India
We got to the new safe house and it was actually a nice large house. Clearly Ethan's new friends wanted to show him just how powerful they were. It was such a step up from the shack of a house we were in Dubai. I admit, well it was impressive, I just wondered why his new friends were showing off so much. When we got in we took everything and set it up in the living room. I helped Benji unpack a lot of his tech stuff while Jane headed into the kitchen saying she was going to cook, telling Will she needed his help. Will looked at me petrified before wondering after Jane like a lost puppy. I chuckled shaking my head I turned my attention back to Benji.
"So you and Brandt are getting cosy." Benji said wiggling his eyebrows as I passed him some cables. Benji smirked at me and I smirked back before loosing it in a second.
"Really?" I asked dryly rolling my eyes as he took them out of my hand. Benji let out a small chuckle.
"I'm just saying," Benji shrugged. "He seems keen to sit next to you a lot. He always keeps you in sight. I see you two smiling at each other. You grabbed his hand when he explained things with Ethan. You keep him in sight, you don't complain when he calls you Kara." Benji shrugged as he ranted on making valid points as he plugged in cables.
"Ok, so maybe, maybe, I like how it sounds coming out of his mouth." I said shrugging as I untangled the next wire. "Maybe it doesn't fill me with dread that I'm about to get a beating..." I added sighing softly looking at the knot in my hands. When I got back to the Dunn's I asked everyone to call me Jensen. When I heard my name, the fear it brought up froze me. Sure Mum continued to call me Kara, she was the only one who could get away with it, everyone else called me Jensen.
"Good." Benji said wrapping his arm over my shoulders. "Jensen, you deserve to have your first name said out loud. Everything that happened back-" Benji said hugging me.
"I told Will everything." I said suddenly making Benji turn to me surprised. He sat there for a moment while I turned and met his eyes.
"Everything?" Benji asked softly. His face was complete shock.
"Yeah," I nodded and brushed some hair out of my face as I looked out into nothing. "He saw my scars... the second time he was stood behind me. You know how, how bad they look close up... he asked me about them and I..." I blinked and looked at Benji. "I trust him and I have no idea why Benj. It's terrifying." I said plainly turning back to him.
"It's not terrifying Jensen, it brilliant." Benji said hugging me by surprise. "He's the first guy you've trusted since... since we got you back." Benji pulling back, tears forming in his eyes.
"Benj, don't cry!" I cried out hitting his arm as I felt my eyes well up to. I knew what Benji meant though. I had never trusted someone apart from my family. I'd had lived my whole life holding back on trusting people. I found ways to cope, to have relationships and make friends, but I always guarded myself.
"I'm not crying, my eyes are watering because you punched me so hard!" Benji cried out rubbing his arm, making me smirk a little.
"Sorry." I said softly leaning my head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm round me again, kissing the top of my head.
"It's ok Jensen." He whispered softly. "I'm just so happy you've finally put your trust in someone."
"It's so scary Benji. I hate myself for doing it." I admitted sadly.
"Why?" Benji asked moving so that I could see his face.
"What if I get hurt?" I asked seriously, sounding like a three year old. Benji thought about it for a moment and nodded.
"If Brandt hurts you, I'll just beat him up." Benji said so simply that we both bursting into loud laughter. After we stopped laughing Benji rubbed my arm. "You need to try and not wait for it all to fall apart Jensen, you need to just go with it. If he hurts you, if it goes tits up, I'll be there for you, so will Mum and Dad. You'll get over it, and you'll start to trust other people." Benji said seriously. I moved so that I could see my big brother and gave him a warm smile.
"I've really missed you this last 10 years Benji." I said sadly. "I can't even... you being alive." I smiled as the tears found their way to my eyes again.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there Jensen." Benji said sadly, taking my hands and squeezing them a little. "I just wanted to keep you all safe." He added kissing my forehead again.
"You did. But I can keep myself safe now." I replied smiling as I brushed away the tears and clearing my throat. "So, this cable isn't going to untangle itself." I said looking down at the cable in my hand as Benji scooted back and started plugging things in. We sat in silence for a few minutes while I untangled the cable and passed Benji a few other cables.
"Do you think Will, likes me?" I asked softly as Benji's head snapped up and looked over to me. I blushed as I just shrugged trying to act cool. "What? I'm just wondering." I added as Benji smirked at me.
"Well-" Benji started to say when Jane called that tea was ready. After a rather nice tasting chicken and pasta dish Benji went back to the computers setting things up as I offered to wash up. Will volunteered to help dry up as Jane and Ethan started going over things for the mission the fallowing night. I washed up relatively silently as I thought about what Benji had said, about trusting Will and just going with it.
"Hey Kara, you ok? You've been kinda quiet tonight." Will said picking up the last plate and drying it.
"Huh?" I asked wiping my hands on the towel.
"You ok?" Will asked again frowning as he put the plate on the side and walked over to me.
"Me? Yeah, yeah I'm fine, why?" I asked smiling a little as he lent on the counter next to me.
"You've been quiet all dinner." Will said looking over his shoulder to me. "I was just wondering if you were ok." He added with a small smile. I stretched and pushed myself off the side of the counter.
"I'm... I'm just working some stuff out." I admitted as I turned to face him. "But I'm ok, really." I added with a warm smile.
"Well, you know, if you ever wanted to talk," Will said playing with the cloth in his hands, before looking up at me. "I'll listen." He added looking straight into my eyes.
"I know." I replied widening my smile.
"Great." Will said pushing himself off the counter. As he stood up straight Benji and Ethan walked in from different directions.
"Ah, just the person I was looking for." Benji said wiggling his eyebrows at Will. Will looked slightly panicked and looked at me and Ethan for help.
"Me?" Will asked innocently, pointing to himself.
"Yeah, we need to calibrate the machine. You need to put the suit on so I can get the correct weight, and resistance levels." Benji smirked like a kid at Christmas.
"Great." Will sighed sarcastically.
"Oh come on, it wont be that bad!" Benji chuckled turning and walking out of the room.
"Help me!" Will mouthed to me and Ethan.
"You're on your own Brandt." Ethan chuckled as Will fallowed Benji out of the room. I shared a chuckle with Ethan as the pair disappeared.
"Everything ok?" I asked putting away the dish cloth Will had been holding onto.
"Yeah, I just think we should chat about Rider." Ethan said seriously as I turned to face him. I held my breath as I waited for Ethan to say more, only he didn't. He just stood there, his green eyes boring into me.
"He's gonna show up tomorrow night, Hendricks will send him as a distraction for sure." I sighed shaking my head, knowing if it was me, I would do the same thing. Throwing us off our game anyway we could would be the best bet.
"I know, the others don't seem to have worked it out yet." Ethan said as I looked at him.
"Ok?" I lent on the counter and softly tapped my thighs. "But you've planned for this?" I asked watching Ethan as he lent on the island in the middle of the kitchen.
"I have." He said softly. "I'll be quarter backing Jane, I need to be there, she needs the reassurance. Benji needs to be by the mains. Brandt's the only one who can get to the main system..." He trailed off as I realised where he was heading.
"But I don't have to watch Will's back." I stated plainly.
"Hendricks wants Rider to be a distraction. So we're going to play it that way... only you and I will know about this. About your real role at the party..."
After Ethan explained exactly what he wanted me to do as my part of the plan I decided I needed some space. I wasn't overly keen on Ethan's plan, but I trusted him and Ethan put his trust in me, he believed I could do it. Normally having someone like Ethan putting his trust in me would give me a big boost, I would have said the same about Damien, but things had changed now. Now I didn't need that boost. Now I didn't need anyone to tell me how good I was. I knew. I knew deep down how good I was. I knew I could do this. I sat on the edge of my bed and looked out the window. The view wasn't amazing, but I could see stars. I took a deep breath and held it. This time tomorrow everything will come to an end one way or another. We win, we take down Rider, Hendricks, stop a nuclear war and get revenge for my team. Chances are when I get back to Omega they stick me on a damn desk job as punishment, or hell they might just sack me. Wont matter, if we win, I can live with that.
I shook my head, biting my lip as I started to think about the alternative. Or we lose. Majorly mess this whole thing up. I get killed, the nuclear war starts and we're all dead anyway. Wont really matter what Omega thinks of me then. There wont be much of a world left to care. I let out a sarcastic chuckle as I stood up and wondered over to the window to look over the city and the starry nights sky. Nothing like a high stake's game Jensen. Bet big or go home. "Just the stakes I like." I muttered to myself just before someone knocked on my door. "It's open." I called turning round as Will popped his head round, looking from the bed to the window where I was lent.
"Hey." He said walking into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Hi." I replied as he walked over to me. "Everything ok with the suit?" I asked with a small smile. Will paused mid-motion and rolled his eyes.
"Peachy, couldn't be better." He replied dryly making me chuckle and in turn him.
"Trust me, Benji's got your back on this." I smirked softly. "So um, what's up?" I asked a little confused.
"I just wanted to make sure you were really ok." Will answered with a soft smile. "Earlier you looked out of it, and then after Ethan finished talking you came straight up here..." Will added with a soft shrug.
"Yeah, guess that could look a little..." I smirked to the floor before looking back up and meeting Will's bluey-green eyes. "I am honestly fine. I'm actually better than I've ever been I think." I added with a small smile. I knew the man in front of me had a lot to do with me feeling this good about myself.
"Good, great, that's great." Will nodded looking away from me. "In which case, I shall um, head to bed. We um we all have a big day tomorrow." Will added as his eyes fell on me again.
"You ok?" I asked a little confused by the way Will was acting.
"Yeah. Yes. Yes I'm great." Will said plastering a wide smile on his lips. "I'm going to jump into an oven, wearing magnetic metal armour, which Benji hopefully will catch me with. But other than that, yeah awesome." Will joked making me smile again.
"Well,ok then." I smirked as we started to move to my door. Will stopped just short of the door and turned to face me. A question on his lips as he met my gaze. "Yeah?" I asked plainly making Will just shut his mouth and shake his head.
"Nothing." Will replied with a small smile. "I guess I'll just see you in the morning." Will smirked as his hand found the door handle.
"Sweet dreams Will." I said leaning up and kissing his cheek softly. As I pulled away Will's eyes fallowed my own as he touched his cheek softly. I bit my lip as he gave me a small smile.
"Sweet dreams Kara." He whispered as he lent down and kissed my own cheek. My heart started to race so loudly I was sure he would hear it. As he pulled away I was sure my cheeks were burning but I didn't care. I gazed into Will's eyes and lost myself in the ocean colour, they really were breathtaking. "Night." Will whispered as he finally opened the door and we moved so he could walk out into the hall way.
"Night." I sighed softly closing the door and leaning my back on it. "Whoa..." I sighed out with such a happy smile on my face as I slid down to the floor.
We spent all day running through the mission one last time before everyone went to get ready. During the whole briefing Will would come up with possible scenarios where it could go wrong and the rest of us would come up with the solution. It was Will's job as an analyst to look at it from all angles so no one minded this time.
"Do we know any where Hendricks will upload from?" I asked as I sat on the top of the sofa, my feet on the cushion in between Benji and Will, Jane and Ethan sat opposite us. Ethan turned to Benji to answer that question, in turn Benji glanced up at me before looking back at the others.
"Well in theory there is only a number of locations where the upload could take place, the
problem is there are too many for me to monitor. That's why we really need the codes. It will help me pin point the location perfectly." Benji answered.
"How far away is the furthest location?" Will asked, his analyst mode in full swing as he lent forward, making the calculations.
"Well it would be a twenty minute drive. So let's hope Hendricks doesn't go there." Benji replied sighing.
"Let's hope." Will echoed as he sat back.
"So, is everyone clear on this mission?" Ethan asked as looked at each of us in turn.
"I jump and connect us to the main server." Will sighed sounding less than ecstatic about it all.
"I get the codes." Jane said nodding as Ethan looked at her.
"I find the location." Benji added, nodding as well.
"We find Hendricks and stop the launch at all costs." I added nodding as Ethan looked at me.
"Right," Ethan replied, glancing at his watch. "Benji you need to go pick up the van and start getting ready. Ladies, I need you to be ready for eight the cars will be at eight fifteen." Ethan added as he looked from Benji to me and Jane. Everyone got to their feet to leave when I rose my hand.
"One quick question." I said waving my hand as everyone turned to me.
"Yeah?" Ethan asked confused.
"I don't know about Jane, but I have nothing to wear tonight." I said plainly.
"Don't worry. I brought you both something." Ethan replied with a cheeky smile.
"Bought me something... really?" I asked shaking my head. "I don't know whether to be flattered or terrified." I joked before jumping over the edge of the sofa.
"Both." Benji teased as he came round to see me. "Can I have a quick word?" Benji asked as everyone stood around.
"Come find me when you're done." Jane said walking off with Ethan and Will. I could hear the three of them discussing clothes. I turned to Benji and lent on the back of the sofa.
"What's up?" I asked smiling at him.
"Look, this mission, it's big." Benji said seriously. "It literately could mean the end of the world if this all goes wrong."
"Well when you put it like that." I joked a little making Benji crack a smile.
"Ethan's missed an important part of tonight." Benji said seriously.
"Pretty sure he didn't Benj." I replied slightly confused. Benji took my hands and gave them a small squeeze.
"Rider. Sometime tonight, you're going to have to face him again." Benji said looking into my eyes with so much fear. "He could kill you Jensen." Benji added softly. Internally I panicked, clearly the team had more brains than Ethan was giving them credit for. But we had a plan, and we all needed to stick to it, even me.
"And I could kill him." I said squeezing his hands in return. "I can't worry about that Benji. I need to go and do the mission. We need this to work."
"I just... ten years of not being there. We've had three days together and it's been the happiest I've been in ten years Jensen." Benji admitted sadly. "I couldn't stand you dying tonight." He admitted brushing away a tear that formed in his eyes. "Don't die."
"These last three days have you happy times for you?" I asked cocking an eyebrow. "You sure Moreau didn't hit your head harder?" I joked reaching for Benji head when he took my hand.
"Smart arse." Benji sighed rolling his eyes. "Just don't die tonight, ok?" Benji asked me, looking straight into my eyes.
"I'll do you a deal." I said firmly.
"What deal?" Benji asked letting go of my arms.
"We both survive tonight, no matter which way it goes, you tell Mum and Dad you're alive." I said plainly. Benji paused, looking straight into my eyes as he thought about my offer. I knew letting our parents know he was alive would be a big thing, but I just knew they had a right to know. I bit my lips while I waited for Benji to answer me.
"Ok Jensen, deal." Benji answered smiling as he pulled me into a tight hug. "Just keep the deal, alright?" He asked as we hugged.
"Promise." I replied hugging him back.