Fic: Winging It 1/1 Special Unit 2
Title: Winging It. Author: Lopaka Tanu Disclaimer: I do not own Special Unit 2 or X-Files. Characters: Nick Words: 6893 Prompt: Nick is captured during Link Breeding Season. Fandom: Special Unit 2/X-Files. Pairing: Nick/Stranger (Xover Character) Rating: Adult Warnings: Language, Violence. Summary: Mating season brings with it a few surprises for Nick. Author's Note: I took some liberties, it's a crossover. Erinyes - Winged female creatures of divine justice/vengeance, ex. Nemesis. These are the creatures that werewolf out in to the Furies. Anemoi - Winged men, ex. The Four Winds, Eros, Cupid. They can pick and choose who can see them. ______________________________________
"It's an Erinyes."
Ignoring Nick, Jonathan continued on without interruption. "As you can see the bite markings here along the robber's torso, they indicate a large mouth with fanged teeth."
"And the droppings nearby indicate one that feeds on live flesh. We know all this already." Thumping his desk beside him, Nick drew Jonathan's and everyone else's attention. Rolling his shoulders, he returned their exasperated expressions. "Personally, I'd like to let it take out a few more, but apparently the public frowns upon muggers being eaten alive. Thus, we have to get out there and kill this thing before it gets another citizen."
That earned him more than one raised eyebrow.
"All right, fine." Rolling his eyes, Nick crossed his arms. That caused him to wince, and he quickly let them fall back to his sides. "I'm bored and I need something to kill. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Get a new hobby, you sick..."
"Carl." Putting his plastic hand on the gnome's shoulder, Captain Page silenced any further remarks. It was going to be one of those days, apparently. "Is there anything useful you can tell us about this attack, Jonathan?"
His lower lip pushed out, the young man glanced away. "Uh, I think..." He flipped through he papers on his desk. This was when something always went wrong and he ended up looking the fool. Never failed. "I had the toxicology report on their droppings here a second ago. If I can find it, I can tell you where they might be centralized."
"Fine." Page didn't have to try to feel disappointment yet again. Why was it nothing around there ever went the way it was supposed to. Lecturing the young man on the importance of orderliness yet again would not solve anything. "While we wait for that, anyone else have anything useful to add?"
Smirking, Nick raised his hand. Not too far, a spasm in his back prevented that. "Can I take Carl to holding?"
"Why, you think he might know something." Giving the gnome a calculating gaze, Page snorted.
"No, but it will give me something to do." After lowering his hand, Nick eased himself off the desk. The rest of the day was going to be a wash if science boy didn't get his act together soon.
"Oh, you are such a cut up, O'Malley." With a snarl, Carl kicked Nick in the shin. "It's no wonder every Link in Chicago wants you dead." Just because it felt so good the first time, Carl kicked Nick's other shin. "And because I've worked with you, they're taking it out on me. I have to put up with it from them, I'm not taking it from you!"
"Hey!" Jumping back from a third kick, Nick bumped in to the desk. This caused several files on top to go sliding over the back. "I'll have you know, you've earned every beating you're about to receive!"
"Bring it on, O'Malley. I'd like to see you try kicking my butt!" The only thing keeping Carl from launching another attack were the two officers holding him back. He jerked against their hold on him twice before allowing them to drag him away. "This isn't over, O'Malley! I'll get you when you least expect it."
Having been watching the whole show with growing horror, Kate tugged on her collar to flush up some air. "What's up with Carl?" Stepping in closer to Nick, she ignored the faux hurt expression he gave her. "I've seen you two angry at each other before, but this is just out of control."
Nick waved it off with a snort. "Oh, it's not his fault, he's just horny." At the look she gave him, he started to chuckle. "Don't tell me you've forgotten."
"Okay." Since her partner wasn't going to be any help, Kate focused on Page. "Sir?"
"O'Malley's right." Page looked as if the statement tasted bad in his mouth. "It's November, which means mating season for some." Putting the cigar between his teeth, he grimaced at the entire thing. "For the next two weeks, we're going to be dealing with Links who can't control themselves across the city. It's going to be hell."
"Really?" She sighed at the three men's nods. "Hmm. I just thought that was in Spring."
"Nope. That's only the migratory ones. But come April, stay out of their way if you'd like your organs to stay where they are." Raising up his blotter, Jonathan found it too was clear of the file. "I can't find it, sir." He held up a hand to keep the Captain from yelling at him. "I'm already on it." Picking up the phone, he kept his gaze down to avoid seeing their reactions.
"Well, that's it for me." Wandering over to his desk, Nick picked up his jacket. It took a lot of wincing, but he got it on his shoulders. "I'm going out to do a little inspecting in their usual places."
"I'll go with you." Kate made to go around to her desk, but Nick blocked her way. "What?"
"Give me an hour, then meet me outside the Oriental Institute in Hyde Park." His words were her, but he kept glancing over her shoulder to Captain Page. "Don't worry, I'm just going to pick up some aspirin."
Page nodded. "Make sure that's all."
Nodding, Nick pat Kate on the shoulder. "No sweat." Disarming grin in place, he bit back the pain the action had caused him. "See you soon." With that, he strolled out of the squadroom.
Watching him go, Kate couldn't help but frown. Suspicions with Nick usually turned in to excess paperwork. "I think I'd better get there early."
"Sounds like a good idea." Puffing on his cigar, Page headed back for his office.
Kate went for her coat. That was as good as an order from the Captain. If Nick did anything stupid, both of them would catch the heat for it. She had a feeling the next two weeks would be hard on her ears. Grimacing, she picked up her pace as she left.
Checking the trashbin, Jonathan found the folder. Just to be sure, he checked the contents. "Ah-ha! I got it!" Rising up from the bin, he held it aloft in triumph. He frowned when he realized he was the only in the squadroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time he pulled up in front of June's Pharmacy, Nick's back was killing him. He wasn't quite sure what he had pulled, but obviously it had been vicious. There had been all those falls yesterday chasing Carl across the station house. His round at the gym, but that had been mostly checking out the local talent.
With the way his luck was going, it could have been he slept on it wrong. He should have learned years ago not to sleep on that rickety old couch, but after getting home, he hadn't felt exactly like going to sleep. Whatever the cause, his back was hurting now.
Carefully, he climbed out of the driver's side of his car. It took some artful maneuvering, but he was finally able to climb out without raising his hands. With as much trouble as that had been, he wondered how much easier if he had been driving an SUV. Since the last one had been taken out by a Link, he would probably never find out.
Straightening up, he stretched out his back muscles. It was only his upper back, around his shoulder blades that seemed to hurt the most. Hunching his shoulders to stretch the muscles cause him to bite his lip to keep from screaming. Tears stung his eyes, but not from the biting wind.
It got to the point where he had to use his foot to close the door. Pushing his hands down in to the pockets of his jacket, he tugged it tight against his body. He glanced across the parking lot at the pharmacy, judging how far he had to walk in the freezing wind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stomping her feet, Kate slid her gloved hands up her arms. A lingering glance up and down the street revealed nothing new. At least, nothing she wanted to see.
The cars and people moving out on the streets, even in the freezing weather, were nothing short of insane. If she didn't have to have to be there, she would be back home. Nothing short of a life and death situation was worth this.
"Come on!" Checking the street again, she exhaled quickly through chattering teeth. "Where the hell are you, Nick?" A third check revealed no Nick.
Pushing up her sleeve, she quickly checked the time before shoving her hand back in her pocket. Nick was over twenty minutes late. This was not going to happen again!
Kate pulled out her radio. Pressing the button, she forced her jaw to tighten. Once she was certain she could control the chatter, she cleared her throat. "This is Detective Benson. Has my partner reported any problems?"
"Negative, Detective."
Sighing, she tried to bundle deeper in to her coat. "Could you see what is keeping him, please?"
"All right."
While her radio crackled, Kate continued her surveillance of the street. There were indeed more people about than were strictly necessary. The closer they got, the happier they appeared. "Stupid college kids."
Apparently while in college, people forgot winter was real.
A biting wind whipped right through her, causing Benson to squeeze her eyes shut.
"I'm sorry, Detective Benson, but Detective O'Malley is not responding to his radio. Should I attempt a second try?"
"Negative, I'm coming in." She stuck her radio back in her jacket. No longer pissed at the weather, Kate rushed across the street back to her car. "Nick, you had better be all right."
If what had been happening with Carl was only the tip of the iceburg, then they were all in deep shit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was warm.
Softness tickled along his cheek, attempting to wake him. Or so it seemed. When he opened his eyes, Nick found something large and feathery blocking his vision. Whatever it was had a strange scent, almost reptilian. Then it clicked in his mind.
It was a bird.
Then a shiver ran down his spine. Creatures with wings this size tended to eat people like him. Whatever he did, it had to be done with great care.
Twisting his head to the side, he carefully tried not to disturb the feathers. Moving his neck muscles twinged his back, reminding him that it still hurt. Unfortunately, the resulting spasm caused him to hiss.
The feathered wing over him shook, then fluffed up. Rising off him, it stretched back then towards the ceiling. As it went higher, the owner became visible through the dim light.
If what he saw had been anywhere in his mind, Nick would have come up with something wittier to say. Instead, all he got was, "come here often?"
Rising up out of the nest, he arched his back. The tips of his wings stretched out to either side of him, hitting the far walls.
"My, you're a big boy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking the stairs down in to the station, Kate stripped off her coat. Even just inside the door of the dry cleaners upstairs, it had been too friggen hot. But she had been in too great a rush to take it off upstairs. By the time she reached the bottom, her brow was covered in sweat.
Rounding the wall in to the squadroom, she spotted Captain Page. "Captain! We've got a problem."
Having been standing over Jonathan's desk, Page dropped his head in exasperation. Taking a drag from his cigar, he scratched at his hair. "What has O'Malley done now?"
"That's just it, I don't know." Setting her jacket and radio on her desk, she crossed around to Nick's. She found nothing unusual there, so she faced the rest of the squadroom. "I waited just as Nick asked, sir, and he never showed up. Dispatch says he can't be reached by his radio."
"Jonathan." Page looked at the young man in question.
"Already on it, sir." Fingers flying over his keyboard, Jonathan brought up a grid of the city. "Tracking O'Malley's radio now." A red light appeared in the upper right hand corner. He typed in a new series of codes and the map moved until the red light was centralized.
Kate's eyes were the first to adjust to the movement and thus, she saw the location. "He's still at the pharmacy. Are there any cameras in that area?"
"A traffic camera across the street. Pulling it up now." His fingers started to hurt from the speed he had to access the net, but Jonathan kept that to himself. Biting his lower lip, he watched the screen shift again. A grainy image appeared on the main screen. "Bottom right hand corner. Rewinding it for the past two hours."
Frowning when she saw the image, Kate felt her hopes sink. One thing that had been constant through out was the familiar silver car in the front of the parking lot. "I can barely make anything out."
"That's the best I can do with the images. Let me try something else, hold on." On his screen, he minimized the main images and clicked on another icon. He brought up the program and ran the traffic camera through it. "I'm using facial recognition software I technically shouldn't have. This will take a few minutes."
"I'm not going to ask where you got it." Page wasn't sure if this was another bad cigar or if his stomach really was tied up in knots over his most troublesome agent.
"Okay, I'm getting something." Jonathan switched his program over to the main screen. Dozens of blurry images appeared in a grid across program. "I am switching to the most recent ones."
Kate started to hold her breath without even realize it.
"This doesn't make sense." Jonathan checked his monitor then the main screen twice. "The most recent image the program can identify is from two hours ago."
The air in the squadroom seemed as if it were suddenly sucked out.
"I'm gonna isolate the three minutes to either side of it. Hopefully that will bring up something, to show what happened to him, I mean." He tried to smile for Kate, but the scowl from Captain Page was too great. That quickly sent him back to work.
As the images sped up, highlighting several frames, Page stamped his cigar out in a tray on the edge of Jonathan's desk. It wasn't quite worth the flavor any more.
"Got it!" Finish out the last command strokes, Jonathan sat back to watch the video with the others.
On the screen, Nick sat in his car for a few minutes, staring down at his steering wheel. His face grimaced as he started to move, easing his door open. When he climbed out of his car, there was more than one raised eyebrow.
Watching the video, Kate found herself tracking his every move, comparing it to what she had witnessed earlier. She knew he had been pain, but not that bad. If she had known... "Wait a minute! Where did he go?"
"I dunno." Frowning, Jonathan backed up the image. He paused it, then put it in slow motion. He frowned when Nick's image disappeared again. "That don't make sense."
"Then that's where you'll be coming in. Work on that image, I want to know what happened." Turning to Kate, Page raised his fake hand to point at her. "Get out there, take a couple agents with you. I want you to scour every camera in that area. I'll send along the lab rats to sweep the scene. We'll find your partner."
Nodding, Kate couldn't bring herself to believe him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Green eyes stared at him from a perfectly normal looking face.
Nick couldn't be sure, but he was almost sure that it was an ordinary man with wings. One could never tell with Links, though. Raising a hand, he wiggled his fingers at it. "Hi there. I'm Nick. You abducted me, I take it. Not that I'm ungrateful, but a little information here wouldn't go remiss."
Vulture Man, as he had black feathers that matched his hair, seemed bored by Nick's efforts to be friendly. Stretching out his arms, his wings went with them. A huge yawn shook his broad chest, his very naked chest.
Now that he presented himself, Nick noticed that Buzzard Boy was completely without clothes. "Oh, cool, so you're not Jewish either. That's nice to know. Mom would never forgive me for bringing home another one. Personally, I think it's racist, but it's my mom, what can you do?"
"Is that supposed to be a funny?" Folding his wings up behind his back, the man stretched out over his nest. Feathers, grass, leaves, shredded cotton sheets, mud daubing, yeah, it was a nest.
"Generally. Then again, I'm not completely up to my A-game yet. Give me a few minutes, I'll try to come up with some new material." Keeping an eye on the man, Nick decided to check out the rest of the place. It wasn't much, little more than an attic, probably in the top of a brownstone. "Care to tell me where we are?"
The man scowled at him. Rubbing at his hair, he pushed the short strands off his forehead. "What the heck happened?"
"Wait a minute, I think I'm the one who should be asking you that." If this was a game, wings or not, the Link was definitely getting a beat down. Scratching his back against the wall of the nest, Nick watched him for any attempts at deception. "You kidnapped me, that's what happened. Not very smart on your part, since the fact I'm the person who hunts your kind down."
"My kind?" The man seemed to consider this for a moment before smirking. "So you know who I am?"
"Not as such, but the wings kinda put you in my jurisdiction." Much to Nick's satisfaction, this caused the man to sober up quick.
"Wings?" Glancing about him, the man seemed to freeze. He slowly looked over his shoulder. Swallowing, he took a shuddering breath. "That's new."
"Really?" Well, there went that little line of reasoning. "If that's the case, then I think we're both in the dark here. First thing's first, a little introduction is in order. I'm Nick O'Malley. Detective O'Malley."
This drew the man's attention like a shot. Jerking his head around to face Nick again, he nearly fell over. Thankfully, his wings automatically shot out to stabilize his balance.
"What's the matter, don't like cops?" Nick stood up, dragging his itching back along the wall. "Or is it the fact I'm Irish?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hitting his call mic, Captain Page waited for the speaker to respond. When it squawked at him, he took a deep breath. "What's your status, Detective?"
Kate's sigh came through loud and clear in the busy squadroom. "There is nothing, sir. Someone forgot to replace the tape in the machine at June's Pharmacy. They don't have anything for the past seven hours."
"Damn!" Page almost slammed the damned radio on his desk over that one. How could people be so damn stupid over something important? "Keep checking the other stores. There are more than ten within range of that parking lot."
"Already on it, sir." Her voice broke over the speaker. "I have Crowley and Monson on the Safeway across the street."
"Keep together. I don't want anyone searching this area alone. We already lost one agent to this thing, I'm not losing another." He didn't wait for her to respond before putting the radio back in to standby mode. Setting it back on his belt, he wandered over to Jonathan's desk.
"Report!" His bark had the young man jumping out of his chair.
Clutching his chest, Jonathan attempted to glare at the Captain. That ended with a returned, more fierce one from Page. "Sir. I've not made any progress with the images. I told you, it was a long shot to begin with. These old cameras just don't have the definition or speed to track something like this."
"Try harder!" Page leaned forward a little. His breath exhaled smoke over the younger man. "That's an order."
Internally, Jonathan growled. On the outside, he bit his lip and went over the still images again with his programs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tell me something, real quick here, where are our clothes?" Any hope Nick had of getting an answer to that went out the window when the man shrugged.
This not only cause his skin to tighten over his shoulders, it puffed up his chest in the process. With a shiver, this translated out to his feathers, fluffing them up. Seemingly uncaring of his natural state, he sat back with his legs spread.
"I get the feeling you know something you are not telling me." Forcing himself away from the wall, Nick slid his hands over shoulder to continue itching the skin. "Just so you know, I don't like it when that happens. It tends to make me violent."
"I have no problem with that." The slight swelling between his prominently splayed thighs seemed to agree with that. "You wouldn't be the first man who got his kicks from beating on me. Fair warning, I fight back, and I usually win."
"Isn't that wonderful." Almost of its own volition, Nick's back sought out the wall again. Dragging the irritated skin against the brick, he knew that it was probably scratching the hell out of his skin. He didn't care, it relieved the itch and made the pain almost bearable.
The man continued to watch him for several minutes. The smirk on his face said he enjoyed watching Nick's predicament.
If he could reach the man, Nick would throttle him. "Is there anything useful you can help with?"
"Yes." Wobbling his thighs, he forced his hips to rock up, drawing attention to his growing erection.
His blood already up about the situation, Nick was in no mood for a tease. There were certain circumstances, certain places he would pay for this kinda show, but trapped naked with a Link while his back was on fire was not one of those! With a growl, he once more forced himself away from the relief the wall promised.
Licking his top lip, the man drew in his bottom to suck on.
That motion went straight to Nick's dick, causing him to moan. He took one stuttering step after another towards the winged man. Less than two feet away, he dropped to his knees.
Nick yearned to reach out. His fingers twitched with the need to touch that tight body. He just knew it would be on fire like his own. Closing his eyes, he swallowed around his thick tongue. "What is...happening! What is going on?"
"I would think that obvious." Using his arms to brace himself, he scooted across the last bit of distance between them. When he could sit up again, he raised one hand to place against Nick's face. "I don't think we should fight this."
Unable to stop himself, Nick pushed his cheek further in to the man's touch. It sent a spike of heat through his brain, shooting down his spine. When he opened his eyes, Nick found the other man's face almost touching his. "Just so you know, I'm going to rip your wings off and shove them up your ass for this."
"Shh." His voice throaty, the man leaned in closer. He pressed his nose to the skin along Nick's throat. "You're wasting your strength."
The smell of the man came wafting up, over and through him. Nick's eyes rolled up in his head as he pushed himself against him. "Seriously going to kill you."
The man's only response was to laugh. Sitting up, he brought Nick with him, flush against him. Free of the ground, his wings came up to encircle them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitting at her desk, her head in her hands, Kate continued to stare off in to space. Her eyes were red and puffy, a wadded up tissues was still clutched in her fingers. After twenty-four hours, there was still no sign.
It was hopeless.
A shout echoed in the squadroom, but she couldn't be bothered to turn and investigate. They always said your first loss was the hardest. Still, she didn't think it would be her partner. If anything, Kate always expected the first one to go would be her.
Nick was just too god damned stubborn to let himself be taken by death.
The thought of him pulling a gun on the grim reaper caused her to snort. But even that hurt her. Using the tissue, she rubbed at her chapped nose. It was going to be a long struggle, the others still hadn't given up hope. Still, she knew.
"You guys are a bunch of dicks! I was right in the middle of getting me some sweet gnome action, do you know how rare that is? You just couldn't wait another twenty minutes, twenty-five tops." Struggling against the guards holding him, Carl tried vainly to get away. The death grip they had on him was hurting despite his near impervious hide. When they deposited him in front of Page, at the center of the squadroom, his next angry retort died on his lips.
Head circled by smoke, Page glared down at the little gnome. "Give me one reason I shouldn't have you thrown in the pit."
"I can't!" Carl ignored his natural instinct to jerk at his captors again. That would only lead to real pain. "I already told these pinheads I got nothing. Whatever got O'Malley isn't on the radar, anywhere." Looking at the floor, Carl shook his head. "Which is unusual, because something like this would have the others cheering and bragging."
"So what you're saying is that no one has stepped forward to claim the kill?" At the gnome's nod, Page exhaled a thick plume of smoke across the room. "Then there may actually still be a chance he's alive."
"Unless it's a slow eater." At the lack of noise in the squadroom, Carl raised his eyes. He offered an apologetic grin. "Sorry, just thinking aloud."
"For now, let's take this as good news." He was more chewing on his cigar, now, than smoking it. It still tasted off, but at least he knew it wasn't the brand. "Have you heard of any new Links in town? Something that doesn't belong or is spooking the locals?"
"I haven't asked." Even to his ears, the excuse sounded lame. Carl was going to regret this, he just knew it. "If you can get your goons to release me, I'll make some inquiries."
"Release him, but stay near." With a quick shooing gesture, he dismissed Carl and his escorts.
Having heard all this, Kate still couldn't bring herself out of her funk. Nick was gone, that was it for now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was feeling lazy. Nick's body was satiated, satisfied, and thoroughly fucked. The pain in his back had stopped hours ago. The absence of the pain was almost painful in and of itself.
There was something he was supposed to be doing, Nick knew it was important. Yet, the light touch along the back of his skull caused his eyes to cross and made thinking near impossible. He shouldn't let it continue, because it was distracting and that was wrong.
Stretching out his body, Nick moaned in pleasure. The fingers along his head slid down his back, easing the stretch of muscles. Nick stretched out his shoulder blades, feeling a heavy weight shift from his back. That shouldn't be, but he couldn't remember why.
It was all very confusing.
He made a growling sound, but it came out higher pitched than he intended. It almost sounded like a bird shriek. That was important.
But not what he was supposed to remember.
Whatever it was, Nick was certain he would eventually remember. He always did in the end. Right now, though, his nest mate was growing interested against his thigh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Got it!" Slamming the receiver down, Carl spun his chair to face the rest of the squadroom. After a quick glance over to smugly rub it in their faces, he locked on to Captain Page. "You're going to owe me big for this one."
"Just get to it! If you drag this out, I promise to find a dragon just so I can have the pleasure of feeding you to it!" Adjusting the fingers on his fake hand, Page shaped them in to a fist.
"You know, O'Malley is so much better at that than you are." The warning growl was all Carl needed to get back to business. Sighing, he pushed out of his chair. "There is a new player in town. Most of the guys don't know a thing about it, just that it's mean. It's been hunting, not just a few people or Links here and there. This thing's been stocking up like a hard winter's about to come."
"Sounds like it's getting ready to reproduce." Her face dried up, but still a little swollen, Kate took her position at Page's right hand.
Carl smiled for her. "Oh, but that would indicate we knew something about it." The smile dropped off his face. "We don't! It's a complete enigma. Good news, your Erinyes problem has been taken care of. Seems it didn't like the competition and ripped the bitch to pieces, what parts it didn't eat that is."
Many of the detectives and agents grimaced at that.
"Oh, but that's a good thing, remember." Carl waited for them to pick up on it. When they didn't, he raised his hands. "Really? I'm the only one? Come on."
"Just spit it out!" Up to then, Kate had thought herself a patient person. That's why she was more surprised than Page when she nearly shrieked at him. Clearing her throat, she scrubbed at the back of her neck. "Please, go on, Carl."
"It's a flier. Since Erinyes are constantly on the wing, it would have to be pretty fast and have wings to catch one." Feeling pretty smug with himself, Carl tugged on the lapels of his jacket. "If you look in the same places you were going to when you were going to look for the Erinyes, you'll more than likely find whatever took O'Malley, and by association, O'Malley. Why you'd want to, though, is beyond me."
"Thanks for the information, Carl. Good work." Before he could see the gnome's reaction, Page was turning to the rest of his crew. "All right, folks, you heard him! Spread out across the city, keep it in groups of two or more. We knows this creature is fast, we know it has wings, it can probably turn itself invisible as well. So keep an eye on your partner!"
Feeling renewed spirits, Kate was almost crying with relief. If they could get to Nick, and he was still alive, then things just might work out.
They had to.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a noise.
Feathers twitching, Nick snorted against the edge of their nest. He started to drift off again until he heard it again. While he was extremely reluctant to release the seductive pull of sleep, the noise came again louder. There was no ignoring it this time.
Rolling over on to his stomach, Nick stretched out his body, arching his wings above him. The clawed tips of his finger nails clenched in the branches and wads of cloth beneath him. Yawning, he felt his nest mate stir beside him.
The noise was so loud that it almost sounded like a banging in their chamber.
Poking his head above the edge of their nest, Nick opened one eye. While he stared round the brick attic, he pushed his hair in a semblance of order. There was a door on the far wall he hadn't noticed before.
While it was bolted shut, there was still someone trying to get it. Going on instinct, he started to climb out of the nest. Behind him, he could sense the other watching him.
Before he was completely out, the door burst open, taking part of the wall along with it. The door came crashing down to the floor of their sanctuary, sending feathers, straw, grass, and assorted debris flying about the room.
Flaring his wings in alarm, Nick jumped back in to the nest. Beside him, the other was doing the same.
"Nick!"
Frowning, Nick stared across the nest. He knew from the sound of the voice that his mate hadn't spoken. Someone else was there, calling for him. Poking his head above the edge of the nest, he glared at her.
Stepping in to the room, her gun drawn, Kate did a quick scan. The moment she saw Nick's face, she nearly dropped it. It was only the years of training that kept her lax fingers holding on. "Oh my god, Nick!"
He could sense the other pop up beside him, his wings flared up to protect Nick. Stretching his own wings, Nick blocked the other from Kate. Then it occurred to him, she might not understand. Clearing his throat, he took a few tries before he could speak. "Kate?"
"You're alive." Kate felt breathless. She was standing there, they were both there, alive, breathing. It seemed almost a dream. That is, until the rest of the assault team came rushing in behind her.
Seeing so many people sent the other to flaring his wings again. Annoyed, Nick flattened him down with his own wings. "What's goin on here?"
"We could ask you the same thing." His own tiny pistol in hand, Carl stopped to Kate's left. "If we'd known you were shacking up with it, I would have sent a card congratulating you on losing your Link virginity."
"Very funny. At least I'm getting some." Smirking, Nick lowered his wings. He was tempted to just settle back in among the feathers and blankets with the other. Still, there were others to attend first. "What brings you guys here?"
Kate snorted. Eyes wide, she glanced about the attic. The nest took up most of the space, the door and window across from each other took the rest. "Did you do all this?"
"No, that would be..." Nick frowned. "You know, I never did get your name." Shifting, Nick looked over at the other.
The man glanced between Nick and the window. He seemed to be doing an estimate in his head when Nick smacked him with his wing.
"Oh, no you don't. If I gotta face the music, so do you." Folding his wings behind him, Nick sat back on his haunches. He started to say something, but his stomach growled.
Suddenly, the other man was at Nick's side. Pressing his nose against Nick's neck, he inhaled deeply. Realizing what he was doing, he groaned and sat back. He pushed away, scrunching his face. "I hate this already."
"Anyone wanna tell me what is going on?" Having come in last, Page took in the feathers about his shoes.
"Anemoi!" Carl looked disgusted. Putting away his gun, he scrunched up his face. "Filthy halfbreeds. Best to shoot them both now before they start reproducing." At the glare he was receiving from Page, Carl returned it with a disbelieving one of his own. "You've never heard of them? They're sluts. They'll breed with about anything that looks even remotely human. Just look at O'Malley."
"Hey!" Sitting up, Nick raised his wings. "How about you come over here and say that to me."
"I would, but I don't want to get your filthy, diseased flesh near me." Shaking his head, Carl pushed passed Page and a couple lingering agents. "Can't believe I let it touch me. This gets out, I'll never..." His voice trailed off as he got out of range.
Carl gone, Nick to turned to the only other one who might have answers. He found the nest beside him empty. Some how, the bastard had slipped out while everyone had been distracted with Carl. "I didn't even get a thank you. I feel so cheap."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His new coat fitted in to place about him, Nick sat perched atop of the Golden Eagle dry cleaners. Beside him, Kate hunkered down deep in side her down parka. He cast her a look, then sighed. "Go ahead."
"I still can't believe it." Staring at him, if it wasn't freezing, she would have been wide eyed and agape. "You, Nick O'Malley, are a Link."
"Half Link!" Shifting his wing, Nick gave her a soured expression before looking out over the city again. His wings itched to catch the wind coming off the lake. He would free them soon enough since it was almost time for his patrol. "This is not something I can explain. It just felt right at the time. I don't know if that makes any sense, I'm not sure I completely understand."
Sighing, Kate followed his gaze. She refused to fill the awkward silence that had burst open between them since it had happened. It was bad enough they had to fight to remain partners, they didn't need to take it out on each other.
"Wanna go flying with me, Saturday? I promise to wear a harness." His wings twitched, a sign that Nick was almost ready to leave.
"Not until after...you know." She gestured downwards. At his snort, she grinned.
"Fine." Nick started to stretch his wings out, prepping them for take off. A throat cleared behind them, almost startling him in to flight. That is, until he remembered he wasn't visible to people unless he wanted to be.
Standing at the roof's entrance, a man in a long trench coat and messy brown hair stood watching Kate. Hands shoved deep in to his pockets, he waited until she acknowledged him before advancing. He licked is slightly swollen lips, the bruise around his eye making him wince.
Pushing her hair out of her face as she turned to look at him, Kate smiled. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, I hope so." Pulling out a small leather billfold from his pocket, the man held it up so she could see. "My name is Special Agent Fox Mulder. I am with the FBI and I need to ask you a few questions."
Putting on her best professional expression, Kate cast Nick a quick look before focusing on the man. "Anything I can do to help."
"Great." Smiling for her, Mulder pulled out a medium sized picture from his other pocket. He held it up for her to see, keeping a strong grip on it to prevent the wind from taking it. "Have you seen this man?"
Beside her, Nick felt himself stiffen. The man in the picture was indeed very familiar. He turned to Kate. "Ask him who he is and what he's done."
"Who is he? I mean, who is this man, and why are you looking for him? If you don't mind my asking." She cast Nick another discreet glance. They were definitely going to have a serious discussion on this later.
"This man is a very dangerous criminal. He goes by the name of Alex Krycek. He's wanted for a number of charges, including conspiracy and possible treason." Watching her, Mulder could already tell he was going to be disappointed. "If you know anything, it's important that you tell me immediately."
"I wish I could tell you something. All I know is that he was here and now, he isn't." The whole fact of what he had been doing, or rather, whom, would never come from her lips.
Sighing, Mulder nodded. He'd stick around for a few days, try and track down the next lead. It had been a long shot this time, but like always, he was too late. "Thank you for your time." He handed her a card. "Call me if you can think of anything else or he shows up again."
Nick snorted. Turning back to the edge of the building, he spread his wings. His stomach was growling and he knew a place where seagulls were slow and fat. The mere thought of what he was about to do made his stomach turn, but it was a sad fact of life. Better them than him.
With that, he jumped and beat his wings.
For a minute, Mulder could have swore he saw something.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitting on the top of his building, Nick pulled up the blanket up higher on his shoulders. It would begin to snow soon, and he wouldn't be able to stay up there for very long periods. Then again, his body wouldn't allow it either.
He was watching the lights flashing on the Sears tower when he sensed another presence. Nick knew who it was without having to turn around. Folding his wings about him, he tried to ignore him.
That lasted all of two minutes. Then a strong pair of arms slid up under his wings, around his waist. The hands folded over his stomach, fingers coming to rest over his protruding flesh. Pressing his nose against Nick's throat, he inhaled deeply.
Shivering, Nick leaned back in to his arms. "Of course, you realize this means absolutely nothing, right?"
"Of course."
THE END...........................................