Solus: Chapter 10
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He understood fear. He lived with it as a constant companion whenever he was undercover. It wasn't something you could totally control, you could only try and control your reaction to it when it roared into the forefront of your consciousness. He had not always been successful at that. Mostly he tried to ignore it, to basically talk himself out of being afraid, which is what he was doing now. He wasn't afraid for himself this time; he could just drive out of town and return to his life, but Celina couldn't. Although he knew if he failed on this assignment his life and Kensi's life would never be the same, he knew they could find a way to deal with that. They would find a way to be happy no matter what Granger did to them. He only wished he had realized that before he had let Granger blackmail him into this op.
But he was here now and he didn't want to fail, because if he did it meant that a good woman would die here and her son would grow up with a monster for a father and he knew he couldn't leave Teyo to that fate. It touched too close to home for him to let that happen. She had been undercover as Celina for over three years and the fear she must experience on a daily basis had to be crushing. How she had survived so long without losing her mind was amazing to him and as much as he despised her father, he truly admired her. But he was struggling with how to convince her to take a chance and trust him to help her and her son escape. He was used to fear and he was dealing with it now, because if she didn't fully commit to trust him, and the fear overwhelmed her, then she would turn on him to save herself and he wouldn't blame her, he wouldn't blame her at all.
She opened the door to his room quietly, peeking in to see if he was still asleep and he smiled at her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, sounding unsure of the reception she would get after her confession that morning.
"The pain meds help, but I keep dozing off," he said, propping himself up on his elbow to look at her.
"Lobo wants you in the courtyard." Her voice wavered and he could tell something bad was about to happen.
"What is it?" he asked.
"He told me he has a gift and a decision for you." She looked down at the floor as she spoke and then quickly turned and started to leave.
"Celina?" He said, "Could you help me on with my boots? I don't want to break another lamp."
She smiled and came back to stand in front of him as he sat on the edge of the bed. She looked fragile and he reached up and stroked her arms, letting his hands slowly slide down until he took her hands in his and looked up at her and smiled slightly, tilting his head as he looked at her with compassion; trying to let her know he understood. She closed her eyes and when she opened them he could see they were filled with tears. She reached up and lightly touched his cheek and then brushed her thumb across his lips. He closed his eyes and then pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her close as she trembled as if she were a wounded animal. He felt her hands move through his hair and then she tilted his head up and leaned down and kissed him softly. The kiss was tentative and needy and he kissed her sweetly in return. She pulled back to stare into his eyes and then touched his lips with her fingertips as silent tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I haven't felt that kind of gentleness in a long time."
They didn't speak as she helped him pull on his boots and struggle into a light cotton shirt. When he stood up, she put her arm around his waist to support him and they walked out of the room. Before they opened the door to the courtyard she stepped away from him and looked at him with turmoil in her eyes.
"Whatever happens tonight, I won't hold it against you," she said.
Before he could ask her what she meant, she opened the door and walked out. He followed as a feeling of dread and uncertainty settled over him. He had no time to dwell on her comment as he was greeted by a scene that recalled what he had suffered yesterday morning, except this time it was Campos tied to the post in the courtyard. A large group of men, most them drunk or high, surrounded the bodyguard, making crude remarks and laughing.
"Lucas," Lobo Morales shouted as he came toward him. He seemed in control, but Lucas could tell by his eyes that he was high. A slick sheen of sweat highlighted his face as he threw his arm around Lucas' shoulder, ignoring the quick intake of breath from the pain that it caused.
"Lucas, come take a look at my gift to you," Lobo guided him toward the center of the courtyard.
Campos had been badly beaten and hung limply against the post moaning and crying out for mercy in Spanish. Lucas didn't understand what was going on and turned to Lobo with a questioning look on his face.
"You seemed surprised, Lucas," Lobo said. "I owe you for my son's life. Campos shot you without thinking and now I am making him a gift to you. I don't want stupid men working for me, Lucas. I want loyal men."
Lobo handed Lucas a gun and pointed at Campos.
"His life is in your hands now," Lobo said. His eyes were dark and wild as he stared at Lucas. "Do whatever you want to him, then we'll celebrate."
Lucas looked down at the gun in his hand and felt ice cold. When he looked back at Lobo he saw he was smiling and holding Teyo in his arms. It shocked Lucas so badly to see the little boy that he staggered slightly. Lobo reached out and steadied him and then pointed at Campos. Only a monster of a man would let his two-year-old son watch a killing and the thought that the little boy would be a witness to such violence almost made him physically sick. This was another test, and Lucas knew Lobo expected him to be ruthless and show no weakness, but killing a helpless man in cold blood in front of an innocent child was not something he wanted to do.
He walked a few steps toward Campos and saw the man's eyes go wide with fear. The courtyard became deathly silent as they waited to see what Lucas would do. He dropped the gun to his side and looked briefly down at the ground, before searching the crowd for Celina. She was standing under the veranda with her arms wrapped tightly around herself; a look of deep sadness softened her face.
He raised the gun and fired one shot. Campos' left kneecap exploded in a shower of blood and bone. His scream was piercing and did not stop as Lucas turned and handed the gun back to Lobo Morales.
"That's all?" Lobo asked and his voice was a low growl.
"Sometimes it better to let someone live with their mistakes." Lucas said.
Lobo nodded and handed Teyo to Celina, who looked quickly at Lucas as she passed by, giving him a look of relief mixed with resignation.
"Come on, Lucas, you look like you could use a drink," Lobo grabbed his good arm and swung him toward the main house. Lucas thought the same thing as he followed the noisy crowd inside.
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Lucas was careful about just how drunk he got. Night had dropped hours ago and he was quite tired, but Lobo was having fun and wouldn't let him go, telling him he had another gift for him. Lucas watched him closely as everyone but Munoz seemed to lose themselves in the revelry. When the women were brought in, he was surprised that Lobo ignored them. He didn't ignore the drugs and that surprised Lucas as well. Most drug dealers didn't sample their own product, but Lobo seemed to thrive on the meth and cocaine and tonight he was flying. He pressed Lucas several times to sample some of the drugs but he always refused, making Lobo quite angry. Munoz pulled him aside and warned him about refusing any gift from Lobo and Lucas wasn't sure by the look on his face that he was talking about drugs.
"Lucas. Time for your special gift." Lobo was slurring his words as he stumbled over and wrapped his arm around him, dragging a very young boy along with him. Lucas noticed that the boy couldn't have been over thirteen and his eyes never left Lobo's face. If the boy was his gift, Lucas knew he was in serious trouble.
"Munoz take him upstairs and wait for me," Lobo said and then kissed the boy and laughed. "Don't worry, Lucas, Dario is mine."
Lucas felt exhaustion tugging at him as Munoz pushed him toward the stairs. He followed Munoz across the balcony at the top and down a hall to a set of heavily carved wooden doors. He leaned against the tiled wall as they waited for Lobo to come and he had no idea what to expect. The sounds of the party down below were beginning to quiet down and he looked forward to the night being over.
"Take this," Munoz said gruffly, handing him a pill, "You're gonna to need it."
Lucas shook his head, but Munoz put his hand on his wounded shoulder and pushed him hard against the wall. Lucas gasped and his eyes brightened with shooting stars as the pain radiated across his chest.
"That wasn't a request, Lucas. Take it." Munoz whispered harshly in his ear.
He took the pill in his mouth and Munoz held his jaw firmly until he was sure he had swallowed it and Lucas was furious. He swung his fist at Munoz, but he just grabbed Lucas' good arm and grasped his throat and shoved him back.
"You'll thank me tomorrow you dumb ass," he said as he held Lucas hard against the wall.
"I didn't know you had the hots for Mr. Tucker, Munoz?" Lobo smiled as he walked up to them and pointed at the door. "Let's go inside for the grand finale."
Munoz swung the doors open and Lobo Morales and Dario went in. Lucas hung back, not sure what to expect, but Munoz grabbed him and pushed him into the room. It was a large bedroom, dominated by a massive and intricately carved four-poster bed. Deeks felt his heart drop into his stomach and it took all of his self control to stay upright and not let the red fury that flashed through his body dominate him and cause him to do something irrational.
Celina was tied between the two dark posts at the end of the bed. Her hair hung straight to her shoulders and she was dressed in a traditional long white embroidered cotton dress that fell to the floor. The look on her face was one of resigned acceptance and he knew with certainty that this had happened many times before and his heart broke for her. Now he knew what she had meant when she had told him, she wouldn't hold whatever happened tonight against him. Those words haunted him as he looked into the smiling face of Lobo Morales.
"My special gift to you, Lucas," he said as he spread his arm toward the mother of his child. "Do whatever you like to her. She's yours for tonight."
Deeks couldn't move as he stared hard at the man. As he turned back toward Celina he closed his eyes as he struggled to maintain his alias; a tough man, a man he had told Lobo was a son of a bitch. Lucas Tucker would have been thrilled with this gift and would have enjoyed the chance to ravish such a beautiful woman. That's how he had set his alias up, but now he thought he would be sick if he had to play out what had just been presented to him. His mind raced as he looked into her eyes and he saw the pleading look there, but also a resolve that astounded him. This woman was a survivor and if she could be brave then so could he. So he laughed out loud, acting his part and he saw the change in her as she nodded her head slightly. He remembered telling her "it's what we do when we're undercover." She understood and he knew she would play her part as well so his alias wouldn't be compromised and his admiration for her grew as he walked toward her.
"What are you waiting for Lucas?" Lobo asked, his voice low and menacing. "I was hoping for a really exciting show."
"Just savoring the view, boss," Lucas drawled, looking Celina up and down.
He felt someone behind him and then the slight arms of Dario wrapped around his waist and he froze.
The young boy leaned his head against Lucas Tucker's back and slowly began to unbutton his shirt. Lobo came up beside him and watched as the boy pulled the shirt off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. The boy stroked his back gently as Lucas stood rigid, not sure how to react.
"He likes you, Lucas," Lobo whispered close to his ear, "But he's mine. He likes a good show too, so whenever you're ready." Then he turned to Celina and ran his hands through her hair and kissed her roughly as he pulled her head back. The dark flash of her eyes signaled her feelings and Lucas quickly stepped toward her. Lobo looked back at him and smiled.
"Getting a little excited Lucas?" He asked as he stepped away. He took Dario's hand and led him toward a couch on the side of the room. Lobo stretched languidly across it and began to caress the young boy's chest. Lucas turned away, unable and unwilling to watch. He didn't know how long he and the boy would stay, but he was glad that Munoz had left. He was starting to feel the effects of the pill Munoz had forced on him, but it wasn't meth, as he had feared; it was more calming and was probably some form of ecstasy. Euphoria surged through him as the drug rushed through his bloodstream and he moved close to Celina. He let his hands roam over her body as he whispered in her ear so only she could hear.
"I'll try not to hurt you, Celina, but Lucas is a rough man," he said and then stood back. He saw her nod imperceptibly and he grabbed the top of her dress and ripped it open and she stood naked before him as hot tears rolled down her cheeks. Then she spit at him and he laughed, closing the space between them quickly and covered her mouth with his as his hands moved to her breasts. She kicked out at him with her bare feet and he smiled at her and she smiled back as his tongue lightly touched her lips and he felt her sag toward him. He pulled her close and her hot skin excited him and he could feel her body responding to him as his hands caressed her ass. Then she tried to pull away and he knew she had lost herself for a moment, so he stepped away from her.
"Looks like you know what to do with a sexy woman, Lucas." Lobo came and stood by him as Dario clung to him. "I have a little fun ahead of me, too." He pushed the young boy toward the door and laughed.
Then they were alone. Celina sagged against her bindings and he quickly moved to untie her, picking her up in his arms and laying her gently on the bed.
"I'm sorry I had to do that to you, Celina," he said as he sat down next to her. He moved to stand and let her be, but she pulled him back. He softly stroked her cheek and she put her hand over his as her other hand moved to rest on his chest.
"Kiss me, Lucas," she said. "Make love to me, so I'll remember what it's like." Tears began to stream from her eyes as she spoke and he moved to lie down beside her. He gathered her close to him and kissed her softly and as tenderly as he could while he held her trembling body. She became fierce with need and she clung to him and began to move urgently against his body, but he made her stop, whispering in her ear.
"You're an amazing woman, Celina, you don't have to do this," he told her softly as his fingers traced the line of her jaw and down her throat and she shivered at his touch.
"Oh God, it's been so long since someone has been kind to me," she cried as he held her. She touched his face with her fingers and he could see such longing in her eyes, so he kissed her and caressed her tenderly and gently, then wrapped her in his arms and held her as she cried herself to sleep.
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