The Pandora's Box, 8 & 9

[svetlanacat6]

  Part 8

“Oh, you found him, Jack... I am sorry. New York will handle it, eventually, Dr. Mallard. If they need us...”

 

 

“Don't even think of it. I was on vacation, with my daughter at the zoo. Now,I am going back home, and New York... New York will have to manage. I intend to have dinner with a cute young lady, and to talk with her mother. So... good evening, and good night.”

 

“But...”

 

¤¤¤¤¤

 

“Mr Solo ? Napoleon ? Wake up, Napoleon!”

 

“Lisa? Where... What ....?”

 

“When you came back, you sat down on the couch... and you fell asleep. You've had quite a hard day - although not so bad... finally... - but I heard you... A nightmare?”

 

“What time is it? It's... the evening, isn't?”

 

“Er... yes...”

 

“Elena and Sasha...”

 

“They're at their hotel, Napoleon. Elena wanted to call Illya. Perhaps... we'll have news soon!”

 

“The crash...”

 

“Oh yes, the crash. Oh, it's a disaster.”

 

“Lisa... would you call the hotel? Elena's hotel? I want to be sure... Don't look at me like that!”

 

“I told you about the crash when you came back... I don't need to call the hotel. Elena and Sasha are probably going to have dinner...And you'd go home, too! Remember that you promised to take them at the airport, tomorrow!”

 

***

 

“Mama... Papa won't be mad, will he?”

 

“No, Sasha. I am sure he won't . Well, er... he'll be a bit mad at me, perhaps....But he'll see reason And he'll be pleased. As Napoleon.”

 

“Napoleon is very nice, mama. I like him. He's a very busy man and he came for us, this afternoon.”

 

“He came for you, Sasha. For you, and for your father.”

 

¤¤¤¤

 

“Papa! You are here!”

 

“As you see, Tonya! Didn't I have said so? Mrs Laney, thank you so much!”

 

“Tonya is so cute, Mr Kuryakin.. Do you want to have dinner with us?”

 

“No, thank you, Mrs Laney... I promised a “private” dinner to a young lady...”

 

“Papa!'

 

“... named Tonya. Don't forget the panthers, honey Good bye, Mrs Laney, and good night.”

 

“Good bye, Mrs Laney!”

 

***

 

“Mixed salad, young lady ? With tomatoes, and chicken, or prawns?”

 

“Prawns, daddy. .. and... we could have... pancakes?”

 

“Prawns, and pancakes, miss! You wish is my command! However, Tonya, could you slice the tomatoes? And be care....”

 

“Be careful with the knife! Yes, daddy, I'll be careful. I am always. You taught me how to do! And, then, could I break the eggs?”

 

“Tonya, dear... I trust you with a knife... Not with the eggs. Next year...”

 

“Pfff...”

 

“If you pout,Tonya, I'll pout too.”

 

“I don't really pout, papa. ... And...”

 

“Yes, douchka?”

 

“It's funny... Oliver calls you Dr. Mallard, and Mrs Laney calls you Mr. Kuryakin...”

 

“I already told you: at work, I'm Dr. Mallard, at home, I'm Mr. Kuryakin.”

 

“It's funny. And...”

 

“Yes?”

 

“We could call Napoleon, this evening? I would like to meet him. Do you think he likes pancakes?... Papa?”

 

“Yes, Tonya, yes. Napoleon likes pancakes. He liked them twelve years ago...And...”

 

“And?”

 

“And... Did I tell you that I love you, douchka?”

 

“Yes, but... You can tell me again. And I love you too, daddy. We could call Napoleon?”

 

“I... I don't know where he... Oh, listen, the telephone! That's mama and Sasha! Come with me.”

 

“Illya, love, you are back home! Had a good day with Tonya?”

 

“Of course. Weather was fine, and my young lady was fascinated. I think that we'll have to build a zoo in the garden. And... You? And Sasha? Had a good day? Found what you were looking for?”

 

“Yes, Illya we did. The weather was fine, here, too. We went to the museum and to Central Park. Sasha liked it very much.”

 

“And did he like Napoleon?”

 

“Illya... I...”

 

“Papa! Oh, papa we met Napoleon, and, oh yes, daddy I like him very much. Daddy? Are you ... mad at us?

 

“Should I, Sasha?”

 

“Yeeeees... You could be... But I want you to know that... I ... forced mama to help me.”

 

“You forced your mother to do something she didn't want to? Oh, Sasha, you'll tell me the trick, and I'll forgive you all...”

 

“Very funny, Illya Kuryakin, very funny. I heard this!”

 

“I am not mad at you, Sasha. How did you find...”

 

“Mama called the Uncle, papa. And Lisa gave me an appointment with Mr Solo. You know, Napoleon is the chief, now, the Number one...”

 

“Section one. Yes, I guess he is .... And?”

 

“They gave me a yellow triangle. Many people looked at me and smiled at me. And I met Lisa. She's very nice. And... Napoleon. Daddy?”

 

“Yes, Sasha?”

 

“Napoleon is very nice, too. He recognized me, as soon as he saw me. I told him about Tonya, and he told me about his own children. He has two, papa, a girl, who is the same age as I am and a boy who is six, as Tonya. She is named Alexandra, as I am Alexander ! And the little boy is ... Elijah. It sound like Illya, doesn't it? And you know what?”

 

“They have... cats, Sasha?”

 

“Yes! After that... Napoleon asked me why I wanted to meet him.”

 

“Oh... And?”

 

“He was worried, as you were when we opened the box. He told me that... that he couldn't come with us to Boston and that it was just memories. So... I ran away.”

 

“Sasha...”

 

“Wait! Mama ran away with me, and she took me to the cafe where you went when you worked with Napoleon. We were talking, and...”

 

“And?”

 

“And Napoleon joined us. He had changed his mind! He had guessed that we would be there. We talked again. He ... agrees to.... he wants to meet you and Tonya. And May. Tomorrow, he'll drive us to the airport. He can't come with us, but... we could call you, at the airport, and you could talk with him?”

 

“At... at what time is your flight?”

 

“Mama? er... 1 pm. You'll talk with Napoleon, papa? We'll call you, and you'll talk with him? Papa?”

 

“Sasha... No, I...”

 

“Papa!”


Part 9

 

“Sasha, listen to me. .. Sasha!”

 

“He... he wants to see you. He wants to talk with you... Papa ! Why?”

 

“Sasha... I... I can't do that... tomorrow. Did you hear of the crash? I could have to work on it tomorrow. I can't promise you I'll be home tomorrow afternoon.”

 

“You... You only do what suits you!”

 

“Sasha! I don't really like this tone!”

 

“I... I am sorry, daddy. Excuse me.”

 

“Sasha... I promise you... I'll... I'll talk to Napoleon. But not tomorrow...”

 

“I understand, daddy. I.... Good night, daddy, and kiss Tonya for me.”

 

“Good night, Sasha. I love you, Sasha. Sasha?”

 

“He's gone, Illya. It's... you are pitiful.”

 

“Elena, please!”

 

“Please? Please what? Why? You can be mad at me, because I deluded you. I understand, but Sasha... Illya, Napoleon talked with him... and with me. He ... misses you, as you miss him. For years you both lived like that. You have the opportunity to...”

 

“Elena, I promised Sasha I'd talk to Napoleon, as soon as possible. But not tomorrow... Later...”

 

“Yes, Illya, yes. We'll see about that tomorrow. Good night. Is Tonya here?”

 

¤¤¤¤¤

 

“Daddy ? You are not with me!”

 

“Alex, dear, of course, I am!”

 

“No, I was telling you about our contest, and you didn't listen a word.”

 

“I am sorry, Alex.”

 

“Had a bad day?”

 

“No, no... I ... I met a young man, today.”

 

“Oh, is he a new agent?”

 

“No...not yet, perhaps. He's about your age, Alex. And he is an Alexander.”

 

“Alexander?”

 

“But everybody call him Sasha.”

 

“Sasha ? It sounds... Russian!”

 

“Yes, Alex.”

 

“It's strange... Is Sasha... a Russian?”

 

“No, he isn't. But his father is... was Russian.”

 

“His father? Oh...”

 

“Alex?”

 

“That's... No, it doesn't matter.”

 

“Of course it does! I know this face of yours!”

 

“It's just... I saw some photos at the Uncle headquarter... There were several with you and another agent, with blond hair and very blue eyes... I asked Lisa and...”

 

“You never told me about that, Alex...”

 

“Er... Lisa said that this man was your partner... and a very good friend. And that he was Russian. And... that you didn't like to talk about this time, so...”

 

“It's a long story, Alex, and I think that it's the past, now. My partner left the Uncle twelve years ago, and...”

 

“And you didn't meet for twelve years? It's... amazing ! If you were friends, I don't understand... About Sasha, is he...”

 

“Alex... Yes, Sasha is this man's son. And this man is my friend, Illya Kuryakin. Why are you smiling, little devil?”

 

“Il-ly-a, as Elijah? And Sasha, as Mr Waverly?”

 

“Yes, Alex.”

 

-Mr. Kura... Kurya...”

 

“Kuryakin. But you can call him Illya.”

 

“Illya has beautiful blue eyes.”

 

“Sasha has, too. He is very alike his father. As his father, he is a nice, clever... and stubborn boy. You'll like him. And I think that Elijah will like Tonya!”

 

“Tonya?”

 

“Tonya... Antonya is Sasha's sister. She is six. Sasha loves her very much, as you love Elijah. Alex, you're giggling!”

 

“Antonya... Elijah as Illya... Anthony is your name, too? You're really very good friends, daddy.”

 

“Yes, Alex. Illya was my... He's ... the best friend I ever had.”

 

“Will we meet soon?”

 

“What do you think?”

 

“I would like that very much! Oh, Elijah and mum will be back tomorrow evening. I miss them! Daddy?”

 

“Yes, dear?”

 

“Did you miss Illya? And did Illya miss you?”

 

“Yes, Alex, yes... I... we did.”

 

“For ... twelve years?”

 

“Yes, probably...”

 

“But Uncle could have found him... You could have... Daddy, you know... It's very stupid!”

¤¤¤¤¤

 

“Papa... Are you okay?”

 

“Yes, Tonya, honey.”

 

“No. No, you aren't. I see it. You can't lie to me.”

 

“You're right, Tonya, I can't lie to you. But I'll be better tomorrow. '

 

'Mama.... she was a little unhappy. And Sasha... he didn't talk to me. And you are sad, too. And... we didn't call Napoleon!”

 

“No, Tonya, but it's late, now. Let's eat the last pancakes. We'll call Napoleon tomorrow evening, with Sasha and mama.”

 

“Tomorrow evening? Not before? Papa?”

 

“Yes, douchka? If you pout...”

 

“I am not pouting... Tomorrow evening.”

 

“I promise, Tonya. Now, bathroom, teeth, and... bed. I 'll tell you a story.”

 

“A story about Napoleon?”

 

***

 

“Jack? Illya. Everything okay?”

 

“Yes, Illya. Eventually, we won't have to care of this crash...”

 

“So... Dan, I have to go to New York. I'll ... we'll leave in a few hours.”

 

“You ...and Tonya? New York ? Have you some tr...”

 

“No, no, Dan. It's just that... well, we'll join Elena and Sasha, for a few days. If you need...”

 

“Take all the time you need, my friend !You worked hard, and you deserve some rest with Elena and the kids. Drive carefully, and enjoy yourself!”