Hello everybody!
I am so sorry for the lack of updates. I actually had a heart dysfunction and clots over the past weeks, and so I had to take care of my health.
But I am back now, hopping that you'll love this chapter.
Also...Let the action begin!
Enjoy your reading,
Pavs.
Chapter Thirteen: Can't Let You Down
[Plane]
Barney was looking at the sky in front of him, wishing that this job would be a fast and easy one. He wasn't one to believe in miracles, but he could use one right about now. The timing couldn't have been worse. Not only was this their first mission since Gabrielle knew about them, but she was still in the hospital. At least she wasn't in the ICU anymore, and Tool was with her.
He sighed again, just like he always seemed to do these days. He could see Lee getting restless beside him, and he wondered why the man was so pissed at Gunnar. Or maybe it was Lacy. Shit, he was one hell of a friend as of late.
''Are you ok?'' Barney asked, and Lee turned to look at him.
''Do you really want to talk about it now?'' Christmas retorted.
''You're still my friend, aren't you?'' Barney said, and Lee scoffed.
''The only one crazy enough to stay,'' Christmas replied, and Barney couldn't stop his laughter.
A long silence followed, and then Lee looked at the sky.
''She deserves better,'' he said, and Barney couldn't hide his surprise. ''I am not admitting my undying love for her, it's just…I've tried to have a normal life on the side for how long now? Hell, I've tried so bloody hard that I ended up with Lacy. And then Gabrielle walks in, and she's just perfect... the picture of what I tried to have with Lacy, of what I came to think didn't actually existed…''
The more Barney listened to him, the more he realized that Lee did deserve the kind of life he was talking about. He also couldn't help but notice how he'd described Gabrielle as perfect, how he'd always cared, and how he wasn't as comfortable with her as he was with women in general and…
''Oh,'' Barney said, and Lee looked at him.
''Oh?'' he repeated with a questioning look.
''I…uh…never mind,'' Barney said.
''So, you're just going to leave it there?'' Lee asked, tired of Barney's attitude.
''I just didn't think that you were the type to care that much about…Well, she's my daughter you know?'' Barney explained, somewhat at a loss of words.
And from the look on Christmas's face, the man hadn't realized he'd cared that much either.
''So much for minding my own business,'' Barney thought.
''You know, I would have preferred you,'' Barney said out loud in an awkward joke.
''You would have killed me with my own knives,'' Lee said with a small smile, and Barney laughed.
''Yeah, you're damn right about that,'' Barney agreed, and they both laughed.
[Parish Hospital]
''You look like shit,'' Gabrielle commented, making Tool smile for the first time in a week.
She then started coughing, and he brought her some water.
''Maybe, but you look worst,'' Tool joked back before he took her hand. ''You really scared us, love.''
''Didn't mean to. I am sorry,'' she said before she looked around her.
''They went on a mission a week ago, which means it took you about two weeks to wake up. They should be back soon, and you can trust me when I say that they would have been here if they could've,'' Tool explained.
''There might be a problem with that,'' said another voice that Gabrielle didn't recognize.
They both looked at the doorway, and while Gabrielle was intrigued, Tool was very worried.
''What's up Trench?'' he asked, and the man ignored him.
''You must be Gabrielle?'' he asked, and then he offered her a small smile. ''I am Trench Mauser. I am sorry for the harsh wake up call, but we got to go.''
He then turned to Tool.
''Church called. The job was a trap, and some nut job decided to make Barney talk by using her,'' he added, and they heard Gabrielle's heart monitor beeping faster.
''Are they ok?'' she asked, and Tool didn't miss the surprised look on Mauser's face.
''They will be. For now, we got to get you out. I got everything I need to take care of you. Let's roll,'' Trench ordered, and Tool helped Gabrielle into her clothes and on a wheelchair.
They got to the parking, and Trench helped Gabrielle in his truck. He was about to close the door when she called after Tool.
''Wait!'' she exclaimed, feeling tears rolling down her cheeks.
Tool got closer to her, and she hugged him.
''Please be careful…I can't…I…I just can't…'' she tried to say, and Tool sighed.
''I know love. Don't worry. We'll see each other soon,'' he promised before he closed her door.
He then talked a bit more with Trench before he walked to his own truck.
[Trench's Hangar]
It had been three more long days of being in bed with meds before Gabrielle could finally get up and take a shower. It had been so long since she'd last walked that her legs almost gave out on her, but she didn't want to ask Trench. He'd already given up his own spare room in his hangar and was sleeping in the office downstairs close to the main garage.
Gabrielle made sure to cover her wound and went in the bathroom. As soon as she felt the hot water on her skin she sighed. It had been way too long. She then got out and got dressed in what she suspected was Yang's training clothes. She felt the tears coming back. It had been too dangerous to go and get her things, and Tool had been left in his shop alone.
She walked out of the bathroom and took the stairs to see if there was something to eat in the small kitchen beside Trench office. She noticed a can of tomato soup and decided that it would do. She even found bread and cheese to go with it and noticed that there was enough for two.
''You didn't have to do this,'' Trench said while she heated up the soup on the stove.
''Well, I guess it's the least I can do,'' Gabrielle answered, and Trench went to sit at the table.
She followed him with two full bowls soon after.
''Thank you,'' Gabrielle added while he started eating.
''Don't worry about it. Plus, your father owes me now,'' Trench said, visibly happy with that notion, and Gabrielle smiled a little.
''So…what's wrong with your plane?'' she asked.
''Want me to show you?'' he offered, and Gabrielle's smile grew bigger.
.
It wasn't until the next day that she actually got to see Tool. He came in with Gabrielle's training clothes and her art material. The man had just put her things on Trench's desk when she walked to Tool.
''Thank God you're ok!'' Gabrielle exclaimed while giving him the biggest hug she could.
Tool hugged her back and smiled.
''Of course I am sweetheart. I even brought you something to pass the time,'' Tool answered as Trench entered the office.
''I see that you finally converted someone to your little hobby,'' Mauser said with an amused smile. ''Did he convince you that it was art?''
''It is art,'' Gabrielle retorted. ''Just because you can't do it doesn't mean you should mock those who can.''
Tool laughed out loud, and Trench raised an eyebrow, though Gabrielle could tell that he thought she was funny.
''I won't try and fight you both on this, especially this one. I've worked with him long enough to know better,'' Trench replied.
''Wait, you two worked together?'' Gabrielle asked, and Trench lit up a cigar while Tool was offering her a seat.
''Gabrielle, let me tell you about my time with the Expendables,'' Trench started and she made herself comfortable.
This ought to be good.
.
Weeks had passed and they still didn't have any news on the team. Gabrielle had managed to talk to Tool on the phone a couple of times, and he could tell that the situation was seriously getting to her. He had tried to joke that she could just tell him if Trench was being annoying, and Trench had taken another line to tell him to go fuck himself, which had made Gabrielle laugh for the first time in a while.
She had also started to work for him. He'd teach her everything there was to know about mechanics and manual work on his plane, his truck, the hangar and even had taken upon himself to show her how to shoot a gun. Barney would be pissed that he wasn't the one to do it first, but it was better that than having the girl not be able to defend herself. And she was good at it to, making Trench think that she might have somehow get that from her father, not that he would ever admit it to Ross.
If he came back. It was starting to worry him too, if he was being honest.
.
Gabrielle was about to go and see what Trench was up to downstairs when she heard tires screeching and shotguns. She ran to her bedside table to take an emergency pistol and went to take the emergency stairs, only to find a man waiting for her outside. She then changed direction to take the main stairs and tried to calm herself while she ran to the first floor.
She hid behind Trench's desk and waited. She heard another truck coming and felt like crying. She was shaking, and she was terrified. How the hell could they do this? How the hell could they want to do this? She thought about her dad, Gunnar, Lee, Toll, Hale, Yang…they were out there. They had chosen this job. She didn't know how or why they did, but they did, and they wouldn't be scared. They would have known what to do. She took a deep breath, got up, and hoped for the best while slowly trying to get to Trench.
.
Tool had been shot to the arm. Again. But this time, it wasn't as bad and he knew it. They shot another man and it was suddenly very silent. Trench walked to Tool to make sure he was ok. Once Tool reassured him, he took his phone and was about to call when he saw Tool's expression change.
He didn't have any more ammo; Tool had no weapon in his hands. They heard eight shots, but felt none of them. Trench turned around and saw two men fall to the ground. Gabrielle was behind them, holding Trench's gun. She was shaking and getting paler by the second. She dropped the gun, taking a step back as if it would attack her. She looked at the two dead men, then at her own hands before her legs gave out.
They had almost reached her when she started to throw up.
Trench held her hair while Tool tried to tell her that everything was going to be ok.
''I couldn't let them…I couldn't…I did this...but I couldn't let you…but I killed them…''Gabrielle stammered, panicked.
''We have to get her out of here,'' Trench said, and Tool let him take her in his arms.
They went to Tool's truck and left without looking behind.