I am soooo sorry. The past few months have been all sorts of hectic and I kind of abandoned the story for a hot sec. But I finished my Senior paper, graduated, and am now a bonafide adult! … I just have to find a job.
In the meantime, I am fully devoted to this story now that senior paper and school is not a looming threat over my head and I can finally breathe again! I hope I haven't upset or lost any of you as this has been my longest break yet. In retrospect, I should have told you guys that there was going to be a short hiatus, but I'll do so in the future.
SO, if you've forgiven me, put aside your burning fury at my absence and enjoy this chapter!
P.S. I'm changing the rating to T because I think it will reach a larger audience and I don't foresee any M rated scenes happening soon.
John burst through the door out of breath with a fresh coffee stain on his button-up shirt and almost collided with Evie.
"John?" She started.
"I… There was a…"
He doubled over as his breath came and went harshly.
"What the hell? What?" Evie said, impatient.
"The Kingsmen… They've found us,"
Earlier that day
Eggsy went back to Elaine's apartment. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he figured when she came back, she would want some clothes. With a care he hoped Elaine would appreciate, he took some of the dresses he had seen her wear often and pack them into her duffle. Her duffle was floral, of course.
Descending the stairs with the packed bag, Eggsy set it on her small kitchen counter and found an extra bag of cat food. Herschel was getting low and he didn't know where to find the food she used. Tucking it under his arm, Eggsy grabbed everything and walked out of the kitchen.
He started when a knock came at the door. Dropping the haul, Eggsy slowly approached the entrance and opened the door, his opposite hand resting on his gun.
Standing on the other side was a nice looking girl with a parcel in her hands and blond hair in messy curls. Seeing him, she smiled widely and let out a nervous laugh.
"Hi! Am I at the right place?" She asked, shifting the parcel in her hands and looking around Eggsy into the apartment.
"Uh, maybe," Eggsy said.
Behind the door, he put his gun back. He didn't particularly feel like dealing with her energy, but she kept talking.
"I'm Lizzy Page, well, Elizabeth. But everyone calls me Lizzie. Ah...Lizzie Page." She bounced. Eggsy didn't know how someone seemed to bounce when they talked, but this Lizzie Page did.
"Alright," Eggsy said, doing his best to hide his annoyance.
She shifted the parcel to her other hand and walked past him into Elaine's apartment.
"Um," he reached out to stop her but hesitated with annoyance.
He reminded himself he was a gentleman.
"Is Elaine here? I have a dress for her to tailor for me," Lizzie held up the parcel.
"No, no." Eggsy was caught off guard. He coughed. "She's… gone for the week."
"Oh," Lizzy looked crestfallen. "Well tell her I stopped by next time you see her?"
If Eggsy hadn't learned how to school his features around his fellow agents that watched his every facial tick, the worry and hurt would have shown. However, Eggsy smiled and told Lizzy he would tell Elaine she stopped by.
Shutting the door behind him, Eggsy leaned against the wall and let down his tired guard.
As Eggsy was slumped against Elaine's shabby apartment door in Greensboro, Lancelot and Merlin stood watching their newest detainee from the double-sided mirror. The room was dark and had a lingering smell of coffee.
"He's a wreck," Roxy observed, spinning her empty mug in her palms.
"That he is," Merlin said.
If Roxy was being honest, she would have to say that Merlin was bored. The man in the interrogation room was going to be easy to crack. They only had him for around 24 hours and he was breaking down already. Merlin had talked to him in the beginning but got nothing out of him besides some nervous mutterings and a plea for immunity or at least a phone call. If Roxy were to guess, it would just take a couple punches to get the information out of him before he spilled his guts. As to why they didn't just do the less civil method was beyond her. Even a more persistent 'bad cop' would get something out of him.
"I want you to try next," Merlin said.
Roxy nodded.
"Be nice, though. I want him on our side."
Roxy blanched.
"Why?" She asked harshly. When Merlin gave her a stern glare, she cleared her throat and took a more respectful tone to her question. "He's a repulsive man and he shouldn't be allowed an easy forgiveness."
Merlin sighed and adjusted his glasses.
"I'm not entirely sure he's guilty," Merlin said, staring through the window. "I have a hunch that he was coerced into this little charade and he seems to clench up when he's scared. But, if a calm, diplomatic woman were to talk to him, he might be more inclined to answer some questions."
Roxy took a deep breath.
"Elaine is my friend, too," she said.
"Are you saying you can't do it?" Merlin asked, his eagle eyes turning to scrutinize her.
Roxy shook her head, set her empty mug down and walked to the door.
"No, I'm just saying I'd rather take the interrogation a different way," she all but seethed.
The doctor was sitting in a locked room in a location unknown to him. The harsh fluorescent lights hanging above him beat down, suffocating him. With one handcuffed to the cold metal chair, Doctor Gould was left in freight, fidgeting and squirming as he waited for the second interrogation to begin.
"If you're going to have a go, then you'd do best to bloody do it already," The doctor muttered under his breath. There was, of course, a double-sided mirror in front of him (there was always a mirror when it came to these things) and he knew he was being watched, but he was too scared to shout or scream his agitation aloud. Instead, he settled for a wimpy mumble under his shaking breath.
A door slammed in the hallway on the other side of the room he was locked in and he jumped, pulling his bound hand painfully.
Shaking his head, Doctor Gould brought his chin down to his chest in some false hope of privacy and whispered to himself.
"... should have never listened to her…"
And so he continued for a while; whispering to himself and tricking his mind into thinking he would have some type of immunity or leeway. Hell, he didn't even know who he was dealing with. The woman who called herself Theodora had warned him about the sinister Kingsmen, but never went into detail about their sins or dangers or, more importantly, their interrogation techniques.
The doctor's nerves were so tightly wound and on emergency alert that even the smallest echo of a sound made him jump. So he almost soiled himself when the metal door swung open and closed again with a sharp, resounding click of the lock.
"Hello," A tall, sleek woman with brunette hair in a tight bun greeted. Pulling out her chair, she sat and neatly folded hands on top of the table in front of her. "How are you Mr. - Michael Gould."
"Doctor," he muttered under his anxious breath.
Roxy gave him a small, reluctant smile. Remembering what Merlin said, she tried her best to channel the diplomat within her.
"Doctor Gould." She corrected herself. Taking a steadying breath, Roxy began the conversation with soft, even words, and a diplomatic smile. "I think we can both agree that this doesn't seem like the place for you."
She waited for the Doctor's reply, which was only an unsure nod.
"You took an oath to save people," Roxy continued. "And you don't seem like the kind of man who would go against an oath as important as the one you took."
It was at this point that Roxy opened the file in front of her and started casually looking through the information presented to her. Gould shifted forwards, trying to get a look into the folder she leisurely flipped through.
"Top of your class at Oxford, you've been the president of the hospital's medical board since 2014, and you've done multiple charity events and important medical research. You don't seem like the kind of vagrant that would kidnap a patient."
She settled her gaze on the man seated across from her and tried not to put any burning accusations into her eyes.
The doctor opened his mouth, and then looked down and clamped it shut.
"I can't help you if you won't talk," Roxy said gently.
"I didn't want to, she forced me…" He looked as if he were going to be sick. Clamping his mouth shut even tighter, the doctor shook his head and looked up at the ceiling.
"Who are you talking about?" Roxy prodded.
The doctor shook his head.
"You don't understand. She'll ruin me," his voice quivered and he seemed to shrink back even farther into the chair if that was possible. "And she warned me about you Kingsmen."
"Who is 'she'?" Roxy asked again, this time with more force. "We are on your side. This is your best chance at getting out of whatever you're tied up in."
"I don't know who she is," The doctor said. "I can't help you."
Roxy walked into the room opposite the one Gould was locked in. Merlin and Gawain stood facing the window with scowls set into their brows. Gawain's frown was more pronounced, his fists clenched.
"Well, that was a bloody waste of time," Roxy said, collapsing in a chair. When Merlin gave her a stern look, she straightened.
"We are getting closer," Merlin said. He clicked a pen against the metal table as he stared at the doctor. "He's beginning to doubt the mastermind behind this mess. He'll talk to us soon if he knows what's good for him."
Beside him, Gawain muttered an agreement. Roxy took a breath, then stood.
"Let me know if you need me to interrogate him again," she said, cast one more glance at the doctor.
Merlin nodded, his eyes remaining forward.
Eggsy was jogging with JB.
He had nothing else to do. Every step his feet took pounding on the concrete sidewalk made his shoulder pinch and pulse painfully, but it took his mind off Elaine and the guilt that was always lingering at the corners of his mind.
Coming to a halt, Eggsy collapsed on a bench and took a moment to catch his breath and grit his teeth through the sharp protest of his shoulder. Someone came up and sat on the bench next to him.
"I've been looking for you,"
"Yeah, I guessed from the million voicemails you left me," Eggsy said between his labored breaths.
Roxy's phone rang.
"Yes?" Roxy answered.
She suddenly straightened and gave Eggsy a startled look.
"Are we sure?" She asked the person on their end of the line. She turns her back to Eggsy, but it didn't stop him from listening to her. "I'm with Galahad, sir... Yes. We'll be there in ten minutes."
"We'll be there?" Eggsy asked.
"Gawain got a location out of Gould."
"Let's go, then," Eggsy jumped up.
"Wait," Roxy stepped forward and put her palm out to stop him. "Merlin said you could only join if you promise not to fall out of line,"
"I'll stay in line. I put my life on it," Eggsy said, JB barked as if confirming his promise.
Roxy smiled.
"I knew you would say that. Come on,"
Ten minutes later, Roxy, Eggsy, and JB were walking into HQ when Merlin approached with a watchful eye.
"Lancelot. Galahad." Merlin nodded.
"Why are we lazin' around here?" Galahad practically yelled. He was still wearing his joggers and sweats. Figuring they would change into tac gear, he didn't bother wasting the time for a suit.
"We're almost ready," Merlin said before casting a sharp eye towards Eggsy. "I will not hesitate to pull you if you are unable to comply with the terms of the mission."
"I know," Eggsy said immediately. "I'll stay in line."
"Then let's move out," Merlin said, throwing Eggsy the tac gear.
This was a failing mission. If 'mission' were the right word.
John scoffed as he set his coffee on the windowsill and checked the rusted lock on the entrance. His car was parked at the side of the building which was probably a terrible idea, but he didn't think there was a more discrete option. Besides just not being here.
He dropped his bag by his feet and pulled out his sweater and jeans. Ever since he accepted this 'job', he made a habit of keeping a change of clothes here. Full hours at the hospital and full hours during the night didn't leave much room to run home. It was the hectic life of a resident by day and kidnapper by night. Or was vigilante the right word?
"No, vigilantes don't get paid," John muttered to himself, grabbing the coffee and taking a long sip. "And probably don't kidnap people, either," He tossed the scrubs in his bag and buttoned up his shirt.
But it wasn't as if he had a choice. Well, he did have a choice, but this was by far the most lucrative one.
Once he stuffed his scrubs in his bag, John opened the heavy metal door, coffee still in hand. He was returning to his car when sharp headlights flashed around the corner and halted in front of the building they were hiding in. Ducking down and holding his coffee with sweating hands, John closed the door an inch, watching as a couple soldiers with guns stepped out of the black vans. Forgetting about his hot coffee, he clenched his fist only to have the cup break.
"Shit!" He pulled his soaked shirt away from his skin, the coffee burning.
Throwing the soaked cardboard cup to the side, John dropped his bag and sprinted from the entrance.
John burst through the door out of breath with a fresh coffee stain on his button-up shirt and almost collided with Evie.
"John?" She started.
"I… There was a…"
He doubled over as his breath came and went harshly.
"What the hell? What?" Evie said, impatient.
"The Kingsmen… They've found us,"
Every bone in her body froze.
"Evie?" John said, still breathless. Taking a step forward, he shook her shoulders with his own tremoring hands.
She backed away from John. Evie ran her hands over the sides of her face, her short blonde hair falling forward as baggy eyes starred alertly at the door to her left. John noticed that his 'employer' always managed to look somewhat put together; crisp clothes, proud stance, confidence in her decision. But, staring at her now as she tried to choose between him and the door Elaine slept behind, John could clearly see that the tight seams holding her together were suddenly unraveling faster and faster.
"I'll get Elaine," John said, pushing her towards the back door. "Just go!"
"No! I'm not leaving my sister behind," Evie said, pushing John right back.
He stepped back, giving Evie a reluctant look.
"Maybe," John started with hesitation, knowing she wouldn't like his suggestion, "maybe it would be best to leave her with the Kingsmen?"
She scoffed.
"No," Evie fought.
"We've just administered her with a new drug that we don't completely understand," John yelled. He could hear the front down burst open. "She's stable now, but what about tomorrow? What do we do when she needs more medical help?"
"That's why I have you!" Evie shouted, running her fingers through her hair. "And I'm paying you enough to listen to me!"
"A resident. I'm not even a full doctor!" John shouted back. "This isn't good enough!"
Evie watched as John paced, his hands shaking. The Kingsmen were getting close, they were quiet, stealthy, but it was obvious. They had maybe a minute.
Evie turned and looked at the door leading to her sister. She didn't know how she made her decision, but she turned around, shoved John out the opposite door into the side of the building the Kingsmen were approaching from.
"Hey! What the hell?" John shouted, standing up and taking a step towards her.
Evie pushed the heavy metal door closed and locked it as he ran to stop her. The lock fell into place easier than she had expected. John pounded on the other side. A bullet ricocheted off the opposite side of the door made Evie jump. Freezing, Evie waited for John to call out, but he was silent.
"You understand, John," she said, turning to get her sister.
Eggsy kicked the foot of the man laying on the ground.
"Why 'da shoot a suspect?" Eggsy hissed at Roxy.
"Is he still breathing?" Merlin asked through the comms.
"Yes," Roxy said, giving Eggsy a pointed glare. "We'll need someone to interrogate."
Bedivere ignored them, walking to the door the man was propped against.
"The door is locked," he said, kicking it.
"It's unlikely there was only one perpetrator," Merlin said, static from the comms buzzing in Eggsy's ears.
"Then we'll have to find another route." Eggsy said with impatience.
"Lancelot?" Bedivere asked, turning away from the door to face the team leader.
"Right." Roxy shuffled before straightening a bit. "Bedivere and I will stay inside the building and Galahad, you go around the back. Someone may try to make a run for it."
Evie was wheeling Elaine out back. She felt bad about John, her mind lingering on the sound of him pounding on the heavy door she locked him behind and the gunshot that followed. Shaking her head, Evie focused, pushing her guilt out of her mind.
Evie caught Elaine as she started slumping forwards in the wheelchair; her strawberry locks falling into her face as her shoulders caved.
"Elaine. Lea!" Evie said, shaking her sister.
Elaine mumbled something but moved enough so as to stable herself.
They neared the van and Evie just needed to get Elaine in and then they could make a run for it. All she got out of Elaine again was a grumble and a vague groan of pain.
Huffing, Evie slid the van door open. Turning, she pulled Elaine closer and prepared to shove her in the van as carefully as she could. Evie had her arms around her sister when she heard the distinct sound of a gun cocking.
"Let go of Elaine and turn around." The voice demanded with a sharp anger.
Evie carefully let go of her sister, setting her gently down back into her seat. Elaine was now barely conscious, her eyes hazily looking up at her and she seemed to be growing paler and paler by the minute.
"Gwen," Elaine couldn't vocalize, she just mouthed her name.
The shuffle of footsteps came closer, just a foot or two, but enough to know that the soldier behind her was impatient.
"I said turn around!" He shouted.
Evie straightened, staring down at her sister. It looked like she was dying.
Before the man behind her could take drastic measures, Evie stepped away from her sister and raised her hands.