Chapter 13

Remi woke before dawn and stood and stretched. Somehow that tiny twin bed had been plenty for them, probably because they'd been wrapped up in each other's arms and couldn't seem to let go. As she looked at Kurt lying in the bed alone, she saw how ridiculously long he seemed in comparison, his feet hanging off the end. What had been comfortable for her had probably been very uncomfortable for him.

She knew what was coming. Within the next day, she'd have to return to Shepherd, probably with Kurt, to make sure Roman was safe. Doyle and Shepherd would be suspicious, and chances were good that Mayfair was going to have them wired or sent in as spies. As nice as a new life with Kurt and their siblings sounded, she knew it wasn't likely to happen for her. She doubted she'd live to the end of the week, but she was going to do her damnedest to make sure the others did.

Climbing back into bed, staggering her legs between his, she curled up as close as she could. She felt his cock stir against her hip, a reaction she'd pretty much been counting on. "How's your head?" she asked, not wanting to take advantage of the man if he was still in a great deal of pain.

"Feels better," he replied, probably only half lying.

She lifted her thigh, pressing it against his sex and hearing him softly groan with want. "Think you can handle me?" she chuckled.

"Yea," he smirked, but when she pulled down the covers that had been over him, she saw the dark bruise on his side from where Doyle had kicked him.

"Maybe this is a bad idea."

"We are guests here. Would be kinda rude," he said, ignoring the possibility that they should wait because of his injuries. But his hands were pressing into her thighs and he wasn't really acting like someone who wanted to stop.

"It would be."

"But...it's not like anyone would have to know."

She smiled at the way he started to lean into a justification. "We can be quiet. Besides, if we get sent to Shepherd's…we won't know how that will—"

He sat up, silencing her words with his mouth, and her hands immediately surrounded his face as he pulled her on top of him. She knew by the fierceness with which he'd silenced her that he knew just how dangerous the coming days would be. It was hard to consider the possibility that this might be their last time together.

"I'm outta rubbers," he reminded her as he took a breath.

"I have some," she said, sitting up, her hands moving over his torso, careful to avoid the bruised areas. "But…"

"But what?"

"You have any diseases I should know about?"

"No," he answered immediately, sounding a little offended. "I am extremely careful 100% of the time."

"Nobody's careful 100% of the time."

"I am. I'm a very careful guy. Even when I don't want to be—"

"Okay," she chuckled, "I'm completely clean. Only had one real partner before you, we were always careful, and I actually got tested when we were over…just because I wanted to know for sure."

"Oh," he slowly grinned. "Are you suggesting we don't use anything?"

She smirked because she could see the way he was blushing even in the dimly lit room. "Yea. If that's okay with you."

"That is very okay with me," he replied, sitting up a bit too quickly and wincing. "I'll stop—"

"You don't have to stop." She saw the momentary flash of complete panic, which actually reassured her. They were far too young to risk children. "I have a birth control implant. I can prove it. You can feel it under my skin," she said, directing his fingers.

"I believe you."

"No wait…here…you can feel it here—"

"Remi," he interrupted. "I believe you. Okay?"

"Okay," she smiled. "You've really never done this with anyone else before?"

"Nope. I swear," he said. "You?"

"Me neither," she replied, chuckling for a reason she didn't even understand. She whispered, more seriously, "At least I get to be your first in some way."

"You're my first in a lot of ways," he commented, his hand cradling her face. "First woman I've ever really loved. First woman I can actually imagine making a life with."

She stared blankly as she tried to take in all that he'd said, and she could see the awkward worry he felt in the wake of the confession. Part of her heart begged her to tell him she felt the same, that she loved him in a way she'd never loved anyone else. That part of her could imagine them in an apartment or a house, figuring out what real domesticity was. But what an awful thing that would be to confess if Shepherd killed her tomorrow. Instead of having that conversation, she slipped below the sheets, licking and teasing his sex enough to make sure he was fully hard for her, although she really didn't need to be of much help.

Eschewing common stereotypes, she was often the one who hurried through foreplay, noting and appreciating his interest in making sure she enjoyed sex and that she was fully aroused, but usually she was more than ready at the drop of a hat. She'd never had a relationship like this, and found that most days she couldn't wait to fuck him again.

She pushed her hands to the mattress on either side of him and scooted up, her legs spread over his thighs, and she pumped his erection as she aligned their bodies. He asked, "You sure you're good with this?"

"Yea." She nodded her head, but he reached an exploratory finger between their bodies, teasing her clit, swirling around in the pool of her own wetness. "You sure?" she replied, more of a moan in response to him than an actual word.

"Definitely."

"Even when I'm alone and I think about having sex with you, I get wet like this," she purred. "Just thinking about you…and how you touch me, the way you feel..."

With his finger still swirling her clit, she brought their bodies together, then began to take him inside her. Her hands grabbed his shoulders as she slid down his shaft until he was buried deep inside her. "Feel different?" she asked, twisting her hips as she slowly lifted and lowered.

"Oh yea," he replied, still trying to sound controlled.

"Tell me how it feels," she insisted.

"How you feel," he corrected.

"Yea."

"Warm," he confessed, his hands locking on her hips. "So slippery."

"You like that?"

"A lot. Love feeling you right on me," he said, sounding like he'd only just learned to speak words, his jaw clenched, unable to look at her.

"What else?" she gasped softly, rocking patiently but with a full range of motion over him.

She felt his thighs and saw his abdomen tense. "Sorta tighter but softer and…shhhh." He argued, silencing himself more than her, reining in his racing body. Once he had more control, he said, "You? You like it?"

He did feel different to her, although she wasn't sure if it was the missing physical or symbolic barrier that had the greatest impact. The intensity of his arousal and enjoyment spread into her, and she felt that through her whole being. "Yea. You feel closer. I feel your body rubbing right against mine and—"

"Honey, stop. You gotta stop," he pleaded.

"Are you almost there?" she questioned without a hint of condemnation, instead sounding extremely turned on and a little bit pleased with herself. She was driving him crazy.

He lifted up and flipped so she was under him, their heads at the foot of the bed, hormones masking any pain he should have felt. She wasn't at all upset or even terribly aware of the fact that she was beneath him, his hands grabbing onto hers and threading through her fingers as he began to plunge into her body wildly.

Her moans escalated, punctuated by an aroused gasp every time he reached the fullness of her depths. She made an effort to quiet herself, pinching her lips between her teeth to keep her mouth shut. Her body squeezed his, creating a tighter fit that was quickly becoming too much for him. When she said, "Wanna feel you come in me," those words thrust them both over the edge, the tiny bed rocking so forcefully that it was scootching across the wooden floor.

They both moaned together at the intensity of the encounter, their voices finding the same note in different octaves, both hiding their mouths against their partner's shoulder to stifle the sounds so they wouldn't be heard by anyone else in the house.

As their racing bodies slowed, he kept a firm grip on her ass, holding her against him so she couldn't pull away. She grabbed onto him in the same way, holding him inside her for a little longer. This time there was no need for him to get up, leaving her there in the bed, so they lay there, allowing their bodies to remain joined.

As much as the pair wanted to laze around in the cozy twin bed all day, duty called, and it was time to meet with Mayfair and figure out their plan. Remi felt ready until they all sat down around the dining room table, a carafe of coffee at hand, and began to discuss the details.

Mayfair was obsessed with catching Doyle, a fact that Remi could easily see. As Mayfair continued to regale them with the reasons why Frank Doyle should be stopped, Remi felt growing concerns about turning against Shepherd. "Doyle's an asshole," Remi interrupted. "You don't need to say anything else to convince me that he should fry." Turning to Kurt, she asked, "You agree?"

"Yea," he nodded emphatically. "Take the bastard down."

"Wonderful," Mayfair said with some relief. "But the larger concern is the militia. From what my sources tell me, they're planning a series of smaller, synchronous attacks, culminating with one large, decisive strike. That's the one that scares me, because I can't seem to find any intel on that. Remi, this is where you come in."

"I don't know anything about a large decisive strike," Remi admitted.

"You take orders from the woman known as 'Shepherd', don't you?"

"I agree Doyle needs to go, but—"

"They both need to go," Mayfair interrupted. "Shepherd is dangerous, cunning, a master of manipulation. From what my sources have told me, she's the one who calls the shots, not Doyle."

"She doesn't tell me about things like that. She tells me what my orders are, usually just my part of the job. I do it. I don't know about context or a planned larger attack."

"What do you know?"

"I'm supposed to be in DC next week. For…" Remi paused, slowly blowing out a nervous exhalation.

"People are going to die," Mayfair reminded harshly. Remi didn't respond immediately, and so Mayfair added, "You have the chance to stop this. And, look, I'm sure your brother will be a really popular guy in the Federal Pen. He'd be tried as an adult. A terrorist. Gen Pop is always happy to welcome a young fresh face."

Remi smiled maliciously, "You'd send a sixteen year-old boy in there?"

"If that's what it takes to prevent an attack on this country and the loss of hundreds or maybe thousands of lives? Absolutely."

"I guess you and Doyle have a lot in common then," Remi countered. "Both willing to trade teenagers to get what you want."

Mayfair shook her head, the rage building, "I'm trying to speak a language you understand. You think it's better for him there with Shepherd and Doyle? Is that the life you want for him? Because from where I sit, it's no better than prison."

"Alright, wait," Kurt interrupted, holding up a hand to silence Mayfair. "Give her a minute."

Remi looked toward Kurt, then Mayfair, and Mayra cleared her throat and said, "My granddaughter was expendable. A pawn in Doyle's games. It's easy to say that Doyle's the bad guy, that he's the one who deserves to suffer. But he serves their agenda. And what about all of the other innocents that may die if an attack is carried out. How many people will lose a brother? A child? A husband or wife? Are all of those people expendable too? If they want to make a change in the world, does it have to be through violence?"

"Violence is the only language some people listen to," Remi replied.

"There are other ways. Is their message important enough that you should die for it? What about your brother? Or Kurt?" Mayra asked.

"I can't sit back and let so many people pay the price so Shepherd or Doyle or whoever can make a statement," Mayfair said. "No agenda is worth the lives of innocent civilians."

Remi sighed, "Shepherd wants me to go to DC with Oscar, one of the other soldiers. We're supposed to cause one in a series of what Shepherd has coined 'wake-up calls.' I'm guessing that is one of the smaller synchronous attacks that are supposed to take place throughout the country. I know the approximate location of 4 of those attacks. But it sounds like there are more."

"What's the purpose of these wake-up calls?"

"I'm not exactly sure. The ones that I know of are all transportation-related. Oscar and I were supposed to disrupt the DC Metro."

"How?"

Remi glanced over at Kurt, clearly concerned about saying these things in front of him.

"Kurt, could you step outside for a few moments?" Mayfair asked.

Mayra stood and offered, "Come on, I'll find you something for breakfast."

He didn't move, looking at Remi like he didn't want to leave. "It's okay," Remi said, shaking her head and putting her hand on his. "I can't change who I am. Or…who I was. You might as well know." Remi took a sip of her coffee, the temperature still a little too hot, and sobering. "We're supposed to decommission several of the tracks."

"You realize that people will probably get hurt if the tracks are 'decommissioned' don't you?" Mayfair questioned.

Remi nodded, her skin feeling hot as thoughts thundered through her head.

"She's been manipulated," Kurt argued. "Raised in a world where she isn't allowed to choose what is right. They use her brother to control her, threaten to put him in harm's way if she won't listen. She's here, and she's helping you. So cut the guilt trip and let's get something done. She knows what she's been a part of. How would you feel if I asked you to betray someone who'd looked out for you? Who'd saved you from a completely horrible life and gave you something just a little better. Remi is loyal. Turning her back on the only family she's ever known can't be easy."

Mayfair responded, "I just want her to understand—"

"I want you to understand that you need to be patient. Give her a little room to breathe. She's trying to do the right thing," Kurt argued. "You don't understand what she's been through."

All eyes were suddenly on him, and they all appeared surprised by the tone of authority that seemed to come from nowhere. No one in that room would doubt his determination to protect her.

"You're right," Mayfair nodded. "This is important. And you have been manipulated in the past. But you have a chance to choose your own path. We're giving you an alternative. It's up to you to choose your side."

Remi drummed her knuckles on the table. "The attacks are scheduled for next Wednesday. It's supposed to be a demonstration of what we're capable of. A broad range, coordinated strike. The goal is destruction of the infrastructure more than body count. A temporary crippling of the transportation system."

"And then what?"

"All I know is that I hit my targets, and then I'm supposed to go home. If I had to guess…I'd say they'll probably come forward with some demands or a message. Something like that. I don't know what that is, but it's probably something about government and military corruption."

"The other four targets?"

"I don't have specifics. Four transportation targets in major cities in the Northeast."

Mayfair looked surprised. "Sounds pretty serious for a 'wake-up call'. Depending on the type of strike, it could either cause massive panic and disorder, or we could be looking at a large number of casualties."

"I was told the target was the hardware. Cripple transportation. Civilian casualties aren't the goal."

"But they could happen," Mayfair insisted. "So if all of this is just a warmup…what are they planning for the main strike?"

Remi shook her head, "I don't know."

"We need to figure it out and stop all of these wake-up call attacks."

"It won't be easy. These militia groups are spread out all over the country. Most don't know what the others are doing. Even if one particular part falls through, the other attacks will likely still play out."

Mayfair noted, "Shepherd probably knows where all of the attacks will be."

Remi shrugged. "If she does, she won't tell you."

"Then we have to find out. There must be a way to figure out the remaining targets."

Remi's eyes widened as she had an idea, and she said, "Doyle has some equipment stored in an old fallout shelter on the farm. Some laptops, maps, things like that."

"Can you get in that room?" Mayfair asked, standing slightly from her chair.

"No. No way," Remi answered. "I can't even get to the bunker. And even if I could, I'm not sure if you'll find the answers you want...it's just a guess."

Remi's phone buzzed in her pocket, and she grabbed it. Flipping it open, she smiled and flashed the phone at Kurt. A text message read:

Gordo: Where's the next playdate? I have some toys you'd like if you want to share.

Remi took a deep breath. "I know who might be able to figure some of this out. But he'll want immunity. I'm supposed to set up a meet with him."

Mayfair looked at Mayra and shook her head, "We're already in this far. Bring him in."

Gord was not pleased when he arrived at the spot where he was supposed to meet Remi and was instead taken into FBI custody. The moment he was brought into Mayra's house, he pointed at Remi and said, "I never took you for a snitch."

"She doesn't have much of a choice unless she and her brother want to spend the majority of their adult lives locked up," Mayfair said. "And unless you want to join them, you should do your best to cooperate."

"I'm being framed," Gord argued. "This is some sort of entrapment."

"Don't waste my time," Mayfair stated coolly. "You can help us and buy your way out of a ridiculous amount of trouble…or you can kiss the rest of your freedom and your college education goodbye. Choice is yours."

Shortly thereafter, Gord showed everyone what he'd found. And he'd found a great deal. He'd located contacts all over the country that were probably representatives from various militia cells. This was the first big step to finding leads on the other groups who could be part of a larger attack. But he hadn't found any actual plans that outlined the details.

"I think the plans are probably kept on another central computer," Gord said.

"Do you think it might be in that bunker you mentioned?" Mayfair asked Remi.

"I don't think there's any electricity down there. I think it's just storage," Remi said.

"What about the equipment in the barn? Everything in those locking cabinets?" Kurt asked. "There was a computer in there."

"I don't know what all that's for! I don't know anything about computers," Remi admitted.

"Is there a phone line to the barn?" Gord asked.

"Sure," Remi replied. "There's a phone…so."

"But is there a phone line plugged into a box that's plugged into the computer? It would have blinking lights…makes a sound like a phone but it's not a phone," Gord pushed.

"Like a FAX machine sound?" Remi asked.

"Kind of," Gord rolled his eyes, "we're on the verge of a new millennium…get on board folks. I'm talking about a modem. If there's a modem, and the machine is on, I can connect."

"Are you sure?" Mayfair skeptically asked.

"I'm sure," Gord replied cockily. Looking at Remi he said, "You're young. You really have no idea about any of this? Your school didn't have some kind of intro-to-computers class?"

Remi shrugged, looking very uncomfortable. "I wouldn't know," she calmly answered, walking away to let Mayfair iron out the details. "You guys figure it out. When you do, send me in. I'm ready."

Kurt followed her to the kitchen. "You okay?"

She nodded her head.

"I don't know anything about computers either," he said, thinking that her lack of technical proficiency was making her uncomfortable. "But I'm sure he couldn't defend himself in a real fight or run missions like you can."

"I didn't go to high school," she abruptly confessed.

"Why?"

"I've never been to any school. You asked me about that a long time ago, and I didn't answer because…I've never been enrolled. We've had a few tutors. I can read and write. But even if I wanted to, I'd never get into any college."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he gently probed.

"It's embarrassing. Makes me sound stupid."

"I know you're not stupid," he replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Once we're done with all of this, I can help you study for the GED. If you get that, you can go to college."

"Yea," she said, the hopelessness peering through, "once we're done with this."

"We will be done with this," he tried to reassure. "We will."

"You guys better come see this," Gord shouted from the other room.

Sitting in front of the computer, he gestured for them to approach.

"Don't overreact," Mayfair said. "This is completely expected. We can take care of this threat and—"

"What's she talking about?" Remi asked Gord.

"I was able to access some of Shepherd's security and—"

"What is it?" Remi yelled.

Mayfair let her pass to look over Gord's shoulder, Kurt following immediately. For a few long seconds, the young couple just stared. In grainy footage, they saw the image of two people tied up. Gord zoomed in so they could see, but they didn't really need to see to know their suspicions were correct. In the same cell where Remi had been kept when she returned from her road trip with Kurt and Sarah, two teens were tied back to back on the floor. Sarah was on the left, her face streaked with tears. Roman was tied at her back, his face full of confused anguish and fury. Two armed guards patrolled the cell, and, disturbingly, Doyle came into view. He actually paused, his grey eyes turning toward the camera and offering a menacing smirk. He stepped back slowly until he was standing behind Sarah. He lowered down on his haunches and rubbed the back of his long fingers down Sarah's cheek.

Just as Weller was about to pick up the monitor and smash it to the ground, two figures appeared and hung a sign behind the teens. "REMI-BE HOME BY NOON TOMORROW. BRING YOUR FRIEND. DO NOT BE LATE."

Kurt had never felt guilt like that, and he could see Remi felt the same way. He'd been wasting time with Neal, staying with Remi, foolishly believing that he could get back to Sarah before anything would happen. And he was wrong. He accused himself of being selfish, indulgent, and greedy, and Sarah was paying the price.

"You said you had someone looking out for them," Remi accused Mayfair.

"We did. I can't make contact with either of the teams assigned to them," Mayfair admitted.

"I told you I didn't need to go to the hospital," Kurt yelled at Mayfair. "I should have left. Picked up Sarah and Roman—"

"It's not your fault," Remi argued. "It was mine. I was okay, so I should have left you here and gone to get them last night. I'm sorry, Kurt."

"Everyone calm down," Mayfair said, maintaining a sense of rationality and poise. "They're trying to get your attention, push us into making a mistake. We have to be smart."

"Well they fucking got my attention," Kurt yelled back, his ability to stay calm destroyed whenever Sarah was involved. Rage boiled inside him, and he wasn't sure how to keep it all contained. He could blame everyone else, but deep down, the person he truly blamed was himself.

"You don't want to make a mistake."

"Let's go," Remi said, looking at Kurt, who was already following her.

Mayfair held out a gun. "Don't make me do this. Because I will. I don't want to hurt either of you. But if you run in there half-cocked, you're going to get yourselves, those kids, and probably thousands of innocent civilians killed."

"I can't just leave my sister there. With him. I can't do it," Kurt shouted.

"No one is asking you to. We will go in. We will get them back. But we need a plan."

"Why should we trust you?" Remi argued.

"Because you don't have a choice. I have resources you two don't have. Tomorrow, before the deadline, you will be there. We will get them back, unharmed. But we need to do it right."

Kurt pulled Remi aside so they could talk in private, "It's my fault," he said. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not, Kurt. I got you involved in this, and Sarah, and I knew I should have left last night, but I got reckless and—"

"It is not your fault," he interrupted. "It's Shepherd and Doyle. We need to stay focused on that, on taking them down, and getting Sarah and Roman to safety."

"The question is…do we go in with Mayfair or on our own?"

"I don't think we have a choice. You cooperate, you get immunity. And she's right…they have resources, firepower."

"If anything happens to either of them," Remi said, her eyes showing panic that her voice did not.

"If you want to protect your families, we have to move now," Mayfair said as she approached.

"What's your plan?" Kurt asked.

"We'll work out the details on the way. I have my top team working on it."

"Fine," Kurt said after Remi nodded at him. "But before we go in there, I want papers, something signed, that shows that Remi and her brother get full immunity."

"I can do that," Mayfair said. "You're making the right choice. I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure they're back safe. Now get your things. We need to start the drive up to Shepherd's farm while we make our plan."

"Good luck," Gord said as he took a few steps back to the door. "Remi, you can pay me what you owe me when you get a chance, no rush."

Mayfair grabbed his jacket and shoved him down into a chair. "Nice try. You're with us."