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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 24, 2016 2:29:16 GMT -5
Diana Ward Derek BurkeChristian had been only momentarily annoyed that Diana put off their next mission without a fight when Derek said to wait until morning. But the feeling was gone almost immediately as a naked Diana waited to spend the night with him.
The morning came too soon but there was plenty to do. Unlike the Hadelman hit, they wouldn't be spending a relaxing weekend at a resort. And they were much more prepared than with the Sanchez hit. Although there was still the issue of the mystery assassin, whom Diana and Burke assumed was the hit wizard hired by Copperbottom to take out Diana. Christian was more worried about this new player however, as he knew the true identity of Copperbottom's hit wizard. This new cog in the machine was going to be trouble, and with Diana insisting on forging ahead so quickly, Christian had no time to meet with Copperbottom before leaving for Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
In a very uncharacteristic move, Burke had given an actual time that he planned to arrive in order to go over their plans. Christian wanted to be ready to go immediately after, and he knew he would get no complaints from Diana in that regard. He knocked on the bathroom door to remind Diana of the time. "Burke will be here in 30 minutes."
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 24, 2016 2:34:00 GMT -5
Diana had put up a silencing spell. That morning she was ferociously sick. She blamed it on whatever the doctor had done to her the night previous, but she didn't want Christian getting any ideas about delaying their trip.
She answered him, then remembered her silencing spell and took it down, "Be right out." she called.
She brushed her teeth and used a charm to make her look less pale, while willing her stomach to settle down.
Looking as "refreshed" as she was going to look she exited the bathroom, careful to leave no trace of her earlier sickness.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 24, 2016 2:58:57 GMT -5
Christian moved into the hidden room locked away behind the stairs. He kept his more inappropriate belongings here, away from the eyes of the MLE should an officer be foolish enough to enter his home. Christian gathered some potions and miscellaneous items that might be of some use to them on their journey. It was going to be more of a challenge as Russia at this time of year was covered in snow and O'Grady had managed to steal away in a bunker. He'd increased his security since news of Hadelman's and Sanchez's deaths.
He came out of the room, sealing the doorway to appear as a regular wall, with a small dufflebag of supplies. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he met Diana in the hall. Although the doctor had given her the all clear, Christian had still been more gentle with her last night than he would normally be.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 24, 2016 3:04:51 GMT -5
Diana gave one of her trademark grins and leaned in to kiss him, "Hungry." she answered with a wink.
Sometimes it would startle her how comfortable they had become with one another, how easily they had settled into domestic "bliss". Other times it just felt natural to be with him.
She was in a more perky mood than usual, though that was most likely attributed to the fact that they were moving ahead with their plans.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 24, 2016 3:16:29 GMT -5
"Breakfast is on the table downstairs." She had taken quite a while in the bathroom this morning, which gave him time to make them a hearty meal to start their day. But he had things to attend to and they would not be playing the domestic couple at the breakfast table today.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 24, 2016 3:20:54 GMT -5
She furrowed a brow at him in confusion, "You're not joining me?" she asked as she moved toward the smell of food and he didn't. She didn't mind the separation, she wasn't that far gone yet, but she was curious - if not suspicious - of him when he broke their routine.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 24, 2016 3:34:41 GMT -5
Their "routine" had been established while Diana was recovering, and now that they were back to work a new routine would have to be formed. And if Diana insisted on primping in the bathroom for almost an hour in the morning then she would be eating alone.
"No," he said shortly. "I have things to prepare. And Burke will be here soon, so I suggest you hurry up."
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 24, 2016 3:44:54 GMT -5
"Will do captain." she saluted him in mockery of his shortness with her. She took the steps two at a time and tried to shake off the insult she felt. He hadn't really insulted her, but she enjoyed their breakfasts together. She enjoyed stealing the paper and telling him the stories before he could read them himself. So naturally she had been surprised that he wasn't joining her. Now she felt foolish for asking about it. She worried that she'd become too soft for him and a part of her was determined to keep her distance because of it. The other part was just pouting at the thought of eating alone - Godric she was a mess.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 24, 2016 17:39:50 GMT -5
Christian finished packing, deciding to help speed Diana along by throwing her clothes into a bag. The asshat in him wanted to pack her only inappropriate outfits like the one she'd worn for the Sanchez hit, but as he carried their bags downstairs her bag was full of warm clothing that would actually be useful for their mission. And one inappropriate thing, in case there was time.
He set their bags by the foot of the stairs and walked into the kitchen. He checked the clock and saw they still had a few minutes before Burke was scheduled to arrive. Christian realized now that as Burke had never before had a scheduled meeting with him, he didn't know if the man regarded promptness as a virtue. He'd find out soon enough. Christian sat opposite Diana and watched as she finished eating.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 24, 2016 19:59:12 GMT -5
Diana wasn't surly. She certainly wasn't giving Christian the silent treatment. No. She was far too mature for such things, she reasoned as she ate quietly.
Derek was taught that if you were early you were on time, if you were on time you were late, and if you were late you were just rude. He often arrived early to meetings to familiarize himself with the setting and in a sense "claim" the room as his own. That wasn't going to happen at Christian's home, and the man had enough possession issues as far as Diana was concerned. He also didn't mind showing up on time, figuring the couple could use some time adjusting to going back into the field so to speak. He may have had a thing for Diana, but he wasn't blind to how good Christian was for her. He had the grace to step out of the game if there was a better player involved.
Precisely on time he knocked on the door.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 0:23:35 GMT -5
Christian didn't mind that Diana wasn't speaking to him. It saved him a headache and he still had the pleasure of looking at such an attractive creature. The bell chimed and Christian moved to answer the door.
"Burke," he said in greeting with a nod toward Derek. "I trust you're ready?" Christian was eager to get back in the game, instead of sitting on the sidelines taking care of Diana. He'd do it again, if she required it of him, but he'd much rather be in the action. Especially considering how close they were getting to the finish line, which meant they would soon be with Alyx. Christian had already decided on a few lifestyle changes he would be making once they found her, so he needed to savor the jobs like this one.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 0:35:00 GMT -5
That was a whole different topic that Diana wasn't ready to think about. She had this driving goal of killing all the board members, finding her daughter, and riding off into the sunset. But somewhere along the way she stopped believing it could be done. Sooner or later one of their assassins would get to her. She never fully visualized how her life would change with Alyx in it, and now she had Christian. Suddenly it looked as though she might make it, but could she really live some normal life after all she had been through? She hadn't stopped to wonder about Christian either. She had effectively learned to live life as if there was no tomorrow.
***
"Ward." Derek said in response, giving up on the man ever using his first name. He gave a nod as well when Christian asked if he was prepared. Derek always was.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 1:25:44 GMT -5
Christian looked down the hall toward the kitchen, expecting Diana. She usually rushed to meet Derek. "For being so impatient this past week, she sure is taking her sweet ass time today," he commented to Derek before excusing himself to fetch her.
"Burke is here," he said as if she hadn't heard the bell. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?" She looked pale and tired. She wouldn't let him sleep much last night, and evidently it had taken a toll on her.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 1:38:54 GMT -5
No she wasn't feeling okay. She was feeling sick again and she didn't like it. She was going to have a long talk with Dr. Hanley when she got back about his potions and their affect on her. It was as though the man was trying to make her sick. But she couldn't show any of that to Christian, he was too discerning by half.
There was another part of her that didn't want to go. She couldn't explain it, but there was a deep ache in her chest that wanted to go back upstairs and crawl in bed, preferably with Christian. Not for some naughty kinky fun, she just wanted to be held. It was absolutely revolting to her senses.
She finished putting her dishes away, "I'm fine. Let's go."
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 2:12:50 GMT -5
Christian raised his eyebrows at her but said nothing as they walking into the sitting room. Christian produced a file and handed it to Derek. "O'Grady is camped out in a bunker in the hills just outside of Nizhny Novgorod. He has eight guards, stationed around the perimeter and two more that are with him at all times."
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Post by Derek Burke on Oct 25, 2016 2:16:19 GMT -5
"That sounds considerably easier than Sanchez, on par with Hadelman, or is there something else?" Derek asked looking at the information Christian had that he hadn't been able to get.
Not that he was envious, Derek was simply happy things were moving forward. While it seemed as though he spent every waking moment helping Diana, he actually had a life of his own, and one or two more damsels in distress. But he was loyal to Diana, and the other women he was helping didn't require his constant presence.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 2:47:31 GMT -5
Christian smiled. "Nothing too complicated. O'Grady is using the snowy terrain as his primary defense. There's an anti-apparition jinx around the bunker in a three mile radius, so we'll have to go in on foot. There's also an Unplottability Charm on the area, but my men managed to get past that. The location is there," he pointed to a page with coordinates scrawled in green ink paper clipped into the file Derek held.
"Of course, we also need to suspect that our new friend may be present."
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 2:53:48 GMT -5
Derek nodded mentally taking a picture of the map. He had done a little recon, but was relying mostly on Christian to take point, which he doubted the man had any trouble doing.
Diana for her part was silent which was unusual, almost as though she wasn't fully paying attention, though she was looking just as intently as Derek was. Truthfully though, her mind was troubling her. She had an odd feeling, something was poking at the edges of her mind, but it wouldn't come to light. It was that feeling people often had when they thought they left the stove on, or forgot to pack a toothbrush, and it was driving Diana mad.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 25, 2016 3:24:41 GMT -5
Content that neither Derek or Diana seemed to have anymore questions, Christian went into his office and returned a moment later with a portkey that he had prepared that morning. It was an empty scotch bottle Christian had pulled from the bin. He didn't care much for sentimentality, especially when it came to picking items to perform an unlicensed Portus Charm on. He set it on the table in front of Diana, who had been oddly quiet.
"Do you know the coordinates?" he asked her suspiciously. She was being very odd today and it made him uneasy.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 25, 2016 3:40:03 GMT -5
She wanted to ask him if it mattered considering they were using a portkey and she was going with him and Derek who had likely memorized the map, but seeing as how she was on a short leash with him these days after the last mission she responded with the coordinates he had on the map.
One of the benefits of being trained the way Diana had been was that even when she wasn't focused, she was focused. Most missions she could wing if need be, but when there was a plan, she knew how to follow it - if it could be followed.
***
Burke looked at Christian over Diana's head. He too noticed there was something off about her. Normally she was jumping to take control, asking questions, taking the lead. That she would be so passive this morning was odd. Still he wasn't going to make a big deal out of it, Diana had been doing many strange things since reconnecting with Christian.
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