crack_van | The Braddock Affair by Veronica & Aithine (PG13)

It's Crossover Day, so let us stride over to The Sentinel

Fandoms: The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Sentinel
Pairing: Solo/Kuryakin, Jim & Blair
Length: 8,200 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Oooh, Shiny

Why this must be read:
This story, written in 2000, takes place in present time and the two U.N.C.L.E. agents are semi-retired. Their little job turns out to be much more complicated than anticipated and they end up involved in a messy case. To solve it they have to keep Jim and Blair in sight. They do this by donning disguises that let them be close to the men. Napoleon is in his washed-up actor Vince Deal persona, and Illya is a professor.

The banter between the two men is still strong and not at all diminished by so many years of togetherness. The story is humorous and clever and I think you'll enjoy it.

He moved the mop bucket closer to the elevator, near enough to overhear the conversation.

"Any chance for dinner?" The old fool was hitting on her, right in front of him! He smiled to himself. Oh, my dear Mr. Deal, you are going to have fun explaining that later.

"Tonight? Um, sorry..." The inspector did look genuinely apologetic, but still, she'd said no. Luckily for Deal.

"It's the age thing. But I'm still a child inside and I'm reasonably well-preserved on the outside."

The janitor's lips quirked as he straightened his coveralls, brushing a piece of lint attached to the embroidered "Ivan" just over the pocket.

"No question," the inspector answered, "but I'm on the night watch. Another time?"

Really, hitting on women who'd been fans of that ridiculous show. But at least the woman had good taste. He stifled a twinge of jealousy. Well, there's proof we haven't done this in a long time. As if I needed it.

"Another time. Thanks, Megan."

"Thank you." The Aussie had the most marvelous accent. Maybe he'd have the professor find a reason to visit with her...

He looked up as Vince Deal turned to enter the elevator and suppressed another smile as Deal winked at him. His heart lifted and Ivan the janitor began to whistle softly as he quickly finished mopping the rest of hallway floor.

_______________________________________________

"Open Channel A."

"Not now!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-and-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you all in one piece still?"

"What, you thought I wouldn't be?"

Silence was his only answer.

"Oh, really, you'd think I wasn't a secret agent and hadn't taken care of myself for years and years already."

Illya coughed.

"Oh, all right, I see your point."

The Braddock Affair