Part eight

Disclosure, warnings, and other notes see previous chapters.

The Storm Part Eight

"So, you and Fred have known each other for a long time, huh?" Bridget asked with ease.

"That is none of your damn business, besides you may have pulled the wool over everyone else's eyes, but don't you think for a second you have over mine. I know that the first chance you get you'll be going after agent Fawkes. And, I for one will not allow that, you will be stopped at all cost! Now, let's not pretend we like each other and be cordial. How about we just lay our cards on the table? Any problems with that?" Genie was surprised at the words that had escaped her lips. Well, at least she thought her anger was in check. "Guess not," she shrugged.  

Stephen and Bridget just sat there in pure shock at what had just happened. They looked at each other unable to say a word. Finally, Bridget decided to break the silence.

"Genie? You want our cards on the table here's the deal." Bridget began to relate her life of the past several years to Genie. Which included her time in the government. Genie was shocked, but not too shocked after realizing that she had been Bridget's partner back in the early years before she was transferred to work with Alex. Bridget begged Genie not to convey this to Alex. She knew that Alex needed to know, but now was not the time. Genie apologized for her behavior finding it extremely uncharacteristic of herself. Bridget laughed remembering exactly how characteristic of Genie it really was.

The three finishing their meal they had prepared, heard someone storm through the doors. "Sounds like the boys are back. Shall we?" Genie said showing the two to the door, but as they walked out Alex stood in the lobby with a frantic look in her eyes.

"What's wrong Alex are you alright?" Genie asked.

All Alex could do was bend over shaking her head as she tried to catch her breath. She had run as fast as she could to get there.

Genie ran over handing her a glass of water Alex took it gratefully drinking the cool water quickly not stopping to take a breath.

"Miss Monroe, what happened? And… where…" Stephen paused as he noticed she was alone and Hobbes and Fred were not coming up behind her.

After some three minutes, which seemed like an eternity to Alex trying with extensive effort to regain control of her breathing, she regained her composure and collapsed in the same overstuffed chair everyone seemed to enjoy.  

Alex looked around the room. "Where are Darien and Claire?"

"Darien was exhausted, I think he over did it these last few days. Claire wanted to check him over be sure he was okay I think. Now Miss Monroe can you please tell us what is going on?" Stephen was adamant now.

Alex sighed shaking her head and leaned forward on her knees as she began to speak. "We were going up to the springs to check everything over just to be sure we were ready if Michel and his brother happened to show up. We pulled in and Bobby and Fred were laughing and carrying on as usual when this gun comes out of nowhere."

"Alex are you saying Bobby and Fred are dead?" Genie asked through tears of anguish.

Alex's heart jumped in her chest as she realized Genies concern. "Oh Genie, no! I…I'm sorry I should've said, I am so sorry. Fred and Bobby were taken hostage they said that they want the two of you," Alex motioned to Stephen at the far wall staring out the bay window and Bridget. "Up at the spring in an hour & forty five minutes now. And, they want Darien; they want him there in two hours or …Bobby's dead. Oh and Stephen?"  

Stephen turned to face Alex he had been gazing out a tall window overlooking the grounds when Alex spoke to him. Everything had gotten so out of control for Stephen. He loved Bridget, but everything the way it was and with all that he had done to her how could she ever forgive him let alone love him in return. Several moments passed before Stephen came out of his thoughts and heard Alex call his name.  

"Yes Alex?"

"You're trick worked they believed that phone call you made. They questioned me about Bridget here and of course I told them she's alive. Bridget can you fake a few bruises? We don't want it to look like you two got away unscathed." Alex said.

"Oh, of course, but how about instead of fake…" Bridget ran into a large bookcase bruising her arm rather quickly she then took a knife making cuts up and down her arm. Everyone grimaced at the action. She continued making the necessary adjustments to her appearance including a good right cross and uppercut from Genie, which she now reluctantly gave. A few hours ago that would have been welcome.

Once she was finished Bridget almost looked as bad as Darien. Tears ran down her face, as she knew that his condition could have been prevented had she and Stephen only had the guts back then to do it.

"Hey Bridget, its okay the scars will heal." Alex said as she and Genie consoled her. She just shook her head looking up at a distraught Stephen. She could see the same wonder in his eyes that she felt in her own. Could they possibly stop these men from their rampage?

Stephen and Bridget, seeing it was time to leave prepared for their exit. "Alex, you keep agent Fawkes away from that place. I don't want him to get hurt, and Bridget and I will take care of Michel and ensure Fred and Bobby's safety don't you worry yourselves about that." With that Stephen and Bridget made their exit with Alex and Genie tailing close behind. Leaving Darien and Claire alone to wonder what had happened.

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Darien awoke several hours after Claire had given him an exhausting examination.

He sat up in the bed wincing at the ever-present pain in his body. Looking over to the chair he noticed that Claire had fallen asleep. Everything seemed to be extremely quiet. Possibly too quiet where he was concerned.

After retrieving his crutches from the end of the bed he slowly made his way down the stairs and out to the grounds. Taking in the fresh air he began to look around, finding everyone gone except for the guards at the gate he became panicked Panicking was not a good thing where Darien was concerned. But even as panicked as he was he was able to successfully rush up the stairs to the room grabbing Claire by the shoulder he shook her enough to wake her slightly, but it was enough.

"What?" Claire jumped in shock when she saw him standing there. He was sweating like a race horse and white as a sheet. If she didn't know better she'd swear he'd seen a ghost.

"Keep, everyone's gone, I mean Alex, Bobby, and Fred they're all gone." Darien named off everyone he could think of in a sudden frantic.

Claire turned fully awake now. "What do you mean everyone's gone? They can't be. We just left them not more than one maybe two hours ago, and they said nothing about leaving. Maybe they just went out the grounds did you check there? I know they wouldn't just up and leave us alone like that, unless they had a very good reason to."

"I know Claire, but I'm telling ya I checked the grounds, the garage, and everywhere that I could think of. And, except for a few guards the two of us are alone here Claire, I mean it we…are…alone.

Claire stood and headed out to have a look around. Coming up empty as she knew she would, she returned with the same look of panic Darien had on 'his' face, on hers.

"Darien we've got to find them that's all, we've just got to find them. So lets just calm down and think."

"Yeah okay, but just one question here keep, how are we supposed to find them if we don't know where they are?"

Just then a look of a light bulb going off stole across Claire's face. "You're forgetting one thing the springs silly. That would be the first place to look."

Coming to this conclusion the two headed for Claire's green SUV.

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Darien and Claire parked about a half a mile down the road. Being sure not to alarm the perps they slowly crept up to the chlorine station. The only thing visible from where they were down the road was a mini van rental that looked surprisingly like Claire's. Darien quicksilvered leaving Claire alone on the road. As he did so Claire got nervous and dashed into a group of trees for cover.

Darien arrived finding the place empty he checked the mini van. What he found was a letter that was laying on the driver's side of the van. Darien picked up the paper with barely legible scribbling, dropped the quicksilver and began to read.

Fawkes this is the last time you cross us. Meet me at the waterfall directions are on the back.

Darien flipped over the sheet of paper finding a very bad drawing of the dirt road outside of the gate and a waterfall a bit off the main road.

He continued…

We have your friends. That was good of you and your new friends to let Stephen and Bridget live. Now they can help me in ensuring your ultimate death. Too bad I'll have to get rid of them too though. Oh well, that's just how it is as Luther, Russel, and their friends found out. Yes Fawkes, your dear little playmates from prison … are… dead. As soon as you get this letter you must get moving though, that van has a self destruct of five minutes and you've probably taken three already. You have twenty-four hours Fawkes…so get moving.

As Darien read the note his heart sprang to life in his chest causing the quicksilver to begin to flow as he ran as quickly as he could, throwing the crutches to the ground and ignoring the pain he began looking for Claire. "Claire! Claire, where are you Claire!" He screamed frantically.

Finding her as she came out of the trees. He grabbed a hold of her and pulled her to the ground. Claire struggled to free herself from his grasp, when suddenly it happened. The explosion was heard for miles. Claire stood slowly when it was over, her hair windblown and pieces of paper and metal flew threw the air around her as she stood. Combing her hair back with her hands she began to look around.

The chlorine station was blackened but still standing, the van was destroyed. All that could be seen of it was a piece of metal burning. Darien looked around as Claire slowly helped him stand. Once he was up he leaned on Claire who was as equally in shock as he was. They stood there for what seemed like hours until they realized they had to go. You could here the sirens in the distance as they drove away up the rocky dirt road.

"Claire, we shoulda talked to the firemen back there, maybe explained everything." Claire didn't answer. All she could think about was how their friends were in trouble. She didn't know how the two of them could be the heroes, but that was what they were about to try to be.

"Claire?!" Darien screamed.

"What?"

"Did you hear a word I said?"

"Yes Darien, I did. Any amount of talking is not going to help Bobby and Alex. Not to mention Fred and Genie. Then there's Stephen and Bridget who might as well be dead if we don't get there in time. No, I don't think we have time to talk to some fireman Darien, do you?" Claire rambled on.

Darien relaxed in his seat wincing inwardly at the pain the explosion had caused. He wasn't about to tell Claire that he thought his ribs were broken yet again, nor the fact that he felt like his back and leg were on fire. He couldn't tell her not now, it would only lead to more disappointment and worry for Claire.

"Claire, its gonna be okay we're gonna get these guys." Darien said rather unconvincingly. More trying to convince himself than Claire.



The road was extremely rocky and treacherous with cliffs jutting out on either side of the road in several places. They were just lucky they were in Claire's SUV and that Claire was a very good driver, even in these conditions. The pain filled ride for Darien almost caused him to pass out several times, but as he gazed out the window he spotted a form moving along the riverbank below. It looked like a woman, he thought maybe it could even be Alex or Bridget, but not Genie her hair was too short.

"Claire Stop!" He screamed.

"What? What is it Darien? Do you need something? Is it time for your meds already? I know you don't need counteragent I gave you shot before we left, but just in case…" She held up a bag Darien knew contained his shot of counteragent.

"No, Claire would ya quit rambling and listen to me? I think I saw someone down there." Darien pointed to the riverbank below.

Claire leaned over seeing nothing she shook her head. "I think you're seeing things Darien, besides I don't think anyone could get down there, its got to be a hundred feet or more and rockier than I could even believe if I wasn't looking right at it."

"I saw someone down there, Claire, trust me." Claire leaned over checking one more time when she was about to look away she saw them. A small figure was down below waving at them. Claire climbed in the back of the SUV rooting through her things.

"What are you doing Claire?" Darien asked.

Claire was leaned upside down over the back seat. "Just a minute, I think I… I… ah, there it is." Claire pulled herself back up and landed heavily on the backseat a little winded. Once she was there she held a pair of binoculars in the air… These, that's what I was looking for."

Claire peered out the binoculars. "I think that's Bridget, here what do you think?" Darien took the binoculars peering out he saw Bridget down below waving at them, she was pretty scraped up from what he could tell, but she looked no worse for wear.

"We have got to get down there." Darien handed the binoculars back to Claire and began to exit the vehicle.

"Darien, what do you think you are going to do? We need to find a place we can stash my car then maybe think of a way to get down there, don't you think? Darien looked at her somberly, but in agreement pulled himself back inside. A few yards up the road was a turn off Claire pulled in and parked the SUV, getting out they covered it with some loose branches. Once they got the car stashed they walked along the road for almost ten minutes when they found a crease in the road that went off down to the creek bed below. It was treacherous, filled with loose rocks and tree limbs, but they decided they had to try.

The first step was the worst Darien had said he'd go first which was his first mistake. He took one step and because of the storms it was wet and slick the rocks gave out beneath him throwing him flat on his back he fell, and fell, and fell, until he came straight in line with the side of a tree its root was large and pointed and jabbed him hard in his side. He coughed and sputtered blood from his mouth as it had pierced the skin.

Claire came next, she was smart though she grabbed the jacket she was wearing tied it around her waist sat down and just slid down, since she would anyway she felt that, that was the best choice. As she came up to Darien she slammed into him jamming the tree root deeper in his side. Claire gasped in horror at the sight before her.

Darien was gasping for air, blood had formed around his mouth and lips where he spat it out as frequently as he could. The tree root had gone deep into his side and was leaving a large pool of blood where he lay on the ground. He was weak and lethargic his face was a shade of white Claire hadn't seen in months now. She grabbed Darien's hand trying to console him it was warm and slick at first she thought it was sweat, but as she looked down she could see the large amounts of blood, she couldn't tell however if the blood was from some cuts on his hands or something else.

"Darien, do your hands hurt or is that…" She began asking, but Darien was too weak to answer her. They were in the middle of nowhere, no cell phone, miles from nowhere, and her friend was possibly dying before her. She couldn't take it anymore, she began sobbing uncontrollably that's when she realized her own hands, the rocks had scraped them up pretty badly on the way down, she decided that's what was wrong with Darien's hands, too. Untying her coat from her waist she began ripping out the lining.

Between the tears and the pain on her hands and legs, Claire got the wounds on their hands cleaned and wrapped as best she could without the aid of water or medical supplies. As she finished the tears came uncontrollably again for what seemed like forever. Darien had come in and out of consciousness several times now and she had to get him off of that root and back to town for help, but still she sobbed. Suddenly, a hand came to rest on her shoulder, then an arm wrapped around her, it couldn't be Darien, she wiped away the tears and looked up it was Bridget.

"Hi Claire, looks like you need some help, why don't we get him off of that tree, then we can make a travois and get him down to the creek bed where we can treat him a little better. I'd call into town for help, but I lost my phone in the fall." Bridget bent down pulling Claire up as she nodded.



Once Claire got a good look at Bridget she couldn't believe her eyes, she was badly cut in several places on her face, arms, legs, and hands, and several other places under her clothing Claire was sure. "Bridget, are you alright some of those cuts look pretty deep and that leg?" Bridget just shrugged it off saying their needs and the others needs were greater than her own.

"Okay Claire, I'm going to need your help now, on three we pull him as hard as we can, one… two…" "And… three!" they said in unison as they pulled as hard as they could dragging Darien off of the tree root, he screamed in sheer agony blood curdling screams that they were sure could be heard for miles.

An hour later they had gotten Darien in a travois and gotten him down to the creek below. They were treating Darien's, and their own wounds as best they could when suddenly it hit Claire like a ton of bricks. "Bridget, how did you get away? I thought you were going along with Michel making him think you were helping him? Then there's… um, how are Bobby… and the others?"

"Claire would you please calm down, one question at a time please? First, I got away when Fred, Bobby, Alex, Genie and I decided it wasn't too bad a fall and since I was standing I could pretend to fall easier anyway. Boy, were we wrong, that Michel got it in his head when I fell that I was better off dead than alive. The guy started shooting at me that's where I got a couple of these deeper gashes. He only quit shooting when I guess he was satisfied that if he didn't hit me the fall would kill me anyway. I'd been going along the creek bottom trying to get back to you for help ever since I stopped falling. As for going along with them we figured somebody had to go back and warn you, and since I did some training on how to fall without getting hurt too badly a while back… don't ask, I was the best choice. Your last question, everyone is fine, Bobby and Alex are a little worse for wear, but they'll be okay once we get them out of there and into a hospital for a few days."

It was a lengthy explanation, but Claire hung on to every word. She was suddenly alarmed when Bridget said that about Alex. Asking what was wrong, Bridget told her how there had been a struggle back at the chlorine plant and Bobby and Alex had been hurt not too badly, but bad enough.

When Darien heard this he used every bit of strength and adrenaline he had and sat up wincing at the pain. The two turned in shock trying to get him to lie back down without success. He was determined, and there would be no stopping him. He began to get up, but his leg wouldn't let him finally he grunted a scream and got up no matter how badly his body hurt.

Claire and Bridget urged him to lie back down, they said that he could rest until they got close enough to the opposite side of the waterfall. He agreed and finding it near impossible to get back down on the travois he'd been laying on, enlisted the help of the two women at his side.

TBC….its coming soon so just hold tight.