Retribution
by mardel
R
I just borrowed them for the story.
Warning: Small discussion of abuse, and there will be violence.
Claire was sure she'd left all of this behind her. Her time in France had increased
her knowledge in the medical arts. She'd matured personally as well. The
authorities treatment of her when she reported Dr. Devol abuse, was like being
abused twice. But she'd healed from that. Or she thought she had. The
knowledge that he was still capable of hurting other women. Destroying their
lives. It was up to her to stop him. Now that her responsibilities to Gloria
were over.
"Hey, Claire what's going on?"
"I'm taking a leave of absence." Claire is busy gathering her things together in
the lab. Packing items and filling out forms.
"Whoa, wait a minute you're leaving?" Darien stops her, taking hold of her upper
arms in his hands. " You can't leave. I mean who will take care of me?"
"The Agency has other medical personal Darien I've briefed them all they will
take over for me." She looked at him, the lowered her eyes, she knew she was
running out on him. But it couldn't be helped, she had to do this.
"Yeah, but it won't be the same with out you. I trust you Claire." Darien was
worried, and scared. But he also say that she was very upset about something.
"Why are you leaving?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that." She moved out of his grasp, and went back to
writing on the clip board.
"Hey, Keepie how are you this morning?" Bobby entered the Keep, smiling and
looking happy for once.
"Hello Bobby." She mumbled absently.
"Hobbes help me out here Claire says she's leaving."
"Leaving? You can't leave who will take care of Fawkes?" Bobby's face fell, he
looked genuinely upset at the idea she could be leaving him .... the Agency.
"As I've already explained there are other medical personnel who work here
I've briefed them on Darien's situation."
"But Claire you're his keeper, you can't just leave him like this." Bobby said like
he was disappointed in her behavior.
"Look both of you. I've got a life outside of this ... this place! I have to go.
I owe it to myself and to other people who might get hurt." She yelled at them.
Then turned away, attempting to hide the angry tears that welled up in her
eyes.
Darien and Bobby exchanged a look. Whoa there's more going on here than
she just wants time away from the Agency. They both moved forward, Bobby
touching her back with a wide hand. " If there's any way I can help. Anything."
He told her his voice dropping to a soft whisper.
"Yeah, Claire if I have to sneak out of here, I'd be glad to volunteer." Darien
came to stand beside he on the other side. Bending his head sideways trying
to see her face. He was as concerned as Bobby about her.
Claire almost broke down when Bobby's hand touched her back. She longed to
share her troubles with someone. Bobby Hobbes would be her first choice as
a shoulder to lean on . She gained control, turned towards them her eyes
damp. "Thank you, thank you both." She looked first at Darien and then Bobby
her hand touching his arm a second. "But I have to do this myself. The Official
would never allow you to come with me to Florida."
" To hell with what he says if you could use my help." Darien told her.
"I'm there for you Keep. He gave me a job when know one else would. But you,
I owe my sanity to." Bobby reminded her.
"I can't ask this of you. You don't even understand the problem." Claire studied
them, she was proud to call them both her friends.
"Then why don't you explain."
"You didn't ask we offered." Bobby pulled up a chair for her, she looked like she
was about to faint.
Claire took the chair he offered. Took a deep breath and began to explain.
"I was in the gifted program in school. I started college when I was sixteen.
I was lucky to land a position with the French Medical College in Paris when
I was eighteen. I worked with a very gifted group of Doctors there. I learned
many things but surgery was the most important." She took another deep
breath to steady her for the details she hated to remember.
"Easy Claire you don't have to tell us everything." Bobby hated to see her
in pain. He knew about daemons.
Darien had settled back against the tall lab table, his long legs crossed in front
of him so he could give her his full attention. He hadn't expected her distress.
"No you have to understand why I feel I must stop him at all costs."
Claire struggled to speak with out crying. Her voice was shaking as she
continued.
"There was a young doctor there. Alber' Devol. He was a gifted surgeon he
helped me learn the techniques that allowed me to do brain surgery. He also
became my mentor, only his idea of teaching didn't stop with medical
knowledge. I'd not dated much in school. I was the brain, boys didn't see me
as anything other than that smart chic. So I was very vulnerable to his
advances, believing I'd finally found someone who liked me as a woman.
I couldn't have been more wrong, he lulled me into a sense of trust then
abused me." Claire broke into sobs, her body shaking.
Darien straighten from his position he felt she needed to be comforted. He
expected Bobby to go to her, hold her. But Bobby froze, his eyes dark with
anger. Darien knew his partner well, he recognized that posture. Bobby
was seething with rage. Rage with the ass who had hurt Claire.
Darien went to her, touching her arm. " Easy we get the idea. Don't say any
more." Darien gathered her into his arms. She sobbed against him for a
few minutes. Her face pressed into his body. Darien rubbing a strong hand
over her back in an effort to sooth her.
Bobby backed off, he was attempting to control his anger. He wanted to punch
something, but any display of force would just make matters worse.
He paced to the back of the lab, talking himself down. He would find the
bastard and kill him. No one who hurt Claire deserved to still be breathing.
Once she'd calmed down again Darien asked. "The guy who hurt you. He's why
you're leaving to stop him from hurting anyone else?"
Claire nodded, and eased out of his embrace. "I've recently learned he's returned
to this country. He's going to begin experiments with female patients. He's
completed the research with males and now he'll have access to dozens of
women."
"What do you have planned?"
"I don't have a plan, I just know I have to do something to stop him."
"I'll take him out. Case closed." Bobby said, standing several feet from
them. His face a mask of control. No emotion showing.
Darien knew his partner was serious. "You can't Partner."
"Bobby no, I won't risk your losing your freedom because of something that
happened to me."
"I've had to kill before, it won't be the first time."
"But if you aren't on a case you could be charged with murder. I won't take
that chance." Claire took a few steps towards him.
"Look we'll find another way. Being able to go invisible there has to be some
way we can get evidence against this bastard." Darien tried to reason with
Hobbes.
"Has the Official allowed this leave of absence?" Bobby asked, his mind working
there might be some way for him and Darien to go with Claire.
"He was against my taking leave. He doesn't know why. But since I've only used
a few days in over five years he had to allow it. Eberts helped me to convince
him."
"Eberts. He can help us cover. How long do you think you'll need to get the
goods on this Dr. Devol?" Bobby smiled he had an idea.
"I'll have to have a look at his set up. But there isn't a building I can't get into
one way or the other." Darien assured his Partner. "Say three days."
"I've made up a supply of counteragent, so if we take some with us. No
one should notice for a few days." Claire reached into the cooler and took
several vials of the blue liquid. Then she rearranged the remaining vials to
look like there were more. She packed them in the special insulated box.
"Have you made arrangements for getting to Florida?" Darien asked hoping
they weren't driving that far.
"Yes, a friend from college has a private jet she is loaning me." Claire grinned
at their reaction to that little bit of information.
"I'll go have a few words with Eberts then meet you both outside." Bobby
stated then left the lab.
:::::::::::::::::::::::
"Robert as much as I admire Claire I feel I can't go along with you plan. To lie
to the Official about your and Darien's where-abouts." Eberts shook his head.
Bobby was holding onto him by the back of the neck. Eberts was taller than him,
but he wasn't a very physical person. "Did I tell you this is to get even with the
scum that abused the Keeper?"
"No. You failed to mention that. Are you sure you will be able to give the Dr.
all that he deserves?" Eberts sounded almost as upset about what had happened
to Claire as Bobby.
Bobby assumed Eberts knew all about Claire's history. Eberts knew everything
about everything.
"I will keep your location from the Official for as long as possible. But you will
need to call in once or twice and speak with him as if you are working on the
case you have been assigned."
"I'll keep in touch. We should be back in three days if things work out. Thanks
Eberts I owe you." Bobby patted him on the shoulder and hurried off to join
up with Claire and Darien.
End part one
After stopping by everyone's place to pick up some things the team was on the
way to the local airport. Bobby was driving the van as usual, but he was
subdued. He wasn't back talking to Darien.
"I'm thinking what we can do. Find out what kind of experiments he's doing.
Claire might have to go in disguise. Then once we know I'll slip inside and
get the evidence." Darien was talking with Claire. He was sitting on the jump
seat between the regular seats.
"No I don't want Claire anywhere near that bastard." Bobby stated the anger
in his voice noticeable again.
Darien and Claire both looked at him. She was touched he was so protective
of her. But Darien knew it was more than that. Bobby flirted with her all the
time. It wasn't just for show, he cared about Claire. He cared for Claire.
"Ok that will be the back up plan, we'll only put Claire on the inside if there
is no other way of learning what kind of evidence we need."
They arrived at the small airport. "Which jet is the one your friend loaned
to you?"
"She said it was blue and silver with the number 435 on the fuselage."
"Got it over there." Darien pointed out the windshield towards the small
jet.
"I spoke with the pilot this morning he said he would be ready and waiting
when I arrived."
Bobby parked the van in the area next to the hanger. He unloaded his
bag and Claire's from the back of the van. Darien grabbed his bag
and they headed for the office attached to the hanger building.
Bobby set the bags outside the office and removed his sunglasses as
he stepped through the door. "I'm looking for Dan Turner?"
he asked of the three men gathered in the office.
"I'm Dan Turner can I help you?"
"I'm with Ms. Keeply she's flying to Florida this morning."
"Yes, I've filed the flight plan, how many passengers will there be?"
"Three, Ms. Keeply, myself and Mr. Fawkes."
"And you are?" the older man behind the counter who was filling in the
names for the flight plan.
"Robert Hobbes."
"This way please." Turner opened the door and led them to the plane.
"Nice." Darien said as he ducked to enter the small jet. There were seats
for six and a couch. He stowed his bad in the over head area and took
Claire's bag from Bobby. Bobby opened the other storage area and dropped
his bag inside.
" The weather looks good, we should be in Tampa by three this afternoon."
Turner said standing in the door way to the cockpit.
"Thank you." Claire nodded.
"If you will all take your seats we'll get this bird in the air."
Darien was already pulling his seat belt tight, he didn't mind flying he just
hated the take offs.
Bobby was calm, as many phobias as he had. Fear of flying was not one of them.
Darien had taken the outside seat so Claire took the empty seat next to Bobby.
"Here let me give you a hand." Bobby fished the other end of the seat belt out
from between the seats and handed it to Claire. His hand covered hers' for a
second as he passed the belt end to her.
Claire noticed Bobby's hand, it was very masculine, wide, strong, warm. She'd
been noticing details regarding Bobby more and more in the past few months.
His strength, it had surprised her when he carried Darien into the Keep a month
ago. His eyes, they were more expressive then most men. She supposed she'd
just taken him for granted for so long she'd not taken note of him personally.
The plane lifted off the runway into the clear blue sky. Darien was sitting eyes
closed waiting for the all clear signal from the pilot. His hand gripping the
arm rest so tightly his knuckles were white.
"Darien are you alright?"
"Yeah I just hate the take off."
"We're in the air Partner, you can relax."
"Oh, great I guess it's a smoother process in a plane this small." Darien opened
his eyes and released his hold on the arm rest.
"Relax man, the flight is going to take several hours. You brought a book I'll
bet?" Hobbes was teasing his partner now. He could never understand why
Fawkes spent so much of his time reading.
"As a matter of fact." Darien fished in his jacket pocket for the paper back book he was reading.
"Can you tell me what kind of research they are doing in Florida?" Bobby asked
hoping he hadn't ask the wrong question.
"The original research project was on the human brain's inability to regenerate
cells to heal. But I understand he is now working on treatment for seizure
disorders."
Bobby nodded, he didn't want her to go into detail afraid she might get upset
again. He hated it when women cried, mostly because he never knew what to
do to make them feel better. But with Claire, he hurt when she hurt. He cared
about her more than any one since Viv.
::::::::::::::::::::::
Darien put his book down and hour later, and unfastened his seat belt. He stood
and stretched. His hands touching the roof of the plane.
by mardel
R
I just borrowed them for the story.
Warning: Small discussion of abuse, and there will be violence.
Claire was sure she'd left all of this behind her. Her time in France had increased
her knowledge in the medical arts. She'd matured personally as well. The
authorities treatment of her when she reported Dr. Devol abuse, was like being
abused twice. But she'd healed from that. Or she thought she had. The
knowledge that he was still capable of hurting other women. Destroying their
lives. It was up to her to stop him. Now that her responsibilities to Gloria
were over.
"Hey, Claire what's going on?"
"I'm taking a leave of absence." Claire is busy gathering her things together in
the lab. Packing items and filling out forms.
"Whoa, wait a minute you're leaving?" Darien stops her, taking hold of her upper
arms in his hands. " You can't leave. I mean who will take care of me?"
"The Agency has other medical personal Darien I've briefed them all they will
take over for me." She looked at him, the lowered her eyes, she knew she was
running out on him. But it couldn't be helped, she had to do this.
"Yeah, but it won't be the same with out you. I trust you Claire." Darien was
worried, and scared. But he also say that she was very upset about something.
"Why are you leaving?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that." She moved out of his grasp, and went back to
writing on the clip board.
"Hey, Keepie how are you this morning?" Bobby entered the Keep, smiling and
looking happy for once.
"Hello Bobby." She mumbled absently.
"Hobbes help me out here Claire says she's leaving."
"Leaving? You can't leave who will take care of Fawkes?" Bobby's face fell, he
looked genuinely upset at the idea she could be leaving him .... the Agency.
"As I've already explained there are other medical personnel who work here
I've briefed them on Darien's situation."
"But Claire you're his keeper, you can't just leave him like this." Bobby said like
he was disappointed in her behavior.
"Look both of you. I've got a life outside of this ... this place! I have to go.
I owe it to myself and to other people who might get hurt." She yelled at them.
Then turned away, attempting to hide the angry tears that welled up in her
eyes.
Darien and Bobby exchanged a look. Whoa there's more going on here than
she just wants time away from the Agency. They both moved forward, Bobby
touching her back with a wide hand. " If there's any way I can help. Anything."
He told her his voice dropping to a soft whisper.
"Yeah, Claire if I have to sneak out of here, I'd be glad to volunteer." Darien
came to stand beside he on the other side. Bending his head sideways trying
to see her face. He was as concerned as Bobby about her.
Claire almost broke down when Bobby's hand touched her back. She longed to
share her troubles with someone. Bobby Hobbes would be her first choice as
a shoulder to lean on . She gained control, turned towards them her eyes
damp. "Thank you, thank you both." She looked first at Darien and then Bobby
her hand touching his arm a second. "But I have to do this myself. The Official
would never allow you to come with me to Florida."
" To hell with what he says if you could use my help." Darien told her.
"I'm there for you Keep. He gave me a job when know one else would. But you,
I owe my sanity to." Bobby reminded her.
"I can't ask this of you. You don't even understand the problem." Claire studied
them, she was proud to call them both her friends.
"Then why don't you explain."
"You didn't ask we offered." Bobby pulled up a chair for her, she looked like she
was about to faint.
Claire took the chair he offered. Took a deep breath and began to explain.
"I was in the gifted program in school. I started college when I was sixteen.
I was lucky to land a position with the French Medical College in Paris when
I was eighteen. I worked with a very gifted group of Doctors there. I learned
many things but surgery was the most important." She took another deep
breath to steady her for the details she hated to remember.
"Easy Claire you don't have to tell us everything." Bobby hated to see her
in pain. He knew about daemons.
Darien had settled back against the tall lab table, his long legs crossed in front
of him so he could give her his full attention. He hadn't expected her distress.
"No you have to understand why I feel I must stop him at all costs."
Claire struggled to speak with out crying. Her voice was shaking as she
continued.
"There was a young doctor there. Alber' Devol. He was a gifted surgeon he
helped me learn the techniques that allowed me to do brain surgery. He also
became my mentor, only his idea of teaching didn't stop with medical
knowledge. I'd not dated much in school. I was the brain, boys didn't see me
as anything other than that smart chic. So I was very vulnerable to his
advances, believing I'd finally found someone who liked me as a woman.
I couldn't have been more wrong, he lulled me into a sense of trust then
abused me." Claire broke into sobs, her body shaking.
Darien straighten from his position he felt she needed to be comforted. He
expected Bobby to go to her, hold her. But Bobby froze, his eyes dark with
anger. Darien knew his partner well, he recognized that posture. Bobby
was seething with rage. Rage with the ass who had hurt Claire.
Darien went to her, touching her arm. " Easy we get the idea. Don't say any
more." Darien gathered her into his arms. She sobbed against him for a
few minutes. Her face pressed into his body. Darien rubbing a strong hand
over her back in an effort to sooth her.
Bobby backed off, he was attempting to control his anger. He wanted to punch
something, but any display of force would just make matters worse.
He paced to the back of the lab, talking himself down. He would find the
bastard and kill him. No one who hurt Claire deserved to still be breathing.
Once she'd calmed down again Darien asked. "The guy who hurt you. He's why
you're leaving to stop him from hurting anyone else?"
Claire nodded, and eased out of his embrace. "I've recently learned he's returned
to this country. He's going to begin experiments with female patients. He's
completed the research with males and now he'll have access to dozens of
women."
"What do you have planned?"
"I don't have a plan, I just know I have to do something to stop him."
"I'll take him out. Case closed." Bobby said, standing several feet from
them. His face a mask of control. No emotion showing.
Darien knew his partner was serious. "You can't Partner."
"Bobby no, I won't risk your losing your freedom because of something that
happened to me."
"I've had to kill before, it won't be the first time."
"But if you aren't on a case you could be charged with murder. I won't take
that chance." Claire took a few steps towards him.
"Look we'll find another way. Being able to go invisible there has to be some
way we can get evidence against this bastard." Darien tried to reason with
Hobbes.
"Has the Official allowed this leave of absence?" Bobby asked, his mind working
there might be some way for him and Darien to go with Claire.
"He was against my taking leave. He doesn't know why. But since I've only used
a few days in over five years he had to allow it. Eberts helped me to convince
him."
"Eberts. He can help us cover. How long do you think you'll need to get the
goods on this Dr. Devol?" Bobby smiled he had an idea.
"I'll have to have a look at his set up. But there isn't a building I can't get into
one way or the other." Darien assured his Partner. "Say three days."
"I've made up a supply of counteragent, so if we take some with us. No
one should notice for a few days." Claire reached into the cooler and took
several vials of the blue liquid. Then she rearranged the remaining vials to
look like there were more. She packed them in the special insulated box.
"Have you made arrangements for getting to Florida?" Darien asked hoping
they weren't driving that far.
"Yes, a friend from college has a private jet she is loaning me." Claire grinned
at their reaction to that little bit of information.
"I'll go have a few words with Eberts then meet you both outside." Bobby
stated then left the lab.
:::::::::::::::::::::::
"Robert as much as I admire Claire I feel I can't go along with you plan. To lie
to the Official about your and Darien's where-abouts." Eberts shook his head.
Bobby was holding onto him by the back of the neck. Eberts was taller than him,
but he wasn't a very physical person. "Did I tell you this is to get even with the
scum that abused the Keeper?"
"No. You failed to mention that. Are you sure you will be able to give the Dr.
all that he deserves?" Eberts sounded almost as upset about what had happened
to Claire as Bobby.
Bobby assumed Eberts knew all about Claire's history. Eberts knew everything
about everything.
"I will keep your location from the Official for as long as possible. But you will
need to call in once or twice and speak with him as if you are working on the
case you have been assigned."
"I'll keep in touch. We should be back in three days if things work out. Thanks
Eberts I owe you." Bobby patted him on the shoulder and hurried off to join
up with Claire and Darien.
End part one
After stopping by everyone's place to pick up some things the team was on the
way to the local airport. Bobby was driving the van as usual, but he was
subdued. He wasn't back talking to Darien.
"I'm thinking what we can do. Find out what kind of experiments he's doing.
Claire might have to go in disguise. Then once we know I'll slip inside and
get the evidence." Darien was talking with Claire. He was sitting on the jump
seat between the regular seats.
"No I don't want Claire anywhere near that bastard." Bobby stated the anger
in his voice noticeable again.
Darien and Claire both looked at him. She was touched he was so protective
of her. But Darien knew it was more than that. Bobby flirted with her all the
time. It wasn't just for show, he cared about Claire. He cared for Claire.
"Ok that will be the back up plan, we'll only put Claire on the inside if there
is no other way of learning what kind of evidence we need."
They arrived at the small airport. "Which jet is the one your friend loaned
to you?"
"She said it was blue and silver with the number 435 on the fuselage."
"Got it over there." Darien pointed out the windshield towards the small
jet.
"I spoke with the pilot this morning he said he would be ready and waiting
when I arrived."
Bobby parked the van in the area next to the hanger. He unloaded his
bag and Claire's from the back of the van. Darien grabbed his bag
and they headed for the office attached to the hanger building.
Bobby set the bags outside the office and removed his sunglasses as
he stepped through the door. "I'm looking for Dan Turner?"
he asked of the three men gathered in the office.
"I'm Dan Turner can I help you?"
"I'm with Ms. Keeply she's flying to Florida this morning."
"Yes, I've filed the flight plan, how many passengers will there be?"
"Three, Ms. Keeply, myself and Mr. Fawkes."
"And you are?" the older man behind the counter who was filling in the
names for the flight plan.
"Robert Hobbes."
"This way please." Turner opened the door and led them to the plane.
"Nice." Darien said as he ducked to enter the small jet. There were seats
for six and a couch. He stowed his bad in the over head area and took
Claire's bag from Bobby. Bobby opened the other storage area and dropped
his bag inside.
" The weather looks good, we should be in Tampa by three this afternoon."
Turner said standing in the door way to the cockpit.
"Thank you." Claire nodded.
"If you will all take your seats we'll get this bird in the air."
Darien was already pulling his seat belt tight, he didn't mind flying he just
hated the take offs.
Bobby was calm, as many phobias as he had. Fear of flying was not one of them.
Darien had taken the outside seat so Claire took the empty seat next to Bobby.
"Here let me give you a hand." Bobby fished the other end of the seat belt out
from between the seats and handed it to Claire. His hand covered hers' for a
second as he passed the belt end to her.
Claire noticed Bobby's hand, it was very masculine, wide, strong, warm. She'd
been noticing details regarding Bobby more and more in the past few months.
His strength, it had surprised her when he carried Darien into the Keep a month
ago. His eyes, they were more expressive then most men. She supposed she'd
just taken him for granted for so long she'd not taken note of him personally.
The plane lifted off the runway into the clear blue sky. Darien was sitting eyes
closed waiting for the all clear signal from the pilot. His hand gripping the
arm rest so tightly his knuckles were white.
"Darien are you alright?"
"Yeah I just hate the take off."
"We're in the air Partner, you can relax."
"Oh, great I guess it's a smoother process in a plane this small." Darien opened
his eyes and released his hold on the arm rest.
"Relax man, the flight is going to take several hours. You brought a book I'll
bet?" Hobbes was teasing his partner now. He could never understand why
Fawkes spent so much of his time reading.
"As a matter of fact." Darien fished in his jacket pocket for the paper back book he was reading.
"Can you tell me what kind of research they are doing in Florida?" Bobby asked
hoping he hadn't ask the wrong question.
"The original research project was on the human brain's inability to regenerate
cells to heal. But I understand he is now working on treatment for seizure
disorders."
Bobby nodded, he didn't want her to go into detail afraid she might get upset
again. He hated it when women cried, mostly because he never knew what to
do to make them feel better. But with Claire, he hurt when she hurt. He cared
about her more than any one since Viv.
::::::::::::::::::::::
Darien put his book down and hour later, and unfastened his seat belt. He stood
and stretched. His hands touching the roof of the plane.