crack_van | The Expose Affair by WendieZ (T = Teen)

So it's crossover day, and I have to admit I'm not really into crossovers, but this one works for me. Maybe it's because my memory of N.Y.P.D. is vague (I more remember the characters than the actual show), but for whatever reason this crossover fic hits on all cylinders in my opinion.

I do want to mention that I wrote a very small part of this fic (as a consultant for the author on Napoleon's approach during one scene since I am a "Solo-phile" and the author is an "Illya-girl"). That piece of writing is indeed minor (about 1100 words of the almost 17k story). I checked with the Crack Van moderator about whether this fic would be okay for me to rec under those circumstances and did receive the go-ahead.

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. / N.Y.P.D.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo / Heather McNabb
Length: about 16,700 words
Author on LJ:

wendiez
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1450704/WendieZ
Why this must be read:

So did any U.N.C.L.E agent ever find him/herself in the middle of a police investigation because of an incident that occurred in the line of their duty against Thrush? What were U.N.C.L.E.'s standard procedures in such case? Was the local police department frustrated by those procedures?

These are the intriguing questions that permeate this story where an innocent is seemingly shot and killed by Napoleon during a firefight with Thrush. To make matters worse, the innocent in question is the kidnapped teenaged daughter of the Deputy Police Commissioner of NYC.

I found the forwarding of U.N.C.L.E.'s immunity from standard prosecution an interesting point of this story, with Waverly determined nothing is going to breach that particular protocol. And then of course there is the human side of this, as a confused Napoleon tries to deal with the difficult event and his own doubts regarding his initial perceptions of what happened, perceptions that aren't backed up by the circumstantial evidence.

Kuryakin knew that no amount of persuasion was going to convince his partner to leave while Section Three secured the area and collected the bodies. Solo stood against the brick wall across the alley from where the teenager lay, encased in a black, zippered body bag, his eyes riveted on the spot. Illya stood a few feet away, watching the handsome face struggle for composure. Finally, as the clean-up crew carried the bodies to an awaiting van, the Russian approached his friend.

"Napoleon," he said quietly, "we have a report to make."

Solo drew a deep breath. "What kind of a report does one make in a case like this?"

"One that reflects the facts as you know them to be."

"Even when those facts contradict reality?"

"What we perceive here cannot be reality, my friend."

Napoleon turned his head and glared at Illya. "A teenaged girl, the daughter of a prominent member of the City government, has been shot and killed in a firefight, and the perception is that it was my gun that killed her! That seems goddam real to me, Illya."

"Are you now doubting your perception of events, Napoleon? I can't confirm what you saw; I can only believe what you told me you saw."

"No matter what, the shit is going to hit the fan. Immunity or not, for the good of the Command, Waverly's going to have to give me up to the local authorities."

"Mr. Waverly won't let them take you into custody. Not while I have anything to say about it."

"They're not going to let me continue as if nothing happened."

"No, and I agree that you shouldn't be in the field while there is an investigation. There's no reason why you can't continue your administrative duties as CEA. In the meantime, I will find out what really happened."

"The NYPD is going to love you. They have rules, you know."

"And they have no idea with whom they are dealing. On both sides." He bumped Napoleon's elbow with his arm. "We need to get to Headquarters."

The dark-haired agent sighed visibly. "I really hope Waverly can talk them out of the whole arraignment ordeal. I hear Rikers Island isn't very pleasant this time of year."

The Expose Affair