been doing double duty for MI-6/Mossad for a bit more than 5 years now. Recently, with MI-6 approval, they upgraded her Mossad duties. You two seem to be like two peas in a pod!"

Victor shook his head and glared at Eyal "Well if that is not jealousy, what is it ?"

Eyal stated, "Victor, she's taking advantage of your director's crush! You usually come across as a bastard of a boss! Even I, your BF, have been put in the dog house by you…. and it was not pretty!"

"Eyal, she knows I admire how she works. Glad she's agreed to teach some of our rookies the 101 of extreme extractions. MI-6 is way ahead of us on that skill."

Eyal answered, "She's walking all over you, others are noticing!"

Victor's expression changed, "Others are noticing?"

Eyal breathed deeply, "I finally got through to you! Yes, people are noticing and I for one don't like being caught in this Sharon-Victor bromance."

Victor, while putting his arms on his friend's shoulder, said, "Promise to work on it! Thanks for spelling it out for me! Hey, the heli leaving and Sharon texted me to meet her at the usual place. Come, Dr. Lavin, I'll put you to bed, but don't get the idea that I'm going to read you a bedtime story."

Eyal pushed his hair back and smiled, "I won't make it home without falling asleep in your car! I don't think I'll need a bedtime story, but can I take a rain check? Would love to hear a Victor bedtime story!"

"NOT A CHANCE!"

As Eyal had predicted, he didn't last 5 minutes before his head fell forwards. Victor pushed back his seat for him to be more comfortable and able to take a couple of minutes of downtime.

Arriving at their "safe hospital" Eyal tried to outrun Victor… it didn't work.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?"

"Victor, I like to see how they are doing."

"Nope, you're coming with me, I'm putting my oldest to bed. Eyal, I'm running point. I need you as rested as possible. Look, Dr. Kensi and Sharon will take over. Promise to wake you after 5 hours of downtime."

Eyal warned, "4 and not a minute more."

"OK, but I'm still following you to your bedroom, come."

After assuring himself that Eyal was settled, he went to join Sharon and Dr. Kensi.

Arriving in the makeshift hospital, he knew better than to ask to be briefed. Instead, he called Mossad for an update on the items Eyal had sent to the lab and checked if they had received the gun. They told him ballistics confirmed the two .357 magnum was probably shot by the Rhino stubby 2-gun Eyal had lifted off Annie Walker. More tests were needed to confirm it but the technician was sure they had a match. No ID on the victims yet.

After that call, he joined Sharon. She confirmed that it was not the best moment for a debrief. Having time on his hands and being in a secured location, he called Joan Cambell, the head of the CIA's Domestic Protection Division (DPD).

"Joan, it's Victor, you free to speak?"

"I'll call you in a couple of minutes, how 'privately,' do you want to speak?"

"The worst kind!"

"Got you!"

Joan was fast to return his call. "Victor, I'm free of eyes and ears, what's up?

"Do you have a couple of missing in-action field officers or is CIA spying on Israel?"

Joan breathed hard, "Victor, I have no field officers or op in Israel."

Victor paused and said, "Joan, it's Annie and Auggie. Sorry to tell you that they are both hurt badly. But they were lucky, our own Dr. Lavin was on duty. We now have them in a secure location, and they are receiving the best of care. We take good care of our own, don't worry Joan!"

Joan was lost for words, "Victor, Annie, and Auggie are supposed to be in London. They do not, at this moment, have an ongoing mission with me or DPD."

"Did you hear from them today?"

"No, when not on a DPD mission, they report to Arthur. I'll read him in as soon as I'm finished with you. What's their status?"

"We are still assessing them but Joan, it's bad. Eyal is taking a needed downtime, but I have a doctor by their side. Eyal will oversee their treatments."

"Thanks, I'm glad they are, at least, in good hands. Victor, do you have any idea of what is going on?"

'None, sorry. But we are fairly sure Annie shot two people. We have not ID them yet. Eyal was running the ER triage and said those two didn't fit in the bombing of the market casualties. A professional headshot had silenced them forever! Eyal forwarded their photos and prints to Mossad. After he finished with those two DOA, he stumbled upon your agents. That's pretty much all I can tell you."

Joan responded, "We heard about that market…. mostly civilians! Your country seems to be having a peek into those types of bombings lately."

"Yes, very unstable times."

"Victor, I have Arthur with me and I have a meeting I can't postpone. You guys do your director's thing! Victor, thanks for your cooperation, it's appreciated! Glad Annie and Auggie landed on Mossad's plate while you're in charge!"

"Hey, I remembered what you and Arthur did for Eyal when he ended up on CIA's plate. I never forget a debt."

Joan left and Arthur spoke to Victor.

"Victor, what's up?"

Victor closed his eyes. He realized Arthur knew more than Joan. No panic in his voice and only a casual "what's up" equals - I'm hiding something.

"Well, you tell me. I have two of your best on a stretcher and two unidentified dead bodies on my hands. Arthur, don't play with me. In these times, I don't have the luxury of gaming with you!"

"How are they?"

Victor was not a rookie, Arthur was stalling. He sternly said, "They're breathing with Mossad's help."

"OK, look…. I prefer not to talk even on this secured line. We need a face-to-face meeting. Can you arrange for a "visit"? Seems Joan and I need a vacation and decided our destination would be a trip to our good friends Eyal and Sharon. Think you can arrange a very believable cover-up story?"

"I'm Mossad, that's one of our specialties! When should I expect you?"

"Tomorrow, does it give you enough time? Victor, consider this situation a very very covert mission."

Victor in a defeated tone answered, "Do your thing, I'll do mine."

"Ah… Victor…. get hold of Robert Jackson…. ASAP."

Victor exhaled loudly before signing off, "Great, CIA and MI-6 are involved in a dark covert mission that just landed on my doorstep!"

Victor was pondering what to do and who to call next.

"Damn, hate situations where the Mossad is the last to know! It spells trouble with a capital 'T.' I know I should call Rivka but I prefer to procrastinate! Let's check in with Sharon."

He turned and Sharon ran into him,

"Oops, sorry Victor, we have one hell of a situation, come, fast!"

Victor knew better than to ask questions, he just followed. As they arrive, Dr. Kensi was waiting.

"Dr. Kensi shot out "Sharon, Mrs. Walker fell unconscious again. Sorry, we won't be able to get anything else out of her. Director Ostrovsky, we need to get Mrs. Walker to a real hospital!"

Sharon whispered, "Victor, I'll get Eyal."

"You will do no such thing, remember who's in charge, Officer Welby. Dr. Kensi, what do you need to make this a "real hospital"?

Dr. Kensi stated, "I'm not an anesthetist or a surgeon! Mrs. Walker and Mr. Anderson's injuries are serious, they need to be in a real hospital where the proper personnel can assist them."

"Dr. Kensi be assured that the needed personnel are on standby. Dr. Lavin will take the necessary measures if and when needed. We have two top CIA field officers that need to be treated off books. Mossad set up this facility to render these services to our own and if necessary, to other high-ranked personnel. To permit this operation to be a success, we realized that Dr. Lavin needs a backup. You were highly recommended, but if you don't feel up to the challenge or are not interested, just say the word."

The way Dr. Kensi was looking at Victor it was obvious that he had not understood the complete package Victor had offered him.

"Director Ostrovsky, are you offering me to assist Dr. Lavin on a permanent basis?"

Victor looked sideways at Dr. Kensi, "Is there a difference… today, tomorrow, the next day….?"

Sharon breathed out loudly and spoke, "Victor, YES, there is a BIG difference! The amount of work that it implies, and yours plus Eyal's vote of confidence…. It's not the same. You, offering Dr. Kensi to be Eyal's permanent backup is bigger a deal than a one-day stand-in!

Victor looked at Dr. Kensi and asked, "Are you on the same wavelength as Sharon?"

Dr. Kensi responded, "Yes, and I'll add – me being Dr. Lavin's permanent backup means a more constant learning opportunity. This is like war hospital duty, it's the best way to learn real, on spot, ER medicine! I'd be more assertive in my treatments and decision-making knowing I'd be a permanent part of this team!"

Victor was losing patience, "Well does that mean you accept the job, not me offering, you are Dr. Lavin's pick of the litter!"

"Yes, I'd be honored!"

"OK, that settles it! I never thought it would be this hard to hire a doctor! You guys are supposed to be the "brightest"!

Sharon closed her eyes and said, "Victor, a doctor, any doctor, does not take serious career-changing decisions lightly. Dr. Kensi should have been giving the full picture at the get-go!" She then told Dr. Kensi she was leaving for a bit.

Victor caught Sharon's arm while waving Dr. Kensi to return to Annie and Augie.

"Missy, where do you think you're going?"

"Victor, I really need to speak to Eyal, it's urgent."

"Sharon, what is my title at the Mossad?"

"Director…."

"Think that outranks your husband. What is so urgent that you need to wake him? He still has a bit less than two hours of sleep, and I'm going to make damn sure he gets them!"

"Victor, Annie mumbled some barely audible phrases or words. I thought Eyal could understand what she was saying. He's worked with her a lot."

Victor smiled and asked, "Do you know where your father is at this time?"

Sharon just mumbled… "WTF!?"

"Let me read you in, Officer Welby. Called Joan and Arthur. Joan is as much in the dark as we are but after hearing my tale, Arthur is flying in tomorrow. Seems he's in need of a vacation and decided to visit his good friends (you & Eyal) for a bit of R&R. And he dropped this demand before signing off… get me, Robert Jackson, ASAP."

Sharon pinched her lips and looked at the ceiling, "My father is retired…."

"Sharon, he's all but retired, believe me. I'm tasking you with getting Joan and Arthur a believable cover and finding your father. Are you up to it, Officer Welby, if not I'll ask Sandy (Victor's wife and ex-Mossad)? This is an off-book mission."

"I'm up to it, Victor… my father.."

"Not for me to explain, told you too much already. You speak to him; he'll tell you what he wants or can."

Sharon's voice was quivering, "Victor, I know of my father's 'business'. At this moment, I'm caught between my loyalty to MI-6 and Mossad."

Victor sensed that Sharon was at a breaking point. He pulled up a chair and gently guided her to sit.

"Sharon, remember the protocol we put in place when we offered you dual agency duty. You know what is at stake, remember that protocol - can the situation at hand put one or more agency personnel/suits / civil population in danger? If so, as protocol demands, you are to come forward with the intel you have. MI-6 and Mossad both signed on the dotted line!"

Sharon swallowed hard and Victor, looking at her, knew she was not in a good place.

"Victor, I need Eyal, please can I wake him?"

"Sharon, I'm your boss. I know I've been more of an admirer of your work habits, but you need, at this moment, to put me in the right "box." You answer to me, not Eyal. I will support you the best I can but as a director, not a friend or admirer. This is not the time for me to deal with a whimpering wife. Officer Welby has to take control, NOW."

Victor could see Sharon was processing his words. He realized Eyal had been right. He had made the mistake of letting her get her way too often. A learning experience!

Sharon got up and by her facial expression, Victor knew she was where she should be.

"Victor, me coming forward with this information is going to rock your socks. I don't know how it came to Israel, but by the situation, we are in, that shit has landed here! Here's the kill and not fake news…. My father was tasked by MI-6 to uncover a probable biowarfare brigade."

Victor's breathing stopped, "A biowarfare brigade… why wasn't Mossad implicated. Hell, we are in the middle of every biowarfare happening since the beginning of times!"

Sharon smiled, "Believe me, for once, you weren't! The intel was Washington and London bound that I can assure you. Victor, my father would have read you in if there had been any chances of Israel being implicated."

"Well, we are…"

"No… you might be, don't go jumping to conclusions, Director Victor!"

Victor smiled, "OK, I deserved that… Sharon, the US has signed off on biowarfare. Remember President Richard M. Nixon issued that with The Statement on Chemical and Biological Defense Policies and Programs on November 25, 1969…. if my memory serves me well! His statement ended, unconditionally, all US offensive biological weapons programs. The exact writing was: The United States shall renounce the use of lethal biological agents and weapons and all other methods of biological warfare. The United States will confine its biological research to defensive measures such as immunization and safety measures. How I wish other countries had followed the same guidelines!"

"Times change and leaders change. To return to my father…. Arthur got chatter that a US white supremacist group was wheeling and dealing to buy a very dangerous compound (Novichok, a deadly chemical nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War) from a London-based company (with Russian connections). Arthur and my father, with only MI-6's partial backup, decided it would be prudent to investigate."

"Hell, Sharon, are you telling me Arthur is running a dark op without the support of his country's leaders or agency!"

"Yes, Victor, that's exactly what I'm telling you. Now, do you understand more how I feel? Arthur is riding solo for this one. MI-6 can't do much for him, but they tasked my father… a retired MI-6 director, to back him up. It's the only way they (MI-6) could proceed without being obliged to read in the present US leaders. But if shit hits the fans…"

"MI-6 will deny any implication and leave Arthur and Robert to be desiccated by world leaders and agencies! Damn, I would not like to be in Arthur's and Robert's shoes. They are braver than I'll ever be!"

"Or as I told them, completely stupid! Victor, you are as brave or stupid as them. You three, no four (Eyal included) are made from the same DNA! You have morals, and consciousness and realize inter-agency cooperation is the future of spyhood!"

Victor shook his finger at Sharon, "Sharon Welby, there's more to this story…. Missy, what is your role in this, and please, please tell me Eyal isn't implicated!"

Sharon was fast to respond, "No, Eyal does not have a clue! Victor, I'm their… how can I tell you this, …"

"You're their 'pied-à-terre'. Their link to the real world if something goes sideways, you're Robert and Arthur's handler! Never would have thought your extreme extraction skills get you implicated in this kind of shit! Sharon, you hit the jackpot!"

"Yes, but I'm dealing with two experienced players. I was thinking/hoping my skills would not be needed…."

"Sharon, you've been living in Israel for 5 years, didn't you learn anything? You should know that, in our world, we must never presume that an operation will go smoothly. We prepare for the worst."

"Sorry I don't adhere to…. by way of deception, thou shalt make war!"

Victor smiled, "Oh my precious, you will if you want to survive in the Mossad world! Look, I now know enough. I'm taking over your duties to Robert and Arthur. Are you up to the tasks I gave you? Your father, how were you going to contact him."

She handed him a burnt phone. He smiled and said, "Go and put in place a cover for both your father and Arthur's visits. I'm going to contact your father personally. You have a special code…?"

"It's already in the palm of your hand but it will disappear in 60 seconds, read it now!"

Victor was shaken by Sharon's change in demeanor. He had in front of him a very capable agent who had experience in dealing with Director's missions… black ops and not always on the ups and ups.

Victor took a mental note of the code.

"Victor, can I ask what will Eyal need to know about this affair?"

"Want you to read Eyal in fully. He's more my second in command than "Dr. Lavin." You must have noticed. Sadly, it's not official, it's more a working relationship."

"I did, but I knew it was not my place to drill down on the subject."

"Look, I'm asking you to read him in."

Sharon smiled for the first time since their conversation had started, "Can I wake him up NOW?"

"You may, but gently and don't turn off your officer's mode, get my drift?"

Sharon smiled and knowing Victor, she knew what he was insinuating… "Eyal is way too tired to have sex, Victor, it won't be a problem!"

Victor pinched his lips and landed another kicker, "Missy, you're well trained in black ops, but you have a lot to learn about a man's libido… it's when our body is shutting down, can't explain why that that part of our anatomy wants some action!"

Sharon's face went from pale to a nice pink in a fraction of a second! She could see Victor was doing his special victory footsteps.

"I'll get you for this, Director Victor!"

"I'm challenging you, Officer Welby. You haven't gotten one over me yet. OK, time out is finished, Officer Welby do your thing, I'll do mine. First order of business; read in my big boss.

"Ooops should have told you, Victor, Rivka knows. Remember my protocol, if I was to be tasked with an MI-6 mission, MI-6 was to advise Rivka. It didn't concern Israel, so you didn't need to know, I presume."

Victor smiled and outed, "Oh, I'm going to have fun with the Dicks (Robert and Arthur) and Jane (Rivka)! I didn't need to know, well seeing what we are facing, next time, I think they will read me in!"

"Victor be nice. Robert, Arthur, and Rivka did not expect this mission to come knocking at Israel's door. Plus, we may be barking up the wrong tree. Annie's and Auggy's presence may not be related to the biowarfare mission."

"Sharon, don't be naive! Plus, you know me, I don't play nice!"

"You do, well did…. with me!"

"Yes, and I promise to be the bastard you should have expected! Sorry recess is over, you are now a full-Mossad operative and will be treated as is."

"Yeah, I noticed. Well… it was fun while it lasted."

"Go wake up Eyal and read him in and remember… no sex!"