An Unholy Alliance by InSilva
Disclaimer: I do not own.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Exposition and evasion
It is the early hours. Dubois has rounded up Jamieson's men and the corridors are empty and echoing. They near the room with the rug and the couch and with an unconscious movement, Danny edges in front of him. But the door is standing open and Rusty can see past Danny's shoulder that Jamieson is gone and Alain and Guillaume have disappeared.
"Just a moment," he says and steps into the room.
Danny frowns and he feels the frown change into a roll of the eyes. He steps back out of the room and smiles.
We have other things on our mind.
The smile slips away because he knows Danny is waiting for a conversation.
In the main hall, they find the other men who were kept with Saul and Rusty slows up. As Danny watches, small flurries of conversation take place in native languages and names are found and towns identified and information is passed on.
Then, side by side, they walk out of the front door of the chateau and through the grounds and Rusty steers them towards a sleek-looking champagne-coloured car that has "Ready to be hotwired" written all over it.
Danny's hand brushes Rusty's as they pass under trees and Rusty reaches out and squeezes it. They've done it. He wants to fall down and thank whatever gods have been looking out for them. The release of emotion is intense. The ponderous and the draining have evaporated. At the moment, he feels like he could fly.
"Rus." Danny wants to know. Needs to know. And sharing is good and needed and helps. He knows it helps. Even when it hurts to tell and it hurts to listen, it means that they are on the same page. No secrets.
It's the wrong verb but he says "He kissed me" and he hears Danny swear and he sighs.
"Just like the cell," he elaborates. "Bit of powerplay. Brief." It had been long enough. But then that was true of being even a second in Bryn's company.
"It's over, Danny. It's over. That's all we need to focus on."
He looks down at their hands, fingers still locked together and then he looks up at Danny's face and the things he reads, he knows Danny must be reading too.
It's over. It worked.
And Danny's grip tightens.
The meeting with Jamieson is happening. Bryn will be setting it up even as he and Rusty are standing in a hotel room and doing their best not to think about what they see when they close their eyes.
He hates every thing that Bryn has done. From the meeting in Gerard's office and the bar across the way through the many ways he has played them. And last night…last night was… Last night was not even the worst that he could do and yet it still feels like it. He imagines the satisfaction in Bryn's face when they meet up again. He imagines Bryn smiling to himself as if he will never stop. He imagines the digs and the poison and the never-ending and the relentless and the supercilious and he remembers Rusty's eyes from his dream: hollow and empty and defeated and broken.
And he imagines further. Not happening. He won't let it.
"Let's move."
They leave the evening dress hanging up in a shop and walk out dressed in new clothes and Danny hopes Bryn will lose the deposit on the tuxedoes. He looks over at Rusty and sees the strain of the previous night still just beneath the surface. And he thinks about Rusty's memory and hates that he can't take that night away.
"Michael," he says and Rusty makes the call.
"I've been trying to reach you," Michael says and as he listens, some part of Danny vaguely acknowledges that it is only a day or so since they last spoke to him. It seems to have been forever. "Hobbs is on the move. His men have been withdrawn and…" There's hesitation.
"And what, Michael?" Rusty gently prompts and Danny loves that he can be all things reassuring and steady and professional when inside he is shredded and bleeding.
"And I think your friend has been brought to Jamieson's. I picked up a message that said they'd rounded up some men…"
Rusty looks at him and Danny's imagination goes into overdrive. He can feel the dawning plan running through him and he can see it reflected in Rusty's eyes as Rusty sees and understands.
They travel back to the chateau and they find the tunnel which comes up in the cellar as Bryn has said which is a relief. They can never be sure what he is telling the whole truth about.
"Where do you reckon?" Rusty asks.
"Not the front of the house."
"Somewhere private. Somewhere-"
"-out of the way."
They ghost through corridors and they have a couple of false starts before they find the little kitchen with the hob that leads into the servant quarters with the singular guard, smoking disconsolately, bored and unimpressed with his assignment.
Saul. He must be inside and the urge to knock the guard out and break in and grab him and run far away sweeps over both of them. Danny shakes his head and Rusty has a rueful expression. They know it won't work.
"Distraction," Rusty mutters.
Danny remembers the kitchen and he smiles when they find the matches.
Noises off and a little fire and a little smoke and the guard goes to investigate. They open the door in a flash and they see Saul, sitting and looking up at them as if they are the impossible vision they are. He rises without a word and they only hesitate when they look at the other men. They can't take them. To take them with would be to risk their escape. To take them would be to risk their plan for Bryn.
They lock the door and they make their exit, round the corner and away, even as the guard comes back from the other direction, fire put out and scratching his head and possibly wondering whether he has carelessly discarded a stray cigarette end.
"Boys…oh, you have great timing." Saul is as emotional as they have heard him and they each have a hand on his arms.
"We're known for it," Danny smiles.
"People come to expect it," Rusty adds.
Saul's eyes flick to Rusty's jaw with the bruise and Rusty sees the question begin to form in his eyes, see him start to open his mouth to ask the question and he leaps in before Saul can do so.
"Saul, we need to move," he says tersely.
They move through the tunnel and as they do so, they share parts of the story – Gerard and Matsui and Michael and Duchesse and Dubois and Hobbs and Jamieson. The diamonds that are a trap and the set up and the would-be coup. By return, Saul talks about escaping and being followed and trains and countryside and a hospital somewhere – "Poland", Rusty says and Saul shrugs – and a truck ride and waiting, waiting in a room for something, someone. Neither of them mentions Bryn. Neither of them wants to. Neither of them feels the need. Neither of them wants to explain.
"The diamonds, Saul," Danny asks as they climb out into the church.
Saul smiles and reaches into his mouth. He pulls off a false gold crown that he has not possessed before he arrived in Amsterdam and carefully removes three tiny black diamonds.
Danny and Rusty exchange amused glances.
"You are a legend, Saul," Rusty says as Saul passes them over into Danny's waiting hand. "Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
The smile disappears from Saul's face and Rusty braces himself and Danny bites his lip.
"So, you two gonna treat me like an adult?" Saul asks and there is tightness and concern. "Because I can see what I can see." His eyes fall back down on to the mark by Rusty's mouth.
Danny's face is stiffly impassive and Rusty knows the effort that is going in to keeping everything locked down. He knows because the expression is replicated on his face and for the same reason.
"Saul…" he begins and he knows Saul knows he is about to dismiss any and every thing Saul is worried about.
"Don't you dare!" Saul says fiercely. "Don't you dare," he repeats, emphasising each word.
He glares at both of them and they stand silently, saying nothing, verbal or otherwise. They can never lie to Saul. They just don't want him to ask the question. And if he's going to ask it, then they're not going to answer it. Because they can't lie to him.
"Daniel…" And Danny swallows.
"Robert…" And Rusty gives an imperceptible shake of his head.
Saul's shoulders sag and the anger leaves him. There are tears now in his eyes.
"Can't or won't?" he whispers.
"Both," Rusty says quietly and hates the spasm of pain that flashes on to Saul's face.
Saul nods miserably, accepting the fact that he is never going to be told the story.
"C'mon," Danny says gently. "Let's get out of here."
Duchesse is home once more and Danny and Rusty and a newly suited and booted Saul sit amongst the chintz and the satin and Danny craves another favour. Shelter for Saul. Duchesse looks over at the bliss on Chou-Chou's face as Saul scratches behind her ear and smiles acquiescence.
Sitting in a café, Rusty calls Michael.
"Thank you," he says before Michael can say a word. "Thank you so much."
"You found him!" And Michael sounds as happy as if Saul mattered to him as much as he matters to Danny and Rusty.
"We have. And listen. We couldn't have done it without you."
"Oh…" Michael starts down the self-deprecating route but Rusty won't let him.
"We want to do something for you, Michael. How would you like to come back home? We know a tech guy who could find an opening for you. What do you reckon?"
"Home…?" There's an almost painful longing in Michael's voice.
"Well?"
"Yes. Oh, yes." Definite and joyful and seizing the day.
Rusty nods at Danny who starts dialling a number.
"You need to find a man called Matsui. He'll be expecting you. Here's his address."
And as he hangs up, he hears Danny confirming details with Matsui.
"Please look after him, Matsui. Yes, first class airfare. And tell him we'll pick up with him later this week."
As Danny closes the phone, he looks across at Rusty and Rusty can see the argument starting.
"Yes, we still need to go through with it. Yes, we need to go back to Bryn. Yes, I still need to meet up with Jamieson."
"It's not necessary. We can find another way. Another plan."
"You know it's the best and most direct way. And the quickest way to be rid of him. Danny," he leans forward and lays a hand on Danny's arm, "in a few hours he will be out of our lives forever."
Danny sighs.
"Then we get you some drugs."
"Do I look like I need them?"
Danny ignores him.
"Something powerful. I'm not taking any chances with Jamieson."
Rusty nods because he knows this is probably the only way Danny is going to feel close to comfortable about waving him off.
"And something for Bryn," Danny adds. "Something to slow him down."
"Slow-acting," Rusty agrees.
"Take the edge off his thinking. Take the edge off his strength."
He looks over at Rusty and sighs again and Rusty knows he is thinking ahead.
"It's the only way it's going to work. You know that, Danny. And by the time we get to the guard and the door, that drug is going to be in his system. And all I need to do is buy you time to bring in Dubois."
"Yeah." Danny does not look happy about it in the slightest. "We still need him to drink it down."
"Simple," Rusty suggests. "I'll order a cocktail."
As he picks up the phone to call Dubois, Danny's mouth twists. Because it will be one hell of a distraction. It always is.
Dubois is receptive. Even more so when Danny promises to hand over the diamonds.
"I will be there and I will wait in the grounds for you to contact me. I know the chateau well. I owned it before Jamieson. It was my gift to him."
"There are some innocent men being held there. We would like assurances that they be returned to their homes."
"I am not a monster," Dubois says and there is hauteur in his voice. "Of course they will be returned."
"Bryn Gower," says Danny firmly.
"I do not have fond memories of Bryn. And the phone conversation you played me shows he is acting with Hobbs. He deserves the same reward."
Danny exhales. They have to play for keeps and he has no qualms about doing so where Bryn is concerned.
They drive the stolen car back to Duchesse's. "I will wait up," she has said and she is true to her word.
"Your friend and I have been having a lovely game of cards," she trills and they wonder a little at the sudden flush in Saul's face.
"Duchesse, we are in your debt," Danny says, kissing her hand with brio.
"We hope this small gesture will go some way to showing our gratitude," Rusty adds, producing a tiny jewelled snuff-box.
"La, la…" Duchesse's eyes light up. "Such a pretty trinket. I love it."
They catch the night flight back to the States. Saul sleeps. Danny and Rusty are seated next to each other, shoulder to shoulder and if they sit a little closer than they need to, if their hands rest a little nearer than they have to, if their heads lean in to one another more than is socially usual, they decide they can be forgiven.
It's over. They've left the nightmare behind.
Late the next day the three of them call in to see Gerard.
"Saul!" he says with genuine pleasure. "I had no idea this was going to get complicated. I am so glad to see you."
Saul's mouth twitches at the euphemism "complicated".
"Thank you, Gerard."
"And my diamonds?"
"There's a story," Danny begins.
When he's finished and Gerard has fully understood about how he has been played by Hobbs who has contacted him in the first place, about how he has been the scapegoat in Hobbs and Jamieson's plan to depose Dubois, his mouth sets tightly.
"I don't like being used," he says plainly.
"Hobbs and Jamieson are getting their comeuppance," Rusty explains.
"Because Dubois doesn't like being played either," Danny adds.
Gerard thinks this over and then nods. "Good. And what about Bryn Gower?"
They can feel the question echoed in Saul.
Danny smiles. "Seems Bryn was playing both sides, Gerard."
He holds up the recording that Michael has supplied of Bryn's conversation with Hobbs, convincing Hobbs that he is on his side.
"Dubois is dealing with Bryn too," Rusty says and cannot stop the feeling of exhilaration at the thought.
Gerard scowls. "I hope he suffers. The man has a considerable amount of my money. Not your fault, guys, I know. But I have no diamonds and no money."
"We did bring you back a souvenir." Rusty fishes another tiny spectacular snuff-box out of his pocket. "It's not much-"
"-but it's priceless," Danny finishes.
Gerard turns it over in his hand and starts to smile.
"Thank you," he says sincerely. "Thank all of you. If you need a favour, call me."
They travel with Saul to the airport and to give him credit, he waits until they are sat at the gate with him before he mentions it.
"Bryn Gower?"
"Nasty complication," Danny borrows Gerard's euphemism.
"Believe us, you don't want the details."
Saul hesitates and reluctantly accepts the non-explanation and he gives both of them his patented hard stare. They stand up to the inspection. There is nothing more to worry about with Bryn and they can be truthful about what their faces tell Saul.
They wave his plane off and Rusty stretches and rolls his head around his shoulders.
"I could do with a vacation."
"Somewhere sunny."
"Somewhere with gelati."
"What is it with you and gelati?"
Rusty shrugs.
"It's ice-cream but it's better."
They call Livingston and they put him in touch with Michael. An extraordinarily grateful Michael who sounds as if he has a new lease of life.
"He'll do well with Livingston's connections," Rusty suggests.
"He sounds happy."
"That's because we told him it was over." Rusty can still remember the choking gasp of happiness from Michael at the news that Bryn has been dealt with. "It's impossible not to be happy."
They holiday in Florence. No jobs. Plenty of gelati. Lots of downtime. Recovery time. Time where they do not have to worry.
Danny looks at Rusty and sees the freedom back in his eyes, the weight lifted from his soul and he smiles. It is a joy to see Rusty whole again.
Rusty looks at Danny and sees the worry that knitted itself into his expression gone, the fear of not being able to help evaporated and he smiles. Danny is himself once more.
There are bad dreams. There are times when they wake – and they are still sharing a room and a bed by unspoken agreement – and they hold the other one just a little tightly, as if to reassure themselves. But gradually the horror memories of Amsterdam and Paris die away.
"Ready to go home now," Rusty says one day and Danny nods at the question that isn't. Time to move on. Time to use their talents.
A/N: Hope it all made sense. :) Oh, I appear to have thanked otherhawk a chapter early. But that's good, because I can thank her again now. For the line and a hundred other ways she's helped with this fic. Lake Tahoma, I'm telling you.
Oh, by the way, chapter twenty-three is an M. It will be entitled "An Unholy Alliance Chapter Twenty-Three" and it will be posted soon(ish).