Part Three

Disclaimer and notes on chapter one of this fic

Thanks to my beta reader, they know who they are. Thanks also to all

of you wonderful writers professional and fic writers who give me

inspiration.

The Storm Part 3



Stephen stood at the far end of Darien Fawkes' room, looking out the

tall bulletproof window in awe at the view. He looked down at

himself. He hadn't worn plaid for as long as he could remember.

But, plaid shirts and jeans is what his cover required. In all the

years he had worked for Michel, he always dressed in a black suit,

tie, and sunglasses. The sunglasses were made thermal about a year

agoâE¦no idea why though. However, they did help on covert missions he

and Bridgett pulled in the late hours of the night.

Stephen turned, looking at Darien's still sleeping form. "What had

Michel done to this man?" It didn't matter really, even `he' had

done this much and worse to people. That much even `he knew'. As

many as he had killed over the years it `really' didn't matter. To

Stephen, Fawkes was just another job to do or be killed doing it if

he failed.

Stephen had seen Darien's file a few days ago supplied by Michel.

Though it didn't say why the agency hired a criminal as an agent or

why he had been labeled as top secret, it did give Stephen a good

assumption about him. He would put up a good fight just as he had

with Sam. And that Fawkes was going to be a worthy opponent. If he

got through his current state in one piece that is. Stephen had no

idea however, why or what Michel wanted with Fawkes nor did he really

care all that much. To him he was money in the bank as soon as the

word came down to do whatever it was Michel wanted him to do.

Darien stirred slightly causing Stephen to come out of his daze.

He walked over to the bed placing his hands on the foot of Darien's

bed.

"Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Fawkes! Are you awake?" Stephen asked.

Darien opened his eyes slightly to the sound of the unknown voice.

He stared at the man in confusion. He thought maybe he had been

transferred to Fort Leavitt or something. But then, he remembered

Hobbes or someone saying something about a safe house just before he

passed out the last time. Nevertheless, he wasn't sure if it was

Fact or dream he's been so out of it, even `this' could be a dream.

Oh well, it didn't matter he was safe, or so he hoped, that's all

that `did' matter. Darien wouldn't have to be scared to death that

the next guy through the door was a continuation of his pain.

Darien nodded his head only causing a rush of pain to flow over him.

Stephen walked over and sat by Darien's bed. Stephen leaned over

grabbing Darien's arm trying to get his attention.

"Mr. Fawkes my name is Stephen Charles, head of security here at the

Gardens. It has been designated as a safe house. You're safe for

now as long as I'm in charge, your safety is my sole responsibility

sir.

Darien shook his head and tears ran down his face. Stephen stood up

and exited the room quickly. Motioning for another man to take his

place, he went quickly after Dr. Keeply.







Back in a small run-down Motel 6 just outside of LA

Russell was sitting on the bed in the motel in LA waiting for the go

on the safe house there. Luther was going over the hopeful time-

period for the plan when the phone rang. Russell looked at Luther

afraid it was the man. He was afraid of him, for good reason. But,

at least he had them out of that garbage slough the government called

a prison. Luther walked slowly to the phone, raising a finger to his

lips to keep Russell quiet.

Russell was okay, but he was a bit wired all the time. Luther knew

he was scared to death of Michel. Luther did time years back with

him, so he knew what he was capable of. Russell had every reason in

the world to be afraid of him. After what he did to Fawkes while he

was in prison that time? Well, let's just say that anybody would and

should be afraid of the guy. What Luther couldn't figure out was why

he wanted Fawkes so badly. He knew why `they' did. But this guy had

taken care of that in prison. Hadn't he? Luther had thought about

this in length in the last few days.

Luther picked up the receiver without saying a word.

"Luther, we have the whereabouts of Fawkes. I want you to hit the

safe house there when I give you the go ahead. Then go up to Ash

Creek when everything is in place there. Once there we get rid of

Fawkes for good.

"I thought we were getting Fawkes now while the trail's still warm

you know he could leave andâE¦wellâE¦ I thought he was here in LA? And

sir, if he's not here why are we hitting the safe house?"

"Luther, Luther, Luther don't you know by now that I have my own

agenda that has to be done precisely as I tell you, or it will NOT

work. I know where Fawkes is, don't you worry your head about that.

And Luther, we do want and need this plan of ours to work now don't

we?"

Luther just nodded while no words just grunts escaped his lips.

"Alright now, we need for the agency to think they've lost us. Let

them feel comfort in their new surroundings. Most of all we want

them to think we followed their decoy. Let them start getting too

comfortable. Then we'll hit them, and hit them hard. They won't

even `know' what hit them."

The line went dead as Luther hung up the phone. Walking back to the

bed he had been sitting on, he looked at Russell and shook his head.

Saying no, they would not be going after Fawkes just yet.

He was a bit put off by this. But, there was no way he would even

THINK of crossing Michel.

----------

Claire lay on the bed in her room. It happened to be adjacent to

Darien's room. She could hear the beeping from the monitors as she

lay there reading over test results. She had asked to have this room

so she `could' hear them. Only thing was she could not seem to get

any sleep because of them. Except for the few hours when she had

passed out on that most splendid overstuffed couch downstairs in the

lobby. She sat up on the bed, she wasn't sleeping anyway. As she

stood to go check on Darien for the tenth time in an hour, she heard

a knock on the door.

"Come in." She said not looking at the door as it opened. She

turned back to the bed and laid the reports she'd been looking over

down.

Stephen walked in startled that she was awake. He had told her not

more than fifteen minutes ago she needed to get some sleep. She

rubbed at her tired eyes putting on the appearance that she had done

as he had asked. But as Stephen looked passed her on the bed he knew

she had not. "What is it Stephen is something wrong?"

She had a look of worry steal across her face. "Oh! Oh no ma'am I

just came to tell you that he's awake. I thought you should know."

"Thank you Stephen. How long have you been on duty?"

"I'm always on duty ma'am. But I don't think I'm any more exhausted

than yourself ma'am."

"Yes, I suppose so, but you still should think about getting someâE¦"

Claire said cutting herself off, as she got distracted when she

walked through the door to Darien's room with Stephen following.

"I know ma'am I will don't worry you have enough to worry about as it

is ma'am. I've had Jon here" motioning to the short little man in

the corner. Who happened to be even shorter than Bobby, "take over

for me I need to go over security with agent Hobbes and director

Vorton, so if you'll excuse me ma'am I'll be out of your way."

"Stephen!" Claire said as he turned abruptly to leave.

"Please don't call me ma'am. Claire, that's my name. I would

appreciate it if you'd try to use it. Oh and please, please get some

rest you look like you need it.

"Yes âE¦ ClâE¦aire, ma'am. And I don't need to rest just yet ma'am,

but

as I said before ma'am don't worry, I will, soon."



Claire shook her head as she watched Stephen leave. How would she

ever get him to call her Claire and not that outlandish, old name she

hated so MA'AM! Ooh! Claire shuddered. She hated being called

that. Even when Bobby said it out of respect for her she was always

cringing inside. Claire was her name and everyone knew it now, so

why, why, WHY did they invariably continue to call her ma'am. Maybe

she would have to call them sir a few times and see how they liked

it. She thought as she walked over and picked up a clipboard.



The tranquilizer she had given Darien had knocked him out longer than

she thought it would.

How could all of this have happened? She wished she could talk to

Darien about it but he was just too weak and she was sure he was too

afraid to be able to get any real answers out of him.

Darien looked at her weakly, eyes droopy as she walked over to him

clipboard in hand.

"Darien, looks like we decided to wake up, feeling any better

today?" She asked as she slapped on a pair of gloves while holding

the clipboard under her arm.

He looked at her with quite the look of pure annoyance, and then he

rolled his head ever so slightly.

"Claire," he rasped, "really, how do you think I am. I can barely

talk, just moving my head causes so much pain you can't imagine. How

do you think I am? Man Claire, I'm just peachy!"

Claire shook her head and placed a hand on her hip. "Now Darien, I

know you're in a lot of discomfort right now. I wish we could have

prevented you from all of this, but there was nothing we could've

done, short of mind reading, and a miracle. I'm afraid I've ousted

those for quite some time now. But, what we can do is try to help

you get well. So why don't we just concentrate on that, shall we?"



He nodded his head and relaxed a bit then turned to ask her

something. Claire held up a hand. "Darien you really need to stay

quiet while I take your vitals and besides that you need your rest.

We need to start therapy soon so the more rest that you can get now

the better. When we do start therapy, you're going to wish you had

listened."

He tried again. "Claire, where are we?"

She looked at him shocked, then remembered he hadn't been told.

Besides, if he had been told he had been so out of it she doubted he

could've remembered anyway.

Claire walked over sitting by his bed she leaned in laying the

clipboard beside him on the bed.

"Darien, we're in Utah."

"I figured out that much, but where in Utah?"

"Ash Creek, its a little town just north of St. George. Actually, I

believe it's in a town called Toquerville, but the sign on the way up

said Ash Creek and that's where Bobby said it was. So I guessâE¦

wellâE¦

I don't really know. This place is a bed & breakfast that doubles as

some kind of spy agency. I don't know if Bobby ever told you about

Fred Vorton. But that's where we are, his place. Bobby seems to

think that Fred is some kind of miracle worker. He says Fred's one

of the best he's ever seen aside from himself. Then you of course."

"Yeah Claire, Bobby told me about Fred the day this all happened.

When we were on that stakeout the `fish' sent us on. That I might

add was a complete waste of time. The guy never showed. I doubt if

the he even lived there. I guess Bobby called, or maybe he didn't, I

can't remember. Anyway Hobbes told me all about the guy to try to

pass the time. Hey Claire!"

"Yes Darien?"

"Where is Bobby? I kinda wanted to talk to him and apologize for all

of this."

"Darien, there's really no need you'reâE¦"

Darien gave her a killer glare. "Where is he Claire?"

"If you must know he's out checking security for this place. I

believe your new body guard Stephen and Fred are showing him the

details. Now get some rest and let me work. You'll have plenty of

chances to apologize later, I'm sure."

Claire got up from the chair going back to her work at hand. In mid

stride she turned. "Darien, we `are' going to get whoever did this

to you." Claire said as she sat back down. It hurt so much to see

him like this. She had to ask what happened, but it was just too

soon and she knew that.

Claire closed her eyes fighting back the tears as a shaky, but

concerned hand came up to rest on the side of her face. As she

opened her eyes, she saw Darien's concerned face. "Everything, it's

âE¦ it's gonna be okay keep, you said it yourself. And keep, I know

you want me to tell you what happened âE¦ but âE¦ IâE¦ I can't, not

just

yet. Maybe soon but âE¦ just not yet I can't keep âE¦ I just can't."

Claire laid a tearful hand on his. Why did it all have to be like

this? She couldn't understand how he could be so kind, and

reassuring yet at the same time be so afraid and in so much

pain. "Darien you reallyâE¦"

As she began the hand on her cheek fell limply to the bed as Darien

fell unconscious yet again.

----------

Stephen had just finished going over details of security when Bobby

and Fred decided to go for a walk on the grounds in the late evening

hour.

Bobby walked along the line of trees on the far end of the grounds

coming to stop at a bench resting his hand against the back in an

effort to hold himself up. Fred motioned them to keep walking he

wanted to talk.

"Bobby, you said that guy in there was your partner."

"Yeah Freddy my friend, he is. Like I said, I would die for the kid

if I could. If it came to that. He's a good kid, better than

even `he' realizes sometimes I think."

"Okay Bobby, then tell me this âE¦ what happened? And, don't tell me

nothing because I know you, you saved `my' life more times than I can

count. Sometimes I wondered how you always figured it out and how

you were always there when I needed you. But then again so was I.

So come on Bobby, tell me âE¦ what happened my friend?"

"Oh Freddy," Bobby shook his head fighting the feeling of guilt that

had been creeping in on him. "I don't know I talked to you the other

night remember?"



"Yeah I remember, I told you to come up, bring your partner and get

away for a few days."

"Man Freddy, I took the kid home and there were no lights on like

there usually were. But it was raining good so I thought maybe the

storm had put the electricity out. But, Oh DAMMIT FREDDY! I should

have known. Why didn't I just go check it out Freddy why?"

"C'mon Bobby you can't blame yourself. Now tell me what happened?"

Bobby came to lean his back up against a big mulberry tree. Shaking

his head with arms folded across his chest. Fred walked over and

laid his hand along the side of the tree so to see Bobby's face.

Bobby started in. "I went home and had just gotten to sleep when he

called. He didn't say much just to get the Keep, Claire that is. He

said he couldn't do it himself and he needed our help then the line

went dead. I called Claire we met outside Darien's place. The storm

was getting pretty bad by now, the keep she was looking damn good

with her hair all wet aroundâE¦"

Fred laughed at this extra thought and commentary about Claire.

"What?! She looked nice alright."

"Okay!" Fred backed away a bit at Bobby's look. "Go on my friend."

"Anyway as I was saying. We went to his place there was blood on the

doorknob. There was only one light down the hall, and even that was

just crackling. So I decided we needed to get in as fast as we

could. It was pitch black in there. We found one guy unconscious on

the floor and Fawkes. I shoulda known man. He was crouched in the

shower with a baseball bat. The guy by the couch woke up and shot

me. We were lucky we even got outa there my friend. But we did. I

don't know how, but we did."

"Man! Bobby I didn't know I'm sorry man. How about you and I see

what we can find out and get these guys? I've got a few guys around

town with pretty good connections. You want me to see what they can

find out?"

Bobby nodded. "Yeah, but make sure they do it quietly. Any leak and

we're ALL dead. These guys are good, somehow they found out about

Claire's lab. They got in and wrecked the place."

"Why? Is it some big secret?" Fred asked confused.

"Well, I've already said too much but what I will say is that they

had to be pretty connected to know about her and her lab my friend,

pretty connected indeed."

Fred opened the door to the gazebo that doubled as a control center.

Bobby followed.

"Well, my friend I guess `we' better get started then."

----------

Stephen stood in front of the long mirror in his room. Picking up

his cell he dialed Michel.

"Michel, everything is going just as planned."

"Ah my boy, I knew you could do it. Bridgett will be coming up

soon. She's coming undercover as your sister charlotte. She'll have

your orders. When she arrives call this number let it ring the usual

number of times to let me know all is in place. The two bumbling so-

called criminals in LA will hit the safe house there. They will be

receiving a nice little surprise of their own. We won't have to

worry about them anymore after this. We'll see you when all of this

is over. If all goes according to plan you and Bridgett will be up

for a promotion."

"Thank you sir." Stephen said stiffly. He hung up the phone walking

to a chair in the far corner of the room he sank down into it. He

picked up the file in the drawer going over the plans. A file he

hadn't known he'd picked up or even seen for that matter fell to the

floor. Spotting it he picked it up and began to read.



TOP SECRET

Subject: Darien Fawkes

Note: Jared Stark

Mr. Fawkes has the ability to quicksilver rendering him invisible.

He has a leash however, in the form of a liquid known as

counteragent. After approximately six days, or 30 minutes if used at

once, Mr. Fawkes exhibits abnormal and irrational behavior. The

counteragent is the only means by which to reverse such behavior. On

many occasions, Mr. Fawkes has endeavored to stop our progress. Mr.

Fawkes must be stopped by any means necessary. Arnaud De Fõhn has

been `very' helpful in finding an end to the relationship with said

Agent Darien Fawkes.



Note: Michel Stark

Upon receiving information from my dear brother Jared the plan is all

set. Luther will do just fine. I spent some time with him and

Fawkes in prison a few years back. But to them I was known as Michel

or Hawk mostly. Fawkes crossed me one too many times. He was my

gopher in prison. I could get him to do just about anything as long

as I kept butch away from him. But I taught him a lesson when he

decided he didn't want to get rid of that kid, Gary. The kid was a

loser and had gotten in Luther's way anyway. So I can't understand

why Fawkes refused to get rid of the guy. It was easy I gave him the

means all he had to do was execute. But no, he got a conscience on

me. So I had Luther send him to big Butch. The guy gave him a

beating he wouldn't soon forget. Three weeks later he was released

from prison before I got a chance to see if he learned his lesson. I

guess he didn't because on his way out he goes and takes off with

Luther's Butterfinger. I guess Butch didn't teach him enough. This

last bit with my brother Jared was the last straw. Then I go and

find out that the kid goes and changes sides on me. . Now, I `really'

have to get Fawkes out of the way.

Project Details

Luther, Russell, Sam, Charlie, and Bridgett were sent to start the

beginnings of the takedown project.

Not to kill him, just to hurt him severely, make him bleed, and beg

for release. Give him some more then leave as quickly as they came.

Sam however, had other ideas and tried to cut out Luther my right

hand man in the project, so he thinks from the deal. He asked for

what he got.

Stephen and Bridgett will surely take care of the problem with Mr.

Fawkes while I take care of the problem with Russell and Luther.



Stephen looked up from his reading. It had went on to explain in

detail exactly what was to be done. Extensive details about the

gland, its eventual and subsequent removal and death of the host.

Counteragent and stage-5 counteragent and how to make it, which he

had no idea what the stuff was. It explained how they planned to

over throw the government and cleanse the world as he called it. Or

in other words, world domination.

Stephen could not believe what he was reading. He knew Michel was

cruel but thisâE¦ this was beyond anything he ever thought of. World

domination, yes they had already been told about that. But to be

confronted with the full details? Stephen knew how many he'd killed

himself. Now it was all there in front of him in full detail how he

had done all he had. He never thought about it before. He began to

hate what he had become. The clincher was Michel's plans for him and

Bridgett. Did Michel really think he would let him do that to them

without a fight? The answer was an emphatic no.

Stephen stood up hiding the file in his briefcase he thought he'd

show it to Bridgett when she got there. Then go from there. For now

they would have to go along for the ride. He walked over to the full-

length mirror. Looking at what he had become. He hated the person

he saw looking back at him. He wasn't a human being he was some kind

of sick ANIMAL!

"AAH!" Stephen screamed and punched the mirror in front of him.

"Well, that's seven years bad luck or something like that."

He didn't really care though. With all that he had done? He only

hoped Michel wouldn't be the one to pay him back for all of his

atrocities. Stephen thought that maybe Darien Fawkes would end up

being as worthy an opponent as he'd hoped and end this.

He knew he couldn't live with himself much longer. Even Bridgett had

been good at heart until he had gotten to her. Stephen lifted his

injured hand watching the blood drizzle down his knuckles. There was

a bruise forming between his first and second knuckles where a large

piece of glass was protruding from his hand. He fought back the

screams as he pulled the glass from his hand. Wrapping his hand

tightly, he left. Maybe i'll try to get some supplies from the

Keeper, he thought.

Upon arriving there, Claire instantly saw his hand. Even before he

even had time to hide it and she went quickly to work trying to

bandage it as best she could.

----------

Bobby and Fred pulled up in front of a house in the older section of

town in Hurricane. Walking up to the door, some guy poked a gun out

a small hole in the door. "Hold it right there, not another step!

Fred wasn't put off by this at all. Bobby however, had run into one

too many of these guys. They shoot first then ask questions later.

Bobby darted and ducked underneath an old beat up truck in the yard.

It looked like the guy had been trying to refurbish the thing. Fred

watched Bobby in pure amusement. "Hey my friend say a prayer for me

while you're down there just in case he shoots. I doubt that he will

but ya never know my friend ya never know."

"What?! You're actually going up there? You are so like Fawkes he'd

a done the same damn thing."

Fred paid no attention to Bobby's ranting and walked up to the porch.

"Hey Carlos is that any way to treat an old friend?"

"Fred? Freddy Vorton is that you?" The gun was quickly removed and

the door opened. Appearing before him was Carlos. He was a tall,

muscular body building type with short spiked black hair.

"Freddy, my man, I am `so' sorry man."

"Fred, are you honestly going to trust this guy?" Bobby asked coming

out from under the truck a bit put off by the man. After all, the

guy `did' just hold them both at gunpoint.

"Oh hey, Carlos this here is Bobby. I told you about him didn't I?"

Bobby stood brushing himself off he put out a hand reluctantly.

Carlos did in kind, but with more effort than Bobby at the gesture,

saying, nice meeting you and all of the other pleasantries.

"Yeah, I believe you `did' mention him my man! Why don't you come

inside and tell me what ya need huh Freddy?" The three entered the

house it was old but extremely well kept. You wouldn't know it from

the looks of the outside though. They sat in the living room. The

furniture was antique style, which went perfect with the rest of the

décor.



"So Freddy?" What is it you need that brings you away from the

lovely Genie?

"Oh, oh yeah! Bobby and I need a favor." Freddy went on explaining

the details while Carlos agreed he would make a few phone calls and

get the info they needed.

After returning Bobby and Fred entered the Lobby seeing Genie, Fred

abruptly ended the conversation and walked quickly to his lovely

wife's side. She ushered him out to the control room. "The

Official's on line for you."

"Me? Why not Bobby or Claire?" Genie shrugged leaving him alone to

his phone call.

----------

"Hey Fawkes!" Bobby said walking in on Darien's therapy session with

Claire. She looked at him with disgust. "Bobby!" He shrugged it

off and sat in the chair across the room.

"Hey Buddy, what's going on?" Darien asked.

"Oh nothin'. Fred and me just went to check on some sources to try

and get these guys. Since Alex ain't doing nothin'." That got him a

deadly glare but he didn't notice. "It would really help if you

could tell usâE¦" Claire shook her head in contempt at him.

Darien looked down and lost all conscious thought as the memories of

the nightmare of that night flooded his mind. Moments later he was

brought back to the present by another surge of pain. "Hey partner

where'd ya go?" Darien shook his head squinting at the pain Claire

was causing by her so-called therapy.

Once Claire was finished, Fred walked in the room.

"Excuse me, I'm afraid I have some bad news." All heads turned.

"I just received word from the Official that word from inside sources

are saying that Chrysalis is somehow involved. He also said that

your apartment building Mr. Fawkes..."

Fred had Darien's complete attention now. "What?! What happened to

my apartment?"

"The Official says the place burnt down last night they're pretty

sure it was arson. I'm really sorry Agent Fawkes, but your place is

gone."

"Aw Crap!" Darien exclaimed as he fell back to the bed and screamed

out in pain. Claire and Bobby ran to him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah partner, you okay?" Darien shook his head with Fred watching

the scene in amazement as to the closeness of these agents.

"Hobbes, they burnt my books, oh Hobbes my books I can't believe they

burned my BOOKS! My place I liked my place. My clothes what am I

gonna do for clothes?" Darien got very frightened and disoriented.

As he began to think of all that he had lost. Then it hit him that

all that he had left of his brother was gone now too. Or maybe not.

"Its okay Fawkes your clothes were a bit to be desired anyway. Now

Bobby Hobbes'll take care of ya there my friend." His words went

unheard as Claire gave Darien something to calm him. He had passed

out half way through Bobby's commentary.

"I'm sorry Bobby I'm afraid he didn't hear much of what you said."

"That's alright Claire at least we know the kids safe here with us."

Claire nodded to him and Fred and Bobby left the room to let Fawkes

rest.

=============

TBC