After this there is only two more chapters to go, and I think I am rather sad to see the end of this. Ashleigh is a character I am very proud of, I had no idea what she was like when I started this, but the fact that people (well, most) out there actually want her to be happy, and end up with Alec is something I could never have anticipated. In fact, I rather thought there would be an outcry of rage - how dare she take our Alec and all that.
I don't think I want this to end, but it has to at some point, but I certainly haven't run out of ideas yet. So please enjoy this chapter.
In other news, the drabble I promised is now up on my LJ - you can find it through my profile. If you're reading this in the future, you can find it by searching under ATAK in my memories. Its called 'ATAK: October 28th.' I hope you all enjoy it
Chapter Forty Two
At some point, Ashleigh felt herself being lifted for a second time. She had struggled briefly, trying to fight through the haze that surrounded her, but it had been too strong, and instead she decided it would be simpler just to fall back into her dreams.
She was going away again. But she was tired, and it would just be better to sleep. She was warm and comfortable and there was the sweet smell of cologne in the air.
Alec glanced across the plane at the sleeping form of the woman. The drug hadn't been administrated properly, and only a small amount had entered her blood stream. She hadn't slipped into unconsciousness; instead she was merely sleeping lightly, but experiencing brief moments of lucidity. This had been her longest time asleep; she hadn't woken since they had lifted her from the helicopter to the waiting jet.
Alec knew that M had ordered Ashleigh to drug him if needs be. He had been alarmed by the prospect, until M had assured him that Ashleigh would never do that. She wouldn't want to hurt him in any way. No, Ashleigh had hoped that she might simply smile at him and he would follow obediently.
He might have done, had he not had his own orders.
There had been a possibility that she might, M had admitted, but M had been certain that the Ashleigh Kain she knew would not be able to do it. Ashleigh's sense of honour would restrain her from doing.
Alec's hand had subconsciously stroked his cheekbone where she had hit him last time they had seen each other. He had wondered if Ashleigh's sense of revenge was anywhere as strong as his, and if so, whether her sense of honour might be pushed to one side in favour of the satisfaction of having him completely at her mercy?
Apparently not.
Ashleigh had thought that they would be met by the American contact, and that they would be taken to an airfield before being transferred elsewhere.
She had thought perhaps back to Russia.
M, on the other hand, had had other ideas.
Knowing Alec had no such scruples; she had ordered him to drug Ashleigh. They would follow the same plan, but the final location was known only to him, and to M.
He had protested at first. This was a situation where he knew he had to attempt to be honest about his feelings. He cared about the girl, and had seen her hurt before. He didn't think that he could ever physically harm her himself. He had tried to put these strange and unfamiliar thoughts, these feelings into words, refusing to meet M's eyes as he had done so, but M had been adamant. The drug was nothing more than a sedative. She would feel woozy and disorientated when she woke up, but she would wake up, and she would feel nothing during the effects of the chemical, and none afterwards. Ashleigh was not to know where they where or how they had travelled there. It was the final piece of security.
