AN: *Fanart used for image is drawn by me, and can also be found on my tumblr and DA.

Whumpage. Charlie/Tomtom, team. T. Post Season finale fic. I hardly need an excuse to write whumpage. ;3

Charlie had only just got out of hospital, he was stuck walking around with crutches and one of his arms was in a sling, and Tom had used that as an excuse to come over and spend time with him, under the pretense of helping his friend do the things he really couldn't do for himself. Charlie was living with his nan, of course, so he wasn't entirely on his own. But she wouldn't be much help if he fell - or so that was Tom's excuse.

He didn't mind. They'd quickly fallen into a rhythm, of sorts, moving around each other like they'd been living that way for a long time. Tomtom, Charlie's nan announced one day after he made dinner, was a better cook than her grandson, much to his chagrin. One evening, they ended up watching a film, and it started getting late. Charlie and Tom began to fall asleep on the sofa, and Charlie's nan woke them. Tom, realizing what time it was, started to get up, but Charlie asked him to stay, so Tom'd sat back down, and they watched until the two men fell asleep, Charlie's head on Tom's shoulder. In the morning, they acted like it was perfectly normal. Film nights became a regular thing , interspersed with gaming nights, and Charlie introduced Tom to his book collection. They'd grown closer.

After a bump in the road caused by Jack shooting Cain in the shoulder, the team was back up and running, though they were only taking on small jobs while Charlie healed up, for as long as they had a choice. But bad guys wouldn't wait for their team mate to be well enough, and Helen, while sympathetic, couldn't let them let a criminal walk free.

It wasn't supposed to end up the same. They were supposed to be getting better at this, they'd taken another look at their methods and spent more time on plans and making sure they all stayed safe.

Jack was going to feel so guilty, he thought, spitting blood on the ground. They'd punched him in the jaw, and his teeth had cut into his gums painfully.

Tomtom groaned in pain as he was punched in the gut yet again. They weren't even asking any questions, they'd just dragged him into this dark room, zip-tied him to this chair, and started beating him up. He wasn't even sure if it was connected to the case—

Another punch had him gasping, doubled over as much as he could with his arms pulled over the chair's back. Tom coughed, and tasted blood in his mouth.

Charlie would be so worried, he'd feel responsible, even though Tom knew it was all his own fault, he'd been too confident…

A slap to the side of his face jolted Tom out of his thoughts, and he couldn't hold in the whimper as he saw movement, tensing against the expected pain of another punch in the gut. Cruel laughter followed his unintended noise of weakness. Tom tried to control his breathing, and tried to be brave. He had to trust that he would be rescued by his team. He had to hope.

He spit blood again and trembled where he sat. They laughed again, and he twisted his wrists, pulling at the ties, wincing as it did nothing but cut the plastic into his wrists. Scared of causing himself damage, Tom reluctantly desisted in the attempt. It was futile anyway.

Another painful blow to his midsection had him retching.

"What?!" Charlie shouted, getting to his feet and reaching for his crutches.

"We lost contact with him an hour ago. Jess is following a possible lead, and we're doing our best, okay? He's gonna be all right. I jus' wanted ta keep you informed—"

"You lost contact with him," Charlie hobbled towards Jack, furious and terrified for his friend. "A bloody hour ago, and I suppose you thought, 'Oh, I should go tell the useless one that Tomtom is probably being tortured at this very moment, he'll get a bloody kick out of not being able to do anything!'" Charlie growled, grabbing Jack's shirt collar with his good hand.

Jack's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, before he calmly removed Charlie's hand.

"You know that's not why, Charlie. I couldn' lie to ya." He started turning away, then paused and turned back, meeting Charlie's gaze evenly. Charlie realized that Jack wasn't as calm as he seemed. "We'll get
him." He said.

Charlie nodded, swallowing past the lump in his throat.

"You better."

TBC