Disclaimer: Making no money out of this
Shattered Like Glass: Scene 09The taxi stopped on the kerb outside the offices without hesitation. The brunette who appeared wore her dyed hair in a ponytail. She was draped in a fitted knee-length beige coat with white fake fur at cuffs and on the hood. She didn't look up at the building once, merely walked towards the front door confidently. High above her on the third floor, a blind twitched as whoever was watching her arrival let go again and disappeared.
Shockwave pulled the key to her father's campaign headquarters out of her bag and unlocked the door to his office. She was half-certain that somebody would have seen her, maybe even recognised her on her way here. She couldn't let the thought of the authorities tracking her down worry her. Instead she let herself in and then turned to lock the door behind her.
"Sam?" A voice asked behind her. She spun on the spot, coming face to face with Matthew, her father's aide.
"Matt? What are you doing here?"
"I work here remember." Matthew pointed out. "What are you doing here? Your father gave Professor Xavier specific instructions to make sure you were protected. You're supposed to be going into hiding Sammy…"
"I don't know why you're concerned." Sam dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "I didn't think you even liked me."
"What kind of an accusation is that Sam? Of course I like you." Matthew protested. Matthew was dressed smartly in a shirt and trousers, with black shoes and a blue tie. He was in his mid-twenties, with smartly cropped light brown hair and hazel eyes, tall and slim-built.
"So then you'll tell me what you're doing in Dad's computer? What are you up to?"
"Protecting your dad's interests. He's been arrested for treason Sam, I have to get things tidied here before they come looking for the evidence to prove it."
"Treason?" Sam choked on the word, "My father's a patriot!"
"But he's been helping the X-Men, and the people who have had him arrested know that. If they think he's compromised homeland security by informing Xavier…"
Sam bit her fist and stood shaking her head. This was all so wrong. Matthew gave up trying to explain and went to her side with a sigh. Poor kid, she'd already lost her mother and now her dad was arrested on an offence that might well see him locked away for a very long time. Gently Matthew placed a hand on the teenager's shoulder, wondering what to possibly say.
Sam reacted instinctively, pulling closer to the human and letting him hug her. She was shaking and it had nothing whatsoever to do with her powers. Matthew's arms around her shoulders were warm and strong. She hid her face in his shirt and bit her lip, trying not to cry. Shockwave does not cry, she told herself forcefully. It will all be okay. You'll see Dad soon, and then it'll be fine. She locked her arms around Matthew's waist and took slow deep breaths. After an age, she started to feel better. Only then did she pull away from him. Matthew let his hands slip to rest lightly with his palms on each shoulder, and smiled at her.
"You alright?" He asked softly, too which Sam nodded, then looked up at him and met his worried eyes.
"I'm sorry Matthew," He almost gasped in shock as she used his full name and didn't abbreviate it just to annoy him. "I didn't know you'd be here, and now there's no time…"
"Sam, what are you on about?" Matthew was suddenly gravely concerned, as the girl turned in his hands to look to the window. At that very instant, a ruckus of noise broke out outside. It was followed by the sound of a door being bashed from its hinges. "What have you done?"
"I'm bait. The X-Men needed to know how prepared the military are…"
"What! Sam they can't use you like that! Your dad…"
"It was my idea." Sam informed him, meeting his eyes again. "I'm scared Matthew…"
"C'mon." Matthew took charge decisively. "We can get out the back way."
At that he took Shockwave's hands in his and led her to the office door. Shockwave's key was still in the lock, which he unlocked and abandoned along with all the unfinished work in the office. Matthew took Sam to a mostly disused stairwell to the rear of the building. Together they started down the stairs, only to halt at the floor below amidst growing nerves.
"They're coming up this way too!" Sam cried out as Matthew spun round and without letting go of Sam's hand dragged her back the way they had come.
"The X-Men are here right?" Matthew asked desperately.
"Just Storm, Gambit and Nightcrawler in the X-Jet, its recon only. They didn't want to get drawn into a fire fight, just rescue me and disappear again…" Sam answered, panting slightly as they ran up the steps two at a time.
"That's fine by me." Matthew decreed as they reached the top of the stairs and the door onto the roof. He shoulder-charged it, but the door was reinforced and it didn't even move.
"Don't you have a key?" Shockwave cried. Matthew shook his head and glanced past her to where the attacking force could be heard getting closer and closer. "Then stand back!" Sam ordered him. Matthew did as he was told, watching wide-eyed as Sam put her hands onto the door and let loose her mutant ability.
The wood started to hum in its frame as it vibrated. Sam concentrated harder, gasping with the pain as her finger bones vibrated so fast they became a blur. Suddenly the door cracked from top to bottom, splintering nastily. Matthew gave it a hefty kick and it flew apart, totally destroyed. With one last glance over his shoulder at the stairwell, he grabbed Sam's still shaking hand and heaved her onto the roof-space.