The hum of the cruiser did little to distract Fuse from the hurricane in his mind. His headache had morphed into a pulse of nauseating pain that almost rivaled that of his leg, but that was nothing compared to what he had witnessed nearly an hour ago.

Fuse kept his eyes on the small, pale figure laying on the gurney, both wrists secured to the side bar. Were those even necessary? Gordon could barely stay awake for a full minute, much less get off the stretcher to escape. He was laying on his side, about two inches of twisted metal protruding from his back, most likely from a ridiculous wall decoration that served little purpose other than to stab someone should it fall.

He scrubbed shaky fingers over his eyes, recalling the muffled screams when the Hood had ordered his other goons to pull back the debris so they could get to the aquanaut. Fuse had been instructed to cover the smaller man's mouth to keep the cries from reaching anyone outside. The feeling of Gordon's free hand clinging to his wrist would be difficult to forget, along with the pleading expression just before the metal was severed from the wall and he slumped to the floor. Unconsciousness was a blessing for both of them.

There was nothing he could do. Especially not with the Hood involved. The blonde was in worse trouble than Fuse could ever recall. Their trek down a mountain felt like child's play in comparison. He could even remember finding Havoc and Gordon in that room. That had shocked him on different levels, realizing what lengths his sister could go if pushed.

The Hood was different. The man could be patient, taking his time to wear his subject down before flipping the switch to brutal torture until he got what he wanted. With Gordon, however, there was the desire for revenge. Fuse had heard it so often when the Hood went on a tirade about the Tracys. Gordon Tracy had ruined everything. The wound to the boss's hand and shoulder had left a burning coal of hatred.

The next few days would be hell, and that was if Gordon survived. The entire lower half if his shirt was soaked red and the puddle he'd been laying in wasn't what Fuse would call small. Maybe death would be better. Just stay unconscious and drift off into good guy heaven. It sounded far better than the alternative.

Part of Fuse buckled at that thought. The idea of Gordon dying felt wrong. It made his chest tight with the anxious need to get the blonde to hospital. He hated the feeling and he realized it was meant for someone else. Gordon wasn't the kid from the home. That time was long since passed and there was no changing it.

Yet, the ache remained.

"Damnit, Squid." He hissed into his hand, eyes watching as the blonde's brow crease with the pain he couldn't escape, even in sleep. "You're gonna be the death of me."

OoOoOoO

The wave hit an hour after the initial quake, making the search and rescue far more limited. Virgil's heart was in his throat as he watched the muddied waters continue to creep up the sides of broken buildings, debris snagging on window sills and street signs. So much loss in only one hour.

And no sign of Gordon.

EOS had been the first to alert them to the loss of contact after the first aftershock and his phone's signal hadn't moved since her warning. It could have meant as little as he'd dropped it on his way out, to as severe as he'd been crushed and drowned under the waters that surrounded the city . Even though his hope was in the first option, he couldn't help the dark idea that his brother was gone.

"Virgil," Alan spoke. "I've got a visual on two. Fire escape on the red building."

He saw them. Not Gordon.

They were a young man and woman, the latter clinging to the other for support as the waters rushed below them. Alan was set with the chairs, the cables lowering him down to help the survivors. Virgil could tell his little brother was running on automatic. He never said more than what was needed to get to their next group requiring rescue. In reality, he'd heard the kid retching a few times as they moved over the submerged location EOS had given them for Gordon. He was trying to be optimistic about this. They would have to hope he'd evacuated with the first groups and hadn't been able to get to any form of communication.

"Base to Thunderbird 1" Their father's voice was strained over the open channels.

"Go ahead, base." Scott answered.

"I've requested assistance from the GDF. They should arrive within the hour." The heartache was hidden under routine. Jeff had been back in the role he'd filled for so long before his disappearance for a few months, and it was rare to hear anything but confidence in his transmissions. Today, was turning into the nightmare that always haunted the rescue team.

Loss on the job. They all knew it was possible, but their drive had been too strong to let them even consider what it would do to them. Virgil knew his brother. He would have stayed until everyone was clear. He would've done his job, iR uniform or not.

Thunderbird 2 lifted back into the air, her two new passengers secure, before moving onto the next section of life signs. Virgil just hoped there would be a blonde goofball waiting for them.

OoOoOoO

Cold fingers were prodding the skin around his back, sending waves of sharp pain through his gut. The Hood stood not far away, a sickening grin on his face as he regarded the blonde on the surgical table. At least, that's what Gordon thought he was on.

He had awoke to the jostled transfer from the gurney onto the hard surface, a blinding light blaring down on him. The figures around him had been blurred by eyes that didn't want to cooperate, but now, he realized it wouldn't have mattered. All, but the hood, wore uniforms and masks that hid any semblance of who they were. The only one noticeably different was a woman in a white lab coat and he could only guess at her gender by the way her heels clicked across the cement floor with sharp precision.

It was her fingers slowly torturing him now.

"Dr," the Hood began closing the space between where he'd been propped to come stand by the table. Gordon instinctively found himself pushing away from the villain until the fingers pressed hard against the sensitive tissue, eliciting a strangled cry from the aquanaut. "Is our guest ready?"

Without a word, a hologram appeared over him, showing a translucent image of himself, the debris in his back glowing bright red. "There is a slight chance he will bleed out." Her cool voice was more analytical than caring, emphasized when she pressed the wound.

"We can only hope for the best outcome. Isn't that right, Gordon?" Thick fingers brushed back the strands of blonde hair on his forehead, sending sparks of disgust through the aquanaut's brain and he jerked back. The Hood simply chuckled, apparently amused by his reaction. That almost seemed worse than the touch, but there was no time to dwell on it.

The metal in his back abruptly shifted as the woman took hold of the end and bolts of white, hot pain shot through his torso. A strangled scream ripped from his throat as she pulled, the debris slowly moving against the damaged tissue. It continued, the end of the bent bar catching and tearing as one hand pushed against his bruised ribs.

As the final bit came free, Gordon was unable to stop the wretch that expelled what was left in his stomach, the mess coming out with a bright red tinge. The chains around his wrists prevented him from collapsing into himself, forced to let his head rest on the cold table. The pain continued to pulse and he could feel the steady flow of warm fluid spilling from the wound.

A hand tapped harshly against his cheek and he realized his eyes had closed. The Hood was hovering over him, a scowl crossing his face.

"Do try to stay with us." The hand found his hair again, but Gordon's energy was too far gone to stop it. "I would hate for you to miss this experience."

The sound of metal tools sounded behind him, but it was impossible to see what the woman was doing. When the Hood reached over his prone form, a small tube was pulled into view, a silvery blue liquid sloshing inside it.

"Normally, a person would be under anesthesia for this procedure." The villain grinned. "But you know that all too well. Fortunately, for me, I've always wanted to see how someone would react without it." A sharp pain shot through his back as the woman worked. The Hood continued, looking pleased with whatever the doctor was doing. "I'd planned to use this on your father, but…"

There was no need to continue the statement, Gordon finding some bit of satisfaction that they'd saved their father from at least one of the Hood's tortures. The thought of Dad brought with it a longing ache, moisture pooling in his already watering eyes. The hope that his family would come for him was shattered by the realization they didn't know where he was or what had happened to him.

"Alright, my boy. I only ask that you try to remember how this feels. For my own curiosity, of course." Gordon sent a weak glare at the older man, barely noticing the handheld device as the Hood's finger traced over its surface.

And a radiating burn ignited through him, a million pinpricks moving through the wound. His breath caught in his throat, choking the gasps as they finally broke free.

"Nanobots, if you were wondering." The Hood offered, nonchalantly. "The good doctor here has quite a talent for these little wonders. Just imagine, billions of microscopic robots pulling tissues back together, soldering blood vessels to halt the loss of what keeps you here. The pain must be excruciating." His hand moves over the device once more. "But not enough."

Gordon buckled against the restraints as the fire intensified, a harsh cry growing into an ear splitting howl of agony that echoed through the darkened room.

OoOoOoO

Fuse hated and loved the nanobot technology. It was a new experience for him, only having been subjected to it a handful of times since its creation, but each time, he had felt the squirming sensation under his skin. The idea of bots putting him back together was nauseating.

"Quit whining." Amelia chided from her position by the exam table.

"I didn't say anythin'." He groused, wincing as she increased the intensity.

"Your face did." She gave him the slightest of grins as she set the tablet down to allow the advanced tech to do its job. "You realise your legs gonna be even more prone to break now. Best be careful or Satan's goin' to replace it with something better."

The thought of Dr. Sable - Satan, as Amelia referred to her - removing his leg and replacing it with the cold metal from her cybernetics experiments was less than appealing. The girl beside him had gained her fair share of the appendages and been hesitant to divulge her experiences. To put it plainly, it hurt like hell. Satan seemed appropriate.

Before he could comment, a far off cry, filled with agony, echoed down the hall, filtering into their room. Fuse couldn't help staring at the door, his stomach twisting for other reasons than the wriggling in his leg.

"What d'ya think they're doin' to 'im?" The question slipped out of his mouth, already imagining some of the more crude possibilities.

When he turned back to the quiet woman, he could see the tension in her shoulders. "Ever wonder what this feels like without the numbing agents?" She gestured to the tablet and metal tubes.

"Um, no. Why would -" The moment it clicked, Fuse felt a need to jump off the table, the movement halted when Amelia stepped forward with a glare that warned him he was about to be an idiot.

"It won't kill him." She offered, pushing him back onto the exam table. "But I can't say the same for you if you go runnin' in to save your little buddy."

Something in her statement was wrong and demanded he find a good retort to annoy her, but the ache from their ride to the base was back. Gordon wasn't his 'buddy', but he had done his best to save the demolitions expert. Maybe it was some twisted sense of chivalry that urged him to return the favor.

A small hand slipped into his and he felt the slight press of something into his palm. Fuse gave the tech savvy woman a questioning look, but her face was static, except for the pinch at the corners of her mouth. It was a sure sign she was doing something she shouldn't. Amelia had played enough parts in his childhood shenanigans for him to recognize it. When her hand left his, he saw the two micro transmitters she'd placed there.

"They're encrypted." She added, as he set them in his pocket. "Even the great doctor won't know you're playing nice with the enemy."

"And what makes ya think I'll be savin' him this time?" It really was a legitimate question he should be asking himself. He was already planning on how to get one of the devices into Gordon's cell.

"Same reason I wouldn't let Alan go through this." She gave him the glare that indicated there was no need to push for more information. She'd offered enough. "Ya spent nearly a year gettin' to know the guy. He's not a body in a suit anymore."

The sound of the door activating had both occupants turning to see Havoc, her expression a mask of calm as she stepped into the room. Amelia barely acknowledged her as she went back to fiddling with the tablet and nanobots. Fuse effortlessly pulled on a welcoming smile, which was not that difficult since he was grateful to see his sister. Just not when he was in the midst of a conscience conflict. It certainly didn't help that Gordon's cries were much too easy to hear now that the door was wide open.

"The bosses are busy." Havoc noted, flippantly. She took a seat on the exam table across from him, the door finally closing to deaden the sounds. "How's the leg?"

"Twingy." Fuse grimaced. "But nothing I can't deal with."

"Good. And it's a good thing ya messaged me when ya did." She grinned at his confused expression. "Whole place is under water. Tsunami hit just before we got back to base."

That was a surprise that left him feeling a bit thin. Crushed by a building was one thing, but being drowned while stuck in one sounded much worse.

"International Rescue took their sweet time, too." This time she laughed. "Ironic, if we'd left blondie, they'd have been collecting his body. Real shame."

Whether she was upset that Gordon hadn't died or she was being sarcastic in how it would've been better he died in lieu of the torture that was befalling him, Fuse figured it didn't matter either way. His sister still hated the aquanaut almost as much as the boss. For different reasons that stuck the demolition expert right in the middle.

Right where he didn't want to be.

OoOoOoO

It was hours later, but Gordon had lost track of each one. His body pulsed with the work being done, the more severe pain replaced by an ache that kept him from leaving the bed they'd placed him on.

'Bed' was a loose term for what he was sprawled across. It was just another slab of metal that happened to be off the floor. He was at least grateful for the dark surrounding him. He didn't want to see what else was in his prison. It made everything all too real, more so than the burning ache that still wormed its way through his torso.

Memories of a dark, cold room, chains keeping his limbs in place, started to make their way through his head, setting off alarms of panic. Gordon knew what kind of situation he was in this time and there was little chance that his family or lady Penelope would be coming to his rescue. They would search for him, but there would be no way for them to know where he'd been taken. This time… he was Dad.

That thought lead to a deep feeling of guilt and heart ache. Their father had endured years of torment. The idea of spending half a decade in this personal hell, tortured to the point of losing his sanity, was sending the blonde's stomach in a knot. He'd be lucky just to last a few days.

Gordon let his eyes close against the tightness in his chest, hoping when he opened them again this would have all been some sort of concussion dream and he'd wake up to the soft mattress of an infirmary bed. And just as he felt his mind start to slip towards sleep, he heard the sharp hiss of a comm.

"Squid?"

His breathing staggered, unsure if he'd heard correctly and, if he had, was it at all safe to speak to the man on the other side. Silence felt like the only logical option, Gordon hoping Fuse would get the idea and leave him alone.

"I know you're there. Got a feed directly from the room." The demolitions expert almost sounded proud. "C'mon, Squid. At least let me know this thing works." Again, he refused to answer, but now, there was a small hint of desperation as Fuse let out a hushed, "Gordon, please?"

The aquanaut swallowed passed the lump in his throat. How was he supposed to trust Fuse? The man was still a large part of the criminal organization that was currently working very hard against him. It made sense to ignore him and just try to get some rest before the nightmare started again, but before he could stop himself, his mouth opened. "Works…." It was rasped from the strained vocal cords, but it got Fuse's attention.

"There he is!" Gordon could picture the cheesy grin. "About to start thinkin' you were dead." There was another pause and he wondered if Fuse was expecting a witty comeback. All he really wanted to do was get a hold of his nerves as the trembling in his hands started again. A sigh sounded over the hidden comm. "Look, I know this looks bad. Like, end-of-the-road kinda bad, but ya gotta look on the bright side."

Air seemed like a limited commodity as his lungs drew in a shaky breath. "What bright side?"

"For one, you're not dead." Fuse counted. "Two, I'm not dead. We could be bloated corpses in that building. Like drowned rats."

"Drowned?" His heart jumped.

"Uh, oh yeah." Obviously, he'd caught the man in a slip up. "Wave hit after the boss picked us up. Whole areas flooded a few miles inland... but you probably didn't need to hear that."

No, he didn't. It meant he was dead. To his family. The GDF. The world. Finding one specific body in the sea would be near impossible. The tides, wildlife, debris, any of it could rip a person to pieces and they would never be found.

"I'm gonna need you to forget all that, Squid." Fuse urged. "It's not goin' to help you get through the next few days."

"Days?" His heart was racing again, driving the bots in his system to send sparks of pain through his abdomen. "Fuse, this isn't helping." His jaw clenched against the assault.

"Par for the course. The boss is pretty happy at the moment. He'll have to hold off for a day or so, though." Fuse had fallen back into a more conversational tone. "He's got some big deal going through and it's pulled his attention. Should give you enough time to heal up though. Heard you screamin'. Can't say I envied ya."

"Burns." It was the only way to describe what he had experienced.

There was a hiss over the comm. "Advanced tech and it still kicks your ass."

"Might've been able to handle it better if it was my ass." Gordon couldn't help the small grin.

"Hey, jokes! You must be feelin' better." Surprisingly he was, but the odd comfort Fuse seemed to be trying to impart on him was confusing.

"Good enough to get me outta here?" It was worth a shot.

"No can do. You're in the boss's main hideout." Of course, he couldn't just be off in some unfortified base with an easy to find exit sign. "It was hard enough gettin' your dad out. The Hood'll be payin' closer attention this time."

Gordon let a thick silence hang over the line before he spoke. "Thanks. I can't remember if I ever got to tell you."

Appreciation must have been lacking in the demolition expert's life, the man ignoring the comment. "How is the old man, anyway?"

Shifting painfully, he pulled an arm up under his head for support. "Up until today, amazing. It's almost like he was never gone." A small smile spread over his face. "I don't know how he did it."

"I think it's in your DNA." Fuse laughed. "We kick and you lot just won't stay down."

Gordon wasn't sure how well that statement would hold up with his current situation, but he didn't voice it. The ache in his back was still a fresh reminder of what was to come. He'd done enough to the Hood to warrant a great deal more than what had already been doled out, and from what he could remember from the time the villain had infiltrated their home, he had a plethora of ideas to use against the aquanaut.

Fuse must've sensed something in his silence, his own voice quiet as he spoke. "Hey, like I said, I know the situation looks… Well, bleak would be puttin' it mildly… but you've got enough crazy in ya to get through this."

A tear slid free with the sudden tightness that came with hearing one thing and knowing how wrong it could be. He'd experienced so much already. Between Havoc and the Hood, he wasn't ready to deal with any more.

A question snagged on his despair, forcing its way up. "Why are you being so nice?"

Fuse didn't answer. At least, not the question. "Get some sleep, Squid."

The room grew quiet again except for the sound of his own breath and heartbeat in his ears. As much as he didn't want to let his guard down, Fuse was right. Rest might be the only thing to give him the strength to withstand what he suspected would be the most difficult time of his life.

And, as his eyes slid shut, he let the images of his family comfort him into a light sleep, much like he'd done years ago.