The Golden Serpent (S2E1 and E2): Episode Tag

Disclaimer:  I do not own either of the Mission: Impossible series or any of the characters therein.  I receive no compensation or any other tangible benefit from this story.  I am just a fan who enjoys taking the team out for an adventure every now and then.  🙂

*****

Between the jet-lag, the time differential, and the scary way the mission had ended, it was a couple of days before anybody felt like debriefing.  But there were things they needed to talk about -- important things.  So Jim asked his four younger team members, along with his old friend Barney, to meet him at the condo that Friday afternoon.

"As you know, at the end of a mission," Jim began, "we typically meet to discuss what went right, what went wrong, and how we could do things differently the next time around.  And so we will."  Jim's face held a sober expression.  "However, this mission was one of the most dangerous we've taken on in a long time, and I think we need to talk about that, too."

The other team members remained quiet, silently deferring to their leader to start the conversation.  Jim sighed heavily and looked at his best friend of more than twenty years.  "I want to start by apologizing to you, Barney," he said sincerely.  "I should have suspected there would be cameras at the Prince's party.  Unwittingly, I put you in danger and set you up to be tortured and nearly killed."

"Jim," answered Barney in a forgiving tone, "it was the only way to get the scanner to me so that we could switch the heroin.  The whole mission would have tanked otherwise, and you know it."

Jim pondered the wisdom of Barney's words, then nodded in acquiescence.  "Speaking of which," he added, "how are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Jim.  The doctor says there's no permanent damage anywhere.  I'm as fit as a fiddle."

"Thank God for that," said Grant softly, from his perch beside his father, and Barney reached over to give his son's shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

The younger Collier sighed heavily.  "It was tough, thinking you were gone," he said earnestly, then he turned his gaze from his father to the rest of his team.  "I was angry, and hurt, and I shut you all out.  I just want to say I'm sorry for that, and I appreciate you all being there."

Jim, Max, and Nicholas all smiled warmly at Grant, but didn't say a word. 

"We would have let you know about Barney sooner, Grant," advised Shannon, "but I had to ditch my communicator in the ocean.  The Prince almost caught me with it."

Grant nodded, then he suddenly remembered something.  "Hey, Jim, that reminds me."

Jim tilted his head to indicate that he was listening.

"When we were talking about Dad on the boat, and you told me to have faith..."  His voice trailed off.  "Did you know?"

Jim chuckled softly.  "Well, not for sure," he admitted, "but I've seen your father bounce back from certain death more than once.  So I wasn't going to dismiss the possibility."

"You've done your share, too, Jim," Barney smiled.  "As a matter of fact, I think having nine lives is a requirement of being part of the IMF "

"Well, I owe you several of mine, Barney," the team leader reminded his friend, "including this time.  I want to thank you again for shoving me out of the way and taking that arrow for me."  Jim's voice was somber.  "At that time, I didn't know you were still alive, so you seemed like an angel coming out of nowhere."

Barney chuckled.  "Well, I'm no angel, Jim.  And I told you, I think you're still two up on me.  I'm just glad we all made it out of there in one piece.  I really thought we were all going to blow up."

"Thanks to Blondie," said Nicholas bitterly.  Then he looked at Shannon, who was sitting beside him, and smiled fondly.  "Although if Shannon hadn't taken her out, she might have shot the rest of us, too."

"She was a worthy opponent," Shannon agreed, smiling back at Nicholas.  "She almost got me.  But she didn't, thanks to you."

Nicholas took Shannon's hand in his and kissed it, as Max chimed in.  "Drago was a pretty tough customer, too," he recalled.

"But you were tougher, Max," Barney assured him.  "And you got us all into the elevator and made sure we all got out safely.  We all owe you for that."

"I wish I could have been there to help you all,"  Grant said wistfully, stifling a shudder at hearing what his team had gone through.  "All of you risking your lives while I was on the boat."

"The mission was no less dangerous for you, Grant," Max countered, gazing at his friend.  "You came damn close to getting eaten by the steel gate when we were leaving the grotto."

The surprising comment took Grant back to the harrowing moments when he and Max were forced to leave Barney behind in order to smuggle the heroin out of the consulate.  He'd felt Max jerk his hand forward as he'd swam through the open gate; now, for the first time, he realized the significance of that gesture.  Max had saved his life, and he'd been too wrapped up in his own grief to notice.

"I had no idea it was that close," Grant whispered, his brown eyes moist as he looked back at his blond friend.  "Thanks, man."

Max shrugged and shot Grant a sideways grin.  "You kept me from taking a permanent swim," he responded.  "I'd say we're even."  Then he turned serious and looked at Jim.  "Thanks for making me wear the chute."

Jim nodded in acknowledgement.  "It's always best to take the necessary precautions.  We did a lot of things right because of that.  We made wise adjustments when things went wrong.  We accomplished the mission.  And we all made it through safely.  Overall, I'd say everything turned out well."

"We all took care of one another," Nicholas added, "and because of that, we're here to fight another day."

"Speaking of which," interjected Barney with a grin, "if you all ever want to do another family affair, you let me know.  It would be a pleasure to work with you guys again."

All five team members chuckled as Grant threw one arm around Barney's shoulders in a sideways hug.  And with that, the debriefing was over, and the six friends spent some time just relaxing and enjoying one another's company as the day drew to a close.

The End

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