Finally he stopped, dropping to a knee, crouching by the tree and leaning on it's solid trunk with a shoulder. Steadying his breathing he closed his eyes and listened but around him the forest was quiet of any man made sounds. Birds, scuttling creatures of the habitat were all present but for now he'd lost his pursuers. Thank God. He shifted, sitting awkwardly, a pain in his side shooting through his rib cage, making him stutter and grunt down on the waves of pain. Pain told him he was alive so that was something. Better then nothing. Two broken ribs on his left, possible fracture on his right, his chest hurt where he'd been punched repeatedly, his shoulders ached from where he'd had his hands chained above him.
He glanced at his hands with slightly blurred vision, he was tired, he needed to find a water source before he dehydrated any more. Food would be great but not as imperitive as water. He eyed the red raw skin around his wrists and avoided touching them. His feet were in worse shape, they'd taken his boots and socks and he'd tripped and trod on stone and broken wood all through the jungle. He was lucky he hadn't stood on some bug. That would be his luck, standing on some deadly creature with a couple of legs too many.
Danny would never forgive him for getting killed by a bug.
Danny. Steve closed his eyes and rested his head against the trunk, letting the idea of Danny wash over him like a comforting blanket. Danny, with his over active hands motioning at him. Danny, mouth talking non stop about nothing in particular. Danny, giving him grief about getting himself into this mess and even more about how he'd gotten out of it. Danny, feeding him stories of Grace over beers and nachos. Danny, leading him to their bedroom, stripping him down and kissing everything better.
Danny, finding him. He leaned on the hand that rested on his shoulder, giving him a small shake. He opened his eyes, delirious with happiness, then the pain, the hunger and the fear rolled around his stomach, making his breath hitch as he recoiled in shock.
"Where were you going Steven?" Wo Fat asked him with a mocking smile. Steve blinked, trying to focus, cursing himself for stopping, for resting, for letting thoughts of home invade his thoughts. Stupid mistake, it'll cost you you stupid son of a bitch, he chided himself. Wo sank back on his haunches, giving him a shake of his head and dissapointed look. "We aren't done yet."
Steve was to slow to duck, the first punch was swift and knocked his head left sharply, making his neck pull painfully. He managed to stay upright and gasped at the pain as it travelled over his cheek and around his eye. The second punch made his vision blur and the ground tilted back and forth.
"Bring him," Wo Fat ordered to his cronies as he stood up. Steve felt hands grab his arms but he couldn't get his legs to co-operate under him. Not that it mattered, they dragged him back through the undergrowth. He didn't have the strength to fight them.
Danny. That was what he had to focus on. Danny would find them and Danny would make them pay.