Seventy-Three

Come Calling

      Laughter...dancing...drinks...
      I was only allowed the drinks because none of the tenders had the balls to stand up to the guys...especially Quatre after he’d flashed his credit card around a bit.
      Gambling...more drinking...more laughing...more dancing...
      It was great.
      We had our radios on because we kept getting separated...finding each other...Nikki had set them back on continuous contact too...
      I’d never had so much fun.
      Nikki and I were lounging back at a bar when there was a sudden radio silence...there’d never been a complete silence from all of us...all night...
      We looked at each other as the moment seemed to stretch out.
      “Nikol!” Duo, Quatre, and Heero seemed to say it at the same time.
      “Nikki, where are you?” Heero demanded, “Kat?”
      “The bar.” I muttered back.
      “Nikki?”
      “We’re both here.” Nikki replied, “Where is he...”
      “Right there...” I muttered, moving my head slightly, indicating him.
      Nikki tensed...he was behind her a bit.
      “Ladies...”
      Nikki took a deep breath as everyone else muttered things to us...warnings...instructions...murmurs of hate.
      Nikol came up between us and I could see other men moving around...see people circling the others...Heero’s hate filled sneer when two of such got in his way before he could get to us...the men cowered in front of him, but didn’t move...
      I hoped there would be no violence...there were too many...civilians.
      “...It’s great to see you again...”
      Nikol said that to Nikki, and looked as if he expected a hug.
      All he got was a blank stare.
      “Nikki?”
      “Kaze.” Nikki replied.
      He smiled, “Kaze.” he corrected himself.
      “Nikol.” she returned.
      He cocked his head slightly.
      She smiled sweetly and leaned around him, “Ready?” she asked me.
      My heart started to flutter when he seemed to ‘accidentally’ show his gun.
      Nikki pretended to ignore that, showing the one strapped to her leg under her skirt...starting her game...Her entire bearing changing as she stepped even closer to him...her hand gesturing to Heero behind her, pleading with him to calm down...I could tell that he was ready to just punch the guy in front of him out. “You weren’t invited to our party.” she whispered in Nikol’s ear.
      Nikol had straightened and his breathing changed as she ran her hands along his chest and...it looked like she was...
      Suddenly he stepped back and a tense ran through all of his men.
      A movement form in the crowd caught my attention and I focused, realizing it was Sam.
      She was smiling sweetly as she joined us, “Nikki,” she reprimanded, “Why didn’t to come get me?”
      His eyes opened wide as he looked at her, “Killeine...”
      Kris was next, “Nikol...I’m so glad you’re here...”
      He paled a bit and looked around hurriedly...some of his men shrugged, eyes wide...Sam and Kris knew what they were doing and could get away from any man.
      “Kat,” Kris leaned around him a bit, “Are you all right?”
      I nodded, “Fine, thank you.”
      “Don’t worry, Ladies...” Nikol muttered, regaining some of his cool, “I have no intentions of harming anyone. I just know better than getting myself killed, the entire building is riddled with my men.”
      Nikki laughed, “What do you want, asshole, make it quick before I decide to act.”
      “You take one wrong move and Heero dies.”
      Nikki smiled as Heero’s eyes started searching the walls, “By whom?”
      “I’m not stupid, Kaze, I do have snipers.”
      Nikki flicked her hair, “Say your piece so we can get back to having fun.”
      “Nikki...”
      It was Heero in a warning tone...I was looking straight at him and didn’t see his mouth move...
      Nikki stopped talking.
      “I have half a mind to take this entire building hostage.” Nikol spat the words.
      “I’m sorry you don’t have the rest...”
      “You’re not the only one with a multi-millionaire in their party...not to mention the diplomats...”
      Nikki didn’t say anything at first, but she lost her teasing manner, “Make your move.”
      He watched her a moment, then grabbed me by the arm, pulling me from my seat, “This is a pretty one.” he ignored the quick movements of everyone around him and Trowa to one side, “New, unless I’ve missed my guess...Please introduce us.”
      I yanked my arm from him, stepping back as he looked me over.
      “You know her. I’m sure you’ve profiled her already. Make your move.”
      “I want a hostage.”
      “You’ll rot in hell first.”
      “I’ll send you ahead so I have a welcome party when I get there.”
      Nikki spat in his face.
      He wiped it away, looking tolerant as he searched the second level.
      A veiled threat.
      “Is this man bothering you, Miss?” a man asked out of no where. I wasn’t even sure where he came from.
      Nikol dared her to agree with his look.
      She took the dare, smiling at the man and nodding.
      “Excuse me, sir,” the man turned to the steaming Nikol, “I’ll have to ask you to leave the lady’s presence.”
      For some reason, Nikol didn’t draw his gun or signal his men. He nodded once to Nikki and took his leave politely as the gentleman introduced himself.
      Heero pushed through the crowd and hugged her, staring at Nikol’s back.
      Nikol tensed and turned to look back.
      Heero just glared at him, holding Nikki to him.
      Nikol took them in and nodded, then turned and disappeared.
      Nikki clung to Heero as the gentleman turned in surprise to Trowa, Quatre, and Duo who also approached.
      Quatre smiled, “Thank you, we were having a hard time fighting this crowd.”
      The man had a shocked look as he watched Heero and Nikki, “I hope you’ll excuse me.” he nodded, barely giving Quatre a glance.
      Quatre nodded back as he also disappeared into the crowd.
      “We’re leaving.” Heero said calmly. “Don’t take the same route home and lets meet...” his voice went to the microphone as his lips stopped moving, “...at the mall.”
      “What store?” Quatre asked, his lips also still.
      Heero looked around, unsure.
      “Let it shine...” Trowa also didn’t move his lips.
      We all nodded...I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but evidently the guys did.
      “I’ll need my lap-top.” Nikki said as we all started to the door.
      We were silent as we went to the parking garage.
      Nikki’s stating she needed her lap-top meant we needed to wait for her to check the cars before getting in.
      Trowa sighed, leaning against the wall with the rest of the guys as she did.
      “I didn’t know you guys knew ventriloquism...” I told Trowa as he wrapped me in his arms.
      “Yep.” he replied simply and it occurred to me why they’d not directly said anything of merit. We didn’t know who was watching or what they’d tapped.


      “Heero...” Nikki muttered, her tone a bit frightened as she looked up.
      She didn’t like me driving so fast.
      “It’s all right.” I reassured her and she refocused on the lap-top, “I have to...that way if someone’s following us it will be obvious.”
      She nodded, looking up again, “I know...it’s just...”
      “Don’t worry, Omaesan...I won’t let anything happen.”
      She sighed, meeting my eyes, “I know...”
      I nodded at her and she continued checking the lines for our walkies.
      It took a long time to get to the mall. I was glad I’d understood Trowa...it was a jewelry store...one of the ones we’d went to when we were shopping for the girls...
      We were all tense as we made a pretense of shopping...then bought Kat some presents...
      “Sorry ‘bout that.” I muttered to her as we went through a clothing store...
      Twenty hour malls were convenient.
      “It’s not your fault.” she muttered, “It’s Nikol’s. Don’t worry, I won’t forget this birthday for a while...”
      I sighed, “I saw his snipers...”
      She nodded, “I’d thought you did.”
      I reached back and grabbed Nikki’s hand, clenching it. She looked overly stressed now.
      And it was all because of Nikol.
      That man had a lot to answer for, and his threatening to take the building hostage didn’t settle well with any of us.
      We left as the mall hit it’s first five hour mark...it closed for one hour every five hours...the sun had risen and we were all tired.
      I was disgusted at how Katie’s celebration had been ruined.
      Zechs was sitting in the living room with Noin when we came in, they were watching TV and both stood as we entered...I noticed their formal wear...
      Zechs had talked to Nikki, and Nikki had talked to Quatre, and now Zechs and Noin were staying with us...
      Wufei had already told me he figured Zechs would join our ‘pack’. It was happening...slowly...
      I looked to my watch, realizing we were supposed to go meet with the Preventers in an hour.
      “Shit!”
      Nikki and I headed to our room to change.
      The rest of the morning was conferences and discussions as we all were called upon to give our summaries...Nikki looked even more stressed as they treated her with the respect of the rank she’d had...Second to the Commander...
      The meeting was long...and at every break, we were talking amongst ourselves as Nikki was checking the cars and houses and lines...she even tapped the Preventers computers to check the building.
      During one break, Quatre was invited to another gentlemen’s house.
      I exchanged a look with Nikki as we both noticed he was fake...
      “I’d be honored to join you, Mr. Price. When?”
      Price...I recognized that name...he looked familiar too...
      “Well...I’ll have to get ahold of my secretary...so I’ll get back to you on that. I’m sorry I’m so ill prepared for this...”
      He was pretending to be some bootlicker...and failing badly.
      Quatre nodded, “I understand how things are. Just call my main office when you figure it out.”
      He frowned.
      Quatre laughed, “I’m on vacation, Mr. Price. I’d like it to remain that way until I’ve had my fill. Join us for lunch?”
      Mr. Price smiled, “No thank you, Mr. Winner. I need to go meet with a business partner.” he nodded his head to us, “It’s an honor to meet all of you. I’m sorry I have to make this so quick...Mr. Marquise...” he nodded to Zechs who returned the gesture, “Miss Kaze...” he nodded his head at her too.
      Nikki inclined her head slightly, and he disappeared.
      “Lovely afternoon, don’t you agree, Miss Kaze?” Duo asked in a mocking tone.
      Nikki inclined her head again.
      Duo watched her a second, “Do you practice that?”
      She repeated the gesture, then laughed, “Why...” she started, turning to Quatre.
      He laughed, “Get in good with my assistant and have quicker access to me.” he smiled as she rolled her eyes, “Don’t you just love brown-nosers...”
      With snorts of disgust we all focused on eating and small conversation...Duo kept asking Nikki questions so she could nod at him...it was beginning to be a joke between the two...after a while, we fell into silence, thinking or fighting sleep...
      “What’s he up to?” Duo demanded suddenly, breaking the reverie.
      Quatre shook his head, turning back to us, he’d been watching the news on a screen behind us, “When I go, I’m going alone. I don’t trust that man...”
      “All the more reason for us to go with you...”
      Quatre smiled, “He knows who you all are...obviously...” he glanced at Nikki, “It would be an insult...if he doesn’t actually have any plans...”
      “Schedule it for wherever we’re at, and we’ll patrol it like your lackey’s. All right?” Heero looked put-out.
      He thought about that, “Fine. I’ll have the meeting at my main building in...”
      The light for the resumption of the meeting flashed and we forgot our line of conversation.
      It was Nikki’s turn to share the knowledge we’d gained. The Preventers knew we were casing bases.
      Nikki was no fool, though, so she wasn’t even going to give them half of our information.
      We didn’t know who’s side all these people were on.
      When we finally got home, I made Nikki go to sleep and took over her hacking.
      Or tried, at least...
      Everyone else was content to go directly to bed...but Nikki refused. It was some feat...she didn’t want to go to sleep and was getting pissy with me about it.
      I ended up picking her up and dropping her over my shoulder to get her into the room...then it was a whole different matter to keep her in the bed. I had to lay on her. She didn’t even realize she’d fallen asleep, though...that was a plus from spending so many nights with her...all I had to do was rub her back where it met her neck for a while.
      Of course, that meant one hand under her head...not to mention that I had to stay like that. If I moved off her she’d wake up...well, I could...
      Carefully, I rolled off her...for an instant I thought she was waking up...but we’d been up for the last twenty-four hours...
      For once, she stayed asleep.

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Kyeian