"They want clothes." Control looked at the agent who had just brought the two guests their meal. He lifted an eyebrow, and the man shrugged. "Ballard says they're not savages, and he doesn't intend to spend however long they're going to be here in the same pair of underwear, or naked."
"What did Mr. Galbraith have to say?"
The man shrugged again. "HE didn't seem to have a problem with naked."
"Hunt and Mulder left some clothes, didn't they? Give them those. No, wait." He tapped a folder lying on the desk before him, looking thoughtful. "Just bring them to me. I'll take them in." He flipped the folder open, eyeing the contents, then closed it. "I want to have a chat with them."
Connor sat in the bed, back comfortably propped against the headboard. Danny sat between his spread legs, leaning back against his lover's chest, using the remote to idly flip through the television channels. He paused, and a voice boomed, "Today on the Jerry Springer Show: 'Surprise! I'm Divorcing You For Your Gay Cheating!'"
Connor groaned. "Danny, please!"
"Now wait, Con. Maybe Auntie Bettina will drag Andrew's ass on there."
Connor laughed. "I'd pay to see that. The public humiliation would hurt him worse than any financial reaming she could give him." Daniel made a humming sound. Conner slipped his arms around his lover's waist and gave him a squeeze. "What is it, love? Is it that shite again? I hate it when ya think of him. I should have killed him when I could have, then he wouldn't be in the world to trouble your mind."
"Connor..."
"I'm tellin' ya, Danny, it would have been called manslaughter at the worst. A word in the right ear and it would have been self-defense. Some cash, and it would have been justifiable homicide."
"Hush. Andrew isn't troubling me personally. I'm beyond that now."
"Then what is it? Something is upsetting you. Well," he waved a hand around the room. "something other than this."
"I'm thinking about his next one."
"Next one?"
Danny tipped his head to look back over his shoulder, and Connor saw that his expression was serious. "He had a taste of ownership with me, and he liked it--really, really liked it. I don't believe he'd give it up easily. I'm sure he's found someone else by now. What if he isn't as lucky as I was?"
Connor rubbed his chin on Daniel's bare shoulder. "Danny, love, don't. There are predators in this world, and there are prey, and ya can't save all the gazelles."
"You're so fucking poetic, love."
Connor sighed. "You'll never let me live down that sonnet, will ya?"
"I thought it was sweet. Besides, you're Irish--you're practically obligated."
The door opened and the man they'd decided was in charge of things around here came in. "Good evening, gentlemen."
"You know, in the best circles, we knock," drawled Daniel.
He locked the door behind him. "In the best circles, people generally don't have to worry about the people they're visiting beating them over the head when they get a chance." He lay a pile of clothes on the foot of the bed. "Your attire."
Daniel crawled down and began to examine the clothes. "Hmm. These aren't ours."
Control leaned against the wall. "Yours are in Colombia. Those were provided by our operatives. They chose clothes that they thought you would choose. How did they do?"
Daniel examined a collarless shirt of dark green linen. "Quite well, actually." He checked under the arms, and at the side seams. "And I see that they had them altered--no off the rack. Very good."
"Thank you."
"You can go now," said Connor pointedly.
"I'd like to speak to you two."
Daniel slipped on the shirt and began to button it up. "I do not have conversations with people unless I know their names." He paused. "Well, not unless I'm in a club, thinking about picking them up."
"I'm sure you'll understand that I can't tell you the name they gave me when I was born. You can call me Control." Daniel made a face. "Not that sort of control, Mr. Ballard."
Connor was studying him. Finally he jerked his chin toward the bed. "Have a seat, then. Danny hand me those pants, eh?"
Daniel passed over a pair of khakis, then he skinned off his underwear, picked up a pair of silk briefs, and began to slither into them. He acted totally oblivious to Control, who was sitting only a couple of feet away. Control had never felt a sexual interest in another man, but he could see how a handsome man like Daniel Ballard, who was so totally uninhibited, could be hard to resist.
Connor stood and started to slip on the pants, but Daniel grabbed them away and pointed at a second pair of briefs. Connor glanced at Control. The older man smiled apologetically. "I'm sure you'll understand if I don't want to turn my back."
When Connor frowned and reached for the pants again Daniel held them away and said archly, "Darling, if we were camping in the wilds it would be one thing, but you have a change of undies now. Use them."
"Bossy git." He looked at Control as he skinned out of his jockeys and took the briefs. "Why do I put up with him?"
"I suspect that you love him, Mr. Galbraith. He quite obviously loves you. Considering that, I think you should both listen to what I have to say."
Connor had his briefs on, and Daniel gave him the khakis. As he started to put them on he said, "Here comes the pitch, Danny."
Daniel had put on his own pants. "Shall we catch, or dodge?"
"We'll listen." Connor shrugged. "It isn't as if we have pressing appointments." They sat on the bed together, and Control again noted their comfortable intimacy. Generally they did not use couples as operatives. There was always the chance that emotion would step in at the wrong moment, and one of the agents would act for the good of their partner instead of the good of the mission.
But there were times where a closely connected couple could be an asset to the mission. The way some couples (and Ballard and Galbraith were one of those couples) seemed to be able to communicate without words could be hightly effective. Connor and Daniel had demonstrated that they were closer than most. Their swift detection of Ethan and Fox was impressive. Control was particularly pleased with Connor's quick reaction. Fox would have been in trouble if Ethan hadn't been there. He definitely had the instincts and reflexes of a potential operative.
"As you surmised when we first met, Mr. Galbraith, we are a government agency. We are not, however, under the control of a single government. We do not officially exist. I promise you that you could spend the rest of your life looking for some paper trace of us and you would die without finding satisfaction."
He crossed his legs, folding his hands on his knees, and continued. "There are laws. There are rules of ethics and social convention. Sometimes situations arise that cannot be dealt with effectively within these strictures. When all others have thrown up their hands and declared the situation impossible, we step in."
"And precisely who the fuck is 'we'?" There was no animosity in Connor's voice, only wry curiosity.
"'We' are the Impossible Mission Force, Mr. Galbraith, and we'd like for you and your friend to come to work for us."
Both of the other men were silent. Danny and Connor exchanged looks. "Why would we want to do that?" Daniel asked.
"Mr. Ballard, I believe that you have, for some time, been attempting to persuade Mr. Galbraith to retire from his rather hazardous profession."
"I'd ask ya what was so hazardous about shipping, but it's obvious ya know that there's an unofficial side to my business."
"Yes. However, the legitimate end of your enterprise is quite substantial, and very well run."
Connor squeezed Daniel's shoulder. "Ya can thank Danny for that. I did all right before, but he's the one who's really helped me grow in the last few years. And he's kept a solid front toward the coppers. You've never seen such a one with the books."
"We recognize Mr. Ballard's worth. The point is, you two are in a rather unique situation. You have access to people and areas that would be..." He smiled faintly, "impossible for most operatives to access. You can travel in high, or low society. Your lifestyle makes it plausible for you to be almost anywhere in the world without attracting undue interest."
"What are you proposing?" Daniel asked.
"If you and Mr. Galbraith sign on with us, we can see to it that you do not suffer finanacial loss when you faze out the less than legal part of your business. We can help you keep the appearance of your substance running--it will be an excellent cover. In return you'll be asked to do certain... favors for the operation. If any special training or materials are needed, they will be provided, and you will be paid for each mission."
"Do you provide a dental plan?" drawled Daniel.
"Ironically enough, we do. False teeth can be very useful for transporting certain small objects. We have dentists in our organization for that purpose, and they also provide excellent dental care."
Daniel started to say something, then looked at Connor. "I was joking. We should grab this. Do you know how hard it is to find a job with a dental plan?"
Connor slapped his shoulder. "Daft git." Connor studied Control, then said slowly, "If we don't feel like playing on your team, what then?" Control said nothing. "I said 'what then?'. Do you kill us?"
"No, Mr. Galbraith, we do not. But you must realize that if you try to expose us in any way, we can not only make you look foolish and dishonest, we can see to it that your life becomes very, very uncomfortable. Both you and Mr. Ballard could spend a long, long time in prison. We wouldn't have to do much. But please note that this would only happen if you threatened our operation. We are careful, but we are not vindictive."
Now Daniel was studying him. "You wouldn't expect us to enter a twelve step program and give up drinking and clubs, would you?"
"Indeed, no. We would encourage the clubbing. It is integral to the lifestyle that would make you so valuable to us."
Control watched as Ballard's expression grew shrewd. His voice was sober. "Do you mean it? Could you help us go legit? I've already worked out plans, but they'd take some cash and a bit of leverage in the right places to come off."
"Yes, Mr. Ballard. I mean it. You don't have to make a decision immediately, of course. I expect you will be with us for several more days." He stood up. "Please consider it. Before I leave, is there anything else you want?"
Daniel smiled. "Could we talk you into a threesome?"
"Danny!" Connor groaned.
"Well, I'm bored."
Control returned the smile. "I'm flattered, but no. However, if I ever DID consider experimenting with bi-sexuality, Mr. Galbraith and yourself would be the ones to tempt me."
