Chapter 11

OK I think I should warn that this is a very dark chapter with scenes of torture.

Nate felt the jab and that was the last he knew until he awoke again in excruciating pain. His arms were bent behind him and he was suspended from a beam in the ceiling. He could feel a heavy weight pulling him down putting pressure on his arms that were already stretched to the limit by the position he had been placed in. He could feel wires cutting into his ankles and assumed the weight he felt was something that was attached to him at that point. He was being stretched out and his muscles were straining against and aching at the uncomfortable way he was hanging.

"You are awake…" Pennington said as he heard Nate groan. He was standing with his back to the man setting up his table of torture.

Nate did not answer the man he merely screwed his eyes against the sharp light from the spotlights that Pennington had set up centring on him. He could feel the strain being taken by his shoulders and he was sure if he remained in this position he would dislocate one if not both in the near future. Looking down at himself he saw that he was completely nude and the dressing on his leg had been removed.

Pennington turned from the table and approached him. He smiled at Nate and then slowly circled him. He was holding a cat o' nine tails, a vicious looking whip with long strands which each had numerous little balls in them.

"I have waited many years for this you know Ford. I spent nights in a dark cell thinking only about you…" He said as he ran the strands over his hands gently. "The others too of course, but you, you were the one who planned it, you were the responsible one." He said gently slapping the long strips across Nate's back making the Mastermind tense up and causing pain to course through him from his shoulders at the movement.

Nate could not see Pennington as he stood behind him. He knew what was coming but was still caught off guard as the tails of the whip bit into his naked back drawing blood as they did.

"Twenty years of my life Ford, that is what you cost me." Pennington said using the whip again causing Nate to cry out in pain. "You made me into this…" He said lashing out again drawing another cry of pain from his prisoner. "I thought we would start off slow…" He said as he struck for a third time. Nate's back was now red with long angry welts cutting across it punctuated by tiny indents where the balls had buried themselves into his flesh. "Just so that we can get into the swing of things..." He said then he lashed out again and again until the blood flowed freely down the Masterminds back.

"There that wasn't so bad now was it…?" Pennington said coming to stand in front of Nate again and looking up into Nate's eyes. "Don't you have anything to say Ford…don't you want to tell me that I don't need to do this, that you understand what I went through…?" Pennington asked the Mastermind. Nate remained silent, his blue eyes not turning from his tormentor in defiance.

"Let's see…" Pennington said moving back to the table. He picked up a long serrated knife and lovingly ran it over his hand. "This is one of my favourites." He said turning back to Nate. "Mmm the doctors did a good job with this…" He said pointing to Nate's wound with the tip of the knife. "You know they say never reopen old wounds…" He said as he dug the knife in and pulled it along the leg slicing the flesh open. Nate screamed in agony and instinctively tried to jerk his leg away from the knife. All he managed to do was to dislocate his left shoulder and make the wire attaching the weight to his ankles but deeper adding to his torment.

"Ohhhh…." Pennington said hearing the popping of the shoulder and looking up at his captive. "That had to hurt…" He smiled at him. "Now let's see…" He said as he lifted the knife again. Pennington dug the knife in, not deep enough to cause damage but deep enough to draw blood and cause pain for his victim. He drew the blade down from Nate's chest to his belly leaving a long ragged cut which leaked out blood. The blood formed droplets and dropped to the floor sounding like a tap that had been left open to drip. "Now look at that Ford…you look like you need a wash…" He smiled at the man walking back to his table and picking up a hose.

Pennington turned it on and a gush of water hit Nate making his body sway and causing him excruciating pain. He found the stream of water aimed at his face and he felt as if he were drowning, unable to stop the water from hitting him spluttered and coughed swallowing water as he tried to breath, until he was sure he would drown in the strong spray. Then the water stopped and silence filled the room.

"Nothing to say Ford…? Not going to say that you didn't know…that if you had…that was what they said." Pennington asked again as he returned to his work table selecting another tool. "You are so good at using words aren't you...?" He said turning back to the Mastermind who was now only semi- conscious and in almost unbearable pain. "You know we are only getting started?" Pennington said basking in the power he had over the man.

"Go to hell…" Nate managed to get out between gritted teeth. He was not going to give this man the satisfaction of making him beg for mercy. He was not going to get it anyway and if he could get Pennington angry enough he might kill him quicker.

Pennington's eyes darkened at Nate's words and his mouth contorted into an angry snarl as he quickly dropped the tool he had and picked up another. A long cylindrical bar that had a rubber handle to make it easier to wield.

"Go to hell…" He snarled out at Nate swinging the bar and connecting with Nate's abdomen sending the man swinging backward, not a word emitted from him though as the air was knocked from him and he was finding it hard to breath let alone scream. "I…" Pennington said emphasising his words with another swing. "Am…" He said landing a third blow this time to Nate's side and breaking his 'floating ribs'. "Already…" He said this time striking Nate's left leg shattering the shin bone. "There…" He shouted at Nate hitting him for a fourth time this time on his right side breaking more of his ribs. Then Pennington lifted the bar and was about to strike again when he looked at the Mastermind and saw that he had passed out from the pain. He drew a deep shaky breath as he got his emotions under control and turned away from his captive.

"No…no…no…" He said shaking his head and dropping the pipe. "Very clever Ford…" He said turning back to the Mastermind with the hose in his hand again. "But you are not getting off that easily." Pennington turned the hose on, this time the stream was slow and soft. He climbed the ladder beside Nate and let the water run down over the Masterminds head drenching him in the cold water. The water turned red as it ran over Nate's body washing away the blood from his wounds. Nate was brought back to consciousness spluttering as the water washed over his face.

"There…" Pennington said nodding happily as Nate coughed, speckles of blood painting his lip as he did. He was bleeding internally from the blows he had received. "Now why don't we slow this down again a little…I mean the night is yet young, we have so much time to spend together."

Pennington moved back to his table and picked up the instrument that he had intended to use before Nate had angered him so. He walked back to Nate holding up the instrument for him to see.

"Do you know what this is Ford…?" Pennington asked. "It's a Picana…a very special instrument. Properly made and regulated it can inflict pain without causing too much physical damage. Used in the right places…" Pennington said his eyes glinting at the prospect of what he was going to do. "It can cause intense pain, even madness…I saved it just for you, I didn't even use it on the others."

Pennington moved closer to Nate keeping his eyes locked on the Mastermind as he wielded the instrument. Nate felt an agonising pain rip through him as the instrument was applied to him. He screamed and bucked causing more damage to his shoulder. Tears streamed down his face as the electricity flowed through him from where Pennington had applied the device. Pennington pulled his hand away and watched as Nate's body still convulsed even though he had stopped his ministrations.

"Ohhh Kahn was right, this is good." He said admiring the instrument for a moment before applying it again sending Nate into a world of continual pain. Then Nate's screams stopped although his body still convulsed. "Dammit Ford…can't you stay awake for longer than that…?" Pennington cursed him picking up the hose and climbing the stairs again. Once he had revived the Mastermind once again he climbed down the ladder and put the instrument back onto the table for later use.

"I am a little tired now…" Pennington said taking a bottle of whiskey which he also had on the table and putting a cigar in his mouth. "I think I'll just take a breather." He lit the cigar and moved to stand before the Mastermind. Nate watched, his eyes half closed and clenching his jaw shut trying to breathe through the fiery pain that consumed his body. Then Penning reached out with the cigar and jammed it into his chest. He felt the searing pain and cried out his scream echoing through the empty building. "Now look what you did…" Pennington said looking down at his cigar then back up at Nate. He took a sip of his whiskey then relit the cigar taking a long draw on it. The end was burning bright when he applied it to Nate's chest once more.

Pennington did not hear the Hitter come at him but he caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. Eliot slammed into him sending him to the floor and skidding headlong into his table of torture, knocking it over and sending his tools flying. Eliot was immediately on his feet and was onto Pennington, but Pennington was ready for him, he wielded the weapon he had used on Nate only minutes before stopping Eliot in his tracks as the electricity flowed through him. Dropping the instrument he picked up the long serrated knife ready to drive it into the Hitter when another body came for him. He made his feet quickly and swung himself around feeling the butt of the knife strike the oncoming man sending him unconscious to the floor. He turned back to the table…he needed the gun that was there, that was when he felt the heavy weight of somebody as they jumped on his back. He swung around throwing the black haired woman from his back and then grabbed the gun firing a shot in her direction.

"Sophie…" Nate cried out as he realised what was happening and he saw the bullet hit Sophie. Then Pennington turned to the Hitter who was beginning to shake off the effects of the Picana and fire again. "No…God no…" Nate whispered closing his eyes to shut out a sight he could not bear, his family were being killed, Sophie was…no…no…no…he told himself and then gave into the oblivion that engulfed him.

Eliot watched Pennington turn after he saw Sophie. He heard Nate's weak cry and then he grabbed for Pennington's arm pulling him closer before he could depress the trigger, straight into the blade of the knife he had used on Nate, which Parker had thrown to him. Eliot felt the rush of the man's blood flow over his hand and the look of surprise on the mans' face as he realised what had happened. Eliot dug the knife in deeper pulling Pennington into a tight embrace. Then he moved back allowing the body of Lawrence Pennington to fall lifeless to the ground.

"I'm fine Eliot…" Sophie told him as he moved towards her. "Nate…"

Eliot turned to the Mastermind who was obviously unconscious. Hardison was back on his feet and moved to Nate. Quickly Eliot removed his jacket and wrapped it around the Masterminds waist, Nate would be mortified to be naked in front of all of them.

"Get up the ladder Hardison and get him loose." Eliot said as he worked on the wire around Nate's ankles, loosening them and lowering the heavy weight that had been attached to the Mastermind. He could tell that his left leg was broken so worked as carefully as he could. Parker and Sophie stood next to him waiting to receive Nate's limp form as Hardison started to lower him down.

"Oh God…" Sophie said taking in all the injuries that had been inflicted. She could see the bruising on his stomach and could also see by the discolouration and the little droplets of blood around his mouth that he was bleeding internally.

Gently the three of them received Nate laying him down on the ground Sophie worried about the wounds on his back and tried to hold him up slightly. Nate was barely breathing and his pulse was slow and irregular. Eliot took one look at the Mastermind and told them that there was no time to wait for an ambulance. He told Hardison to get the car ready and then lifted the man into his arms. He started towards the exit with the others in tow. Sophie helped Parker who was looking a little paler and was struggling to keep up with the others. Once at the car Sophie climbed in on the one side and Parker on the other in the back. Eliot loaded Nate in with Parker and Sophie helping until his head lay on Sophie's lap and his feet were cradled by the Thief. Then he and Hardison climbed in and Eliot set off for the nearest hospital. Sophie and Parker were now soaked in Nate's blood as he lay unmoving. Sophie bent forward kissing Nate's lips gently and whispering to him to hold on, that they had him, that Pennington was done, she begged him to just hold on as she ran her hands through his wet hair. Her lips were now also covered in his blood as each breath brought more blood and his breathing became more ragged and harsh. She ignored the pain from the gunshot in her shoulder, it was irrelevant. Parker kept her eyes on the Mastermind to, willing him to stay alive until they could get him to the hospital. She was sure if he survived till then then he would be alright, Nate was always alright. Hardison looked back, first at his girlfriend who looked as pale as a ghost, her shirt now completely covered in blood, not only from the Mastermind but from her own leaking wound. He turned back to Eliot and urged the man to go faster. They pulled up at the hospital and Eliot scrambled out the car running into the emergency room and calling for a doctor. The doctors and the nurses got to the car and got Nate out and onto a gurney. Then another nurse helped Sophie out of the car and onto a gurney even though she fought against it.

"The only way you can help Nate now Sophie is to take care of yourself." Eliot told her and his words brought her to her senses as she allowed the doctors to take her into an examination room.

"You too…" Hardison said helping Parker onto another gurney and calling for another doctor. He stayed with her as they pushed her into an adjoining exam room.

Eliot watched them go in as he was left alone in the waiting room. He sat down and put his head in his hands and sighed heavily. He looked up and stood quickly as he saw Nate being wheeled out of the room he had been taken into at some speed. He had been intubated and he could see by the doctors' faces that things were not good. He did not have a chance to ask but assumed that the Mastermind was being rushed to surgery. He knew the man was bleeding internally and he was not sure what other damage had been done. Once the doors closed behind Nate he sat down heavily again to await news of his other team members. Hardison joined him a few minutes later having being asked to leave Parker room by the attending physician. The two men sat in silence. A few minutes later Sophie was wheeled out of her room by the nurses and the doctor attending to her.

"We need to get her to surgery. The bullet is still in her shoulder." The doctor explained.

"Eliot…Nate…" Sophie asked reaching out for the Hitter.

Eliot took her hand as he walked with them to the elevator which would take her to the operating theatre.

"He's alive Sophie… they've taken him to surgery." Eliot told her. He could not say any more as they pushed Sophie into the elevator and the doors closed.

Only about twenty minutes after that Parker was wheeled out of her room.

"She is fine. We will keep her overnight. She lost some blood and we had to clean and re-stitch the wound." The doctor told them. "I need to speak to you." He said as Hardison walked beside Parker holding her hand. Eliot nodded and told Hardison to go with Parker.

"What happened here?" The doctor immediately asked the Hitter. "One woman with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, another with a reopened wound, probably a gunshot wound to the chest and another with…God knows what was done to him. I am going to have to notify the authorities about this."

"Do what you must, but if you are going to notify anybody, then notify Interpol. Here is the number of one of their agents. Tell her it's about Sterling she will know what is going on." Eliot said giving the doctor the name of the agent that had worked with Sterling the last time they had tangled with him. He hoped that when she arrived he would be able to make her understand. With all the evidence against Pennington and the fact that he could tell her where his body was should be enough he thought. She could solve the mystery of her partners' death and for that she could give them a little leeway.

The doctor took the card and nodded. He did not know what was going on but if this was related to Interpol he was not sure he wanted to know. Eliot told him to tell the woman where he was. He also asked if they could be notified about Sophie or Nate in Parker's room. The doctor agreed and then Eliot left to join Hardison to begin the long vigil for both Sophie and Nate.

I know very dark…So will Nate survive? Will Sophie be alright? How will Agent Kasey react when she gets to the hospital? Thank you all again so very much for taking the time and making the effort to review, all reviews are greatly appreciated.