AN: Wow it's been a while. I'm so sorry guys, the weeks (and months) got away from me again. I've written another script, been overseas, my sister had a bad horse riding accident and was off her feet for a little while and I'm about to start my grad project to finish up my BA next year. I'm hoping once the new MSec season starts I'll be more motivated to work on (and finish!) these fics. Until then...
The only sound that accompanied the silenced gunfire from Coopers and his team was the soft thumps as bodies fell to the ground, guns clattering as they went. The four men outside hadn't even seen them coming as they were hit simultaneously by different weapons. The door to the warehouse was open before Henry had even passed the cars in the drive and the team filed in without breaking stride. The only two armed guards left inside were also taken by surprise as the team advanced through the empty space. Now inside the building, the muffled cries of a woman could be heard, and the team made a beeline straight for the door to their left down a flight of concrete stairs with Henry hot on their heels.
Henry recognised the muffled cries through their distress, and his heart stopped when they died out as they crossed the factory floor. The silence was deafening in the cavernous space. At least the noise meant someone was alive, and no matter how badly injured, just knowing they were still breathing was enough for him.
Coopers was in front of Henry as they surged forward, guns raised and all Henry wanted was to get through that door. He didn't even notice when the lights went out as he reached the top of the stairs. His night vision goggles still on, he held the gun in front of him in still-shaking fingers. He didn't have a direct line of sight to the door, but no-one hesitated when they reached it.
A bang rang out in the pitch black as the door burst open, a gunshot echoing off the walls as shrieks filled the air.
Darkness consumed Elizabeth and she was confused as to why. She heard the gunshot which still reverberated heavily off the walls and was sure it was for her. She didn't want to think or feel or breathe but couldn't decide if this was what death was like. She could still feel the throbbing pain of her battered face and abdomen. The burning in her lungs reminded her to take the breath she had been holding. The ringing in her ears began to subside to the thumping of her heart in her ribcage. It was still beating right there in her chest. But she didn't want to open her eyes, she didn't want to sit up. She simply sat there waiting for someone else to make the first move.
Through the ringing reverberation, she just made out a groan in front of her and a shriek to her right, but she couldn't see what was happening. Light reappeared around her, dancing across her eyelids but she couldn't bring herself to open them. The groaning continued and muffled cries came from somewhere in front of her along with the crackle of a radio.
"The Secretary is secure. I repeat, we have the Secretary."
Even then, she couldn't lift her head. She wanted to cry out, but it hurt too much to sob. Her hair had fallen in front of her face like a curtain, messy and bloodied. She could hear footsteps shuffling around but the voices were muffled and incoherent. It wasn't until someone touched her arm that she seemed to come to her senses.
"Don't!" She cried out, and the hand immediately retracted. It was then that she heard him.
"Elizabeth!" Her name was carried on running footfalls moving forward, echoing off the concrete.
Henry was focused on the blonde hair in front of him, recognising it even in her disheveled state. She was hunched over, still bound to the chair, breathing unevenly and shaking uncontrollably. He dropped to his knees in front of her, taking great care to be slow and gentle, even though he just wanted to scoop her into his arms.
"Elizabeth? I'm here babe. You're ok." He whispered to the top of her head. Henry put down the gun and pulled off his helmet, tossing it aside haphazardly. His face shone with sweat, his hair messy and his own hands shook with adrenaline. He tentatively placed a hand under her chin and lifted her head to meet his gaze.
Her face was splattered and smeared with blood. Strands of hair clung to her skin awkwardly and her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Her lip was split and swollen, and the cut above her brow would need stitches, but she was alive.
"Henry?" she choked, shaking violently.
He stroked her cheek just with his fingertips, pushing the bloody strands of hair off her face and out of her eyes. She was right there in front of him, breathing and talking, a little worse for wear, but she was alive. He didn't want to let her go, the warmth of her skin under his hand relieved so much tension he had held in every muscle of his body. All the fear he had contained since the phone call, and more so when she left him without a goodbye finally dulled in his chest.
"I'm here babe, I'm here. I've got you." He panted through the lump in his throat.
Another flood of emotion overcame her and she sobbed fresh tears of relief. She wanted to fall into his embrace but she couldn't find the energy to move. She still couldn't get enough air into her chest and she thought she was going to pass out.
Someone behind Henry held out a blade. "Dr McCord?" He took it gratefully and went first to her wrists. They were bleeding badly, swollen along the edges where she had fought against the restraints. Henry carefully slid the blade under each of the four ties to free her while she continued to shake from head to foot.
Elizabeth reached for Henry weakly, clutching at his vest and Henry threw his arms around her, pulling her to his chest. Her face hidden from view, her tears soaked into his collar as she continued to sob. The relief was overwhelming.
Elizabeth knew she couldn't stand. She could hardly feel anything below where the punches landed in her torso, but she wanted to be out of there. The rest of Coopers' team bustled around them as they collected the computer and Captain Baker, a medic tending to the guard who still lay on the floor. It all felt slightly surreal in that moment, as if she were watching the scene through a lense. Instead she closed her eyes through the tears and buried her face further into Henry's neck.
Henry seemed to sense her reluctance to stand and shifted to her side. "Come on babe, let's get you out of here," he said calmly and scooped her up into his arms with ease.
Her body seemed to sense it before her brain did. She knew then that she was safe. The adrenaline dipped and all the tension left her in a swift flood. Complete weakness overtook her body, trying to force her to let go. But she didn't want to let go. Elizabeth wanted to hang on to this moment in case this rescue was all a dream, a figment of her imagination. She didn't know where they were going, but feeling Henry's body warmth and hearing his laboured breathing as he climbed the stairs was enough for her.
They stepped out into darkness where flashing red and blue lights burned through the night and more people could be heard moving around them. Tyres crunched the gravel but Elizabeth didn't look up, she felt too weak to move. The chill in the air was apparent and she very quickly felt the cold spread through her. The lights from all the vehicles spun indistinctly.
"Here we are," Henry said, and she felt something soft beneath her as Henry placed her down on a waiting stretcher. She couldn't hold onto Henry anymore and didn't have much choice when half a dozen blankets were thrown over her. She fell back on the mattress, resorting to holding Henry's hand as she was pushed into the ambulance. Henry climbed in a moment later and took the seat beside her. The doors were slammed shut behind them and Elizabeth took a deep breath, glad Henry was by her side.
"How's Ali?" Elizabeth croaked, eyes searching Henry's face for an answer as the vehicle started to move in convoy with the police escort.
"She's ok. I left her with Isabelle." Henry replied. Elizabeth nodded, it only slightly eased the guilt in the pit of her stomach. She let herself sink further into the sheets, closing her eyes for just a moment.
"And Stevie? Jas?" Her eyes met Henry's again and they were brimming with tears.
"They're both fine. Everything's fine, now we found you." Henry squeezed her hand with his last words and the guilt rose into her throat.
She tried to blink away the tears. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left like that," the words fell from her without thought. She really meant it, she was so glad she was able to tell him in person. For a while back in that room, she wasn't sure she'd get that chance and he deserved it more than anyone.
A half smile curled Henry's lip, "I'd like to be mad at you, but I probably would have done the same."
Elizabeth smiled weakly, her blue eyes shimmering under the street lights flashing past. "I love you."
"Love you, too." Henry raised her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss over her knuckles. She sighed deeply under the blankets, allowing her eyes to slide shut once more, finally letting go.