Heya everyone! I have excuse for how long it has taken me to update but I was planning on updating during my Christmas break but I lost my notebook with the seventy pages that this story has grown into so I am updating…now.
Disclaimer: I don't want to talk about it….but if I did, it would be obvious I don't own any of this.
ARARARARARAR
1:50.
Alex grew restless, debating if going early was a smart move.
Why not? I can prepare the area in case Yassen brings any surprises with him.
He threw on sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt as quietly as possible before leaving the hut. He made his way soundlessly, taking in the forest sounds. Striding to the tree Yassen had used to restrain Gray, Alex leaned casually against the trunk though his senses were on high alert as always. He has anxious; anxious about meeting a man that should have been dead and works for the maniac that tried to adopt him. Odd couple.
Rustling in the overgrowth announced the man's arrival though Alex knew he could have approached with no warning. Icy blue eyes appraised him, scanning the surrounding area out of habit. Once satisfied that no one was around, Yassen turned back to Alex.
"Nice to see you again, Alex. You've grown considerably since I last saw you."
Alex considered the man in front of him, the last link to his father and the most dangerous assassin alive. "I thought you were dead. It's somewhat disconcerting when dead people start appearing in your life."
"Believe me, I thought so as well. But Alex, we need to talk. I am on a mission and I wanted to give you the chance to make it easy."
"For who?" Suspicion closed in, Alex remembering Blunt speaking of Sarov and a new scheme that Yassen was apart of.
"For you and your partner." Yassen's voice was clam but stern, secretly hoping Alex would just come with him but knowing that hope was futile.
"Why? Don't you work for Sarov?" Alex began to put a few pieces together and not liking any of them.
"Alex, in a week's time, I had planned to bring both you and the girl to Russia where you'll be free from SCORPIA."
Alex had figured most of the puzzle but was thrown off guard with Yassen's last statement. "Wait. Gray is coming too? No, she stays." Alex tried to make sense of why Gray would be needed but came up empty.
"It's out of your hands, Alex. Sarov wants both of you and it's more crucial now that SCORPIA has seen you together. You are training her, Alex. That would be a red flag to anyone." Yassen's eyes were hard, unmovable, needing him to see how needed this was. But Alex refused to believe that it was necessary. He would just need to push harder.
"I will make sure Gray never leaves this camp under anyone's order except MI6. I will not gamble with her life."
The assassin looked quizzically at the teen. "You care for her." Alex clenched his jaw, evidence of the truth. "You had your chance to let her escape out of this life, more than one in fact. Now she is in whether she knows it or not and this game is dangerous. Sarov just wants to make sure you both are not manipulated by SCORPIA or MI6 and that your skills are being utilized to their full potential."
"My answer is final; leave Gray alone and I'll come peacef-" Yassen raised his hand, halting his rant. Soft noises emanating form the side of the house reached their ears, both soldiers keyed for action.
Alex took, the lead, the scene before him making him halt mid step.
Gray, dressed in black sweats, was half out of her window, her legs dangling four feet above the ground. Yassen laid a hand on his arm, indicating that Alex should remain where he was. After all they had spoken of, Alex refused to allow him to proceed.
"Alex, you have a week before it's time. She still has much to learn before meeting Sarov." With that he pushed past as a shadow, waiting patiently as Gray wriggled clumsily out of her window.
Her feet on the ground, she turned to the clearing and began to stride carefully forward, unaware of Yassen and Alex. She only was given a few paces before the assassin snuck behind her, trapping her arms with one of his and covering her mouth with his other hand. To her credit, she didn't scream but struggled fiercely. But Yassen's hold never weakened and she was half dragged to the back of the hut. Alex watched in the shadows surprised at her control.
When Yassen had wrestled his captive to the back, he released her but kept one arm in his grip.
Too busy struggling to notice her captor's identity, Gray froze at the sight of the man in front of her. Icy blue eyes regarded her emotionlessly, his presence commanding and just as dangerous as before. He appeared relaxed but she could almost feel the pent up energy that threatened to be released. Gray took all of this in and shuddered. She would never win against someone with his prowess.
Breaking the silence, Gray's voice was timid and small. "Who are you?"
"A friend," he stated simply. A snort sounded from the shadows, Gray instantly alert for whoever had made the sound. Yassen however did not react to Alex's outburst. Before Alex could show himself, Gray looked anxiously about.
"Are you with Lance?" Even in the dark, she appeared innocent, a civilian in the world of spies. Both men were taken aback by her question, both not knowing where it stemmed from.
"Why do you ask?" Yassen's voice was almost mechanical though Alex thought he heard a softening in his voice. About as likely as he was to shoot himself in the foot.
"I did what you asked, so you've won but do whatever it is you're planning to do away from the cabin. They have nothing to do with this." Yassen felt her tremble. Who did she think he was?
Alex chose that moment to reveal himself, watching as Gray's eyes became hopeful but turned to panic in an instant.
"Get away from-"
"Gray, it's alright. No one is going to hurt you." He let her digest his statement before proceeding. "You've already met Yassen." The man nodded and stepped back, releasing her arm from his steely hold. "Now what were you talking about Lance?" Two sets of eyes drilled into her, unwavering and demanding answers. Should she tell them? She didn't think so because they would stop her, but she hated lying to them, especially Alex. And because it was obvious when she was lying. But she couldn't chance Lance and his buddies finding her with K-Unit nearby.
"I was going to the lavatory. Why, what did you think I was doing?" Gray placed what she hoped was a guileless expression on her face, purposefully not mentioning Lance. Obviously her explanation wasn't good enough because both men still looked expectantly at her. She just hoped she still had time to get there.
"Gray, we-" Alex began but was interrupted.
"What time is it?" Appearing nonchalant in her question, both soldiers read the anxiety and fear in her eyes.
"Look at me." The command came from Yassen, firm and determined. When Gray gazed at his shadowed face, her resolve to keep silent withered. "Where is Lance?" His eyes would not release hers.
"He-I-um-" She closed her eyes, unable to escape. Wordlessly, she handed the assassin the piece of notebook paper sporting Lance's sloppy scrawl. Alex read over Yassen's shoulder, squinting in the dim light. Both men lifted their gaze to her face.
Alex tried at an emotionless mask but confusion and anger boiled in his eyes. "You and Lance-"
"NO!" Gray couldn't react fast enough, nausea swirling in her stomach at the thought. "No."
"Then what is this?" Yassen's cool voice was calm and controlled.
Gray took a breath. "When Lance…..met me in the mess hall, he…slipped it in the back of my shirt." She dropped her eyes as if it was her fault. She felt more than saw Alex stepping towards her, firmly taking her chin in his hand.
"None of this is your fault. It's mine. I'll go settle this." He let his hand drop and made a move to venture to the bathhouse when Yassen's voice halted his steps.
"You're playing into their hands." It was a profound statement that did not require physical action to stop him. Alex rounded on him, knowing he was right but resisting the admission of his hotheadedness.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Do you really think Gray means more than a way to get to you? You have foiled SCORPIA's plans on multiple occasions, not her." Yassen's voice hardened. "You only have five days now."
Gray was at a loss, oblivious to the conversation of her future. Alex's face darkened as Gray waited for hints as to what they were speaking of.
"No way," he growled, sounding dangerous.
"It's not a choice," Yassen replied evenly.
"You have no right to dictate her future! She stays here. If SCORPIA wants me fine, but she will not be apart of it." Realization dawned on Gray, causing her to step back, away from the anger boiling between the two men.
"Would you rather it be tonight?" Yassen's voice was low and furious, his eyes daring Alex to defy him.
"We had a deal, Gregorovich. I haven't even told her the mission yet. I'm to train her and she is my responsibility."
"Sarov has made her my responsibility," replied the Russian evenly, his betraying the emotions his body language and tone did not. His statement stopped Alex in his rampage, confusion and anger mingling in his gaze.
"What does he have to do with her anyway? Does he want her to get to me?"
Thinking it might be a good time to cut in, Gray steeled herself to their hostile expressions. In as loud a voice as she could muster, which was very soft given her shock and uncertainty, Gray addressed her partner. "Alex, you knew this was the reason I was brought here. To be your partner. To help you achieve your mission." Both men turned to regard her with surprise but quickly turned back to each other, untrusting.
"Sarov needs her for…tactical reasons," revealed Yassen, knowing no matter what, they were coming with him to Russia. "That is all you need to know right now."
"You think that I'll just let her go with you because of 'tactical reasons?'" Alex's voice rose in an attempt to make the assassin see. What both men missed was how Gray slipped, step by agonizing step, away from them, knowing she was the problem. What if giving herself over was the best choice? Yassen most likely could fend for himself and Alex too but whoever this SCORPIA was, backup was mostly likely on its way and if something didn't happen now, they would come looking for trouble.
The two continued to argue as Gray slipped away. Or tried anyway.
Before she was even ten feet from them, Yassen turned to find her backing up slowly. Both men strode towards her in powerful steps giving no chance for escape. How could she settle this? "Just let me be a distraction." Gray turned her pleading gaze to Alex. "Then Yassen can get you far away from here and SCORPIA, whoever they are. You'll be safe." She felt tears pooling in her eyes and lifted her gaze to the sky, a dark ocean sparkling with stars in between rolling clouds. It was getting ready to rain.
The trill of a phone sounded in the night, breaking the terse silence that followed Gray's pronouncement. Neither party had disagreed but Yassen and Alex both did not believe giving Gray to the sharks was a remotely good idea. Yassen proceeded to pull out a sleek flip phone that was state of the art by the look of it. He turned his back to the teenagers, appearing completely engrossed in the conversation though Alex knew better. He knew that Yassen had an ear in their direction and if they made a break for it, he wouldn't be far behind. Alex had bridged many gaps between boyhood luck and manhood skill in his SAS training but nothing could compare to what Yassen was. He was the best.
"Yes, sir, they are here in the camp." A pause. "Yes, I have made contact." Alex couldn't make out the voice on the other end of the phone but had an idea that the general was on the other end of the call. "She is everything we need, sir." Gray's stomach began to churn anew at the mention of 'she' knowing it was of her he spoke of.
Alex couldn't resist any longer. He stalked up to the assassin and held his hand out for the phone. Gray observed his muscles tense as he made his way to the one lifeline to his past, his strong jaw clenching with tension.
Yassen murmured a few more seconds and then handed it over.
"Sarov." Alex steadied his breathing, his heart racing though he tried to hide it from Gray and Yassen.
"Alex, how good to hear from you. How is training going? I heard that your pupil is impressive." A shallow chuckle could be heard as Alex clenched his teeth.
"She has nothing to do with this life, Sarov. Leave her out of anything you have planned." He tried to sound stern but his anxiety could be heard through the phone.
"Why are you fighting so hard to keep her out of a life you helped get her into? If you didn't want to involve her you should have let her go the first day when she tried to run." Alex could picture the sardonic smile on the madman's face, victory sweet on his tongue. But Alex couldn't rely on a lunatic who thought he could be his adoptive father. He couldn't even muster surprise that he knew about the first day. He was right; Alex hadn't cared if Gray was forced into his world or not. He had been and it worked out all right in the end he supposed. But Gray was still innocent and kind and vulnerable…oh, he couldn't go there. Getting involved meant feeling and that was one thing he told himself he would never do. There was devotion and camaraderie, but emotional attachment; that was too much.
"You're right, Sarov. I should have let her go." He looked to Gray, her face pale in the luminous moonlight. He tried to convey how sorry he was for mixing her up in his world but he couldn't; he didn't know how.
"Alex, come to-"
"Fine, but Gray stays." He would take no other solution, his mind resolute.
"I'm sorry but I cannot-"
"Fine," interrupted Alex firmly. He would not be pushed around. He may be jeopardizing the mission but it was him they wanted, not her. She would just be locked up somewhere as leverage against Alex if he went with Sarov with Gray in tow. He would get her somewhere safe and then give himself up to Sarov for whatever plans he had conjured in his twisted head. That was the mission after all.
Yassen took the phone from Alex as he hung up without giving Sarov a chance to answer. Gray didn't know what to do, the tense silence hanging between the three of them, almost unbearable.
It had been way more than fifteen minutes. Gray's internal clock screamed at her to act or make a decision at least before something unpleasant happened.
Almost reading her mind, Yassen said quietly, "Sarov will take care of Lance and his cronies. Go back inside, I'll see you again soon." With that he dismissed her, turning his back to her and faced Alex completely.
Fine, thought Gray. Have your guy talk.
She stalked back to the hut and jumped unsuccessfully under her window, attempting to get in the way she had exited. With no crates or stacked wood anywhere near her window, she continued to grasp at the window ledge mere feet from her fingers. She was out of sight of the men and decided not to bother them. She had run five miles in the rain and camped out in the perpetual wetness as well; what was another night.
She settled under her window and drew her knees to her chin, her arms wrapping protectively around her legs. Almost instantly she gave in to the calming sounds of the forest, surrendering to the inky blackness of oblivion.
ARARARARARA
So, no action again but there is just so much to do still and I wanted Yassen to reveal some things to Alex even if it's not clear to you all….. I feel somewhat devious. Hehee. Anyway, I hope it wasn't too boring for you and I am sorry for not updating sooner. Please review, because if I don't get enough reviews that tells me no one is reading the story and liking it enough to tell me so. I have very low self-esteem and need continual assurance that I'm doing well (wink wink hint hint). Is the guilt thing working?
Cailiean44