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Chapter 20.

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'I need to smoke'

oOo

Doug passed quickly long and cold corridors of the hospital willing to get to waiting room as fast as possible. He was dying to get any information about his fallen friend.

It was about one hour he spent with doctor Stalker, until she finally decided he can be signed out and safely leave reception unit. Mostly thanks to his continuous insists. One hour it was way too much time given the stress he had to take to survive to the end of the visit. Personally he didn't think his injuries were that serious to force him to stay with doctor Stalker longer than quarter of an hour, not to mention sixty minutes.

The most important was that all pains subsided now and with new energy he could dedicate all his thoughts to his friend. He exhaled worried.

On his way, lost in his thoughts, he almost jumped on Dennis who balancing awkwardly tried to carry six hot cups of coffee in one time.

"High time, Doug." Booker said as he finally caught his balance and then handed him part of his load. "One coffee is for you." He informed.

"Thanks." Penhall smiled gratefully and sipping carefully hot coffee he followed his partner towards waiting room.

"It took you much time. Judy started to worry that you were more injured than we initially suspected."

"As usual she worries too much." Penhall grumbled and then asked hoping there were some news about his friend. "What about Tom?"

"Don't know yet. Still on OR. How about you?"

"I'm okay, Dennis. Just bruises and burned hand. Nothing serious. You?"

"Fine. Listen." Dennis stopped just before entrance to the waiting room and looked at his partner seriously. "There was FBI in hospital. They wanted to talk with you."

"Oh." Another cop frowned with disgust. The last thing he wished now was to see those assholes and excuse himself to them. "I hope they didn't get that we broke to their database, huh?"

"No. We are not that lucky. They wanted to take you on some questioning. You know… about Guardian and Tom." Dennis pushed one wing of the door with his back and allowed his partner to pass by before he himself moved inside the crowded waiting room. Some of the officers greeted Doug and asked about his well being, which was met only with faked smile. Penhall didn't bother about answering; he was too preoccupied about what Booker just had said.

"When they will come again I will tell them to piss off." Penhall said angrily to his partner. It wouldn't be wise but in his current state of mind he was sure he would do that, who knows, maybe he would use his fists to talk with FBI as well.

"Ha! Too late." Dennis smiled aloud. "Fuller did this. And not as gently as you would ever dream to do."

"You kidding?" The bigger cop looked at his friend with surprise. "Our Captain Fuller? That Captain?"

"That and the same. He was really mad." Booker said it loud enough so that everybody in the room could hear. There were some funny comments said about mentioned Fullers anger as confirmation to Dennis' words. If not the seriousness of situation and constant worry about Tom Doug would find this very amusing. It was unique to see their deathly calm and serious Captain lost his temper.

Meandering between people scattered around the room in different positions the two cops finally approached Judy and Harry who were sitting miserably on the chairs next to window and handed them coffee.

"Thanks." Judy said and took some careful sips of hot liquid. "Doug, you okay?"

"Yep." He was slowly getting tired of that question. He exhaled. "Listen people. I just wanted to apologize you for my thoughtless deeds last hours. I could blow all action."

"Yeah…" Judy said pretending anger, then she eyed Doug and Dennis. "And you two left me behind. I should be pissed off at you. But we got Tom and only thing I care now is he and his safety. So don't mention."

"It's not that easy." Doug answered with some guilt in his voice, though he decided not to comment it further. "Anyways where is Fuller now? I need to talk with him."

"Er… He is in some serious talk with Mrs. Hanson downstairs." Harry acknowledged his friend. He heard fragments of their conversation, and he could swear there were furnitures flying around the room.

"Is she here?"

"Yeah, I fetched her some half an hour ago." Ioki answered. Then he looked at Doug's blood stained shirt. It was hard to think to whom the blood belonged. "And I brought you some clean clothes."

"Great, thanks. How is she anyways?"

"Worried to death and damn mad at Fuller." Dennis exhaled tiredly and eased himself on the floor with crossed legs pulling Doug down to join him as well. "She is blaming him that we didn't get to Tom earlier."

"Not to mention," Ioki continued "that she can't forgive him that he allowed Tom to come back to work not caring that he was still ill at the moment. She believes that if not this Tom wouldn't run in such troubles."

"She can't know that." Doug sympathized with his Captain. He knew how terrifying Mrs. Hanson could be if she was angry. Anyways it was a bit far fetched accusation. "Anyways Tom is a grown man."

"But he is still her child." Judy opposed with frown. "I can understand her anger."

The facial expression Judy got at the moment promised dangerous conversation if they decided to go on with the talk so Doug changed topic. "Dennis. Did Fuller say anything about my… you know… rush to Kaneville? Without backup."

"No, he didn't. But it doesn't mean he won't. Why?"

"Because I am responsible for Tom's such bad condition at the end."

"Why?"

"I initiated the lashing." Talking about Hanson and his last moments with Guardian tore off his worries and guilt back. But he needed to talk about this. He needed to make some sort of confession. "If I didn't come alone and let myself caught it possibly wouldn't happen."

"What lashing?" Dennis asked more interested about the first information than Doug's self-criticism. "Are you telling me Guardian lashed Tom?"

Doug nodded with his eyes down on the floor.

"It's barbaric!" Judy shouted terrified. "What man would do something like this?"

"Judy." Doug called her with low, meaningful voice. He wanted them to understand what really Guardian was. "I saw Guardian and talked with him. I saw what he did do to Tom. He is a monster."

"But why did he do that?"

"Just because he enjoyed this and because I couldn't tell him anything he wanted to know, so he decided to force me by tormenting Tom."

"Oh my God. Poor Tommy." Judy cried for her friend.

"But," Dennis thought about something. "Guardian didn't have time to lash him to cause so bad bleeding. We came almost immediately after you, Doug."

"That's true." Ioki agreed. "It had to be delivered maybe fifty or sixty lashes to bleed like that. It would take some time. Or so I think." He looked questioningly at Penhall.

"He got only two blows, Ioki."

"What? How is that possible?"

"Guardian introduced me into his new discovery which was some kind of modified lash named 'knout'." Doug explained with breaking voice as he remembered it. "God! It had barbed wires and hooks on its ends." He whispered out and started cry silently.

The confession left everybody in mute horror as everybody imagined what happened in the chapel. They sat in silence, forgetting about their coffees and other coworkers crowding the waiting room. It was the situation Captain Fuller found them after some undefined time passed. The older man crouched next to Penhall and asked worried:

"Doug, are you okay? What did doctor say?"

"Yeah, I am sound and healthy. And she said I talk way too much."

"That is understandable." Ioki commented looking at the bigger man.

"I would like to talk with you now." Fuller continued to Doug. "Before FBI comes back and gets to you."

"Sure." Doug agreed and stood up to follow his chief. The rest of the team decided they were invited as well and rushed after them without asking. Judy on her way took two left cups with still a bit warm coffee and handed one to her Captain.

"We bought coffee for you, Captain."

"Thanks Judy." He took the cup and drank a bit from it. When they left waiting room they looked for some relatively empty and quiet corridor. Fuller wanted to have possibility to lead the conversation far from unsuitable ears. As they reached the appropriate place they looked around and stood in circle.

"Is there any possibility you could recognize Guardian, Doug?" Captain started without any introduction.

"No. All the time he was covered with the cloak."

"But could you recognize him by voice or body language, smell. Anything?"

"I don't know. Possibly. Why?"

"We and FBI caught most of participants of ceremony when they tried to escape after the chapel started burning. There is probability there could be Guardian among them. And as long as Tom is on OR and unconscious you are the only person who was with Guardian the closest and could recognize him."

"So that was why there was such mess?" Doug asked remembering his surprise on the sight of all those people running around as they escaped from the chapel. "You had much to do."

"Yeah." Captain agreed. "Even FBI was surprised when the ceremony members run out with panic straight into our hands."

"You should have seen their faces when they found out they caught White Grandfather!" Ioki broke in with excited voice. "Can you believe that? I thought he retired. Not to mention about other fat cats of drug world they caught."

"FBI was with you?" Dennis asked.

Fuller nodded. "After Judy acknowledged us that you found out where Guardian is, they just stuck with us."

"So it seems they achieved what they wanted." Doug snorted angrily.

"Exactly. They lack only Guardian."

"And now" Penhall raised his voice in anger and squeezed his fists unconsciously, "they think I am going to help them after they left Tom for sure death?"

"Those are two different things, Doug." Captain opposed suddenly switching on his irritating lecturing voice. "First, Guardian is the most wanted criminal at the moment, and you are supposed to share your informations about him if you know anything. Even if it is with FBI. Or especially because of that. Keep in mind that as long as he is free Tom is in danger." He looked at his subordinate meaningfully. "Secondly I got know that those agents who were responsible for the case were working without approval of their superiors and their methods were mostly illegal."

"What?" The four young cops asked in unison highly surprised at the news.

"Well. I don't know the details and probably will never know, but I figured that the top didn't know that some of they key workers at Guardian case were corrupted. They wanted to get know his methods, dealing tracks and clients for their own illegal purposes. They even used drugs stolen from FBI store."

"So they knew Guardian personally?"

"No. Not personally. They dealt with him but didn't get to him that close."

"How do you know that?"

"Mostly because of some small and initially unimportant looking events. Unfortunately I put the puzzle together a bit too late." Fuller answered with a bit guilty voice. If he thought faster maybe Tom wouldn't be in hospital now. "Anyways, those agents got strangely uneasy when I informed them that Tom saw Guardian dealing with some guy the night he was kidnapped."

"I remember that, Captain." Ioki jumped in. "Their behavior was a bit suspicious for me but I didn't know what to think about that at the moment."

"Yeah, me too Ioki."

"I don't understand." Judy turned towards Captain. "Why they were scared of that fact?"

"Because the guy Tom saw with Guardian was in fact one of those corrupted FBI agents."

"And Hanson could recognize him later." Doug started build the picture of events in his head. "So they decided to get rid of him."

"Exactly." Fuller nodded. "As long Tom was alive his knowledge was dangerous for them in case we got to him."

"So that was why they kept in secret where Guardian had taken Tom?" Dennis concluded angrily blowing his right fist towards the wall with fury.

"Very comfy." Judy felt her anger could outrun Bookers. "They purposely let Guardian kill Tom."

Fuller just nodded. He wondered just what malicious fate caused all that mess they unintentionally got into the very middle.

"Did FBI get them, Captain?" Doug asked.

"Yes, I think so."

"But you are not sure."

"Just when you can be sure of anything when dealing with FBI, Penhall?"

"But is it possible they could be some threat for Tom now?" Doug ignored Captains tired and irritated look.

"No, I don't think so. But there remains Guardian still." Fuller reminded. "I already fixed twenty four hours guards for Tom if he…" He caught his breath suddenly. "Ehm… you know."

"We will be with him as well!" Doug assured hotly trying to roar Fuller last words down. They were unfinished, but the meaning was too terrifying in its clarity.

"Yes. We will take shifts." Judy joined him immediately.

"Captain!" Dennis as well felt the need to erase the bad sound of Fullers careless comment. "Would you give away how exactly did you get know about those agents?"

"Well." Fuller cleared his throat and tried to smile. "As I said I got some suspicions about their unusually strong lack of cooperation with us and I started to think and ask around. Ioki and I even tried to get to some high-ups of FBI today. That was why we spent so long time in their headquarters this afternoon."

"Captain made me even to break into the very middle of FBI chiefs meeting." Harry informed with a mixture disbelief and contentment in his voice.

"But it worked." Captain defended himself with arms raised protectively smiling broadly at the surprised reaction of his subordinates. "They listened to us and then helped."

"Captain!" Dennis raised his eyebrows taken aback. "You amaze me with every minute. What other law did you break today, mhm?"

"Better don't ask, Dennis."

"So, what now?" Judy asked. "Should we thank FBI or course them, Captain?"

"I think we should sue them." Doug answered quickly. "Those agents should be punished for what they did to Tom! They should go to jail."

"No, Doug." Adam Fuller shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately FBI won't let us do this. If it got to the public, and it certainly would, it would be too big damage to their image."

"Yeah, I know. But do you want to leave them alone, then?"

"No. I can still threaten them with the court."

"But it doesn't change anything. I bet those agents will still work for FBI."

"So what are you going to do, Doug?"

"I am going to kick their asses." Penhall answered with anger and force.

"But not before I will do that." Everybody turned startled around as the unexpected voice caught them off guard.

"Mrs. Hanson!" Doug shouted surprised. "How are you?"

"How do you think I am, Doug?" The question was asked with such a load of hampered fear, worry and anger so that the young man felt it was almost unbearable for one person to carry it alone.

"Sorry, it was stupid question." He apologized sincerely.

"No, it's okay Doug." She broke in quickly and embraced him strong by his arms. "I am just so worried and scared…" Doug returned the warm gesture eagerly. He just realized how the woman was lonely in that hospital. Of course she was surrounded by Tom's friends and workmates but still there was nobody she could look for support. He felt a bit guilty because of that. She suffered last week the most from all of them, left alone, helpless, waiting by phone for any tiniest information which could increase her hopes or finally bring mourn. Just how could Doug neglect her so strong? If Tom gets know about that…

Doug was ready to hold Mrs. Hanson that way for all day if she needed, but to his surprise she moved back and smiled to him thankfully.

"I just can't imagine how scared you were whilst dealing with that horrible Guardian, Doug." She said to him with some sort of motherly concern Doug never had chance to get from his own mother. It was very comforting, but then he couldn't help smile when she embraced him back, this time offering support to him. He looked up at his partners a bit shamefaced and with irritation noticed they were amused by his expression. Gently, but resolutely he broke the contact. It was high time to come back to further topic, he decided.

"Captain." He started seriously. "Turning back to those corrupted agents, you know that they will be covered by Bureau lawyers. There won't be any justice. Only what you achieve it will be money they pay you to shut you up."

"And what is wrong with this?"

"What's wrong?" Penhall frowned not believing his own ears. "They should suffer more serious consequences than that."

"As you already said: it won't happen. And I am aware of that as well."

"Mrs. Hanson." The young cop didn't want to give up. "Are you going to allow that? Take money and sit quiet after what they did to Tom?"

"Doug." The women shook her head and looked at him seriously. "I don't want to have nothing common with those people. I just wish my son survived and was all right. But yes. If it is only way to punish them I will allow that."

"Argh." It was just unbelievable.

"Doug understand. Captain acknowledged me that Tom will need much professional help. He was kidnapped and missed all week. He was seriously beaten and his heart stopped twice from what I heard. Tom's insurance covers only week of stay in hospital, my own is not much higher."

"Oh…" Doug's anger subsided abruptly. He never thought of that. He didn't think of what will happen later, after (if - at worst, but this option Doug just refused to exist) Tom will be better. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

"And if he was raped…" Mrs. Hanson whispered on the edge of complete breakdown. Doug shot his head up at her. He didn't expect her to know. But then, after he glanced into Fullers adamant eyes and received small nod of his head, he decided finally it was good move that Captain told her everything. Better she was prepared for the worst. "I don't know how he is going to cope with that." The older woman turned back and walked quickly away. They noticed as she covered her eyes and her shoulders started shake.

"I will take care of her." Judy said before anybody else forestalled her and moved after Mrs. Hanson. Doug and the rest were left in half step, unsure what to do. The short and accidental mention about the rape woke up their worries again. Although Captain Fuller was aware that Tom's mother had right to know about what could happen to her son, he didn't feel well with the fact he added her more pain and worry with those news. No mother should go through something like that.

"Doug." He broke the uncomfortable silence. "You saw Tom and talked with him. Do you think he was raped?"

"I don't know, Captain. But I know there happened something. Tom was strange when I asked him about it. And those new clothes… I smelled soap when we were close." Doug closed eyes and exhaled deeply tired of all those thoughts and worries. He didn't want to talk about it anymore. "I would like to be alone now." He informed shortly with breaking voice and walked away towards another end of corridor and sat down on the floor with knees raised up to his chest.

"And I need to smoke." Dennis sniffed quietly and went towards exit leaving Captain and Ioki alone.

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