The call hadn't come at an inconvenient time. In actuality, he was bored and a little off-island adventure would be a welcome distraction. No, what surprised Fuse was that the call had come at all. Not from her, at least.
Now, the demolitions expert found himself seated in the back of a pink Rolls Royce, seeming very out of place. The silently fuming driver wasn't helping either, but they'd apparently run out of options according to the slightly flushed face staring at him through the holocomm.
"Everyone's been called out to separate rescues. We don't have anyone else to ask," Lady Penelope, braided hair bouncing over her shoulder as she paced.
"When's the last time ya tried contactin' 'im?" Fuse's arms crossed over his chest, already anticipating the problem.
"He missed check-in about an hour ago," sapphire eyes pierced him with silent desperation before closing as her entire expression pinched in pain.
"Ye' should probably breathe…" the eyes opened and anger dared him to continue the statement. "Uh, right, so I get t'go in an' drag your husband outta whatever trouble 'e's gotten into? In my civvies. Yeah, I mean, not the worst plan I've been involved in."
A chuckle from the front, more mocking than humorous, "Got somethin' just for ye. Seems Master Gordon 'ad it tucked h'away for when 'e could pop the question." Over the front seat, the chauffeur produced a large metal case, Fuse taking it with a new sense of curiosity.
"Wha' is it?" He asks, sliding his hands around the sides in search of a latch.
"The keypad will be on the front," the blonde agent explained and he quickly turned the case onto his lap to find the screen. "The code is W-0-0-9," her voice gradually straining into a breathy wince.
She should really concentrate on breathing, but that wasn't his place to state the obvious, instead focusing on the digit sequence. Once entered, a mechanism released on the side furthest from him. He spun it, ready to open whatever his friend had packaged so secretively for him, but stopped as he read the keycode upside down. He laughed.
The case opened and the humor died on his tongue.
"Ahh, hell," something stronger would've been more appropriate, but his mouth wasn't working. His head was telling him how bad an idea this was and he should demand to be taken back to his bar. The mound in his chest that seemed to be working its way into his ears, however, wanted to take hold of the contents and never let go.
A helmet sat atop deep blue fabric. He picked it up, feeling the lightness of the advanced metal and set it aside. The suit was thick for protective purposes and folded neatly inside the case. Gripping the shoulders, Fuse lifted it and felt the heft that didn't match the helmet. The chest plating screamed blast protection and more armor lay tucked within; reinforced gloves that would cover his forearms, boots that were lighter and sleeker than his old ones. Squid knew what he would need - want. The desires of a life he thought he'd abandoned came crawling up and he almost began to wonder if this would be his downfall.
A new feeling mixed with the old and Fuse realised chaos wasn't at the forefront anymore. Yes, he craved the sounds of explosions, but with a different purpose.
The last of the blue came free of the case to reveal the intense purple underneath. A belt, covered in pockets to hold necessary supplies and he actually laughed, "Seriously, your husband might be a tad obsessed."
A sound that said she agreed, but she wouldn't comment further, "The suit will offer protection, as you can tell, but your supplies are limited. Trust or lack thereof. I highly doubt you'll need your usual repertoire on this mission."
So the suit was supposed to hold explosives. Fuse was only surprised by the idea that Gordon had intended on him using his skills for good and not forcing him to learn new ones. It was a refreshing thought as he opened the first pouch, the warm feeling of it fading a moment later as he pulled out a medkit. He better hope I don't need to use these.
Placing the pack back in the pocket, brown eyes centered on the hologram, "Alright, I'll go pull him outta whatever fryin' pan he's found himself in."
"And as I said before, you'll be rewarded generously," a genuine smile of appreciation that brightened the glow of her cheeks.
"Right," 'cause he couldn't just do something for a friend? He'd confront that if it came up again, since he hadn't shot the idea down. "A little privacy then? Your man knows how far out we are to Gordon's last location?"
"Yes, you'll be there in under fifteen minutes," she smirked, "plenty of time to change. Comms are open if you need anything." The end of her statement became strained with a wince and more breathing. A knowing exchange as their eyes met and Lady Penelope blinked away.
Fifteen minutes to get dressed in the back of a car was almost inadequate, but as the final boot panel snapped into place, Fuse sat back in a huff of exertion. The last piece was the purple belt and it slid on without a hitch.
"All set to 'ead under?" Parker called over the seats.
"Under?" Fuse slid over to look out the window at the vast blue ocean below them. "Figures. Any other info ya can give me?"
"Not a 'ole lot," the elder man activated a set of schematics showing an underwater facility. "Master Gordon got a call to help stabilize one o' those newfangled power plants. Somethin' about it h'explodin' at any moment. An earthquake and all that."
"Sounds about right," he tapped at the screen on his arm and jumped as the schematics popped up above it. "Don't 'e got some kinda tracker - homin' beacon - whatever ya call it?"
"It appears to be h'offline, or there's interference that wasn't there this mornin'," a hint of worry caught Parker's voice, giving Fuse a moment's pause to assess. If Steely Emotions up there was worried, maybe he should be too.
But, "Squid's pretty resilient," Fuse should know. "I'll find 'im."
The car descended before anymore could be said. Fuse had a job to do. One that was growing with importance the more he learned, not that he would admit it out loud.
The water was clear and not nearly as deep as he'd expected, but the remnants of a surface elevator were visible on the ocean floor. The structure itself looked intact, but dark. That was the first sign things hadn't improved.
The second was the garbled transmission from an individual inside the power plant, "- anyone help? I've lost … -tion with int-... Rescue."
"Ok, we read ya," Fuse opened the link. Suddenly, he wasn't sure what to say. He'd never had to calm anyone… except Havoc a few times. It'd have to do, "What's the problem?" Okay, maybe gentle wasn't his strong point.
"Oh! Uh - power's out… went to repair the generator… -der water," it still came through choppy.
"Repeat, did you say the generator room is under water?" Fuse hoped Gordon was lucky enough that he had misheard.
"Generator room is flooded," clearer and unmistakable.
"Alright... hold tight," Fuse's head was ticking through the steps he'd need to take to reach the generator room, unsure what to do with the rest of the facility.
"H'I'll take care of the civilians," Parker informed as he pulled the Rolls Royce over an access hatch on the top of the structure. "You focus on gettin' Master Gordon."
Under his feet, the floor opened to reveal the tube attaching the car to the building, Fuse's brow lifting, "Impressive, let ya know when I find 'im." The helmet from the case still sat next to him and he picked it up, staring at the reflection of himself in the Plexiglas. It warped slightly, becoming someone else for only a moment. He brushed a feeling away, placing the gear over his head and slid off the plush leather. He fell through the hatch and into a pool of water.
Fuse was familiar with enough tech to know how to manage the controls of his new gauntlet, but a part of him was in awe of the advancements. It was almost as though information shifted with a thought instead of the cumbersome list of menus most people have to navigate. Being part of International Rescue had its perks.
And just like that, he'd thought it. That thought he should never have let in, but now it stuck to his brain like toffee. Fuse wasn't a member of International Rescue and never should be. He'd done too much. This was simply a moment of redemption for a fraction of his past. Nothing more.
With a grunt, the demolitions expert shoved the thought away and focused on the path leading towards the generator room. It was a short trip, only two doors down and he cleared the distance with a kick off the wall. When the doors opened, Fuse was met with a dark expanse that ate what little light was coming in from behind him. A tap to his suit controls and lights snapped on in his helmet, illuminating the massive conduits and cables. If it weren't for the flooding and lack of power, the room would've looked untouched.
Yet, there was still a reason for him to be here and Fuse called out into the silence, "Squid? Oi, heard you could use some 'elp?"
No answer meant a couple of things. Either his friend was unconscious or dead, or Gordon wasn't in the room. The lack of communication pointed to the first two options, neither of which were ideal, but he certainly had a preference.
"Alright, Squid, let's see what trouble ya found," the conversation was more for himself, not liking the quiet. It reminded him too much of a time back at the Children's Home, after an explosion during one of Dr Sable's experiments. He'd been left in a room with some of the other injured, but also a few of the dead. No one spoke. No one cried, because no one dared to put sound to the doctor's failure. Fuse could still picture his friend's face, lifeless and grey. Shaking the image away, he whispered, "Not today."
The room was massive, making up most of the facility and Fuse made the decision to sweep right, methodically moving back and forth until he found what he was looking for. He swam above the machinery and kept the light trained on the ground below. It wasn't until his third strip that he noticed some of the cables that connected to the generators were hanging free. As he got closer, he realized why.
A large catwalk had come free from the ceiling and fallen on the cables, effectively disconnecting them. Good thing the power was out, then. The water would've been -
A flash of yellow caught in his light and Fuse stopped mid thought, already connecting the potentially deadly shock to why Gordon hadn't contacted anyone. He propelled himself down, eyeing the structure that had fallen and was currently on top of the bright color he'd spotted. His hands caught the railing and Fuse pulled himself the rest of the way down to the floor, crouching to get a better look at who lay underneath the catwalk.
"Damn, Squid," he breathed as his heart leapt into his throat. Gordon was pinned, motionless under the weight, helmet fogged with condensation. No air circulation meant there was something wrong with his tank. How long had he been stuck?
Staring at the aquanaut wasn't going to help anyone involved, but what was he supposed to do? Sure, he could lift the walkway, but who would drag Gordon out? Fuse's mind raced for a solution and he began digging into the pouches of his baldric. Most were empty and he'd already confirmed the first aid kit's location. Checking one of the larger packs, he found a gun - what looked like one anyway - along with a rectangular pack that he stuck into the end.
"This better be useful," Fuse warned to no-one as he aimed the gun over his head and fired. The cartridge shot upwards and connected to the ceiling with a thunk. No fireworks - not a flare - that was a win and he felt the stress drop an inch as he found the cable connected to the gun. "Hope you're strong enough."
Attaching the gun to the side of the walkway was a snap, literally, powerful magnets locking onto the metal. Another press of the trigger and the cable wound back into the mechanisms until the tension caught. It wouldn't be strong enough to lift the catwalk, but maybe it could hold it.
Steeling himself with a deep breath, Fuse placed both hands under the metal frame, crouched and pulled. His muscles screamed, but the structure shifted, slowly rising and the gun drew in more cable as he went. A part of him wished he had his old gear that could do much of the work for him, but he didn't and wishes had never done him any favors.
Another few feet and Fuse stopped, letting go slowly to see if the cable would hold. A teeth clenching whine was all it gave, but it held and he didn't test it any further. He dove under the structure and grabbed the motionless man's arm, dragging him out as quickly as he could.
As they cleared the debris, Gordon slumped in Fuse's grip, redirecting the demolition expert's focus to the next problem. He took hold of the arm that wore a similar screen to his, tapping at it in hopes Gordon's suit would tell him what was wrong. Nothing happened. He tapped again, but the message was clear, the suit was busted. Power must've fried it, the thought wasn't a comforting one.
Reboot the system or tie it with his own, Fuse knew he had to find an answer, but this was new tech. He didn't have the slightest clue if he could even accomplish such a task, so he resorted to digging through his belt again. It had proven its worth once now, how about one more time.
His fist came back from one of the pouches, a thin tube laying in his palm like the saving grace it was, underwater rescue, of course they'd pack these. In one swift move, Fuse pulled the regulator from Gordon's helmet and jammed the temporary one into its place. To his relief, it let out a hiss of compressed oxygen, not a single bubble escaping.
"Alright, Squid. There's your air. Time to wake up," he floated with Gordon, eyes watching the figure expectantly. The blonde didn't move, didn't twitch, didn't offer any indication that he was even alive. And then, the fog began to dissipate around the edges of the Plexiglas. For a heart stopping moment, Fuse thought he was about to see the face of another friend he'd failed.
"That's not fair," he whispered as his chest grew tight. "You're not allowed to do this - not t' me… Dammit Squid! Don't you dare be dead, y'hear me?"
The last of the condensation faded and Fuse dared to shine the beams of his helmet onto his friend's face.
Blonde lashes flicked, amber eyes peeking out from barely open lids and a weak, knowing grin tugged at the aquanaut's lips, "-'ey buddy."
A curse as his ears burned, the worry from a second ago turning into a shielding anger, "I swear - sheared off years of my life. That's the kind of trouble you are."
Gordon didn't answer, but the smile remained on his face. Instead, his chest began to visibly rise and fall as his body caught up with the fact it had plenty of oxygen - well, more like a few minutes of oxygen, which alerted Fuse to his next task.
"Alright, let's get you outta here before your reserves run dry," he still held Gordon's arm and he began towing him back the way they'd come.
Only for the aquanaut to jerk his arm free with newly found strength, "Can't - gotta restart the power."
"You're crazy if y'think I'm turnin' the power back on with all this water in here," Fuse went to reach for his friend again, but was thwarted as Gordon used his arm to propel himself away.
"Gotta try," but it was obvious Gordon was no longer up for the task. He'd only made it a few feet before his arms gave out.
Fuse came up beside him, his voice a whisper, "Ya can't fix everythin', Squid. This place needs more than you can give." Gordon didn't fight this time as the larger man wrapped an arm around his chest, pushing off one of the silent generators to aim for the open doorway.
"People were counting on me…" defeat didn't go well with Gordon's demeanor, but there was little Fuse could do to fix it. The power plant was lost. The city it fueled would have to rely on emergency reserves or wait until someone else could step in. It was a problem for the local governments, heck the country itself could do something. There was no way he was letting Gordon shoulder the responsibility.
Also, there was the matter that brought Fuse to this undersea tragedy in the first place, "I might know someone else who's countin' on you gettin' home. Seems there's a baby on the way."
"What?" Life spiked into that one question.
"Ah, there 'e is," Fuse smiled. "I said, you're about to be a dad."
"Penny? Is she okay?" Unnecessary worry took over the failure from before.
"As far as I know," they made it to the doorway and Fuse began dragging them down the hall. "She's the one who sent me out here. Her bodyguard should be waitin' for us." A thought flitted through his head, "Oi, what about your Thunderbird? Can't exactly leave it here."
Gordon was silent, Fuse wondering where his friend's head had run off to until he received a whispered, "Oxygen's getting low."
"Well, that's no good," he was forced to stop, shifting the blonde in his hold in order to reach the command screen on his arm. A quick tap opened his comm to Parker, "Hey, old man, gonna need a quick pickup."
There was a growl as the chauffeur answered, "You've found 'im then?"
"Ya and 'e's almost out of air," Fuse let that sink in as he continued on towards their exit.
"H'on my way," a warning followed, "Dropping h'off the scientists. It'll be a minute."
"You got a minute, Squid?" He better or Fuse was about to start grasping at straws.
"Yeah…" but it didn't sound at all convincing.
The demolitions expert ignored the nagging voice that said Gordon was stretching the truth, "We'll meet you at the access hatch."
An FAB and Fuse was back to wondering if he could remember any of the CPR he'd learned from a group of drunk doctors on vacation. The poor dumby had been declared dead in the end and they'd all ordered a round to grieve their "patient".
"Almost there," and they were. Fuse could make out the indent of the door in the ceiling through the shadows around them. When they reached the access point, he let go of his charge, twisting Gordon around to see his face. "Wake up, Squid. I'm not above mouth t'mouth if I gotta."
The aquanaut's eyes remained closed, but the hint of a smile crossed his lips. A short intake and he lifted his hand with a thumbs up.
"Holdin' your breath? Good," that offered some relief. "For how long?"
Four fingers went up.
"Minutes? After I found ya near suffocated already?" It was impressive to say the least. But then, two fingers fell away and Fuse cursed, "Quit sugar coatin'! It'll get ya killed one of these days, then where will your girls be, huh?"
The declaration seemed to hit them both harder than Fuse had expected. His friend was about to bring a new life into this world and there was a real possibility Gordon would never meet her.
"Any way you could speed that minute up?" The larger man's voice was sharp.
"Hold tight," Parker grit back and through a porthole Fuse could see light streaming towards them.
It only took a handful of seconds for the vehicle to attach, but to Fuse it felt like minutes that Gordon didn't have. The blonde's hand had lowered, no longer indicating how long he could hold his breath and Fuse practically launched them through the hatch as it opened. The tube was dry, but left little room for him to do anything other than carry the limp figure over his shoulder.
He was rewarded with a cry as he dropped Gordon onto the floor of the Rolls Royce, Fuse ignoring the pain in lieu of knowing his friend was still alive. Climbing onto the bench seat, he quickly reached down to help remove the helmet that was still suffocating the blonde, hearing the click and hiss as the oxygen spilled in.
Gordon took a gasped breath followed by another until his chest steadily rose and fell. Fuse tossed the helmet aside, smiling down with a relieved humor, "You're one lucky S.O.B. y'know that?"
A smile, stronger than it had been earlier, "Yeah… yeah I know. Thanks." A hand came up, open and inviting.
Fuse simply shook his head, taking the hand, "Let's get you all the way in. I've still got a bar to run."
As Gordon shifted, another cry turned into a growl of pain and he fell back, "Ah - m' leg!"
"Seriously?" And he might've sounded a little panicked. "Okay, right, gimme a sec." Fuse considered his options. The first aid kit might have something useful, but he was too unfamiliar with it to start tearing it open. Squaring his shoulders, he caught the pinched amber eyes with his own, an apology sitting on his tongue, "Alright, Squid. This's gonna hurt, but I'll be as quick as I can."
Gordon gave a stiff nod and the demolitions expert positioned himself behind the injured man. Strong hands slid under his shoulders, hesitating only a moment before pulling the aquanaut up and back into a sitting position. The cry was short, but conveyed the agony in the limb, Fuse hissing out a quiet "sorry."
"-'m okay, I'm okay," the blonde settled into the side of the door, breathing deeper as the oxygen renewed his senses. "Hey, Parker."
Fuse glanced up to see the chauffeur leaning over the seat, intent on making sure Gordon was alright, "Right mess you got in then? Milady's h'instincts are spot on."
At the mention of her ladyship Gordon grew more animated, smacking at his fried wrist communicator uselessly before turning to his companions, "Is Penny okay? I need to talk to her!"
A hand easily pushed him back down, Fuse growling a warning as he sat, "Quit movin' - 'ere." He shoved the screen on his arm out and wasn't surprised when his friend grabbed hold and keyed in the comm code. What wasn't expected was the howl of pain that sounded through the connection.
"Pen! Penny?! Are you okay?" Gordon's voice faded to a wheeze, too much too soon.
"Gordon?" It was his grandmother, her voice full of tension.
"Grandma, is Penny -"
"I'm fine," a breathy answer floated through and a moment later Lady Penelope appeared. Fuse had to admit she still looked as prim and put together as she had at the start of this trip, if only a little flush. "Are you alright, darling?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," it was a lie. It would've been easy for any one of them to call Gordon out on it, but as the car-turned-sub began the trip towards the surface, the aquanaut barreled on, "The baby?"
"On her way," Penelope's words grew strained.
"Entering the next contraction, dear," Grandma warned calmly.
"I'll be there soon, I promise," the reassurance came as the London agent's breathing became more focused with the building pain. Fuse actually felt the need to turn away from such an intensely intimate moment, taking great interest in the door handle on the other side of the space. Her groan was more subdued than when he'd first initiated contact, a sign that Lady Penelope was trying to regulate for her new audience. As they cleared the ocean's surface she was coming back down, but Fuse still felt like he could just get out here and swim home.
"How much longer 'til we get there, Parker?" Gordon sounded clearer.
"'Alf an hour - less h'if I push the limits," it was a request the elder man was itching to implement.
"Okay, right, as fast as you can," the vehicle lurched almost immediately as it sped up. "Hear that, Pen? Be there before you know it. I - I've gotta fix something, but I'll be there, okay?"
A series of slow breaths, "We'll be waiting."
"Grandma?" Fuse turned back to see the grey haired woman take over the comm as Gordon called.
"Still here, kiddo," her smile was warm, eyes bright with the imminent birth.
"Take care of my girls," amber eyes pleaded.
"You know I will," and the smile grew. "You just get here as soon as you can."
"FAB," and the comm closed.
For a moment, Fuse was confused why his friend wouldn't want to keep the connection open, but then, "Help me set my leg."
Ah, right, because this was going to hurt, "How?" Gordon reached forward, snagging the purple baldric much to Fuse's displeasure, "Oi! I've got it. Med kit?"
"Yes, there's a collapsible brace," the aquanaut explained as he slumped back against the door.
"This?" Fuse held up a brick of plastic.
"Yes, pull the ends and it'll stretch out," Gordon watched as he followed the instruction, the brick accordioning out to reveal a boney lattice structure. To his growing frustration, the smaller man began shifting his own leg around, grunting through the spikes of pain before offering more directions, "Place it - on the side and re-remove the straps. They'll lock it."
Fuse did as instructed, satisfied the feel the splint grow rigid as he snapped in the first strap. The others followed suit and he looked up for the next task - only to find his friend's expression pinched with agony.
"Oi," a large hand reached out to land on Gordon's shoulder. "Take it easy, Squid. Breathe."
The contact sent amber eyes blinking before he took in a shuddering breath, a thin sheen of sweat beading over the aquanaut's brow. Another steadying breath and he whispered, "- 'm good."
"This suit come with any pain killers?" Fuse asked, brushing off the obvious lie.
"I'm okay - jus' gotta get to Penny," and that appeared to be all Gordon was focused on, Fuse willing to sit back and wait for this ride to end, but then, the smaller man's gaze shifted. It was as though Gordon was seeing his rescuer for the first time, eyes wide, "You're wearing the suit."
"Yeah and I'm not gonna ask how you got my measurements so spot on," because this thing fit like a glove.
An exhausted chuckle, "Probably for the best… does this mean that you'll…" he cut himself off, a tinge of color making him look healthier than he actually was.
"What? Join International Rescue?" Even now it sounded ridiculous.
"Right, no, too soon," Gordon's mouth clamped shut.
Fuse let an awkward silence float through the car like a suffocating mist. He wasn't going to disagree with his friend. Joining the rescue team just wasn't a logical choice for him. He had a bar to run and a sister to watch out for and heaven knew she wasn't about to let him run off with the "enemy".
Still, "It was nice, though - savin' your life. Just don't make a habit of it. Your lady caught me on a slow day."
The tension broke and Gordon smiled, genuine and appreciative, "Thanks."
They made it to the hospital where Lady Penelope was waiting in her birthing suite and ran into their next hurdle.
"Sir, he needs to be seen by a doctor," a nurse by the name of Alexander - according to his badge - stood in their way after being alerted by reception staff.
Fuse growled, adjusting Gordon against his side as he watched the grey haired man bristle in front of them. Arms crossing over his chest, Parker countered, "Beggin' your pardon, but 'e has important business h'on the maternity ward. There'll be plenty of time for doctorin' after the little miss is born."
"He's only going to get worse. If you can just take a seat, we'll get him back to a room shortly," Alexander gestured to the waiting area and a wheelchair.
Leaning his head down, the demolitions expert whispered, "You're not gonna die, are ya?"
Though he was pale and obviously in pain, Gordon shook his head, amber eyes intent on the elevator that would take them to the maternity ward. Fuse had other ideas, however.
"Alright, hold on," in one swift move, the demolitions expert scooped up the smaller form, ignoring the yelp of surprise or pain - probably both - and ran for the stairwell. The calls for security were ignored, Fuse taking the steps two at a time. This wouldn't be his first time getting booted from hospital, but he'd make sure he completed his job.
This was his job. If only for a moment, the ex-villain felt a shocking mix of purpose and regret. He was doing something meaningful, something that gave back, and it was all about to slip through his fingers. The feeling was gone the moment they hit the third floor and pushed through into a surprisingly quiet hallway.
Gordon was the first to break the silence after the door clicked shut, "Penelope?!"
"Gordon!" Only, it was Mrs Tracy, the elder woman appearing from a room that likely held the woman in labour. "Just in time," and then the state of her grandson registered over her face, "What happened?"
"I'm okay, Grandma," and to veer all focus off of the injured aquanaut, a pain filled groan sounded from the room. Gordon struggled in Fuse's arms, but there was no use after the ordeal he'd been through. The larger man simply held on a bit tighter and took the few lumbering steps needed to make it to the room.
A second later, his brain reminded him why that was a bad idea, but there was no turning back as they rounded the curtain. Fuse averted his eyes immediately, silently grateful for the nurse who had been standing at the end of the bed. Lady Penelope - the little he'd seen of her - looked just as haggard as her husband.
"Penny, I'm here," Gordon tried to sound soothing, but Fuse could imagine how ineffective it appeared as he was lowered to the floor to hobble over to the bed with the larger man's assistance.
"Gordon?" It was odd hearing her both relieved and upset, "Are you alright?"
"Fine, I'm fine," not at all convincing.
"Busted leg from what I can tell," Fuse offered vaguely. "Maybe some oxygen dep-"
Before he could finish, the London agent was fighting another contraction wave, Gordon ignoring his own wellbeing to move closer and offer support. The nurse was the next to announce that the doctor was on her way and it wouldn't be long. For Fuse, it had been long enough - far too long for his liking - but he was stuck. The aquanaut was dependent on him to stay upright. It also appeared that Mrs Tracy had worked some kind of magic, because security had yet to drag him out.
Stuck. Absolutely, unequivocally trapped.
Fuse found a point on the wall, wishing he had his helmet, but content to let his mind drift far from this room. He was back on his beach, enjoying a drink in the sand. The sounds of sea birds echoed in his ears. He wasn't sure how long he let his mind take him to a far off island, but then there was a cry from multiple voices, followed soon after by the sound of an infant hating her new world.
And then, the weight in his arms grew and a new shout filled the room. It wasn't necessary as Fuse caught his friend before he could do more damage to himself. Thankfully, Gordon wasn't holding the baby. As Fuse looked up from the aquanaut's slack face, he found Lady Penelope, a bundle shivering against her chest even beneath the warm blankets.
"I've got'im," he collected the limp form, dragging him over to one of the chairs. Gordon's eyes fluttered open the moment he sat down, unfocused, yet searching. "Oi, no dyin' on us, right?"
"Ri-right, jus' a bit fuzzy," Gordon blinked hard to clear whatever he was seeing. Another blink and he met Fuse's gaze, "Why'ya lookin' at me like that?"
He suppressed a laugh, grinning instead, "You'd rather I be lookin' at your half naked wife? Gotta give her some privacy."
Realization struck just before an appreciative smile, "Right, thanks."
"Dad, you feel up to holding your daughter?" The doctor was talking now, asking a very significant and potentially problematic question. Gordon, of course, beamed, eyes wide and arms reaching out. The bundle came wrapped in white, pink and blue stripes running around the cloth. Fuse bit his cheek as he watched the infant settle into the aquanaut's arms, ready to catch her at a moment's notice.
"Hey, Ruthy," Gordon whispered into the tiny face that scrunched and wriggled with so many new sensations. Her eyes blinked, just as unfocused as her father's moments ago. "Wanna meet your Uncle Clarence? He saved daddy's life today."
"Och, quit with the…," but those little eyes found him, staring for only a few seconds before a yawn broke the contact. It was enough though. She had him. Clearing his throat, he tried to cover, "Gonna have your hands full, aren't ya, keepin' your dad outta trouble."
"No way," Gordon chuckled. "All you'll have to do is call Uncle Clarence and he'll come running."
And he just might.
A minute or so passed with the two talking nonsense to an infant before a shadow fell over them and they both looked up to find the newly Great Grandma Tracy standing over them, "Alright, you two. Ruthy needs to go get checked out and so do you." Her finger tapped Gordon's hand as she reached out to extract the bundle. "Think you can manage?" This time, the question was aimed at Fuse.
"Yes, ma'am," Fuse caught sight of the wheelchair being sent in his direction and he was glad to not have to carry his friend any further. Transferring the aquanaut was difficult enough, eliciting a pained grunt that he failed to suppress. They were on their way out when Gordon gestured towards the bed Penelope was resting i0pn and with a quick turn, Fuse had him by her side. Why he felt the need to oblige the two of them, he couldn't say. They had a life he'd never thought to dream of, but he understood the importance.
He watched as Gordon pressed a kiss to his wife's cheek, his hand brushing back a few stray strands that had escaped the braid. It was a tender moment that ended too soon for the couple, but as the injured man slumped back into the wheelchair, Fuse knew it was time to go.
Blue eyes pinned him before he could turn away, however. Lady Penelope's expression was not to be taken lightly, unblinking as she offered him a silent, yet heartfelt thank you. He nodded in reply, words not necessary.
The two of them were out of the room stepping into a lift when it hit him. The doors slid shut, the metal reflecting back an image of International Rescue operatives on their way to finish a job. He looked good. Proper good. Like someone who mattered in ways that determined life or death. It stole his breath and sent an ache through his chest.
And then, the spell broke as the doors opened.
Blue and green met him on the other side. Virgil stood by the reception desk with Parker, his attention shifting as they stepped from the lift. The older brother took a step in their direction, but stopped when he finally recognized who was wheeling the aquanaut out.
Two sets of dark brown locked and in one breath, there came mutual understanding. A blink and they were moving again.
"Alright, Squid. Looks like my job's done," Fuse stepped aside for Virgil to take charge.
"Aww, you're not gonna stay and keep me company?" The whine signified the obvious tease, although, with Gordon, there was always a level of sincerity.
"Got a bar to run, remember? But you've got my number," Fuse smiled, holding out a fist. The aquanaut obliged, their knuckles bumping before they went their separate ways.
From across the room, Gordon called, "You're keepin' the suit?"
Fuse chuckled, "O' course. Never know when you'll need rescuin' again." And the fact that it was a very possible reality seemed to sober the group. His smile remained as Fuse waved, Gordon being whisked through a set of doors leading to the ED, "Take care, Squid."
"See ya, Clarence," said like it was the simplest of things.
When the doors closed, Fuse turned to find Parker still standing in the waiting area, "Oi, I get a lift back, right?"
A grey brow lifted, "H'It was part of the deal." Though, he didn't seem too pleased.
Following the resigned chauffeur, Fuse kept the smile, mood higher than it had been at the start of the day. The doors reflected the blue and purple, not in as detailed a view, but it still captured that same sense of purpose. Oh yes, he'd be keeping the suit - in a very well hidden spot - for the future.
Being needed was a pretty good feeling.