Plot: Marcus Pike heads a highly efficient task force for many years now and his career is going up and up. She on the other hand is trying to organize her life from a trying ordeal when an unexpected event put her life on a spin again.
WARNING: TALK OF AND SCENES OF TORTURE & VIOLENCE
MUSIC: When your main character is being tested | Dark Academia Playlist- You Tube
CHAPTER 16
In all the wild world, there is no more desperate creature
than a human being on the verge of losing love.
~Atticus~
IN THE SPAN OF TWO WEEKS
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much…'
"Good morning, my love." Marcus leans to Tessa to kiss her cheek and forehead after he puts down his laptop bag on the side table. "Hey, did you know Jun was here yesterday? I couldn't tell you. So many fucking things happened! It was a busy day because the nurses gave you a shampoo and sponge bath and before that your room was cleaned and then I had to do a lot of paper work." As Marcus caresses her hair he appreciates the scent and clean feel of it. "The kid said he's gonna to give you a surprise. So I said 'Cool! What's the surprise?' and he just grinned at me!"
"What an annoying kid!" He grins as he tenderly kisses Tessa's hand. He remembers how she runs her hands on his face and hair. "I'm not saying annoying as in the bad kind. Still, it's annoying. Cute-annoying. I guess he's like that with you, huh?"
"Before he left Jun wants me to tell you that he sent you pictures of where they buried Cleo in the garden. I think he's gonna give you another kitten. Shit. I hope I did not spoil his surprise. Oh, your mom sent me some fucking avocadoes! They're delicious. I had them for breakfast today. Do you like avocadoes, by the way?" Marcus sighs as he kisses Tessa's hand. "I'm glad you're out of ICU, Tessa. I miss you."
-o0o-
Black Site:
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
With a deep cleansing sigh Marcus closes his eyes; they shut off the room. He didn't want to see the drabness of the floor to ceiling poured cement. Nothing else is as important as this.
'I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
'I love you so much….'
He is alone with her voice.
It's his only connection to Tessa; the tether to his sanity. It plays on a loop, on countless times and numerous hours. His duty and responsibilities keep him away and it pains him but he must tear himself away from her side. In the interim that he is not physically able to be with her he listens to her voice. Without this recording he doesn't know how he'd make it. Her voice is his companion even when he does his work on James.
James. That creature. Marcus's lips curl in derision at the thought of that man.
Marcus let James know he has arrived. The man looked at him from behind the glass. He was being prepped for his interrogation. James looks terrified but he's trying to conceal it.
Marcus wouldn't enter that area yet. He went to the other end of the floor where he's going to stay until he's ready to let James stew to build up his anxiety.
Let him shake in his fucking proverbial boots. Let him conjure all kinds of horrors Marcus would bring upon him today. Marcus's rage has not subsided. The pound of flesh he's been exacting hasn't reached that number on the weighing scale yet. James will be terrorized the same way he had terrorized Tessa and those other women before her.
An eye for an eye.
Fitting.
Marcus's eyes watered after he let out a yawn. Wouldn't it be great if he could fall asleep for a few hours? He wonders the mental state James would be in when that happens. Marcus nods; that would be amusing.
From the glass window of the small office one of his men passed by. Marcus brought with him a few more men to ease the shift.
So far their 'guest' has not revealed enough information that they can use.
Hand over his temple, he sighs. Marcus cannot prolong this interrogation; there are other important matters their department needs to focus on. The deadline for the 'other' mission that they're preparing for is coming faster than ever. Marcus has a strong feeling that these two are connected to each other. A big art purchase almost in billions and then a health issue happened in another country that is still being suppressed, for now.
He is worried also for Tessa and her family when this issue hits on a massive scale. He would try his best to make sure Tessa would be protected at all cost.
Marcus stayed an hour more. 'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
Marcus gets up and closes the book he was reading to Tessa. He took a brush from a drawer beside the bed and brushes Tessa's hair. "When you wake up and when you're able to travel I will bring you to Japan to see the Cherry blossoms. Oh, you should see it, Tessa. They're so beautiful! They bloom in pink and white and the trees line the streets and along the river. It's more beautiful at night when the trees were lit up. Too bad I left Japan way before it turns to Spring so I didn't see it this time. This is a big deal in Japan. The Japanese people wait for it to bloom and when it does people flock to the cherry trees! They call this the 'Hanami' festival and there's lots of people sitting and having a drink and eating under the trees. Sadly they bloom only for a short time….shit." Marcus's voice faded when he realized what he said. He places Tessa's hand on his cheek as he tore up.
-o0o-
Black Site:
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"Why do you play that again and again?" James rattles the cuffs on his arms.
"I like it." Marcus smiles as Tessa's recording plays in the background.
"It's annoying." James would glare at Marcus and then look away.
"Oh, I know." Marcus smirks. The man avoids his gaze. "Are you being worn down?" he asks softly.
"Is this one of your wearing down technique? I heard that this is the style of the one called The Wolf."
Marcus and Paul trades surprised looks at one another. "What did you say?" They slowly turn to their 'guest'.
The man returns it with a quiet, "Nothing." The chest moves shallowly.
Marcus leans back on the autopsy table, arms crossed. "That's interesting. What did you hear?" Marcus projects a relaxed but interested mood.
James shrugs. "Just something I heard…."
"Who is this 'The Wolf?"
"They say some bureaucratic freak that's into this kind of interrogation."
"They?"
"Some friends?"
"Huh! Bureaucrat?"
"They say he's FBI."
"James, how did you know about these things if you're not dirty, huh? You told me you don't know anything." Marcus smiles at the sweating man.
"I told you I don't know…"
"You were lying to me…" Marcus sing-songs the words. "What happens when you lie to me?"
"I don't know anything!"
Marcus smirks when James kept quiet. "All you need to do is give me what I want."
"I told you I don't know what you're asking!"
"James," Marcus whispers to his ear. Was that a shudder of fear or a shiver of pleasure? Marcus looks at Paul with a knowing smirk. "We've been together quite a long time now and I think have known you too well." Marcus suggestively runs his hand on James's shoulder and neck.
"Ugh! That's…."
"Disgusting?" Marcus grins, the kind of grin that James had become wary of. "James you have not seen disgusting yet." Marcus straightens. "The audio stays. I don't care if you don't like it."
Paul, behind the ski mask again, felt a little bite of triumph. James had shown two weaknesses they just need to use to wear him down until he gives in.
For James, it's just a matter of time…
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"Babe, your team's gonna quickly drop by to see you. They said before their shift begins." Marcus goes to the blinds and rolls it close. "This is annoying. Remind me to ask the nurse if we can move your bed a little near the corner so that the light from the window doesn't hit…doesn't pester you every morning. I'm sometimes called by the embassy and I might not be here to close the blind everyday every time. Lane, ah…" Marcus pauses at the foot of the hospital bed. "she's one of my junior staff, wants to volunteer to sit for you so I think it's okay. She took care of informing your school about your sick leave."
"Chief? Visitors." The guard knocks then opens the door.
"Yeah?" Marcus gave the small group of people a big smile. "Oh hey! Are you Tessa's team mates? I'm Marcus, Tessa's fiancée."
"Hi. I'm her team leader." The team leader introduced the three other members. "Nice to meet you, Marcus."
"Is she awake now?" One of them asked after they stop quietly giggling.
"Uh no." Marcus walks back inside. He waves Tessa's co-workers to encourage them to step in the room. "Come on."
"I thought you were talking to her." The team leader looks at Tessa with some shock.
"Yes, I am. I was just preparing the room for you guys."
"That was sweet of you to talk to her." Tessa's small team, mostly women were now in various stages of crying.
"Yes, they say it helps the patient to recover quickly." Marcus nods and had to gulp down the pain in his throat before responding.
"May I put the flowers here?" The team leader points to the side table.
"Yes, please. That was thoughtful. Tessa would love them…."
-o0o--
Black Site:
It's almost midnight and Paul is on duty tonight. The other agents have settled for the night. The ones on shift perform their duties as Marcus has designated them to. Paul watches the 'investigation' tapes to analyze the sessions of their director with their 'person of interest'.
James made a mistake a few sessions ago and Paul's task is to find the crumbs and follow it like Hansel and Gretel.
Paul replays one of the videos; Marcus steps behind James and turns away. The director took a deep breath, eyes closed. Marcus is exhausted. Paul shakes his head in concern.
Paul Brisse was surprised that Marcus asked them to assist in the interrogation. The team's rule is the less people exposed the less the mission gets compromised. This is the first that the whole team was involved. Paul suspects it might be because Marcus needs people around him to keep him in check because deep in him the need to avenge Tessa might make him do the unthinkable.
James used the name the Wolf. The man made a big slip of the tongue; not many people know it but that what they call Marcus in the cartel circle. Many have come under his 'attention' and that's when the name 'wolf' began to circulate. He acquired that name for a reason; he likes to go off on his own to 'hunt' his quarry.
On the day of Tessa's assault as soon as Marcus got the address he gave them the slip, went on quiet. The team followed Paul's advice to gear up and head to the coordinates but a few of the newer agents had some questions.
"Has the director gone back to the hospital?"
"Are we going to the do this without him?"
"What are you all talking about?" Paul asks the confused looking operatives.
"He's gone."
"Guys, he's already there."
"What?"
"The director moves faster when he's alone."
"Oh, like a lone wolf."
And Paul was proven right; barely an hour Marcus got the information from Sam they heard his voice in the coms. The director waits for them at James's yacht and he has already found something interesting there.
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"Hey, I got a new word for you." With a smile Marcus made himself comfortable in the hard hospital chair. "Novalunosis. Wow. That's a beautiful word. I found it on Pinterest! Ah!" he rolls his eyes. "I keep on forgetting the name of that site! Hey…I'm your new follower! I followed you on Pinterest!" Marcus chuckles. "Okay. So this word means a state of relaxation while gazing upon the stars. Hah…!" Marcus smiles at Tessa and gave her a wink after kissing her hand. "See? You're not the only smart one in the family. I stumbled on it while I was looking for a word to describe the fondness of gazing at the stars. It's not easy. If you were awake…" Marcus gulps. "If you were awake you'd find that word in the snap of a finger. That's how awesome you are."
"Mr. Pike? Mr. Pike, wake up please."
Marcus jolts awake at the light taps on his shoulder. "Hmm…yeah?"
"Mr. Pike, please. You can't do that."
"What?"
"Please, don't sleep there."
"Huh?" Marcus opens his eyes to the lady doctor who's eyeing him like a student who's been caught red handed. "Doc?" Marcus's eyes feel heavy.
"Please get down from there." The doctor gestures at him to get up from Tessa's side.
"Oh." Marcus looks down from where he lay down and gave the doctor an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, doc. It won't happen again."
The doctor regards him with some worry after observing him closely. "Have you been sleeping well, Mr. Pike?" the doctor began taking the pulse from his wrist.
"Please call me Marcus, doc." Marcus smiles as she clicks on her small flashlight and swipes it quickly across his eyes. Marcus had to quickly clear his eyes; it felt sticky from sleep. He must have gotten a few hours in but he feels a little rested.
"You need to go home and get some decent sleep, Marcus."
"I can't, doc." He whispers.
The lady doctor sighs sadly when the man looks down to her patient, his fiancée'. "I know how you feel but Tessa's condition will not change whether you're here or not."
"That's not it, doc. I want to be with her as much as possible in case…"
The woman looks at him in sympathy, "Marcus, Tessa's condition is stable. She just needs time to heal but when she wakes up would she find her handsome beau before her or a withered hollow-eyed man? She might get frightened to see the latter and go back into coma." Her lips form a wry smile.
Marcus smiles sadly. "You have a point doc." He reaches down and caresses Tessa's hand on the hospital bed. "We just found each other again. She finally said yes. We were so happy but we barely had time…" his finely chiseled nose flares, the brown eyes fills up.
The doctor grasps his hand tightly, patting it like an aunt would. "You must not let yourself go! I've seen this happen. You are not helping her by abusing your health. I can see you have an important job. Take care of it." The doctor nods to the people Marcus have with him; men with the deportment of a sheathed weapon. Marcus would always leave one person outside Tessa's room. On her way in at work the doctor saw their vehicles that were parked downstairs. They were black and big SUV's and they bear diplomatic plates. "We will take care of her. Do not worry. Go and rest."
"I have a small bedroom in my office. It's comfortable but I couldn't sleep. I just lie there awake…"
"How about your house?"
"No. No, it's worse. Her things are there but she's not…I don't wanna be surrounded by her things if she isn't there. I want to be with her…" he gulps.
The doctor sighs. "Very well. I can ask them to bring an extra bed here. Will that be alright?" The man took her hand gratefully.
"Thank you, doctor. That's perfect!"
-o0o-
Black Site:
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"So what will we have for today?" Marcus gestures to his 'instruments' for his 'guest' to see.
Standing by the autopsy table, Paul looks at the various metal objects laid out on the table. They all belong to Marcus. They're arrayed neatly on a piece of thick leather binding that could be rolled up and tied with rawhide leather strip. It has pouches to keep the assorted metal objects neat and tidy and ready. Marcus is good at extracting information. He could do it in any way possible. He could pretend to be friendly, innocent, and gullible. He can make you believe he's angry when he's not. He can make you believe that he's in love with you and you'll believe every one of his words. And that would be your downfall.
"No, please…" James gasped a weak sob.
"If you had listened to the women who told you 'no, please' then you wouldn't be in this shit. Right James?"
"Tessa…" James spat even when he seemed scared as the men straightened at the mention of her name.
"What of Tessa?"
"Tessa didn't beg…" James's face twists in anger. "She just stared at me with those damning eyes like I'm some kind of a lowlife…"
"You are a lowlife, James." Marcus snorted in confirmation.
"…so I had to make her bow to me." James gulps, treading on very thin ice for his life.
Marcus's eyes become dark, hooded, like the eyes of a canine, a predator. "And did she? Bow to you?"
James had a feeling of frustration; the evil look he gave Marcus didn't affect the man. "No…"
Marcus took in a deep satisfying breath. The other men hummed and nodded in approval. "Now that is a woman after my own heart."
"So when is your woman going to wake up?"
"Don't worry your pretty vacuous head about that. Now, let's get to business. We have one agenda today." Marcus picks up one of the metal implements on the table. "We're gonna have some progress…whether you like it or not."
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"Hi, uncle Marcus!" the teen waves from the door.
"Hey, Jun! Nice to see you again, buddy." Marcus trades grins with Tessa's nephew and a fist bump. He likes the kid with his infectious grin and playful attitude. "Where are they?" Marcus fiddles with his sleeves and cufflinks a little nervously.
"Dad's with grandma. She walks slowly and she doesn't like to use a wheelchair."
"I'm terrified." Marcus blurts.
The kid grins. "It's okay. They're not gonna hurt you." The kid follows his words with a chuckle.
They both grin at each other. "Oh! Thank you for making me feel better, kid."
Two knocks on the open door. "Chief? Visitors."
Jun steps out and waves from the hallway. "Grandma! Dad! In here!"
Marcus never usually gets nervous but meeting Tessa's family is giving him the jitters. Tessa's mom and brother couldn't come and visit when they heard the news from him because Tessa's brother had a training conference in another island in the southern area of the country. He is one of the speakers. They had to wait for him to come back and drive them five cities away.
"You are Marcus, hm?" The woman with the same eyes as Tessa slowly enters the room.
"Yes, ma'am. My name is Marcus Pike." The woman took his arm as they slowly walk into the room.
"Call me Cora. I am Tessa's mother. Did you like the avocadoes?"
"Yes, thank you! I loved them!"
"We bought you more." Tessa's older brother set to the table a plastic bag of the fruits.
"We had two trees planted when my son was born and another when I gave birth to Tessa." Cora said.
As Marcus was guiding his mother, the brother approaches to shake hands with him, "Hi! I'm Joseph."
"Hi! Nice to meet you. Marcus." Marcus brought a chair beside Tessa's bed. "Please, have a seat here." He helps Tessa's mom in it.
"How is my daughter?" The woman's voice cracks as she reaches for Tessa's hand on the bed. Marcus was thankful that Tessa's bruises have faded almost completely before her mother and brother had seen her.
Marcus sits at the end of Tessa's bed. "She is still healing according to her doctor but she is stable."
"Who did this to her?" Joseph looks angry because he could still see the fading yellow bruises under the skin. The brother's jaw clenches as his eyes lands on the sling on his sister's arm.
"Someone who misunderstood who Tessa was."
"My god! Did you find this person?"
"The police are looking for him."
"Why was she in that party?"
"She had been invited by her friend. Do you know Mel?" Marcus raised both brows in surprise and amusement; he didn't expect the name to spark a violent reaction among Tessa's relatives.
-o0o-
Black Site:
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"How is our friend?" Marcus stops beside Paul. They both view the room where James wears a VR device on his head.
"He is taking the treatment pretty well."
"So he will be ready in about two days."
"That's the expected schedule, chief. It depends on his absorption. If he can absorb faster then he will be ready for the next step."
"Good. You must update me every hour."
Paul nods in agreement. He returns his attention to the room and back to his superior. "Chief, may I speak candidly?"
"Go ahead."
"You look tired, chief."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not. You're spreading yourself too thin; the embassy, the bureau, the mission and Tessa. You can't do this long."
"I know that but I need to do this. I must do this."
"No chief. Except this one." Paul nods to the other room. "This will damage you. I say this again. You can do this some other way."
"What is the other way?"
"We can think of something. We can pool our ideas like we always do. You do not need to do this alone like you insist. Your team is here for you. We always are."
"Thank you, Paul."
"Put him under until we can come up a better solution than this. Please, sir."
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
Marcus nods to one of the agents; the one who has finished his shift guarding Tessa's room.
"Nothing happened except for the regular visit of her physician, Dr. Lopez and the on duty nurse. Her room was cleaned this afternoon as scheduled. I'll upload my shift report as soon as I arrive at the site, sir."
"Thanks, Jack. Get some good rest. It's your rest day tomorrow."
"Thanks, chief. The duty nurse says they'll give Tessa a shampoo and a sponge bath today."
"I can assist the nurses, chief." Lane, one of the junior female agent offers. She and another female agent were to be present during shampoo and bath days.
"Thanks Lane. Just be a presence in the room until they are done."
"Noted, chief." The young female agent nods her agreement.
"Jack, you are relieved of duty. Get some rest." Marcus gave the departing agent a thankful pat and nods to the female agent before opening the door.
He stops, shocked.
"Marcus!" Tessa is awake. She's sitting from her hospital bed. Her arms are open wide to him. "Marcus, come! Give me a kiss."
"Tessa? You're awake? I can't…I can't believe it!" With tears almost overflowing from his eyes Marcus goes to her and cups her face in his shaking hands. After he gives her a kiss, he steps back to make sure she is really awake.
Suddenly her smile turns into a cry as if she was struck. Her head swung back sharply.
Marcus steps back in shock. "Tessa? What the…?" he looks on as blood drips from a wound that suddenly opens on her face. "No! Tessa! What's happening? Dear God!"
Another wound opens up on her lips as if she was struck. She fell back in bed as if pushed strongly. Her head whips back and forth as if she was being struck on the face and head repeatedly by an invisible attacker. Her eyes roll back in her head. All Marcus could do was look on helplessly as blood from the blows that she received gush from her face, mouth and head. "No! No! Tessa!"
She began screaming as blood also runs between her legs staining her hospital gown, pooling under her and spilling onto the bed to the hospital floor. Horrified Marcus steps back as the growing pool of blood begins to touch the tip of his shoes.
"TESSA! TESSA!"
Suddenly Tessa grabs his hand. "I had to make her bow to me!" he lips form the words in James's voice and laughter.
"Chief! Chief! Wake up!"
"Fuck!"
Lane steps back as the man almost jumps up from the bed. She safes her gun on her side. "Chief!" Marcus gets up and sits on the cot. The hospital set up the cot beside Tessa's bed. "You okay?" Lane looks at her boss with concern. She went to the table and got a water bottle.
"Thanks, Lane. I'm fine."
"Are you sure, sir?" The man nods after he almost finish half a bottle of water. "I'll be outside." She gave him a last worried look as he gets up and goes to Tessa's bed. Before she closes the door she waits until he takes a seat beside Tessa's bed.
-o0o-
Black Site:
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"Chief? Sorry." Paul looks away to avoid seeing the reddened eyes and the agony in them. "We are ready for you."
"Paul. Sit please." The deputy turns and took a seat opposite Marcus. "I've been thinking about what you told me."
"Yes, chief?"
"Maybe I should think about this …"
"Chief. I overstepped."
"No. You're being logical. I'm not." It hurts to close his eyes. "Maybe you're right. This can't be traced back to me."
"Let me make the arrangements…"
"No."
"Chief…"
"Someone else will take care of it. This is what we will do…"
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
'Hi Marcus…this is Tessa. (She chuckles softly) I wanna tell you I love you so much….'
"Yeah?" Marcus darkens the eBook he's using to read to Tessa.
Jack's head peeks from the door. "Chief? The doc is here."
"The doc? Uh, sure. Let her in." he hears Jack murmur to someone outside and the door was pushed wide open. "Good evening doc."
"Good evening, Mr. Pike. May I talk to you?"
"Sure doc."
Marcus slightly frowns at the doctor as she took one of the chairs and places it across from his. "Would you sit down, please."
"What is it, doc? Is there anything wrong?"
"Uh, actually nothing is wrong it's just that during the latest regular physical check on Tessa the lab results came back."
"Okay…?"
"As you know three times a week we do a blood and urine test to check if the patient is getting enough oxygen and nutrients in her system."
"Yes, okay. What did they find? Is it bad?"
"Yes, they did find something from the urine test."
"What is it?"
"I think you'll be happy with the news."
"Doc please, what is it?"
"You're going to be a father."
"I am….what?"
"Tessa is pregnant."
-o0o-