Author's Note: For whatever reason this chapter has been the hardest to write. Sorry it took so long. Hope you enjoyed chapter five, yes there is a chapter seven. Thank you for your support and reviews.
Chapter Six: Convergence
Claire's search of Williams' history that next afternoon proved to be fruitless. He had told the truth concerning his past employment. He had been with the Secret Service for a year right after college and had then transferred the CIA. He had also worked under FBI jurisdiction for six months about three years ago.
"I don't know Robert, I'm not finding anything suspicious." Said Claire.
"Hmm, did you try a search of civilian records?"
"Yeah, nothing. No parking tickets, no loan defaults, visits Florida once a year, probably family."
Bobby was unconvinced.
"There's just something about him. I swear I've seen him before." Said Bobby as he paced the Keep.
Darien was sitting on the examining chair looking at the pair. He thought Williams seem fine, a little unusual, but fine.
"Where do you think you've seen him before Hobbes?" asked Darien.
Bobby looked thoughtful as he continued his pacing.
"I don't know. It's like I know more about him than I can remember. Like I studied him or something, but I can't remember what I learned."
"You don't think he was a pervious contact do you." Asked Claire.
"Umm, new guy." Darien said raising his hand, "Contact?"
"Yeah, someone I would have been studying because I was going to kill him. CIA sniper remember?" explained Bobby.
"Oh." Was Darien's response, who had forgotten his partner's past activities.
"I don't think so Keep, it's possible, but it's a long shot. If he was I have no idea why he's alive now."
Claire nodded in agreement.
Just then the door to the Keep slid open and the Official and Williams walked in, Claire quickly minimized the computer screen with Williams' record on it.
"Hobbes, Fawkes, we just received a tip that Chrysalis has transferred a large sum of money from a Swiss bank account. Although it's not illegal it's suspicious. I want you three to go back to the compound and I want you to find out what they're planning." Announced the Official.
"What about Alex?" questioned Bobby.
"I have her on another assignment, and I'm sending three agents with you."
"Ah."
"So when do we leave?" asked Darien.
"Now." Said the Official.
Darien accepted this, only because he had to, and walked over to Claire.
"Sorry honey, looks like dinner is off tonight. I'll be home later tonight or early tomorrow morning." Darien said apologetically as he hugged her.
"I understand Darien."
"Umm, if you don't mind we're leaving." Said Bobby as he moved towards the door.
"Ah, ok. Oh wait, Robert," said Claire as they left, "here," she said as she handed Bobby a dose of counteragent, "just in case."
Bobby nodded and they left the Keep.
****
They were half way across the desert when Darien asked,
"Why does Williams get a nice car and we're stuck in the van?"
"Do you have something against Golda partner?"
"No. But look, Monroe has a Corvette and Williams has a new whatever that is," Darien said pointing to Williams' car in front of them, "and we have the van."
"Yes, a van driven by Bobby Hobbes. What more could you ask for?"
Darien rolled his eyes and stared out his window.
They followed Williams to the perimeter of the Chrysalis compound where other agents were waiting. All were prepared for an offensive maneuver should one be needed.
Bobby and Darien joined Williams and the others at the back of the van that contained the intelligence equipment.
"Ok, we know that Chrysalis is planning something. $30 million isn't pocket change, even for them. This time we're going to go in two person teams and plant the necessary surveillance equipment. Any questions?" instructed Bobby.
"Umm, why the van?" asked Darien.
Bobby gave him a scathing look and gathered up audio and visual equipment from the supply van.
"Here Fawkes, make yourself useful." He said handing Darien a couple of radio transmitters.
"Hobbesy you shouldn't have." Quipped Darien, as he shimmered out of site.
"Here, Williams, Jacobson, take these cameras, place them near exits so we can see who comes and goes." Said Bobby.
Williams nodded and headed out, Jacobson right behind him.
Williams continued along the perimeter until he and Jacobson were out of site. He then turned around and punched Jacobson squarely in the face, knocking him out. He discarded the cameras and made his way to the main gates. Here he flashed his ID and was immediately admitted into the compound. Stark was waiting in his office.
Stark was proud of his work. He had managed to not only develop a source inside the CIA, he had managed to get Williams transferred to the Agency. So far Williams had supplied him with copies of everything the Agency had on his organization and was keeping him up to date on the Agency's plans. It wasn't incredibly damaging but it was nice to know what the Agency had on Chrysalis. Stark looked at his watch, Williams should be here any minute according to the phone call he had received earlier.
****
It wasn't until dark when Darien and Bobby had made their way back to the supply van, that they realized Jacobson and Williams were missing. Agents Martinez and Taylor returned without incident but no one knew where Williams and Jacobson were.
They started a search of the perimeter and quickly found the unconscious Jacobson.
"Damn, whoever hit him, hit him hard." Commented Bobby as they tried to revive him.
Darien agreed and helped the now conscious Jacobson to his feet. They walked him back to the supply van and helped him in. Martinez and Taylor climbed in and promised to keep an eye on Jacobson in case it looked like he needed medical attention.
Darien and Bobby stood around, both wondering where Williams was. How could he not watch his partner's back? This was the second time he had "disappeared", what was going on? Bobby was still plagued by the thought that he knew Williams.
They had tried his radio and his car was still there so he hadn't left, at least not in the car.
"Well partner, what should we do?" asked Bobby.
"You're asking me?" responded Darien, "I'm just inviso-boy. You're the secret agent here."
Bobby gave Darien a sideways glance and walked towards the van.
"Let's continue the perimeter search." Said Bobby, handing a pair of night vision goggles he kept in the van to Darien.
Darien nodded and donned the goggles, squinting to adjust his eyes to the green image.
They started from where they had rendezvoused and worked their way north, towards the main gate. They saw nothing interesting until they were about 50 feet from the gate. In the tall grass of the field next to the compound they saw Williams' body.
"Oh shit, they got Williams." Muttered Bobby.
Darien was silent. He hadn't believed anyone, except maybe Alex could take Williams down. They walked over to his body to investigate. There was no visible injury.
"Hobbes, is he dead?" asked Darien, who was growing nervous.
"I think so…" Bobby's sentence ended sharply as a tranquilizer dart hit him the back.
Now Darien was in full panic mode, he didn't have any time to react before Williams' sprang up and tackled him. Chrysalis agents rushed in from all sides. Darien was unable to fight back as he was injected with the same sedative given to Bobby.
****
When Claire woke up the next morning she was slightly surprised Darien wasn't there. She wasn't too worried though, the mission could have run long and he might be sacked out at Bobby's or the Agency.
Regretting the fact that she had to leave her warm bed, Claire sat up and pushed back the covers. She swung her legs over the side and stood up, only to be hit with a wave of nausea. She gagged and ran for the bathroom.
Sitting on the floor opposite the toilet Claire wondered about her nausea. Had she eaten something that had gone bad, was it the flu? She didn't feel achy, and she didn't have a fever, so it didn't seem like a virus.
Claire carefully stood up. No nausea.
"Wonderful way to start the morning." She muttered under her breath as she rinsed out her mouth. She started the shower and peeled off her pajamas. Stepping into the warm water made the world seem not quite as against her as she felt it was.
Bobby's last thoughts as the dart sedated him were of his last meeting with Williams. He remembered when, where, and why. Seven years ago, in London, with Williams in the sight of his high powered rifle. Williams was an ex-contact. He was on the CIA's hit list and assigned to Bobby. He had been leaking info to the Russians and hiring himself out as a hit man. The CIA wanted him dead. They rarely took out their own, but they couldn't catch him in the act, so this was the best option. Bobby remembered taking the shot and Williams had died. Or at least Bobby had been told he was dead. This was as far as Bobby's thoughts took him before he fell completely under the influence of the sedative.
Now Bobby was tied up in a windowless room, alone. He was conscious and his mind paced over two things: where was Fawkes? And how come Williams was alive and still with the CIA? He was silently working at the rope binding his hands. Whoever tied it hadn't done a very good job because he was able to get his hands free pretty quickly.
Darien regained conscious to an all too familiar voice.
"Well, good morning Agent Fawkes." Said Stark.
Darien took in the scene; he was in a windowless room, strapped to a Chrysalis version of the demented dentist chair, surrounded by Stark's men, including Williams.
"So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" asked Darien sarcastically.
"Oh you know, same old, same old. We want quicksilver, you have quicksilver, and so we took you hostage type of thing."
"Ah."
"So how do you want to go about this Darien?" asked Stark, who gestured to one of his underlings, who was holding a very large hypodermic. "Do I have him withdraw the quicksilver directly or do you want to provide it painlessly?"
Darien gave Stark a blank stare and then shifted his gaze to Williams. Williams returned the gaze with equal blankness and left the room.
Claire made it to the Agency and down to the Keep without anymore nausea and figured it was just nerves over Darien not being there this morning. She had called Bobby's and received no answer so she figured the pair was probably sacked out in the beds in Lab Two. Claire quietly entered the Keep, not wanting to disturb anyone's slumber, and was startled to find the Official waiting for her.
"Keeper…Claire…the Agency just received word from Agent Williams that Agents Fawkes, Hobbes, and Jacobson were ambushed. Jacobson was found and brought back. Darien and Bobby were taken hostage." Said the Official, trying not to be completely insensitive.
Fortunately Claire was near her desk chair because she fell into it.
"What… what happened?" she asked tremulously.
"Williams arrived about twenty minutes ago. He said he saw Darien and Bobby being dragged into the compound unconscious. He had tried to facilitate a rescue but he was unable to get inside the compound himself."
Claire was silent in her fear and disbelief. She stood up and started to address the Official when another wave of nausea caught her. She barely made it to the sink.
"Ms. Rose, are you alright?" inquired Eberts.
Claire groaned and nodded, rinsing her mouth once more.
"How are we going to get them back?" she asked the Official.
"I've called Monroe in. She and Williams are going strike the installation. They are on their way there now, along with Agents Martinez and Taylor.
"Any idea on Darien's condition?" she asked, the doctor in her taking over.
"Williams was unable to ascertain whether or not Agent Fawkes was near quicksilver madness." Said Eberts.
This worried Claire, it had been almost 15 days since his last shot. The new counteragent lasted about 18 days. If he had been doing a lot of quicksilvering lately he could be close to QSM.
Claire's personal and professional emotions were raging a battle in her skull. The worry and fear she felt was overwhelming. She was trying to sort her thoughts when a third wave of nausea hit her. As she stood over the sink, embarrassed by the lack of control she had over her body, Eberts and the Official left the Keep.
When she heard them leave, Claire started to cry. Darien and Bobby were God knows where, they could be hurt, Darien could be in QSM, for all she knew they could be dead. Claire threw the first thing she touched, which happened to be a bottle of soap. It hit with a semi-satisfying thud as hit the opposite wall, and top of this entire crisis she was sick. Damn her body anyways.
Claire blotted her tears and picked up her purse from where she had dropped it earlier and left the Keep. She stopped at the Official's office and told him she was going home. He nodded and told her he would call her with hourly reports. Claire nodded and went home.
As Claire stepped into her house she heard the phone ringing. She quickly deposited the groceries she had picked up on the counter and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" answered Claire expectantly.
"Hi Claire." Said Nina cheerfully. Nina had returned to Chico two days after Claire and Darien had returned from Hawaii.
"Oh, Nina."
"Claire? What's wrong? I can tell something's wrong."
Claire started crying.
"Claire tell me what happened!" said Nina who was starting to panic.
"Darien…Darien was…was taken hostage, and so…so was Bobby." Claire said in gasps.
"Oh Claire, what happened?"
"I don't know. My boss doesn't know, or won't tell me, I just know Chrysalis has them. I don't know if he's hurt or sick. For all I know he could be dead." Claire said her voice rising with fear. "And on top of it all I'm sick. I've been vomiting all morning."
"What's Chrysalis?" asked Nina.
"Oh, bloody hell! Just forget that. I can't tell you." This angry realization intensified Claire's crying. She couldn't even tell her own sister what was happening.
"It's all right Claire. Do you want me to come down there?"
Claire was silent a moment. "Can you?" she asked in a small voice.
"Of course I can, I'll be there tomorrow morning."
"Ok."
"Ok, good. I'll see you soon and don't worry I'm sure Darien and Bobby are fine."
"Ok. Bye."
Nina hung up the phone. She wasn't sure believed her own words. She didn't know exactly what her sister and brother-in-law did but she knew it involved the government. She had no idea what kind of people they dealt with.
She went to her bedroom, grabbed her duffel bag and threw some clothes and other necessary items in it. She then called her roommate and told her she was going to San Diego again. She got in her car and headed out.
It upset her to hear the fear and worry in Claire's voice. She had always been the strong one, like when their father had died. It had been rough on their mother but Claire had kept it together and helped her though it. She prayed that Darien and Bobby were all right, for Claire's sake if anything else.
After talking to Nina, Claire sorted though her groceries until she found a small box that she had picked up at the store. She stared at it. She was afraid to even consider it. She decided to wait until Nina was here tomorrow morning, she couldn't do it by herself.
Bobby had been pacing the room when suddenly the door opened and an unconscious Darien was unceremoniously deposited on the floor. The guards who brought him in quickly left, leaving Bobby stunned and Darien in a heap.
Bobby rushed over to his partner. He checked his pulse and his breathing, both seemed ok.
"Fawkes. Fawkes. Darien." Bobby said as he tried to revive his partner.
Darien was motionless and as Bobby continued checking him for injury he found a small bandage at the base of his neck.
"Damn, what did they do to you?" Bobby said out-loud, as he tried to maneuver Darien so he was laying flat.
Bobby continued his assessment. He checked Darien's tattoo and found only one green segment left.
Bobby didn't have the counteragent, he didn't have anything. His weapon, wallet, everything had been taken off him. 'This could get ugly.' Thought Bobby, watching his partner closely.
Williams was sitting in Stark's office, awaiting his next assignment. He had facilitated the capture of Darien and Bobby and wasn't quite sure what Stark wanted next. Stark entered the office, smiling at Williams.
"You've done very well. I thank you for your cooperation."
Williams nodded.
"Now, although direct quicksilver extraction is possible, it's not very efficient. We need the Keeper. She can help us develop better extraction methods." Explained Stark.
Williams pondered this.
"Are you sure you can make her cooperate? She is his wife after all."
This took Stark by surprise. Of everything he had learned recently, this information hadn't been revealed.
"Hmm, that makes for an interesting twist. I'm sure we'll be able to solicit Ms. Rose's help. I want you to get her for me."
Williams nodded and left the office.
****
When Claire woke the next morning it was to the sound of her doorbell. She glanced at the clock in the living room where she had fallen asleep on the couch. 7:06am. She got up and answered the door. There stood Nina, who immediately stepped in and wrapped Claire in a hug. Claire allowed herself to be comforted.
"How are you?" asked Nina concerned.
"I'm ok." Said Claire quietly.
They walked inside and back into the living room. They were about to sit on the couch when Claire gasped and ran for the bathroom. Nina followed her and heard her vomiting again.
Nina waited until she heard the toilet flush and then came in.
"Oh Claire." She said when she saw the pale tired look on Claire's face.
"Come on, you're going to bed."
"No, Nina, I…I don't think it's the flu."
"What do you mean? You look sick, and you're under a lot of stress. I think you should go back to bed."
Claire shook her head and stood up. She left the bathroom and headed towards the kitchen. Nina followed her, wondering what she was doing. Claire picked up the small box she had considered earlier and handed it to Nina.
Nina let out a small gasp and a look of worry, mild confusion, panic and elation crossed her face.
"Did you?" asked Nina.
"No. I couldn't so it alone."
"Are you going to?"
"I have to know."
"Well, do it right now." Said Nina authoritatively, pushing Claire back towards the bathroom.
Claire allowed herself to be directed and came out a moment later.
"So?" asked Nina.
"It takes three minutes."
"Do you want me to check?"
Claire nodded, and when the longest three minutes of her life passed Nina went into the bathroom.
Nina picked up the pregnancy test Claire had left on the counter. Two little pink lines were clear as day. Nina wasn't sure if this was good or not so she picked up the box and scanned the directions. One line, negative, two lines, positive.
Nina flew out of the bathroom to tell Claire, but she wasn't in the bedroom.
"Claire? Where did you go?" called Nina.
There was no answer.
Nina left the bedroom and went down the hall. She heard a thump from the living room. She quickened her pace and found two guys in the entryway. She saw an unconscious Claire being placed into the back of a van.
"Whoa, another one." Smirked one of the guys.
Nina tried to flee but was cut off by a third man coming from the kitchen. She thrashed about, trying to escape, when she felt a brief sting on her upper arm and she lost consciousness.
"Guess we better bring her along." Said the first man.
The others nodded and the third guy picked Nina up and carried her to the van and placed her next to Claire.