Part 11 - Sherry

Once the shooting had started, things went from bad to worse quickly. Sherry and Michael did the best they could from behind the table, but realized they were soon outnumbered. That's when Michael heard Rita sending in backup. They had started to get the advantage, but then all of a sudden there were hostiles coming from everywhere. Mentz had gone down. Sherry moved to see how badly he was hurt. As she moved from behind the table, a bullet hit her in the leg. Michael yelled for her and then he and Snow tried to cover them. Michael yelled at Birkoff to get them a different egress route. By that time it was too late. They were completely surrounded.

"Tie them up and bring them," Collette ordered.

The guards grabbed them and took their comm units. Collette walked up to Michael and slid a finger down his cheek. "Keep this one close. I may want to "interrogate" him myself."

Sherry tried to make a move toward Colette, but the guard yanked her backwards, causing pain to shoot up her leg. Michael moved to help her, but was restrained.

"My, my," Collette smirked. "Isn't this special. Seems we have something more here than simple colleagues. This could be very interesting." She laughed a wicked laugh and then told her men to bring their captives.

Back at Section, Operations was pacing.

"Rita! What is taking your team so long? You should be on your way by now. We need to get those people back!"

Rita sighed. "We're almost ready, sir. We're just getting final coordinates from Birkoff."

"Fine. Get moving! And will someone find Northstar and bring her to my office now!"

Operatives were scurrying around everywhere trying to keep track of Michael, Sherry, Mentz and Snow, and trying to keep Rita's team on top of things.

Rita's team left and Birkoff began monitoring them.

"Birkoff, I want a trace on North right now," Operations bellowed.

Birkoff sighed. "Sir, I'm running tactical for Rita's team. I'm also trying to locate Michael's team."

"I don't care, Birkoff! I want Northstar found now. She may have been kidnapped. Or maybe she set up Michael and Sherry. I want answers and I want them now!"

Part 12 - Rita

Rita was sitting in the van infuriated. She absolutely hated it when a mission did not go off as planned. Especially when it out people she cared about in danger. Particularly when one of the scumbags was going after Michael. She hit the keys of the computer quickly trying to find them.

Deiket, Avillion, Kimberly and Emily were sitting quietly. None of them seemed to be talkative.

"Rita."

"Yes, Birkoff."

"I found them."

"Thank goodness." The relief was evident in her voice. "Where are they?"

"I am sending you the coordinates now." Birkoff replied.

"Good." Rita said as she watched the data being relayed on her screen. Sherry and Michael were being held in separate rooms. Mentz and Snow were in another room.

"Birkoff is the back up team on the way?" Rita inquired she wanted no mess-ups.

"Yes. Davenport's team is piggy backing. They just got back from Berlin."

"Good." Rita replied. They arrived a few feet away from the building holding Michael's team. "How many hostiles?"

"Two guarding the door. One guard at each of the rooms holding Michael's team. There are three inside with Michael." Birkoff replied quickly.

"Got it. Thank you." Rita turned to face the group. "Its a standard formation, we will take out the two guards in front. Then Avi and Kimberly go after Sherry. Deiket you get Mentz and Snow. Emily you're with me."

Rita and the team slipped quietly out of the vehicle. Guns in hand with silencer attached ready to take out the guards. The darkness hid them on the moonless night. Avillion was crouched behind a dumpster ready to take her shot but she had to wait until Deiket, Rita and Emily made their way around the building to take out the other guard.

"Avi take the shot now." Rita told her through the comm unit. Simultaneously shots were silently taken the guards crumpled to the floor. The team moved to second marks by the door.

Kimberly, who crouched low in case there was someone else behind the door, opened the door. No one was there the team was in. The team then separated on their way to free their fellow comrades.

Rita and Emily made their way quietly to where Michael was being held. The door was made of smoked glass framed in wood with a guard leaning against it. Through her comm unit she heard Deiket had completed her task and was now arming Snow. Mentz was going to need medical. While listening to the report Rita took out the guard with a one shot. He slumped to the wooden floor.

Rita and Emily were at the door. Rita motioned to Emily to help her. They lifted the guard up and pushed him through the glass. As the dead guard fell through shot rang out in the direction of the body. Too busy to notice the two girls who shot down the three guards in a matter of seconds. Rita had her gun trained on Colette.

Colette was standing next to Michael and an assortment of torture devices. Michael was tied to the chair his shirt open he had various cuts and from what she could tell the beginning of bruises. Michael looked up at her wearily yet his eyes still flashed with fire. He was willing her to do something. It tore at her heart.

Colette had a knife at Michael's throat. Rita froze in place but the gun was still trained on the informant. "He is obviously valuable." She said menacingly. "So lets make a trade. My freedom for his life. Do you think you can..." Colette never finished the sentence for she was shot through the head.

Emily could not believe the scene that was being played in front of her. She was helpless too for she was standing behind Rita if she moved Colette might hurt Michael.

"I don't bargain." Rita said as she holstered her gun. She rushed over to where Michael was and began to untie him. "Michael are you all right?"

"Yes. I just need a little rest." He got up to walk out and stumbled a little. Rita put his arm over her shoulder and supported him out the door. The rest of the team came running in. "Where is Sherry?"

Kimberly responded, "Avi is with her waiting for medical."

"Birkoff we have the team and are on our way back." Rita said.

***

An hour later they were back in Section. Rita was in medical waiting outside for the prognosis on the various patients. She was pacing back and forth. And that is where North found her.

"North! Its about time."

"What happened?"

"Well, next time you go out of town you need a better cover story. By the way the new girl Emily is going to work out just fine." Then she quickly filled her in on what happen on the missions. As she finished she got word from one of the med-techs that she would be allowed in to see Michael, Sherry was still in surgery as was Mentz.

She began to walk in as she heard the bellow, "NORTHSTAR! Where have you been?"

Rita moved quickly into medical not wanting to be in the way and she really wanted to see Michael.

Part 13 - Northstar

Northstar looked over her shoulder to see Paul charging down the hallway. By the time she looked back to Rita again she was gone. Just like her to avoid the nastiness.

"Were you looking for me?" she asked him in all sweetness.

"Yes Dammit," he yelled. "Now where the hell were you?" North just looked at him not taking her eyes off his face or blinking. She had been taking lessons from Michael. Realizing that yelling wasn't going to work, he asked again, more quietly. "I asked you where you were North. I have been looking for you all day."

"Didn't you get my message? I had a meeting with one of my sources today."

"What source and why wasn't I consulted about this first?"

"Paul, I am a big girl and do on occasion make decisions on my own. After all I am in charge of CLHQ. I have been for a while and have never had to check with you on matters as such before. Why should I start now?"

"Because... Because I thought we had an agreement. Because we care for one another?" he was becoming flustered. He wasn't used to being talked to like this, especially by North. "What's gotten into you?" he asked.

Sighing because he was acting like a petulant child she shook her head. "Nothing has gotten into me Paul, but I'm not sure I like this possessive streak you are showing. It's almost as if you didn't trust me. I don't question you when I see you with Andrea now do I?"

"No."

"Fine. Now what was it you wanted to see me about anyway that was so urgent I hear you had everyone searching for me." She had turned the tables on him once again and it felt good. Sometimes he needed to be put in his place and because of her relationship with him she got away with it. The girls often stood open mouthed when they heard her speak to him in such a manner.

"Well actually I had wanted to go over some of the upcoming missions we have on the board but when I asked around it seemed as though everyone was avoiding me or evading the issue of where you were. I felt as though I was going on a wild goose chase." he explained.

"Well can it wait a little while longer Paul? Some of our people are in medlab and we really should check up on them."

North started walking down the hall leaving Operations to follow. "Fine North but this conversation is not over."

"I understand. Now... I hear that our new girl Emily had a bit of excitement today."

"Yes she handled herself quite well considering she hasn't been with us all that long." He filled her in on the happenings of the day until they were at the medlab doors. "Well I'll leave you to check on the Operatives. Let me know their status. I'd like to debrief the rest of them as soon as possible. I'll make sure you have a copy of the report."

North nodded her head and entered the doors...

Part 14 - Sherry

The next day, Sherry was out of medlab. She was walking with crutches for now, but she'd be off them soon. She was sitting in her office when Rita popped her head in.

"Hey girl. You ready?"

Sherry smiled wickedly. "Oh, yeah. I'm ready. Let's go."

The two of them made their way to North's office. They listened at the door to make sure no one was with North and then they walked in.

"Hey North," Rita greeted her.

"Rita, Sherry. Hello. How are you Sherry?" North inquired.

"I'm fine. Or I will be as soon as I get rid of these stupid things," she said as she laid the crutches off to the side.

"So what can I do for you two?" North asked. She wondered what was up with them. She could tell they had that glint in their eyes that didn't bode well for her.

"Well, first," Sherry started, "the next time you want to take off for a romantic interlude, make your own excuses to Operations, will ya? The man was relentless."

North smiled. "I'm sure you handled it just fine."

Sherry laughed. "Yeah, well, I did my best. Didn't have a whole lot of help from my sidekick over here, though."

"Hey!" Rita turned to her. "I did my part. I just told him I didn't have a clue and that you were the last one to see her!"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I mean," Sherry shook her head.

Northstar laughed. "Okay, I get the point. Now, what else do you need?"

"Well," Rita said as she got up and locked the door, "we have a question for you."

North was curious. What was so secretive that they needed to lock the door? "Okay, shoot."

Sherry and Rita exchanged smirks and Rita answered. "We want to know who he is."

Part 15/End - Rita

North looked down at her folder. "You know that new operative Emily is working out very well." North was not going to tell the girls about the man. There were some things that had to be secret.

"I do believe she is avoiding the question, Rita." Sherry said as she propped her leg up on the desk.

"Why Sherry I think you are right. I already told you about Emily. Now back to the question please." Rita said as she smiled.

"Yes, North those files can't be that entertaining. And we have all day." Sherry said as she looked at North expectantly.

"Now girls you know that some things are classified." North said as she shuffled some papers.

"Oh no since when are dates classified? Did I miss that? IS that a mommy rule?" Rita asked with sarcasm coloring her voice.

"No, Rita that is not a rule. North is trying to get out of this." Sherry reassured her with mock sincerity.

"It is a rule since...." North's phone rang and she reached for it like a lifeline. "Hello." She listened to the other end. "Oh you need to see me immediately. No, I am not busy." Meanwhile Rita and Sherry were making threatening gestures. She hung up. "Sorry girls I am needed at Section." With that statement North flew out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

Leaving Sherry and Rita with their unanswered question. The girls looked at each other. Thinking the same thing.

"This is not the end of this." Sherry said.

Rita nodded affirmatively. "Not at all. Next time we have her followed."

"Definitely." Sherry agreed for North was hiding something and it was just not like her. For they both knew there would be another rendezvous.

THE END