Very nice long chapter, so I hope my muse has come out of hiding and decided to play again. But can't make any promises.
Chapter 34.
"Wakie, wakie guys. We are one hour outside of Dutch, time to batten down the hatches and get ready to party." Johnathan was pretty happy to hit town. The rest of the crew less so. Grumbling the deckhands invaded the galley where an equally grumpy Neal was frying up eggs and bacon by the dozen. Only upside of having a long trip cut short and not running into the Northwestern. There still were plenty of eggs.
Andy grabbed his breakfast and went upstairs to relieve Johnathan. Settling in the second chair Andy took some time to just stare outside to the grey sea that went seamlessly over into an steel grey sky. Talk about fifty shades of grey. Only over here the sea was the dominant partner. And surrendering without a fight wasn't an option.
"So? Now what?" Was Andy's question. "So now we dock next to the Wizard until the Cape Caution has unloaded, we are next up, but the Cape has only just started unloading so that is going to take about twelve hours. Time to Party. Whoot Whoot." Johnathan seems to be happy to be in town again completely forgetting the reason for heading in early for just a second. "Oh, and check in on Jake Anderson of course, and find those two friends Mac's been worrying about."
"Fine, now get down and eat. Help the guys tie up when we're in, and make sure they clean up the galley a bit. And take this with you." With that Andy pushed his empty plate in Johnathan's hands and settled in the captains chair.
One hour isn't very long to eat breakfast, clean and get the deck ready for unloading. So before Eliot even realized the Time Bandit was snug next to the Wizard and the rest of his crew was off to drop off a cameraman at the local police station, get supplies, drinks and good times. As greenhorn it was his duty to stay on board with a cell phone and Johnathan's number on speed dial. And the instructions to call the minute the boat unloading was done and getting ready to leave.
After waving his friends off and watching them pile into one of the many cars that seem to be parked all over the docks at all times Eliot is just on his way to the wheel house to get comfortable when he notices he has uninvited company. Four of them even. Two he recognized from a night spend drinking before finding himself on the wrong boat. The other two he doesn't know, but that doesn't really matter. The fact that the four guys are wearing similar hoodies and are on his boat is enough.
Grabbing the hook he starts swinging it in easy circles while slowly making his way to the high rail and his visitors.
"So fair warning, you 'all have about five seconds to leave, after that it is going to hurt. BAD." Finally some action, Eliot can't help grinning his predatory grin. How he missed this. And he wanted to try this hook thingy as a weapon. Seems now he gets his chance.
Only the fight is hardly a fight. The idiots clearly have no experience at all. Instead of going at him all four at the same time from different direction's the idiots go in one at a time the first two full of spunk but no science. The third already shows more caution and almost manages to grab the hook. Only that thing has sharp points. So one hard pull is enough to lodge the thing in or thru his hand. Leaving him crying like a baby. The fourth decides to run for safety, scrambling over the rail onto the Wizard in the direction of a disgustingly strong menthol cigarette smell, only to get tossed back by a far more interesting fifth fighter.
Now we are talking, she, yes it is a she. "Well hello darl'ng, and who might you be?" is Eliot's opening line, because hot dam this is a real chick the way he likes them. Legs that go on forever and ever in skintight black rubber looking pants and black biker boots with steel toes. On top of that an also tight fitting black, short zip up coat with the same rubbery look and even in this pretty thick material it is clear the chick has muscle. And as icing on the cake platinum blond spiky hair, lots of black eye shadow and blood red lipstick in a pale but perfect face.
"Well Hello there handsome, I'm Charlie, and I'm almost sorry to remodel your pretty face."
And with a cat like grace Charlie lands on deck, sure there is clear thump, but then she isn't Parker. Slowly the two fighters circle each other sizing up the competition and it seems Charlie is a talker. "I'm glad to finally meet you, I was almost afraid that I had missed my chance when you dropped off the radar a couple of years ago."
"I'm flattered, didn't realize anybody noticed?"
"Sure we did, somebody like you? Then Quin showed up and bragged about going a round against you. According to him you lost."
"Not really, and we had a nice long talk since then." Eliot is still twirling his hook. A beautiful weapon of mass destruction as far as he is concerned.
"Glad to hear it. But what are we waiting for? The bell for the first round?"
"Not really, but shouldn't we take this on land, so we don't stumble over you're guys?" Eliot doesn't really mind but hey why step on a guy who is already down.
"Those are not my guy's. I work alone. So I really couldn't care less." Is Charlie's callous reply.
" Works for me, then I'm just waiting for you, I don't hit women unless they hit me first."
"Well I be darned, a real southern gentleman." is Charlie's response while taking a flying leap at Eliot grabbing him by the neck with her full weight behind it. Both go over the rail into the freezing water of Dutch Harbor.
Not quite sure what hit harder, Charlie's fist in his gut or the cold water, Eliot struggles to get up for air only to be pulled down again by Charlie. Charlie is clearly better prepared for a water fight in her skintight dry suit. She also knows how to use those metal spikes on her shoes. Eliot knows he is bleeding but he can't really feel it. The cold is so much worse.
-Flash back-flash back-flash back-flash back-
Same fortress as before still only one cage with something in it. A heap of snow covered Eliot lies on the bottom of the cage. Two guards are making their way over. Complaining to each other over the unfair way things are arranged in the world.
"Go get the stupid American. Go make him disappear. But the sergeant has his shoes. The lieutenant has his nice warm water proof coat. What are we to get, a piss stained pair of pants and a stinking sweater with blood and puke on it." The other one doesn't say much, he is more the quite type.
Reaching the wall the quite one starts to crank up the cage with the old pulley system. Slowly and creaking the cage goes up and the complainer takes a better look at what is in the cage.
"So, do you think he is really dead? He did put up a fight before. And he is a wily one." The silent one just shrugs and gives the talker a snowball.
"Yeah, good idea." The talker throws the snowball at Eliot who doesn't even flinch. His eyes are closed snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes.
The talker gets brave and opens the cage and reaches in to get the frozen corps out. Or so he thinks. Before he knows it he is falling. Eliot pulled him between the cage and the wall. While the talker is sailing down Eliot jumps onto the wall and knocks down the silent one. Eliot steals his coat, sweater, socks and shoes. Sure it is all too small but everything is better than what he has. And he did lose a lot of weight. The pants might even fit.
After stuffing the quite guard in to the cage and lowering it again Eliot makes his way down into the fortress. After a few tries he finds a back way out and now the four to five day trek to safety starts. But he is still alive.
-End flash back-end flash back-end flash back-end flash back-
Unable to really see anything in the dark murky water, or even able to know up from down Eliot kicks up his knee in what he thinks is the direction of Charlie's face only to feel it hit a hard metal object. But it was a good enough hit because Charlie lets go of his waist and a string of small air bubble's stream past Eliot's face. Down to his orientation but all he can think of is to follow the bubbles, up, up to the surface and air. Clean cold oxygen loaded air.
Gulping big breaths of air while clinging to the hull of the Time Bandit takes all his energy when all of a sudden he goes down again. Only this time his mark is clear. Charlie has her hands on his shoulders and is pushing him down with all her weight. Letting himself sink like a stone Eliot pushes off the hull unbalancing Charlie and hitting her in her stomach with his head. As a result her head slams into the enforced metal hull with a bang hard enough to knock her out.
Coming up for air for the second time Eliot starts to feel the bitter cold seeping into his muscle's. while he slowly swims along the Time Bandit on his way to the quay, while dragging the unconscious Charlie with him he feels his energy waning fast. Too fast to make it to safety, even if he were to let go of the dead weight that Charlie is, when all of a sudden a rope with a sling lands right next to his head.
"Eliot, get in. We're going to pull you up." a creepily familiar voice yells from above his head. Parker, thank god.
Getting his right arm and his head into the sling is easy, holding on to Charlie with his left he signals to Parker that he is ready but that wasn't necessary. The rope is already being pulled up by the crane on the Time Bandit deck. Mike helps him over the rail with an anxious Parker hovering nearby not sure what to do.
Without ceremony or even a by your leave Mike pushes Hardison and Parker to the side and scoops the shivering Eliot from deck, carrying him bridal style into the galley. Leaving Charlie for the others to get inside, or not. Mike isn't really all that interested in the bitch who tried to kill his buddy. No matter that Eliot isn't who he said he was.
Hardison and Parker followed the blond giant that was walking off with their hitter, no way that they were going to lose Eliot from sight again, not after this fight or any other fight ever again.
Inside Josh is already in full blown mother hen mode, waiting with towels blankets and getting water heated up. But first things first. Eliot has to strip out of all that freezing cold wet gear to get dry and warm.
Getting a sharp but easy to handle knife Josh cut Eliot's coat and sweater from waist to neck so he and Mike could get it off of Eliot without moving him too much. Only Mike suddenly realizes that the bouncy blond that had dragged them back to the boat is sitting cross legged on the table watching all that was going on with a unblinking stare.
" Do you mind? Giving us some privacy?"
Clearly confused Parker turns to Hardison. "Hardison, Eliot has seen me naked before and I have seen him nearly naked as well, why should I leave this time? That shame thing again?"
"Yeah Parker, same thing again. So close your eyes." is all a embarrassed Hardison manages to say. Putting her hands before her eyes Parker keeps mumbling in a clearly heard sad sounding stage whisper. "I'll never get it, it isn't the same, even Sophie wanted to know anyway. Only Hardison has that stupid shame thingy going on."
With chattering teeth Eliot comes to Parker's rescue. "It's okay Darling, you can watch, I d d don't mind." At that Parker turns around with a beaming smile. And starts poking at the fast developing bruise over Eliot's right eye. "that's the Sparky I know and love. Now get ready we're going back to LA to get this Beers guy who did this to you. Hardison get that woman and get us a flight out of here."