Napoleon read over the latest memo, his feet propped up on his desk. Presently, Illya entered, perching on the desk's edge.

"Important?"

"Waverly's been called to an emergency meeting of the top five."

"He left you in charge on such short notice?"

"No, they pulled another section one man for the subbing duties this time. Apparently, whatever's going down is pretty important."

Illya took the memo. "Leamas. Well, here's hoping he's competent."

"I'm sure he'll do a better job than I would, at least at the moment. I'm a little bogged down in paperwork."

"I know." Illya said dryly. "I'm the one doing it."

---/-/---

"What do you mean, not monitored? You're supposed to be monitoring everything!" The man shouted. He turned away to mop his brow and mutter under his breath. "I never thought Alex would be running a ship this loosely. With the results he gets, I *assumed* his security would be top notch." He turned back to Lisa Rogers and the two section three agents. "Well, I want you to see to it that that office is given the same surveillance measures as the others, not to mention the map room!"

"Yessir, Mr. Leamas." The shorter of the two section three men nodded.

"There goes the map room." His companion sighed.

---/-/---

Napoleon pocketed his communicator. "Let's roll, partner."

"I heard it, I heard it. I still don't think such a mundane assignment requires our involvement." Illya sighed, placing the stack of files he was working through down on top of the cabinet.

"Well, you never know. These things can always go sour."

"Napoleon, it's a courier mission. Any section two agent-- for that matter, section three agents-- could handle it. Why are they sending us?"

"You're not suspicious, are you?" Napoleon grinned. "And, if you are, would it make any difference if the order came from Waverly, or do you just not trust Leamas?"

"I don't know Leamas. I am not in the habit of trusting people that I do not know, nor many of the people I do. However, I would be suspicious if the order came from Waverly. He generally uses us better, and you haven't done anything to annoy him recently."

"In which case, it's less suspicious coming from Leamas. He doesn't know us."

"With your reputation, he knows *of* us in any case. I just don't like the taste this whole thing leaves in my mouth..."

Napoleon kissed him quickly. "Your mouth tastes fine to me."

Illya reddened. "Napoleon! Napoleon, we've discussed-- work, and-- and-- canoodling!"

"Canoodling?" He laughed.

"Yes. Canoodling. We have discussed work, and canoodling, and how never the twain shall meet. It's not safe."

"But my office is clean. I know it's clean, I've checked it, and I check it often, since Waverly was good enough to trust me enough not to bug me."

"Napoleon..."

"Besides, that hardly qualified as canoodling. Grab your coat." He opened the door for his partner. "I'll be happy to illustrate the difference for you later, but now we've got to make a drop."

"I still think-- Well, really, Napoleon, must you?"

"Orders from on high."

"I'm not talking about the drop, and you know it. I'm talking about-- what we were just talking about!" He hissed, eyes darting around the hall.

Napoleon smiled. "Well, I must a little. I suppose I don't always must, but-- well, it seemed like the thing to do at the time. It's just... well, it feels right."

"Well, supress it."

---

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