Chuck's desperate cries pierced through Melanie's retrospective, bringing her back to their present predicament.
"Once again, Chuck, we're not going to die. Would you please just shut up already?"
Katie was continuing to feel for any cracks in the concrete.
"Dammit. If only that bastard hadn't taken our cell phones," he yelled.
"I doubt we'd be able to get any service from within these walls, anyway," Eric added. "We're so screwed. I never should have trusted Wyatt."
"Eric, let's face it, Wyatt played us all from the start and we fell for it. We'll deal with him after we get out of here."
"IF we get out of here," Charles cried.
"SHUT UP, CHUCK!" Melanie and Katie yelled in unison.
"Now I know why you followed us into Wyatt's offices. You two were playing spies, like when we were kids. You always did have quite an overly active imagination back then. No wonder you wanted to be an actress, Mel" Eric shot back.
"You tell he
As soon as he hung up the phone, Don wanted to call Melanie back and cancel their dinner. He didn't know what he was thinking. That was exactly the point, he wasn't thinking, just acting on his well-tuned instincts. There was something going on inside the agency and for the first time in his career, Don felt totally out of the loop.In all previous missions, when he and Stuart had worked together, Don was always the lead agent. It wasn't that he was more capable, or more experienced than Stuart, it's just that Stuart never asserted himself on any assignment, preferring to be the back-up rather than the point man. Don thought it a bit odd that his partner had volunteered to take charge of Wyatt's arrest, and although busting Wyatt and all of T.H.R.U.S.H. would have resulted in Don receiving huge commendations, if his friend and partner wanted to take some of the glory, Don was more than happy to let him.After the success of the morning's operation all Stu really needed
By the time Melanie arrived at the brunch a good number of reunion guests had already returned to their homes and their twenty-first century lives. Even though it was almost over, she was glad she was able to spend a bit of normal time in Abbeyville with people she knew she'd never see again. Unfortunately, one of those people had also decided to make a final appearance. "I can't believe you would show your face here after what you tried to do to us this morning, Wyatt!"It was all she could do not to slap his face, but that would lead to too many questions that she'd rather not answer."Mel, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you were heading back to Los Angeles," Wyatt said, then in a whisper added, "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's all. You know I'd never do anything to hurt you.""The hell I do," She shot back. "That's all you've been doing since the day we met back in the sixth grade. After today, I never want to see or hear fro
The last few members of the class of '72 said their good-byes, exchanged e-mail addresses and made promises to keep in touch that none of them intended to keep. The pleasantries were as phony and the promises as empty as the end-of-high-school greetings each had scrawled to one another over their yearbook photographs thirty years ago.Everyone had been so very happy to see Stuart at the reunion. No one seemed to remember that they never signed his yearbook, or question why he hadn't graduated with the rest of the class. Those that did were too polite to ask, and Stuart wasn't about to satisfy their curiosity, not now, not ever. It was enough that he had returned to his hometown with a mission to finish. A mission that had begun long before he joined U.N.C.L.E.Stuart got into his car and waited until he saw Wyatt pull out of the parking lot before starting the engine. Keeping at a safe distance, he followed the black Mercedes as it proceeded through the streets of Abbe
Melanie said her final good-byes to the remaining classmates and returned to her room. She was relieved that Wyatt had left before her. As far as she was concerned, her last good-bye to Wyatt was definitely her last and final good-bye.Her date with Don wasn't for another few hours, so Melanie decided that now would be a good time to catch up on some much needed rest. This time, she made certain that both the safety bolt and the chain link latch were secure.With so much on her mind, Melanie didn't think she would be able to sleep, but she was out the moment her head hit the pillow. Her dreams were a mixture of Wyatt back in high school, Wyatt's hand holding a gun to her face, Wyatt turning into a fire breathing dragon, and then Don riding in on a white horse to slay the dragon and rescue the maiden in distress. She woke up just as the dream had them riding off into the sunset. She laughed aloud at the way her mind put her into so many scenes she had read in scripts, b
Melanie entered her birthday code into the touch pad on the side of the door leading to the Wyatt's base of operations. She cautiously removed her heels, so her footsteps wouldn't make any sound just in case he wasn't alone. She found him in the control room, his back toward her. He was talking on the phone and didn't hear her enter. Once she noticed that he was alone, she began to run toward him. Startled, Wyatt grabbed his gun, but when he saw who it was, put it back in his holster and put his finger to his lips in a motion to signal her to be quiet, then motioned that he'd be off the phone in a second."Mel? What on earth are you doing here?" he asked when the call ended. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again after what you said at the brunch. I guess I was right about us.""Wyatt, listen to me!" Melanie yelled, "This has nothing to do with us, or not us. DAMMIT, Wyatt there is no us!"Ignoring her, Wyatt moved to pick up the phone."Mel, as much as I
Wyatt, took hold of Melanie's hand and the two started moving toward the rear exit. With their backs turned they didn't see one of the wounded T.H.R.U.S.H. agents lift his arm off the floor, pick up a gun and aim it directly at Melanie's back.With no time to warn her, Stuart jumped in-between the bullet and its intended target. Wyatt pulled out his weapon and got off one more shot, ending the threat of the wounded assailant right after the bullet entered Stuart's solar plexus."Stuart, NO!"Melanie screamed and ran to where Stuart had fallen. His shirt was already covered with a deep red stain that was growing larger by the second. Knowing he didn't have more than a few moments of life, Stuart reached into his shirt pocket and handed Melanie his communicator pen."It's working now," he coughed slightly. "Call Don. And tell him I'm sorry."Melanie took the pen from Stuart. Her tears streamed down her face, landing on Stuart's lifeless body. W
Five nautical miles from where Melanie and Wyatt were submerged, emergency sensors at U.N.C.L.E. headquarters were tracking their route. The moment he had received the signal from Stuart's communicator pen, Don immediately called his team to inform them that "Sunday in the park" with their families was cancelled.Alarms were going off in every corner of U.N.C.L.E. headquarters. Every agent within a twenty mile radius had responded to the emergency call. Not a single one complained about having to cut short their one day off. The U.N.C.L.E. network was stronger than any other ties. Nothing, not family, not friends, not even the birth of a child, was more important than the life of a fellow agent. They all knew that if any one of them were in a similar situation, every other agent would do the same for them.No matter his suspicions, if Stuart was in trouble, Don was going to do whatever was necessary to come to his assistance. As soon as he received the signal from Stua
When Melanie saw Don's face, it was all she could do not to jump straight into his arms. Instead, she calmly took hold of his outstretched hand, climbed out of the sub and onto the deck of the speedboat."How did you find us?"She said, once she was safely on his boat."I followed the signal from your communicator pen. Once I saw the sub surface, I hit the gas, so to speak.""Just like my knight in shining armor on the white horse I dreamed about, only your white horse is a white speed boat.""Horses don't do that well on a lake, don't cha know," Don laughed. "I'd love to hear the rest of that dream, Mel, but right now I have a big fish to pull out of that little submarine."Don reached into the hatch for Wyatt's hand, but Wyatt didn't move."I'm not going anywhere with you, Mr. U.N.C.L.E. agent," Wyatt said."That's fine with me. I'm more than happy to leave you here to wait for your friends to catch up with you."Don p
The obituary that appeared in the Abbeyville Newspress reported that the brother of Jack Gaynes, Wyatt William Gaynes, was killed in an accidental fire at his downtown stationery store.Even after his supposed death, Jack received top billing, and Wyatt's name was mentioned second. Jack led the memorial service which was short and sparsely attended. Brenda chose to stay home.James O'Brien turned over all of his financial statements to the FEC, and after paying several thousands in fines, was completely exonerated. He re-introduced the bill to ban the toxic dye, which pasted unanimously, and his continued work on environmental issues further helped his political career.James was offered the choice of running for Governor or U.S. Senate, but Katie made it quite clear that she neither wanted to move to Washington, nor have a part-time long distance husband. Eighteen months later, she and her family moved into the Governor's mansion in St. Paul.Charles Hau
Back at U.N.C.L.E. headquarters, Don was able to find Melanie a blouse from the undercover agent's wardrobe. She changed her top and waited, alone, as Don took Wyatt into the interrogation room. Whenever the front door opened, she half expected to see Stuart walk in, then she sadly remembered that he wasn't going to be walking into any room ever again. She hoped that someone from the agency would contact his sister and brothers and that they would tell them that he died saving her life and omit the part about him being the one who had put that life, and others, in jeopardy in the first place.Melanie was exhausted. Even though it was just past nine, she felt her eyes close. Just as she began to doze off, Don entered the room. In spite of what they had shared on the boat, Melanie couldn't read anything in his expression. She had no doubt that he was well trained in concealing his emotions, even from himself."What's going to happen to Wyatt?" Melanie asked
When Melanie saw Don's face, it was all she could do not to jump straight into his arms. Instead, she calmly took hold of his outstretched hand, climbed out of the sub and onto the deck of the speedboat."How did you find us?"She said, once she was safely on his boat."I followed the signal from your communicator pen. Once I saw the sub surface, I hit the gas, so to speak.""Just like my knight in shining armor on the white horse I dreamed about, only your white horse is a white speed boat.""Horses don't do that well on a lake, don't cha know," Don laughed. "I'd love to hear the rest of that dream, Mel, but right now I have a big fish to pull out of that little submarine."Don reached into the hatch for Wyatt's hand, but Wyatt didn't move."I'm not going anywhere with you, Mr. U.N.C.L.E. agent," Wyatt said."That's fine with me. I'm more than happy to leave you here to wait for your friends to catch up with you."Don p
Five nautical miles from where Melanie and Wyatt were submerged, emergency sensors at U.N.C.L.E. headquarters were tracking their route. The moment he had received the signal from Stuart's communicator pen, Don immediately called his team to inform them that "Sunday in the park" with their families was cancelled.Alarms were going off in every corner of U.N.C.L.E. headquarters. Every agent within a twenty mile radius had responded to the emergency call. Not a single one complained about having to cut short their one day off. The U.N.C.L.E. network was stronger than any other ties. Nothing, not family, not friends, not even the birth of a child, was more important than the life of a fellow agent. They all knew that if any one of them were in a similar situation, every other agent would do the same for them.No matter his suspicions, if Stuart was in trouble, Don was going to do whatever was necessary to come to his assistance. As soon as he received the signal from Stua
Wyatt, took hold of Melanie's hand and the two started moving toward the rear exit. With their backs turned they didn't see one of the wounded T.H.R.U.S.H. agents lift his arm off the floor, pick up a gun and aim it directly at Melanie's back.With no time to warn her, Stuart jumped in-between the bullet and its intended target. Wyatt pulled out his weapon and got off one more shot, ending the threat of the wounded assailant right after the bullet entered Stuart's solar plexus."Stuart, NO!"Melanie screamed and ran to where Stuart had fallen. His shirt was already covered with a deep red stain that was growing larger by the second. Knowing he didn't have more than a few moments of life, Stuart reached into his shirt pocket and handed Melanie his communicator pen."It's working now," he coughed slightly. "Call Don. And tell him I'm sorry."Melanie took the pen from Stuart. Her tears streamed down her face, landing on Stuart's lifeless body. W
Melanie entered her birthday code into the touch pad on the side of the door leading to the Wyatt's base of operations. She cautiously removed her heels, so her footsteps wouldn't make any sound just in case he wasn't alone. She found him in the control room, his back toward her. He was talking on the phone and didn't hear her enter. Once she noticed that he was alone, she began to run toward him. Startled, Wyatt grabbed his gun, but when he saw who it was, put it back in his holster and put his finger to his lips in a motion to signal her to be quiet, then motioned that he'd be off the phone in a second."Mel? What on earth are you doing here?" he asked when the call ended. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again after what you said at the brunch. I guess I was right about us.""Wyatt, listen to me!" Melanie yelled, "This has nothing to do with us, or not us. DAMMIT, Wyatt there is no us!"Ignoring her, Wyatt moved to pick up the phone."Mel, as much as I
Melanie said her final good-byes to the remaining classmates and returned to her room. She was relieved that Wyatt had left before her. As far as she was concerned, her last good-bye to Wyatt was definitely her last and final good-bye.Her date with Don wasn't for another few hours, so Melanie decided that now would be a good time to catch up on some much needed rest. This time, she made certain that both the safety bolt and the chain link latch were secure.With so much on her mind, Melanie didn't think she would be able to sleep, but she was out the moment her head hit the pillow. Her dreams were a mixture of Wyatt back in high school, Wyatt's hand holding a gun to her face, Wyatt turning into a fire breathing dragon, and then Don riding in on a white horse to slay the dragon and rescue the maiden in distress. She woke up just as the dream had them riding off into the sunset. She laughed aloud at the way her mind put her into so many scenes she had read in scripts, b
The last few members of the class of '72 said their good-byes, exchanged e-mail addresses and made promises to keep in touch that none of them intended to keep. The pleasantries were as phony and the promises as empty as the end-of-high-school greetings each had scrawled to one another over their yearbook photographs thirty years ago.Everyone had been so very happy to see Stuart at the reunion. No one seemed to remember that they never signed his yearbook, or question why he hadn't graduated with the rest of the class. Those that did were too polite to ask, and Stuart wasn't about to satisfy their curiosity, not now, not ever. It was enough that he had returned to his hometown with a mission to finish. A mission that had begun long before he joined U.N.C.L.E.Stuart got into his car and waited until he saw Wyatt pull out of the parking lot before starting the engine. Keeping at a safe distance, he followed the black Mercedes as it proceeded through the streets of Abbe
By the time Melanie arrived at the brunch a good number of reunion guests had already returned to their homes and their twenty-first century lives. Even though it was almost over, she was glad she was able to spend a bit of normal time in Abbeyville with people she knew she'd never see again. Unfortunately, one of those people had also decided to make a final appearance. "I can't believe you would show your face here after what you tried to do to us this morning, Wyatt!"It was all she could do not to slap his face, but that would lead to too many questions that she'd rather not answer."Mel, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you were heading back to Los Angeles," Wyatt said, then in a whisper added, "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's all. You know I'd never do anything to hurt you.""The hell I do," She shot back. "That's all you've been doing since the day we met back in the sixth grade. After today, I never want to see or hear fro