oOo
Twenty-five
He sank against the wall thirty minutes later, totally spent, his back on fire even worse than before, and the new pain of bruised hands and bleeding fingernails simply adding to it. He'd tried everything to get out, even slamming the cot against the observation window several times; but to no avail. The walls were staring, mocking him, taunting him for what he'd never imagined could be true… and now that he'd stopped moving, the thoughts and feelings that had dogged his every movement crashed over and threatened to overwhelm him.
No… it can't… Jones is just trying to... It all tumbled roughly around in his head, adding to the physical agony he'd just put himself through. Myles hadn't considered that… her reasoning… could be anything more than just…
His hands clenched in the blond strands of his hair as he tried unsuccessfully to block out the thief's last comment to him. "It seems to me that this runs far and beyond a 'partner's' sacrifice. You might want to consider why it is that she's willing to do anything to keep you on this planet."
"No…" It came out from the depths of his soul, even as he remembered the look in her eyes just before she left. "I have to," she'd said, and her hand had moved ever so slightly against his cheek.
"We're just friends… we established that a year ago…" The whisper echoed off the walls of the cell. Then his heart jolted as he remembered the hallway…
"Tara!" he yelled again.
She looked up, then saw that Myles' compartment was also filling with a white mist. Eyes locked, they realized at the same moment what was happening. She met his palm against the glass with her own.
In that moment, all he'd known was her, her face in his thoughts, her soul entwined with his… and he now realized that it had been that way for some time. Whether they were tracking down terrorists or playing miniature golf in the rain, they were a part of each other, deeper and richer and far more than they'd been at the inn… a simple friendship had grown into something else right under their noses…
A deep groan escaped him. "Nooooo…" The realization made everything a hundred times worse; it wasn't just his partner, his friend, that he'd failed, but a woman he hadn't even realized he was deeply in love with… a woman who was at this moment…
"Tara!!!!" The agony drove him back to his feet and he rammed his fists onto the observation glass again. "Tara…" The roar became a desperate whisper, and he slid bonelessly down the glass to his knees, his face against the smooth surface of the wall. "No…" Tears burned, and he almost gave in to the wrenching sobs— instead, he channeled it into blazing fury and a stream of muttered Russian curses aimed at Dan Jones and his minions.
"You do realize that these little rooms were designed to prevent viruses from escaping through the cracks, Agent Leland. You're a tad larger than a virus." Jones lounged against the open doorway, his arms folded over his chest and a sadistic smirk on his face.
He chuckled at the venomous look the agent was giving him. "Still, it was most enjoyable to watch as you tried your hardest." He swaggered over and pulled Myles' hair back to scrutinize his face, smiling smugly when the agent offered no resistance. "You're really quite the mess now. A far cry from the polished 'James Markham' I came to know and love. Hands hurt, do they? I'm sure your partner will care for them when she gets back. My associates shouldn't be much longer. You know, it's too bad I didn't think to set a camera up in there as well. It must be rather boring out here all by yourself."
"You son of a—" Myles gathered his strength and started to lunge for Jones, only to find himself staring down the barrel of his own Glock .45.
"Temper, temper," Jones purred. "If you're not alive to offer her some 'comfort,' how long do you really think she'd last?"
I can't… can't leave her now… as much as I want to tear him apart… "Jones, I swear," Myles growled, sheer rage blocking every ounce of pain, "when I get out of here, I'm going to personally make sure you pay dearly for every sadistic thing you're doing. Bureau ethics or not."
"But that's just it," Jones replied, a smile crossing his face. "Either you escape and kill me, thus shattering your precious career, or you will both die right here, tortured by both your own pain and the demoralization of watching each other tortured for your sake. Either way, I win."
Jet and Benny hauled Tara into the room just then, tossing her onto the floor in a heap, where she curled up into a ball, sobbing. Jones stood and gave her a pitying look, then turned his gaze back to Myles.
"Do enjoy the discovery you've just made, and the time you have left. It won't be long, either way."