By: Ruth Petroni

Chapter 1

When Napoleon regained consciousness his head was pounding and he was tied to four corners of a bed in a very dark room. He cracked one eye open, trying to pretend he was still out.

"Welcome back Mr. Solo," came a low tinny voice from the darkness. "We were wondering how long you would sleep."

Napoleon opened both eyes, attempting to see around himself. It was pitch black; there was nothing to see. "Well," he said, "I figured from the dark it was still night and that’s the best time to sleep."

"Mr. Solo," came the reply, "Enough of your foolishness, I have just one question for you. If you answer it you can be out of here right away. If you don’t, we will have a very long, and very unpleasant conversation."

Napoleon struggled with the ropes holding him. He was tied down securely, there was no way he was going to be able to free himself. He tried to remember what had happened. He had been meeting Illya for a drink. He was early and was just walking into the bar, when he was hit from behind.

Deciding to try to bluster his way out Napoleon looked in the direction the voice was coming from. "I’m afraid I’m not very good at quizzes." He said with a laugh.

"Mr. Solo, I have a gentleman here with a very sharp knife and he is desperate to make your acquaintance. So, if I were you, I would rethink my priorities. It is a very easy question." The voice was getting nasty. "You are protecting a scientist who is working on an antidote for the new Thrush nerve gas. All I need to know is the name of the scientist."

"I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about," Napoleon decided bluffing wasn’t going to work.

"Mr. Solo, we know for a fact you are the only agent who knows the identity of this scientist. You either tell us now or you will tell us shortly, you can be sure of that." The voice had a strange quality and appeared to be coming through a speaker of some kind.

Before Napoleon could respond, the door to the room was thrown open and a light switch was turned on blinding him for a minute. Illya was standing in the doorway, gun drawn. In one swift move he shot out the camera and speaker mounted on the wall above Solo. "Napoleon," he said quietly, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine, just cut me loose and let’s get out of here." He replied quickly, "I don’t think there’s anyone here, the voice came through the speaker."

Illya came slowly down the stairs, keeping a watch for anything, but seeing that there was only one room and no one else present, he walked towards his partner, "You’ll do anything to get out of buying me a drink, won’t you?" his voice was low and his eyes were continuing to scan the room.

"Well, you know how it is when it’s a few days before payday." Napoleon was trying to lighten his partner’s mood. After all there was no harm done and this wasn’t the first time Thrush had kidnapped one of them.

Illya had reached his partner and was efficiently untying Solo’s hands from the corner of the bed. "Ouch," he yiped, bringing his left hand to his mouth, "Your rope has some kind of a sticker in it."

Napoleon’s hands were both free so he reached down and untied his own feet. Sitting up quickly to grab his partner’s hand. "Such a lot of noise for such a small scratch," he laughed. He reached over to check out the rope Illya had just untied. "There is a small sticker here," he said reaching in his pocket to pull out a plastic bag.

"Napoleon, have you lost your mind, what’s that for?" Illya was looking at him puzzled.

"Humor me Tovarisch, what else has the lab had to do lately, they can make sure there’s nothing on this thing." Napoleon pulled out a small pair of tweezers and quickly pulled the sticker out and pushed it into the plastic bag.

"Do you intend to spend the night or can we go get that drink now," Illya smiled at his partner as he walked towards the door.

"Headquarters first, then drink," Napoleon replied without any inflection. "I want to see if we can find out who owns or rents this place and have the lab check out this thing." He turned and followed his partner.

Chapter 2

"I take it you spotted me being taken away." Napoleon was sitting at a small table in a back corner of a hotel bar with his partner.

Illya looked at him with laughter in his eyes, "I wouldn’t exactly call it being taken away, more like unceremoniously tossed into a trunk. I pulled up just in time to see you tossed in and them jetting out of the parking lot. I figured since it was your turn to buy, I should get you back first then get a drink."

Napoleon watched his friend, pleased to see the relaxed look on his face. Illya very seldom took it easy. "Well, no matter why you did it, thanks for the rescue. They wanted an answer to a question I couldn’t help them with."

"What did they want, Napoleon?"

"I told you about my friend who’s working on that Thrush nerve gas antidote?" Illya nodded, "They wanted the name." Solo’s expression had turned to one of concern. "I promised my friend that no one but me would know who was involved. What I can’t figure out is how Thrush found out."

"Well, you know Thrush can always find a source." Illya’s voice seemed to fade a bit.

Napoleon looked at him with concern. "Are you okay, Tovarisch? You’re awfully pale."

He stood up and had just reached his partner’s chair when Illya collapsed face down on the table. "Illya," he reached down to shake his friends shoulder. "Illya?"

Solo knew there had to be something drastically wrong. His partner had only had two drinks and for once had sipped them. He knelt down, reaching for Illya’s wrist and found a pulse racing desperately. Deciding there had to be major problem, he reached down and lifted his friend up, running for the door.

He ignored the strange looks from the other patrons as he carried his unconscious partner out to the car and strapped him into the passenger seat. Illya hadn’t stirred since he passed out and Solo was getting worried. He felt fine so he wasn’t worried about them both being drugged but Illya was so still.

Solo drove as quickly as he could to headquarters, keeping an eye on his partner’s stricken form the entire time. As he pulled up in front of Del Floria’s he heard a low moan coming from the passenger seat. "Illya," he said quietly. When there was no response he ran around to the other side, opening the door he knelt beside his partner. "Illya," he reached in to lightly touch his face.

"Napoleon," came a very weak response, "What happened?"

"I don’t know partner, you passed out colder than a mackerel, can you walk?" Napoleon unfastened the seatbelt holding his friend in place and reached in to help him out standing up to help support him.

"Of course I can walk," Illya stated with a derisive snort his voice getting stronger. He slid off the seat and stood beside Napoleon. "Why are we back at headquarters?"

"You my friend are going in to see the Doctor," Napoleon held his hand up as he saw the argument beginning. "If you argue, I’m going to carry you in, so it’s your choice. Do you need a hand?"

"Napoleon, would you quit being a mother hen. I’ve been walking on my own for years, I don’t need any help." To prove his point, he walked past his friend and went into Del Floria’s on his own.

Doctor Frank Morgan was amazed to see Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin both walking into his Medical Department under their own steam. "Well gentlemen," he said with surprise, "This is a first, I don’t normally see the two of you both vertical at the same time."

"Hi doc," Napoleon answered, a worried look still on his face. He turned to his partner and saw the stony faced expression. "Illya," he said before realizing he was being ignored. "My partner passed out cold while we were out having a drink and now mister stubborn is convinced I’m over reacting."

Illya glared at him. "Napoleon, I said I felt fine. I think I’m just hungry." He turned towards his friend and passed out into his arms.

Napoleon caught him easily lifting him up.

"Put him over here," Doctor Morgan said quickly, moving over to the bed. "Is this how it happened before?"

Solo walked over to the bed and gently laid his unconscious partner down. "Just like this, he was talking to me and out he went. What do you think it is Doc?"

Morgan didn’t even turn, "Napoleon, I won’t know anything until I run some tests. Now get out of here and let me work."

Napoleon looked at the Doctor’s stern face then looked down at his unconscious partner. "Okay but I want your word you’ll call me the second he regains consciousness. I’ll be waiting in our office." With that he turned and started out the door. Stopping, he turned to look back at the Doctor working over his friend, then walked out, closing the door behind him.

Napoleon walked slowly towards his and Illya’s office, lost in thought. What could be going on? Illya seemed just fine at the bar until he suddenly passed out. The same thing happened in medical. It could be a bug, but Illya never gets sick. Not really paying attention to where he was going, Napoleon almost walked right into his secretary.

"Mr. Solo," she said, "This note arrived for you a few minutes ago. The courier said you should open it immediately. It has been checked out sir, it’s safe." She handed him the note and went back to her desk.

Napoleon took the note and walked into the office, closing the door behind him. Sitting down at his desk, he sliced the envelope open.

There were only nine words on the piece of paper. How many times has he passed out Mister Solo? Was all it said. No name, no phone number, nothing else.

There was a knock at the door. His secretary opened the door, "Mr. Solo, the gentleman who sent that note is holding for you."

He grabbed the phone, "Solo here."

"Mr. Solo," came the same voice from the speaker earlier, "I take it you received my message?"

"What do you want now, I told you before I couldn’t answer your question." Solo replied in a deadly voice. "What makes you think I might have changed my mind?"

"How’s your partner Mr. Solo," the voice replied. "Is he having fainting spells yet?"

"What have you done to my partner?" Napoleon’s voice was low and deadly.

The voice was almost laughing, "Mr. Solo, didn’t your partner scratch himself on your ropes when he released you?"

Napoleon felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach but he didn’t allow it to change the tone of his voice, "And if he did?"

"Mister Solo, you now have seven days to change your mind and give me the name of that scientist. Your partner has those same seven days to live, although his life is going to get a little more miserable every day." The voice was laughing now. "Good bye Mr. Solo, I will be in touch."

There was a click on the other end of the phone. Napoleon sat there stunned for a minute. "Betty," he hollered. She opened the door quickly, "See if they can get a trace on that call."

Betty ran to her desk, as Napoleon stood up and raced out the door. He threw open the door to Medical, arriving just as Illya was regaining consciousness.

Doctor Morgan turned in surprise at his sudden entrance. "Napoleon, I said I would call you."

"Doctor, have you found anything?" Napoleon’s voice was almost desperate.

"I don’t have the blood test results yet, but so far I haven’t found a single thing wrong with him." Was the Doctor’s reply, "Why?"

Illya sat up, shaking his head slowly; "This is getting very old." He said quietly, looking at his worried partner now standing at his side.

Napoleon kept his eyes on his partner, "Doc, I just had a call. I believe Illya’s been poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Illya looked at him skeptically, "How could I have been…." He paused looking at the scratch on his hand. "From the sticker in the ropes?"

"I just had a call from the voice over the speaker. He said I have seven days to change my mind and you have seven days to live."

Illya could actually hear the terror in his friend’s voice. He turned to look at the Doctor. "Doctor, did you find any trace of poison on that sticker?"

"Illya to be honest, we haven’t even looked at it yet. We didn’t think it was that important." The Doctor was walking towards the laboratory door; "I’ll get them on it right now."

Napoleon managed to keep his partner quiet for another hour before he finally shook off the arm trying to keep him on the bed. Illya slid off the bed to stand beside his partner. "Shall we get out of here and start looking for this guy? I’m getting really sick of this place." He looked at his friend.

"Don’t you think you should stay here until the tests come back," Napoleon couldn’t quite meet his partner’s eyes.

"Napoleon, what’s wrong?" Illya walked over to him, putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder, "This isn’t your fault you know. Now let’s get out of here, I want to find these guys before I drown in my soup or something equally embarrassing."

Doctor Morgan came walking back in the room, "Where do you think you’re going Mr. Kuryakin? We don’t have your test results back yet."

"I’m going with my partner, unless you tell me there’s something you can do for me right this minute." Illya threw him a defiant look.

Napoleon turned to the doctor; "Have you found anything yet?"

"Not yet, there’s a trace of something on the sticker, we’re working on analyzing it. We’re also working on Mr. Kuryakin’s blood, but both are going to take a few more hours."

Napoleon’s turned to his partner, "What do I do if he passes out again?"

Illya breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he’d just won. "Napoleon, just lean me up against a wall, I’ll catch up after a few minutes, I promise." He could see his friend didn’t appreciate his humor. "Come on, let’s go find this guy."

Doctor Morgan stopped Napoleon as Illya walked towards the door. "Keep an eye on him, see if there are any other symptoms and keep track of them. If he passes out, elevate his head so he doesn’t choke."

"Doc, do you think he’d be better off here?" The worry on Napoleon’s face was obvious.

"Yes I do, but who’s going to convince him of that. Make sure he eats something before you leave the building and report in every couple of hours, I’ll let you know what we find."

Napoleon turned to follow his partner out the door. "We better let Mr. Waverly know what’s going on."

Chapter 3

After reporting to Mr. Waverly, it was decided that Solo and Kuryakin would follow up on the owner of the building where Napoleon had been held. The call to Napoleon had been traced to a phone somewhere in the same general area; they were still trying to narrow it down. It was early afternoon before they left U.N.C.L.E. headquarters and headed for the Warehouse District. Illya had had no more fainting spells.

After fifteen minutes of silence from his partner while riding in the car, Illya couldn’t take it anymore. "Napoleon, what’s wrong?" He knew what was bothering his friend, but he had to hear it from him.

Napoleon pretended to be concentrating on his driving. "Do you mind if we make a quick stop?"

Illya looked at him in surprise, "No problem." He watched his partner, who appeared to be deep in thought. "Where are we going?"

They pulled up in front of a large white house in a well-kept neighborhood. Napoleon was out of the car in time to catch a five-foot ball of fire that came running out the door. "Uncle Lee!"

Illya was amazed at the look of pure happiness on the face of his friend. He caught the young girl on the run and swung her around.

"Hi honey, how you doing?" Napoleon said with a laugh. Turning to his partner who was still sitting in the car. "Illya, come out of there and meet my niece, well, my almost niece."

Illya slid quickly out of the car to stand beside his friend and the young brunette still hanging around his neck.

"Illya, this is my niece Ronnie Adams, Ronnie, this is the man I’ve told you about, my friend and partner, Illya Kuryakin." Napoleon gently lowered her down to her feet.

Illya turned to the girl; she was the smallest, prettiest child he’d ever seen.

She reached out to take his hand, her voice going a mile a minute. "How do you do Illya, do you mind if I call you Illya? Uncle Lee has told me all about you. I’ve wanted to meet you forever. Do you like America? Do you enjoy working with Uncle Lee? Do you get to travel as much as Uncle Lee? Do.…"

Napoleon interrupted, "Ronnie, we can only stay a minute. I just wanted to give you your birthday card. I’m afraid I won’t be able to make the party, we have to work." He reached in his jacket and handed her a card. "Honey, I’m sorry, but we really have to go."

"Oh Uncle Lee."

Napoleon leaned over, giving her a quick kiss. "I’ll call you as soon as I can, okay?" He walked back around to the driver’s side, getting in and starting the car.

Illya slid into the passenger seat. "It was very nice meeting you Ronnie." He said with a smile on his face. "I hope to see you again soon."

"Goodbye Uncle Lee, goodbye Illya, it was nice meeting you." She turned and walked to the porch waving all the way as they drove off.

Illya had turned to wave goodbye until they were out of sight, then turned back to his partner. He was surprised to see his friend’s expression had turned to stone. "Napoleon, what is it, what’s the matter?"

"She’s a beautiful girl isn’t she?" Napoleon said quietly.

"Napoleon?" Illya was puzzled; there was something he was missing.

"I needed you to meet her." He said quietly, "She’s the reason you were poisoned."

Illya looked at him in shock, "That child?"

"That child is eighteen years old and is a chemical engineering genius. She graduated at the top of her university class at the age of 17. She is the scientist who is finding an antidote for the Thrush nerve gas. Napoleon pulled the car to the side of the road and parked. "I was in Korea with her dad. I’ve known her since she was born. I can’t let Thrush find out who she is." His voice broke.

Illya reached out to put a hand on his friend’s arm. "Napoleon, none of this is your fault. I don’t care if she’s a child or a sixty year old grizzled scientist. We would never turn them over to Thrush, no matter what."

Napoleon turned to look at his friend, a look of anguish on his face, "But Illya, you could die."

"We’ve known that could happen every day of our lives since joining U.N.C.L.E., however, I have no intention of dying. Shall we get back to work?"

Napoleon took a deep breath, restarted the car and pulled away from the curb. "Alright my friend, let’s go find a Thrush."

They drove back to the building Napoleon had earlier been held prisoner in. After breaking in they discovered that all signs of it’s earlier occupation had been carefully removed. Even the wires connecting the camera and speaker had been completely removed from the walls, leaving no sign they had ever been there.

After searching for fifteen minutes without find a thing, Napoleon turned to Illya. "We better check in, maybe they’ve had better luck tracing that call." He pulled out his communicator, "Open Channel D." He said.

"Any luck Mr. Solo?" Came Mr. Waverly’s reply.

"No sir, we were hoping the trace of that call may have found something new."

"Nothing Mr. Solo, however we have the entire records department checking the rental and telephone information for the entire district. We hope to have some new information by morning." Waverly’s voice was calm as usual, "I suggest you both go home and get some rest. Contact me first thing in the morning."

Napoleon turned to look at his partner, "Yes sir, I’ll be taking Illya to my apartment for the night." He saw his partner start to argue, "You do agree sir, that he shouldn’t be left alone?"

"I quite agree, Mr. Solo."

Illya upon realizing that he had now been given no choice in the matter, turned to open the door. Looking out towards the car he spotted two men by the window. "Hey," he yelled, taking off running, "Napoleon, they’re breaking into the car." He yelled back towards his partner who was just signing off with Mr. Waverly.

Illya made it to the car before his partner made it out the door. The two men had taken off running when they heard him yell. He began chasing them, pulling his special out and firing over their heads. "Stop now, the next ones going to hit one of you."

Both men stopped dead after the first shot. Napoleon came running out the door in time to see his partner holding his gun on the both of them and both men with their hands up in the air. He began walking towards his partner when suddenly he saw Illya crumple to the ground. He pulled his special from his holster and ran in the direction of his stricken friend.

The two car thieves upon seeing their captor fall started towards him with anger on their faces. On seeing Napoleon approaching, they took off running in different directions. Napoleon ignored both of them, his eyes on his unconscious partner. "Illya," he said as he knelt down beside him, "You foolish Russian, won’t you ever learn?"

He lifted his partner, reaching for his friend’s wrist; there was a racing pulse. It was just another fainting spell. Grabbing his partner’s gun and pushing it in his belt, then reaching down to lift his friend up. He stood up, carrying him back to the car, lowering him gently into the passenger seat and buckling him in. Knowing there was no point in going back to the Doctor again, Napoleon headed for his apartment. Just as he pulled into the parking garage, he heard a low moan from Illya.

"God I’m really getting tired of this," Came a quiet voice from the passenger seat.

"Maybe that will teach you a lesson, smart Russian’s know, adrenaline doesn’t mix well with most poisons." He pulled the car into his parking spot then leaned over to release his partner’s seat belt, getting out to open the passenger door for him.

"Smart Russians also know when they’re sitting on tape players." Illya glared at his partner, reaching down to pull a small tape player off the seat. "I don’t think our friends were trying to rob the car, I think they were putting something in." He slid out of the car to stand beside his partner. "Napoleon, I never agreed to spend the night at your apartment."

"Illya look, let’s just go upstairs and see what our Thrush friends have to say to us now. Please, no arguments."

The look on his partner’s face was enough to make Illya agree. He took a couple of shaky steps forward. "Napoleon, I’m afraid I might need some help this time." He took another couple of steps and his knees buckled, just as his partner grabbed his arm and slipping it around his shoulder, walked him slowly into the apartment building.

They rode up the elevator in silence, Napoleon could tell that his friend was using up the last of his energy reserves. Upon arriving in his apartment, Napoleon settled his partner comfortably on the sofa then did a quick scan to make sure the apartment was clear before going over to sit next to Illya.

He pulled out the tape player and turned it on. The voice that came over the tape player was the same one from the speaker. "Good evening Mr. Solo, I hope you’re enjoying the show."

Napoleon looked at his partner, "Sadistic bastard," he said quietly under his breath.

The voice continued, "You’re partner is reaching the end of his first twenty-four hours. Things will continue to get more interesting Mr. Solo. I assume you would like some way to contact me. The two gentlemen who delivered this tape will be around, when you would like to get in touch with me just see one of them. Oh yes, and two more things for your information, number one you may want to get some oxygen on hand for today and number two, after the end of the sixth day there’s no going back."

Napoleon turned to look at his partner as the tape came to an end. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his communicator, "Open channel D," he said quickly.

"Yes Mr. Solo," Mr. Waverly’s voice came back.

"Sir, I need someone to dispatch a canister of oxygen to my apartment as soon as possible."

Mr. Waverly’s voice sounded puzzled, "May I ask why Mr. Solo?"

"We just received a tape telling us Illya will probably need it within the next twenty-four hours." You could hear the concern in Solo’s voice. "I also have a tape and tape player to come back to you by the same courier for examination. Is there any word from the lab, sir?" He asked quietly.

"None at all Mr. Solo," was Waverly’s reply, "They found a trace of something on the sticker, but not enough to analyze. There was nothing at all found in Mr. Kuryakin’s blood."

"Thank you sir, Solo out." He put the communicator away, turning to look at his partner. "Well you heard. I guess the next step is for us is to capture one of these men that’s just going to be hanging around." Seeing the exhaustion on his friend’s face, "But first thing’s first, we need a good nights rest. Come on, let’s get you to bed."

He stood up and helped his friend to his feet. Walking him slowly into his bedroom.

Illya stopped at the doorway, "What is this? I’m perfectly capable of staying in the guest room."

Napoleon tone of voice left no room for argument, "I’m keeping an eye on you, you either stay in here or we both stay in the guest room, your choice. Do you need help?"

"Napoleon, I’m serious, I don’t need a mother hen. I will ask for help if I need it, I promise." He walked into the bathroom closing the door behind him.

Napoleon walked back into the living room. He heard his friend moving around in the bedroom then there was silence.

It was over an hour before the courier arrived with the oxygen and to take the tape back to Mr. Waverly. He put the canister inside the bedroom door then proceeded to lock up and set the alarms.

"Napoleon," the name was said with a strangled voice. "Can’t breathe….." Illya stumbled into the living room and collapsed onto the floor. He was gasping and choking trying to catch his breath.

Solo ran for the oxygen canister. Grabbing it up he hurried back to kneel beside his partner lifting him into his arms and sliding the mask over Illya’s white face, turning it on full force. "Come on Illya, breathe deep."

The gasps continued for a couple more minutes but the color returned to his partner’s face. As soon as he was breathing normally, Solo removed the oxygen mask, setting the canister beside the door for easy access then gently lifted his friend up, carrying him back into the bedroom and laying him on the bed.

He reached for his communicator, "Open Channel D," he said quietly so as not to wake his now sleeping partner. He was beginning to believe Mr. Waverly never slept as his voice came back.

"Yes Mr. Solo?"

"Illya just had a new attack, Sir. I had to use the oxygen, could you please let the Doctor know he wasn’t able to breathe."

"Is Mr. Kuryakin alright now?" You could hear concern in his boss’s voice.

"Yes sir, he’s sleeping now. I’ll contact you again in the morning. Solo out."

Napoleon walked back into the living room, picking up the rocking chair he walked it back into the bedroom. Sitting it beside the bed he grabbed a pillow off the bed and curled up in the chair to keep an eye on his partner.

Chapter 4

"Napoleon." A quiet voice woke him from a very light sleep. He sat up and was instantly at his partner’s side.

"Hey partner, How are you feeling?" Solo couldn’t keep the worry off his face.

"I’m fine, I guess I know what day two’s going to bring." Illya laughed lightly, "It doesn’t look like it’s going to be any more fun than day one. Were you able to sleep at all last night?" He looked at his friend worry showing on his face.

"I napped a bit." Napoleon watched as his partner slid off the bed. "Illya, don’t you think…"

His partner interrupted, "Napoleon, I’m going to keep going as long as possible, I don’t want to fight with you every morning, so let’s decide right now, when I can’t continue, I’ll tell you. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Napoleon took a deep breath then continued, "Okay, Plan A today, I think we need to catch one of the guys hanging around. If that doesn’t work, maybe we can follow the other one back to the head man. What do you think?"

"Sounds good to me, give me five minutes to get cleaned up and we’ll get started." Illya started into the bathroom, "Have you contacted Waverly yet this morning."

"On my way right now." Napoleon turned and headed for the kitchen. "I’ve got instant coffee, want some?" He hollered back in the direction of his partner.

"Sounds good," Came the response.

Solo put the water on to boil as he reached in his pocket for his communicator. "Open Channel D."

"Good Morning Mr. Solo," Came Mr. Waverly’s voice. "Anything new?"

"Nothing since last night sir," Solo replied, looking at his friend as he entered the kitchen. "Any luck with the tape or the phone trace?"

"We found a couple of good fingerprints on the tape player, they match a couple of Thrush underlings. The phone trace was no good at all."

"Sir, Illya and I have decided to go after one of those Thrush underlings today, according to that tape they’ll be around, we figure we should be able to catch one no problem. If that doesn’t work, we’re going to try following the other one back home." Solo nodded a thank you to his partner who finished pouring him a cup of coffee.

"Is Mr. Kuryakin with you Mr. Solo," Waverly’s voice was thick with concern.

"He’s right here sir, did you want to speak with him?"

Waverly’s voice returned to its normal calm, "No need Mr. Solo. Please let me know when you both have something to report."

"Solo out." Napoleon turned to his partner, "Well, any suggestions on how to catch a Thrush underling?"

"I had a thought." They sat down to discuss their plan.

Chapter 5

Napoleon had the oxygen tank stashed carefully in the back seat, where he had easy access to it. His partner had just glared at him as he was loading it into the car.

They drove back to the warehouse district and began walking the area where Napoleon had originally been held. Finding nothing they continued walking, until they were about a mile from the car. Napoleon had just decided they had gone far enough and was turning to tell his partner when he heard a gasp, turning quickly to see Illya falling to the ground gasping for breath.

"Napoleon," he grated out, "Can’t bre….." And he passed out.

"Illya!" Napoleon yelled, "No!" He knelt over his partner’s prostrate body and felt for a pulse. Beginning CPR he looked around, "No," he yelled again, "Illya this is only the second day, its not supposed to be this bad yet." He looked up as someone approached, "I’ll tell," he screamed, "Just get us the antidote!"

The approaching man was holding a gun on Solo

He felt again for a pulse. "It’s too late, he’s dead." He said to the man who approached him. "Tell your boss, if it takes forever, I will find him. Tell him he’s a dead man."

"Mr. Solo, you can tell him yourself." He said pointing the gun at Napoleon. "Let’s go, just leave him here."

Taking one more anguished look at his friend, Napoleon stood and turned, taking a few steps. The man walked behind him, holding the gun in his back. "Let’s go Mr. Solo."

They had just turned the corner around a building when a gun was pushed into the ear of the Thrush agent, "It’s not polite to leave a body just lying on the ground like that." Illya said harshly, "Unless you want your brains splattered all over my friend here, you’ll drop that gun, Now! I have very little left to lose." He reached around taking the gun out of the man’s hand.

Napoleon reached quickly into his pocket, pulling out a pair of handcuffs, he pulled the man’s arms behind his back and hooked them, a little rougher than he normally would. "Let’s get out of here before his friend turns up." He said shoving the man towards the car.

They drove swiftly to U.N.C.L.E. headquarters. Mr. Waverly was waiting for them at the interrogation room.

"Mr. Kuryakin," he said as they pushed their prisoner into the room, "The Doctor would like to check you out, please report to Medical."

Illya looked at his partner who nodded to him; he turned and headed out the door.

Waverly turned to Napoleon, "Mr. Solo, I’ll meet with you when you’re finished with your prisoner. Take your time." He turned and left.

Solo wasted no time, shoving the man into a chair. "I want to know who your boss is right now!"

The man ignored him, looking in the other direction.

Solo back handed him, hard, causing a small cut, which began to bleed. "You have two choices. Either you talk to me now or when my partner gets back, I leave you alone with him. As you heard, he’s stopping off in our Medical Department. I’m sure he’ll bring some very interesting items back with him. Now talk!" Napoleon got right in his face, yelling, "Who and where is your boss?"

The man finally met his eyes; "He’ll kill me."

Napoleon’s gaze was feral, "And what do you think I’m about to do?" He moved across the room then turned and walked towards the man like a lion stalking his prey, pulling a very large and deadly looking knife, he brought it to the man’s throat. The blade barely touched his skin but it was enough to draw a small amount of blood to show the man how sharp it was.

Solo’s voice had dropped to a low and deadly level, "I don’t really need you, you know, I can always catch your friend and show him your body as an example."

The man leaned back trying to escape the point of the knife. He began to shake as he saw his death in Solo’s eyes. "Alright, but I need to be protected."

"About the only thing I promise to protect you from is me. Now what’s his name and where do I find him?" Solo lowered the knife.

"His name is Jerry Howard. He’s the Thrush scientist that came up with the new nerve gas. He got worried when he heard you were working on the antidote, if this project doesn’t work, they’ll kill him. I don’t know how to get ahold of him. He calls my partner and I at our hotel every evening to get a report. In an emergency I’m supposed to leave a message at a number I’ve got." The man was almost in tears, "I swear that’s all I know. We were just told to keep track of the two of you."

"What’s your partner’s name?" Napoleon had an idea forming.

"Max. Why?"

"That’s all for now, I’m going to have you held here while I check out your story." Napoleon’s voice had turned lethal again, "If I find out you’ve lied to me at all, I’ll be back."

He turned and walked out of the room to find Mr. Waverly standing in the hallway, a strange look on his face. "Mr. Solo, you’re needed in Medical. Mr. Kuryakin has had another attack."

Napoleon was on the run before Waverly had finished speaking. He ran through the hall, not caring what others thought, throwing open the door of Medical. Illya was lying on a bed, two IVs in his arm and an oxygen mask covering his face.

Doctor Morgan was standing beside him. "He’s alright Napoleon, he collapsed before he made it here so he was unconscious before we got the oxygen on him. He’s also a little dehydrated, but we’re taking care of that."

Solo walked over to stand beside the bed. Reaching up to brush his hand across his partner’s cheek.

Illya’s eyes opened quickly, he mumbled something.

Napoleon looked at the Doctor; "It should be okay to take the mask off now."

Solo reached up and removed the oxygen mask from his partner’s face. "How you doing Tovarisch?"

Illya ignored the question. He turned to the Doctor, "I want these needles out now, I’m getting the hell out of here."

The Doctor turned to Napoleon for help. "He should stay down for a while."

Napoleon turned and met his partner’s eyes. "Doctor, if he thinks he’s up to it, we have work to do."

Doctor Morgan sighed, reaching over to remove the IVs and putting a bandage on Illya’s arm. "You know, this isn’t a good idea. You should stay here a while and get your strength back."

Illya slid off the bed, letting Napoleon help steady him. "Doctor, I appreciate your help, but I’m not staying here until I have no other choice." He turned to look at his partner; "Let’s get out of here." He began walking towards the door.

Napoleon turned to the Doctor, "Doc, I’m going to need another canister of oxygen, I want to keep one in the car and one at the apartment. Is there anything else I should do?" He turned a worried look to his partner waiting impatiently at the door.

"I’ll have a couple of canisters put in your car and have a couple more delivered to your apartment." The Doctor replied, "Get some liquids into him and make sure he eats. Other than that just make sure you have that oxygen handy. It’s his respiratory system that’s shutting down, as long as he gets the oxygen he’ll be fine."

"Thanks Doc," Napoleon turned and followed his partner out the door. They headed for Mr. Waverly’s office together.

"Have a seat gentlemen," Waverly said as they entered his office. "Mr. Solo, any luck with our guest?"

"Yes sir, and I think I’ve come up with a plan to solve this mess." Napoleon sat in a chair beside his partner; "Our prisoner has a phone number he leaves messages on. We have him leave a message that I’m ready to take him to the scientist as long as we have an even exchange for the antidote. We set up an agent as the scientist and capture this guy’s friend Max and the head man at the same time, as well as getting an antidote for Illya."

Illya looked at his friend, "We would need someone who knows something about chemistry and can talk to this guy. And how do we know they’ll bring the correct antidote?"

Napoleon turned, looking at Mr. Waverly and refusing to meet his friend’s eyes, "I plan to turn myself over to them as a hostage. They can inject me with the poison and give you the antidote. As soon as I know the antidote has worked, I’ll agree to take them to the scientist."

"No Way!" Illya stood up, turning to his friend his face contorted with anger. "It’s bad enough this is happening to one of us, there is no way I’ll let you do that."

Solo turned back to Mr. Waverly, "Sir?"

Waverly looked from one of his agents to the other. "It does sound a bit dangerous Mr. Solo."

Illya breathed a sigh of relief.

"However," Waverly continued, "These are desperate times, you have my permission to proceed."

Napoleon stood up and walked quickly out of his boss’s office before he could change his mind. Illya was right on his heels, his anger showing on his face. "Napoleon, there is no need for you to do this. We’ll find another way."

Napoleon stopped quickly, turning to his friend, "And exactly what other way do you think we’ll find. You’ve stopped breathing a couple of times today. Do you really think tomorrow is going to be any better? We need to solve this now. If we can get that antidote, it won’t matter who they give that poison to."

The anger slowly dissolved off Kuryakin’s face, leaving only concern etched in the features, "Napoleon, please, let someone else do this."

"Illya," Solo walked into their office, closing the door behind them. "We’ve only got a few hours until we start day three. We have Mr. Waverly’s permission and Thrush knows I’m the only one who knows who the scientist is. There is no one else who can do it." He sat down at his desk, "Now, are you going to help me or not?"

Illya faced his friend for a minute the conflict written on his face, then taking a deep breath he sat down, "Okay, what do we have to do?"

Chapter 6

Since night was falling very quickly, the two men decided to get a good nights rest while allowing their Thrush captive to sweat out the night. Napoleon drove back to his apartment, grateful for the fact that Illya hadn’t had another attack.

On arriving at his apartment, Napoleon did a quick sweep while his partner called and ordered Chinese takeout. Illya then sat down in the living room, lost in thought not saying another word to Napoleon.

They were almost finished having a very quiet dinner when Illya reached over to place a hand on his partner’s shoulder. "Napoleon, I know this is going to sound terrible, but I have a favor I need to ask of you."

Solo stopped eating to look at his friend, "Anything, you know you don’t even have to ask."

"If anything goes wrong and we don’t get the antidote, or if one of my attacks gets really bad." He paused for a second, his face showing all the emotions inside him, "I don’t want to die in a hospital, and I don’t want to die alone."

"Illya, you’re not going to die." Napoleon managed to choke out, shocked at his partner’s words.

"I’m not talking about only now. I’ve thought a lot about this the last couple of days. I want your word for today and the future that you won’t let them drag me off to some hospital to die slowly." He stood up and walked into the living room to sit on the sofa and was turning back to face his partner, when he keeled over, gasping for breath.

Napoleon ran for the oxygen canister, hurrying over to put the mask over his friend’s face. "See what you and your gloomy talk have done." Illya’s eyes were open, looking at his friend as though asking a question, "You have my word, okay? Now can we please change the subject?"

He helped his friend to sit back up; holding the oxygen mask firmly in place until Illya’s breathing seemed to settle down. Then lifting it from his face and putting the canister back against the wall. "Now sir, to bed with you. Maybe tomorrow you’ll be back to your normal sullen self." He laughed lightly helping his partner into the bedroom and settling him in the bed, then walked back into the living room.

Napoleon sat up for a couple of hours thinking about their conversation. He was concerned because they were now into the third day and he had no idea what was going to happen to his friend. Illya’s mood had also disturbed him. He had never seen his partner so emotional and for Illya to be thinking about death, especially his own was just beyond his comprehension.

Finally realizing he needed to get some rest himself, he walked back into the bedroom, stretching out on the bed beside his partner and falling instantly into a light sleep.

Napoleon wasn’t sure what woke him; he reached for the lamp on the bedside table, turning it on to look at the clock. It was four AM. He heard a low moaning noise. Looking over at his partner he saw Illya’s eyes were wide open, he was staring straight at Napoleon but otherwise not moving at all.

"Illya, are you okay?" He asked bending over his friend. There was no movement or answer other than his friend’s eyes rolling. "Well, I guess we know what day three is, up and down for yes, sideways for no, okay?"

Illya’s eyes moved up and down.

"Can you move anything other than your eyes?" The eyes went sideways. Napoleon reached for his partner’s wrist; his pulse was normal and strong. "Can you feel that?"

The eyes went sideways again.

Napoleon thought he saw a look of terror in those bright blue eyes, but it was gone so quickly he couldn’t be sure. "It’s okay partner, I’m here. The other attacks only lasted a few minutes. We’ll wait this one out together." He slid his hand down to hold Illya’s firmly. "I’ve got you, just give me a sign when you feel my hand, okay?"

Illya’s eyes moved up and down quickly, then looked back at his friend, holding his gaze.

Napoleon had been sitting there for five minutes when he saw a quiver go through his partner’s body. "Illya, can you move?"

Kuryakin took a deep slow breath then carefully moved his arms and legs. He released his partner’s hand, putting both hands down on the bed to push himself to a sitting position. He opened his mouth as though trying to speak, stopped then tried again. "Well, that was interesting." His voice was a hoarse croak.

Napoleon stood up and walked across the room. "Do you know how long you were out of it before I woke up? It was about five minutes after I first saw you."

Illya shook his head, "When I woke up I couldn’t move. I don’t think it was more than four or five minutes though. I wonder who came up with this poison, it’s unique." He turned to face his partner. "Napoleon, thank you."

His friend stopped him, "Illya, you know you don’t have to thank me, I’m just glad you’re okay. I better call in and let the Doctor know your new symptoms. Hey, at least we’re done with the oxygen." He laughed.

Illya laughed with him, "I think I liked the oxygen a little better." He looked closely at his friend, seeing the exhaustion on his face; "Napoleon, let’s not call in yet. You need some more sleep; you haven’t had more than three or four hours in the past two days. If things go the way they have before, we don’t need to worry about another attack for a while, and I’m worn out."

Solo seemed to think about it for a minute, "Are you sure you’re okay?" He walked back over to the bed, sitting on the edge.

"I’ll be much better after we both get some sleep." Illya slid back down to stretch out on the bed, starting to reach across to turn off the lamp.

Napoleon stopped him, "I’ll get that, you just relax." He lay back down after turning the switch, intending to keep an eye on his friend for a while and was out almost before his head hit the pillow.

Morning came too quickly. Napoleon opened his eyes to bright sunlight streaming through the window. He sat up swiftly, looking for his partner. The other side of the bed was empty. Hearing no noise from the apartment he immediately thought the worst. Leaping up from the bed to run into the living room. His partner was standing in the kitchen, casually cooking breakfast.

"Good Morning, I take it your feeling better this morning." Napoleon tried to control his breathing so his friend wouldn’t see he had panicked, but he could see from Illya’s expression that he hadn’t covered it in time.

Illya gave him a wry grin and continued fixing plates, "Napoleon, I’m sorry about last night. I don’t know what got into me. I guess this situation is finally getting to me. You shouldn’t have to put up with my low moods."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Solo walked in to pour them both a cup of coffee, "There’s nothing in this world I don’t feel comfortable discussing with you partner. It’s nice to know it’s mutual." He walked over to his partner taking a plate of food, "I’m starving to death and your yakking, does it seem there’s something a little backwards this morning?"

They finished eating breakfast in comfortable silence then after both got cleaned up and changed, drove into headquarters to meet with Mr. Waverly.

"Good Morning Gentlemen," Waverly waved them both to sit down, "I understand our Thrush prisoner had a very bad nights rest. He indicated he’s extremely concerned about meeting with you this morning, Mr. Solo. I gather you made quite an impression."

"I tried sir," Napoleon laughed.

Waverly actually smiled, "Well, Mr. Kuryakin, I think you should go escort the prisoner to the interrogation room and make sure to build up his anticipation a little."

"Yes Sir." Illya stood up and walked out the door.

Waverly turned back to Napoleon, a look of concern on his face, "How is he doing Mr. Solo?"

Napoleon turned to look at him when he heard a scream and what sounded like Mr. Kuryakin from the hallway. He paused long enough to grab a pillow off Mr. Waverly’s couch and throwing open the office door ran in the direction of the noise.

Illya was lying huddled on the floor, not moving. A group of people were standing around him with one girl on the telephone calling for medical help.

Solo pushed his way through the crowd. "Don’t bother calling for help. He’s fine." He knelt down beside his friend, lifting his head up to place the pillow underneath. He straightened Illya’s legs out then took both of his hands holding them tightly and met his partner’s eyes. "Okay, Illya?"

Blue eyes met hazel ones then moved slowly up and down.

Solo took a moment to glare at their audience, anger in his voice. "He’s okay, just get back to work."

Mr. Waverly had walked up and quickly moved the crowd along. Looking at his two agents then turning to return to his office.

Napoleon slid down to sit beside his partner, never letting go of his hands. "Do you want me to move you into another room?" He whispered.

The eyes moved sideways, staying locked with his friend’s.

Solo sat there for ten minutes talking quietly to his partner, ignoring the stares from people as they walked by. He watched as a shudder went through Illya’s still form, "Are you ready to try to get up?" As he released his friend’s hands.

Illya nodded at him, wiggling his fingers to make sure they were working.

Napoleon stood up then reached down to help his friend slowly to his feet. "Do you to want to rest somewhere?" He asked quietly.

Illya took a quick breath, "I’m okay, let’s get back to it." He started back down the hall, ignoring the looks of concern from his co-workers. "I’m going to go get our prisoner. I’ll meet you back in Mr. Waverly’s office." He took a couple more shaky steps, took a deep breath then turned and walked away.

Solo stood for a moment watching him, then reaching down to pick up the pillow, he walked back to Mr. Waverly’s office. He stood outside the door a couple of minutes regaining his composure before knocking and going back in, returning the pillow to the sofa before sitting down. He saw the question on Waverly’s face. "He’s okay sir, it was just another spell. He’s usually over it in ten minutes."

"Mr. Solo," Waverly paused a moment, "I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but don’t you think you’d be better off with a different partner on this matter? If Mr. Kuryakin should have a spell at the wrong time, it could be catastrophic."

Napoleon didn’t realize the door had opened, he was so intent on answering Mr. Waverly, "Sir, I would rather have Illya watching my back even in this condition than any other agent we have. Illya won’t let me down sir, no matter what. Please don’t force me to make a change." He turned hearing a noise by the door and saw his partner standing in the doorway.

Illya walked silently over to sit beside his partner, no words were necessary. He turned to face his boss. "I’m alright sir, if the schedule stays the same, I shouldn’t have another attack for hours."

Waverly looked at both agents intently as though trying to make a decision, "Very well, what’s the next step?"

Solo nodded to his partner.

"Napoleon will convince our prisoner to call his partner." Illya explained the entire plan to his boss.

Chapter 7

Illya was worried. He knew Napoleon could take care of himself, but since his poisoning his partner has been more emotional than ever before, watching out more for his partner than himself. Now, with this plan, he was going to put himself right where Illya had been for the last few days.

He stood at the door to the interrogation room, watching his friend work. Seeing the anger on his face as he talked to the Thrush agent. Knowing that with each threat he made to the prisoner he was setting himself up.

Illya was still lost in thought when the door opened and Napoleon walked out. "Well?"

Solo looked at him, puzzled for a minute by the expression on his friend’s face; "He made the call to his partner. He’s supposed to take me to the hotel in two hours. Max is contacting Jerry Howard to let him know I’m ready to co-operate and my terms. Illya, I’m going to have a courier ready to bring you the antidote. You’re due for another attack within two to four hours after that. So, we should know right away."

"Napoleon, you’ve seen what I’ve been through." Illya’s expression had returned to his normal reserve, but you could hear the tension in his voice. "You won’t have anyone there to keep an eye on you."

Solo kept his voice level, "We both know the first day isn’t that bad. As long as you have the antidote analyzed you can bring it with you to the lab when we catch these guys." He reached over to put his hand on his friend’s arm. "Don’t worry partner, by tomorrow this nightmare will be over. According to our friend in there Max will go pick up the antidote and the poison and meet us at the hotel. After I know you’re okay we’ll pick up their Mr. Howard and go to the lab."

"Napoleon, who’s going to back you up while I’m waiting here for the antidote." Illya was sorry he asked the question when he saw his partner’s face. "You’re going in alone?"

"I’ll have all the backup I need at the lab. They won’t hurt me until I’ve taken them to our scientist. We didn’t tell our little Thrush friend that the lab is a setup. Once they’ve injected me with the poison I should only have one attack before we know for sure you’re okay." He smiled at his friend, "Just make sure you save enough to analyze okay?"

"Napoleon!"

"Just kidding." Solo had to laugh, it was getting easier and easier to tease the quiet Russian. "Well, I’m going to go pick up a few toys to hide on my person, do you want to let Mr. Waverly know we’re a go?"

Illya didn’t answer him; he simply turned towards Waverly’s office and walked away a very stern look on his face.

Two hours later, Napoleon and the Thrush agent, whose name he had learned was Mike left U.N.C.L.E. headquarters and drove towards the agent’s hotel. Napoleon was letting the agent drive and wasn’t wearing his gun. No one needed to know about the knife and other assorted items he had hidden in his clothes.

He was concerned because Kuryakin had never returned to see him off. When he checked with Waverly before leaving he was told Illya was waiting in the lab for the antidote due to the doctor’s worry about another attack.

They were just pulling into the hotel parking lot when Napoleon turned to the Thrush agent, "Now remember, I’ll only keep you protected as long as you co-operate. You double cross me and you’re just as expendable as your friend Max."

He received just a glare in response, but there was a small nod.

They walked into the hotel together, with Napoleon one step in front of Mike to make it appear more like he was the prisoner. He already knew they were headed for a room on a first floor room.

Solo walked into room 104, followed closely by his supposed Thrush ally. He recognized the man standing across the room as Mike’s partner Max. Mike had stepped around him, walking towards his partner as Napoleon reached to close the door. He never felt the blow that knocked him unconscious.

When Napoleon regained consciousness the first thing he noticed was his jacket had been removed, a shirtsleeve rolled up and his arms were tied behind his back. Looking around he saw Max and Mike standing across the room, there was a third man standing in front of him. "Jerry Howard I presume." Solo said standing back up.

"Welcome back Mr. Solo, don’t move around too much." It was the voice he had originally heard over the speaker when he had first been kidnapped.

"I didn’t expect to be meeting you here Mr. Howard." Napoleon’s voice was puzzled. "My understanding was that we would pick you up after we verified the antidote."

"Mr. Solo, do you really think I’m stupid enough to believe you’ve caved in all ready?" Howard’s voice was nasty. "Our mutual friend Mike managed to insert a message in his phone call, letting his partner know this was a trap."

Solo turned to throw a nasty look at Mike, "And how would he know that? I came here in good faith, I fully intend to take you to the lab as soon as I’ve verified my partner is okay."

"Oh Mr. Solo, you must really think Thrush is stupid. There is no way you’re going to take me to the correct lab and scientist today. I know it and you know it. However, I did decide to give you a little taste of what your partner has been getting." He reached into his pocket, pulling out two bottles. "This is the antidote, which neither of you is ever going to get, and this is the poison."

Howard sat the bottle of antidote down on the table, keeping the bottle of poison in his hand. He reached back into his pocket to pull out a syringe. He began filling it from the bottle of poison.

"It’s terrible to have something so close and yet so far away, isn’t it Mr. Solo." Howard was laughing as he saw Napoleon looking at the antidote on the table. "I figure once your partner is dead and you’ve experienced three or four days of this poison, you’ll take me where I want to go. I’d like to say I invented this handy little item, but a wonderful Thrush chemist discovered it. It’s too bad you won’t get to see your partner’s last couple of days I know you wouldn’t enjoy them as much as I will but still."

Napoleon started towards him, anger written all over his face, forgetting he was tied up.

Howard waited until he got close and shoved him hard in the chest, pushing him off balance. He grabbed his arm and was just beginning to plunge the needle down when a window suddenly shattered. Illya leaned through, firing one shot into Howard’s hand, knocking the syringe loose.

Napoleon wasted no time he threw himself bodily into Howard, knocking him to the floor as Illya climbed in the window pointing his special at Mike and Max.

Solo stood back up awkwardly, backing over to the table to grab the bottle of antidote, then diving out of the way as Mike pulled a gun, pointing it in his direction.

Kuryakin didn’t even blink, he put a bullet in Mike’s brain then turned to face Max who had pulled out a wicked looking knife. "Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s not to bright to bring a knife to a gun fight," Illya asked, the adrenaline making his voice sound low and deadly.

"Illya look out," Napoleon shouted, seeing Howard pull a gun and aim it at his partner’s back. He was to far away to do anything about Howard but he threw himself against his partner’s legs knocking him out of the path of the bullet.

Kuryakin’s gun was knocked out of his hand when he hit the ground; he looked up as Max came at him with the knife. Solo was still on the floor so neither of them was able to stop Howard as he went out the window.

Napoleon rolled hard, hitting Max in the legs as Illya grabbed his fallen gun and fired one time, Max was dead before he hit the floor. Illya scooped up Max’s knife, slicing through the ropes on his partner arms, then turned and climbed out the window after the fleeing Howard.

"Illya," Napoleon shouted as he checked the bottle held tightly in his left fist. "Don’t run." It was too late; the Russian was running into the street, gun held at ready when he dropped as if pole-axed. Solo climbed out the window.

Napoleon was about 20 yards behind Illya running at full speed when he heard a car, tire’s squealing and looked up to see Jerry Howard at the wheel of his car, heading right towards his fallen partner. He had no time to even think, Solo dove the last few feet, landing hard on his partner’s prostrate body. Wrapping his arms around his friend’s back, he rolled sideways, landing both of them in the gutter as the car roared past.

Seeing his special gripped tightly in the Russian’s hand, Napoleon grabbed it getting off three shots before the car turned a corner out of sight. He dropped back down beside his partner who was lying in the gutter, his head up against the curb. "Illya, are you okay?"

There was no response; the eyes didn’t even flutter. Suddenly thinking of the antidote, Solo slowly opened the tight fist of his left hand. The bottle was undamaged. He reached quickly in his friend’s jacket pocket and pulled out his communicator pen. "Open Channel D." He said.

Waverly’s voice came back, "Yes Mr. Solo."

"Minor setback sir, I’ve got the antidote but Illya’s unconscious and Howard got away." Napoleon’s voice sounded tired but optimistic. "I’ll bring Illya and the antidote in so the lab can make sure it’s safe. We’ll need a clean up crew at the hotel, we have two dead Thrush underlings."

"Very well Mr. Solo, I’ll expect your report after you get back to headquarters."

"Solo out." Napoleon put the pen back in his partner’s jacket. Reaching down to lift his friend up, he carried him gently over to the car. "Illya, what in the hell were you thinking?" He thought it over and realized his partner must have gotten permission from Waverly to back him up. "No wonder you didn’t show up to see us off, you were already here."

Solo ran back into the hotel room to scoop up the vial of poison, hurrying back to the car to check on his partner and discovering he was still unconscious. It took him only ten minutes to get back to headquarters. As he was parking he heard a quiet sound from his friend.

"How’s the head?" Napoleon opened his door, walking around the car to open the passenger side. "I didn’t realize that concrete was harder than your Russian skull."

"Very funny Napoleon, how was I supposed to know my partner was going to throw me head first into a gutter?" Illya’s tone was soft. "Did we lose Howard?"

"Yes, but we got the antidote. Can you walk?" Solo’s voice showed his worry.

Illya looked up at his friend, "If you’ll help me, I think I can make it. I’m still all pins and needles." He started to slide out of the car. Getting to his feet he would have fallen to the ground if Napoleon hadn’t grabbed him, sliding his partner’s arm around his shoulders Solo walked slowly into Del Floria’s.

It took them longer than normal to arrive in Medical. Illya’s legs just weren’t coming back the way they had before. Solo could tell by the way his partner was leaning heavily on his shoulder and also the fact that he didn’t protest when Napoleon almost lifted him onto the medical bed.

Doctor Morgan came over as soon as they walked in the door. "Mr. Waverly said you have the antidote. I’ve got the lab on hold for the analysis."

Napoleon reached into his pocket, pulling out the small bottle he had wrapped in his handkerchief and a cloth in the car. He handed it carefully to the Doctor. "How long will the analysis take? Illya’s not coming back from this last spell as quickly as before."

The Doctor took the bottle and started into the other room.

Napoleon stopped him, pulling the other bottle out of his pocket. "This is a sample of the poison too. I thought you might need it." He handed it to the doctor.

"The analysis shouldn’t take long at all." He tossed back over his shoulder as he headed for the laboratory.

Illya glared at Solo, "You know, this increased tingling could have something to do with that concrete gutter you threw me into."

Solo glared right back but there was laughter in his eyes. "If you my friend hadn’t decided to play hero and chase Howard into the street, I wouldn’t have had to throw you into the gutter. I take it Mr. Waverly decided I needed backup?"

Kuryakin’s glare softened to gentle laughter, "He figured your Thrush friend might try a doublecross. He had me bug the room, I was with you the whole time, listening and waiting outside the window."

Solo walked back over to at the foot of Illya’s bed; "I sure appreciated the cavalry coming over the window sill. Now all we need is to get that antidote into you and we can get out there and catch this bastard."

Illya stopped laughing and looked at his partner, his expression turning serious. "Napoleon, just in case it’s not the antidote…."

Solo stopped him, "I don’t want anymore pessimism, it is the correct antidote. Howard had no idea we would get it, he wanted to taunt me with your death. It’s going to be fine."

They both stopped as Doctor Morgan came back into the room. Solo moved over to stand beside his partner as though to help him take this news.

Illya was able to speak first, "Well doctor?"

Morgan was carrying a syringe; "It appears gentlemen that you have found the correct antidote. Let’s get it in you Mr. Kuryakin and get this poison taken care of."

Napoleon closed his eyes, stepping backwards to sink into a chair against the wall. You could hear the breath he released.

Illya turned to look at his partner, a tender look crossing his face for a moment, before he got his emotions back under control. "Do we know if there are any side effects to either the poison or antidote?"

"Illya, honestly the only thing we know for sure is there’s nothing bad in the antidote and in every test we’ve run it has completely taken care of the poison. If you want to wait a while until we run more tests we can." Morgan looked at him expectantly.

Kuryakin didn’t even pause, "No way, let’s get this done right now." He slipped his jacket off and rolled the sleeve of his shirt up.

Doctor Morgan walked over, swabbed down his arm and injected the antidote. "We should know something right away. It didn’t take long at all in the tests." He watched Illya carefully.

Napoleon stood back up and came back to be near his friend.

Illya looked at both of them, "Come on guys, it isn’t going to do any good to stare at me. Napoleon, help me up, I think the tingling is letting up." He sat up and slid his legs off the bed.

Solo reached over to grab his arm as he slid to his feet. "Well?"

Illya smiled at his partner, "No more pins and needles. Everything works." He turned to Morgan, "Thanks Doctor."

"Don’t thank me, you guys got the antidote. Now get out of here, this area’s for sick people only." Morgan headed back towards the laboratory. "I’ve got work to do, I want to find out the components of this poison. This has to be one of the most ingenious chemical mixtures I’ve ever seen."

They heard him still mumbling as he went through the door.

Napoleon let go of his partner’s arm, "Come on partner, let’s get to work."

They both turned and headed out the door to report to Mr. Waverly.

Chapter 8

They had finished their report to Mr. Waverly and the three men had walked into the communication’s room when Solo’s communicator pen went off. He reached in his pocket and pulled it out, "Solo here."

A very quiet voice came back, "Uncle Lee, is that you?"

Napoleon stopped walking, "Ronnie?"

The voice got even quieter, "Uncle Lee, help me."

"Ronnie what’s going on?" Napoleon was trying to stay calm to keep the young girl calm.

"Uncle Lee, someone’s trying to break into the house. I hear them outside. I’m in the attic lab and the door’s closed, but if they get inside." Ronnie’s voice trailed off.

Illya and Napoleon looked at each other and without another word both took off running down the corridor. They pushed people out of their way and hit the door on the run. Getting to the car Illya climbed in the driver’s seat, allowing his partner to keep talking to his niece.

"Ronnie, honey," he said quietly, "You need to get off the communicator just in case they’re scanning for it. Get in the lab closet just like we discussed and lock the door from the inside, okay?"

The girl’s frightened voice came back, "Okay Uncle Lee, but will you be here soon? My folk’s are gone for a week, there’s no one else here."

Napoleon looked at his partner.

"Less than three minutes," Illya said.

"Just a couple of minutes baby, now turn off the communicator and hide. I love you baby, we’ll be right there." Solo closed his communicator, looking over to his partner, "I should never have involved her in this." His voice was filled with self-loathing, "It’s bad enough I got you poisoned, but now I could get her killed."

Illya answered him sternly, "Napoleon, none of this is your fault. How were you supposed to know Thrush would go after her? Wouldn’t your energy be better spent figuring out how to help her instead of beating yourself up? Is there a back way into the house?"

Solo gave his partner a wry grin, "Thanks friend, yes. There’s a back stairway, which leads to the attic door. We should be able to get right to her." He reached in his jacket and pulled out his special to check it. "Are you fully loaded."

Kuryakin threw him an exasperated look.

"Never mind. Don’t mind me I’m just talking." Solo laid his gun in his lap. Preparing himself to leap out of the car as soon as it stopped. "Thank God I gave her a communicator." He said to himself.

It was the longest three minutes of both men’s life. They finally pulled up behind the house, Illya pulling in as quietly as he could, leaving the keys in the car. They both climbed swiftly out of the car and quietly started up the back staircase.

Napoleon reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, sliding it into the locked door at the top of the stairs. He signaled his partner to turn right as they entered the door both guns drawn and held ready. The lab door was broken down so they both stealthily climbed the steps into the laboratory.

Illya cut to the left as they reached the top of the steps, Solo moved right. It was pitch black in the room; all the lights were turned off. Napoleon headed directly towards the closet he had told Ronnie to hide in, it’s door was also broken. Hearing a small scream and a struggle, he reached for the wall and hit the light switch.

Ronnie was running towards the corner of the room, Jerry Howard four steps behind her, pulling a gun to point in her direction. He stopped dead as the light came on, his gun pointing at Ronnie’s head.

"Freeze Howard," Napoleon yelled, pointing his special at the man. "Drop it, or I drop you where you stand."

Howard looked towards Napoleon, never lowering his gun. "Freeze yourself Solo or I’ll kill her. You weren’t quite as smart as I thought you were, once we checked out your list of contacts for the last few days, her name jumped right out at me, or should I say her college major. Now drop that gun or she’s dead." He checked to see that Ronnie had stopped in the corner of the room, and had no where to go. He kept his eyes on Napoleon and his gun less than four feet from Ronnie.

Solo watched Ronnie as she cowered in the corner. "It’s alright honey, I won’t let him hurt you. Calm down." He knew Illya was in the room, but he wasn’t sure where his partner was.

Without any warning the lights went out. Solo heard two shots before he fired once, hearing a thud as someone hit the floor. He ran desperately for the light switch, turning to see Howard, dead in the middle of the floor. Almost afraid to look, he turned to the corner.

Illya was standing in the corner, spread-eagled protecting Ronnie. He couldn’t even see the tiny brunette; she was totally covered with his partner’s body.

"Ronnie," Napoleon said, the fear making his voice tremble.

A small head poked out from beside Illya; "I’m okay. Thank you Illya." She said scooting around the blonde to run to Napoleon.

He caught her up and hugged her, "Illya, how do I thank you?" He stopped when there was no response, looking back at his partner, "Illya?"

The Russian half turned towards his partner, a strange grin on his face. "Is she okay?"

Solo breathed a small sigh of relief, "She’s fine, are you okay….?" The question wasn’t even finished as he watched his friend sink slowly to the floor and land in a heap. He set Ronnie back on her feet, running over to his partner. "Illya." Dropping to his knees beside the young Russian he put his arm around his shoulders to raise him up. He was unconscious.

Lifting up Illya’s shirt, he saw two bullet wounds in the middle of his back. Both had started to bleed heavily. "Ronnie," He called quickly, "Grab my communicator, open it up and say Open Channel D." Leaning his friend against his shoulder, Solo pulled his own jacket off, tearing it up he folded a piece of the lining in half and held it up against the wounds.

The young brunette ran over to him, grabbing the communicator she did as he said.

Mr. Waverly’s voice came back, "Who is speaking please?"

"Bring it over here, Ronnie. Hold it up to me." Solo wouldn’t let go of his friend. "Mr. Waverly, its Napoleon. I need a medical team as quickly as possible to 149 Huntington. In the attic." He tried to keep his voice calm. "Howard’s dead and Illya’s been shot."

"The team’s on the way Mr. Solo. How badly is he hurt?" Waverly’s voice was quiet.

Napoleon looked at his partner then at the communicator. "Sir, I have to go, I’m not sure. I’ll report in as soon as we get there. Please send a back up team, I’m coming in with Illya and Ronnie, she’ll need authorization to go to Medical."

"We’ll be waiting." Waverly signed off.

Ronnie stood there, still holding the communicator. "Uncle Lee, is he dead?"

Napoleon reached up to feel for a pulse, it was faint, but it was there. "No Ronnie. Put that away now and move over here. I need you to hold his head while I check him out."

Ronnie dropped gracefully to the floor. Solo very carefully laid his partner face down with his head on her lap.

"He saved me, Uncle Lee. He covered me up so that man couldn’t kill me." Ronnie was beginning to cry. "He only met me that one time, why would he do that."

Solo trying hard to staunch the blood flow, stopped a moment, "Ronnie, that’s the kind of person he is. Illya can’t stand to see any innocent get hurt. He would give his life to save them." His word’s hit him, "But not this time, partner. We just got you well, don’t you do this to me okay?"

He could tell from the position of the wounds that the bullets had come very close to his friend’s spine. Remembering from his first aid training he made sure his partner’s legs and body were straightened out then kept gentle pressure on the wounds.

Ronnie continued to cry, gently stroking Illya’s face. "Illya, you can’t die. I just met you; I have too much to talk to you about. I have too much I need to ask you about Uncle Lee."

"Honey," Napoleon tried to catch her attention, "This Russian is to stubborn to die. He’ll be fine." He just prayed he was right.

Solo’s attention was distracted by a noise downstairs. He shifted his left hand to the makeshift bandage, keeping pressure on the bullet wounds and reached into his jacket to pull out his special. Holding it ready to greet anyone coming up the stairs. He was shocked when Doctor Morgan himself strode into the room, followed close behind by two interns carrying a stretcher.

Morgan knelt beside Solo, "What have you got Napoleon?" He reached over to move Solo’s hand and lifted the bandage.

"Two shots in the back, he was conscious for a few seconds and has been out ever since." Napoleon slid his gun back into the holster, relinquishing his hold on the bandage. The adrenaline was swiftly draining from his body, causing his hands to shake.

Morgan signaled to the two interns, "Lift him carefully, keep him face down." He said quietly. "Napoleon, you need to stay out of the way." He saw the man wasn’t listening, he was watching his partner.

Morgan physically took Solo’s arm and moved him out of the way.

On feeling the contact, Napoleon finally looked at the doctor, "How bad is it?" His eyes still were on his partner. "He’s awfully pale."

"Napoleon, I won’t know anything until I get in there and take a look." He looked towards Ronnie still sitting on the floor after Illya was lifted from her. "She looks like she could use you right now. I promise by the time you get done here, we should know something."

"We’re coming in with you." Solo’s voice was shaky. "Mr. Waverly’s sending someone else to cover here."

Ronnie stood up to come over to Napoleon, "Uncle Lee, I’m okay." She paused to wipe her face and take a deep breath, "You ride in with Illya. I’ll bring your car."

"Are you sure baby?" His eyes never left his friend’s body being strapped on the stretcher. "I can follow them in."

"Please Uncle Lee, I’d feel better if you’re with him. I’d be dead now if it hadn’t been for him."

Solo turned back to the Doctor, "Okay Frank, I’m with you."

Morgan could tell from the expression on Solo’s face that there was no point in arguing with him. "Come on then, let’s go."

The two interns loaded the stretcher into the back of the ambulance. Doctor Morgan climbing in followed closely by Solo who had already made sure Ronnie was on her way. Napoleon climbed past the Doctor to sink to the floor by Illya’s head. He reached up to place his hand on Illya’s shoulder.

They had been under way about five minutes when Napoleon heard a low moan coming from his partner. "Illya." He said quietly. "Can you hear me?"

Illya tried to raise his head up. Napoleon gently held it in place. "Don’t try to move."

"Ronnie okay?" Illya gasped.

"She’s fine." Napoleon answered quickly. "What in the hell did you think you were doing you crazy Russian?"

"Howard?" Another gasp.

"Howard’s dead and good riddance to him." Napoleon moved his hand over to touch his partner’s cheek. "Now would you just relax, we’re almost to headquarters and we’ll have you taken care of in a few minutes."

"Don’t forget promise." Illya croaked out.

Napoleon closed his eyes tightly for a second then opened them back up. "Now you listen here, I’m not going to take any more of this pessimism crap from you, you hear me? You’re going to be just fine." He heard one more little gasp. He looked his partner was unconscious again. He leaned down to whisper to him, "Don’t worry partner, I won’t forget my promise, no matter what."

Solo looked over to Doctor Morgan, "Napoleon, don’t worry," Morgan said to quickly, "We’ll get him taken care of."

The ambulance came to a sudden stop. The two interns came around and lifted the stretcher out. Solo tried to take one end of the stretcher, Morgan stopped him. "Napoleon, you need to take care of your niece, and let us take care of Illya."

Napoleon said, "No way! I’m not leaving him. I’ll be in Medical with you the whole time, I promised, you heard him."

Morgan looked at him, seeing the look on Solo’s face and realizing an argument would only waste time. "There nothing….."

"I promised!"

The Doctor and the two interns continued into headquarters with Illya while Napoleon waited for Ronnie to pull up and park. "How you doing honey?" He said as she got out of the car.

She looked at him with a brave look on her face. "I’m doing fine Uncle Lee. How’s Illya, is he still alive?" Her voice was shaky.

Napoleon pulled her into a hug, "Don’t worry about him. He’s going to be just fine. He talked to me in the ambulance. Now come on, let’s go inside, I need to get you settled so I can get into surgery." He quickly walked her into headquarters, getting her a badge and taking her to the medical section.

Doctor Morgan as well as two other doctors were working on Illya when they arrived. Screens were being set up to provide some privacy for the surgery. Napoleon paused for only a few seconds to watch, before walking Ronnie into the laboratory.

A young blonde woman walked up as he walked Ronnie through the door. "Hello Mr. Solo, can I help you with something?" She asked.

"Jennifer, this is my niece, Ronnie. She needs somewhere to wait while I’m in the other room. She’s a chemical engineer and I though she might enjoy a tour of the lab." He smiled the famous Solo smile. "Ronnie, I’ll come for you as soon as the surgery is over." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked back out the door. Walking over to pick up a gown and mask before heading in the direction of the screens.

Napoleon had to stop after putting on the mask and gown to regain his equilibrium. He had never in his life been so afraid before. The young Russian had been through so much the past few days. How much strength did he have left? What if? He stopped himself; he refused to do what he had accused his partner of. Only positive thoughts were acceptable. Taking a deep breath, he walked around the screens.

Illya was stretched out on the operating table on his stomach, one arm at his side, the other beside his head as though reaching for something. Doctor Morgan was just beginning to make the incision to remove the bullets. He barely acknowledged Solo’s entrance.

Napoleon skirted the table and walked by to stand at his partner’s head. Taking the hand that seemed to be reaching out he was surprised when his hand was squeezed. Looking

At his friend, he realized he was conscious. "Doctor?" He looked towards Morgan.

Morgan paused only a second; "He woke up as we were getting ready to put him under. You know your partner," His tone was exasperated, "He refused anesthetic, he would only agree to a local."

Solo knelt down in front of the table, "Illya, can you hear me?"

Illya’s eyes opened quickly to look at his friend, he smiled then closed his eyes. A very quiet "Da." Came out of his mouth as his eyes were closing.

Napoleon knew his partner was barely coherent, he only spoke Russian when he was drunk or drugged. It didn’t matter, "Ronnie’s fine, you saved her. I don’t know if you remember, Howard’s dead. It’s over. You just need to concentrate on getting better." Solo thought back to his promise, "Don’t worry, I’m taking you home with me as soon as you’re able to travel, I promise."

He knew the odds were Kuryakin couldn’t hear him and wouldn’t remember any of this but he stayed there for the entire surgery talking quietly to his friend about everything and anything he could think up. Solo had just decided his knees couldn’t take anymore when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Doctor Morgan waving him out of the cubicle.

Napoleon rose slowly his knees stiff and sore from kneeling so long and followed him as quickly as he could. "Frank, How bad is it?"

Morgan stopped and turned to him with a smile on his face. "Your partner is one lucky man. Neither bullet was close enough to the spinal cord to do any damage. As a matter of fact he should be up and around very quickly the damage and blood loss are minimal. You may want to get back in there, he isn’t out and if I know Illya he’s going to try to get up as soon as he can think clearly."

A big smile broke out on Napoleon’s face. "When can I take him home? You’re right, he’s going to try to escape and if I can give him a release date I might be able to keep him down."

"Napoleon, he can’t be at home alone, he won’t be able to walk and he’s going to be sore for a couple of days, he could go home today if he had someone to take care of him." Morgan was adamant.

"Okay Frank, wrap him up, he’s coming home with me. I’ve got the perfect nurse waiting in the lab and you know Illya, he’ll be happier at home than here." Solo’s smile got even bigger, "I’m going to let him know." He walked back around the screens not giving Morgan a chance to argue.

Morgan stood there for a second a perplexed look on his face, "Damn, he did it to me again." He walked back around the screen trying to figure out how he always managed to lose to Solo and Kuryakin.

Chapter 9

Frank Morgan had always known that Illya Kuryakin hated hospitals and doctors. He found out just how much when he heard the man actually agree to leave U.N.C.L.E. headquarters in a wheelchair. He came back around the screen in time to watch Napoleon Solo kneel down in front of his partner again.

"Illya," He said quietly, "Can you hear me?"

Kuryakin’s head nodded slightly.

"You’re fine, no major damage from either bullet." The relief in Solo’s voice was apparent. "You have two choices. You can stay here and recuperate with all these grizzled old doctors or I can drag you off to my place with a cute young brunette nurse. The down side is you don’t try to walk out of here. You either get carried or rolled, your choice." He reached down to hold his friend in place as Kuryakin tried to raise up.

"When do we leave?" Illya’s voice was barely intelligible.

Napoleon turned to look at Morgan as he walked up to the table to check the Russian’s vitals. "Can we at least wait until he’s fully conscious?" It was said with a small laugh.

Illya’s eyes popped open. "I’m awake." He held them open with a great deal of effort, causing both Napoleon and Doctor Morgan to break out in hearty laughter.

They stopped laughing as a small brunette head poked around one of the screens, "Uncle Lee?" A timid voice said, "Illya?"

Napoleon stopped laughing and walked over to Ronnie, taking her by the arm. "Honey, I’ve got a job for you if you want it."

Ronnie looked at him puzzled, "A job?"

"How would you like to look after one stubborn, pig headed Russian for a few days?" He laughed again.

A loud snort came from the medical table.

"Is Illya okay?" Ronnie looked at the Doctor.

"Why don’t you come over here and ask me." The Russian’s voice was getting stronger. "And why don’t you overgrown juvenile delinquents go away and leave me alone with this pretty lady. You could arrange for our carriage."

Morgan was dumbstruck, Solo just nodded knowing his partner well enough to have predicted he would agree to even a wheelchair if it meant getting out of the hated hospital. They both turned and walked around the screens.

It took an hour for Napoleon to report in to Mr. Waverly and arrange for the time off. He also contacted Ronnie’s dad and explained everything that had gone on, arranging for her to stay with him until the house could be repaired and a new alarm system installed. Arrangements for these had already been taken care of by Mr. Waverly.

When Napoleon walked back around the screens with a robe for Illya he was surprised to find Ronnie sitting in a chair right beside his friend’s head, holding his hand and the both of them talking and laughing like old friends.

"Would anyone like to tell me what’s so funny." He asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Ronnie was laughing almost hysterically. "Nothing Uncle Lee, I was just asking Illya a few things." She looked at her new friend and winked quickly.

Napoleon seeing the wink had to hold back a laugh. "Okay Niece and co-conspirator, beat it while I help your partner in crime get ready to go and we’ll get out of here." He walked over to Illya as Ronnie left, leaning down to quietly whisper in his ear. "Don’t argue with me no matter what I say or do, I’ll explain later." He stood up swiftly just as Doctor Morgan and Mr. Waverly came around the screen with Morgan pushing a wheelchair, which he parked at the foot of the medical table.

Waverly took a quick look at Solo before turning to Illya, "Are you feeling better Mr. Kuryakin?"

Illya had thrown a puzzled look at his partner but turned quickly towards Mr. Waverly, his face going passive, "I’m fine Mr. Waverly, ready to get out of here."

Morgan was just standing there watching the by-play, not saying a word.

Napoleon moved around in front of Illya, successfully blocking the Doctor’s view. "Okay Illya, let’s get this robe on you and get you out of here." He held the robe in his right arm and used his left arm to grab his partner around the shoulders and lift him to a sitting position, while sliding the robe on his arm.

Morgan knowing he was being tricked somehow moved around to watch Illya slip his other arm into the robe. Mr. Waverly stood at the corner of the screen a half smile on his face as he watched the emotions cross the Doctor’s face. He had dealt with these two before and knew the combination of Solo and Kuryakin were unbeatable.

"Okay Mr. Kuryakin as soon as you’re in the chair, we’ll let you out of here." Morgan planted himself next to the wheelchair.

Solo turned to look at the Doctor then smiling, turned to his partner, "Okay Illya, ready to go?" Before anyone could say anything, he reached down and scooped his partner up, lowering him quickly into the wheelchair then turning to the Doctor, "Okay Frank?"

Illya too shocked to say anything just sat in the chair, watching the looks between the Doctor and his partner.

"Okay Napoleon, you’ve got your instructions. I’ll check with you later tonight on how he’s doing." Morgan turned laughing and walked out from the screens, followed closely by Mr. Waverly who was trying not to laugh out loud.

Napoleon began pushing the chair containing his partner out the door, being joined by Ronnie. He actually made it all the way out of Medical before breaking out in a full-blown belly laugh. Both Ronnie and Illya turned to look at him.

"Okay partner, I give, exactly what was that all about?" Illya turned to look at his friend.

"We had a meeting with Mr. Waverly. Doctor Morgan informed him that if you couldn’t sit up and get in the chair, he was going to keep you overnight. But, I was forbidden to tell you." Napoleon was still laughing as his niece and partner joined in. "He never said I couldn’t help."

It took them only a few minutes to get loaded in the car and on the way home. Illya, stretched out on the backseat was trying desperately not to let how much pain he was in and Ronnie was hovering, doing anything she could to help.

Napoleon was just making the turn to head towards his apartment when Ronnie spoke up, "Uncle Lee, could we swing by my house for a minute. I need some clothes and in all the excitement I forgot my notes and tapes. I think I’ve got the antidote figured out for that nerve gas. I want to work on my notes tonight so I can turn them in tomorrow."

Solo looked at his partner, who nodded towards him. "No problem Ronnie." He turned the car in the direction of her house.

Chapter 10

The three of them had had a quiet night. Napoleon had settled his friend in his bedroom and Ronnie was in the guestroom. Illya had slept through the night giving Napoleon and Ronnie time to sit and talk and go over her notes.

Solo had slept great on the sofa, sleeping through the night with no worries for the first time in almost a week. He woke up feeling refreshed and ready to fight with his stubborn Russian partner, knowing that keeping him in bed for another day was going to be a major chore.

He was well on his way to having breakfast done when Ronnie came strolling out of the guestroom. "Good morning Uncle Lee. How’s Illya?"

"He’s still sleeping, thank God." Napoleon answered with a small laugh.

Ronnie looked at him puzzled.

"You haven’t lived until you’ve trying to keep Illya Kuryakin down after any type of injury." He began preparing a tray to take in to his partner, "Here, I have an idea, you feed him and convince him to stay in bed."

Ronnie laughed at him, "No thank you, I’ve got a chore today, remember, I have to take my findings in to Doctor Morgan so they can get the nerve gas antidote prepared."

Napoleon began walking towards his bedroom, "Well, I had to try. Do you want me to go with you to headquarters?"

Ronnie threw him an exasperated look, "Uncle Lee, I’m not a little girl. I know where headquarters is now, I think I can find it myself." She walked over and filled a plate, sitting down to eat. "Don’t you think you better feed Illya?" She laughed as she sat down to the table seeing the expression on Solo’s face.

Napoleon walked quietly into his bedroom, actually hoping his friend was still asleep. He wasn’t so lucky. Illya was just trying to sit up on the edge of the bed as he walked into the room.

"What in the hell do you think you’re doing?" Napoleon’s voice was already raised. "Get your ass back in that bed, now!"

Kuryakin turned to look at him with a glare on his face. "Napoleon."

Solo didn’t let him finish, "The only way I got you out of that place was if I promised to keep you down for two full days. If you refuse, I will drag your stubborn Russian butt right back to Morgan and let him take care of it. Also, I am speaking as your superior, get back in that bed, I’ve got breakfast for you."

Illya saw the look on his partner’s face and decided now was not the time to argue. He quickly slid his legs back up on the bed and slid back against the wall. "Well, why didn’t you say you had food?" He said with an innocent voice.

Solo sat the tray down on his friend’s lap, then without saying another word, turned and walked back into the kitchen. He had to work at not laughing out loud.

Ronnie had finished eating as he returned to the table. "I’m going to go now, that way I can get back and help you with Illya. But, from the sounds of it, you’ve got him well in hand." She walked into the other room, picking up her papers, tapes and purse and grabbing the keys headed towards the door.

Napoleon looked at her with a smile on his face. "I won round one, the fight has just begun." He sat down to eat his breakfast, saying goodbye to her as she headed out the door. He picked up his communicator and called in to let Morgan know the girl would be at headquarters in about ten minutes. Morgan assured him he would meet her at the door and personally take care of her.

Solo had been sitting at the table for twenty minutes when he heard a noise from the bedroom. Convinced his partner was once again trying to get out of bed, he hurried into the other room. Illya was stretched out on the floor on his back, the breakfast tray flung to the side. His entire body seemed to be spasming and he appeared to be having difficulty breathing. Napoleon ran swiftly for the oxygen tank that was still leaning against the bedroom wall. Turning it on full force and holding the mask over his partner’s face.

"Illya." He straightened his partner’s body out but he was still shaking with spasms. His breathing appeared to ease a little with the oxygen, but his eyes were closed. Solo reached for his communicator, realizing he had left it on the kitchen table. Not wanting to leave his friend, he continued to hold the oxygen mask in place. "Illya, can you hear me?" He reached for his friend’s arm, giving it a small shake. There was no response.

Napoleon lifted the oxygen mask from his friend’s face. Illya immediately started to gasp again. Solo quickly held the mask back to his mouth. Using his right arm to hold the mask to his partner’s face, Solo lifted him up at the shoulders to a sitting position. He then removed the mask long enough to lift his friend back onto the bed, quickly putting the mask back to his face.

Napoleon had been sitting on the bed for twenty minutes before the shudders stopped and Illya opened his eyes. He opened his mouth as though attempting to speak, but nothing came out. His body was totally stiff and appeared unable to move.

Solo lifted the oxygen mask away again, "Can you breathe?" He moved the canister back against the wall.

Illya managed a small nod.

"I’m going to go get my communicator, I think we need to check in with the doctor." Solo ran for the other room. Grabbing his pen and running back into the bedroom to sit on the side of the bed. "Open Channel D." He said quickly.

Mr. Waverly’s voice came back, "Yes Mr. Solo?"

"Sir, Illya’s just had another attack. I need to talk to Doctor Morgan immediately." Solo was holding back the panic he was feeling. This had all the earmarks of another attack from the poison, but it couldn’t be.

Morgan’s voice came over quickly, "Yes Napoleon, what happened?"

"Illya’s had another attack. He appeared to be having some sort of seizure and he wasn’t able to breathe. Right now he’s totally paralyzed and unable to speak. It’s been over twenty minutes." Solo’s voice was thick with concern. "It looks just like another attack from the poison."

"That’s not possible," Morgan replied, "We ran the tests on the antidote, it worked perfectly."

Solo suddenly had a thought, "Has Ronnie arrived yet?"

"She’s right here."

"Have her check out the poison and the antidote." Napoleon was adamant, "If anyone can figure this out she can. You get back to me as soon as you’ve rechecked the results. Who did the original test?"

Morgan thought about it for a minute. "Jennifer, and today’s her day off. I’ll try to get in touch with her and get back to you."

Napoleon signed off. "Anything yet Illya?" He looked back at his partner.

Illya’s eyes seemed to be concentrating, but there was no motion. He shook his head sideways a little.

There was a knock at the door. Solo got up, looking at his partner; "Will you be okay for a minute?"

Illya nodded slightly.

Napoleon walked out to answer the door, checking the peephole before unlocking the door. He was surprised to see Jennifer at the door. He opened the door quickly, "That was fast."

A look of surprise seemed to pass over her face and was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Doctor Morgan asked me to get here as quickly as possible." She walked through the door. "Is he okay?"

Solo walked in front of her to show her the way to the bedroom. "He hasn’t regained the use of his body yet." He had just walked into the bedroom and was three feet from the bed when he felt a needle going into his back. "What in the hell?" He turned quickly to see Jennifer holding a syringe in one hand and a gun in the other.

"Well Napoleon, I do hope you’ve enjoyed watching your partner for the last few days. Because, you are going to experience everything you’ve seen." Jennifer laughed with a maniacal laugh. "And you Mr. Kuryakin, will be dead in a little over twenty-four hours." She moved around the bed, staying out of Napoleon’s reach.

Napoleon sat down on the edge of the bed. Leaning down to check on his partner, then looking over at Jennifer. "I take it you’re actually working for Thrush."

She glared at him, "As a matter of fact Napoleon, I’ve been working for Thrush for a little over five years. My father introduced me to them, you might have know him. Jerry Howard."

Solo’s face blanched, "Are you Daddy’s little girl, did you follow in his footsteps job wise?"

Her face was conveying her hatred of him. "I not only followed in his footsteps. I invented this poison. Do you like my little toy? Now, I want you to pull that wheelchair over here. We’re going on a trip the three of us. I want us somewhere private so you can experience Mr. Kuryakin’s and your own death." She pointed the gun at Illya’s head. "Move now, or I shoot him."

Napoleon walked over towards the wheelchair.

"Carefully Mister Solo, I wouldn’t want to ruin all my fun and have to shoot your partner. I really am going to enjoy the next day or so." Jennifer held the gun up to the side of Illya’s head.

Solo brought the wheelchair to the side of the bed.

"Put him in it Mister Solo, and be very careful because I will gladly shoot the both of you."

Napoleon sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at his partner as he put his arm around his shoulders and lifted him to a sitting position.

Illya nodded at him, trying to tell him something, but he wasn’t sure what. Solo looked in the direction of Jennifer and out of the corner of his eye, saw Illya’s leg move less than an inch. He looked quickly towards his partner and he nodded again.

Napoleon laid Illya back on the bed. "I need to get the oxygen first. If he has another breathing attack, he’ll die." He stood up and walked over to the wall to pick up the oxygen canister.

Jennifer followed him to the side of the bed near the wheelchair, holding the gun on him. "Move very slowly Mister Solo….." Her sentence was interrupted when she was kicked in the back.

Napoleon, waiting for something, turned quickly, swinging the oxygen canister and knocking the gun onto the bed. He pushed her backwards; she fell beside the wheelchair landing on her stomach.

When she rolled over and got to her feet she had another gun in her hand. "That wasn’t very smart Mister Solo. I guess I’ll just get to enjoy Mister Kuryakin’s long expiration. She pointed the gun at his head and he saw her finger begin to tighten on the trigger.

"Freeze Jennifer," Came from the bed. Illya had grabbed the gun and was kneeling on the mattress pointing it at her.

Jennifer barely spared him a glance. "You don’t have the strength." She turned back to Napoleon and raised the gun again.

Illya didn’t have to think twice, he pulled the trigger one time putting a bullet in the back of her head. Napoleon hit the floor as she reflexively pulled the trigger. The bullet missed him by a few inches.

Illya dropped the gun, falling forward and would have hit the floor if Napoleon hadn’t rolled over catching him. "Hey partner, how long have you been able to move?"

Illya raised his head up, looking at his partner. "About thirty seconds. You wouldn’t want to cut it to close would you?"

Napoleon lifted him up, propping him back against the wall on the bed. "Don’t move, I’m going to call in."

Kuryakin looked at him puzzled, "Exactly where do you think I’m going?" He laughed quietly then looked down on the floor. "She was brilliant wasn’t she?"

Solo looked in the direction of the body on the floor, "Not brilliant enough, she was working for Thrush after all." He pulled out his communicator. "Open Channel D."

"Yes Mr. Solo?" Waverly’s voice came back instantly. "Is there a problem?"

"Mr. Waverly, it’s very important that they rerun the tests on that poison. Doctor Morgan’s lab assistant Jennifer was working for Thrush. She was Jerry Howard’s daughter and the person who invented the poison. She tried to kill us. She’s dead and the antidote was a hoax."

Waverly’s voice sounded almost angry, "I’ll check with Doctor Morgan right now. Are you going to bring Mr. Kuryakin back in?"

"No sir, we’ll wait right here. Frank is supposed to have Ronnie helping him out right now. But we need to get something soon, I don’t know when Illya might have another attack and I’ve been poisoned also." Solo looked at his partner, seeing the fear in his friend’s eyes. "We’ll wait here for you. Solo out." He put the pen back away and stood up, moving the wheelchair back against the wall and going over to sit on the side of the bed.

"Alright Illya?" He reached over to help his friend sit up straight.

"I’m fine for the moment," Kuryakin was looking at him with concern, "What about you? Do you remember exactly how long it was before I passed out the first time?"

"About forty-five minutes."

Illya looked at his watch. "I wonder how often I’m going to have these new seizures?"

It suddenly hit Napoleon what his partner was talking about. "Oh my God, we better get some help over here now. If I pass out and you have a seizure…." He reached in and pulled his communicator back out. "Open Channel D."

Illya could hear the urgency in his friend’s voice.

"Yes Mr. Solo," The reply came very quickly.

"Sir, how quickly can you get someone over here?" Solo was trying to keep his voice calm.

"Is there a new problem Mister Solo?"

"Sir, Illya’s last seizure was totally debilitating, he was unable to breathe without oxygen. If I pass out and he should have a seizure." He stopped knowing Mister Waverly would see the problem immediately.

"I’ll have the Doctor and the clean up team there within thirty minutes Mister Solo."

"Thank you sir, Solo out." He put the pen away. Turning back to his partner. "Okay, now we just wait and pray Ronnie and Doctor Morgan can get the antidote. I think we need to get you back to headquarters and into Medical."

"Napoleon, no, I’d rather stay here." Illya wasn’t meeting his partner’s eyes, then suddenly he turned towards him, "I’m serious, I don’t want to be in the hospital, no matter what. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go home."

Solo could tell how upset his friend was by how thick his accent was, "Illya no, I’m just worried about you. I don’t want you gone, now please relax, we can’t afford another attack right now." He jumped up suddenly, "Stay put, I’m going to get a few things." He dashed over, grabbing the oxygen canister from the floor where he’d dropped it and put it beside the bed. Grabbing a blanket off the foot of the bed he dropped it over Jennifer then hurried into the other room.

"Don’t run," Illya yelled as his friend left the room, he could hear Solo rooting around in the kitchen drawers. He heard muttering and started to get up to help when he suddenly felt himself begin to shake. "Napoleon," He yelled, falling over face first onto the bed he tried to yell again. His voice wouldn’t work, nothing was working. He realized he couldn’t breathe as his world went black.

Napoleon had just found what he was looking for when he heard Illya’s yell. He looked quickly at his watch and realizing he was almost out of time, hurried back into the bedroom. Illya was lying face down on the bed, his whole body seizing, not breathing. Grabbing up the oxygen canister and small mask, he held it carefully to his friend’s face. He lifted his friend up and laid him back on the pillows trying to hold the spasming body on the bed. It was almost impossible to keep the mask on Illya’s face with as hard as he was twitching.

Reaching with his other hand for what he had brought back from the kitchen, Solo went to work.

Chapter 11

Doctor Morgan and Ronnie arrived at Mr. Waverly’s office just as he was disconnecting from Napoleon. "We found the antidote Mr. Waverly," Morgan said quietly. "They just left one ingredient out of the sample so it wouldn’t be a total cure."

Waverly turned to the doctor, "Let’s go quickly then." He headed towards his door.

Morgan looked at him puzzled, "Go where quickly?"

Waverly paused for a moment; "Your young assistant Jennifer was Jerry Howard’s daughter. She invented the poison."

"Was?" Morgan asked quietly.

"She attempted to kill Mister Solo and Mister Kuryakin, she is dead." Waverly looked at Ronnie.

"Uncle Lee?" Ronnie squeaked out.

"He’s okay, however, he has now been poisoned also and Mister Kuryakin has suffered another attack. If you have an antidote we should get it to them right away." He walked out the door, followed closely by the other two.

It took them fifteen minutes to get to the apartment after stopping to pick up the antidote and syringes. Ronnie was the first to arrive at the door, knocking loudly, "Uncle Lee. It’s Ronnie, can you hear me?" She turned to the others; "I don’t have a key."

"I do." Mister Waverly reached around her, turning the key and opening the door. Ronnie was trying to get around him but he stopped her, "Miss, you need to prepare yourself, the clean up team has not arrived yet."

She threw him a dirty look, "Mr. Waverly, I don’t care if there are forty dead bodies in there as long as Uncle Lee and Illya aren’t two of them." She ran past him into the bedroom, stopping dead in the door, followed shortly by Waverly and Morgan. "Uncle Lee?"

Napoleon was sitting upright on the bed, his back against the wall, a rope going from one side of the bed to the other, wrapped around his waist, holding him in place. Illya was leaning back against his chest, held in place by another rope which was also looped around Solo’s waist three or four times with a loop ending on Napoleon’s right wrist, his arm held snugly against his friend.

Illya was totally still, his eyes wide open and moving back and forth. Napoleon’s left hand was holding the oxygen mask tightly up against his friend’s face and was duct taped in place, the tape wrapped around Kuryakin’s head four or five times. Napoleon was unconscious; his head slumped down on the shoulder of his partner.

Morgan walked over to Illya checking his pulse. "Can you hear me?"

Illya’s eyes moved slightly and there was a tiny nod.

"We’ve got the antidote, we’ll have you taken care of in a few minutes." Morgan watched as Illya’s eyes moved in the direction of his partner. "I’ll check him out as soon as I give you a shot." There was another small shake of the head, his eyes moved again in the direction of his partner. Morgan looked at him carefully, "You want me to help him first."

There was another tiny nod.

Morgan looked up and saw Ronnie standing beside the bed, staring disconsolately at her uncle. "Ronnie, help me out here please, start getting that tape off them," pointing towards Illya. He leaned over to check Napoleon’s pulse, "He’s alright, and as soon as we get the antidote into him, he’ll be conscious, you’ll see."

Ronnie threw one more concerned look at Solo then walked around the bed to kneel beside Illya, gently laying a hand on his face, "I’m sorry, this is going to hurt," She said quietly before reaching up and beginning to pull the tape off.

Mister Waverly stood in the background, looking at the blanket-covered body on the floor then stepping outside the door to check on the arrival of the clean up team.

Ronnie finished pulling the tape off and tenderly lowered her Uncle’s arm back to his side. Leaning over Illya to ask, "Do you need the oxygen."

She was pleased to see a slightly larger shake of his head. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. "It’s alright Illya, just another minute or two." She looked towards the Doctor, watching him get his equipment out, then turning back to her task.

Ronnie slipped the loop off Napoleon’s hand, removing the rope holding Illya in place and helped Morgan slide him down on the bed. She was undoing the rope from Napoleon’s waist when he moaned.

Morgan had just finished filling a syringe and was starting to remove Solo’s jacket when Napoleon came to with a start, "Illya," he yelled, his arm coming up to grab for the oxygen mask. He leaned over to check out his partner, stopping when he saw the others in the room. His eyes came to rest on Ronnie, "Hi honey." He held his arms out and the young brunette came running around the bed to throw herself against him.

"We’ve got the antidote Uncle Lee." She almost yelled. "You’re both going to be fine."

Solo held her for a second then released her to roll over on the bed. Leaning over his partner, "Illya, you okay?" His voice was tight, holding his breath with the fear that his plan hadn’t worked.

Illya nodded hard, "I’m fine," came slowly out of his mouth.

Morgan came back over to stand beside Solo, "Okay Napoleon, take off your jacket and roll up a sleeve.

Napoleon ignored him, reaching down to roll up the sleeve on Kuryakin’s pajama top. "No way, he’s first." Seeing his partner start to argue, Solo glared at him, "No argument." He sat up and moved back off the bed to hold Ronnie again.

Morgan reached over and quickly slid the syringe into Kuryakin’s arm before anyone else could disagree. He laid the used syringe on the nightstand and reaching in his bag quickly grabbed another one and filled it. "Okay Napoleon, no more arguments, get over here."

Solo had been standing there silently watching his partner. He slipped his jacket off and began rolling up his sleeve. "Illya?" His voice was quiet.

A broad grin broke out on the young Russian’s face as he stretched out both his arms and legs, "Everything’s starting to work." He slid to the edge of the bed, swinging his legs over the side.

Morgan reached over to Napoleon and quickly injected him. "Okay you guys, I’ve had just about enough of the both of you for a while. I don’t want to see either of you in my department for at least a month, okay?" He broke into a broad grin, "However, you my beautiful young lady are welcome at any time. I could really use you in our lab." He turned to the two agents, "Ronnie figured out the poison and also figured out the missing chemical in the antidote."

Ronnie looked at him with a smile on her face, "We did it together, and if you’re serious about that job, I may well consider it." She looked over at Napoleon; "At least I know I’d get to see Uncle Lee occasionally."

Mr. Waverly walked back into the room, followed by a couple of other agents who quickly removed Jennifer’s body. He came walking over to his agents. "Feeling better gentlemen? Mister Solo," He turned to face his CEA with a puzzled look on his face, "I’m curious about the duct tape."

Napoleon looked at him with a sheepish grin on his face, "I knew I was due for a fainting spell. When Illya had his attack, I tried to hold the oxygen mask on him and he kept shaking it loose. The only way I could think of to keep the mask in place was for me to be holding it." He looked at his partner who was beginning to laugh, "Don’t laugh so much smarty, my next choice was glue."

He looked closely at his partner; Illya was trying to get up off the bed. "Okay you, none of that, back to bed." He walked over to stand beside his friend with the look of a man who was not going to stand for any disagreement.

Kuryakin began to glare at him, "Napoleon, I feel fine, the antidote worked…."

Solo interrupted him; "You’ve got two days bed rest coming mister." He reached over and slid his partner’s legs back up on the bed. "This has nothing to do with the poison, you got shot remember? You’re not moving from this bed for two full days and I don’t want any arguments."

Illya looked towards Doctor Morgan and Mr. Waverly, "But."

"No buts, I’m in charge, you agreed when we left medical." Solo stood beside the bed a dark expression on his face.

Kuryakin turned towards Ronnie, "Help!"

She laughed and walked over to stand beside Mr. Waverly and Doctor Morgan. "You still owe me a lunch, Doctor," She said with a smile.

Illya turned back to the Doctor; "Can I go back with you, I’m hungry too you know." He looked again at his partner’s stony face, "Please."

Napoleon looked at the three of them, his face bright with a smile of relief. The look vanished before he turned to his partner. "Fine, I’ll cook, you just keep that skinny Russian butt in that bed." He turned and headed for the door, working hard to contain the laughter.

Illya threw one more desperate look at Mr. Waverly, the Doctor and Ronnie, "You’re not really going to go out for food and leave me here alone with the cook from hell?"

The three of them turned and walked out of the room, laughing, leaving the two men alone.

The End
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