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Sweet Surrender	By : mprice Category: +. to F > From Eroica With Love Views: 1765 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own From Eroica with Love, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
CHAPTER SEVEN
HOSPITALS AND HOMOPHOBIA
Munich, Germany

May 2004
The Major�s black mood was only slightly lighter when he arrived at in Munich. Numerous groups were making noises about the exhibition and the violence that had overshadowed the 1972 Olympic Games. Klaus ignored the groups planning candlelight vigils and the like, concentrating on those threatening to make a point with violence of their own. He ended up having to bring in his whole Alphabet.
At some point, Eroica sent word that the theft had been successful. All the false display stands had been switched with dummies and the hidden cameras removed. Dorian had arranged to stay at a house owned by a friend during his stay in Munich, which was where he would remain until the Major was able to retrieve what was stolen.
Not knowing how much time this would take, or when he would get paid by NATO, Dorian decided to take advantage of the time and do a little thieving. After all, his men were already in town. At some point during the negotiations for his part in the mission, the Major had stated that he knew he couldn�t tell Eroica to refrain from stealing. What he did do was request that he refrain from stealing in the cities hosting the exhibit. Since Interpol was already turning a blind eye to him, Dorian happily agreed to this condition.
oOoOoOo
Time seemed to drag on forever once Eroica had carried out the theft. Dorian had hoped he would be able to see the Major more often now that the mission was so close to completion. This was not to be. In fact, after the men photographed hiding the units in the bases were arrested, the Major�s attention focused solely on tracing everyone involved.
As for Dorian, all he wanted was for the Major to complete the mission, arrange for him to turn over what he had stolen, get paid, and then jump the man�s bones. When the pickup was finally arranged, the Earl was beside himself. Shortly after that, a note arrived with a change in the time and place. Instead of turning everything over at the Major�s command center, the officer would come himself to the Earl�s house. This meant only one thing as far as Dorian was concerned. He sent his men away and started planning an intimate dinner. Then he discovered that there wasn�t any German wine in the house. His friend, and owner of the house, preferred French wine. After what happened in Paris, Dorian knew this definitely would not meet with the Major�s approval.
Later on, Dorian would realize that it was at this point when things started to go wrong. On his way to purchase the wine, he spotted a couple of unsavory looking individuals watching him. Normally, he loved being the center of attention, but something about the men made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. His thief�s instinct kicked in and he chose to give them a wide berth, reaching the store without incident. After he started chatting with the man who greeted him, he forgot all about the thugs outside.
Dorian wanted to kick himself when he suddenly realized how late it was. He had gotten totally carried away in his discussion of various wines. Klaus was always punctual, and would be arriving at the house any minute. Dorian was in such a rush to get back, he never noticed when the men he had spotted earlier reappeared. Not until they were blocking his path and he suddenly found himself standing face-to-face with a couple of gay bashers. He did what he could to get around them, make light of the situation, and finally made a desperate attempt to run like hell. None of this worked. Within a few minutes, the Earl was on the ground being beaten within an inch of his life and having every hateful epitaph he had ever heard being shouted at him. He curled himself into a protective ball, doing his best to shield his face and praying that someone would come to his rescue.
After what seemed like hours, Dorian heard loud angry voices that sounded like they were coming from miles away. The thugs decided to give up beating the Earl in favor of beating a hasty retreat. Before they left him in a bloodied heap in the street, Dorian heard one of them say something that hurt him more than the beating.
�Maybe that�ll help the novelty to wear off.�
oOoOoOo
The Major was in his hotel room/command center, staring at the clock, and silently fuming. Eroica was supposed to have been there more than an hour ago. He lit a cigarette and slumped further down into his chair. Dorian, where the hell are you? You promised you wouldn�t pull anything like this on this mission. He looked at his watch and then back at the clock. Any minute now, he�ll be calling with a proposition for me, damn the man!
A quarter of an hour later, Agent Z appeared with an agitated Bonham who was protesting loudly as he was pulled through the door. �Look, I keep tellin� you, �is lordship is at the �ouse waitin� on the Major.�
The Major got to his feet when he heard this. �He is, is he?� he thundered.
Bonham�s mouth dropped open. �What you be doin� �ere?�
�Waiting for your boss to deign me with his presence, what does it look like?� the Major snapped. �He was supposed to be here over an hour ago.�
Bonham was now more confused than ever. �But the note said you changed it.�
�What note?�
Bonham motioned toward the door, to indicate that it was back at the house. Then he remembered putting the card in his pocket when he was helping to tidy the place up before leaving. After a search of his pockets, he produced a card and held it out. The Major practically snatched the paper from his hand. Then his eyebrows went up when he read:
Change of plans. Will come to you, same time. Have everything ready.

KvdE
The Major started to curse in several languages. He looked up, seeing everyone in the room looking questioningly at him. �Do I even have to say that I didn�t write this?�
Before anyone could ask the inevitable next question, Bonham�s cell phone was ringing. He gave the Major a frightened and apologetic look as he pulled it out. Then his face brightened. �It�s �is lordship,� he said happily. The next thing he knew, Klaus was grabbing the phone out of his hand.
�Idiot! Where the hell are�?�
To the bewilderment of all present, the Major stopped in mid-rant. When he spoke again, two things were immediately apparent; he switched languages from English to German, and he was not speaking to the Earl. When he ended the call, he looked at the others, his face grave.
�Lord Gloria was attacked in the street,� he announced. �The initial report is that it was a couple of gay bashers getting their jollies at his expense.� He turned to Z. �Take Mr. Bonham to the hospital. They have some questions about the Earl�s history that he can�t answer.� He gave the older man a steady look. �He�s unconscious.�
The shocked Bonham muttered several curses under his breath as he took his phone back from the Major. ��ow�d they know t� call me?� he asked dully.
�They didn�t. They just started with the last call he received.� The Major turned his attention to Z. �Stay with him and keep me appraised of Eroica�s status,� he ordered. �Until he can tell us otherwise, we have to assume Eroica was on his way here with the units which are now in unfriendly hands.�
�Yes, sir.� Z took a step toward the door and paused. �Major, which hospital?� The officer told him and Z nodded, taking the visibly shaken Bonham by the arm, and pulling him out the door with him.
The pair weren�t even out the door before the Major was firing orders left and right. There was a chorus of, �Yes, sir!� followed by the Alphabet scattering to carry out their various assignments, leaving the officer alone in the room.
Christ, what a complete mess. He dropped back into his chair and closed his eyes, a hand going to his head. Dorian, what did I get you into?
oOoOoOo
The mess did not get any better after the Major reported the latest developments to Bonn. He gave what little information he had, promising an update as soon as he learned anything new, and quickly hung up. After that, he contacted Z to see what news, if any, there was on Eroica�s condition.
�He�s been taken down for x-rays. They think he may have some broken ribs,� Z reported. �They won�t let anyone other than Mr. Bonham in to see him.�
Klaus winced when he heard a shrill cry in the background that could only have been made by Eroica�s accountant. �I take it the Earl�s men are there,� he said aridly.
Z was standing just outside the emergency room doors and turned to look back at the waiting room that was now packed with Eroica�s thieves. �Yes, sir. Bonham contacted them just after we arrived.�
Klaus cursed under his breath.
�I told them if they caused any kind of commotion that you�d have them banned from the building.�
Despite his black mood, a small smile of approval came to the Major�s face. �Bonn wants to know what happened to those units as soon as possible.�
�Sir, the Earl��
�Is he still unconscious?�
�No, sir. They have him sedated. He woke up just long enough for the doctor to tell him what was going on.�
Klaus cursed again, loudly and in several languages this time. �I�ll be there shortly.� He was already heading for his car as he ended the call. He had no sooner done this when Agent A called with more bad news. �Where are you?�
�The Earl�s house,� A informed. He was standing just inside the front door, Agent�s B and C behind him. The interior of the house was a shambles, furniture overturned, drawers pulled out, items smashed. He could see a computer in pieces in the middle of the floor. �The place has been ransacked.�
Klaus stopped in mid-stride. �What?�
A stepped further into the house. �Someone was looking for something and it doesn�t look like they cared what they broke doing it.�
Klaus stood motionless in the parking lot, his mind racing. He started moving again, pulling his keys out at the same time. �It was a set up,� he said coldly. �Dammit!�
�Sir?�
�A set up. Someone changed the meeting and then lured Eroica out of the house so they could search it.�
�Lured how?�
�No idea. Don�t interrupt, that�s not important,� Klaus snapped. �The beating was staged to look like a random hate crime.� And endangering this whole mission at the same time. He could feel himself growing angrier by the second.
�What should we do here, sir?� Agent A wanted to know. �The police?�
Now there�s a good question, Klaus thought as he got into his car. If they contacted the police, the house would be off limits while an investigation took place. There was no way they could reveal the reason for the break-in. And running fingerprints would be joke in a house being used by a gang of thieves.
�No, no police. We�ll deal with this ourselves,� the Major said finally. �We still don�t know if the Earl was carrying the units when he was attacked. The house might�ve been trashed as a cover.� He paused to think. He�s a damned good thief. He�d've hidden them somewhere he thought no one would find them.
�Go through the place with a fine tooth comb. The units may still be hidden there.� A pause. �And contact G. Tell him there�s an information leak. I doubt Eroica�s men would know the exchange was to be made, but they might have suspected.� Klaus did not even wait for the order to be acknowledged. He snapped his phone shut and slipped it into a pocket. He put the key in the ignition and paused to consider his destination before turning the key. He would go to the house first to see how badly it was trashed before going to the hospital. Just as he was about to pull out of the parking lot, a sudden thought brought him up short. What if there was something at the house that would expose his affair with the Earl?
Klaus sat back and closed his eyes, a hand going to his head. �You were right,� he said quietly. �I still haven�t given up that one percent.�
oOoOoOo
When the Major finally arrived at the hospital, he learned the full extent of the Earl�s injuries. He had arrived at the hospital with a collapsed lung. He also had a mild concussion, broken ribs, a black eye, and a lot of cuts and bruises. He was currently in the Critical Care unit for observation.
Z stood outside the waiting area of the Critical Care unit where he gave the Major an update on the Earl�s status, which was stable. The police had already been in to question him about his attackers, and Z had contacted one of the others to get copies of the police reports.
�After the police left, Eroica went to sleep,� Z informed. �The staff won�t let anyone else near him, sir. Mr. Bonham promised to come get me the moment he wakes up.�
The Major turned his gaze to the waiting room, seeing the Eroica gang within. A few of them cringed under his intense gaze, and James stifled a whimper and hid behind the man beside him.
�The hospital says only family is allowed in,� Z was saying.
The Major gave him a steady look. �We�ll see about that.� He turned on his heel and strode off. Z watched him go, inwardly pitying whoever would be on the receiving end of the Major�s barely suppressed fury.
oOoOoOo
Dorian was oblivious to all the upheaval his altercation had caused. After the brief few minutes of wakefulness in which a doctor informed him that he was being well cared for, he slipped blissfully back into unconsciousness. A few hours later, he was awake long enough to find a very worried Bonham keeping watch over him. He learned the full extent of his injuries and was able to give the police a detailed description of his attackers. After that, he slept for several more hours.
When Dorian woke again, it was nearly dawn. He was surprised to find John Paul keeping vigil in his room. He winced as he shifted position, his body feeling like a single enormous bruise. He gave a moan, alerting the man beside him that he was awake.
John Paul smiled as he got to his feet. �Good morning, m�lord.�
�John Paul, how did you�?�
�The Major bullied the whole staff into letting us see you,� John Paul informed. �They kept telling him only family was allowed in, and he said that we were your family.� He shook his head. �He even managed to get James to stop crying so he could come in for a few minutes.�
Dorian�s mouth dropped open. �He must be feeling guilty,� he said quietly.
John Paul scowled. �M�lord?�
�Never mind.�
The man at the bedside gave him a bewildered look. He threw a glance over to the door. �One of the Alphabet is on guard outside. I�m to tell them the moment you wake up.�
�Why?�
�So you can tell us what happened,� came the Major�s voice from the door.
Dorian actually jumped, which did not help his injuries. He stared at the man for a few seconds before he pointed a finger at the door and practically shouted, �Get out!�
This was so unexpected that Klaus was momentarily speechless. He exchanged a stunned look with John Paul before turning back to the Earl. �This is not the time to get hysterical, Eroica,� he said as he crossed the room.
�I have nothing to say to you, Major,� Dorian said angrily. �You�ve made your point. I get it, okay?�
The Major gave John Paul a piercing look. �Excuse us, please.� It was obvious from his tone that this was not a request.
�No, you stay right where you are,� Dorian countered.
John Paul looked from one to the other, receiving a glare from the Major. He decided that he might be better off leaving the two alone to fight it out, as usual. �Sorry, milord,� he said. �I�ll be outside.�
Dorian cursed as his man left the room. �Come to finish the job your men started?�
�I don�t know what the hell you�re talking about,� Klaus replied as he sat in the chair John Paul had vacated.
�Those two thugs you hired to beat the shit of me, that�s what I�m talking about.�
�What?� Klaus was on his feet and at the bedside before he even realized. To his amazement, Dorian actually flinched away from him. �How did you know someone hired them?�
Dorian�s mouth dropped open. �Are you admitting�?�
�Thanks to your description, the police picked them up last night. They admitted that someone paid them to keep you from going back to your house,� Klaus informed. �The method of delay wasn�t specified.�
�My house?�
�Someone trashed it last night.� Klaus paused to allow this to sink in. �Dorian, I have to ask this. Did you have the units with you when you were attacked?�
The Earl put a hand to his head. �What? No, of course not. I was getting ready for you to�� He broke off, closing his eyes. Suddenly all the pieces came together and he realized the same thing the Major had already. �It was a set up, wasn�t it?�
�Yes. Unless you seriously believe that I would let my personal feelings endanger a mission that has taken months of work, and has hundreds of man hours invested in it by hiring a couple of third rate punks to beat you senseless in the street.�
�Major, I��
�Were the units at your house?�
�Yes.�
Klaus cursed under his breath.
�Your mission isn�t in any danger, Major.�
�Your house is a disaster. I was there. I saw it,� Klaus informed. �Those units could be anywhere by now.�
Dorian shook his head as he settled back on his pillows. �They�re where no one will ever think of looking.�
�You�re sure of that?�
Dorian gave him a wry smile. �If I said they were in my hidden toy box, would that convince you?�
Klaus stiffened visibly upon hearing this. �Toy box. You put the units in with�� He broke off when he realized his voice was getting louder and lowered it. �You put the units in with your sex toys!� he said in a horrified whisper.
Dorian could not help smiling at the man�s discomfort. �You think those homophobic bastards who beat me up would want to move them to check for a hidden safe?�
Klaus pulled the chair to the bedside and sat down again. �Bloody pervert, that�s��
�Brilliant?�
Klaus gave him a sideways look. �It�s something. I don�t know what.�
Dorian smiled and then winced, a hand going to his mouth. He could feel a cut on his lip. �I must look a mess.�
Klaus was not about to get into the Earl�s appearance at this point. �As soon as I find out who hired those goons, I�ll pay him back double for you.�
The Earl saw an angry look flash behind the officer�s eyes that sent a chill down his spine.
�Why did you think I was the one who hired those idiots?� Klaus wanted to know.
Clearly uncomfortable, Dorian shifted in bed. �It�was something one of them said. Before they ran off.� He drew a deep breath. �He said, �Maybe that�ll help the novelty to wear off.��
Klaus sat back in his chair, his eyes focused in the distance. �Son of a bitch,� he said under his breath. �God damn, bloody, son-of-a-bitch!� He returned to reality and gave the Earl a steady look. �I guess I�m not the only one holding back one percent,� he said as he got to his feet. �You�re waiting for me to say I regret my decision, aren�t you?�
�Major��
�I have work to do.� So saying, Klaus vanished from the room, leaving the Earl calling after him. �Major! No, come back, please! Dammit, Klaus, I�m sorry!�
The Earl�s shouts brought Bonham to his side and he attempted to calm him. This took a few minutes to accomplish. �Oh, God, Bonham, what�ve I done?� Dorian moaned.
�Sir? You be in pain? Should I get the doctor?�
�Pain? Yes, I�m in pain,� the Earl replied woefully. �My heart is sick.� He gave the baffled Bonham a steady look. �I�ve just made the worst mistake of my life.�
oOoOoOo
- 6
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Sweet Surrender