PART EIGHT
Lily opened her eyes slowly, hearing the sound of someone speaking softy.
"If I so much as think that someone is following you…" He turned and saw that Lily was stirring. "You better hurry." He closed the phone and pocketed it.
"Nigel?" Lily said softly as her eyesight adjusted. "Nigel, what's going on?" She reached up to touch her aching head, only to discover her hands securely bound to the chair she was sitting in. "Nigel, this isn't funny."
"No one said it was Luv." He moved closer and stroked her forehead softy. "No one said this was supposed to be remotely humorous."
"Nigel, untie me." She fought to keep the fear from her voice. "Why am I tied?"
"I can't let you escape." His long fingers traced her jaw line.
"Escape?" She jerked her head away. "What are you talking about? What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong with me." He straightened and looked down at her.
"You're not acting like yourself." She stared into his eyes. "I don't know this side of you."
"Maybe this is the real me. Maybe the Nigel you thought you knew was all an illusion, a fabrication." As he spoke, Lily shook her head in disbelief. "Maybe I'm just tired of pretending."
"No…we've shared too much." She continued to stare. "There's something wrong with you Nigel, but I can help you if..."
"Just shut up." The words were cold. "I don't want your help Lily. I don't want anyone's help."
"I don't believe that." Lily whispered softly.
"Frankly, I don't give a damn what you do or do not believe." He stared at her a moment longer. "I have to get ready for company. You just stay right there and be a good girl." He began to walk away. "Don't worry, Lily. It will all be over soon."
"Nigel! Come back! Please, don't do this!" Lily screamed as panic began to set in. "Don't leave me Nigel! NIGEL!"
---Line break ---
Nigel pulled up to the deserted warehouse and stopped the car. He stared at the broken windows and suddenly memories of a similar place filled his mind. A place he had tried to forget for years.
He wasn't sure what had gone wrong. It was supposed to have been a simple recon mission. He and two other men should have been in and out within an hour…but instead, they had been ambushed in the warehouse and time had ceased to exist. .
Although he was safe in the car, Nigel could smell the stink of war, the stench of decay from outside. He could hear the painful moans of Rodney, a young man new to the team as his head laid in Nigel's lap, blood pouring from a mortal wound. Tyler, the other team member, stood guard, glancing over his shoulder at the dying man.
"We need to get out of here Nige." Tyler spoke softly. "He's already a dead man."
"We don't leave anyone with breath behind." Nigel growled as he glared at his friend. "You know that. I wouldn't leave you or anyone else." Pausing, he pressed against the makeshift bandage. "We wait for…"
"Wait for what!" Tyler snapped. "We're not even supposed to be here! So who's going to come and rescue us Nigel! Who?" There was an awkward silence as the two men glared at each other.
"I'm not leaving him." Nigel finally whispered.
"Well, I'm not sticking around to be butchered."
"And what do you think you are going to do?" Before he could say anything else, Nigel watched Tyler bolt out of the door. "Tye! Wait!" He carefully moved from Rodney and rushed to the door. "Wait!" Cautiously he glanced through the door, looking for his friend. "Dammit." He swore under his breath helplessly as he slowly leaned against the wall, feeling completely helpless.
Nigel jumped as his phone rang. With shaky hands, he lifted it to his ear.
"Townsend."
"Nigel where are you?" Woody's voice growled in his ear. "Why…"
"Woody, stay out of this." Nigel was sharp. "I have to do this alone. He wants me."
"I can't do that Nigel." There was a pause. "Look, I've read these files. I'm sorry about what happened, but right now I have to…"
"Woody, I'll call you when it's over. Don't try to get in the middle of it." He sighed deeply. "No one else needs to get hurt." He disconnected without waiting and tossed the phone on the passenger seat ignoring the persistent ring. As he took a deep breath and steeled himself, Nigel finally found the strength to get out of the car and start into the warehouse.
---line break----
"Where is he?" Bug asked as he looked up from the monitor. When Woody didn't answer, Bug became concerned. "Woody? Where is he?"
"He wouldn't tell me." Woody touched the back of his head where he had been hit. "He's going to try to take care of this himself."
"But this guy is a cold blooded killer." Bug pointed at the face on the screen. "And why did he want to look like Nigel?"
"I don't know Bug." Woody began to pace. "Maybe he wanted to discredit Nigel. Turn everyone against him." They held each other's gaze for seconds. "Just like he almost did."
"I accused him of taking Lily." Bug's voice lowered. "I can't believe that I thought he would do something like that."
"This guy's good. He almost had me convinced." Woody slapped Bug on the shoulder reassuringly. "Bug, you think you can track my car from here?" Woody grinned. "I mean…"
"Yeah sure." As he spoke, Bug's fingers began to play tap quickly on the keyboards. "What do we do when we find it?"
"We go and get Nigel and Lily." Woody paused as he watched Bug work. "And we apologize to Nigel for doubting him."
---line break---
As he entered the warehouse, Nigel had seen and passed several traps Tyler had set.
"Either you want me to see these, or you are getting to be a sloppy bloke." He whispered to himself as he carefully stepped over the obvious trip wire. "And I doubt you're getting sloppy."
As he moved deeper and deeper into the shadows of the building, his memories of a previous time began to fill his mind, despite his protests.
He had found a cloth to cover Rodney with. After a moment, he bowed his head and said a half-hearted prayer simply because he felt that was appropriate. Then he found a corner, full of dark shadows and waited. He waited for hours, not understanding why he waited. He knew that Tyler had been right; no one would be coming for him. He either had to find his own way out, or consign himself that he was going to die.
Not willing to die, Nigel finally decided that he would make his way out of the building and try to find safe ground. Just as he was about to stand and begin moving, he heard sounds outside the door, the sounds of soft footfalls and they were getting closer. He began to steel himself that he would have to fight, and probably die.
Suddenly the door flew open and at least a dozen men entered, each sweeping the area with their weapons. His breath caught in his throat as he heard the first words spoken from these men.
"I got one over here!" The voice was young and definitely American. "Fuck! He's gone Sir!"
"Understood Son." This voice was older and gruffer as orders were barked out. "You two, spread out and secure the area. You, get that man ready for transport. We're not leaving him behind."
As he listened, Nigel made a decision. He carefully stood and slowly came out of his hiding place, his hands free from weapons and raised high above his head. Immediately guns were aimed at him as he walked carefully into the clearing.
"Stay where you are Son." The gruff voice commanded. "Carter, check him out."
Hands patted his body down as Nigel simply stood and looked that the Americans.
"Nothing Sir." There was a pause. "He's clean."
"My weapon is in the corner." The younger man nodded and started toward the area Nigel indicated.
"Is there anyone else Son?"
"No Sir." Nigel said then corrected himself. "Wait, there's one more member of my team. Tyler left to try and find help." The lie slipped from his mouth before he could stop himself. "I have to find him Sir. I can't leave anyone behind."
"I've got men sweeping the area. If he is anywhere, we'll find him." Nigel stared into the eyes of the older man. "But right now, you are going to come with us. We need to get you out of here and find you medical help."
"But Tyler…"
"Soldier, I'm not giving you an option, I'm giving you a command. You British fellows know how to follow commands, don't you?"
"Yes Sir." He found a small smile. "We obey orders as well as you Americans."
"That's not very comforting Soldier." There was humor to his voice. "I was hoping you followed orders better." He felt the man slap his shoulder jokingly. "Come on Son, let's get you out of here."
"Nigel what is wrong with you!" Lily's voice brought him back to the present.
"Come on Lily, we have to get out of here before he gets back!" The voice reverberated from another room. "Please, just be quiet and do what I say."
"But you…" Lily sounded lost and scared.
"That wasn't me Lily, it was him."
"Him who?" Lily asked shakily as Nigel found the source. "Nigel, who are you talking about?"
"He's talking about himself." Nigel moved into the room with Woody's gun drawn. "Get away from her." He growled deeply. "Tyler, get away from Lily now!"