Chapter 5 - Strange Occurrences
(Continued)
Hundreds of thoughts whizzed through Sawyer's mind as he and Skinner returned to the Nautilus in Nemo's automobile. Ishmael drove. There were so many questions in need of answering. It was hard to determine a good place to start and so they were quiet for a while. But they had some time to wait until they arrived at the ship and Sawyer wasn't looking forward to spending the entire trip that way.
"So… how has the League been since I left?" he asked finally. The silence irritated him. Skinner was never usually this quiet near him.
Skinner smiled weakly. "For starters, it's been strange without you, Sawyer. I've had no one to have a decent conversation with."
Sawyer smiled to himself, feeling almost… flattered, by the fact someone missed him. It was nice to have someone want him around.
"I know you can say a lot more than that. How's everyone after what happened?"
Skinner took his hat off and scratched his head. The quiet was a little disconcerting for the agent. Were they taking it worse than he first thought? "It's hard to say," Skinner eventually said. "We've licked our wounds but none of us are that big on talking to each other about that sort of thing. I think we're all just worried. Nemo took a really good beating, especially for someone his age. He kept fighting until there was nothing left in him from what I heard. From what I've seen of the League, Mina is blaming herself for not doing more and Hyde's been giving Jekyll a hard time."
Sawyer turned to face Skinner as much as his seat would let him. He looked at the two darker areas that marked the holes in the greasepaint where Skinner's eyes would be. Sawyer could see all the way through him and out the window out of the other side. It was odd, but it had taken almost no time for him to grow used to the invisible man's unique situation. "And you?" Sawyer asked.
Skinner sighed, "I'm getting by, I guess. Keep thinking about what I could've done differently. I try not to really think about it- I just get worked up. I shouldn't have left him, I knew I shouldn't have let him go by himself-"
"Hey, we both know what Nemo is like. I doubt he gave you a choice. It sounds like these people have been pretty determined to get him anyway. I don't think any of you doing anything differently would have changed things. Getting ambushed by two Hydes ain't a fair fight," Sawyer admitted.
"Oh they were determined alright, but we're not sure why- or how. The Nautilus stopped and surfaced because we were low on air. The other ship must have somehow gotten to us. It hid in one of the Nautilus' blind spots. We had no idea it was there until it was too late."
This was planned, fully intentional, and cruel. It wasn't just Nemo they'd hurt but the League, and no doubt some of the crew too. How were they meant to fix this? Why had they come all this way to get him? What was he going to be able to do to get Nemo back? He'd already failed too many friends, who was to say Nemo wasn't going to be next? A thick sickly feeling of hopelessness started to wash over him and drained him of energy.
Skinner said, snapping Sawyer out of his thoughts, "Although, there was something else. I was accused of taking something a little while before the attack. It had to have been a few hours before he was taken. Nemo asked me nicely about it and all, but I didn't take it. The old boy wasn't impressed either way. He was fuming until it showed up again. Nemo wouldn't say what he thought I had stolen. It was like he didn't want anyone to know. It's still a mystery to us now."
Ishmael glanced up at the rear-view mirror - a new addition to the automobile that Nemo had added- and a flash of worry fell onto his face. Sawyer saw him nibbling his bottom lip. He wasn't keen on Skinner talking about the captain, even if what he said were kind words for the situation.
Sawyer listened, itching for more information when Skinner stopped. There was a strange look on his face. Something had clicked into place in his mind. It was an impression Sawyer saw many times in his job.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I'll check the library again when we get back… Maybe I'm not thinking this through. After all, I haven't been up on my feet for long since I got clobbered. Even then we were too busy trying to get the Nautilus up and running for me to actually pay attention and look for any clues."
"I'll help you. I might see something that you're just used to. Fresh eyes and everything, y'know?" Sawyer offered. Skinner nodded with a smile.
Sawyer couldn't help looking at the front passenger seat. It was bare without Nemo. Ishmael, who was driving, looked so lost without the captain. Usually, the two would speak amongst themselves and exchange glances. Now Ishmael only looked ill. He had dark circles around his eyes and no doubt wasn't eating as much as he should. Sawyer understood that reaction from past experience. He would definitely be keeping an eye on him.
Sawyer wished he could say something to raise his spirits, but nothing came into his mind. Instead, he tried to get some sleep to save himself from a headache that he could feel lingering in the back of his head. He knew he'd need a few hours rest, almost ten in the morning or not. Nothing he would say right now could help Ishmael…
But it could help Nemo.
"Ishmael?"
Ishmael flinched. "Yes, Mr Sawyer?"
"Do you know what went missing?"
"I… uh," Ishmael cleared his throat, shuffling uncomfortably. "I don't think the Captain would appreciate me talking about such matters- but I will say it was certainly taken and not just misplaced."
Sawyer slipped into his professional state of mind. This could prove to be an important clue. If the men who kidnapped Nemo were on the Nautilus for a while before they attacked, it was likely that they had stolen the objects. He was sure no one else on the Nautilus would steal from Nemo and Skinner said he didn't do it. Sawyer believed him. It meant Sawyer had to know what they took. He couldn't accept anything except a straight answer.
"If we don't know what was taken, how can we help Nemo? Whatever it was could help us find him, Ishmael. So far it's our only lead. I know why you won't tell us. You're loyal to him and I respect that, but I wouldn't ask unless it was necessary."
Through the reflection of the mirror, Sawyer could see that his words were having an effect on the man. He understood the logic. But Ishmael did not reply. Not ready to give up yet, Sawyer asked "Could you at least tell me back on board? Would that work?"
Ishmael hesitantly nodded. "Yes, Mr Sawyer."
Sawyer left Nemo's first mate alone after that. He exchanged a curious glance with Skinner but that was all. Whatever had been taken seemed to have a great value and was not something to be gossiped about. He hoped Ishmael would open up later. Sawyer wondered if Ishmael was afraid Skinner would take offence of the accusation. He doubted it but decided to let the matter settle. As long as he got the answer soon, he could wait for a little while.
Sawyer hoped his coffee would kick in soon and help him to think. Miss Finch had seen the spy 'escaping' the building earlier. She didn't know exactly what was going on, but she tried to help as best she could. She gave him a coffee as he left and wished him luck. He'd apologized in advance for the paperwork.
Sawyer appreciated the gesture. He had been working with paperwork for days on end before Skinner came to his rescue and if the long hours hadn't already worn him down, the sheer boredom of it was enough to sap a man's energy. But it would take more than a coffee to keep him awake and it would take more than luck to find Nemo.
Sawyer closed his eyes and allowed his head to fall back against the headrest. Though the automobile without a roof was destroyed in the explosion in Venice, there was still this one and new ones had been made. Sawyer couldn't help but smile at the fact that Nemo still took the time to make them so comfortable as well as practical. Nemo did so much for the League without their noticing: the Nautilus, the automobiles, accommodation, all the supplies, right down to making comfortable seats. He'd lost good men in helping their cause. Regardless of what the man might have been rumoured to do in the past, he was a valued, irreplaceable, and appreciated teammate and friend. The sooner they got their captain back, the better.
"So, I think our departure went quite well," Skinner remarked after a while. Sawyer internally groaned. Why did Skinner have to restart a conversation now? Although he preferred the invisible thief to be talkative, Sawyer was beginning to feel like he was about to drift off to sleep. Tiredness and the almost hypnotic humming of the engine was too strong to resist.
"Sneaking out and leaving a note on my desk instead of waiting for White to get back is anything but 'quite well'. He and the boss will have my head," Sawyer replied, although he didn't open his eyes. Skinner chuckled, likely still amused by the way he had startled the spy. Sawyer sighed, realising he wouldn't be resting anytime soon. He opened one eye and looked across to the grinning thief.
"I'm serious. I'd rather take a bullet than face White in a foul mood. Sure glad he isn't around much."
"Aww, come on, Sawyer. It can't be that bad."
It was Sawyer's turn to laugh now, "Wanna bet? Name your price. I'll bring you along to White's office when I get back after all this. When you can finally hear again, after he finishes bellowing and maybe fires me, you can pay up."
Skinner raised an eyebrow, "That bad, Heh? Alright then, done. Least then you can spend all your time with your dearest freaky darlings."
Sawyer tutted with a weak smirk. At least Skinner seemed amused at the idea. Sawyer wasn't looking forward to that encounter at all. It had been bearable before now, but this would be his first scolding without Huck and that fact alone would make it a tough one. He wouldn't get into as much bother without Huck there arguing with White the whole time, but it didn't make him any braver.
Huck…
Sawyer tried to push the thoughts aside, only to wedge them in further. Sawyer was growing annoyed with himself. It wasn't fair. Huckleberry Finn. Allan Quatermain. He kept losing them. He kept losing the people he cared about the most. Why couldn't he ever stop it? It was innocent blood on his hands, their deaths were his fault and now Nemo was gone without a trace.
He couldn't actually understand what he was doing there. Why did the League want him back? He wasn't that extraordinary in comparison to them. He'd slow them down or get in the way somehow like before. People would get hurt if he wasn't careful. He began to doubt whether he should have come after all.
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't realize that Skinner noticed his sudden mood change.
"Sawyer?"
It took a long time for him to reply; that was all that Skinner needed to know something was wrong. Granted, with how everything had been going lately, there were a lot of things wrong. But Skinner seemed to realise this was something not directly connected to a couple of Hyde-like monsters smashing their way through the Nautilus and stealing away Nemo.
Sawyer muttered, "I'll help if I can but... I don't think I should be coming with you to find Nemo. I'll probably just mess things up..." And with that answer, Skinner knew what was wrong immediately.
"Tom, we need you for this. What happened back at Mongolia-"
"What happened back in Mongolia was my fault," Sawyer snapped. Then his face softened and his anger became guilt. "I let my guard down. I got him killed. I almost got you killed! If I hadn't. If I just-" Sawyer sighed, covering his mouth with his hand and turned away to look out the window. "Doesn't matter," he mumbled.
There was no way in the world the thief was going to let that stand. Glancing ahead of him, Skinner saw Ishmael was looking at the agent with concern.
"Sawyer," Skinner began, leaning forward. He didn't move or speak. Skinner wasn't one to give up quite so easily, however. He pulled his hand away from his face, which made Sawyer look at him again.
He looked surprised at how Sawyer's calm mask was put back on with ease. He tucked away those feelings again, hiding them from sight in an attempt to appear all right. He'd had plenty of practice. It was a little impressive and someone who didn't know him might even believe it.
"First things first, I chose to get into that fight, Sawyer. I chose to help you out and you had no say in that. I'm healed up now and I'm alright. You don't have to worry about me. And Quatermain? You didn't kill him. That was Moriarty, same goes for your other friend from what I've heard. It was Moriarty, not you. Can you imagine Allan's face if he saw you like this? I'd be more scared of him than that Mr White you were complaining about." Skinner sighed. "Look, we need you to help us. We've been thinking about this for days and you've probably just given us a lead in five minutes. You're our best chance at finding Nemo, but you need to let this guilt go. For all our sakes."
Skinner waited for a reaction. Sawyer thought back to Quatermain's last words, Let this new century be yours… As the old one was mine. He did want him to continue being part of the League and even seemed to think that he could lead it one day. It just seemed like too big of an ask considering everything that had happened.
He wasn't certain that he was worthy as Quatermain's successor or if he deserved such a thing, but Sawyer couldn't ignore the man's last words. He had to at least attempt to fulfil Quatermain's wishes. It was his turn to help watch over the League, Africa, and the world. For Nemo's sake, he had to believe he could do it. He had to try.
He swallowed hard, "I... I guess I can try."
Skinner nodded and leaned back on his seat. "Thank you. You should get some sleep. I've seen Mina look better on a morning- Don't tell her I said that." Sawyer smiled and shook his head. Skinner sneaking around in the early mornings, poking his head in on everyone, typical. That was the League he'd missed so much.
"We'll see," Sawyer muttered, with an innocent expression. Skinner chuckled at Sawyer's reaction. Deciding to follow the thief's advice, Sawyer closed his eyes and tried to get some rest.
He was a little surprised to realise it, but his spirits had been lifted a little thanks to Skinner. Yes, he'd lost a lot of good people. But blaming himself for everything didn't do anyone any good. Right now he had to help Nemo however he could and give it his all. Nemo depended on it. He just had to be careful and make no more stupid mistakes. As long as he kept telling himself that, Sawyer imagined getting back to his old self soon enough. He and Skinner both knew this wasn't the sort of thing that just disappeared overnight.
He wasn't responsible for the actions of his friends or those that killed them. All he was responsible for were his own actions and he'd done everything he could think of to help them. And even if he failed in the past to save Huck and Quatermain, that didn't mean he should give up. He would redeem himself. He had to save Nemo.