Notes: Gabrielle is from Xena Warrior Princess which is owned by StudiosUSA and Renaissance Studios. All other characters are fictitious and are mine. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com.


Preface [Queen's Hut-Amazon Village 84 AD]

Gabrielle, Bard-Queen of the Amazons, writes....

For three months all had been quiet with David and Angela after their wedding. She had several successes in that time as a matter of fact. Their life was simple and happy.

Yet others held grudges and were ready to act on them. This scroll mentions two such individuals and how their plans disrupted not only the Duboises but their friends as well.


Chapter 1 [Three months following "The Honeymoon"]

After their return from Cairo, Angie and Dave remained busy with their research, publishing several pieces and keeping busy.

She, in particular, had spent a great deal of time in her office at the UMC, working through theories, performing tests, and dealing with problems. Finally, on March 1st, she felt ready to test her procedure on a living patient. Rupert Parsons, an elderly patient with the type of colon cancer described in her paper.

As he was wheeled in, she took a deep breath. Here goes. Angie, you can do it.

****

At that moment, Dave walked into the pre-operating area in scrubs. Having heard about this procedure, Caitlin had allowed him to take a break and be there to support his wife. As he did so, he noticed her pacing about. Look at the worrywart. "Hey, you're going to wear a hole in the floor doing that."

"Huh?" she asked. "This is a restricted area."

"I'll say," he cracked, smiling warmly. "Did you think I would let you do this on your own?"

"Oh, Honey, I...well, I'm glad you're here. How did you get out of the library?" she asked, embracing him.

"Caitlin gave me permission. Did you think I would miss your big moment, Princess?"

She hugged him tighter. Count on him to be here! Hearing a buzz, she broke it off. "Sorry, Dave. I have to run. I'll give your best to Dr. Haddad." She put her mask on over her face.

He gave her the thumbs up as she disappeared through the door. Looking through the window, he saw her enter the O. R. Come on, Princess. Bring home the gold.

****

Inside of the white sterile operating room, machinery hummed and the staff stood prepared to assist Angie if needed. 

On the telephone hookup, Dr. Haddad fidgeted a bit in Istanbul.

Lying on the table, Mr. Parsons breathed heavily as well.

Angie walked into the operating room. "Hi, everyone! Are we ready?"

"All set, Doctor," Dr. Fishburne indicated.

"All set here," Dr. Haddad agreed.

"I guess this is it. How are you doing, Mr. Parsons?" she asked her patient.

"Oh...about as well as...can be expected. I had a visit from an old...friend just...now. Nice young man," he replied.

"That's nice," Angie continued, looking into his eyes with a kind expression. "Do I know him?"

"Yes...he's your husband, Doc...tor. I've known him since...1985. He...told me you were the...best and...not to wor...ry."

She smiled. Leave it to Dave to assure him like that. He's probably more confident in this than I am. "Okay, Mr. P., we're going to start the laser. Please let us know if it hurts."

"Don't hesitate," Dr. Haddad added.

The patient nodded.

"Okay, Dr. Dubois, aim for the "X" and fire the beam," Dr. Haddad instructed.

"Right. Here goes!" she agreed, aiming it and firing.

Dave peered through the glass, crossing his fingers. Here we go.

Back in the operating room, the beam struck Parsons in the side. He didn't move, but the light burned through his cancerous cells. For several minutes, this continued before the laser shut off.

Now what? Dave thought.

"How does the readout look?" Angie asked.

"Just a second," her colleague replied. "I have the results and he's cured! Dr. Dubois, you did it!"

"I've done it. I really did it," she gasped and smiled as she saw Parsons sit up on the table.

"Doctor, you're a marvel. I can always trust David to give me the straight scoop. Thank you," he expressed.

"Well, we still need to do some more tests but it does seem to be cured. Congratulations. We'll get you upstairs to your room," Angie assured him. 

After the nurses wheeled him out, Dr. Fishburne asked, "Do you have time to celebrate?"

She flushed. "Actually, sir, I'm sorry, but can we do it tomorrow? I have a private celebration already planned if you know what I mean."

Her boss nodded. "I certainly do. If David wants to come tomorrow, he's welcome-seeing as he played a part in this."

"Dr. Haddad laughed, "I agree too. Say hi to your worst half, Angie, will you?" With that, she hung up.

"Okay, thanks, but this is a surprise for Dave," she hinted while leaving the area. After clearing the doors, she practically leapt into his arms. "Dave, I did it!"

He lowered her mask to see her bright white teeth grinning at him. "Now there's a sight for sore eyes. Of course you did it," he agreed, kissing her. 

"Thank you for giving Mr. Parsons so much confidence in me."

He chuckled, "I didn't say anything that wasn't true, Angie. Now, I need to be getting back to the library. See you at 8:00?"

"I'll be waiting at home for you, Sweetie!" she cheered.

He kissed her again and smiled as he left the area heading for the main campus.


Chapter 2

At 6 PM, Angie finished her last round and put her stuff back in the office. Finally, I can leave. What a day. 

As she locked up, Dr. Fishburne approached. "Yes, sir?"

"Congratulations, Angela, you did a tremendous job and I just placed a commendation in your file. Did you get that article published?" he asked.

She smiled shyly. "Thank you for the compliment, sir. I'll try to live up to it. Yes, the article will be in tomorrow's New England Journal of Medicine."

"Excellent. And tonight?"

"Tonight, I think I'll be the good wife. Dave's been very patient during the last three weeks. I missed out birthdays and a couple of other things and would like to make it up to him if I can."

"That's fine with me. See you tomorrow." He walked down the hall back towards his office.

She smiled; glad of her situation at work and thinking of her plans for later.

**** 

Right at 8:00, Dave put the finishing touches on another day at the office. The 6-8 shift had been busy to say the least. Accordingly, he was ready to head dome.

Right at 8, Edith Carlton, his colleague, walked up and asked, "Are you ready to head home?"

"You bet. Lots of paper questions tonight," he advised.

"Yeah. It's about that time of the semester, isn't it? Well, go on home to Angie and we'll see you tomorrow," she replied pleasantly.

He nodded and waved as he left. After a quick stop by the office, he walked out to the parking garage where Bessie waited for him. Getting into the driver's seat, he gunned the motor and headed east on Sixth Street, arriving home about ten minutes later. 

He walked over to the mailbox and unloaded the packed container. We really should do this everyday, he groused to himself. Seeing that the lights were out, he shook his head. She's in there, but probably asleep. Hmm... Unlocking the front door, he walked in and his jaw dropped.

The room was decorated with a romantic ambiance. A white linen cloth covered the table. On top of it sat two lit candles casting a gentle glow over the room, a bouquet of red roses, and a cover banquet plate.

"Wow! Who?" he asked, half-excited and half-disappointed. He had hoped to surprise her with dinner at a nice restaurant that evening.

"Who else, Silly? That is you, right, Dave?" Angie's voice called.

"Yeah, it's me," he assured her, closing the door. "What's this? I was hoping to take you out tonight to celebrate your success."

"We'll do that," she continued from the other room. "You know what I really want, Dave?"

"What?" he asked, playing along.

"What I want is a nice private dinner with my husband without phones, research, or patients and I want to look good doing it too. Is the door closed?"

"Yeah...and?"

"Oh, not much. Just a nice meal. This is our present together, all right? I'll get you something this weekend," she promised as she came out in a black negligee.

"A little underdressed for dinner, aren't we?" he teased wickedly.

"I had to do something to let you think I was still interested in you, right?" she cracked.

"Like I would ever think otherwise," he assured her, walking into the bedroom and changing into a t-shirt and his sweats. "There now. Much better." Approaching her from the back, he ran his hands over the sheer fabric and admired how it felt to the touch. I'm tempted to say the Hell with dinner and let's just get on with dessert, but the food smells wonderful. Aw crap....

Ah say jus' eat and let her use her imagination, the Child urged.

Where your mind usually is, I wouldn't doubt it.

Hey, ya'll're the one who likes girls, not me. Ah'd rather mess around with things.

Yeah, I know. Immature....

Ah heard that!

"Umm, Dave?"

"Yeah?"

"Stop talking to him and pay attention to me, all right?" she requested.

"Who?"

"You Know Who," she sighed. 

"Sorry. I was just debating whether to eat first or well...."

"First, we eat then we...well...you know," she giggled, arching her eyebrows playfully as they sat down. She lifted the banquet dish to reveal a pan of lasagna freshly baked. "I figured this would be good. Oh geez, hang on." She headed for the fridge where she grabbed a bowl. "Can you pour the wine? It should be chilling by your chair."

He reached down and grabbed the bottle of pink zinfandel. "Nice choice," he complimented, pouring their glasses.

"Thanks," she expressed, sitting down. "Your Mom gave me this recipe at the wedding rehearsal dinner. I wanted to try it." She mixed up the salad and ladled him a serving. "Well?"

He bit into it savoring the flavors of the dressing. Mom may not have been around much, but she knew how to cook when she was there. "It's great, Princess."

She smiled warmly and exhaled deeply. "That's a relief! I wasn't sure I did it right."

"You did fine," he assured her, handing her his main plate.

"Thanks," she replied, cutting him a piece of lasagna and handing it to him. "Sorry. This is store stuff. With everything going on...."

"Tastes fine to me," he told her. He looked across the table at her in the candlelight. Her skin was so soft. Her eyes sparkled. The brown coloring of her hair seemed so exquisite to him. She's so beautiful. He allowed a smile.

"What?" she asked.

Oh puke! AHHHH!!!! The Child complained.

Ignoring the Voice, Dave shrugged. "You."

"What about me? Is there something wrong?" she wondered subconsciously.

"No. You're perfect," he told her, taking a bite of pasta and ricotta. "Thanks, Angie."

"For what?" she wondered.

"For making my night special," he told her.

Now, Ah'm really gonna hurl!

I wish you came with a mute button.

Yeah? Ah don't think ya'd have the jewels to use it if Ah did.

Try me. Just behave, all right?

All right.

She smirked and shook her head. Poor Dave. Even when he's being romantic, that Dark Kid in his head is giving him problems. "You're welcome...both of you."

Crap. Ah'm busted.

Dave smiled. She got you, didn't she? Now, stick it!

The Child growled and went silent.

She came back with another dish. "For dessert, I tried another experiment." She set a cherry dish down in front of him and struck a match. Lighting it, she stepped back. "Cherries Jubilee."

He shook his head in admiration. "Princess, this is wonderful."

"You're welcome," she expressed, serving a dish and a kiss for him. "This is your special treat."

"The only one?" he teased.

She slapped his head playfully. "Hey! Don't get greedy now."

He smiled from ear to ear. You wouldn't want to see that.

She chuckled, "Honestly! You are so bad! You know that?"

For ten more minutes, they finished the dessert before she cleared the table. "Would you like coffee?"

"No, I'm fine. Umm, Angie, this has been a great night. Thank you," he expressed. "If it's okay, I'd like to pass on the coffee and move on to the other agenda item."

"Agenda item?" she laughed. "What is this-a work meeting?"

He rolled his eyes as he slowly brushed his hands over her shoulders. "No, Princess. This is our night and I want to enjoy it and you. Come on. Can we leave the dishes for the morning, hmm?" He kissed her on the cheek and hugged her closely to him.

He's ready, I guess. Well, so am I. After putting out the candles and the brandy flame, she took his hand and followed him into the bedroom for the rest of the evening's activities.

Overall, it was quite the evening.



Chapter 3 [A few days earlier--Belgrade]

Dr. Emil Bifini sat in his office stewing over his notes. Three months prior, he went to a conference in Cairo to hear various talks. One lecture concerned new laser techniques-a topic he scoffed at. Worse still, the fact that the speaker was a woman offended his conservative outlook all the more. Thirdly, her husband encouraged this. Fourthly, his comments earned him a censure from his department's chair. Finally, seeing her pieces in the medical journals really made him see red. "This is intolerable!" he bellowed.

A knocking came from the open door and a response. "Who says you have to, Señor?

"Who?" the professor wondered.

"I'm a friend," the voice added, stepping into the office. He was a thin man yet not wiry. His dark hair was streaked with white. A stylish mustache graced his Latino face. He wore a well-cut white Armani suit with a matching hat. "Don Alfredo Guisanto at your service."

"Guisanto?" he asked. He remembered the name from somewhere. Then it came to him. "You're the drug czar, aren't you?"

The visitor shook his head. "Por favor, I am but a simple businessman. As such, I have a proposition, how would you like it if I made the good doctor vanish?"

Bifini stiffened. "You would kill her?"

"No...not necessarily," the other man stated, pulling out a Havana cigar and lighting it. "Just silence her." He recalled the two earlier meetings with David Dubois some twenty-odd years before in Mexico and California. Before, he had been on top of the world. Then Dubois and his friends had put him in jail costing him fifteen years of productivity. "No blood, I promise." Still, to make Dubois suffer will be worth it.

"In that case, what can I do?"

"Just be ready, Amigo. I may need your help," Guisanto instructed, shaking his hand. Blowing a puff from the cigar, he looked around the place and added, "I'll be in touch. Adios!" Having said that, he left.

Bifini felt enthusiastic at this prospect. I'll finally get her to shut up and take her husband with her.


****

[Two nights later-Columbia, SC, USA]

The Montoya family enjoyed a quiet evening after work in their apartment. Karen and Mike sat reading their books. Their daughter, Mika, played with her teddy bear on the floor-or tried to do so since it was almost as big as she was. Still, she loved the softness. 

He looked at the little one and laughed, "She really likes that bear you gave her, Honey. Where did you find it?"

"I didn't. Dave gave it to me just before I met you," his wife replied, looking at him over her book. "I'm glad I kept it."

Yeah. For once, I'm glad he gave you something. "You know, everything's working out great for him and Angie."

"I know," she agreed. "I talked to Angie yesterday. She'll test her theory day after tomorrow at work. I'm glad she's starting to get comfortable with herself as a person. She and Dave have been generating some real heat lately."

He cracked, "They better be careful. Where there's heat, there's fire too."

"Mike! They'll be wonderful parents! Look at how they are with Miranda," she pointed out.

"Yeah. I guess," he admitted.

Then there was a knock at the door.

"Just a minute! That must be Jane. Come in!" she urged.

But as the door opened, they saw three grim men in suits and a machine gun apiece entering. She took her daughter in her arms.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Mike demanded.

"Ask your wife, Señor Montoya, she knows," Guisanto informed him, strolling into the living area, smoking another cigar. Staring at Karen, he asked, " Karen, good to see you again after so long."

"Guisanto," she glowered, recalling the previous horrors she had suffered from this sleaze. "Haven't you done enough?"

"That's...?" her husband asked. Seeing her nod, he shook his head. Oh man, why him?

"You've been telling stories about me, Karen? I'm flattered."

She snorted, rocking her precious bundle. "Don't be."

He glared at her, managing a smile. She always was a pain in my side. "I was just coming by to say hello too." Seeing the teddy bear, he picked it up. "Ah, this is what I wanted. Keep souvenirs, Karen?"

"Put that back!" she hissed.

"No, I don't think so. I'll make you a deal. I take the bear and you're all safe. However, this visit is our little secret, comprende? Any slips and we'll come back. I'll know if you've been a busy bruja. Vamos, Miguel y Jorge." With that, they left, disappearing into the night.

Mike shook his head. "I'm glad they're gone. I wonder where he's going?"

"More than likely to do something to Dave and Angie," she stated, soothing Mika's cries. There now, the bad man's gone now."

"Dave had better have his eyes open for them both.

For once, I agree. She hummed a tune to put her daughter to sleep, but she wouldn't do so on that night. That was for sure.



Chapter 4 [The night after Parsons' cure]

The UMC's meeting room was lined with streamers and balloons. People sat around and congratulated Angie on her accomplishment and wished her further successes. 

The guest of honor gave a brief speech thanking people for their kindness and generosity and deflecting any credit she could.

Dave sighed to himself. Princess, you're going to have to learn how to take credit for your accomplishments.

"She's modest, isn't she?" Dr. Fishburne asked him.

"She is that. I like the fact that she's down to earth, but I wish she'd take credit for herself once in a while," her husband stated, sipping on a Diet Coke.

"Keep working on her, David. I can see that you're having a positive influence."

"Well, thank you. I would like to think so, but she does the same for me too," Dave pointed out. "If you'll excuse me, I need to speak to her. I wanted to thank you though for putting on this wonderful party for her. It means the world to her even if she won't admit it."

"We know that," her boss agreed. "And you're welcome. Your wife is quite the talent, David, and so are you from what I understand."

"We all excel in our own ways," Dave replied, walking toward her. 

"Leaving already?" Angie asked.

"I just have to check on a few things at the library. Then I'll be back. Hey, this is your party. You don't need me riding your coattails tonight," he mentioned, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

She argued, "You never just 'ride my coattails', all right? Go and play scholar. Meet me back here about 9?"

"Right. Be careful," he concluded, giving her a smile before leaving.

****

Fifteen minutes later, he hustled through the library's front doors. Okay, now to get that stuff so I can head back to the UMC.

As soon as she saw him, Edith called, "David! There's a package for you in your office."

"Okay, thanks!" he replied walking up the stairs and over to the office. Unlocking the door, he had a strange foreboding.

Mystery packages at night? Ah don't like it. Be careful, 'kay?

Right. He walked in, looking around carefully. Nothing was out of place. A bundle wrapped in brown paper sat on his desk. What the? He unwrapped it to find Karen's teddy bear. In each paw, it had a black rose. Worse still, it was ticking. Shit! He threw it on the floor and covered it with an upside down wastebasket. Getting on the phone, he called the reference desk.

Hello?" Edith asked.

"Edith, this is David. We've got to clear the building! That package in my office is a bomb!"

"Bomb?"

"Hello? DO IT!!!" he ordered.

"All right, you don't have to be like that." She reached under the desk and pushed the alarm button. "Get out of there! I just signaled the campus police." She ran over to the wall fire alarm and pulled it, starting the alarm.

Hearing it, the students ran for the exits. 

Slamming the phone down, he picked the basket up and heard the spring winding down. He ripped the bear's midsection open, tore the bomb from it, and put the basket back over it. Here goes. Hang in there.

What the Hell are ya'll doin'? Forgit the damn bear!

"Get stuffed," he spat, uncoiling his whip and opening the window. Cracking it, he coiled it around the overhang and swung out of there just as the explosion blew his office to Hell.

He fell through space, crashing into the grass below, and blacking out.

****

Meanwhile, the party wound down at the UMC. Everyone had congratulated Angie once again before they left. Finally at 9:15, she decided to meet her husband over at the library. He's probably busy with his work. I'll go stir him up. She walked up to her boss and said goodbye.

"Are you sure that you don't need an escort? If you wait a minute, I can get someone for you," he advised.

"That's a good idea. All right," she admitted.

Just then, an orderly walked over. "Excuse me, Dr. Dubois? There's a phone call from your husband. You can take it over at the reception desk."

She nodded and walked over to the desk. Picking up the phone, she only heard a dial tone. "Hello? Hello?" Then she felt something hard in her back.

"Hello, my dear," a voice snickered.

"Who?" she asked, stiffening.

"An old friend of your husband's. Now march. Don't yell for help or I'll have to use this," he hissed, pushing the gun further into her back. 

"He'll know something's up," she whispered.

"I've already dealt with him. I've left nothing to chance this time."

"This time? Guisanto?"

"That's right," the aged drug czar agreed. "And we're going on a little trip east. There's someone who wants to see you. Now move!" He led her out of the UMC to his waiting car and they drove off into the night.

**** 

[Two hours later]

Slowly, the Child roused himself. Damn it. What hit us? He looked up to see a crowd milling around. 

"David?" Caitlin asked with concern.

He snarled, climbing to his feet and glaring at the onlookers. "Keep back!"

The library dean yelled, "Do as he says!" She shook her head. The explosion triggered the change. We really don't need this. Can anything else go wrong? Then she saw Dr. Fishburne rush over. "Mike, what is it?"

"Is he all right? We can't find his wife. She disappeared about two hours ago," he informed her.

I had to ask. "She probably left for the evening."

"Her car's still in the lot. We need to ask David if he's seen her," he asserted.

"Let me," she cautioned. Approaching the injured Child, she asked, "Have you seen Angie?"

"Huh? Nah, we ain't seen her since we left the hosp'tal. Why?" Reading her face, he roared, "Where is she?"

Dr. Fishburne stared at the enraged man in front of him. That must be a heckuva concussion. He's incoherent. "David, we don't know. What happened here?"

"Big boom," the Dark One stated. "This stinks."

"The last time we saw her, she took a phone call," the doctor stated. "I've never seen that orderly before."

The Child took Dave's cell phone out and dialed. "This really sucks!" First, he dialed home and got no answer. Shaking his head, he dialed again. 

****

In Columbia, Mike and Karen woke up with the phone's ringing.

"Who?" he muttered. "3 AM? Ah, man!"

She whispered, "Hello?"

"Ka...ren, git up," the Child hissed.

Her eyes bulged. Dave's gone. Something happened! "Stay calm now. What happened?"

"Big boom an' now, Little Woman missin'. Has drug-boy been by?"

"N...no," she stammered. I can't say. If I do, he'll be back. "Why?"

"Ah got your bear here. It ate somethin' that didn't agree with it. If Guis-boy calls, tell 'im Ah'm gunnin' for 'im," the Child hissed, hanging up. 

"Who was that?" Caitlin asked.

"None o' yer business," he snarled. Just then, the phone rang. "Yeah, wha?"

"Como estás?"

"Well, Drug-boy, Ah figgered ya'll would be yellah 'nough to do this! Where's mah wife?" he bellowed.

"Temper, temper," Guisanto chided.

"Ah show ya temper, Asshole!" he bellowed. "Show yerself!"

"Sorry, but here she is."

"Dave?" Angie asked.

"He hurt ya?"

"For now," she advised, trying to remain calm. He's changed. We don't need this. "And you?"

"Jus' like the damn Gong Show," he hissed. "Jus' hang in there. Awright?"

"All right," she agreed, trying not to panic and incite him farther.

Then Guisanto ripped the phone away from her and concluded, "I'll be in touch, Dubois." With that, he hung up.

"Dammit!" the Child growled. He started to walk away.

"Hey!" Caitlin called. "You can't leave."

"We need to have you looked at it," Dr. Fishburne pointed out.

"Hell with me!" the Child snapped. "Little Woman needs me!" He stalked away toward the parking garage. Once away from prying eyes, he dialed another number.

****

In San Francisco, Steve Petersen watched the developing story on CNN. Lord, why this? Hearing the phone ring, he answered, "Yes?"

"Petersen," the Child growled.

Oh man. Remember, it's not Dave. "Yeah, how are you?"

"How d'ya think? Listen, git yer ass down here. Big Bro an' Ah need yer help. It's Guis-Boy," the Dark One informed him.

He nodded. "I'll be on the next flight. Meet you later." He hung up and shut the TV off. Crap. I knew the peace and quiet wouldn't last.

The Child climbed into Bessie and screeched off into the night. Time was getting short and something needed to be done soon.


Chapter 6

For the next six hours, the Child worked like a man possessed, making more arrowheads and trying to stay focused. Finally, he staggered into the kitchen and made himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "Awright. Everythin's set. Now, Ah've gotta git 'er back."

At that moment, a knock came from the door. 

"Now who?" he spat, lumbering toward it. Staring through the portal, he saw an old man dressed as a rabbi. "Not in'erested!"

"Not even if it's a story about Mexico?"

"What kind o' story?"

"About Rosita going to the capital," the old man stated.

Somehow, the Child recognized the coded message. "Git in here."

"Thank you, my son," the rabbi responded, walking into the apartment. As soon as the door was closed, he asked, "Are we alone?"

"Ya'll lookin' for the Tooth Fairy? Course!"

"Good," the visitor agreed and removed his hat. The hair and beard came away from his face to reveal Steve's face. "I hate being watched. How are we doing?"

"Got mah gear. Les' go!" the host snarled.

"Not so fast. Umm...any chance of getting Dave back?"

"Maybe. Let's git on the plane," the Child stated.

Right. "All right. Let's go," Steve urged as he reapplied the disguise. Maybe I can get him calmed down during the flight.



Chapter 7

[Belgrade]

Angie stared out the window of an elegant hotel in the heart of the ancient city. Although her lodgings were fairly comfortable, Guisanto had locked her into the room. "Too bad I can't see more of it. This is a nice city. Then again, I'd rather be back in Arizona."

"I'm sure," her captor remarked entering the room with two of his associates. "Too bad I can't let you see it. We'll just have to wait for my next call to your husband."

"You really think he's going to wait for you?" she snorted.

He chuckled. "No, Señora. I agree. In fact, he's-how would you say it-thrown your Yankee police for a loop. He's vanished just as I foresaw."

Her eyes bugged out. "You've done enough to him! Stop it!"

"Not enough, I'm afraid. This time, it's his doing, not mine. I must say he's an infuriating opponent. I don't know where he is, but I do know he's coming. Another thing, I know he'll be here sooner or later. I have you as insurance. Meantime, one of your colleagues, Dr. Bifini, has an interest in keeping you quiet," the drug czar noted.

"Why?" she protested.

"You insulted his Arab manhood," he laughed. "I do have one question, however."

Her eyes narrowed. "As if I'm going to tell you anything."

"You are the feisty one," he complimented. "How did that wimpy Montoya get Karen away from your husband? I visited them. Nice apartment...cute kid, but the jellyfish has no spine."

"You didn't touch them!" she gasped. It's bad enough that he has me. If he touches Karen too, Dave'll turn him into hamburger. 

"No, no...I'm not a butcher, Dr. Dubois. I just took the stuffed bear that your husband gave to her. I'm sure he didn't expect it back with interest!"

That's why he flipped out. That blast at the university was the bear. Dave was right at Ground Zero.

He assured her. "I know he's all right, though. Well, I need to get back to my planning. Dinner will be in an hour. " With that, he closed and locked the door.

Dave, be careful, she wished, shuddering on the bed.

**** 

[Istanbul]

A lone plane landed from London at the airport, taxiing and stopping at a central jet way. 

In the midst of the disembarking throng, an Arab businessman dressed in traditional desert robes stepped into the terminal. He popped a couple of pills for his nerves and headed for the baggage claim determined to get to his destination quickly. 

Behind him, a rabbi with long flowing white hair and a beard shuffled into the receiving area, leaning heavily on his cane.

Both men picked up their bags and headed out to the taxi stand. There, they moved for the first cab.

< "Pardon me, this is my cab,"> the businessman protested in Arabic, looking down his nose at the elderly man. 

<"Of course. But if you're heading downtown, can we share it?"> the rabbi requested in Hebrew. <"I need to go to the archives.">

<"Very well," > the Arab conceded, allowing the other in and then, joining him. < "Central Archives!" he told the driver. >

About twenty minutes later, they paid the man and got out in front of the facility. Walking in, the pair approached the receptionist. < "Is there a Dr. Lydia Coltrane here?" the businessman asked, this time in Turkish. >

< "Yes," the woman answered. "In fact, here she comes. Dr. Coltrane, there's someone to see you.">

Lydia looked at the two men. What's this? < "Yes?" >

The businessman shifted into another language. < "Can we talk somewhere private, Professor?" >

She stared at him. He's talking in Classical Ottoman. What is this? 

< "I wanted to talk about A' isha, Shajara, and some tahrirs from three months ago," he added. >

Somehow, Dave's in on this. I just hope this isn't a kidnapping attempt. < "Sure. Let's go to my hotel lobby. Who's the other man?" >

< "I'm Rabbi Amos, Madam Professor," he added in Arabic. >

They followed her out of the archives and into the Hotel Topkapi. 

The Arab looked around as if recalling something. Then, he walked up to the desk where Mehmet, the clerk, watched him. < "Greetings. lovely hotel." >

< "Thank you. But who are you? Dr. Coltrane, who are these men?" > Mehmet demanded in Turkish.

She smiled. "I think we're okay."

The Arab shrugged. < "You had a couple here about three months ago, right?" >

Mehmet scratched his chin and replied, < "Yes. Two honeymooners. Nice kids." >

The rabbi watched his companion carefully wanting to see where this was going as well.

< "And do you remember what you served them the first day?" >

< "Fruit. Just fruit," > Mehmet lied, hoping to catch the other man.

The Arab grasped the desk. As he did so, he allowed a wedding band to show on his left hand. <"Nothing else?" >

< "No." >

< "You lie like a rug.">

The clerk stared at Lydia. How would he know that unless.... < "Then tell me, what else was on that platter?" >

< "Lamb and rice, Mehmet.">

The clerk nodded. "You're right, Dr. Coltrane. Can you all please follow me?" He led them out of the lobby and into a closed room. There, he pulled a book off of the shelf, tripping a secret door to open. "This way," he urged conspiratorally, leading the others into a concealed room. There, he turned the lights on and offered them a place to sit. "Don't worry, everyone. No cameras here. Quite safe. Doctor, what do you think of our Arab friend here?"

"I don't know if I want to answer that yet," she replied frankly.

The rabbi wondered, < "What is this? Who are you?" >

The Arab assured him, < "He's a friend, Rabbi. Thank you, Mehmet. You do take care of your guests well." >

< "But you aren't my guests...at least not now. But you were...> the clerk realized in Turkish before slipping back into English. "Weren't you, Master Dubois?"

The Arab took off his headdress and removed the false beard and wig, revealing Dave's face. "Indeed. Thank you for playing along, my friend."

"I figured it had to be something you set up, Dave. Who's the rabbi-Garth?"

"Actually, Lydia," the rabbi indicated, removing his disguise. "It's Steve. Hi."

"Steve Petersen!" she realized.

"Right. I'm here as Dave's chaperone. FBI business," the agent stated.

"And what are you doing here? Why did you leave Angie alone?" she demanded.

"I didn't. She's somewhere in this part of the world. Angie was kidnapped two days ago about the same time that a mystery package arrived at the library," Dave explained. "Although I don't remember much after that."

"That's because you lost it in the blast. I finally got you back on the flight to London," Steve pointed out. 

"You were there? How are you?" she asked.

"My head's ringing and my shoulder's killing me. Once we get Angie back, I'll have time to rest," the librarian asserted. 

"So, where is Mistress Angela?" Mehmet demanded.

"We don't know. But, after talking with the librarian here and tracing the kidnappers' movements, the Bureau has a theory. Tell me, Dave, would a Emil Bifini have a reason to hate Angie?"

He frowned. "Well, he did insult us in Cairo. So are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Belgrade, right?"

"Yup," Dave agreed.

"That's a long way from here. What are you both doing in this room?" she asked.

"We decided an end around approach was best," Steve pointed out. "Give Dave a couple of days to rest up if there's a room available."

"Yes. Most definitely. Leave it to me. Mehmet take care of everything!" the clerk assured them. "Follow me."

"Once they had disguised themselves again, the two conspirators followed their host back into the hotel proper and to their rooms.


Chapter 8

[Two days later]

"I still think you're plan is half-assed!"

Steve paced about the room and glared at his friend. 

"You have any other ideas?" Dave retorted.

"No. But going in and trying to get her out under their noses? Come on, Dave! I think your brains are scrambled," the agent disagreed.

The librarian shrugged. After two days of rest, he definitely felt better. "We just need to find a way to do it so that she knows its us, but we won't give ourselves away."

"And that would be?"

A smirk spread across Dave's face.

"Uh oh. I know that look. You've got an incredibly suicidal maneuver up your sleeve," the agent told him.

"Moi?" Dave wondered incredulously, trying to play innocent.

"Yeah, you. I also know I can't talk you out of it. The Bureau delivered marked Turkish currency here an hour ago. Mehmet called my room just before I came over. Do you have everything?" Steve wondered.

"Let's go," his friend agreed, getting off the bed and preparing to go. "Suleyman Dihouri rides again. Let's make the arrangements. We're going harem shopping."

Steve shook his head. I know I'm going to regret this. I just know it.

****

The next day, they stepped off of a barge, cautiously looking for anything. Going through the crowd, they saw Bifini leaning against a wall. 

"There he is," Dihouri whispered to the rabbi. "Follow me." Approaching the scholar, he asked in Arabic, < "Dr. Emil Bifini, I presume?" >

< "Yes? Mr. Dihouri?" >

< "The same. Do you have the woman?" >

< "Do you have the money?" >

Dihouri opened the valise showing the currency. < "As promised." >

Bifini pointed to the rabbi. < "And who's he? Is that your companion?" >

< "Yes. The rabbi...Amos, I believe. An obnoxious man, but I need him to keep peace with the Jews. Right?" >

The other frowned. Strange, but I guess as long as his money's good. < "Yes. Follow me." >

The trio got into a cab and rode over to Guisanto's hotel hideout. 

Upon their arrival, the drug czar's henchman, Jorge, greeted them in the lobby. "Boss wants to see you all. Follow me. Por favor."

The rabbi glanced around, keeping an eye out for every detail.

They rode the elevator to the fifth floor and got out. After walking past four doors, Jorge knocked on one. "Boss?"

"Si, Jorge?" (Yes, Jorge?)

"Senor Dihouri es aqui. (Mr. Dihouri's here.)

The door opened and out stepped Guisanto. As usual, he puffed away contentedly on his cigar. "Gentlemen, is it all right to speak in English?"

"It is," the rabbi agreed.

The Arab nodded.

"Very well. Thank you for the money. Now, follow me." The czar opened another door and called, "Your buyer is here."

"No!" Angie's voice screamed.

Dihouri tensed. Keep your cool. We'll get her out if you keep your cool. 

"Gentlemen, please," Guisanto invited. "Come in."

The two men entered to see Angie standing by the far wall, tensed and ready to fight off any advance by them. 

"I guess I'm just a thing again," she sighed. "But I'm not going without a fight!"

The Arab stepped forward and put his hands up. "Might I convince you to come with me?" he asked.

"No! My husband will save me!" she asserted.

< "I welcome you, my desert flower," > he asserted, kissing her on the cheek in distinctive fashion.

That kiss...It could only be... She looked at the Arab and saw him wink at her. Dave? No! Best to play along with it. Taking a deep breath, she requested, "I would like to see my husband again...one last time."

I wish Dubois were here to see this. It would break him to see this pretty thing of his stolen so easily from him. Revenge is sweet. "Now, Señores, we do have a schedule so if you would like to take her, you may."

The rabbi nodded and left the room.

Dihouri and Angie followed, meeting the rabbi at the elevator.

After riding the elevator down to the lobby, they headed for the door...only to be surrounded. "This currency is marked. We just did a test on it. Okay, guys, hands up."

Angie frowned. We're dead.

"I told you," the rabbi hissed.

"Shut up," Dihouri retorted, palming a smoke bomb and ripping the pin off. Flinging it across the room, it obscured everything. "Move it!"

"Qué pasa?" Guisanto demanded. 

"Boss, they're fakes!"

"You got that right!" Dihouri asserted, taking out the bow from under his robes and lighting an arrow. "Calling card." He fired the shaft into a beam near his adversary and watched it blow.

"DUBOIS!" he hissed.

"Pay back, Scum!" Dave asserted, taking off the disguise and firing shaft after shaft into the enemy.

Angie grabbed his arm. "That was you?"

"You were expecting the Cadbury Bunny?"

"Uh, guys, we're in THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT!" Steve pointed out, having shed the rabbi stuff and firing his guns, hitting goons left, right, and indifferent.

"Right," Dave realized and fired a few more exploding projectiles, taking out several other gangsters and clearing a path to the outside. "C'mon, Steve, Princess, let's go!" 

They ran out the door and made it across the street just before the Belgrade police surrounded the block.

Steve walked over, introducing himself, "Agent Steven Petersen, FBI. These people are David and Angela Dubois. Don Alfredo Guisanto whom you'll find in there kidnapped Mrs. Dubois. Have him booked and arrested."

"We will do so. Would you three be able to give us a statement as well?" the inspector, an elderly Slavic man with graying hair and a mustache, requested.

"Sure," Angie agreed. "Just as long as we're out of there."

As he was being led away, Guisanto looked at them and vowed, "Dubois, you haven't heard the last of me! I'll be back!"

Dave stormed over and glared in the gangster's eye. "If you go near anyone I care about again, Guisanto, you'll rue it. Stay away from them and me. Officer," he replied, steaming as the local policeman led the criminal away.

His wife leaned against him. She was frightened by the threat. "Does he mean it?"

"He thinks so, but I don't. Let him try," he asserted, hugging her tightly against him. "It feels good, you know."

"What does?" she wondered.

"Holding you like this. You know how worried I was?" he asked, gazing into her eyes.

"I know and I appreciate you coming for me. I knew you would," she told him, smiling warmly and shedding a few happy tears. "Thank you, Sweetie." She kissed him. "And, Steve?"

The agent perked his ears. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for escorting the big galoot over here. I appreciate your help too," she expressed.

"I wasn't going to let him go off half-assed. Besides, I don't leave my friends in the lurch," Steve replied with a smile. 

"That goes for me too, Steve," Dave added.

"I know that, Bud. I'll put it on your tab. Now, let's go and deal with the paperwork so I can call the Bureau," Steve suggested as he flagged down a cab.

The couple followed him and they rode off toward the police station eager to put that business behind them.


Conclusion

[Columbia, SC-Three Days Later]

A rented car pulled up outside of the Montoyas' condo. Inside, the Rabbi Amos, Suleyman Dohouri and Angie sat looking around.

"You'd best let me go first," she laughed. "We wouldn't want to scare them too much."

"No, I guess not," Dohouri agreed.

"Let's go," the rabbi agreed. "Shall we, my children?"

The oncologist shook her head. "You two are a pair! Honestly!" She led them up the stairs and knocked on the door.

"Hang on," Karen's voice called. After seeing who it was, the door flung open. "Angie! Oh, thank goodness! Where's Dave and...who are your friends?" She leaned close to her friend, whispering, "Are they?"

"No they aren't. They're on our side," Angie told her.

Okay. Yeah, whatever. Something weird's going on here. "Come in." She ushered the trio in and closed the door. "Okay, what's going on? I saw you three on the news two days ago. Is Dave all right?"

< "He's fine," > Dohouri assured her in Arabic.

"Huh?"

Angie rolled her eyes.

< "Hi, Miss," > Dohouri greeted in French as he removed his disguise.

"Dave! I might have known!" she realized. "I can't believe you did that! Are you okay?"

"Fine now. I needed about three days of rest before we walked back into the firefight," the librarian added.

"I'll bet. And Garth, how are you doing under that rabbi outfit?" the nurse inquired.

"Actually, Karen," Amos revealed as he peeled off his disguise. "You're close but not quite right."

"Steve! It figures that you'd be involved. You finally got your exciting case, huh?"

"I sure did. Geez, keeping an eye on our classmate here is exciting enough in itself, trust me," the agent teased.

The two women grinned good-naturedly at Dave. "That it is!" they chorused.

"Well, someone had to go in and get you out," the medievalist cracked. "I'm not leaving any loved one in that maniac's hands. Of course, my office is kaput, but hey, such is life."

At that moment, Mike walked in with Mika. "Dave, Steve, what's going on? How did you get Angie back?"

"It's a long story," the agent advised. 

"Oh, I have something for the Peanut," Dave stated, producing the restuffed teddy bear-this time with red roses in each paw.

"Coonby!" Mika exclaimed.

"What?" her parents asked in unison. "You actually brought it back?"

"What do you think?" Dave asked, grabbing a glass and filling it with water for the roses. "Now, here you go, Sweetie!"

"I can't believe it. Dave, you didn't have to, but thank you," Karen told him, her eyes shining.

Oh brother, Mike griped to himself.

Guessing at his thoughts, Angie advised, "Chill out. It's okay...let them have their moment."

Karen asked her daughter. "What do you say?"

Mika looked up at him with big dark eyes and whispered, "Thank you."

He smiled warmly and kissed her cheek. "You're welcome." Then, he commented, "She's got your eyes, Karen."

The nurse replied, "I know. Thanks again though."

"Someday, you'll have to do something like this for a kid of ours, Dave," Angie told him.

"And when did you start thinking that way?" he laughed.

"I have been thinking that way for a while now," she teased. "I just wanted to be sure that you were out of your adventure phase first."

"Well, as long as you're done trying to hog the glory," he cracked and winked at her to say: Any time you want to do it.

She nodded and hugged him. "Some day, but let's just enjoy ourselves first, all right?"

He agreed, "Some day, I think you'll be a great mother."

"As long as they're your children, my Sultan," she cracked, kissing him.

Karen grinned at them as she fixed a snack and tea for her guests. It had been a difficult time for them, however they survived another test and looked to the future. Perhaps, they had lost some innocence, but their friendship was stronger as a result.


THE END

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