Part four...
WARNING: Pain and violence.
Mr. Platt's men began a beating he would soon not forget.
They ripped his black t-shirt from his body and handed Platt what looked like a horsewhip.
"Hey Buddy that was my shirt! And I bet 'that' thing makes 'you' feel superior."
"Mr. Fawkes I 'am' superior and if you don't answer me I will be forced to use it on you and that shirt will be the least of your worries.
"I can live with that?"
He walked right up to his face hitting the horsewhip across Darien's face he flinched away. He then grabbed at the nail protruding from Darien's shoulder. And put pressure on it forcing Darien's body to arch as the pain enveloped his body. He screamed and tried to pull away but it was no use. " If you don't give me the answers, I want you will be sorry Mr. Fawkes."
"Nope don't think so."
"Don't test me Mr. Fawkes! I will use this if you force me to.
"Can't be any worse than what you've done already."
Mark backed away and pulled back the whip throwing it to hit Darien's back. He repeated this until he finally grew weary of it. Darien was not answering him so wiping his hands he put the whip on a chair and walked way.
"I do have other guests to attend to Mr. Fawkes.
Ray be sure he regrets his decision not to give me an answer.'
"Yes boss."
Ray turned; beating Darien repeatedly until the pain from the beating caused his body to collapse. The weight of his body hung against the cuffs around his wrists tearing into his flesh even deeper forcing them to bleed profusely. Darien hung there unconscious. His wrists raw and blood trickling down his arms and all over his body.
Ray then turned out the light and left Darien to the darkness.
He was alone now even though the unconscious state he was in didn't allow him to know it.
Claire looked at Bobby "Where did he go?'
I dun no thought you knew." Just then a loud scream echoed throughout the building. Repeating again, and again and again.
No! Darien! Claire and Bobby both gasped in unison looking at each other in shock.
Hang on partner! They ran down the halls headed in a direction that would take them back to Platt's office. There was no sign of Darien or Mr. Platt but there were signs of some sort of struggle.
It was obvious to them now that Platt had Darien.
"Claire over here." Bobby pointed to a spot of blood on the carpet.
"Is it Darien's?"
"I don't know, but it kinda looks that way. It's either that or he got someone pretty good there."
"Yeah I'd say so." Claire said with a bit of relief in hoping he was okay.
"Where could they have taken him?" Claire asked.
"Don't ask me do I look like I know? I don't know okay? Oh yeah!" Just then he rummaged through his pockets and produced a tracker. Claire looked at him in extreme dismay. "I forgot okay?"
Just then the door opened Bobby quickly hid the tracker. It was Platt.
"Hello again Mark." Claire said.
"Hello to you I have someone I'd like you to meet."
Ray came in the room. He stepped over to stand beside Platt.
"This is Ray and if you ever want to see your dear Mr. Fawkes again. You will come along pleasantly." "How did you know?"
"Oh someone who would like to remain anonymous has been following your work and knows everything about you and your 'Agency'. He has taken an interest in Mr. Fawkes, an interest that will bring me more than enough for you to never see me again.
"Doubt that." Bobby retorted. Ray grabbed them.
They fought off Ray's grip and followed Mr. Platt. They needed to find Darien and this was the best way.
They came up to a large darkened room Platt turned on a light and there slumped over, bleeding and hanging from the center of the room sweat dripping down his back was Darien sick and beaten.
"Oh! Darien! Claire screamed and ran over to support him.
'Wake him! Platt demanded.
Ray pulled Claire away and threw ice-cold water on him. He jerked awake the pain returning. He opened his eyes which they hadn't touched they wanted him to see his captor.
"You again!" He said his body limp he fought to stand as much as he could to take the strain off his wrists but it was useless he was just too weak.
"Ah Mr. Fawkes I think we have something to bargain with."
"I doubt that."
"Ray!"
Ray drug Bobby and Claire reluctantly to the center of the room to face Darien.
"Leave them alone you..." He fought trying to get at Platt but the more he fought the worse it was for him.
"Oh, oh my dear Mr. Fawkes." Platt went over putting a hand on Darien's face and wiping the blood from him he drew back and punched again in the stomach. Darien spat blood and vomited all over Platt's imported loafers.
"I should kill you for that."
"Go a head then maybe I could get some rest."
"I'm afraid I can't but tell me who sent you and how do you know about Dr. Morrison. I'll think about letting your friends over here for-go the punishments of your incessant behavior."
"Don't tell him anything Fawkes." Bobby demanded.
Ray then took a crowbar and hit Bobby in the ribs spitting up blood he spat out. "Is that all you got?" Platt took out a gun and cocked it. Ray then took Bobby to the far wall directly in front of Darien. He aimed.
"Mr. Fawkes if you do not tell me I will be forced to fire."
"Don't do it partner."
Platt fired just grazing Bobby's leg.
"Aw too bad I missed."
"What are you tryin' to do?" Bobby grunted, frustrated and in pain.
"I... am... trying... to get an answer. If I can't get it from him perhaps I can get it from you Mr. Hobbes."
Claire was standing in the background against the door. While no one was watching she managed to get to her cell phone and dialed the official. They had heard everything.
Just as Platt was about to whip Darien again armed men stormed the complex.
Ray came over. "Mr. Platt sir there's cops everywhere.
"Just let me finish." Platt whipped once then again then Ray came up to him again pulling down his arm that was about to strike again. "Sir we need to get out of here." "Fine Ray get him down we will have to move this to somewhere with a bit less noise."
Ray undid one of the handcuffs and Darien took whatever strength he had left and belted the guy in the jaw throwing him back. He came back running like a bull Darien quicksilvered the shock of his absence startled Ray sending him head first into the far wall knocking him unconscious. Platt came up to Darien who was now slumped over and very visible hanging from one handcuff. Still attached to the hook he grabbed him holding a gun to his head.
Claire without seeing what was happening grabbed a gun from her purse and threw it to Bobby and Bobby in turn held the gun on Platt. "Hold it there my friend let my partner go. NOW!!!"
"I don't think I can do that Mr. Hobbes you see I am being paid a lot of money to deliver Mr. Fawkes here and neither you or anyone else is going to stop me."
He grabbed at the one cuff still around Darien's right wrist trying to get it off the hook but failing. Bobby fired putting a whole in Platt's shoulder he fell. Darien weak and still in Platt's grip fell hard the cuff jerked forcing his shoulder to become dislocated. Platt's men advanced trying to rescue their boss.
"Uh back up if you don't want to see your boss here dead you'll back up and put down the guns." Bobby screamed pointing his gun at the men around the room.
They backed out of the room each taking one of Darien's arms they ran out of there. Platt ordered more men to go after them. Being chased by all but a small army with guns blazing they ran to the van. They threw Fawkes in the van and sped away as fast as they could.
DARIEN! Claire screamed.
Fawkes you okay.
He was unconscious on the floor of the van bleeding.
They got to the motel and dragged Darien into the room blood was trickling down his body weak and exhausted they laid him across the bed. Claire sent Bobby for a bucket of ice and some bandages. He winced at the pain as she slowly cleaned the blood from his wounded body and began to wrap the more severe wounds. Spiking a high fever that night and vomiting about twice every hour. Claire and Bobby sat sleeplessly by his bed hoping his fever would break. And wishing he never had to go through the torture his body had obviously gone through. He was weak and the pain was too much he finally gave up and fell into an unconscious slumber. Three days later he awoke in the ICU at fort Leavitt he had bandages all over his body and he felt sick to his stomach.
He could barely move and when he went to sit up his body made him regret it.
Claire came in concern clearly apparent on her face.
"You're awake."
"Yeah but I kinda wish I wasn't." he said faintly.
"I bet, you need to take it easy for a while your body took a pretty bad beating."
"Tell the 'fish that." He said as he tried to turn but instead just winced at the pain.
"See that will teach you my friend." Bobby said as he walked in the room.
"You don't look too good partner."
"Yeah well you wouldn't either if you were practically beaten to death."
"I have you know my friend I got two broken ribs from that son of a...
"BOBBY!'
"Oh sorry keep forgot you were here."
"What's up?"
"Nothin' but I just got off the phone with the 'fish seems they found Platt holed up in his office. The guy almost bled to death."
"I say let him bleed."
"So do I but you know. And, and the 'fish says we get the next two weeks off."
"Like their going to be spent doing anything productive lying here."
"I know partner and I told the 'fish that he said don't press your luck so I shut up."
"Oh well! I can at least try to recover."
"Yes, see now if Bobby hadn't talked to the official you would probably be doing desk duty for the next few weeks. Now you just lie there and let your body get well."
"Yeah, yeah I guess. But I would still like to know whom that guy was that Platt was working for?
"I know partner I know."
Claire grabbed Bobby's arm to leave, as Darien was getting extremely groggy.
"What?"
"He needs his rest Bobby now c'mon." she tugged even harder.
"Hey Hobbes I think the keeps right I am kinda tired."
"If your sure my friend. But if you need anything I'm right outside."
"Yeah okay I'll remember that."
With that Bobby and Claire walked down the hall they would be leaving his room for now but for the next several days they would stay there as close to his side as possible.
***
Ten days later in the official's office
Darien sat in a wheelchair in the official's office bandaged practically from head to toe. He was still in a lot of pain so he was pretty groggy from the major painkillers he was on. And he couldn't walk worth a darn. But he wanted to be there so he got Claire to help him into the wheelchair and bring him along. She did reluctantly but everyone seemed glad to see him nonetheless.
The official started in.
We were able to apprehend most of the men involved in the Morrison-Platt ring but...
"Let me guess Platt got away." Darien said with a bit of revulsion.
"Well he was in the infirmary at the jail for his injuries and someone got in and broke him out. And not only that but someone anonymously posted bail for Dr. Morrison and..."
"He jumped bail Bobby finished.
"Yes Bobby he jumped bail. We're just going to have to keep our eyes and ears open for these guys."
"Yeah and whoever they are they know about the quicksilver gland."
"What do you mean?"
"When they caught me in Platt's office they were wearing thermal glasses."
"Not only that but when Claire and I took our little tour he said something about the gland and making millions from it."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah boss and they knew all about Claire, me, the agency everything. I think whoever these guys are they've got to be working for someone we know like maybe Chrysalis." Darien said.
"Or Arnaud, Claire said I wouldn't put anything past him."
"Or the Chinese, yeah the Chinese." Darien pointed to Bobby in agreement
"Not their way."
"How do we know? They grabbed me before didn't they? Maybe they're just stepping up a bit."
"Maybe." The official chimed in.
"So Claire will he be back up to full throttle any time soon?" The official asked concerning Darien.
"I 'AM' here you know." Offended at the thought of them talking about him while he was sitting in the room.
Claire laughed. "Yes we know Darien and sir as you can see he still has quite a bit of healing to do another 2 weeks and maybe, maybe he can be on light desk duty."
Claire grabbed the back of the wheelchair and she and Bobby rolled him back to lab three where he would stay for the duration of his recovery. "What do you mean desk duty." He asked.
'You're not going anywhere in your condition."
"But... but..."
"Now if I were you I'd just shut up and do what the keeper says my friend. Or you 'could' end up there permanently if you know what I mean."
"Yes Hobbes, I know what you mean but desk duty?"
"Yep that's way it is you gotta roll with the punches and part of that is doin' what the keep here says."
"Why thank you Bobby."
I heard this quote once:
Time ... is not a great healer. It is an indifferent and perfunctory one. Sometimes it does not heal at all. And sometimes when it seems to, no healing has been necessary.
I had friends to help me pass the time with my healing and I'm just glad they were there when I needed them most. When I thought they would never come each time they surprised me by showing me how much they cared. Now I'm just glad they were there or I might be dead right now.
WARNING: Pain and violence.
Mr. Platt's men began a beating he would soon not forget.
They ripped his black t-shirt from his body and handed Platt what looked like a horsewhip.
"Hey Buddy that was my shirt! And I bet 'that' thing makes 'you' feel superior."
"Mr. Fawkes I 'am' superior and if you don't answer me I will be forced to use it on you and that shirt will be the least of your worries.
"I can live with that?"
He walked right up to his face hitting the horsewhip across Darien's face he flinched away. He then grabbed at the nail protruding from Darien's shoulder. And put pressure on it forcing Darien's body to arch as the pain enveloped his body. He screamed and tried to pull away but it was no use. " If you don't give me the answers, I want you will be sorry Mr. Fawkes."
"Nope don't think so."
"Don't test me Mr. Fawkes! I will use this if you force me to.
"Can't be any worse than what you've done already."
Mark backed away and pulled back the whip throwing it to hit Darien's back. He repeated this until he finally grew weary of it. Darien was not answering him so wiping his hands he put the whip on a chair and walked way.
"I do have other guests to attend to Mr. Fawkes.
Ray be sure he regrets his decision not to give me an answer.'
"Yes boss."
Ray turned; beating Darien repeatedly until the pain from the beating caused his body to collapse. The weight of his body hung against the cuffs around his wrists tearing into his flesh even deeper forcing them to bleed profusely. Darien hung there unconscious. His wrists raw and blood trickling down his arms and all over his body.
Ray then turned out the light and left Darien to the darkness.
He was alone now even though the unconscious state he was in didn't allow him to know it.
Claire looked at Bobby "Where did he go?'
I dun no thought you knew." Just then a loud scream echoed throughout the building. Repeating again, and again and again.
No! Darien! Claire and Bobby both gasped in unison looking at each other in shock.
Hang on partner! They ran down the halls headed in a direction that would take them back to Platt's office. There was no sign of Darien or Mr. Platt but there were signs of some sort of struggle.
It was obvious to them now that Platt had Darien.
"Claire over here." Bobby pointed to a spot of blood on the carpet.
"Is it Darien's?"
"I don't know, but it kinda looks that way. It's either that or he got someone pretty good there."
"Yeah I'd say so." Claire said with a bit of relief in hoping he was okay.
"Where could they have taken him?" Claire asked.
"Don't ask me do I look like I know? I don't know okay? Oh yeah!" Just then he rummaged through his pockets and produced a tracker. Claire looked at him in extreme dismay. "I forgot okay?"
Just then the door opened Bobby quickly hid the tracker. It was Platt.
"Hello again Mark." Claire said.
"Hello to you I have someone I'd like you to meet."
Ray came in the room. He stepped over to stand beside Platt.
"This is Ray and if you ever want to see your dear Mr. Fawkes again. You will come along pleasantly." "How did you know?"
"Oh someone who would like to remain anonymous has been following your work and knows everything about you and your 'Agency'. He has taken an interest in Mr. Fawkes, an interest that will bring me more than enough for you to never see me again.
"Doubt that." Bobby retorted. Ray grabbed them.
They fought off Ray's grip and followed Mr. Platt. They needed to find Darien and this was the best way.
They came up to a large darkened room Platt turned on a light and there slumped over, bleeding and hanging from the center of the room sweat dripping down his back was Darien sick and beaten.
"Oh! Darien! Claire screamed and ran over to support him.
'Wake him! Platt demanded.
Ray pulled Claire away and threw ice-cold water on him. He jerked awake the pain returning. He opened his eyes which they hadn't touched they wanted him to see his captor.
"You again!" He said his body limp he fought to stand as much as he could to take the strain off his wrists but it was useless he was just too weak.
"Ah Mr. Fawkes I think we have something to bargain with."
"I doubt that."
"Ray!"
Ray drug Bobby and Claire reluctantly to the center of the room to face Darien.
"Leave them alone you..." He fought trying to get at Platt but the more he fought the worse it was for him.
"Oh, oh my dear Mr. Fawkes." Platt went over putting a hand on Darien's face and wiping the blood from him he drew back and punched again in the stomach. Darien spat blood and vomited all over Platt's imported loafers.
"I should kill you for that."
"Go a head then maybe I could get some rest."
"I'm afraid I can't but tell me who sent you and how do you know about Dr. Morrison. I'll think about letting your friends over here for-go the punishments of your incessant behavior."
"Don't tell him anything Fawkes." Bobby demanded.
Ray then took a crowbar and hit Bobby in the ribs spitting up blood he spat out. "Is that all you got?" Platt took out a gun and cocked it. Ray then took Bobby to the far wall directly in front of Darien. He aimed.
"Mr. Fawkes if you do not tell me I will be forced to fire."
"Don't do it partner."
Platt fired just grazing Bobby's leg.
"Aw too bad I missed."
"What are you tryin' to do?" Bobby grunted, frustrated and in pain.
"I... am... trying... to get an answer. If I can't get it from him perhaps I can get it from you Mr. Hobbes."
Claire was standing in the background against the door. While no one was watching she managed to get to her cell phone and dialed the official. They had heard everything.
Just as Platt was about to whip Darien again armed men stormed the complex.
Ray came over. "Mr. Platt sir there's cops everywhere.
"Just let me finish." Platt whipped once then again then Ray came up to him again pulling down his arm that was about to strike again. "Sir we need to get out of here." "Fine Ray get him down we will have to move this to somewhere with a bit less noise."
Ray undid one of the handcuffs and Darien took whatever strength he had left and belted the guy in the jaw throwing him back. He came back running like a bull Darien quicksilvered the shock of his absence startled Ray sending him head first into the far wall knocking him unconscious. Platt came up to Darien who was now slumped over and very visible hanging from one handcuff. Still attached to the hook he grabbed him holding a gun to his head.
Claire without seeing what was happening grabbed a gun from her purse and threw it to Bobby and Bobby in turn held the gun on Platt. "Hold it there my friend let my partner go. NOW!!!"
"I don't think I can do that Mr. Hobbes you see I am being paid a lot of money to deliver Mr. Fawkes here and neither you or anyone else is going to stop me."
He grabbed at the one cuff still around Darien's right wrist trying to get it off the hook but failing. Bobby fired putting a whole in Platt's shoulder he fell. Darien weak and still in Platt's grip fell hard the cuff jerked forcing his shoulder to become dislocated. Platt's men advanced trying to rescue their boss.
"Uh back up if you don't want to see your boss here dead you'll back up and put down the guns." Bobby screamed pointing his gun at the men around the room.
They backed out of the room each taking one of Darien's arms they ran out of there. Platt ordered more men to go after them. Being chased by all but a small army with guns blazing they ran to the van. They threw Fawkes in the van and sped away as fast as they could.
DARIEN! Claire screamed.
Fawkes you okay.
He was unconscious on the floor of the van bleeding.
They got to the motel and dragged Darien into the room blood was trickling down his body weak and exhausted they laid him across the bed. Claire sent Bobby for a bucket of ice and some bandages. He winced at the pain as she slowly cleaned the blood from his wounded body and began to wrap the more severe wounds. Spiking a high fever that night and vomiting about twice every hour. Claire and Bobby sat sleeplessly by his bed hoping his fever would break. And wishing he never had to go through the torture his body had obviously gone through. He was weak and the pain was too much he finally gave up and fell into an unconscious slumber. Three days later he awoke in the ICU at fort Leavitt he had bandages all over his body and he felt sick to his stomach.
He could barely move and when he went to sit up his body made him regret it.
Claire came in concern clearly apparent on her face.
"You're awake."
"Yeah but I kinda wish I wasn't." he said faintly.
"I bet, you need to take it easy for a while your body took a pretty bad beating."
"Tell the 'fish that." He said as he tried to turn but instead just winced at the pain.
"See that will teach you my friend." Bobby said as he walked in the room.
"You don't look too good partner."
"Yeah well you wouldn't either if you were practically beaten to death."
"I have you know my friend I got two broken ribs from that son of a...
"BOBBY!'
"Oh sorry keep forgot you were here."
"What's up?"
"Nothin' but I just got off the phone with the 'fish seems they found Platt holed up in his office. The guy almost bled to death."
"I say let him bleed."
"So do I but you know. And, and the 'fish says we get the next two weeks off."
"Like their going to be spent doing anything productive lying here."
"I know partner and I told the 'fish that he said don't press your luck so I shut up."
"Oh well! I can at least try to recover."
"Yes, see now if Bobby hadn't talked to the official you would probably be doing desk duty for the next few weeks. Now you just lie there and let your body get well."
"Yeah, yeah I guess. But I would still like to know whom that guy was that Platt was working for?
"I know partner I know."
Claire grabbed Bobby's arm to leave, as Darien was getting extremely groggy.
"What?"
"He needs his rest Bobby now c'mon." she tugged even harder.
"Hey Hobbes I think the keeps right I am kinda tired."
"If your sure my friend. But if you need anything I'm right outside."
"Yeah okay I'll remember that."
With that Bobby and Claire walked down the hall they would be leaving his room for now but for the next several days they would stay there as close to his side as possible.
***
Ten days later in the official's office
Darien sat in a wheelchair in the official's office bandaged practically from head to toe. He was still in a lot of pain so he was pretty groggy from the major painkillers he was on. And he couldn't walk worth a darn. But he wanted to be there so he got Claire to help him into the wheelchair and bring him along. She did reluctantly but everyone seemed glad to see him nonetheless.
The official started in.
We were able to apprehend most of the men involved in the Morrison-Platt ring but...
"Let me guess Platt got away." Darien said with a bit of revulsion.
"Well he was in the infirmary at the jail for his injuries and someone got in and broke him out. And not only that but someone anonymously posted bail for Dr. Morrison and..."
"He jumped bail Bobby finished.
"Yes Bobby he jumped bail. We're just going to have to keep our eyes and ears open for these guys."
"Yeah and whoever they are they know about the quicksilver gland."
"What do you mean?"
"When they caught me in Platt's office they were wearing thermal glasses."
"Not only that but when Claire and I took our little tour he said something about the gland and making millions from it."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah boss and they knew all about Claire, me, the agency everything. I think whoever these guys are they've got to be working for someone we know like maybe Chrysalis." Darien said.
"Or Arnaud, Claire said I wouldn't put anything past him."
"Or the Chinese, yeah the Chinese." Darien pointed to Bobby in agreement
"Not their way."
"How do we know? They grabbed me before didn't they? Maybe they're just stepping up a bit."
"Maybe." The official chimed in.
"So Claire will he be back up to full throttle any time soon?" The official asked concerning Darien.
"I 'AM' here you know." Offended at the thought of them talking about him while he was sitting in the room.
Claire laughed. "Yes we know Darien and sir as you can see he still has quite a bit of healing to do another 2 weeks and maybe, maybe he can be on light desk duty."
Claire grabbed the back of the wheelchair and she and Bobby rolled him back to lab three where he would stay for the duration of his recovery. "What do you mean desk duty." He asked.
'You're not going anywhere in your condition."
"But... but..."
"Now if I were you I'd just shut up and do what the keeper says my friend. Or you 'could' end up there permanently if you know what I mean."
"Yes Hobbes, I know what you mean but desk duty?"
"Yep that's way it is you gotta roll with the punches and part of that is doin' what the keep here says."
"Why thank you Bobby."
I heard this quote once:
Time ... is not a great healer. It is an indifferent and perfunctory one. Sometimes it does not heal at all. And sometimes when it seems to, no healing has been necessary.
I had friends to help me pass the time with my healing and I'm just glad they were there when I needed them most. When I thought they would never come each time they surprised me by showing me how much they cared. Now I'm just glad they were there or I might be dead right now.