Title: Scars of the Past
Chapter 10 – A Tough Interrogation
"Wordy this can't be…how can Spike not have anything?" Donna moans as Wordy hangs up with Spike.
"Because obviously this guy Chuck isn't your run of the mill baddie," Wordy huffs before his fists slams down onto the table, making Ed's busted phone slightly jump. "He…Spike's still looking but…there were three cars that were similar and now he's running the tags on all…they come up as regular people and…"
"And none of them are named Chuck Brandson," Donna shakes her head. "Do you honestly think Ed went willingly?"
"No," Wordy replies without hesitation. "He might have allowed some emotions to flare but he wouldn't have gone…"
"Even if he thought he…"
"He would have left…something. His phone was busted…the blood…the gun. He…"
"What other options do we have?" Donna asks softly just as the phone rings again.
"Let's see…Spike…did you find anything?" Wordy asks in desperation.
"Maybe…"
XXXXXXXX
NO! Ed tries to shout in vain as Chuck smiles at Clark.
Ed's body starts to thrash as Chuck nears Clark's captive frame, his brain pushing past the pain from the small patch of burnt skin now stretched taut over the surface of his hand; his fingers desperate to cut away the duct tape and at least get his arms free.
But just before Chuck can do any further damage to Clark, a large horn blast is heard two doors down, stopping Chuck in his tracks; Ed's fingers taking advantage of their merciless captor heading toward the covered window to frantically claw away at the tape still keeping his wrists together.
"Damn," Chuck curses as he turns off the lights; bathing them all in darkness, but giving Ed the needed advantage. Upset he's unable to tell Clark that he was nearly free, Ed continues to desperately pick at the tape, his arms pulling and his brain yelling that he could feel the tape starting to strain, it wouldn't be long now.
Now move! His brain shouts as soon as his wrists snap free; the jagged edge instantly landing on the tape keeping his feet bound; the gag of course being last.
"Why do I…hear…" Chuck's voice asks in hasty frustration as he flips the lights back on and see's Ed almost free. "DAMN YOU LANE!" Chuck shouts as he charges toward Ed with his knife poised and ready; Clark watching helplessly.
Just as Ed manages to get his feet free, Chuck's body slams into his, the two of them rolling away from Clark as he pulls his bound feet up before they could hurt Ed. Ed yanks the tape from his lips just in time for them to emit a heavy gasp due in part to a heavy blow on his right side from Chuck's thick fist.
Ed counters with a knee to the groin, an angry growl following as he tries to pull himself free and try to gain the upper hand.
At the same time, the flickering of the lights did draw out a rather nosey neighbor, the same person who had heard the angry shouting earlier and then finally decided to call 9/11; the same call that Spike had intercepted when he was checking one of the three addresses for the mysterious sedans that had left Ed's apartment parking lot. Help is on the way.
Chuck grabs the back of Ed's jacket and yanks it backward, the knife now lying on the ground a few feet away. Ed's arms flail in the air as he tries to pull himself free; his teeth gritting as he is yanked backward onto his back, looking up at Chuck just as Chuck's fist sails through the air. Ed rolls to the side; Chuck's fist connecting with the cement and pulling back with a foul curse as a few droplets of blood are left behind from the skinned knuckles.
Chuck manages to twist himself around and dive for the knife the same time as Ed; Chuck spying the cut he had made earlier on the top of Ed's hand and brining his knee down on top of it, causing the thin scabbing to break and Ed's lips to cry out in agony. Ed brings his leg up and knees Chuck in the back, sending him forward and the knife clattering to the ground.
But just before Chuck can make another move, the three of them hear sirens approaching and Chuck knows he's out of time. With one last shove of his boot on Ed's back, sending Ed back to the floor on his belly, Chuck twists to his right and bolts for the table, gathering up a duffle bag of stuff, leaving Clark's knapsack, minus what he came for and then hurries for the door, Ed already on his feet and trying to get after him.
Ed grabs at the duffle bag, trying to pull Chuck back as they both tussle in the doorway.
"Time's up Chuck."
"Maybe for you Lane," Chuck growls as he grabs the gun from his bag and aims it at Ed, forcing Ed to duck a few seconds before he's shot; the distraction allowing Chuck to escape into the back alley with the duffel bag. Ed gives chase, reaching the back alley only to stare at the empty space before him; a few seconds later a dark SUV with flashing lights comes speeding toward him.
"Ed!" Sam rolls down his window; him and Jules in this SUV and Wordy and Donna in the one in the front.
"Chuck…went south…on foot."
"Copy," Sam nods as he pulls away, knowing Ed's in good and capable hands.
Ed rushes back into the garage, hearing Wordy calling his name but wanting nothing more than to get Clark free of his terrible confinement.
"I got you Clark," Ed whispers as he kneels at his side; the knife now in his grasp and quickly cutting away the tape keeping him restrained. "Hold on son…I got you."
"Ed!" Donna states excitedly as pushes through the doorway into the garage with Wordy in tow. She swallows back a small gasp as she looks at Ed's roughed up shape just as he frees Clark and pulls him into his grasp; Clark lightly sobbing and nearly collapsing in his father's strong grasp.
"We're okay," Ed whispers as Wordy crouches beside him. Ed looks up at Donna and offers her a weak frown; her eyes zooming in on the dried blood around his nose and mouth and then down at the horrible looking cut on his hand. But it's not until she sees the puffy red skin beside it that her stomach tightens.
"What happened here?" She asks weakly as Clark looks up with red rimmed eyes.
"He…tried to kill us," Clark whispers before slumping back into Ed's comforting embrace.
"What'd he want?" Wordy wonders as he helps Ed and Clark slowly stand up; Ed's wince not lost on his concerned friend.
"Clark what's missing from the bag?" Donna asks softly as she holds up the ripped knapsack.
"You need to get that looked at," Wordy offers in concern; his words drawing Donna's gaze down to his hand.
"I'm fine I just need…Clark what's missing?"
"Just the letter…from my mom," Clark softly laments. "What he said earlier…"
"Clark we'll talk about it back a…"
"You think I'm lying right? You believed his proof?"
"Chuck has proof?" Wordy asks weakly.
"He…"
"He showed him a recording of me saying things….but…" Clark stammers. "They were lies."
"Let's get out of here," Ed's uninjured hand rests on Clark's back as he gently leads him out of the garage, toward the front, Wordy on the phone to Greg and telling him that Ed and Clark are safe but Chuck's still on the loose. Donna helps Clark into the back as Wordy takes Ed aside before they get into the SUV.
"You hurt anywhere else?"
"No this…this is just a surface cut. Wordy if he wants money he can't collect until Clark is dead."
"He said that?"
"He did," Ed replies as he turns and looks back at the house.
"What else did he say? Did he have real proof?"
"He had…damn, you and I have had heated arguments and…people say things…things they don't mean. He recorded Clark saying he wanted his parents dead but it was taken completely out of context. But…"
"But it could be used as solid proof?"
"It's just one tape recording. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Why the letter…that's all he took."
"Must be something on there that he can use…even the numbers to a safety deposit box or…location of a will…" Wordy ponders as he looks at Ed's weary expression. "Come on…I'm gonna take you two home and…"
"Wordy, Chuck is out there and…"
"And Donna and I will head back to the barn and get Spike to…"
"I can't go back to the apartment. It's…I don't want Clark to see the mess…Chuck made," Ed argues back.
"The apartment is cleaned," Wordy informs him, getting a surprised glance from Ed in return. "Well we had to do something while we waited. Ed there is nothing for you to do at the barn but you know you hafta talk to Clark."
"Wordy…."
"And the apartment is a lot less intimidating," he interjects with a truthful statement. "You need to talk to him."
"I know," Ed replies as he turns and looks at the darkened window of the SUV that Clark was on the other side of. "I just um…Wordy I nearly lost him tonight and…"
"You didn't."
"I allowed…my emotions to take over."
"Figured you didn't go willingly," Wordy slightly smirks. "He needs you right now."
"As what? A cop? Wordy I need answers and…the last thing he needs is me badgering him abo…"
"A father first…and then Constable Lane can take over and get what he needs; without badgering him."
"A father…he needs a real family…I'm not…Wordy I can't do this. I just…"
"Hey relax okay? I can't imagine what Chuck said and you having to just…"
"Sit there and listen?"
"Okay fine," Wordy nods.
"Wordy he hit him okay? He was angry and…he hit him. And I couldn't stop him."
"You saved his life…and yours."
"It was still tough to watch."
"And I'll bet it wasn't easy for Clark to watch him being so rough with you either."
"I wasn't worried about me."
"I would have been scared for him too okay. Especially with everything Chuck was saying, but now you need to give him your full attention and make him open up to you."
"Chuck's still out there and with him…"
"Even Chuck has to take tonight off. I'll call Spike on the way. This is about money. No bank is open right now so if it is a safety deposit box then he can have something in place for tomorrow. This has to do with money and if there are paper's involved then nothing can happen tonight. Spike is monitoring everything. It can wait."
"Wordy…"
"Tonight is over," Wordy replies softly as he looks at Ed's weary expression. "Come on. We'll talk more later. You look like you're about to fall down flat. Come on now."
Ed merely nods as he climbs into the front seat and then turns and looks at Clark. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Clark answers with a small nod; Ed's concerned expression then switching to Donna. She offers him a strained smile but he can see the concern in her warm blue eyes for him and their future. Chuck Brandson is still out there and as long as he's allowed to roam free, none of them are safe.
Ed takes the soft Kleenex from Donna and gently dabs the top of his hand, biting back a wince that isn't lost on anyone in the dimly lit cabin of the moving SUV.
"I'm okay," Ed informs them quietly. "Just a small cut."
They reach the apartment and Wordy waits while Ed, Donna and Clark head inside; Donna wanting to just take a look at Ed's hand and then head back with Wordy, giving Ed and Clark their space. Once inside, Ed breathes a sigh of relief as he enters the quiet abode and doesn't see any signs of the struggle except the pieces of his busted phone and gun on the kitchen counter.
Clark heads down the hallway into his small room and closes the door; Ed's weary frame leaning against the wall and looking at Donna with a defeated expression.
"I can't do this…this parenting thing on a daily basis…I just…"
"Come with me," her soft whisper matches his tone, as she gently takes him by the arm toward the bathroom and makes him wait while she retrieves the first aid kit. "What did he do to you," her soft lament is heard as she looks up into his anxiety-filled sapphires; her hand tenderly resting on his cheek.
Before either of them can utter another word, Ed pulls her into his arms and just holds on a few seconds, before pulling back and giving her a small nod.
"Okay…this is going…Ed what did he do?"
"A cut and a burn…just clean it and…ahhh damn," he curses in pain as the cool cleaning solution bites at his tender wound.
"Sorry," she offers again sadly but continues.
"I don't know what to say…to Clark. Tonight was hell and I…"
"Yes you do. I know you're afraid. You care about him Ed and that's why this is scary, but it's also a good thing. I'm sure Wordy said this or Greg but…just be with him tonight…comfort him and…and I guess take it from there."
"Okay," Ed softly groans as she applies some soothing gel to the small burn and then some soft gauze to the cut that had thankfully tried to heal over again.
"It's a surface wound," she tells him as she wraps some more padding and then a soft bandage to keep it all in place. "Just…don't get it wet."
"Thanks."
"Wordy said there's pizza in the fridge."
"Am glad he came home and found it…well like it was when he did."
"Me too," Ed looks at her with a serious expression. "I'll call you later."
"Okay."
Ed walks Donna to the door and gives her a small kiss and a squeeze of her hand. She takes it upon herself to close the door, wanting Ed to get back to Clark and spend the rest of the night with his son. Ed looks down the quiet hallway before taking in a deep breath and then heading toward Clark's room.
"You descent?" Ed knocks softly.
"Yeah," Clark mentions as Ed pushes the door open and then looks at Clark with a heavy frown. Father first…cop later, Wordy's words instantly barge into his mind to make sure that he followed them. Ed slowly eases his weary frame down onto the small bed beside his son, looking at the object in Clark's fingers; a small picture of him and his mom and stepdad; a lump of emotion forming in his throat.
"I miss them," Clark laments as he looks at Ed with a teary eyed expression, instantly shattering Ed's heart in a thousand tiny pieces.
"I know you do," Ed sighs as he wraps his arm around Clark's shoulders and pulls his trembling frame closer into him. "I know."
"I didn't want…them dead. When I said that…I was angry and I just…"
"I know you didn't. I know that Clark. I know Chuck was lying," Ed twists his head and looks at Clark with a serious expression; Clark looking up with a tear stained face. "That blood on your face…Clark did he cut you anywhere?"
"I'm okay."
"Clark where?" Ed presses a bit firmly.
"My side. Then he um…he pressed the knife…to my face," Clark looks back down, his frame shrinking in Ed's grasp. "It's nothing."
"Damn," Ed curses as he gives Clark another comforting hug before he slowly stands up and heads for the bathroom and then comes back with the small first aid kit. "I let Donna help me…" he holds out his bandaged hand. "Please let me help you?"
Clark looks at Ed's bandaged hand and then up at Ed's worried expression. "Did it hurt….you know when he…burnt your hand?"
"It did," Ed answers in truth. "Do you…can you take off your sweater? Clark it's okay…this is hard for me also but if you are cut then I should at least tend to it."
"Okay," Clark finally agrees as he slowly stands up and then lifts up his sweater; revealing the small ugly cut that looked worse thanks to the fabric that smeared the blood.
"This will hurt," Ed tells him gently as he opens a cleaning wipe and then starts to brush it over Clark's smooth skin, frowning as Clark's lean stomach sucks in and his lips utter a small gasp. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Clark replies with a small wince as Ed cleans up the small cut and then places a band aid over it.
"Just keep it…dry," he concludes and then smirks.
"What?" Clark inquires in haste.
"Donna said that to me…guess it just rubbed off."
"She seems um…really nice."
"She is. I care about her a lot."
"Do you…love her?"
"I do," Ed answers in truth as he sits back down beside Clark again. "Clark…what Chuck said…"
"He's ly…"
"No I mean about the inheritance and stuff. He only took the letter from the knapsack and went through a lot of trouble to get it. What was in it? Did you read it?"
"I started and then stopped…it was um…she said I should read it after she…"
"She died?" Ed adds; Clark nodding softly.
"I couldn't read the rest. If there was something on it I didn't see it."
"Clark I'm so sorry," Ed sighs as he sits down with Clark on the edge of the bed once more.
"I'm scared. What if he comes back?"
"I won't let him…"
"You promised last time!"
"You shouldn't have run away!" Ed retorts and then backs down. You're the adult…act mature. "No…that was wrong. Clark…you need to stay…what Chuck said…I wanted to hear your side, okay? I want to hear your side now. What happened?"
"I don't remember the webcam okay?"
"Okay."
"Do you believe me?"
"Clark…to be honest I know nothing about your…your life in Ottawa," Ed starts to explain. "I am going to take you at face value because I have looked into Chuck's past and know what kind of man he is. He makes his living on lies and pain. But I am hearing more of his side than…than yours."
"I never saw him before. Maybe when I was a kid but…but that's it."
"What did your…Howard say about the webcam? Where did he get it?"
"Freebie from work."
"Okay."
"How long do you think he was watching? Like the whole time?"
"I don't know," Ed exhales heavily. "Clark I don't know, I'm sorry. And how long after you got the web cam did…"
"Like a year…I think," Clark shrugs, Ed's brain remembering the time frame that Howard Brandson had been working on the case against Cedric Flannigan. Howard was getting more and more on Flannigan so calls upon Charles Brandson, youngest Brandson sibling with an already documented history of tension against his family to help him out; offering him a large pile of wealth if he made the legal irritation disappear.
"I'm not lying."
"I know. I remember reading up the Flannigan case and it fits. Howard was just about to put Flannigan away for life…maybe even have him extradited to face the death penalty for some of his crimes. He calls in a favor and the web cam comes into the picture. You were the perfect…"
"What?"
"He used you Clark, it's okay. You did nothing wrong, okay? Nothing wrong. He waits for the right moment when you were angry and…"
"I didn't mean those things."
"Clark, I've said things in the heat of the moment that I didn't mean either, it's just…Chuck was waiting and built his whole plan around that."
"Did he kill my parents?"
"I think he did. And to see how desperate he was to get that letter, tells me that something related to it can put him away for life and maybe even do more damage to Flannigan than he's already done to himself. This is more than just money."
"Think it leads to something that shows them being killed?"
"I don't know…if that's the case then someone would have been entrusted by your father to put hide evidence just incase something went bad. Whatever it is Chuck is desperate to get his hands on. Who else was close to your father?"
"I don't know."
"Clark…"
"I don't know and I don't care about the money."
"Who else did he trust?"
"With work stuff…I swear I don't know. I want them back."
"I know…I want that to…for you," Ed confesses as he once again pulls Clark close and kisses the top of his head. "Clark I'm so sorry you are going through all this. I…I can't even imagine."
"What happens now?"
"Tomorrow you are…"
"No I mean after you get Chuck?" Clark asks quietly, his eyes still cast downward.
"We'll um…we'll take it a day at a time right now okay? I don't want you to think about anything…Clark I don't know okay? I don't know. This is all new for me. I was so scared when Chuck showed me the picture. I don't want to lose you okay? I'm lost…I'm trying to be a cop and a new dad and…and I don't know how to balance that stuff yet okay? But I'm trying."
Clark offers Ed a small nod as the two of them sit in silence for a few more moments before Ed breaks the rising anxiety.
"Are you um hungry? I know Wordy left some…"
"Not really."
"I'm not either but that means we probably should," Ed states matter of factly as he pushes himself up.
"What would have happened if um…if your partner hadn't shown up?"
"Clark…"
"Would he have killed us?"
"I wasn't going to…"
"What if you couldn't cut your hands free like you did? Would we have died?"
"We might have," Ed answers in truth. "That's why it's important that you don't run away again okay? I mean Clark…you saw up close what he's capable of. He's a trained killer and now is desperate to have you out of the way at any cost. I can't protect you if you don't stay with me," Ed states firmly.
"I just thought…"
"Don't!" Ed snaps and then turns away with a head shake before he turns back to Clark in remorse. "Clark I'm sorry. I just…you need to stay with the team until this is all taken care of. He proved tonight that he has no regard for anyone's life but his own and securing his own future."
"Will he try to come after me again?"
"I won't lie and say he won't because he needs you dead to get that money. But son…I promise you he won't succeed. Okay he won't succeed. I give you my word."
"I'm still scared of him."
"Yeah me too."
"You…scared? Really?"
"Facing guys like Chuck without a fighting advantage and having so much to lose…yeah it frightens me," Ed confesses heavily as he holds out his hand. "Come on. I know it's been a very long busy day. So let's eat some of Wordy's cold pizza and then get some sleep? There is a car out front and one in the back, Chuck is not getting to us. You are safe."
Clark's hand slowly reaches out and grasps Ed's uninjured hand; allowing Ed to pull him to his feet. Clark's grasp tightens as he looks at Ed with a small frown.
"What is it?" Ed asks softly.
"I uh…"
"I know," Ed lightly stammers as he gives Clark a warm hug. "It's okay now. Come on let's eat and just relax," Ed tells Clark as the two of them leave the small room and head for the kitchen; Ed's body finally feeling the aftereffects of his angry adrenaline being all but spent and wanting nothing more than to just eat and then collapse.
"Cold but…"
"Cheeseburger. Awesome," Clark states, bringing a smile to Ed's lips as he hands Clark two slices. The two of them sit down at the table, Ed's mind once again wondering now that business was out of the way, but Chuck still on the loose, how he should connect with Clark. Tell him about Amanda…don't keep secrets.
"We…talked to Amanda today. Well Donna did."
"What? She did? What happened? Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. We didn't know where else to look and I didn't have your cell number to trace," Ed confesses weakly. "She's a great friend."
"Is she okay?"
"Greg talked to the lead detective down there and he's looking out for her family. They want to talk to you."
"Do I have to talk to them?"
"Well we want to get Chuck taken care of first…we still aren't sure who we can trust over there."
"I can't believe this. I don't want Amanda hurt."
"You care for her a lot," Ed mentions more than questions.
"I do. She's my best friend," Clark confesses in truth.
"She will be safe…for now. We just gotta concentrate on finding and taking care of Chuck."
"Are you going to kill him?"
"What?"
"Well I mean if you don't we'll never be safe right? Jail doesn't help these guys."
"I guess you watched your fa…Howard's cases sometimes?" Ed treads carefully.
"Yeah a few. Mom always complained about how jail never did any good for the real bad ones."
"She's right. But as for Chuck…Clark we'll have to wait and see. I know it's hard but just…just try not to think about it okay?"
"Okay," Clark replies with a frown as they both go back to eating. A few minutes later, the pizza is finished and fatigue is setting upon both. Offering a small thank you, Clark pushes himself away from the table, leaving Ed seated in his chair and watching him head for his bedroom with sunken shoulders.
Clark I'm so sorry…I wish I had better words…just something more to offer, Ed's mind laments as he leans back in his chair. He offers his tender ribs a rub and then looks down at his hand. In a week's time the superficial wound would be all healed, leaving behind no trace of the near death fight. But as he looks at Clark's partially closed door, he knows that Clark's pain will never be erased. As far as he was concerned, he's homeless.
"Damn," Ed groans as he packs up the leftovers, places them into the fridge and then puts the two dishes into the dishwasher; leaving a small note for Wordy that there was some leftover and Clark did eat. As he nears Clark's bedroom he once again hears soft whimpers coming through the door cracks and pauses, squeezing his eyes shut and taking a deep breath before he slowly pushes the door open and looks at Clark's sad expression.
"I'm sorry," Clark whispers as Ed hurries to his son's side.
"No…don't be sorry."
"Don't leave okay?"
"I'll stay…for as long as you want," Ed promises warmly. "I promise."
XXXXXXXX
"No answer," Donna looks at Wordy with a frown as she hangs up.
"He might be sleeping and his cell is busted," Wordy replies as they head for the SRU exit doors. "Or he might be in the shower."
"I can't imagine all this," Donna states as they pause before leaving. "What he's going through…Ed…you can see the loving concern in his eyes and I just worry that…"
"When this is over Clark will leave?"
"And Ed will be devastated. I know he says he'll be fine and that's he's not ready but…but I know love for his son is there…Wordy it's there and I'm worried. I love him to. I just…Ed wants this. No matter what he says he does and I fear…"
"I know…it will devastate him. But it is Clark's choice right?"
"It is and we hafta respect that," Donna gives him a firm nod. "I just hope he stays…for Ed's sake."
"So then you…are you on board with all this?"
"When Ed first told me he has a teenage son that might now be living with him for good I was…shocked," she confesses in truth. "But seeing them together…getting to know Clark…seeing so much of Ed in him and…I don't know but I am selling myself more and more on having them both in my life…for good. Having Ed in my life means having them both right?"
"It will happen," Wordy assures her as he gives her a warm hug. "We just all gotta believe it'll work out."
"I know. Goodnight."
Wordy gives Donna a friendly smile before he finally pushes his way outside; Donna heading back to Spike to see what was all in place for the following morning. I love you Ed…I just hope this all works out for you in the end…for us…her brain rightly corrects.
Wordy reaches their apartment, giving a small wave to the uniformed officer at the front of the building before heading into the underground parking lot and taking some relief in the fact that another uniformed car was stationed between both elevators; another car out back.
He hurries for the elevator, calling Shelly as the steel box slowly moves upward. Breathing a sigh of relief that the front door is properly locked, Wordy slowly opens the door and listens to silence. Both must be asleep. He notices Ed's jacket and wallet where they should be and heads down the hallway, passing by Clark's half closed door but deciding not to peek inside.
But as he pops his head into Ed's bedroom he flips on the light and frowns at the empty space before him. "Ed?" Wordy asks softly as he turns and heads back into the hallway, pausing outside Clark's bedroom and taking a chance to peer inside; what he sees warms his heart.
Ed's large frame semi-curled on the small single bed with his son in his grasp; both of them fast asleep.
Goodnight father…and son, Wordy's mind whispers as he turns off the light and heads for his bedroom.
A/N: hope you liked the rescue and the talk between Ed and Clark. Yes Chuck's still on the loose (oh you didn't think I'd end the story that easily right? Hehe) where is he? And what will he do next? How will things continue to play out between Ed and Clark and when this is all over will Clark leave for good? Please stay tuned but do review before you go and thanks so much!
PS: Hope you all liked Vengence's last update also