crack_van | The San Rico Affair by Celandine Sandyman (K+)

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: None
Length: about 16,700 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2208768/Celandine_Sandyman
Why this must be read:

Continuing this week's exploration of fanfic takes/aftertakes on THE GURNIUS AFFAIR, this piece approaches the aftermath from a different angle. In this story the two agents have no time to really consider what happened, but more just react spontanteously as they are thrown immediately "back into the fire" of a mission. Thrush is out to clean up the mess from what happened with Gurnius, and Terry Cook winds up being used as bait to get to Napoleon and Illya.

What stands out for me in this piece is that both men are shown working through the immediacy of their feelings after what happened during the Gurnius mission. Napoleon is uncharacteristically grumpy and physically hurting; Illya is frustrated with Napoleon's mood and battling guilt as well for being the cause of his partner's physical hurt.

Illya was woken by a foot. He felt a soft kick at his side. He blinked against the strong morning sunlight that hit his blue eyes as he half opened them. 'W…what?' He looked across to see Napoleon sat on the side of the bed.

Napoleon had a slight smile on his face. 'Mind if I have my gown back?'

Illya looked confused for a second, then realised what Napoleon was referring to. He realised he was curled up in his partner's old blue dressing gown. 'Oh, sorry,' he said. 'I was cold in the night. It was the nearest thing available.'

'It's ok,' Napoleon replied. 'Keep it a while. I'm going for a shower.' He rubbed the dark stubble on his face. 'And a shave.'

Illya looked at his watch as Napoleon got up. He frowned at the time it told him. He had slept longer than he meant to. Mr Waverly was keen for his agents to get back to New York as soon as possible, and they were running late if they wanted to catch the flight their boss had arranged for them. Illya was just about to say this aloud when he heard a thud. Illya jumped up and hurried to the bathroom.

'Napoleon!'

Illya's heart was in his mouth when he got to his knees beside the figure lying flat on the bathroom floor. Napoleon groaned, much to his relief.

'Napoleon, what's wrong?'

'Just…ah…felt dizzy,' Napoleon croaked, slowly pulling himself up. Illya quickly grabbed an arm to steady him.

'I take it you still don't feel well,' Illya frowned.

'No, I don't,' Napoleon growled. His previous bad mood was obviously fast returning. He leaned against the side of the bath and groaned against the pain he felt.

'Just take deep breathes,' Illya instructed. When he was sure Napoleon wouldn't fall if he let go, Illya released his grip on Napoleon's arm and fetched him some water. Napoleon drank it down fast.

They were both silent for a while, as Napoleon waited for the worst of his suffering to pass and Illya watched. Napoleon eventually pushed himself away from the bath and began to stagger to the bedroom. 'I'm going back to bed,' he announced.

Illya kept a hand against his partner's back during the short but painful walk. Napoleon flopped back into the bed and pulled the duvet high, groaning.

'So what are we going to do?' asked Illya. 'Our flight is in 4 hours.'

Napoleon glared at him over the top of the duvet. 'I'm not going anywhere. Except back to sleep.'

'It will be better if we get on that plane,' Illya tried to persuade. 'You can get checked at Medical and we won't have to face Mr Waverly's wrath…'

'Look, I'm sick, alright?' snapped Napoleon. 'Damn the plane. You can explain to Waverly why I'm too ill to make it.'

Illya ran a hand through his already messy blond hair. He felt yet another pang of guilt. Yes, this was his fault. He knew that. Napoleon was obviously suffering after-effects from the damage Illya had done to him yesterday. Still, Illya knew his partner too well. Napoleon had fallen into a sulk. And while he didn't doubt Napoleon was genuinely suffering, he couldn't help suspecting that Napoleon was also playing on it.

Despite all this, the two have to work together against Thrush again and in the process learn something about the true depth of their friendship.

The San Rico Affair