Mercenary and the Beauty Ch. 10
Sitting across from Gunner and Toll, Amelia leaned back against the wall of the plane she watched him watch her, she knew that he was worried about her, and it was one of the many things that she loved about the man, for someone so big, brutal, and all around badass, but for her, and only her, he was gentle, loving, and supportive. He truly was a walking contradiction. Now was not the time to be super emotional, but the moment she could just cry she was going to bury herself in his chest and let him take care of her.
Trying to keep from thinking too far into the future, that kind of thinking was dangerous, Amelia needed to focus on the thing in front of her, Sang's, the psycho that killed Billy, either getting back the plutonium computer or stop him from taking it out of the mine. It was daunting, before this, her only concern was making sure her boss didn't get the wrong impression, it had been close to 8 years since she had to worry about any kind of mission, getting thrown back into it, she would be eternally grateful if she never needed to come out to a mission like this again.
Looking over at Maggie, she was quiet, and reflective. "Maggie, you doing alright?" she asked the woman.
Maggie looked to her right, "I'm fine," letting out a sigh, "well that's not true, this isn't what I was told my mission was, he didn't let me know that there was potential to run into an army. He left a lot of things out." The more she thought of it, the more it really pissed her off.
"How long have you worked for him?" Gunner asked.
Amelia snorted, there was no working for him, it was blackmail thing, that's how he worked.
"Almost 3 years now." Now was not the time to talk about how she ended up with him, it would only serve to piss her off.
Leaning over to bump her shoulder, "You don't have to say what he has on you," looking at Gunner, then Toll, "That's how he works, you do something, he finds you, he owns you." Turning her attention back to Maggie, "I'm sorry."
Nodding, "So, how'd you get out?"
Straightening her shoulders, it was something that she didn't like to talk about, but Maggie was in her situation. "I refused to complete a mission, he retaliated by waterboarding me for 3 days. I think he was hoping I would crack, but by some miracle I didn't, and when he asked me what my choice was, I took the gun from one of the guards, and told him I'd fucking kill myself before I let him control me." Shaking at the memory, "He believed me." Closing her eyes, she could feel the memory wash over her, but she shook it off, "I needed a lot of therapy after all that." Smiling at Maggie, "Don't recommend that method."
Toll gasped, "You were going to kill yourself?" he asked her.
Locking eyes with him, "I was 17, I was scared, I didn't want to do what he was asking a child to do, so yea. If he would have dared me, or made a step towards me, I would have pulled the trigger." She could feel the tears threatening to fall. Turning her head, she couldn't look at his face, afraid of what she would see.
His body shook with anger, he was going to kill that man. "Amelia, you look at me right now." He ordered.
Looking up, she centered herself, and locked eyes with him, and waited.
"I promise you, that man will never darken your life again. I promise you that." He swore to her. She was his to protect, the love of his long and miserable life, he would give her anything, do anything for her.
Shocked that he wasn't disgusted, "I love you. I hope you know that."
Smiling at her, "I love you too." Leaning back, he could see that Caesar was watching him, giving him a smile.
Gunner looked over at him, and leaned down, "You hurt that girl, I'll kill you. She's what I think we all hope for."
Turning his head slightly, "If I ever hurt her, I'll let you." He meant it.
Maggie watched how they all in their own ways loved her, Amelia was very lucky, she hoped that one day she would be able to have a family like this, or at least 1 person in her life that she could just be Maggie with.
Amelia looked over at the woman next to her, "Just so you know, unless you're not allowed, you're my friend now," putting her arm around her, "even if you handcuffed me."
Leaning into her arm, "No matter what happens, if after this mission is over with, I would love to be your friend."
Caesar looked next to him as the ladies hugged it out, his eyes turning towards the men across from him, "A beautiful moment."
Hearing them snicker, Amelia looked up and flicked them off, "Eat a dick." Looking at Maggie, "Men. They act all tough, but seriously the bromance between them is ridiculous."
The cabin was filled with laughter, but it was soon cut short, Barney spoke through the speakers, telling them to buckle it, they were flying straight into the mine.
Amelia looked towards the pilot's cabin, then back at Toll, "He's kidding, right?" she asked, her body was shaking. But as she looked at Gunner, Toll, and then finally Caesar, she knew he wasn't. "Oh, GOD."
Wrapping her arms around the cable netting that was hanging above her head. Amelia didn't want to think too much about what was happening, holding on as though her life was depending on this moment.
The decent down was quick and rapid, and the sound of the wings scraping the inside of the cavern put the fear of God into Amelia's soul, but hearing Maggie scream startled her more, looking to her right, she found Maggie being launched off the seat and heading towards the back of the exposed plane.
"MAGGIE!" Letting go of the cables, Amelia let her body fall towards her, grabbing ahold on her hands, and a rope that was attached to the plane, she refused to let the woman go.
Toll watched in horror as Amelia jumped to save Maggie, he was impressed that she was willing to save someone but scared that she was going to get herself killed. He couldn't move, he was strapped in too tight, and there was nothing that was going to stop his momentum if he unbuckled himself, and it could cause him to hit Amelia. So, he sat there watching, hoping that she was going to be strong enough to hold on to the both of them.
The sound of silence is what made Amelia aware that they were no longer moving. Taking a deep breath, Amelia opened her eyes, and found Maggie looking up at her, "Are you OK?" she asked in a rush.
Using her knees to sit up, Maggie nodded, "Thank you." She breathed out.
Toll rushed over to Amelia, carefully pulling up her, "Jesus, are you OK?" he asked her, checking over body for any injuries.
Feeling his arms around her body, "I really hate this vacation." She said in a rushed laugh.
Kissing her gently, "I do to." Looking up he could see that the guys were ready to head into the mine, "Stay here, do not come out until we clear everyone out. OK?" His eyes focused on her. He didn't want her to be in anymore danger.
Sitting down, she watched them grab some guns, "You couldn't pay me to go out there." She teased.
Leaning over, Toll gave her another swift kiss, and headed out.
Bunkering down in the broken-down plane, Amelia took the quiet moment to reflect on the last 48hrs, she was kidnapped, told to go on this stupid mission because Tim's lied, she shot a man to protect a child, was in a plane crash, and now she's just sitting in the plane waiting for this to finally come to an end.
Rubbing the temples on her head, Amelia could feel the starting of a migraine, and all she wanted was to go home, drink wine, and sleep for a month. No, scratch that, go home, scrub her body until it was raw, then wine, finally sleep. As she sat back, dreaming of the moment when she could rid herself of the blood and grime, but as she let her mind relax, the sound of the mountain caving in scared her.
"Jesus." she murmured to herself.
Listening to the sounds of men leaving, she hunkered herself in the plane, not wanting to bring attention that she was in there, but she couldn't trust the fact that someone wouldn't come look inside the plane. Grabbing one of the guns that was left behind, she cocked the chamber and placed the butt of the gun deep in her shoulder, mildly grateful that her father taught her basic gun safety; and it didn't hurt the man she was in love with spent a lot of time with his guns.
Holding her breath, she listened to the men file out of the cave, carefully making her way towards the front of the plane, she watched as the men filed out, leaving in the trucks. Biting her lip, she knew that she needed to leave the plane, because if there was no gun firing, and she didn't see her team given chase. "Fuck."
Slowly making her way towards back of the plane, Amelia peered out, seeing a big wall of rocks at the far end of the cavern. "Shit." It didn't take a genius to figure out that the explosion she heard was the reason behind the big wall of rocks. "Damn." Amelia was starting to wonder what she needed to do to get the hell out of this place, and how many more complications were going to be tossed at her before this mission was completed.
Peering out of the plane, she could see no one else in the cavern but a big heavy piece of drilling equipment. Letting out a deep sigh, Amelia closed her eyes, and mentally prepared herself. Tucking the gun deep into her shoulder, she made her way out, moving quickly, but keeping an eye on the opening, she didn't to have someone sneak up on her.
Hitting the wall with her back, Amelia took the time to really see what she could do, she could instantly use the drill, but there was no way to warn the people inside to back up, and she didn't want to be responsible for accidently killing people with boulders. Looking up the wall, she could see that at the very top there was a small opening, not really big enough for anyone to crawl through, but big enough to talk to someone through.
Slipping the gun over her shoulder to where it came rested on her back, Amelia took the time to climb up. Slowly making progress up the wall, Amelia couldn't help but laugh at this moment, her dad always tried to get her outside and play, he was an avid rock climber, damn near forced her on the mountains, chuckling at what her dad would say if he could see her free climb up this rock wall.
It took her about 10 minutes to reach the top, letting out an exhausted breath, she made her way towards the opening, she took off the gun, and placed it on the rock ledge next to the hole. Squeezing through, she could see the cavern was full of people, and her family. She could see that Gunner was removing gun powder, "That's not going to work." She called out, smirking at their faces.
The sound of someone talking to them from above caused them all to react, but when they could see that it was Amelia, they easily relaxed.
Gunner chuckled, "Good to see you short stack." Looking at the rest of the team, he could see that they felt the same. "And why won't that work?" he asked.
Feeling a bit constricted, "Science class after, get back. At least 20 feet." Looking over at Toll, she smiled at him. "Give me a few minutes to get down."
Squirming out of the hole, Amelia grabbed the gun, and strapped it around her back, and slowly took the time to descend down the wall, not wanting to rush, and cause the rocks to slip out from underneath her. Can't help anyone if she had a broken leg or worse, dead.
Hitting the solid ground, she let out a sigh, grateful that was able to get down in one piece. Shaking off the rest of her nerves, she made her way towards the drill, knowing that she needed to get that monster started, and open a way out for her family, and the villagers that were trapped.
Her mind was elsewhere, but the sound of heavy footsteps brought her back quickly, and she turned holding the gun in place, ready to shoot whoever was sneaking up behind her.
Locking eyes with a giant man, he was easily as big as Gunner. He took another step, his hands wide open, not wanting him to take another step, she fired a shot at his foot, "Stop. Who the fuck are you?" she asked.
Trench didn't expect to see the Tech Analyst holding a weapon on him, but he could understand her fear, "Relax, Church and I are here to save Barney and his team." Taking another step forward, "I'm Trench."
Amelia briefly remembered hearing the name, "You're not family or a friend, so why are you here?" she asked him.
Smirking at her, she was smart, brave, and committed to shooting him if it came down to it, it was impressive. "No, I'm not, but he saved my life, I owe him. That's it."
While she wasn't trained, her instincts on people were pretty spot on, and hers were saying he wasn't going to harm her, or her family. But doesn't mean she was going to put the gun down, using it to point to the drill, "Get it started, and go through the wall." She ordered. Stepping back, she made sure that there was enough space between them in case he tried to take the gun from her.
Getting onto the drill, "Are you going to keep that on me?" he asked, indicating towards the gun.
Smiling at him, "Until I know that they are safe, and that they don't shoot you, yea. I am." Holding it a little tighter to her shoulder. "Get going."
He couldn't help but laugh, tough little thing. Starting up the engines, he turned his attention to knocking down the wall, after a few tries, he was able to punch a good-sized hole, that anyone could walk through. Backing up the drill, he jumped down, and looked at the young woman, "It's open."
Holding towards his head, "Then go say hello."
Shaking his head, she wasn't kidding, he could see that if he even sneezed wrong, she'd put a bullet in him. Nodding, he walked through, coming face to face with Barney and his team. "I guess I don't owe you anymore." He teased.
Amelia didn't hear any firing, moving behind him, she could hear that he was telling Barney that he didn't owe him, she couldn't help but snort, men. Walking around his body, she went straight for Toll, "Are you OK?" she asked him.
Pulling her into his arms, "I'm fine, are you OK?" holding to his chest.
"Good, tired, sore, never flying with Barney, and I almost shot that guy behind me. It's been a long day." She teased. Taking a tentative step back, "We have to go, Captain Psycho just left in trucks." Her eyes finding Barney.
Rounding everyone up, they all excited the cavern, the bridge was filled with people, trying to reunite with their families, but it was only one person that Amelia could see, Tims. If she didn't have a mission to complete, she'd shoot him now.
The ride in the chopper to the airport was filled with anxiety and fear, she didn't want to be in close proximity to Tim's, but it was a necessary evil, there was no way on earth that she was going to stay behind. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she could feel Tim's watching her, looking up, she wanted to snap at him, but keeping herself under control was key, right now wasn't the time or place to lay into him.
Barney could see that Amelia wanted to jump across the chopper and strangle the man, he was almost surprised that she didn't. He always knew that she was a lot tougher than she looked. He knew when they got back, he was going to give her the best damn steak dinner she could ask for. Turning his attention back towards the mission and the airport, he could see that they were closing in on the trucks. Turning towards Caesar, "LIGHT IT UP!"
The sounds of machine gun fire caused Amelia to wrap her hands around her ears, and shut her eyes, she already survived a plane crash, she wasn't sure that surviving a helicopter crash was possible, she was sure her guardian angel was sitting back drinking a beer, wondering what the fuck she was doing with her life.
Feeling the chopper land, Amelia watched as everyone filed out of the chopper, and run after Vilian and his crew. She watched as they ran into the building, looking around, she found a rifle that was left behind, and made a decision, she was going to go in and at least provide cover for them.
Picking up the gun, she ran inside, and found herself climbing up the stairs, and getting herself into a perch. Laughing again at the image that she projected, her dad would either be proud or absolutely furious with her for doing something this dangerous.
Surveying the scene, she watched how they moved together, but Toll and Gunner were pinned down, Lee was running after some dude, and Barney was chasing the man that killed Billy with Maggie close behind him, unable to see where Caesar, Trench, or Tim's were. Making a choice to protect her family, she opened fire, shooting one man in the heart and the other in the head. She closed her eyes as they hit the ground.
Toll looked up to see who provided them the cover they needed to push through. His heart dropped seeing it was Amelia.
Gunner watched his friends face fall, turning his eyes towards the shooter, finding Amelia looking down at them with tears in her eyes. "She saved our lives, but at what cost?" he murmured to himself.
Making her way down the stairs, she stepped over bullet casings, and bloody bodies, but she refused to freak out, she's already come this far, she could make it, she'd be fine, just perhaps needing a little time to hide in her house for a while, but she wasn't going to be afraid of what she had to do to survive. But as soon as she was on Toll and Gunner, she shook off her doubts, and locked her eyes with his, she could see that he was scared for her.
"I'll deal with it when I can. Now is not the time."
Pulling her into a deep hug, he took the gun from her and handed it to Gunner, "I am in awe of you, Amelia." Kissing her temple, "Thank you for saving our lives." He could feel her arms wrap around him, it helped sooth his need to protect her, but it was ironic that she's saved them, twice.
She was dangerously close to crying, she didn't want to do that, not yet, giving him a quick squeeze, Amelia took a moment to step back, and looked up at him, then Gunner, "I love you," and turning to Gunner, "I love all of you. You're my heart, and my family. I would anything for you."
Shaking off the emotions that were threatening to course through her body, she turned back to see Caesar coming up, with Trench. Turning towards them, "Is it done?" she asked them.
Trench looked down at the tiny woman, "Yes, airport is clear," pointing to where Lee was standing near the Chopper with Tim's. "Just waiting on Barney, and the other woman to show up from chasing Vilian."
Nodding, she followed Toll, Gunner, and Caesar out towards the chopper, her eyes finding Maggie and Barney walking up to Church with a bloody bag. Amelia slightly gagged at the sight. "I am going to need a lot of therapy." She mused.
Her mind was racing as she approached the chopper, hearing them banter, how he joked, it set her off, now that she knew that the man was dead, the plutonium was now safe, she wasn't going to wait any longer. Reaching into the small of her back, she found the gun that she used to kill the first man back at the village. Putting a bullet in the chamber, she pointed it at his head.
"I think I met my end of the deal, you asshole, so you're going to slowly reach for that phone, call Langley, or I will drop you right here." Her eyes not leaving his.
Tim's looked at her, she wasn't going to kill him, but the more he watched her, the more he realized that he could be wrong.
She read his body language, "Don't for a second think I won't, I already killed 3 people today because of this shit show you sent me on, and honestly what's one more." She could feel the tension between them, "Pick it up, or die, don't care."
Slowly reaching into his pocket, he dialed Langley, put it on speaker, after one ring, "Agent Tim's, #155687, Calling to a digital file scrub on one Amelia Lockwood," before he could finish, he felt the gun on his temple, giving her a look.
"Maggie too. You're done using her."
Grimacing, while he hated to lose two assets, she earned her freedom, and Maggie served him well, perhaps it was time to find more people.
Clearing his throat, "And one Maggie Yu, confirmation codes, #89004."
It was quiet on the other end of the phone, but after a few tense moments, "Scrubbed sir, no longer in any of the databases. Is there anything else, sir?"
His eyes questioning Amelia, but as she shook her head, "No." Disconnecting the call, he waited for her to remove the gun.
Taking a few steps back, she looked at him, but there was no need to threaten him, she was sure that he was clear on what lengths she would go to protect herself, and people she cared for.
Tim's looked over at the teams, his business with them was done, jumping into the chopper, he pointed to a decent sized plane, "Your way home." With that, he watched Trench jump in, and they headed towards the CIA airfield.
Letting out a breath, she felt someone hit her from the side, turning her head, she found Maggie wrapping her arms around her. Returning the hug, this was worth it, she was not longer under his control.
"Thank you so much for freeing me. I owe you so much." Maggie said, with tears in her eyes.
"No one deserves to be under his control. I'm glad that I was able to help you." Wrapping her in a tight hug. She could feel the men standing around watching them, giving them a look, "It's called an emotional moment."
The girls laughed, and separated, Amelia stepped back into Tolls arms, "I'd really like to go home now."
They all laughed and started to make their way to the plane. Amelia put her head on Toll's shoulder, and almost instantly fell asleep.
Wrapping his arms around her, he couldn't have been prouder of her, she toughed it out, she survived, she did what was necessary to get through the mission, and she even saved their lives, she was impressive, and she was his.