Overnight Therapy - Chapter Forty-Six
Title: Overnight Therapy
Author: LSM71059
Fandom: Spooks
Characters: Lucas
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Season Seven
Summary: Lucas North has someone to confide in and take care of him when the nightmares and bad flashbacks happen.
Disclaimer: All Spooks Characters are the intellectual property of the BBC.
The Inspiration for this story was taken from the song "South City Midnight Lady" by the Doobie Brothers
(Time Line for chapter: Just Prior to Episode 7.04)
Chapter Forty-Six
When Lucas put his hand on top of Lori’s hair and started stroking it, she gave in to the comforting move and let her forehead fall lightly against his shoulder. As his other hand ran up and down the length of her back, she could tell he was trying to ease away her tension. But far too many thoughts were spinning around in her head on how to succeed in recovering Eric to relax. There were details to coordinate in a very small window of time. She reluctantly straightened up out of his embrace and back away slightly to resist any further temptation. To let him know she’d appreciated the comfort, she sighed, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Lucas said. Then after a small pause, he asked, “Exactly what are you thanking me for?”
There were a myriad of responses that instantly came to Lori’s mind but she settled for patting his cheek, smiling her Cheshire cat smile and saying, “For being you.”
Lucas shook his head with a bemused look on his face. He leaned in to her touch for a moment before moving to lean against the nearest washer crossing his arms and ankles asking, “What’s next?”
“We take care of laying out the air dry clothes and put away the rest of the laundry, of course. What did you think was next?” Lori deadpanned as she busied herself folding the last of the towels.
She watched him out of the corner of her eye as Lucas raised an eyebrow and shot back, “Oh, I thought perhaps we might do something about the other matter at hand.”
Coming to lean on the washer next to him and mimicking Lucas’ stance as she looked down at the floor, Lori took a moment then answered quietly, “Yea, about that, I’ve already set something in motion.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Lucas chuckled.
Lori looked sideways at him answering with resignation in her voice, “Uh maybe because you’ve just had the misfortune of spending a week in my company and by now are becoming attuned to the way I operate.”
Lucas rolled his eyes and she heard him sigh before asking, “Lori, Lori, Lori, whatever am I going to do with you?” Before she could open her mouth to retort, he put up his hand to stop her from speaking. Continuing sounding very cheekily, “Before you state there is a list, which by the way I have one of my own for you that seems to be growing longer by the moment, I meant what do I need to do to convince you not to put yourself down? But that’s a discussion for a later time. Now, care to share what’s been put in motion?”
Knowing that the information to be imparted couldn’t be shared in a public setting such as the Launderette, Lori straightened up, moved over to pick the duffel bag full of wet clothes and said, “Let’s relocate this conversation.”
She knew he took the hint that she wanted to talk in private when Lucas nodded his consent, followed her lead by stacking the two laundry baskets on top of each other and followed out at the car. While he stowed the laundry in the boot, Lori took the opportunity to duck back in for the clothes on hangars. Coming back up to the car, she said, “I think this the last of it.”
He held open the back door for her to stow the clothes on the hook, then after closing it, opened the passenger side door. Lucas gestured, “My Lady.”
Lori smiled and opened her mouth to express her thanks while sliding in to the car but stopped when her mobile rang. She tensed knowing every call tonight would be of great consequence. Straightening back up, she took a few steps away from the car to check out the display of who was ringing before answering in her no nonsense manner, “Yea, Montgomery.”
“Hey Lil’ Darlin’ rumour has it you’re having one of your soirées tonight. Thought I’d confirm I was on the guest list,” was stated in a deep Texan drawl.
A small wave of relief flooded her when she heard the voice. He was an integral piece. But not quite ready to share with Lucas how deep her resources went, Lori cut off the caller by saying, “Wait One.”
A logical distraction Lori felt would be for Lucas to go ahead with the laundry task back at their flats. Looking over at him, holding up the phone covering the mouthpiece, she gently suggested, “Why don’t you go on back and get started unloading. I’ll be along in a bit. I need to take this.”
Lucas nodded once as a reply, closed the passenger door, made his way around to the driver’s side, slid in, started up the car and made the short drive down the street to the front of their building.
Grateful Lucas had acquiesced without a long drawn out hassle, Lori expelled the breath she’d been holding while putting the phone back up to her ear asking, “Alright, Go.”
Chuckling on the other end, Daniel Munson said, “So, I see your phone etiquette is pleasant as always.”
“Damn it Danny, I ....” Lori started to hiss.
He cut her off before she could finish, “Love you too, no need to explain. Don’t you think after all these years I know by now the lay of the land? So let’s get down to brass tacks. I owe you for getting me out of one of my wife’s ultra mind numbing charity gatherings. I’d much rather spend the evening doing your bidding then stand around in a monkey suit with a too tightly tied bowtie holding a watered down bourbon making nice to a bunch of......”
More of habit than necessity, as she listened, Lori blended in to the dark shadows bouncing off the side of the buildings moving slowly in the direction of the flat. It was her turn to cut him off, “Ok, ok, I get it. I’m the cat’s meow for getting you out of yet another of your wife’s events. Seriously, I take it from your timely call you know.”
“Yes, Ma’am thought I’d get some ducks in a row before giving you a ring,” Danny answered. Lori made a “move it along” gesture with her hand even though she knew he couldn’t see it. He continued, “And you can quit gesturing for me to move it along faster. It’s not going make Donatello get in to position any faster. So don’t get your knickers in a twist Missy.”
“Next time you see me, I’m going to smack you up the side of the head for calling me Missy and all this aggravation I’m taking. Now are you going to give me the damn coordinates or what?” Lori asked, her patience which had already been stretched to its limits finally snapping.
“Pushing your buttons is such a favourite past time of mine. I should indulge in it more often,” Danny laughed. He knew getting her to focus her tension on him instead of dwelling on what possibly could go wrong tonight was the best thing for him to do for her at the moment.
His monitor indicated the satellite had reached its intended destination. “While I was winding you up, I managed to finish getting Donatello in to position and remotely setup your laptop. All you have to do is open up a web browser and type in the secure IP address I am currently texting to your phone. Use the password I gave you a while back. The Red Baron’s current location should pop on the screen.”
Lori chuckled knowing full well she’d been played and silently thanked him for bothering to get her back in the right frame of mind. She growled half-heartedly, “So happy to be your source of amusement this evening. But, how long do we have the use of Donatello?”
“Funny thing about that, it just so happens she’s due to be down for maintenance soon, so......” Danny trailed off knowing she’d catch on quickly as to what he was doing on her behalf.
Sighing in great relief Lori responded, “Have I told you lately just how much I love and admire you? About that head slapping thing, let’s just forget I said it, ok? I’ll ring you back in a few when I’m in front of the laptop.”
“Standing by,” Danny responded then snapped his mobile closed and tossed it on to his desk He leaned back in his chair, laced his fingers behind his head, propped his boots up on the console and closed his eyes remising back to the day he’d met this little fourteen year old shy little slip of a girl with a steely determined look in her eyes. She’d been assigned to tutor him through his classes so he could stay in the starting line up for Notre Dame’s football team. He literally gave her all the credit for getting him his degree. Which in turn enabled him the opportunities that allowed the path to become the head of the Satellite Division at NASA.
After his brief reflection, straightening up, he reached for his phone, keyed in an encrypted cell phone number, texted the message - Snoopy to have Red Baron in sight within the hour - and hit send. Now, he’d settle in and monitor Eric in case any developments occurred before Lori had the chance to get online
**********************************
Her Blackberry beeped in her ear as she finished with Danny. Scanning the text message, Lori sent up a quick prayer of thanks to the powers above for Danny and the crew she’d assembled so far for this evening’s activities. Now it was time to set everything in to play. Reaching the entryway, she dialled Sergei Zhukov. He answered on the first ring speaking in his native Russian, “My Dark Angel, how lovely of you to call.”
Hearing footsteps stop at the top of the stairs, Lori looked up expecting Lucas to be standing there but he was not. Making the assumption he was listening just out of sight, speaking a bit louder so he could easily overhear, she responded in Russian, “And lovely for you to take my call, change of plans won’t be needing that ride I texted about earlier. The opportunity has presented itself for me to have remote access. So we can get started immediately instead of waiting the six hours it would take me to get to the rendezvous spot. Three of my associates should be arriving at the boat within the hour. But they are going to need some provisions, which I’ll need you to fetch.”
“Ah my specialty, acquiring what the Lady desires. And what would that be?” Sergei asked.
“I’ll text you the list. Your willingness to be of service at a moment’s notice and the way matters are expedited are why you are still my favourite,” Lori said with a smile.
“Of course I am. I live to serve. I await your text with much anticipation. Da-svee-da-nee-ye,” Sergei cheekily responded.
"Da-svee-da-nee-ye," Lori chuckled and disconnected. Sitting down on the bottom step, she mentally ran through what would be needed to help out with the rescue. After texting Sergei the comprehensive list, she went to see what Lucas was up to besides eavesdropping on her. She wasn’t miffed at him for doing it. After all, it was part of his
training to gather intel whenever and wherever it was available.
The door was ajar to her place. Quietly closing the door behind her, Lori heard slight sounds coming down the hall. She silently made her way to the bedroom and snatched up the duffel bag with the wet clothes while Lucas’ back was turned. Moving down towards the bathroom to hang up the wet clothes, she made the next call needed.
“Bonjour Mon Cherie,” Darious Noir answered in his native French. Lori always thought his tenor voice had a very melodic tone.
“Bonjour Smoke” She responded. Then proceeded to fill him to the fact that Cool Mist and Night Shadow would be joining up with him soon and provisions would be available on the boat within the hour. She knew he would agree that time was of the utmost essence, so it made more sense for her to direct the operation remotely. As they coordinated the finer points, Lori hung the clothes to be air dried on the rack she had set up in the bathtub. With a promise to be in contact as soon as all were assembled, Darious bid her au revoir.
Lori arrived back to the bedroom as Lucas lined the last of the pillows up against the headboard. She grinned coming right up behind him, lightly pressed up against his back and asked in a soft whisper right in to his ear, “Building up your arsenal for our rematch?”
He straightened and turned around wrapping his arms around her waist. Lucas answered with a grin cheekily replying, “Of course, never can have too much of a reserve.”
“Fair enough, I see you’ve not been idle while I’ve been on the phone,” Lori said nodding towards the freshly made bed while deftly disengaging herself from his arms and backing up towards the door. As much as she’d like to stay right where she was, now was not the time to lose focus. She asked, “Care for a cup of tea to reward all that hard work, or would you prefer something stronger?”
“A cup of tea would be lovely, thank you,” Lucas answered as Lori watched him stuff his suddenly free hands in to his back pockets. He suggested, “Why don’t I put the kettle on while you finish stowing the rest of your laundry.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Lori answered moving over to the opposite side of the bed trying to stay out of temptation’s way. She picked up a stack of shirts from the basket and could feel Lucas’ eyes on her. The moment he left the bedroom, she let a huge sigh thinking what rotten timing all this was. But hey, the sooner she got Eric back, the sooner she could go back to giving Lucas her undivided attention. She saw out of the corner of her eye Lucas was making his way down the hall toward the bathroom.
Finished with stowing the rest of the laundry, Lori went to the kitchen to help prepare the tea tray. While pulling down the cups and saucers, she once again had the feeling of being watched and figured Lucas was back. Turning around when the kettle whistled, she saw him move from the doorway to the stove to make the tea. She added the sugar bowl to the tray. When the action got a smile from him, she wondered why but gladly returned it.
Her Blackberry vibrated in her back pocket. Before putting it up to her ear, she looked at the caller I.D. then answered in Swedish as she moved around Lucas and down the hall to the office, “God Kvall, hur gar det?” When translated meant "Good Evening, how’s it going?"
“Very well, and from what I have heard from our mutual friends I may be of service to my Viking Princess, true?” Stig Andersson, the current ranking officer of the Swedish Port Authority answered in his flawless English.
Lori rolled her eyes at the title he used. Switching back to English, she answered, “True. Thank you for calling. I don’t have any firm details yet, but will be in touch when I do.”
“I am confident we can accommodate you as long as there is nothing too illegal involved,” Stig teased.
“Nothing illegal at all, I would not ask you to become involved in anything nefarious, my friend,” Lori responded as she opened up the locked cabinet with the retina scan.
“Just my luck, always making me be the upstanding citizen that I am, perhaps another time I’ll get to be just a bit bad,” Stig laughed.
“You’re Aces and I’ll be back in touch as soon as I know more,” Lori said. She sifted through several files before pulling out the black and white striped one. Stig wished her well in her adventure before hanging up. Skimming through the folder’s contents, she knew the time had come whether or not to let Lucas in to her inner circle. It was not to be made lightly as there were far reaching consequences either way she decided. Flipping the folder closed, Lori headed back down the hall.
Coming to the breakfast area and taking a seat coincided with Lucas pouring out the first cup of tea. She couldn’t help the deep sigh that escape accepting the offered cup of tea and said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, shall we continue our conversation?” Lucas asked nonchalantly as he finished pouring his own cup of tea. He looked over at her, and she knew he was waiting for a response.
Prolonging the inevitable by a few more seconds, she spooned her normal amount of sugar in to the tea and gave it a healthy stir. It was make or break time. What swung her decision over to the “Include Lucas” column was the knowledge of how much good it would do for him to know that someone had such utter faith in his honour to be included in such a momentous operation. With a lucky (or an unlucky, depending on your point of view) thirteen word question, Lori changed the entire dynamic of the evening. Lifting her gaze from the teacup, she looked him straight in the eye and with all the steely determination she could muster asked, “Ever heard of an operative that goes by the moniker “The Grey Ghost?”