The Man From U.N.C.L.E: A Mission In Istanbul

Chapter 18: Double-Crosser

Solo made his way to Illya and Gaby's room. When he knocked on the door, the tall, looming figure of Illya Kuryakina answered.

"Can I talk to you in private, Peril?" Solo said, giving a quick glance to Gaby reading the daily Turkish newspaper in the corner of the room.

Illya grunted and nodded. He turned back to look at Gaby, who's attention had also turned to them. "I'll be back in a minute." Illya stepped out of the door and in to the hallway of the hotel. "Stay close to the hotel room. I don't like to leave her alone."

"You need to stop acting like her husband." Solo laughed.

Illya rolled his eyes and was ready to go back into the room. "Did you come out here to lecture me about Gaby?"

"It's something to do with Gaby." Solo saw a couch in the hallway and sat down. "Sit, or are we too far away from your darling, fragile fiancée?"

Illya took deep breaths in and out. His hands started quivering with his anger, but he clenched his fists to try and control himself. He sat next to solo, and leaned back on the couch.

"It's about the traitor business." Solo started, a serious expression on his face. "When I tell you this, you can't punch me, kick me, bite me or perform some judo stuff on me. I'm just saying this because, as much as I hate to say this, you're my colleague and I care about you. OK?"

"I make no promises, Cowboy." Illya pursed his lips, expecting Solo to say the worst.

"I don't think Gaby can be trusted..." Solo said slowly to allow Illya to process the information. He had, and sharply stood up and started pacing around the hall, glaring at him. Solo raised his hands in defensive. "Allow me to continue..."

"You better have a very good reason for what you just said." Illya leaned on the hall wall, scratching the back of his head.

Solo nodded. "I do. If you would just shut up and listen, you might know that reason." Solo cleared his throat. "I was speaking to Simona about our first mission together..."

"So you trust Simona and not Gaby?" Illya yelled at him, hating the mention of Simona's name.

Solo shook his head. "I never said that. Simona just wanted to know more things about our past mission, especially about Gaby, because half of her mission here is also to complete our agent files. Waverly wants her to." Solo glanced up at Illya, who had now completely calmed down and was hanging off his every word. "I had to mention that Gaby had double-crossed his more than once. Whether it was for right or wrong, it did happen, remember?"

"I remember." Illya sighed, thinking about how betrayed and annoyed he had felt when it happened. He had also felt hurt.

"Good." Solo smiled reassuringly at him. "Then I realized something. Gaby had no trouble double-crossing us before. So why wouldn't she double-cross us now? Just a thought..."

Illya bit his lip. "I see where this is going."

"You understand?" Solo looked at him hopefully.

"Yes, even though I trust her." Illya relaxed his fists, knowing that Solo meant no harm.

"Just take care of yourself." Solo got up from the couch and made his way back to his room. "Think about it. And don't fall too in love."

Before Illya could reply, Solo had already left the hall to make his way back to his room. Illya sighed and did the same.

When he entered his room, he realized that Gaby was no longer inside.