Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
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- Unknown location, a different room, later
"... a pile of old bricks, the door locked and no windows." Chegwidden interrupted his description and looked around in their new prison. "Yes, that's about all about it."
He glanced at the spy standing to his left. He didn't bother to mention the handcuffs which chained Webb's right wrist to AJ's left through a small gap between a big metal pipe and the wall. The gap wasn't even big enough for an arm and the solid pipe went from ceiling to floor. Any attempt to damage it had failed so far. And unfortunately their kidnappers had made very sure that no wire or other suitable things were lying around.
"At least they left the light on." AJ expected a sarcastic remark at that but was disappointed. Again he considered the younger man uneasily.
Webb was awfully quiet since they had been locked in. AJ knew he had to be terrified to the bones it wouldn't be human if he wasn't. But none of it showed on his face. It was like a shadow had fallen over his features, like any emotion had drained out of them, leaving nothing but a lifeless mask. Whatever was underneath ... any thoughts or memories ... it was hidden completely.
Chegwidden drew a deep breath. He had always known he had been extraordinarily lucky, considering. Some of his assignments as a SEAL had been more than a close call ... nevertheless he had got out of most situations with barely more than scratches. But every now and then the things he had seen still haunted him in his dreams ... sometimes together with some of the things he had done.
Webb - he was sure - had had his own share of things in the past he had seen or experienced ... or done. And Paraguay was too close. AJ had read the reports - including Webb's. He had read between the lines too. Human nature was sometimes a miracle of resistance but what had happened was nothing to put aside in a few sessions with a psychiatrist. It left scars. Mentally and physically. In fact AJ was surprised the Agency had risked sending Webb back out in the field at all.
"You've mentioned a pile of bricks," Webb said suddenly very calmly. "Can you get one of them?"
"Well..." AJ turned, confused by the question. "Would be difficult. Why?"
"Get one of them."
"Clayton, even if I manage there's no use. You can't scratch metal handcuffs with these old things."
"Just get one."
AJ sighed. Anything to keep them occupied - especially Webb. He started stretching and after ten minutes of patience, curses, nearly pulling muscles and the help of his long legs he had finally inched one of the bricks close enough. Picking it up he handed it to Webb.
"Well, here you are. And now?"
Without an answer Webb weighed the stone a moment in his left hand. Something flickered briefly across his face, a strange mix of emotions, too fast for Chegwidden to interpret them. Then the spy seemed to have made a decision.
"All right."
He handed the brick back to a startled AJ and arranged his right hand against the wall.
"You've got to break the bones here, here and here. And I would be grateful if you could do it in one move, I don't think I'd have nerve for a second try."
AJ's breath caught in his throat. He opened and shut his mouth a few times, eyes wide in shock.
"CLAYTON!"
"Oh, don't worry, AJ," Webb stated matter-of-factly, "If we were chained together the other way round so I could use my right hand and if I weren't blind and could see what I'm doing I would be more than happy to ask you to hold out your hand. Old bones break more easily anyway." AJ inhaled but Webb didn't give him a chance. "But as things are I can't see what I'm doing and we have to get out of here. You've heard Fahd. He's up to something and we've got no idea what it is. We must get out of here - you know that." A desperate edge crept into his voice. "This is the only way to get rid of the handcuffs and catch them off guard and - and I don't think I can... I can't - I c-can't stand this again. I... And - and they are going to kill Sarah and - NOW JUST DO IT, AJ, PLEASE! Before I can chicken out..."
And AJ swung the brick with all his might.
Webb shrieked - a strangled sound Chegwidden would hear for the rest of his life. But as his knees buckled he was already throwing his body back, ramming one foot against the pipe while AJ dropped the stone and grabbed for his wrist, shouting at him to stop - to please stop for heaven's sake... And then Webb landed hard down on the ground, curled up around his hand, cursing and raving.
"Oh, stupid idea, STUPID IDEA, stupid idea, why do I always have these STUPID ideas..."
A second Chegwidden just stood in shock and disbelief. He hadn't... He hadn't just done that - he... Somehow he fumbled the handcuffs free from the pipe. They left traces of red on his shaking fingers. He gasped then pulled himself together with an effort. Two wide strides brought him at Webb's side.
"Oh, God, Clay... Let me have a look at it maybe I can-"
Webb growled deep in his throat. "If you touch me, I'll kick you right into the -"
AJ's hand jerked back. Some heartbeats he watched helplessly tears rolling down the younger man's face. He gritted his teeth so hard his jaw hurt.
A key slid in the lock from outside.
Chegwidden was up in a flash, jumped across the room and hit the door just as it flew open, slamming it back into whoever was on the other side. A surprised shout accompanied by a heavy fall followed. He jerked the door open again, saw the Asian couple in a tangled heap on the floor and raced for the gun the man had dropped as the door had nearly knocked him out. The woman, trapped under the man's body, swung her own weapon around.
A moment they stared at each other over the barrels of their guns.
"Go ahead, dare me," hissed AJ fiercely. "I'm just in the right mood."
The woman looked into his eyes, gulped and shook her head.
---
- Unknown location
AJ thoroughly locked the door of the room where the Asian couple was bound and gagged with their own clothes. Now the solid pipe had come in handy. The former SEAL smiled grimly. To tie firm knots which didn't slip with trousers or shirts wasn't easy - but he had reached perfection in that a long time ago. Pocketing the key he turned and put a gentle arm around Webb's shoulders. The agent's wet face was ashen and strained. He carefully cradled his injured hand in the crook of his left arm.
Chegwidden pulled one of the guns out of his waistband and mumbled: "Let's go."
Webb just nodded. They trotted almost casually to the next small door and stepped outside without being noticed or seeing anybody. Like it was a dream they melted into the shadows of the second building. Chegwidden led the spy towards the fence at the dark back of the property.
The moon hadn't risen yet and so it took AJ some time to find a suitable place in the faint light of the stars. Webb leaned tiredly against the wire netting while the former JAG started digging with both hands. Finally AJ got up, guided Webb in position and pulled up the fence as high as possible so the agent was able to slowly and painfully squeeze through under it. Not a word was spoken as Chegwidden followed with some difficulties then helped Webb back to his feet. Turning away from any street and the threat of being discovered again they quietly trudged off into the darkness. After a while AJ fished out the key he had shoved into his pocket and threw it away.
Time passed. A slim crescent moon appeared low on the sky but didn't add much light. They wandered over grass, through some bushes, a row of trees, more grass. Their boots slipped and stumbled over hidden stones and branches and into more than one hole. Any unexpected jerk was painful for both of them.
"AJ?" Webb finally broke the eerie silence as they reached some bushes again. His voice was raspy.
"Hmm?"
"You know, I'm really dying of thirst but I need to pee, I can't help it."
"Oh? Good idea," muttered AJ who had felt a similar pressure growing for some time now. "Need help?"
"No!"
"Sure?"
"Go away."
They did what needed to be done and continued their hike. After what seemed to be hours but could also have been only thirty minutes they were still wandering through the darkness. They walked between small trees again for a change and followed a high hedge, towering above them.
"Any idea where we are?" Webb leaned heavier against Chegwidden. He felt dizzy and slightly nauseous from the throbbing pain in his hand while the ex-SEAL had trouble breathing because of his broken ribs.
"No, as far as I can tell, we could walk for hours without finding anything-"
They jumped both as a dog started barking right at their side. Something small, high-pitched and overly aggressive. A grumpy voice called out and ordered "Rascal" to get inside immediately. The dog increased its noise then the barking moved away and a door was shut with a thud.
"- or maybe we are not that far away from other people," finished AJ dryly.
They walked along the hedge some more and finally stood in a quiet street. It seemed they had miraculously stumbled into and got lost in some kind of park, bordering on a suburban area. Chegwidden looked around and sighed. He was so tired and an exhausted haze made thinking difficult.
"We should knock at one of the doors and ask for a phone."
Webb snorted. "I may be blind but would you let us in your house if we look like I think we look like?"
AJ considered first the spy then himself. They were dusty, ragged, covered with dirt and more or less beaten up and bloody. The handcuffs were still dangling from his left wrist and their haggard faces didn't help much to restore their respectability.
"All right, no, I wouldn't. They'll probably call the police."
"Or get a shotgun."
"Point taken."
They trudged on. A car passed and they tensed but the driver was just looking at them curiously. The tail lights disappeared around a corner. The night air was still cooling down and they shivered.
Suddenly AJ spotted something across the street. He gently nudged Webb's shoulder.
"Clayton ... I think there is a payphone."