Chapter Text
Nile didn't get much sleep that night. Most of all because she was thinking about what Nicky and Joe had said yesterday, but if they asked if she slept well, she would say she didn't sleep because of her sore ribs. It wasn't a total lie, because she was still sore, but that was only to be expected after getting a big heavy oak desk over you.
"Morning," Joe said. "Do you mind moving your head? I need to piss."
"Too much information," Nile said. "And morning to you."
Nile watched Joe disappear behind a wall.
"Follow him," Nicky said. "You also look like you could use a bathroom."
"No way," Nile protested. "I'm not looking at Joe's naked ass on Christmas morning. It might be something you wish for but not me."
"Then you shouldn't complain when he returns with breakfast," Nicky simply said as he opened his backpack.
The last comment from Nicky made Nile very inquisitive and she almost ran after Joe. When Nile reached the end of a small corridor she bumped into Joe, who made a sign she should be quiet. It took a moment before Joe made a sign that Nile should follow him.
"Ok, we need food and water," Joe said. "Do you have any coins on you?"
Nile still found it funny that Joe still called money for coins. She handed Joe 100 Euros.
"You need to take off your boots. We don't want to leave footprints," Joe said. "I'll explain in a moment."
Nile did it and when they both were out of their boots, Joe pressed on a stone on the wall just like Nicky had done yesterday. The wall slid to the side before Joe peaked into the room which Nile couldn't see what was. Then Joe made a sign to Nile to follow him.
"It's a restaurant kitchen," Joe said as he pointed towards a door. "The bathroom is over there."
Nile nodded and went over to the bathroom. When she returned, Joe had gathered some food together with water and written a letter which he left on the counter together with the money.
"We better get back before they start working," Joe said. "Here hold the food, while I make sure it looks like we never were here."
Nile took the food and it didn't take long before they stood in the corridor again.
"Two questions," Nile said. "How can you be sure that someone doesn't press on a stone and discover the corridor? And how can you be sure that no one tears down the wall?"
"Nicky once took a job in the restaurant and made sure it couldn't happen," Joe replied. "And the wall is a part of Roman cultural heritage. We made sure of that over 300 years ago."
It didn't take long before they were back with Nicky, who had taken some clean clothes and used them as a blanket, so there wouldn't get dust in the food.
"We got you a Christmas gift, Nile," Nicky said.
"But my Christmas gifts for you are still back in the safe house in Malta," Nile said when Nicky handed her a small Christmas gift.
"We'll look forward to it," Joe replied with a smile. "And it isn't the first time we aren't getting Christmas gifts on Christmas day. One time we ended up celebrating Christmas in May."
Nile opened the Christmas gift and let out a gasp when she saw the necklace with an "N" as a pendant.
"I had some diamonds in a draw together with the silver necklace," Nicky said. "And Joe drew the pendant which he also made."
"I so love it," Nile said as she hugged them both. "Thank you."
"Glad you like it," Joe and Nicky said.
Nicky helped Nile with getting the necklace on. Then they sat down to eat their Christmas dinner.
"When do you think we can leave?" Nile wanted to know.
"In two days' time," Nicky replied. "Hope you don't mind the company."
"Not at all," Nile replied. "It's better than the shed I spend a week in last year doing the monsoon. I have never been that wet."
Joe laughed as he fed Nicky a grape, while Nicky gave Nile a sympathetic look.
"So, Nicky," Joe said. "Since we don't have a telly as entertainment, do you mind reading your book for us?"
"Not at all," Nicky replied. "If Nile doesn't mind."
"I would love to hear a story," Nile replied. "What book is it?"
"A Christmas Carol by Dickens," Nicky replied. "Ever read it?"
"No, only watched the movie," Nile replied. "Or movies. I think I have watched two versions of it."
Nicky let out a silent gasp. He still found it hard that some people would rather watch a movie based on a book, instead of reading the book first.
"I know how you feel, love," Joe whispered before placing a kiss on Nicky's cheek.
During the next two days, Nicky read the book 2 and a half times for them. When they left the church through the restaurant kitchen in the early morning there were no problems. They made it through the harbour, where Copley had a boat ready for them.
"Not as fancy as a diamond necklace," Nile said when they reached Malta and handed over her Christmas gifts to Joe and Nicky.
"You say that new pencils and paper aren't as fancy as a diamond necklace," Joe said as he hugged Nile. "I would rather have pencils and paper than diamonds."
"Thanks for the book," Nicky said as he hugged Nile too. "Where have you gotten a 1st edition of the German version of "Robin Hood" from?"
"My secret," Nile replied. "Could you please read it out loud? I need to practice my German."
"Great idea," Joe said. "You two sit on the sofa and I'll draw the scene in front of me."
After some rearranging from Joe's side, so Nicky and Nile were sitting just right in the sunlight, Nicky started to read the book while Joe drew them.