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
THE EXPAT
CHAPTER 17
I'm shattered at simply the thought of losing you.
~SLV~
Tessa's Hospital Room –
"I don't…uh…" Marcus gapes at the physician as if she talked to him in an ancient language. He blinks and shakes his head at the same time, confused. "Doc, what do you mean?"
"Mr. Pike!" The doctor smiles fondly. "Aw…new fathers are so adorable." She grabs his hand excitedly. "In a few months you will have a bouncing boy or girl in your arms! Isn't that wonderful?"
"Baby?" Marcus turns to Tessa on his right and back to the doctor. "Baby?" he still has that 'deer caught in headlight' face.
"Yes! Oh, congratulations!" The woman pumps his hand. "Many fathers are like you, Mr. Pike. They couldn't believe that they're going to be a father."
"My God…I'm going to be a….father." A smile begins to curve on his lips. "Really?" he nods to her in disbelief. "Really?"
"Believe it! I'm happy for you, Mr. Pike." The doctor stands as Marcus kisses Tessa's hand.
"My God…I hope she would wake up already. She'll be blown away."
"Tessa's condition is stable and her latest MRI test shows the swelling has subsided and the brain just needs to catch up with the healing body so to speak."
Marcus rubs a hand on his face. "This is good news! I needed this good news. Thanks doc!"
"So take care of yourself too because to take care of a young one needs strength. I'll leave you now. By the way, are you taking those vitamins I prescribed for you?"
"Yes, doc I'm taking it as you told me."
"Good. Add lots of sleep and…"
"Avocadoes." The physician laughed at his word.
"Yes, it's good for you, in moderation. Get some rest, okay?"
"Yes, doc. Thank you." He nods while the doctor gave him a parting smile before she left. Marcus took a deep breath after the door clicked closed. Marcus bore a deep pensive look as he takes a seat beside Tessa, reaching for her, softly rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand. A kind of shift happened to him, he let go of the e-reader back on the bed and leans back in the chair.
'You're going to be a father….Tessa is pregnant.'
Marcus turns to Tessa's unconscious form; she lost a little weight. Marcus is in constant dread of her leaving him despite the good doctor's assurance she's physically on the mend. The fevered dreams of seeing Tessa dead and cold in that hospital bed haunts him even in his waking moments.
It sounds immensely cheesy but his love for her is like the air he breathes and he would die without it. Her love is a need; he needs her smile, her eyes and the way they look at him, her skin and how silky they feel. He needs the woman, her body and soul. He misses her so immensely. He hasn't had the pleasure of her tender love and attention for a long time.
Her voice is his only companion, has been his only companion for a long time and he is yearning for more of her.
Marcus closes his eyes, hands over his face as if to stop the dark thoughts running in his head. He is torn and his heart bleeds.
Whose baby is it?
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
The day has been long and Marcus could finally take a break after he was able to catch up on his duties. He was thankful the embassy has allowed him to work out of office due to Tessa's condition. They would only demand his presence during preparation for the 'event' which has been brewing for months now. Just as life continues no matter what happens to people the same is true to the batch of bureaucratic paperwork that needed to be assessed, analyzed, filled in and filed had needed his attention.
The matter has been weighing heavily in his mind. He has thought long and hard about it. Of course he needs to share the news to Tessa's family but the matter of paternity would still be a big question. He will not pose the situation to her family. They might get insulted and Lord knows what kind of other reactions they might have at the thought. Well Marcus, this when you put your agent face on.
"Hi buddy. It's Uncle Marcus."
"Hey uncle. Wait." Marcus hears Tessa's mom, Cora's voice in the background. "It's uncle Marcus. Grandma asks if aunt Ess is okay?"
"Yeah, she's okay but I have to talk to you guys about something."
"Okay. What is it?"
"Well, it's very personal so it is okay if I go there?"
"Ow? You want to come to our house?" the kid chuckles. "Wait." The boy relays the message to the adults. "Uncle, my dad wants to talk to you."
"Sure." Marcus smiles. He likes his new title-uncle. Over the phone the teen walk towards … "Hi Joseph. Did I call at a bad time?"
"No, we just finished dinner. Have you eaten?"
"I will, later on. Thank you."
"Is Tessa okay?"
"Yeah, she's okay. No change, though."
"You want to come here? Why?"
"I have something I wanna talk to you about. Something personal."
"Personal?"
"Yeah."
"We live very far away and it's not easy to come here if you're not familiar with the place. It's about two hours by car, one way. I don't advice you to drive all the way here."
"I see. I'm just curious where you guys live."
"Jun can do a video to show the house where Tessa and I grew up in. How's that?"
"That's an excellent idea."
"Anyway, mom would like to see Tessa again anyway so we'll just go to you. Is that better?"
"Well, yeah, that's great. Can you guys come over this week?"
"Sure, I'm actually free this week so we'll take the opportunity to see Tessa again. Besides, mom likes road trips."
Marcus smiles, "When can you come here?"
"Tomorrow, in the morning. Okay with you?"
Marcus took a deep breath. That is soon. "Yeah. That's good. See you then…"
-o0o-
Black Site:
Marcus looks down at James; lying in a simple bed sedated and restrained. Marcus leans closer to check how the bruises are healing along. He does so not due to a concern for the man's well-being but so he would know when he could undergo another 'physical interview' again. Like Tessa the hematoma has almost faded. It's hard to be calm when he's this close to James.
When Sam located that bastard's yacht he forgot about the team. He felt that if he didn't go right now James might slip away and they would have another difficulty finding him. There are now two reasons why James needs to be captured; for Tessa and for the mission.
Marcus unclenches his fists. Breathe.
If not for the important intel they can dig out of James this man has Marcus would've set aside all his restraint. It'll be such a pleasure to smash his fists into James's face until it becomes a bloody mangled mess of torn flesh and bones. Never has he felt this intense drive to kill someone for the mere fact of being alive and most of all for placing his cruel hands on Tessa.
From his pants pocket he took out a cheek swab. Marcus carefully tore open the envelope and exposed the cotton swab. He grabs James's chin firmly to open the man's mouth and rubbed the cotton swab to the inner cheek to get a lot of the epithelial. There's no second chance of doing this again. Before he seals the swab envelope he took one last look at it, the tense muscles in his jaw ripples.
From a corner Paul quietly observes Marcus as his chief enters the holding cell. The deputy frowns, his eyes full of questions as he observes Marcus's actions. Though there's a wide glass window in the room Paul could only see Marcus's upper back as he does something. Everyone knows how Marcus hates James and he is exercising an amazing form of restraint not to put a bullet in the latter's head. James knows this as well. Once his usefulness has been over Marcus can do whatever he's been itching his vengeful hands to him. This worries Paul.
Finally, the man opens the door and leaves with his laptop bag slung on his shoulder. Paul follows Marcus as the man leaves the complex going for the lift. "Chief."
"Paul." The lift opens its wide doors for them and as one they step in it.
Paul is the one who clicked the lobby button. "You'll not do the interrogation today?"
"No, I've other things to do."
"So what's the game play today?"
"Put him through the VR again then do the tests."
"Where are you off to? The hospital?"
"Yes, Tessa's folks are going to visit this morning. I hope they bring me more avocadoes."
"Avocadoes! Can I ask for a few?"
Marcus smiles, he hasn't done that often these days. "I'll remember to save you some."
Paul shifts on his feet, the number on the lift nears the lobby. He cleared his throat before he went for it. "Hey chief, please be careful." He whispers.
Marcus gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Paul. I always am careful."
"You know what I mean." Paul pointedly looks at the laptop bag. Marcus looks away after he followed his gaze. Marcus nods but pointedly kept is eyes forward.
"This'll answer a question."
"For what question, chief?"
"Tessa's pregnant." Paul wonders why it was not spoken in joy. "Don't congratulate me yet." The lift dinged and rolled open to the warehouse. A fleet of black SUV's are parked in the huge structure.
"What do you mean?"
"See you tomorrow."
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
"Why?" the doctor leans back in her chair a little surprised at Marcus's request. The father to be seemed to be kinda agitated and awkward.
"Doc, do you remember that you said you did a rape test when Tessa was admitted, right?"
"Yes, that's right. It's the hospital SOP. But, Mr. Pike, the results showed that she wasn't raped."
"But we have been together that night and could it be possible for someone, for the assailant to rape her and not look like it's a rape…uh because…uh…"
"Ah…I get what you mean." The doctor looks up at Marcus and then to Tessa. "Is that what you were worried about?"
"Yes." He and the physician stare at each other for an eternity.
The doctor finally nods. "I see. That is understandable in this situation." The doctor nods and gave Marcus a couple of quick pats on the knee. "Very well. I'll get a swab for you."
"Uh, I have it." Marcus took the packet from his bag. "I did the swab before I came here."
"Even better!" The doctor clicked the nurse's station button by Tessa's bed. "Then let me get a blood sample from Tessa."
"Doc," Marcus gives the doctor a serious and worried look, swab packet in hand. "may I ask your discretion about this please? Please?"
"Mr. Pike, no need to tell me. You are both my patient."
Marcus gave the physician a very grateful smile. "Thank you."
-o0o-
Tessa's Hospital Room –
"Hey! Marcus, mah man! Wazzup?"
Marcus looks up with a jerk, surprised. "Uh…oh shit. Mel…" he pauses in smoothing Tessa's bed sheet. "Uh…what are you doing here?"
Mel snorts, frowning. "What do you mean what am I doing here? I wanna see my bestie."
Marcus's attention goes from Mel to the door to his watch. "I don't think today's a good day to visit."
Mel shakes his head with a frown. "Why?"
Jun exchanges a fist bump with Jack at the door. "Hey uncle Marcus!"
"Hey Jun…" Marcus says absentmindedly as the kid takes his hand and quickly touches the back of it on his forehead. What the kid did is a gesture of respect given to an older relative or someone older that they respect.
"Hi, aunt Ess!" The kid takes Tessa's hand at places the back of it on his forehead too. "Uhm…." Jun frowns at the second person in the room. "Aren't you…oh no…" Jun mouthed 'dad' and 'grandma' to Marcus and points outside, looking worried.
Marcus rolls his eyes at the shit that would hit the fan. "Can you…?"
Jun shakes his head, his lips move. Too late!
"Fuck!"
'Uh…what's going on?" Mel feels weirded out by the exchange between Marcus and the boy.
Sounds of talking came from outside; Jack greeting someone. Shit! "Mel, go there. Go!" Marcus hisses as he points behind him.
"Why?"
"Jun!" Marcus points to Jun and to the side of the room where there is a corner.
"Uncle Mel, come here!" Jun almost pushes the other man ahead of him. He looks at Marcus's bed in the corner and thought he could hide Mel under it. He decided against it because it's not high enough to roll under and instead tries to hide Mel behind him.
"What the….the heck is happening?" Mel frowns when the boy shushed him.
People's voices, some chuckling and soft laughter could be heard from behind the door. Marcus took a deep breath, clears his throat, and shakes his arms and body as if he's going to have a boxing match. Jun snickers at Marcus then shushed Mel again when the other tries to ask a question again.
There's Jack's knock. "Chief?" and the door opens wider.
Tessa's mom slowly enters; she has a beatific smile on her face when Marcus took her hand and held it on his forehead for a second.
"Good morning, mom Cora. Nice to see you again! Good road trip?"
"Good morning Marcus! Yes, it is good there's no traffic…" Cora suddenly stops as if she saw a snake in the room. "Ah! What is he doing here?"
"Oh shit." Marcus and Jun choruses as they look at each other wide-eyed.
"Mommy Cora…!" Arms open, Mel came forward with a happy smile.
Cora took back her hand, denying Mel the traditional way of greeting her. "Go away! No! Don't touch me!"
"Mommy!" Mel looks hurt. "What's wrong?"
"Tessa is here because of you!" the woman points a trembling finger at the flighty young man.
"Grandma…calm down please!" The teen takes his grandmother's arm and steer Cora to the chair by Tessa's bed.
"I can't! Your aunt was almost beaten to death! Even Marcus has nightmares about it!"
Jun shrugs when Marcus lifts his brows at him. Marcus had casually mentioned it to the boy about the nightmare he had a few days ago. The kid must have thought that it was something serious enough to mention to his family.
"The hell? Why are you here?" From the door Joseph has a deep scowl for the pale-looking Mel.
Marcus was relieved to see another plastic bag full of the green fruit on the table. Jun gave him some when he dropped by the other day but he'd eaten them all since then. He's is getting addicted to them. "It's okay. He was just about to leave." Hopefully, that would prevent a scene.
"Uh…I want to visit my best friend." Now Mel starts to feel scared when Joseph fully enters the room.
"Did you put Tessa up for auction?" The man is almost shaking in anger.
"Umm…yes? Oh shit…."
Joseph spat a lot of profanity moving toward Mel. In wide-eyed terror Mel quickly looks for a place to hide but all he got is a corner at the end of Marcus's bed. He made himself very small there. Marcus and Jun move at the same time to stop Tessa's brother as if they're football linebackers, taking an arm each. It wouldn't be a fair fight between Joseph and Mel. Actually, Mel wouldn't even fight and he would be pounded to a pulp. Marcus might be fit and well-toned but Tessa's brother is built like a fucking Abrams tank and just as hard to stop. Straining, Marcus planted his feet on the floor but his shoes begin sliding on the smooth tiles. Shit!
"JACK!" He and Jun are losing. Jack opens the door, confused at the raised voices, took one look at them and grabs the brother around the waist. Thankfully Jack is almost as muscular as Joseph and they prevented Mel's murder. All the while the brother was shouting all sorts of profanity and curses in their language at Mel that Marcus could only imagine the meaning of.
"Joseph! Calm down, man!" Marcus gasps as the three of them pin Joseph to the wall.
"I'm going to fucking kill you!"
"DAD! Stop! Grandma's scared!" The boy went to the older woman who looks distressed at the scene.
"Look what you did to her! My sister's almost dead!"
Mel is almost like a ball of scared mass in the corner. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen…I just…"
"Shut up! Get out! Don't come here again!"
"Calm down, Joseph…." Marcus gasps as the big man relaxed enough. Marcus waves Mel over…
"Mar-cus?"
-o0o-