A/N: Hello all! Thanks to all who read and reviewed! Okay, this is gonna be a lengthy author's note, because I sense that this chapter might spark some…feelings. Fair warning: This chapter features a slightly OOC Jane. I say slightly because I can kinda justify her actions, but I'll get into that at the end of the chapter. Please know, though, that I love the Jane character, and really don't think she'd ever do something like this. BUT! This piece called for a villain and…oh, you'll see. SPOILER WARNING: Season 1-3 of Warehouse 13
Disclaimer: I don't own Warehouse 13. If I did, there would definitely be a Doctor Who crossover in the works. My dear beta reader IDreamOfDistantSeas keeps spelling mistakes at bay.
Chapter 7: Trapped
Undisclosed location in the Badlands, 2014
This isn't happening.
She's not sitting across from Jane Lattimer. She's not handcuffed to a chair...again. She's not avoiding eye contact with Artie. She's not ashamed, upset, angry. She's not being held at gunpoint. She's not watching her plan fall apart at the seams.
This isn't happening.
Artie clears his throat somewhere behind her. Coughs a little.
"Uh, Jane…do you really think the Tesla is necessary?" he asks pointedly.
He's on your side. The brief flash of hope comes on reflexively…like a kneejerk reaction. She quickly dismisses the thought; she reasons it away.
He's never liked violence.
"Since when did Regents start packing heat?" she asks, not without a generous amount of snark. "Thought you guys were all about 'hands off.'" She can practically hear Artie's unspoken groan in her mind. Feel his narrowed eyes burning a hole in the back of her head. She's disappointing him. Again.
I don't mean it, Artie…
"True," Jane ignores the sarcasm. If she's at all bothered by Claudia's comment, she doesn't show it. "But occasionally, the situation will demand…that we be more involved." She smiles. It doesn't quite reach her eyes.
Claudia scoffs, and glares out the slatted windows behind Jane's somber, grey-suited figure. She can just barely see the hazy yellow light of the Shelby bulbs from the Warehouse floor. Up above, the skeletal brown metal girders stretch to the back of the structure, receding into the black shadow that perpetually hangs over the farthest corner of the Warehouse. It used to feel open—unending.
Now it feels too small. Too confining.
This isn't happening.
"I'd love to continue to exchange witty barbs with you dear, but we have a bigger problem to deal with." Jane starts. Claudia ignores the Regent and continues to gaze out at the Warehouse. "You broke into the Warehouse. You attempted to steal a dangerous artifact…and you deliberately attacked Warehouse personnel in a violent manner—"
She jerks her attention back to Jane. She opens her mouth, ready to argue.
"She didn't violently attack them, Jane." She surprised when she hears Artie's voice, and not her own. She looks at the older agent. Really looks at him.
He's aged considerably since she last saw him. He was always something of a recluse...opting to live at the Warehouse, spending all his waking hours in the Records Room or doing inventory or perusing the Ancient Archives. And while he always had a slightly…off look about him, he never truly looked the part of the socially-inept hermit. Not with Leena keeping an eye on him.
But now, his hair is wild, his beard untrimmed. His clothes are wrinkled and don't seem to fit right anymore—he's lost weight. His complexion is pale, the lines in his face deeper than she remembers. His glasses are bent—he probably broke them at some point, and just didn't bother to get them fixed.
Your fault. A part of her says.
She doesn't make a counter argument.
"I'd never hurt Pete and Myka." she insists desperately. "It was just a Tesla grenade—you guys use Teslas all the time!" she glares the gun in Jane's hand. The Regent looks unimpressed. Claudia looks to Artie for support…hopefully, maybe naively. He momentarily makes eye contact. It's just a flash. Not even half a second, but she knows.
He's on your side.
She doesn't have a clue as to why…she certainly hasn't done anything to deserve it.
This is really happening.
Jane continues.
"Even if those charges were to be dropped, the remaining incidents would still be enough to have you bronzed."
"What?" Both Artie and Claudia shout. Trailer, who's been hiding under the desk, sticks his head out and barks. Claudia can't speak for Artie or the dog, but she knows that she herself can't even…can't even process the possibility…
Trapped. Trapped for centuries, unmoving in bronze…
It drove H.G. Wells insane.
And she's pretty sure she won't fare much better
"You…you can't be serious." She stammers, leaning forward in the desk chair, straining against Bat Masterson's handcuffs. "You…I thought you still needed a Caretaker! You can't bronze me!"
Unable to see, to feel…only able to think. Trapped in your own mind.
The Regent sighs, and Claudia doesn't even bother to hide her relief when she says: "You're right." She slumps back in her chair and releases the breath she'd been holding. She hears Artie settle back into his own chair, and she's fairly certain she hears a relieved sigh come from his direction.
"The Regents are in agreement that no action be taken against your person that might in some way interfere with being the Warehouse Caretaker."
Yeah…being encased in bronze might make it difficult. She decides not to say it out loud. The snarky, bitter card she's been playing hasn't worked so far. And she'll admit it: she's afraid.
"They've also made it clear that you are not to be forced into becoming the Warehouse Caretaker." Jane's fist clenches, her knuckles go white. "Physically forcing the bond might have negative effects."
Jane looks like she wants to continue…like there's something more to say. But she closes her mouth and looks away, glares at the floor. There's a sharp intake of breath from Artie, like he's just figured something out. It takes Claudia a second or two longer, but then it dawns on her.
"I can leave." The words fall out of her mouth, too good to be true.
"She can leave?" Artie sounds…sad?
"You can leave." Jane nods. Claudia blinks.
This can't be happening.
As if she hears Claudia's thought, Jane stands and strides forward, effortlessly removing the handcuffs. Claudia shakes out her numb wrists, rubs some feeling back into them. She looks at Jane and swallows.
"Just like that?" She asks.
"Just like that." Jane confirms.
She still doesn't believe her, but she stands anyway. Eyes the door. Her plan's up in flames, and she won't have the metronome, but...
Just go. It's the best offer you'll ever get. Find another way for Steve.
"Fine. I'm out of here," she declares, eager to leave behind Trailer's hurt look and Artie's disappointed frown and Jane's condescending gaze. She walks across the office as fast as she can manage without actually running, and has her hand halfway to the keypad—
"But,"
Her outstretched fingers curl into a fist.
Stupid.
"If you leave, it would be my responsibility as a Regent to keep an eye on you. You're a prospective Caretaker, after all...and we already lost you once."
Claudia doesn't turn around. Her heart rate spikes. Her pulse pounds in her ears.
"Jane, what—? " Artie starts to ask. Jane cuts him off.
"And I might reason that it wouldn't be safe for you to continue on as you are: Alone, a danger to yourself and others. You did display some rather concerning behaviors today. And you have a history of mental illness…"
She feels cold. Very, very cold. She struggles to keep her voice from shaking.
"Joshua was alive. I wasn't crazy—!"
"I'd have no choice but to have you admitted again. For your own safety."
"No!" Artie cries…but she can't even really hear it. The pounding in her ears is too loud…and her breathing is ragged, shallow…noisy. What Jane is suggesting, what she's threatening to do…
She feels claustrophobic. Pinned down. She's cornered without any options. It's too much like that night at the B&B…
Trapped.
Dimly, she hears Artie arguing with Jane…she's pretty sure Jane isn't even acknowledging his angry allegations. Her still-outstretched hand drops to her side. She unclenches her fist. Clenches it again. She tries to think, make a way out of this.
But her brain is stuck on a loop, unpleasant memories resurfacing.
Can't go back there. Can't go back. Over and over in her mind, she repeats it.
"Well, Claudia? Am I going to have to contact Dr. Mitchner?"
Somewhere in between the images of the psych ward, flashes of H.G. spring up. One conversation in particular:
"I'd hoped that the Bronzer could act as my time machine," she said sadly. "I've already discussed this at length with Myka but…I'd hoped to awaken in a new world. A better one."
"Well?" Jane's voice is firm, demanding. She wants an answer.
Caretaker? Or the bronzer…
Which is the real trap?
She doesn't know anymore. What she does know is that she doesn't have H.G.'s optimism.
She closes her eyes. Grits her teeth. Tells herself it won't be so bad…nothing can be as bad as a century encased in metal, right? Nothing can be as bad as Dr. Mitchner, right?
She turns, slowly makes her way back to the desk chair. Takes a seat, because she's pretty sure if she doesn't sit, she'll fall over. Trailer pads forward and rests his head on her thigh. Absently, she rubs his ears, but the action is slightly mechanical. Artie's hand on her shoulder barely registers.
"I'll stay." Her voice is hoarse. The words hurt.
"Excellent." Jane says. She sounds genuinely thankful. Gone is the all-powerful Regent act. Now that she's got what she wants, she's just plain old Jane again. "You made the right choice, Claudia. Really, it's for the best." She sounds so sincere about it…Claudia almost believes her. Almost. "I'll call Dr. Calder."
Jane pulls a Farnsworth from her pocket and heads towards the Records Room. The buzzing ring is clearly audible, even through the shut door.
BRRRZZZZZZT. BRRRRZZZZZRRRTT.
God, she still loves that sound, in spite of everything.
Artie's hand doesn't leave her shoulder. Hollowly, staring straight ahead, she mutters her question.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asks him. There's a rustle of fabric. He's shrugging. He states the answer plainly, like he's reciting one of his beloved history facts.
"I don't want another H.G. Wells on my hands."
xxxx
I know, I know. OOC Jane is evil! But, here's my reasoning for that: Well, first off, Claudia kinda screwed stuff up for the Warehouse team. (Next chapter will reveal what REALLY HAPPENED!) She's probably had to deal with those repercussions and it's kind of embittered her against the girl. Also, look at what lengths Mrs. Frederic went to when she was angry with Sally. SCARY.
Does this mean that Jane is all evil, all the time? Heavens no! I love Jane Lattimer! She's awesome! She's just very cranky and manipulative here, trying to force Claudia to get with the program. (Which can be a difficult job, right?) ANYWAYS, enough of my rambling! If you felt I didn't do Jane justice, please feel free to let me know. Or maybe you liked evil!Jane. Either way, I appreciate the input! NEXT UP! Things unravel in 2011….
