Sawyer Fan - Thank you very much! The drinking game was fun to write, letting them bounce off each other and find out things about their pasts. I had wanted to show that Allan and Tom got to bond more off screen after the ill-fated shooting lesson too. It was a long way to Mongolia!
Doped Out Bunny - I'm glad you're enjoying it and that the angst/humour balance is working. The League are the first characters for ages from a movie or show that I've wanted to write for or to follow, tofind out what they do next. So I was happy to find Fanfic net!
Note: I had thought there would be about ten parts to this story in all, but I've been breaking it up into larger parts than I'd originally thought I would, so there will only be two more to come after this one.
Title: "Rubicon 1 - Aftermath" Chapter 4
By Ten Mara
Rating: PG-13
CATEGORY: Story, Drama/Angst
DISCLAIMER: The literary characters referred to are copyright their respective authors, and "LXG: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" is copyright 20th Century Fox, based on the comic books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. The characters and movie universe are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, no profit will be gained. Characters not recognized are mine, and a few real-life historical people of the time are used (information on the latter will be given in the chapters where they are featured).
xXx
It turned out that only Nemo, Tom and Mina were at dinner that night. Jekyll was staying to supervise the infirmary, and Mina would spell him later.
The lone woman of the League smiled. "Agent Sawyer! It is good to see you. How are you?"
"I'm all right, Mrs Harker, thank you. How about you?"
He could tell by looking at her how she was. There was genuine concern for his welfare in her expression, but there was also a great sadness and distance about her.
She was already a remote and aloof person, but it was clear that Dorian's betrayal and whatever had happened in the fortress had turned her defensive walls into sheer cliffs.
Tom knew she would be there for him, if he asked her to, but she would not allow him to return the favour. He knew that as clearly as if she had said it. She was holding her own hurts, being cut by them, but the rest of the League were in danger of also being injured if they ventured too near.
How could he burden her with his own problems when she clearly had her own to work through? He would try to find ways to let her know that he was there for her if she needed to talk, but he got the feeling it would be a delicate balancing act. He was liable to get his head bitten off. Literally.
But for now he lied and pretended that all was fine, or at least able to be coped with.
The three League members sat down to eat. From talk at the table, it quickly became clear how busy Mina, Jekyll and Nemo's medical staff were in the infirmary and would be for a while. Even when they got to the nearest civilisation, a lot of these people would be better off remaining on the Nautilus until they reached England, instead of going into a hospital there. "Not just for the standard of medical care, but for what these people might know," Mina said. "The British certainly want to keep a tight hold on them."
Nemo informed them that the Nautilus and most of the British ships would leave for England in the morning, satisfied that they had located everyone in and around the fortress. One ship would remain to load or finish destroying various items.
"Mr Bond was very annoyed when he found out that M's laboratory had been destroyed," the Captain said. "My scientists are still looking over what they retrieved."
"What about the sample case?" Tom asked. "Any luck in getting it back?"
"Not yet. My men are going to keep working tonight, since they have lights on the Nautiloid to see by, even if it is not very far."
"Good," Mina said. "I'd prefer your men to find it over Bond getting his hands on it."
"True. Even though he is supposed to be on our side. Anyway, it looks like we have successfully averted a world war," Nemo said with pride.
Tom regarded the Captain, thinking that he now seemed more content and purposeful. I used to want to be a pirate. But Nemo is more than that.
xXx
Once they finished eating, Mina excused herself, saying she needed to get back to the infirmary.
"I'll walk you there," Tom said.
She hesitated for a moment, and he thought she was going to refuse, but then she said, "Thank you."
After saying goodnight to Nemo, the chemist and the spy went down the hallway together in silence for a while, then both started to speak at once. They chuckled and apologised together, then Tom said, "Ladies first."
"Now that we're alone, how are you? Really."
"I'll be all right. It's just hard to believe that Quatermain is gone."
She nodded, empathy in her eyes. "If you need to talk, you know that I'm here."
"Thanks. And the same goes for you too."
"I know."
And I doubt that either of us are going to do anything about it, Tom thought.
"You've been working very hard in the infirmary. Make sure you get enough sleep," he ventured to tell her.
"I do not require all that much sleep, so I can work through if need be. And I like to keep busy. I need to be busy at the moment."
He could understand that. Hopefully that would be the best thing for them. "If I can be of any help in the infirmary, let me know."
"Thank you. Now, speaking of rest, I think it is time that you got some yourself."
"You will be pleased to be informed, ma'am, that after escorting you to the infirmary, I am turning in for the night," he said with a smile.
"Good."
Tom studied her face for a moment as they went along, and reflected.
He'd been drawn to her from the first moment he'd seen her. At first by her looks and then by her spirit and brain.
Though flirting with a woman, even one so beautiful, when you know she's a vampire and have seen her basically tear a guy's throat out.... Hmmm. As Aunt Polly says, "Young men! Reason never comes into it."
But it wasn't lust. Mina probably thought it was, in the beginning, when he'd made that pass at her on the conning tower and been turned down. Then of course once he resigned himself to the fact that she would never take him seriously in a romantic way, and apologised for his forwardness, hoping to be friends, what did she do? Run her fingers over his lips so enticingly that the feeling beat any kiss he'd received up to that stage.
And then she had encouraged him to take up the pursuit again. Women!
Perhaps optimism turns her on. Or that by then she saw I was genuine.
Tom still loved her, however he knew that now was not the time to be making passes or anything other than overtures of friendship. It would not be fair otherwise. They were both trying to deal with their individual losses.
Besides, despite what she had said, how much of a chance did he really have with a beautiful woman like her? Especially after the mess he'd made of this mission. She deserved more and was better off without him.
So is the rest of the League, come to think of it. But for now he pushed that line of thought away.
After seeing Mina to the infirmary, he wandered back to his quarters, musing along the way about the first time she had revealed her vampire nature, in Dorian's library. As she attacked the man holding her, Tom had gaped and stepped back. His eyes were locked on the incredible sight before him, however his ears clearly registered all the other men in the room also backpedaling. So much for them all being manly men.
xXx
Sleep came quickly, but so did nightmares. They woke him up several times during the night, on the verge of tears, and the only details he could remember were that Huck and Quatermain were in them. He was the one shooting Huck, he was the one stabbing Quatermain.
Towards dawn he wrenched himself out of another nightmare, this time with a yell, which fortunately did not bring anyone running to investigate.
His state room was at the end of the hall, next to Quatermain's and across from Skinner's, so that gave him isolation to a degree, for which he was grateful. Mina and Jekyll and Nemo have enough to cope with already.
He got up, then dressed in his usual outfit, apart from his vest or the holsters for his now-lost Colt pistols.
The obstacle course was free, so he did a number of laps, clockwise and anti-clockwise, scrambling over and under and around and through, trying not to think. Such courses were fairly easy for him - his childhood hometown had provided a forest to scramble through and he hardly ever used to use the gate at Aunt Polly's, it being quicker to go over the fence. Especially considering he was usually fleeing her wrath after his latest scrape.
Then it was time to bathe and get ready for breakfast.
Jekyll and Nemo were in the dining room when Tom arrived. Mina was going to eat and rest in her room. One of Nemo's physicians was in charge of the patients at the moment.
When Jekyll saw the American, he said, "Tom, come to the infirmary some time this morning and if Skinner is awake, I'll see if he's ready for a visitor. He asked about you yesterday."
"How is he?"
"No worse. And in good spirits."
"And I will take you to meet your new tutor once we have finished here," Nemo said.
"New tutor?" Henry asked.
"I'm getting some martial arts training," Tom explained.
"Oh." The doctor looked surprised. Then his gaze and face flickered briefly. He did not comment, but Tom knew that Hyde must have said something in his head on the matter.
Nemo enquired about the infirmary patients and then revealed that some of the children made a little excursion during the night to the bridge. "They dared each other to run up and touch the wheel." His face held a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "I might take some of the children through there to show them, supervised, and get their curiosity quenched."
"Good luck," Tom said.
"And my men in the Nautilod recovered M's sample case and gave it to me. Now that is done, we will be underway to London within two hours."
Great. I've had enough of this place.
xXx
Once the meal was finished, Nemo said, "Agent Sawyer, I will now introduce you to Tang. He will be your martial arts trainer."
Tang was an Asian man of diminutive but deceptive stature. Just as a small stick of dynamite could take out an amazing area when lit, so too could this man. That was the analogy that sprang to Tom's mind as he watched his new instructor give a demonstration of his abilities with some of Nemo's other martially trained crew in one of the gymnasium rooms.
His jaw dropped at the amazing moves they were making and the speed of their reflexes. What a great advantage that would be in a fight.
Tang came back over to him and Nemo, his breathing just a little bit quick, but otherwise looking calm and serene even after such an explosion of energy.
"Wow," was all that Tom could manage to say.
Nemo smiled. "Agent Sawyer will be a very capable and diligent student."
"We can have your first lesson this afternoon at four o'clock, if that is convenient," Tang said. He and Nemo both had the same cultured way of speaking English. Then Tang gestured to Tom's bandaged hand. "Unless you would prefer to wait until your injury is healed. The training will be non-contact at first anyway, so should not interfere."
"It's not a deep cut. I'm ready to start this afternoon."
Nemo left to attend to the running of his ship, and Tom and the instructor remained talking for a time afterwards. Tom filled him in on the training he received in his job, and found out that Tang had been on the Nautilus for the last five years. Tang was also not his real name, but one he chose himself upon joining the crew, from a greatly admired Chinese dynasty.
xXx
Then Tom went to the infirmary to visit Skinner, feeling more uncertain with every step closer he took. I thought that he was the traitor. Even when we found out it was Gray, even when Skinner offered to set bombs in the fortress, I didn't think he was a heroic sort of person. I still can't believe he saved my life. Why me?
"Hey kid, good to see you."
"Not as much as it is to see you." Tom winced at his inadvertent joke - Skinner was certainly very much visible, due to the light cloths covering his wounds. The cloths were moist with the special seaweed extract that Jekyll had mentioned.
The spy came uncertainly up to the side of the bed, his hands in his pockets. I forced my way into the League and look what became of it. Quatermain's dead and Skinner got roasted. They'll be glad to see the back of me. "Skinner, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. I'm still ticking, and you were worth saving. I should have gotten out of the way quicker."
Tom could tell that Skinner was being sincere, however that didn't stop the guilt, the feeling that he was a liability to the group on the mission. "Thanks for saving my life. Now what can I do to help you?"
"Keep me company, if you've got the time. Pull up a chair and tell me what's going on."
Tom did so. He soon found out that Skinner's sense of humour was still going strong, with the thief commenting that at least burns were easier for Jekyll to treat on him than say a broken bone. "Hard to fix what you can't see."
Skinner was glad that Tom had come. He had been inwardly pondering how that metal armoured guy with the flamethrower was a bit too overzealous in his 'eradicate the enemy' mode. Heck, as far as I can tell, he set a whole room on fire just trying to kill the kid! I'm sure M would not have been thrilled, especially when the fire spread. "I know that American brat is irritating, but my fortress is on fire, you git!"
However Skinner showed some rare discretion and did not say that out loud. He doubted Tom wanted to be reminded of that ordeal. He didn't want to either, come to think of it.
So instead he joked about something else. Tom had filled him in about the cleanup work that had to be done after Gray's sabotage. "Kid, I've been thinking. Nemo's submarine has beautiful design work, in and out - but in a sub, you'd think that they'd have the sense to nail things down or brace them a bit! All those furnishings, cushions and ornaments all strewn everywhere after the bombs went off - that would have taken forever to clean up."
"It sure did."
"So suggest it to Nemo next time you see him."
"I'll keep that in mind." There was an awkward pause, and Tom looked down at his hands, trying to come up with something to say.
Skinner beat him to it. "Now don't be too glum. I think I'm right that my skin heals faster due to the formula. When I first became invisible, it certainly felt different from then on in. And the cold weather wasn't a bother. Too bad bloody Gray was able to get a sample from me."
"You felt the weather enough to do a lot of complaining when you came into our camp in Mongolia."
"No, that complaining was designed to subtly remind you lot of just what I'd gone through. I'm invisible, so while I can't often be seen, I want to make sure that I am heard when it suits me."
Tom chuckled. "You have a point."
He didn't comment about Skinner referring to him as 'kid'. He knew that the thief didn't mean anything insulting by it. And besides, when a man gets horrible burns while trying to save your life, you let him call you what he wants. Plus, when pointing out to someone that you really don't like being called something, even when being as polite and diplomatic about it as possible, there was the risk that the person would become all the more relentless and unmerciful about sticking to their original term.
I'm just grateful he's still around to call me anything!
When the invisible man was tiring and it was time to go, Tom promised to be back for longer tomorrow, and to locate a book or two in Nemo's library to read to him.
"Any titles in particular you want me to look for?"
"Some H G Wells, perhaps. Some escapism."
"Not a problem."
As painful as it was to know that Skinner's injuries were his fault, Tom realised he enjoyed the visit.
xXx
At four o'clock he went for his lesson with Tang, and got a thorough workout, even with it being non-contact. The instructor seemed pleased with his dedication and focus.
Tom knew that if he stayed with the League or went back home for assignments, he wanted to be as physically and mentally prepared as possible.
As the agent had hoped, the lesson also did the trick of tiring him out. It was an exhausted American who crawled into bed that night. But it wasn't enough to keep the nightmares at bay.
xXx
Tom's days on the way to London fell into a pattern. He made sure he exercised, ate and slept enough. He kept his self-defence lessons and often practiced the moves by himself, trying to make them second nature. At set times he visited Skinner. The agent practised his shooting at both the shooting gallery and the conning tower. Sometimes on the tower he even shot buoys out of the air instead of waiting until they came to rest in the water. Nemo had loaned him some pistols to use until he was able to get new Colts. He helped Jekyll and Nemo where he could, and his days were full and busy, which was just what he wanted.
Tom even gave himself 'grieving time' late at night - the only time he let the pain out enough for it to rule. There was no one he felt he could talk to (or 'bother') with his grief because everyone was so busy or grieving themselves. He also went to visit Quatermain's body occasionally. Tom would stand there beside the shrouded form, sometimes talking quietly. It didn't take the others long to figure out where the young spy was going when they saw him wearing or carrying a thick arctic jacket, if he was not heading in the direction of the conning tower. Though once one of Nemo's men accidentally came close to locking him in the refrigeration room, not realising he was there.
He retired early each night to try to allow for the sleep he would lose to the nightmares. It was tempting to try to cut corners sleep-wise, but he did not want to risk making mistakes because of tiredness. The nightmares would just have to be borne.
And I deserve them anyway.
Those of the League who were free at dinnertime had it together in Nemo's dining room. As much as he liked the others, Tom personally would have preferred to have all his meals alone in his cabin, but that could draw unwanted attention or concern from the rest. So he went and made conversation and did his best to hide how he was really feeling. The others knew by now that Quatermain had died protecting Sawyer, but they had not pressed for specific details.
It also made things easier for him that the British officers onboard often ate their meals with them, which kept any personal content in the conversations down a lot. Campion Bond, in charge of the British contingent, proved to be a portly man in his fifties who clearly enjoyed the comforts and food on the Nautilus. And a man eager to gain every drop of information he could about what M had been up to, surveying some of the seized automatic weaponry with glee.
Tom noticed that the remains of the League were still very formal with each other on the whole, even when the British officers weren't around. Their mission had brought them together as a team but the betrayals and losses sustained along the way had brought out a cautiousness they could not seem to shake off.
Mina was still keeping very much to herself when not helping out with the guests on the ship. She showed no signs of wanting to let go of her isolation, politely rebuffing any attempts at drawing her out, no matter how subtle. It also meant she wasn't prying into how he was, so that was one thing to be grateful for.
On the plus side, Tom realised that he and Skinner had developed a big brother/little brother bond, complete with accompanying ribbing. Lose my best friend and surrogate father, but gain an older brother?
And one great thing about Skinner was that his burns were clearly showing signs of healing. Rapid healing. Skinner had, of course, wanted to drink to that news, but Jekyll, of course, would not let him.
Tom read aloud whatever Skinner wanted him to. "You're a good reader - you don't just drone on. You really get into the story, especially the talk."
They had fun, trading jokes and stories. But no matter how hilarious the joke or how well Skinner told it, the American found himself only laughing on the outside. It was as if grief and guilt were taking up all the space inside him, and leaving no room for anything else. Skinner had reiterated several times that he did not blame Tom for his injuries, but inwardly it made no difference, no lessening of his inner burden.
Tom played with the rescued children, who loved having his company. It also reminded him of earlier, happier days spent with Huck. The families of the children soon realised that Tom was the League member who had killed the dreaded M, and his hero status amongst them increased tenfold. The spy was very uncomfortable with the praise. He said that Skinner and Quatermain deserved the thanks.
When the Nautilus reached Africa, it was hard for the League to go up the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal, instead of down to Kenya, knowing they were so close to Quatermain's home.
On a brief stopover in Alexandria, Egypt, Tom met with an American Secret Service operative to give him his full report and to receive any instructions. They would have an operative waiting in London to speak with him further, but their message indicated they were not adverse to him going to Africa after that if he wished. Congratulations were given for 'a job well done'. That produced a bitter smile.
Writing up that report had been extremely hard. I thought it would help. Purging it out, I guess. Talk about naive. Instead, analysing his actions and the results just made him feel all the more upset and useless.
xXx
Another nightmare. "Damn it!"
Tom slid out of bed, not bothering to stand, just going straight down onto the floor. Then he grimly started doing push ups. Hopefully a burst of exercise would wear him out and make him stop thinking about his dreams or past.
He woke up hours later to find he was lying on his stomach on the floor. Did I fall asleep or pass out?
xXx
That morning at breakfast, the British officers onboard did not join them, having a meeting instead. Nemo had news however.
"Campion Bond has received a telegram from the Queen. It congratulates the League on our work, and in London we are to have discussions with other leading British intelligence men about what happened. We might get to meet a representative of the Queen."
"They could have more work for us," Mina commented thoughtfully.
But do we want it? If the others do, should I leave, even if the Service is happy for me to remain? Sawyer wondered. All my life I wanted adventure. Wanting is very different to having. Especially the fallout.
Jekyll then spoke up. "And it looks like I will be offered real amnesty to return to England. After it was revealed who M truly was and why we'd been brought together, I thought that ended my chance. Or that the only part of London I would see would be a confined cell."
Mina looked at him in surprise. "And yet you are still going back, despite the risk?"
Henry met her gaze. "I have patients here on the ship that I will not abandon. And I have changed."
"As we will swear to the government on your behalf," Nemo told him.
The doctor smiled. "Thank you. Though I must admit that I would be happy to keep travelling on the Nautilus and being part of the League, instead of staying on in London, if there is that chance."
And Hyde would probably love the chance to be allowed to cause mayhem on missions, to 'get away with it' with official approval, so to speak, Tom mused. But he hoped that Jekyll would be able to stay with the League.
Mina turned to Nemo. "Since we are not allowed to divert to Kenya, I gather that Venice is also too far out of the way? One of the scientists is from near there."
"We are not going to Venice," Nemo confirmed. "The British still want everyone kept together and taken to England for now. Some of the passengers have complained, but mostly they are so grateful and relieved that they and their families have been rescued from the Fantom, that they will go along with what the British want for now. However if they are kept in London too long, I am sure that will soon change."
Tom knew that a small contingent of men from Germany had come aboard in Alexandria, representatives of their government, to speak with the scientists and accompany them the rest of the way to London. He wondered if any other countries would do the same.
Mina then looked at Tom. "Agent Sawyer, apart from the League's visit to Venice, have you ever been there before?"
"No, ma'am." It would be nice to actually see it by daylight. And at walking pace, knowing that it isn't falling down all around me.
"Then it is a pity we are not stopping, because then I could have shown you around the city that you saved."
"Perhaps after we go to Africa, we could go there," Nemo suggested.
After. What ARE we going to do after? Tom wondered. Or rather, me.
xXx
He was back in the tower, taking the ammunition for the guns out of Quatermain's pockets. Then suddenly the hunter's eyes snapped open and his head swivelled round. Tom stumbled back, startled, as Allan glared at him.
"I already gave you my life, and that wasn't enough? Now you're robbing my corpse!"
At that point the spy woke up, breathing heavily. He sat up in bed and put his head in his hands for a while, trying to collect himself, then finally raised his face. It was dawn again. As far as he could recall, that was the only nightmare he'd had all night.
And it had been worth ten separate ones.
END PART FOUR