Chapter 4 - Going Back

"So are you going to tell me what happened?" Tool asked Barney after they reentered the elevator. Now that Mia was out of ear's reach, Barney began the story from the beginning. It was just him and Tool once they reached the bottom. Barney knew everyone probably left to get some rest before tomorrow. By the end of the story, both men had a beer and cigar in their hands. "So what's the next move?"

Barney shrugged. "We need to bag Pressman, but we've been on a goose chase for almost four weeks. He's keeping his head low and staying out of public view." He rubbed his eyes and sighed. Irritation bubbled under his skin. He wasn't even able to answer Tool's question.

"Are you staying here tonight?" Tool asked.

"Yeah," Barney replied and glanced back at the elevator. "I'll keep an eye on her tonight. We have no idea what's Pressman's next move."

Tool patted him on the shoulder when he stood up from one of the bar stools. "Then go crash on the couch in the loft. But please, before laying on my couch, take a shower. You smell like shit."

Barney chuckled and set down his empty beer. "Yeah, sleep sounds like a good idea."

.

Barney quietly walked across the loft, trying his best to be quiet. Mia soundly slept underneath the dark comforter with her mouth slightly open. Her chest rose and fell deeply and slowly. For the first time in a while, Barney knew she could sleep feeling safe.

Once he showered and got into some clean clothes, he silently slipped back into the room. He fell onto the couch and quietly groaned with satisfaction. His body ached and the cushions were a welcoming feeling. Before he knew it, sleep took over him.

.

Even though Mia's body was exhausted, her mind still refused to rest. Her dreams were filled with memories of torture and the hands that invaded her personal space and skin. Fingers tickled her cheek as a hand lightly stroked it. Then there was men's laughter. The single light bulb that hung from the decaying ceiling glowed through the dark. No daylight entered the room she was forced to stay in. There were days they turned of that light, drowning her in darkness. For most people, the darkness alone could make you go mad, but for Mia, it was a safe haven. It was the only time she was left alone for a couple days. Mia was finally able to get a break from the abuse so she welcomed the dark.

Her cries would echo off the dirt walls. After week one, she grew tired of crying herself to sleep and would simply invite any type of slumber. It was the only way to escape that place. She never got to sleep deeply or comfortably. Most of the time she was either tied up on a chair or sleeping on the dirt floor. She never got used to the bugs or rats though. Every night, they would crawl over her as she slept.

Mia hovered in and out of a deep sleep that night as her mind replayed the memories.

.

Even though it was less than five hours later, he woke up before dawn - just as the night blue sky starts to lighten with the morning sun. A few birds already could be heard from outside the windows. He rubbed the corner of his eyes when he sat up. Letting out a silent yawn, he shook his head to wake himself up more.

He got off the couch and grabbed the red plaid shirt that he fished out of the closet last night. Just as he was leaving the dark room, Barney accidentally kicked the leg of a chair - making it slide loudly against the hardwood floor. Mia shot up in bed and looked for the source of noise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," he apologized with his hands up. Mia's face was distorted with panic at first, but then she recognized his voice and the outline of his body.

"Oh," she replied quietly. "It's fine. I wasn't sleeping that well anyways."

Barney stuck his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Nightmares?" he guessed and Barney watched her dimly lit head nod. "Figures. Adjusting back to a normal setting can be…difficult. Especially after everything," he tried to explain.

Again, she simply nodded. "Yeah. I had guessed that." They fell silent for a moment. Barney had no idea what to say to her. "Is it okay if I shower? It's been a while…"

He turned on a lamp near the bathroom door and pointed. "Yeah, sure. Go right ahead. Everything you need is in there. Towels are under the cabinet."

Mia sheepishly glanced down to her dirty clothes after she climbed out of bed. "What do I do about my clothes?" Color reddened her cheeks. "I don't mean to be a bother."

"Don't worry about it. We'll get you some, but for now I'll try to find something for you to bum around in," he told her. "I'll leave them on the bed."

Mia entered the bathroom and before she closed the door, she paused. "Thank you. You know, for everything," she shyly said with color still on her freckled cheeks. "I don't know what I would have done- or what they would have done if I hadn't escaped."

Barney nodded and let a crooked smile play on his lips. "It's what we do. We're just doing our job."

"Just because it's your job doesn't mean it doesn't make you any less of a hero. So, thank you again."

There really wasn't anything Barney could say. He simply nodded and replied, "When you're done, just come down to the first floor. We'll be eating breakfast." Barney watched her close the door after she agreed to meet him down stairs.

This Mia was a mystery. She was shy and passive, but yet there was a spark of confidence and strong mentality. That's probably the reason why she made it through those two weeks being held captive.

He went to Tool's dresser and began to search for anything that would fit her.

Mia peeled her clothes off and hopped into the hot water. Ah, she missed this. Snatching the bar of soap and washcloth, Mia went to work scrubbing off the layers of dirt, filth, and blood. Her face was still very tender and she tried her best to clean around the wounds.

Her achy muscles began to relax and she sat on the bottom of the tub. The water ran over her head as she closed her eyes. She hoped for the water to drown her thoughts.

When Mia was finished showering, she cautiously peered out the bathroom and saw that the loft was empty. On the bed were a pair of black sweatpants and a burgundy red tshirt. Once she was dressed and got her converse back on, Mia placed her clothes next to the small trash bin that was in the loft. She then eyed the elevator shaft.

She paused at the thought of the men down stairs. They were trained killers and she was somehow involved in their world now. Those facts kind of scared her.

She went from a normal photographer to being wanted by a mafia-like group.

Life is wild. Mia thought as her heart began to race.

And I'm wondering what's next for me…

.

Barney, Tool, and Christmas were at the breakfast table together. They slowly ate their food and talked among themselves. "So, any ideas about the girl?" Christmas asked before slipping eggs into his mouth.

"I may need to finish my coffee before answering that question," Barney commented jokingly. "But yeah, I think I may have an idea."

The elevator roared to life and down came Mia. The clothes she wore were pretty big on her petite body and that's when Barney was reminded how small she was. She cautiously stepped out of the elevator and smiled.

"Hey," she nervously greeted.

Christmas nodded. "Morning," he responded and tried not to keep his eyes lingering on her bruised face for too long. The color had time to fully set in after what Quinn had done to her yesterday. She wore bruising on her nose that continued onto her freckled cheeks. Her skin was split under her left black eye. Then there were the cigarette burns on her arms...

Her amber hair were in damp waves and her arms were crossed over her chest. She looked uncomfortable as the three men's attentions were on her.

Christmas was then pulled out of his thoughts by Tool's voice. "Come make yourself some breakfast," he invited Mia and motioned towards the small kitchen behind them. There was a fridge, stove, a few cabinets for storage, and a sink. It was a very tiny kitchen (If you can call it that). There was a hot coffee pot on the counter. That's when it hit Mia. Wow, she didn't realize how much she had missed coffee.

It smelled like heaven.

She grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured herself a a cup. After putting a spoonful of sugar in the coffee, she took a sip. It was very hot but she didn't care. It felt normal. She needed something normal.

Mia glanced up and grinned."Thank you. Coffee's great."

Tool nodded. "No problem. You deserve a cup of coffee after those couple of weeks," he lightly joked.

To Barney's surprise, Mia chuckled. "Maybe something a little stronger later, but yes, coffee is a reward at this point." Her eyes shifted from Barney down to the cup as she took another sip. "So, we need to go back to Puerto Rico for my camera, right?"

Christmas smirked at the young woman. "That was going to be my suggestion."

"Same," Barney said and took another bite out of his buttered toast. "I was going to talk to you this morning about that. We were just about to start making a plan."

"I know there's something on my camera that's really important to y'all's mission, so…" Mia shrugged. Barney noticed her southern twang that slipped through and guessed her to be from the neighboring states of Louisiana. "I would rather all of this be over with, because I really don't want to get shot." There was a hint of tremble in her voice, but it was there for only a second or two.

Barney paused for a moment before responding her. "Do you know where your camera is?"

She shook her head. "No, but I'm hoping if I go back to the hotel, maybe something will trigger a memory. I know I was drugged at the party that took place after the wedding. I was their photographer. I can't remember how the night ended though or the day or two after that. I know I had my camera over my shoulder during the party."

"You said they kept asking about your camera?" Barney questioned and she nodded.

"They searched your room at the hotel for sure so it can't be there," Christmas added.

Barney turned back to Mia."Where else could have you put it?"

"I don't know. I've tried to remember, but it's all hazy at the moment," Mia explained and then frowned. "Trust me, I wish I could just tell you where it was."

Barney hated the idea of her having to go back. Not just because of possible psychological damage to her, but also the fact she would be a liability. She's a civilian and would also slow down the team like last time. But Mia was literally the only lead they had at that moment.

"We'll try to make it quick as possible. Maybe a night or two. Christmas and I will take her there and keep a low profile. Then we'll fly you out whether we find the camera or not."

Her eyebrows creased together out of confusion. "But you need the camera…"

"We'll have to see how you're doing mentally at that point," he explained cautiously. "I do not want this to become a situation that's going to do more harm than good. We have to be careful."

Christmas agreed with Barney and two began to plan for their departure early tomorrow morning. Mia silently listened to the two men talk, taking in what events lied ahead for her.

There were moments of flickering memories of green palms, bouquets of exotic flowers, appetizers, white lace, and red wine. All of this scared Mia. Her world had been turned upside down and no matter how much she prayed for herself to wake up in her bed at home, it never happened. This nightmare wasn't over yet and she knew it had only just begun.

Author's note: Thanks for reading! The next chapter will have a little bit of chemistry between Mia and one of the guys. Can you guess who it is? Please let me know what you think so far! I love hearing your comments!

~FriedPeaches