To my Readers who posted comments; You were right. There were inconsistencies in the previously posted chapters. I have rewritten them keeping your comments in mind. At least I think I covered them all. My thanks to everyone who posts comments which keep my stories honest and on track. I hope this ending fits better. Thank you for your patience.
Missing
Chapter 8
It was the pain that woke him but as was his custom he lay still and listened. The shape of the bed, the smell of the much washed sheets and the pillow told him he was on his cot at their base. A little farther out he heard sounds of distant voices and birds that said it was evening. And he heard the sound that said all was right in his world. He heard his Hearth and he was close by.
But everything was not right in his world. He hurt and he was he sleeping in the middle of the day. Why? What had happened?
The last mission had happened. This last mission…. He thought back to what had happened.
It started with Garrison going on a mission by himself. Sure, he knew he was a grown man with experience in this business. He was careful and he knew what he was doing but going in alone was dangerous. Sometimes the Warden got so caught up in his drive to complete the mission that he took too many risks.
Grayson had worried him too but he had survived. It still amazed him that Casino had been the one to step in. But he had and it had worked. He had to smile, got his knife back too. He resisted the urge to touch it where it lay in the track on his arm band.
When he heard that they had a mission he thought that was good. Maybe by the time they got back then Garrison would be back and things would be back to normal. Shaffer didn't bother him. Irritated him, yeah, the way he wouldn't even acknowledge him, but he soon set him straight and he came around.
It was in Sicily that things really started going wrong. He had always known when he was being watched but usually you move away and it stops but it didn't this time. Even after they left he felt it. Someone was following them. With some careful manoeuvering he had spotted the tail. Once spotted, they took precautions but the real problem was why follow him and Casino? Neither had been in this country before. He doubted Casino was wanted anywhere, but a Guardian? Guardians were always told they were worthless but the building they were housed in and the cars that the Trainers drove… Somebody was making loads of money. G-CAT must have changed their mind and they wanted him back. That was the only explanation he could think of.
When he told Actor he expected him to scoff. Why would G-CAT be all the way here on the other side of the world? But he didn't. He took him seriously. That surprised him. If the guy was trying to con him into trusting him then he was going to a heck of a lot of trouble and keeping it up for a long time. Chief could not understand why he would bother. It made him feel good that they believed him but Actor's idea of protecting him was a little over the top. How was he going to stand watch with two others watching him?
Shaffer said the meet was nearby. Maybe that was why he was feeling… what was this feeling? Anxious? It wasn't nervousness. He couldn't explain it. It was like he was supposed to do something or go somewhere but he didn't know what or where. Something was going to happen and in his life that was never a good thing. Good thing didn't happen to him, well, except Garrison.
At that thought he had felt a glow like the sun had just come out after a long rain. There was a warmth that flowed through him. Yeah, being given to Garrison had been like having the storm stop and the sun come out. He had hoped he was all right wherever he was; hopefully he was back at their base.
Secretly he had smiled when Shaffer had tried to take control from Actor. His 'you stand back and I'll do this' was laughable. The only one who could take over from Actor was Garrison. He waited for and enjoyed the con. Casino stepped in right on cue. They were good. Poor Shaffer didn't know who he was up against.
When they reached the park in front of the church where Shaffer said the meet was to take place the feeling grew stronger. When he took up his position to watch he looked around, as usual, noting the landmarks, the Church with its square towers, the apartment building across from him and the grey building at the other end from the church. His eyes lingered on the grey building. Something… He should go check it out. He would find a better place to watch, maybe closer to… It wasn't until he saw Casino watching him that he realized what he was doing. And why. He was here! He was in that grey building. Garrison was here!
Later that night he had been restless. During the day it would be too easy to be seen but it was now dusk and he could slip closer in the shadows. He had headed for the stairs when Actor had stopped him and asked about doing a scan. How could he do a scan without Garrison? That would not work. They seemed to think that you just stood there and listened hard and you heard. But it didn't work that way. When he did a scan he left his body and his soul. If he went too far he would lose his way back. There was only one who could find him and call him back and that was his Hearth. Your Hearth was special; you had a bond, a connection. Not just any would do, it had to be someone you had a connection with. The drug that G-CAT had developed interfered with that bond. It made you susceptible to suggestion so that you would follow anyone back. And to your shame it also made you do anything you were told. It took over your brain and kept you from thinking.
The only reason he had agreed to try the scan with Actor was because of his urge to confirm that Garrison was all right. Carrying out the actual scan had been pure torture. The only way he could explain it was that Actor intimidated him. This large powerful force standing over him raised the hairs on the back of his neck and made him tense. When Garrison stood there it was like a stallion behind your shoulder. He was bigger and stronger but you knew he would not hurt you. He did not know what animal Actor was, maybe he was a bear or a wild stallion, not yet gentled but he couldn't trust him. It wasn't until the conman stepped back that he did not feel so threatened and he was able to find his Hearth.
The rescue had started off as planned until the Trainer had turned his weapon on Garrison. No one threatened his Hearth and lived. One smooth motion and he died. Unfortunately he took Shaffer with him. He had felt bad. Shaffer didn't deserve to die like that scum in the alley. He hoped that Shaffer didn't have a girl waiting for him back home.
It didn't take long after that to figure out that Garrison had changed, he was different. Maybe he found he preferred going by himself. Maybe that was why he was so angry at him. Or maybe their arrival messed up something. That wasn't it because he wasn't mad at Actor, just him so it was something he did, like show up. He made it real clear that he didn't want him around. Hayden probably filled him full of lies. And Garrison bought it.
That hurt almost as much as his stomach. That was getting better at least. It didn't hurt as bad as it had. Right after the crash he thought he was going to die. The others had landed on him crushing him in the corner. He couldn't breathe and when he could it hurt so bad he couldn't move. Every breath was agony. His head hurt a bit where he had banged it but nothing compared to his body. If the pain from throwing up hadn't been so bad the sight of the blood in his vomit would have scared him too.
He remembered how hard it was getting on to the sub. Each step going down the ladder had jarred his guts so bad that he had trouble holding on and keeping his legs going. Then his stomach had started. That was the signal that he was going to throw up but he couldn't, not here on the boat. The first cramp sent screams of agony through his chest and abdomen. Even lying still hurt, so any movement of his abdominal muscles was agony. Deep breathing hurt his chest but that was not as bad as vomiting so he wrapped his arms around his chest and tried to take slow deep breaths. It had helped and he had avoided alerting anyone to his injury especially Garrison. He had managed to rest enough that he was able to climb up when they reached port, though he went through the same torture again.
Now lying on his cot he moved very slowly reaching up to feel his abdomen. Still tender. He tried to take a deep breath and stopped. Still hurt. As much as he wanted to stay where he was he had to get up. Opening his eyes he saw he was in his room, the room he shared with the other cons. Without moving his head he looked around and found his Hearth sitting in Actor's chair reading a book.
Why was he here? Was he still angry? And what had he done to anger him? His happiness at having his Hearth near was fading. Was he going to send him back? Was this it? He knew that as long as he stayed right here like this then he was safe but he knew that sooner or later he was going to have to get up.
As he carefully eased the blanket down he saw his Hearth look up, his face neutral. Was he still angry? What had Hayden told him? Would he let him explain before sending him back? Could he counter the lies? He had to try.
The sound alerted Craig and he looked over to the occupied cot. Twice before it was just him moving in his sleep, this time his eyes were open.
"How are you feeling?"
Don't tell! He mustn't find out you're hurt. You're no good to him injured. "I'm all right now. I was just a little tired." To prove it he steeled himself against the pain and pushed himself into a sitting position, sparing his abdominals as much as he could. He hoped the Warden would leave so he wouldn't see him try to stand but he sat waiting.
"They saved us some food so I would like you to come down with me and eat."
He had to get rid of him. "I'm not hungry but you go ahead. I'll be down in a bit." That should work, he thought but it did not.
"While I was on the stakeout in Italy…" They were here alone he might as well say it now.
"It's all lies. He lied to you," Chief started anxiously. In his desperation he jumped to his feet, stretching his bruised abdominal muscles too fast and he cringed in response to the burning agony and his hands flew to his stomach. "Please," he managed to croak out as he sagged back on to the bed.
"Chief, what's wrong?" he asked as he rushed over to the injured man, concern showing clearly on his face.
He wasn't supposed to find out. He had to cover somehow. "It's nothing. I just got up too fast. I'm fine."
"Chief?" Garrison asked gently not believing his claim.
"I'm fine." Only he was not fine. He was overwhelmed by the fear of whatever lies Hayden had told him, desperate to prove his worth, anxious at being returned to G-CAT and in physical pain which all together had turned his into a wreck. He sat hunched on his cot shaking.
Garrison saw the cringe, the protective gesture, the pain and disconnect in his voice. This was serious.
"Don't send me back, please," pleaded Chief. "I just gotta rest for a minute." He carefully pulled himself erect. "I'm fine. See? It's nothing."
"Let me see. Pull up your shirt." Garrison said it without anger but he was not asking either.
Chief's eyes dropped and he sagged a little. Without looking he lifted his sweater a few inches.
"Take it right off, Chief." He could see how upset the younger man was so he had said it as gently as he could. "Let me give you a hand."
That was it, he was finished. Resigned, Chief started to pull upward on the hem. He did not get far before the stretch was more than for his injured muscles could tolerate and he stopped. Warm gentle hands took over and pulled the sweater over his head. He sat, dejected, as his world receded and was replaced by the familiar grey walls of his cell back at G-CAT.
"Can you sit up a little straighter?" The voice was a long way off; unimportant. He was going to be hit. He could feel it coming and there was nothing he could do to save himself.
"Chief."
He would have slipped to his knees but at the last second he realized that that was not him. He was not Chief, he was 'Stupid', Lazy Ass' or 'Rogue'or… Don't think about that. The voice was calling someone else. Someone else was going to get hit. Poor Bastard. Keep your head down and your mouth shut and they might not notice you.
An electric shock pricked his face and he involuntarily flinched.
"Chief, I'm not going to hurt you," said Garrison as he pulled his hand back. All he had done was touch his face. "Look at me Chief."
The voice was kind but it was asking him to do the forbidden. 'Never Look a Trainer in the Eye!' It was a trick. Obey and look up and you get punished. Don't obey and you get punished for not obeying. He remained with his head down waiting for the blow.
"Where are you Chief?"
A face appeared in his field of vision as Garrison squatted down lower.
"You are with your Hearth and I am asking you to look at me."
His Hearth? He could look at his Hearth, couldn't he? His eyes travelled up Garrison's abdomen, his chest. Careful, watch for the stick. His eyes slowed and came to a stop.
"Look at me Chief."
The voice held no guile and his eyes continued upward again, his neck, his chin, mouth, nose … His eye; calm grey eyes looked back at him. There was no anger. There was…
"What happened, Chief? How did you get hurt?" His voice was warm and gentle. He cared.
Chief had to be strong for his hearth. "I'm fine."
"No…" That was as far as Garrison got before the eyes dropped and he flinched. All it took was that one word.
He tried again. "Chief you're hurt. Tell me what happened so I can look after you." Lieutenant Garrison would never say that to a soldier under his command. He could not treat his soldiers like babies; babies that needed to be coddled and tucked into bed but this was no soldier. This was a man who had been horribly abused and right now he was in pain and denying it. Denial could be fatal if the injuries were severe enough.
"Who hurt you?" If he would not admit to the injury then maybe he would admit to something else. "Was it Casino? Did he hurt you?" There was no answer so he asked, "Did he do this?" and he gestured to his chest and abdomen.
"No. He was in the cab. He got hurt worse 'n me."
Garrison felt bad about tricking the Indian but he saw no other way to get him to talk. He was glad to see that he did not succumb to blaming someone else. "So Actor did it or was it Goniff?" Though he could not see Goniff beating Chief, he had to ask.
"They didn't mean it," he said quietly.
That stopped the Warden. Actor and Goniff beat him? "Actor hit you? Why?"
"It was a accident. They didn't mean to."
"Tell me what happened," he prompted gently.
"We were in the truck. I sat in the corner. It was my fault. I shouldn't a sat there.
The truck?, thought Garrison as he pictured the front end crumpled into the wall. "You were hurt when the truck crashed." Chief's nod confirmed it. He had thought it was just a concussion like Casino.
"Did you tell the Doctor when we got back?" This time there was a negative shake. He remembered sadly how they had to pull a con to get him checked the last time. They needed to find a Doctor they could trust here. Who would they ask?
"Chief, how would a Doctor know you are a Guardian?"
There was just a hint of a shrug but it turned into a whispered, "I don't know."
"How does G-CAT identify Guardians? Of all the Indian children, how do they find out who…?"
"Is cursed? One kid they told him his pa was coming. Told him to look for him. He got lost and they had 'm."
"So as long as the Doc didn't ask you to look or listen," he said optimistically, "then he would never know."
"What about the drugs? Last time…"
"I didn't know. Now I do. Come, I'll take you to the hospital and I'll stay with you." The patient did not look willing so he explained, "I just want reassurance that there isn't something seriously wrong and what is the best way to help you recover."
"Why are you doing this after I…?"
"After you what?" he asked curiously.
Chief did not answer right away. He couldn't. He did not know what he had done. He had hoped Garrison would tell him.
"Chief?"
Here he was blundering around in the dark again, apologizing. Pathetic.
"I made you mad. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He was begging and he hated himself for it but it was the only way to stay out of G-CAT, not that he didn't deserve to be shipped back. Why don't you just shut up and let him ship you back. He'd be better off, screamed the voice in his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered
"You thought I was mad?" He laughed and instantly regretted it. Chief had cringed. "Chief, I was mad, mad as in insane, stupid, crazy. Let me explain but first lay down." He helped him turn and lay out on the cot.
Once he looked to be comfortable he explained what he had told Actor. He offered him his choices. When Chief opened his mouth to speak Garrison held up his hands to stop him. You can ask questions but I want you to take your time and think about this. The others had a chance; I want you to have time too.
Chief was stunned. As the full impact hit him he struggled to sit up wide eyed and open mouthed. Leave? Here? His Hearth? That was inconceivable.
"All right? You can let me know tomorrow. Sleep on it." He smiled as he saw the look of astonishment on the young man's face.
"Lieutenant?" Chief looked his Hearth in the eye and said, "I wanna stay. I don't got questions an' I don't gotta sleep on it. If it all right with you, I wanna stay." He hoped he did not look as worried as he felt or as pathetic.
Garrison was relieved. He was staying even after he made such a mess it.
"An' Warden." He took several nervous breaths and said, "I wanna thank you for what you done. Fer givin' me a choice."
"I should not have turned my back on you. What I did was right, giving you a choice. I still stand by that. How I went about it was wrong and for that I am sorry. I thought if… I don't know. I thought you might stay because of loyalty? I thought if I pulled back then you could decide…"
"Warden," started Chief as he swung his feet over the side of the cot. "There's somethin' I wanna tell you. Back there in Italy, what I told that bastard about how I found you." He looked away embarrassed. "I lied." He paused. "I ain't sure exactly when it started but," he moistened his lips, "when I was watchin' the square, that plaza," he looked Garrison in the eye and his voice became stronger. "I knew. I knew you were there."
Garrison realized what Chief was telling him and it stopped him. "The ritual. It worked?" he sounded surprised.
"Yer not mad are ya?"
Garrison smiled. He could not believe how sensitive the young man was, how he wanted his approval. What a fool he had been.
"No, Chief, I am pleased. You know, Actor told me off earlier. He told me he would feel honoured to be chosen to be your Hearth. I hadn't thought about it that way but he's right. I am honoured." He grinned. "In spite of what bone headed moves I've made, I am honoured to be your Hearth." The smile that lit the Guardians face was worth the confession.
Chief had looked pleased at Garrison's words but his look lost its luster when he heard the last sentence. "Now, get a shirt and we'll see what the Doctor has to say."
