You guys...thank you all so much for the love and support.
This fandom really is the best and has made me feel the most welcome out of all.
Your kind words, feedback, ideas, basically every second you spare when telling me your thoughts... it really means so much!
For now I'll shush myself and let you enjoy the next chapter!
Starting with some Modo, Charley and Vinnie.
The Last Chance Garage
When Charley and the guys arrived at her house, the place was empty. But that wasn't a surprise. Modo and Vinnie told her everything they knew and she didn't. Where Izzy and the others were. Though nothing could have prepared her for what they told her about Sam.
The female mechanic couldn't even comprehend half of what they'd revealed to her. It sounded nothing like the man she grew up with.
Her brother had gambled himself into a huge debt. A debt which her sister-in-law paid off all on her own without even telling her. The man who ordered Charley's kidnapping, was the same guy who Sam had owed the money to.
This person had used her in order to convince Izzy to come to him, but for whatever reasons Charley did not know. Those were questions only her friend would be able to answer.
But the place where she'd been taken to, turned out to be her brother's? Because he hadn't died in that fatal accident. He had only pretended it had happened. Why had he done that? How could he let all of them believe he was dead?
Then there was also that erotic picture of her sister-in-law. Was that how she had been able to pay off the debt?
There was so much Charley did not know nor understood. So many questions she had, and there was nobody around to answer them.
Did Izzy know Sam fooled them all? Did she know about that apartment he had downtown? Charley wasn't a hundred percent sure about any of it. She needed to hear it from her in person before making accusations.
Part of her was incredibly angry at the other woman for not confiding in her about Sam's past. She must have had her reasons for keeping it to herself, but she was his sister. Didn't she deserve to know about any of it?
"Here you go, Charley." Modo's voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked up at the gentle giant currently holding a glass of water in front of her.
She smiled weakly and took it from him. "Thanks, Modo."
Her head hurt a lot. Most likely a side effect from the sleeping gas they'd knocked her out with. She wanted nothing more than to sleep, but how could she with all these thoughts and questions flying through her mind.
Modo sat down in the corner of the couch, his arm draped loosely on the backrest behind Charley.
"Anything you want us to do for you?" He asked carefully.
Turn back time, sprang to her mind. But eventually she shook her head and moved closer towards him. The only thing she really wanted was to be comforted. Someone to wrap their arms around her. Make her feel safe.
Thank goodness for Vinnie and Modo for getting her out of there. Even if the henchman who'd kidnapped her, said he was planning on letting her go after a couple of hours. The things he had told her were simply too much for her to handle on her own, but then these guys showed up.
As they always did.
Charley placed a hand on Modo's leg and she felt him stiffen underneath her touch. She turned her head and looked up at him with a frown. Modo never really flinched when she touched him like that. Not in such an obvious manner.
In fact he always welcomed her if she tried to get close, especially as of late. Unlike Vinnie, who usually froze if she got too close for comfort.
"Are you alright, Modo?" She asked him with genuine concern.
He met her gaze, but couldn't return the same smile she'd given him earlier. It was unfair to her for him to respond this way, but he was feeling anxious all of a sudden.
The original plan was to tell Charley how he really felt about her and that he was going to do this the moment they got her home safely. They'd done that and now she was back safe and sound. But was this the right time to proceed with his plan?
What if she were to misinterpret his words? She wanted comfort, he could sense it coming from her. If he told her he liked her, she could reply with the exact same words and completely mean something else.
He didn't want that to happen.
"I'm fine, Charley-girl. I was just really worried about you, that's all."
"I wasn't worried." She replied to him.
She hadn't been? Modo furrowed his brow and blinked his eye. Had he misread her response when he cut her bonds lose back at the apartment?
"You weren't scared?" He asked.
"I didn't say that,- I was afraid. But I wasn't worried."
Charley set her now empty glass back on the table and turned her body towards Modo. "I was never really worried, because I knew you guys would come for me. You always do."
Her voice lowered and for a second Modo wasn't sure if she meant him specifically with that latter comment or all of them in general.
"You mean so much to us, Charley. Sometimes I don't think you even know how much."
But the woman shook her head. Of course she knew. A lot happened between all of them. Battles, kidnappings and explosions. But also non violent matters, such as relaxing on the couch while watching a movie. Riding around Chicago, eating hot dogs and drinking root beer in the park.
Not a single day went by without any of them being by her side.
"You're wrong." She said to him. "I do know, Modo. All of you mean so much to me as well."
It was apparent that she didn't know. Not about him and how he truly felt. He wondered if she was ever going to realize it on her own, unless,-
And that's when it happened. It was a weird sensation, like a fizzy soda bubbling inside of him, only it spread throughout his entire being. His fur tingled, his heart pounded in his throat and her scent assaulted his senses.
Soft and spicy, like early morning dew drops on pine trees after a short rain shower just around sunrise.
This was the moment. The opportunity that he had to take, otherwise who knew how long it would be until he'd be brave enough to say it.
"No, it is so much more, Charley-girl." Modo shook his head and grabbed both of her hands with his good arm.
She stared at him, her mouth opened slightly but she kept quiet. She'd seen that look in his eye before, only this time he didn't avert his gaze.
"I like you, Charley, and I don't mean that in a 'I want to be your friend' kinda way,-" He said it ever so quickly, afraid it might not come out of him if he paused.
"I want...I mean,- " That's when he lost all of his words. All of the sentences he had thought of in his mind when this moment would arrive vanished.
Something soft and slightly wet touched his cheek. His eye widened at the subtle and simple touch. Then he felt it again, this time slightly closer towards the location of his mouth.
A shiver ran down his spine and the place still tingled where she'd just kissed him.
"I do know what you mean, Modo." She said to him and now it was his turn to stare back at her. "And I,- I honestly don't know what to say or how to answer what you just told me. But I know what I'm feeling."
"But you're hurt. In here." He moved her hand and placed it right above the location of his heart. "I don't want you to think I am taking advantage of that. Darlin'."
Darlin'. Her whole body shivered from the low trembled emitted by the grey mouse as he spoke. To think he was being careful with her, even after declaring his feelings, because of what happened today. Perhaps it was she who didn't deserve his love.
"Modo, I will only say this once. So please listen,-" Charley placed her other hand on his chest. "You could never take advantage of me. You could never hurt me."
It sounded like she was giving him permission to do what he'd only dreamt of doing for so long. He raised his arm and placed his hand behind her head.
That movement alone was enough for Charley to realise what was coming next and she welcomed it with every fibre in her being. Modo leaned in ever so slowly, but when his mouth did finally land on hers, she was glad to be sitting down.
"Well,- I can't reach any of them..." Vinnie halted at the top of the stairs and when his eyes landed on the couple seated on the couch, he thought they were playing a trick on him.
Charley and Modo broke their kiss, both flustered and unsure of what to say to the shocked white mouse standing in the entrance of the room.
"I,- I see I'm interrupting something. Lemme just, give me a second to get out of your way."
He stumbled backwards and rushed as fast as he could down the steps to the garage. Leaving both Modo and Charley behind him.
Dreamland
He may have her, but honestly who had him? That little stunt must have cost him years of his Martian life.
Had this been any other kind of situation, he would have laughed in fortune's face. But for the first time, the sight of death and danger had never seen nor felt as palpable as today.
Losing her had been very real for a split second. The possibility of never feeling her body against his, never telling her how he truly felt, it could all have happened.
And what if it had? What if she had been hit and was currently dying? The fear of looking down and seeing her dead in his arms entered his mind. But she was warm and that pressure he felt around him were her arms grabbing onto him.
Gathering the courage he was known for, Stoker pulled back and lowered his burgundy eyes at Izzy. She met his gaze and his heart sank.
"Don't do that to me again." He breathed, raising his hand to cup her face.
"Don't you ever dare take a bullet for me!"
He didn't mean to sound angry, but the truth is that he actually was. Angry, sad, happy, afraid. His emotions were all over the place because of what she'd done.
Aside from the fact Morden had tried to strangle her to death, she'd gone and jumped between him and a death sentence. To think she was willing to protect him like that. Him. His life held no value compared to hers and he was not worthy of it.
A shadow fell over them and he looked up at Throttle. The mouse leaned forward and swept a strand of hair out of the Izzy's face. The realization that today could have ended very grim had hit him too.
"We were really lucky there." He said to his former coach.
Stoker wasn't listening. For one thing, he didn't really believe in luck, but today he wasn't planning on proving that theory. He pressed Izzy closer against him for just a second and then inhaled deeply.
"Take her with you." He ordered as he gently handed her over to Throttle.
Take her? The tanned mouse stared at him with suspicion. Izzy didn't protest as he wrapped his arms around her. Her eyes were puffy and red, her cheeks flushed. She wasn't looking at him though, her eyes were focused on Stoker, as if she too understood he was planning on doing something.
Whatever it was, it was clear that the older mouse did not want either of them to see what he was about to do. And even though Throttle felt the same desire, he couldn't allow that to happen. That was not who they were. Perhaps on Mars it was a different story, but this was not their home planet, this was Earth.
"We're leaving together." He said placing his hand on Stoker's arm.
"No can do, rookie. I have to do this." His eyes moved towards the motionless body a couple of feet behind them on the floor.
Throttle tightened his grip. "No, you don't."
"Yes, I do. Do you honestly think our little stunt was enough to make him stop?" Anger flashed across Stoker's face.
Of course he wanted nothing more than to get out of this joint with them, but he couldn't do that. Not until he'd taken care of Morden. Preferably with his bare hands, just as he'd done to Izzy.
"I ain't asking you again. Please, take her with you and go back to the garage or the scoreboard, for all I care."
Stoker lowered his eyes and looked at Izzy.
The handprint on her neck was perfectly outlined and it would most certainly leave a mark for a while. Looking at it fuelled him with rage. He couldn't leave without hurting Morden, he simply couldn't.
He was a mouse who'd known anger and wrath for most of his adult life, thanks to the Plutarkian war. It was in his veins and right now his blood boiled. He didn't care if Throttle disagreed with him, he was going to stay here until the job was done.
"Fine."
When it became apparent that the other mouse wasn't going to stop him, he stepped away from the two.
From behind his shades, Throttle's red eyes followed Stoker heading towards Morden. The former rebel leader was right, of course he was. It was clear this guy was never going to stop.
He'd kidnapped Charley, he'd tried to kill Izzy as well as Stoker. And for what? That part was still vague, but the proof was there that the man went through great lengths to get his way and they couldn't let that continue.
"Charley?" Izzy suddenly exclaimed softly. "Did you find her?"
She tilted her head back and stared at him. At least there was some good news to share with her. News that he'd heard earlier from Stoker when the mouse had contacted him right before entering the building.
Vinnie and Modo had found the female mechanic and they were currently bringing her home, safe and sound.
"Yeah, babe" Throttle smiled warmly at her as he carefully grazed her cheek with his hand. "The others rescued her. They're on their way to the garage."
"Oh,-" She let out a deep sigh of relief and pressed herself closer against him. "Thank goodness."
Without warning her, the mouse slipped one arm underneath her legs, the other under her back and lifted her up. She didn't protest and let him carry her off the stage.
Just as they were about to leave the room, Izzy glanced past him to look at Stoker, who stood directly above Morden. She tightened her hold on Throttle's vest and he stopped.
His eyes widened and he took a deep breath. In all honesty, Throttle thought Stoker was only planning on seriously hurting Morden. But from what he could tell, simply by looking at the mouse, was that was not going to be the case at all.
Stoker was going to kill him.
::::::...::::::
Now that Throttle and Izzy had left the scene, the older mouse finally felt comfortable enough to fall back into his former persona. He didn't want either of them to see this side of him. Even if Throttle already knew all about it, this was a different matter.
This was personal. Which meant that he wasn't going to hold back on his rage. A side he did not want to share with anyone aside from himself.
The Stoker from the Plutarkian war. The mouse who had more deaths on his name than one could count. The mouse who'd sneaked into enemy camps to figure out what their next tactical step would be.
However, this was going to be a different kind of kill.
This creature before him was no soldier, nor general. No, war tactician nor a veteran. This man was a cold hearted blackmailer. A man who was used to getting what he wanted through shady dealings and honeyed words. But that was going to end today.
Morden began to stir and the man slowly placed his hands on the ground to push himself up. Stoker crossed his arms and watched him closely. His metal tail moving threateningly.
Carefully, the human on the floor tilted his head sideways and looked up at the tall weird looking alien.
"Please, let's discuss this situation for a moment." He said as he was getting ready to stand on his feet.
"You better stay down if you know what's good for you, you despicable creature." The hazel mouse hissed through his teeth.
"Look, I don't know what Autumn has told you about me, but I am but a simple business man. I'm sure we can work something out here?" With every breath he took, he moved an inch.
"I said stay down!"
"Right, right." The man raised his hands in a yielding manner. "Let's just talk."
Morden had used the name Autumn, but that name unfamiliar to Stoker. He reckoned he was referring to Izzy, seeing as she was the only one there who knew all of them.
"I've seen what you meant with just talk and in this case, I am going to return that favour." Stoker stepped closer, pulled Morden up from the ground with the use of his tail and held the man aloft in front of him.
The mouse started contemplating on how to proceed. Choke him? Slow and agonizing, so he could feel his life slipping away? Or a clean and quick twist of his neck? Whichever way he was going to go, it would be with his bare hands.
"You tried to kill my girl, and you will not live to see another day." He growled low and heavy.
There was only one word to explain the expression which fell over Morden's face. Sheer terror.
"I can get you anything you want." He pleaded, his voice cracked. "You want money? Drugs, perhaps? Women? I could get you all the girls you want, better than that whore,-"
A loud snap echoed across the stage.
Stoker uncoiled his tail and the limp body of Morden hit the floor with a thud. "Clean and quick..."
The scoreboard
"Easy, easy,-" Throttle said as Izzy climbed off the bike without his help.
"I can walk." She replied hoarsely.
It would probably only take a few hours till her voice would sound normal again. But that wasn't his main concern. During the ride back to the scoreboard, she hadn't said anything and he had a feeling it wasn't because of her sore throat.
She'd held on to him tightly, something which had been more than welcome. But her mind seemed elsewhere. Perhaps getting the life literally squeezed out of her, had shook her up pretty bad.
He had to admit that he felt like that himself. When he walked across those beams above the stage and saw what was taking place below him. The fright in her eyes, the tears streaming down her face. His heart had practically stopped.
But Stoker and him and agreed on letting the former leader take care of it first. Keep Throttle as the ex machina till the end, which they did.
She hadn't cried since they left the building. Somehow that worried him even more. Wasn't it normal for humans to react that way when something traumatizing happened?
Throttle followed her up the stairs towards the main room within the scoreboard. She hadn't even questioned him for driving towards their lair, instead of the Last Chance Garage. Honestly, he wasn't even sure why he took her here instead of there.
To give Modo and Vinnie time with Charley, who was probably pretty shaken up as well? Perhaps he was lying to himself in thinking that.
Before entering their home, Throttle had tried to contact Stoker, but the mouse hadn't responded to his call. He wasn't exactly worried about the former rebel leader, but he did wonder if he had left the club in one piece.
Most importantly if he'd disposed of Morden and any other evidence on the scene. They really could not afford to get caught. But knowing Stoker, he would know how to clean up a mess such as this.
They reached the living quarters, where everything was quiet and deserted. It would just be the two of them. Give them a chance to let everything which had happened sink in. Maybe even a chance to talk about it.
That was something Throttle wanted. He wanted to know what happened between Morden and Izzy before Stoker and him made their appearance. But first he had to make sure that she was okay with being there with him.
"Look, Izzy, if you want me to take you to Charley, I'm more than happy t,-" He didn't finish his sentence as the woman already shook her head.
"No, please. I'm glad you brought me here. I,-" A deep sigh escaped her and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I honestly don't know how to face her."
Throttle frowned. "What do you mean?"
She stopped her tread and turned around to face him, yet her eyes remained lowered and focused on the empty space between them. "Have you perhaps heard anything he said to me?"
"No." He answered quickly. He now wished that he had.
At first he thought that the woman was shaken up because of what that piece of garbage had tried to do to her. But now that Throttle looked closer, it seemed that there was a whole other reason why she was behaving so absent-mindedly.
"Maybe we should,-"
But again she walked away from him just as he was about to say something. Instead of following her, he watched and waited. Watched her walk around the room and waited until she finally stopped again. She sat down on the couch and folded her hands together on her legs.
She seemed so small.
With a couple of steps Throttle was at her side once again. He eased himself down next to her and then leaned forward. Only this time, he didn't ask for permission to touch her. Both his antennas pressed against the top of her head.
"Tell me." He whispered.
It was different from when he'd touched her earlier outside of the club. Back there, she only had to show him the inside of that place so he would know where he was going. Right now he was asking her to tell him everything that was going through her mind and it was one big mess.
Was this what Stoker had seen when he connected with her on accident? Throttle saw everything in such a quick pace he wasn't ever sure what was present or what was past.
"Stop."
He pulled her against him, his arms around her body. His words caused her mind to halt and everything went dark. He could hear her in the distant and he wasn't sure if she was talking to him from within or was using her actual voice.
"I don't want to talk."
Her voice sounded differently. Light, like a bell.
"Nothing can hurt you here." Throttle told her, although technically that wasn't entirely true. If anything this was a place where one could do tremendous damage if they really wanted to.
But that thought would never cross his mind. Especially now. Especially with her.
Once again he asked her to tell him. Only this time he was more specific. He asked her to tell him about what Morden had said to her, nothing more and nothing less.
Something that would normally take a couple of minutes, now only took seconds. He learned of Sam faking his death. Sam hiding from everything and everyone. Sam stealing some sort of microfilm and then Morden telling Izzy how he had killed Charley's brother only three weeks ago. Right before she'd come back to Chicago.
Throttle didn't say anything when he broke the mind-link between them. But he didn't move them away from her head either. The tanned mouse just sat there, holding her tightly.
Slowly he lowered his upper body until it hit the armrest of the couch. He shifted slightly until Izzy was now resting completely against him. Her eyes closed and her breathing shallow.
Her honey coloured hair spread out across his chest like a wavy waterfall. He allowed himself to close his eyes as well. Hardly believing what he'd just learned. The burden this woman had carried. How much this news hurt not only her, but would hit Charley as well once she was to learn of it.
One thing was for sure, Throttle hoped Stoker had hurt Morden good and hard before putting that bastard out of his miserable and disgusting life.
Well, let's just say things are far from over...
The object (a microfilm) Sam stole from Morden is going to play a significant part in the story.
Most importantly!
We have two sets of love triangles and a lot of physiological explanation coming on that subject!
One side note...
And I hope you can all appreciate Stoker's darker side. I just couldn't let him leave without killing Morden.
Compared to the other mice, I really picture him as someone who lived and breathed death on Mars and therefore do what he did, especially considering he loves Izzy.
Hope you all enjoyed and please, let me hear your thoughts.