Chapter 6
T/N: I had to split this one. He tried a side-by-side and I guess it didn't work for him so I found this one megachapter and split it into 5 & 6. Enjoy. Hope it answers all your idiot questions. Sorry, bad day. NIK
Sarah's Version of "What happened in Quito" (Unabridged)
Our mission was simple: go in, evaluate the threat and get out again. It had all gone to shit in the first 30 minutes and I got knocked unconscious by a guard Bryce had missed. He was supposed to handle the left flank and secure the door but he failed or thought he had and moved on.
I woke up on the dirt floor of a shed. My hands were bound behind my back with wire and I'd already lost the feeling in them. My feet were likewise bound but apparently not as tightly since I could still wiggle my toes and feel them. That would soon change.
I had a monumental headache and a thirst to match it and as I tried to look around and assess my situation I realized I was blindfolded…and most of my clothing was gone. I didn't feel any pain so they hadn't done much other than tie me up and blindfold me. So far, so good.
My time sense was off and it might have been an hour or a day before they remembered me and came to play. They'd redone the wiring with my hands in front of me. One dragged me upright and hung me from a hook in the ceiling with just my toes able to take the weight off my wire-bound hands. I never saw the punches coming, just the shock and pain. They never asked me a question, never said a word, they just kept punching me until I passed out.
I woke up on my belly and my face was in a pool of blood and vomit. I couldn't breathe through my nose since it was broken and the blindfold was off but my eyes were swelled shut so that didn't do me any good. My headache was back as was an incredible thirst. I knew the headache was from dehydration as well as from having my bell rung.
I wondered if Bryce was in another shed somewhere being interrogated or if he was dead. He wouldn't just leave me behind. We were lovers as well as partners. He'd never just abandon me. Bryce was either a prisoner or dead. He loved me. He'd told me he loved me. He would never leave me. Would he?
An unknown amount of time later, hours, days, I didn't know, my friends came back. This time they brought toys. Yippee.
The big one hauled me up and hung me from the hook and stroked my cheek and murmured 'poor baby' in Spanish and then hit me in the stomach a few times. I was gagging and retching and totally unprepared for the cattle prod they poked into my breast. The pain was intense and I must have screamed and annoyed them because one of them tore off my panties and shoved them into my mouth to gag me. I don't know how long they had their fun but I checked out shortly thereafter.
I came back in stages. I knew I was still alive, the incredibly disgusting taste of three-day-old panties fresh in my mouth and I was lying in a pile of my own shit. Apparently I'd lost bladder and bowel control during their prodding session and they'd lost interest and thrown me down on the shed floor. I was so humiliated. They don't cover these feelings at the Farm. I was ready to tell them anything they wanted to know if they'd just fucking ASK!
Bryce must be dead or a prisoner. There was no way he'd have left me. I cried for me and I cried for us but mostly I cried for me. I was afraid, I was willing to tell them anything and all I wanted was a drink of water and their questions. I'd screw their damned donkey for some water. No, I wouldn't. That was disgusting. I was losing it. I tried to think of the best times with Bryce but all I could think of were the times he'd used me to accomplish our missions. So I cried some more and finally I just gave up. May be I passed out or maybe I slept, I don't know.
Some one was touching me, very tentatively and I couldn't help myself. I was broken and all I could think of was avoiding the pain. I mumbled 'No, please, not again…' when he started to pick me up and he almost dropped me. Probably shocked by the stench.
And then I heard the words from the Voice. "Hey, beautiful, you're Ok, I got you and you're going home now. I would never let anything bad happen to you." An American voice saying the most beautiful sentences I'd ever heard and promising to take me home.
"I'm going to give you a shot of Demerol because I need you to be quiet and I don't want to cause you any more pain than these assholes have already caused. They're dead, a big one and a little one. They'll never hurt anyone again. I'll come back later in the week and pay the Jefe a visit and you'll be avenged. That appeals to you, right? Getting back at these bastards, even if it's second hand?"
"Now, you'll feel a little pinch but when you wake up you'll be safe. Sweet dreams, Blondie."
Sometime later I started to hurt all over and I was burning! Every scratch, cut and sore burned and I tried to get away from the source but strong hands held me and I heard his voice.
"Hey, beautiful, you're Ok, I got you and you're going home soon, back to your partner. I would never let anything bad happen to you. You're safe. I'm just cleaning you up. You're safe here. I'm not going to hurt you. Calm down. Relax and enjoy the special treatment. I don't do this for just anyone, y'know?"
I asked for water and I felt a little trickle across my lips from a bottle and I grabbed the bottle and tried to drink it all down. I choked and coughed and it was taken away from me.
"Not so fast, babe, you'll make yourself sick. You can have as much as you want, just not all at once. Here, take another sip."
He bathed me like I was a little baby. He was so gentle, whispering apologies when the soap would sting a cut and I'd hiss in pain. He kept draining and refilling the tub with hot water and he whispered 'sorry, but it needs to be done,' and he gently washed between my legs and then rolled me over onto his chest and washed my shoulders and back and then, another apology, between my butt cheeks. He gave me small amounts of water from time to time and drained the tub. I thought he was done but I was wrong.
He refilled the tub a last time and then tried to shampoo my hair with regular soap, doing a credible job but creating a rat's nest of snags and tangles and knots.
He got me out of the tub, gave me more water, and then wrapped me in a large towel and carried me to the bed where he patted me dry and then somehow found a hairbrush. I pressed myself against him, put my arms around him and started to cry. He'd been so gentle, apologizing for what, to him, were embarrassing moments for me but weren't. They'd been uncomfortable for him.
"Shhh. Don't cry. You're safe and…"
"Thank you," I said, "I'm Sarah. Thank you for saving me. I'm sorry for all the trouble. I need to get to the embassy. Can you take me?" I was still crying, a minute away from a meltdown.
"Shhh. Not right away. Your situation is…fluid. And I doubt anyone would recognize you. Besides, you don't want to meet up with your partner until the swelling goes down. No sense scaring the worthless bastard. He left you behind. There was no excuse. He left you behind."
The bitter tone of voice conveyed volumes about this man. He'd never leave a partner to her fate. He'd die trying to save her. Not like my partner.
"He did what he had to." I told him the intelligence was too time-sensitive to delay. I knew it was an excuse but I wouldn't turn on Bryce, I couldn't. I loved him and he loved me.
"I didn't see him standing in line to get you out though. Like I said. A worthless bastard." Again, the bitter tone of voice like he knew something I didn't.
"Bryce isn't like that at all. He loves me and I love him. We're partners in every sense of the word. He would have come back for me if he could. I know he would have. The mission must have gotten in the way."
"B – Bryce?" He sounded shocked and hollow.
"Yeah, Bryce Larkin. You two know each other?"
"No. Different Bryce. Let's get you into bed and I'll dress some of the nastier cuts. Are you hungry? Sorry, should have asked earlier."
"Yeah. I can't remember the last time I had anything to eat."
I must have dozed off because he woke me and put a plate on my lap and a fork in my hand. "Scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee. I'll.."
I couldn't hold the damned fork. My hands were still numb from the wire ties and so he fed me and after each bite he wiped my lips with a damp cloth. I was so startled by his gentleness that I asked him what he looked like. I knew he was taller than me, had a short beard and was well built. I'd felt the beard against my shoulders when he rolled me over to wash my back. He had large but gentle hands.
He lied to me. Told me he was short, fat, bald and old. I knew he was lying and called him on it. He sighed and said he had things to do and would be back shortly. He told me there was a .45 under the pillow but not to shoot him since it was "bad form".
I asked him, point blank, if he was leaving to arrange an extraction and he just sighed and told me he was going to buy me clothes, shampoo, hairbrush and a toothbrush and not to shoot him when he came back. He told me there was coffee and he left.
I wondered why he was so upset that Bryce hadn't tried to rescue me and that started me thinking about the whole situation. I fell asleep with questions on my mind that I needed answered when I saw Bryce.
I awoke to tremendous pain and someone pressing on my face. Instinct and training to over and I started throwing punches and heard the satisfying 'crunch and pop' of a bone breaking.
"Sarah, damn it, it's me. I just reset your nose. I figured it wouldn't be as traumatic if I did it while you were asleep. Damn it, stay here. I need a wash cloth or something."
He left but then came back and told me that he was putting a hot compress on my eyes and he'd be back with ice to reduce the swelling and to please not shoot him. I almost laughed until I remembered hitting him and hearing something break.
"I bought you some clothing. I had to guess at the underwear so don't feel obligated to wear it if it's uncomfortable. Also, a robe so that when you're on your feet you don't have to dress if makes it easier on you. You're bathing yourself from now on."
"What? No free peeks?" I was looking forward to seeing what my hero looked like. He took it wrong and told me in no uncertain terms that I shouldn't flatter myself, that he'd seen better and that he wasn't thrilled with a shit-covered woman sleeping in his bed.
"Wait, that's not what I meant. Wait, please!" But he was gone. Damn it. I had offended him with my smart mouth. I didn't mean peeks at me, I meant I'd get to see him!
I fell asleep and was awakened by him shaking my foot. He'd learned quickly.
"Time for some ice. It'll reduce the swelling and hopefully this time tomorrow you'll be able to open your eyes a little."
He left me with my ice packs and then returned with clothing. "Here, clothes. Please get dressed. You're a distraction."I could hear the humor in his voice. Well, except for a sheet, I was naked. I could hear him sigh again and then say he was going to cook dinner and that I should get dressed. I guess he thought my hesitation was an unsaid plea for privacy but actually I didn't think I could do it myself. I couldn't see and my hands were still numb. I was really worried about nerve damage.
I fumbled around and finally broke down and called for help. I could hear him running up the steps and enter the room. "What is it now, Agent?"
"I can't see what I'm doing and my hands still aren't cooperating. Can you help me, please?"
He sighed and handed me the robe. "Here's a robe. Wear that until you can see well enough to dress yourself. If you don't need anything else, I'm in the middle of cooking supper. Are you hungry?"
"I could eat. I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean it like that. I meant…"
"Doesn't matter, Agent. I'll be up with supper in a few minutes. Then you can soak in a hot tub if you like or just sleep until morning. No TV here but that hardly matters since you can't open your eyes yet. How do you feel otherwise? Trouble breathing? Anything I might have missed?"
"I'm fine. Go back to your cooking. I'll fend for myself." I still couldn't feel my hands and they were still swollen from the wire they'd used to bind me. I was worried about nerve damage.
He fed me chicken and rice and wiped my split lips carefully with a damp cloth. I felt him take my hands in his and begin to massage them, causing a delightful tingling in them as the blood flow increased. Oh, God, it was the best pain I'd ever felt. I started asking questions and all he'd say was 'Shhh, not now.'
I nodded off when he started massaging my feet and legs. It was the best meal I'd ever eaten.
I woke to my foot being shaken and, well, I'm definitely not a morning person. "What? What now?" I was a bitch before I had my two or three cups of coffee in the morning.
"It's after 10 in the morning, Sleeping Beauty, and I thought you might like a bath. Afterwards, we'll work on your cuts and another round of ice and warm compresses. You should be able to see now, but the swelling looks painful…and colorful." He snickered and I could only imagine what my face must look like.
"I got you shampoo but they didn't have conditioner. Sorry. So, I'll leave you alone for a bit. I have to take care of some things. Please, don't shoot me. If anyone, and I mean anyone, comes to the door, do not answer it. I shouldn't be more than 4 hours. Fuglencio's going to get a visit and I need to scope out my hide site. Later, Agent."
I was shocked. One man was going to…
"Wait, please. You don't have to do this. The Agency will handle it. That's why we were tasked to gather the intel."
He laughed and shook his head. I could barely crack open one eye but it was enough. Tall with curly brown hair, brown eyes. He was cute, no, he was handsome. And he had the look of the devil about him. I figured he was 30 or so. The beard made it difficult to assess.
"I know. I'm the 'Agency will handle it' guy. I won't be long. Enjoy yourself. There's great sun in the patio and there's cold chicken in the fridge or you can scramble eggs. Gotta go."
"Wait, please. I – I don't know your name. I have to call you something."
"Need to know, Agent Walker, need to know."He turned and left. If I'd had one of my knives I'd have stuck him in the ass. He was so aggravating.
He wasn't back by dark and I was beginning to worry. I didn't know where I was; I had no money and no way to contact my partner or the embassy. I started looking around and decided to do what I do best…snoop.
He'd left his cell phone, his wallet and money on the kitchen table and a note:
Agent Walker:
I don't know when I'll be back. If I'm not here by daybreak
I'm not coming back. You dial 334411 and then hit speed
dial 10 for your partner. He'll know what to do.
Tell Bryce Kappa said 'Tell Ellie I love her.'
There was no signature. Ellie? Who the hell was Ellie? I felt a frisson of jealousy. Was he married? Have a girlfriend? How did he know Bryce? He said he didn't. Did he lie to me?
He wasn't back by midnight and I was frantic with worry. How could he do this to me? How could he just leave me like this? I could see out of both eyes by now and I was watching the clock in the kitchen slowly move its hands toward 4am.
I heard a vehicle pull up and stop, a door slam and then someone messing around with the locks on the double doors leading into the villa courtyard. I hobbled up to the bedroom, got the pistol and hobbled back down again. The Land Rover had been pulled into the courtyard and he was closing and locking the doors of the villa.
I couldn't help it. I was so relieved. I rushed over and hugged him and…kissed him with all the fervor my relief could muster. I'd been so worried. When we broke off the kiss I stepped back and smacked him across the face. He just shook it off and then pushed past me and walked upstairs.
I followed him as quickly as I could. My feet were still swollen despite his incredible massage. I called out to him to wait for me but he just walked into the bathroom and closed and locked the door. I was looking around for something to pick the lock with when I saw that the front of my robe was blood stained, probably from when I was hugging him! I banged on the door for him to open up but, of course, he ignored me. I could hear the bathtub filling and I had all kinds of images of his injuries.
"Damn you, open this damned door or… or I'll shoot the damned lock off!" I pulled back the slide on the pistol and pointed it at the lock and heard the clicking of the lock being unlocked and then the water turn off and a deep sigh.
I opened the door and saw him, his face still in camouflage paint, lower himself into the tub then lean out over the tub and try to reach the first aid kit on the floor. Training kicked in and I grabbed the kit and told him 'I will do that. Lie back and let me see what you've done to yourself. You're late and I was scared out of my mind.'
"Agent, if you greet Bryce that energetically, he'll be late all the time just for the benefits. I kinda forgot to duck. It's a through and through so if you could just stitch up the 'in' and then staple the 'out' I'll be fine. I already dumped a sulfa packet in it. Got sloppy. It's time for me to get out. Next time I might not be so damned lucky."
"You dumb ass! You probably have muscle damage. It tore clear through your lat muscle. Idiot! Three inches to the left and you'd be dead!"
"Yeah, but three inches to the right and it would have missed. Please cut the chatter. There're some Novocain injectors over in my kit. I could use a few right about now. Shock's wearing off and the pain is setting in."
I hurried with the injectors and as soon as he said he couldn't feel my prodding I set to work. I cannot sew but I did a fair job of it. The staple applicator made the backside easy. It would heal into a star shape.
I slipped off the robe and put it in the sink to soak and got into the tub with him and washed off the blood and then sat behind him as he had me and just held him. I'd been so frightened even though he'd left me a safety net.
"How is it you have my partner's cell in your speed dial, Mr. Secret Agent Man?"
"Need to know. I have the need, on occasion, and you do not have the need to know so put the 'seduction' on hold and let's get out of here. The stuff's wearing off and I suddenly am dead tired."
"Wait. I need to see something." I started washing off the camouflage paint and he grabbed my wrist.
"No. Some things are best left as they are. I don't want you to see me. I don't want you to remember me. After you hit the embassy I'll be gone and that's how it should be. No memories, OK? Go back and absolutely demand that your partner never leave you behind again. You're too precious a commodity to risk, even if you do look like an albino raccoon."
Sometime during the following night he shot me up with Demerol and dumped me off on the Embassy steps. The Marine guards never saw a thing. He'd 'tipped off' CNN, Fox and the local stations and I knew then that he'd kept his word. Nothing bad had happened to me.
Bryce greeted me like a long-lost love and made sure I knew how much he loved me and regretted what he'd had to do.
"Bryce, who's Ellie?" He turned pale and then just looked at the floor. After a minute he got up and left. I didn't see him until the next morning when we were scheduled to fly back to DC.
While we were waiting in line to clear customs through diplomatic means, I asked him again, 'Bryce, who's Ellie?' and he just looked at me and said "She's someone I used to know, a relative."
That told me nothing at all so I went for the throat. "Bryce, who's Kappa and why would he ask you to tell Ellie he loved her?"
He coughed on the water he was drinking and fixed me with a glare. "Forget you ever heard that name, agent. Forget what he looked like and forget who rescued you. I'll tell you this and this only: he's who I want to be like – when I grow up. Now, that's it. No more questions about this, ever. Besides, I told you, he's dead. Fuglencio's deputies took him out in revenge for popping their Jefe."
From that moment on I never trusted Bryce Larkin entirely nor did I ever forget the mysterious man who saved me from certain death and who avenged me at the cost of his own life. He was a better agent, a better man, than Bryce Larkin could ever hope to be…even if he grew up.
Whenever I had trouble sleeping, was nervous or just plain scared or hurting I always felt better and safer and more confident when I remembered 'Hey, beautiful, you're Ok, I got you and you're going home soon. I would never let anything bad happen to you' and the man who'd said it to me. I think I love him. How's that for dumb. Spies don't fall in love.
