As Erica put..."Thar she writes!"

[jay_moose]

TITLE: Spies and Spats
AUTHOR: Jabber_Moose
FANDOM: Spies (Tony and Control)
PAIRING: *Gasp!* Tony/Control....and perhaps a dollop of Jeeves and Bertie.
RATING: G (Gen for now..might slash it up in a bit)
WARNINGS: Big warning. Totally unbeta-ed. Not the final draft.
SUMMARY: Control calls Tony in to discuss his past...and a possible link between the two of them
DISCLAIMER: I think there's a reason disclaimers come first...if you put it at the end...you'd write angst all the time.
NOTES: A hundred thanks and dedication to Zekkass. Without her, I would actually get some sleep at night. 

X-posted at Fryandorlaurie
(Part 1/?)

         

            Tony made his way to his boss’s office, balancing two cups of coffee in one hand, and knocking on the door with the other.

 

“Come in!” called a slightly preoccupied voice. Tony eased in, closing the door behind him. “Ah, Tony!” the owner of the voice looked up with a pleased expression. “Just the man I was looking for.”

           

“Good morning, Control!” the other man replied.  “I should hope so. Valerie commented that you were, in fact, looking for me.” He set down the cups of coffee.

           

“Yes,” Control replied, lifting the coffee cup to his lips with a grateful sigh. “Just what I needed.” He waved his free hand. “Have a seat, Tony.” Tony obliged.

           

“Control, if you don’t mind my saying” he began. “You look a bit worn.”

           

“I don’t mind, Tony. It’s interesting you noticed. You see, I haven’t been getting much sleep lately. That’s what I brought you in here for.”

           

“I’m very sorry to hear about your sleep problems, Control, but what can I do for you?”

           

“Have a look at these, Tony,” Control spread out several articles and a large, thick book. “The other day, when Mrs. Control was out, I was struck by an odd urge to revisit my past.”

Tony was immediately hooked. He knew next to nothing about his boss’s past, but he supposed that came in with the territory of being Head of British Intelligence. One couldn’t be too careful these days. He glanced at Control to see if he would continue. As luck would have it, he did.

           

“You see, Tony, that my family has done a lot of work in Intelligence for generations. I found a family tree compiled by my great-uncle Control, as well as several aged photographs. I thought this one would be of considerable interest to you.” Control held the photograph over the table, dangling it between two fingers. Wordlessly, Tony took it, but not before glancing at his boss. Control nodded to him, steeping his fingers together.

 

“I’m afraid I don’t entirely understand why you’re losing sleep over…” Tony’s eyes turned to the photograph, and his breath caught in his throat. “I…Control!” Tony ripped his eyes away from the photo. “This IS of interest to me! This man is identical to me in all aspects!”

           

“Indeed, Tony. I was correct in thinking it would interest you.” Control leaned over, placing the photograph between them on the table. Although yellowed from age, the photograph depicted a lanky young man in golf spats, hair tousled, with a wide grin on his face. His eyes sparked with good humor, as he blatantly hammed for the camera. A small  terrier was at his feet, clearly in the midst of barking, leash tangled around the man’s legs, showing him slightly off balance.

           

“Control,” Tony recovered. “If you said this was involving British Intelligence, are you saying someone is out there under the guise of me?”

           

“Oh, no, Tony,” Control smiled lightly. “I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”

 

“I’m sorry, Control, I was just...”

           

“Allow me to explain before your coffee gets cold,” Control touched the rim of his cup as though to make a point.

           

“My….coffee?” Tony was briefly baffled, but Control just nodded.

           

“I thought this tale would be good shared over a cup of your famous coffee,” he answered evenly. Tony nodded as Control got to the point, pulling the family tree over the faded photograph.

           

“Gosh, Control. You have quite a family tree!” Tony commented. Control nodded, tracing his finger up the tree, and then stopping it.

           

“My grandfather Control married. He loved my grandmother deeply, but his attentions strayed.” Control suddenly looked uneasy at this confession within his family, and he knew he shouldn’t be so trusting…but Tony’s eyes were on him, blue and guileless with a hint of something indefinable. So he continued. “… and they had a child together. Sadly, the woman died after the child was born of a bad bout of pneumonia.”

           

“I’m sorry to hear that, Control,” Tony interjected, sincerely. Control smiled fondly at Tony, and then continued.

           

“This child, my uncle he would be…or step uncle? Anyway, he was named for a dear friend of my grandfather by the name of Reginald Jeeves, who became my uncle’s godfather.” Tony nodded, repressing the urge to rub his temples. It was all a bit much.

           

“Did he work in Intelligence as well, Control? This Jeeves fellow.”

           

“No, Tony. Jeeves, as everyone called him, was a valet, or a…”

           

“Gentleman’s personal gentleman,” Tony finished, and then looked apologetic.

           

“No, that’s quite right,” Control nodded. “The finest out there. He was a legend, really. An absolute marvel.” Tony couldn’t help but smile, and it caught Control’s attention. “Was it something I said?”

           

“No, no, Control!” Tony used his coffee cup to stifle any more smiles. For one, he wasn’t used to hearing Control speak so candidly. They had shot past the barrier of formal conversation, and into an easy, platonic conversation. Tony loved every minute of it. The story also was gripping, and he was puzzled over the look-alike in the photo, and what he had to do with Control’s uncle and this Jeeves.

           

“Tony.” Control reached and took the photo of the young man. “I used some sources to find out more.”

           

“About Jeeves, Control?”

           

“No…not about Jeeves. About this man,” he tapped the photo. “And why the picture was wedged between the pages of this book.” He lifted a rather hefty looking book into view. “The Junior Ganymede club book was entrusted to our agency recently for safe keeping.”

           

“Well, this is all a lot to take in at once, Control. But I do hope your next account  will explain why this book came into our hands.” Tony inquired

           

Control smiled a calm, pleased smile. “As a matter of fact, Tony, I was. That was very astute of you.”

           

“Thank you, Control. I thought it might be,” Tony responded in kind.

 

“Now...the Junior Ganymede was once a valued possession of valets and butlers many years ago. This book contains detailed accounts of their employers and their daily activities. I do hope you’re following. I understand it’s a bit of a tricky story.”

           

“It is a tricky story, and I’m following perfectly, thank you, Control.”

 

“I thought you might,” Control nodded. “If you recall, I mentioned my uncle’s godfather’s role as a valet, or gentleman’s personal gentleman.” At Tony’s intent nod, he continued. “Using my sources, I was able to track down the man of whom Jeeves was employed.”

           

“Did you, Control? Well, this is certainly interesting,” Tony marveled.

 

“I’m glad you think so, Tony, because I firmly believe that the man is somehow connected to the fact that a good deal of entries in this book has been removed.”


If all goes well...i may continue on the second part *grins nervously*