Captured for Interrogation

[celestialdragon]

Alexis stirred and nuzzled into him, draping a leg over his hips.

 

[bindingeagle]

As she draped her leg, he stroked the inside of her thigh lightly.

 

[celestialdragon]

She shivered in her sleep and continued to sleep.

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai fell asleep. The booze hadn't done him any favors the night before.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis woke up the next morning feeling better, and she laid on the bed, basking in the sunlight.

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai felt her get up and decided to sleep in a bit.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis smiled as she saw Nikolai still sleeping. Dressing in a robe, she made her way to the kitchen, where she started making her apple turnovers, humming softly.

 

[bindingeagle]

Upon smelling Alexis' wonderful baking, he got up and started brewing coffee. "Smells great, as usual," he said.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Thank you," she said, checking on the turnovers. "How did you sleep?"

 

[bindingeagle]

"Pretty well," he said. "I got everything ready just in case," he said, pointing to the cluttered workbench.

 

[celestialdragon]

"You're the best," she said happily, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly.

 

[bindingeagle]

"What do you think it will take to convince the Director to let us off the chain?" she asked.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Me going to counseling and not even touching a gun," Alexis confessed. "I was. . . a mess the last time I went to Beijing. It was very horrible. And, like this time, Joey had been deployed, and he was off on a mission where contact was forbidden." She took the turnovers out of the oven and began to put her homemade icing on them.

 

[bindingeagle]

"Then let's get you signed up," he said. "I'll look up some therapists after we eat."

 

[celestialdragon]

She sighed. "I don't want to go," she said softly, almost crying. She hated going to therapy, she felt like it made things worse. She only went the last time because she was contemplating things.

 

[bindingeagle]

"i wish you didn't have to either," he said, "But it's the only way to return to active duty."

 

[celestialdragon]

She nodded. "It doesn't help as much as everyone thinks it does. All you do is relive it over and over again, and it doesn't stop. It's a vicious, never ending cycle that doesn't do any good."

 

[bindingeagle]

"Like everything else, we just have to get through it," he said, kissing her.

 

[celestialdragon]

She kissed him back. "Could we fudge reports and say I went to counseling? I'm sure Mikhail would do it for us," she said hopefully.

 

[bindingeagle]

"Let's see how one session goes and then we'll see if we need to," he said.

 

[celestialdragon]

She pouted. "I really don't want to go," she informed him. "I really don't. You will drag me in kicking and screaming."

 

[bindingeagle]

"Fine, give our good buddy a call," he said. "He'll be able to do it quite quickly,"

 

[celestialdragon]

She squealed happily and kissed him passionately. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!" she cheered. "Wait. There's a catch. There's always a catch," she said, pausing in her moment of celebration.

 

[bindingeagle]

"Why would you think there's a catch?" he asked. "I'm not hiding any conditions."

 

[celestialdragon]

"Because with stuff like this, there's always a catch," she said. "That's been my experience, at least. Nobody does anything for free, there's always a catch."