Chapter 4- Nothing's Normal Now

(Laurens' POV)

I entered the base with great speed, almost falling through the door to the General's office. On the way back, I was quite annoyed but then the curiosity struck me like a soccer ball to the face. Quick and hard.

"Jesus Christ Laurens!" Was the first yet unusual voice of Lee stood in front of Washington's desk. "What was that?!"

I instantly realised he meant the rushed fall.

"I… err… I slipped?"

Lee was about to comment before the General beat him to it, "Gentlemen! Stop your childish rivalry because we have more pressing matters to deal with!"

We both shut up, I stepped forward.

"Thank you. Now, I have called you both here upon the subject of 'Mission Micro'. I understand Laurens executed the mission and Lee was called for backup therefore, you are both involved." He took a breath, "The victim is awake."

My head shot to the door like I wanted to run and see if he was okay. And if it wasn't for the wave of shock keeping me paralyzed to the floor, I would have…

"But…"

Here it was…

"He's not in the best state…"

Oh well done Laurens! You hurt another one!

"I-is this my fault, Sir?" I questioned, praying for a new answer…

"Unfortunately… yes, Laurens… The tranquilliser has done a bit of damage. So much so, the Medical teams couldn't do anything to prevent it…"

"Shit…" I muttered, expecting a mocking comment from Lee but he just stayed silent… Though when I looked over he looked… damn… he looked fucking sympathetic!

"I know this is hard to hear… but go see Elizler. She knows more than I do."

I sighed, attempting to hide my ashamed expression "Thank you, Sir." I saluted and turned towards the door before he added another command.

"And Lee, you go with him. You need to know what's going on too. Whether you two like it or not, you are both in this together, so please try to keep your opinions to each other quiet. You may go."

"Yes, Sir." We both murmured before stepping outside the door, nothing said between us.

We began the walk at a steady pace none of us wanting to talk to the other. Of course I had to be stuck with Lee now, didn't I?

I really wanted to glare at him but for some reason, thought it would be best to keep it calm for as long as I could. He was going to drop a comment any second now on my failure and how much of a disappointment I am to the agency… but he didn't… I kept waiting and waiting and waiting but… he never spoke a word…

We had been walking for about two minutes before he made a sound, nothing hurtful or crude to my surprise… something more concerned than anything…

"Can I say something?" He started, glancing at me from the edge of his eye.

"Sure. Get it over with. Rub in how much of a disappointment I am to everyone and shout it to the rest of the world."

"Why do you think I'd do that?!"

"Because when haven't you?!"

"Once. When he died."

I stayed silent looking sheepishly towards the ground.

"You know that wasn't your fault. You had to leave him behind. You'd have been killed otherwise."

I still didn't say anything, my mind was crowded with so much noise, it seemed impossible to get it into words.

"Look Laurens, I know we both hate each other- that won't change. You don't have to be a genius to know that, but… he was my friend too. Do you not think I cared when I had to leave him as well?"

"That's different… You weren't married to him…" I felt my stomach drop.

He stopped for a second, almost hurt by what I said. "Look, my point is you don't have to feel bad for everything that goes wrong in the world. This mission wasn't all your fault. You didn't kill the two agents, this was their own choice to a part of. You didn't shoot Lafayette in the shoulder, the Banes did. And we both know you never hurt the victim intentionally. You were under pressure, we all were."

"Why are you even being nice to me? What do you want?"

He chuckled to himself with a small smile creeping on his face, I just glared.

"Okay, okay. Pretend we don't hate each other for one minute and we're close friends. Take the comment. Not everything is your fault."

For once during this strange exchange, I looked up at him. He was only about two inches taller than me but for some odd reason seemed much higher. I couldn't bring myself to thank him and, to be honest, he knew that too.

"I… Fine." Was all I could say.

As far as enemy relationships go, he was satisfied with that answer and we carried on towards the Medical ward soon spotting Elizler in her white coat.

I called out for her first, driving her attention from her clipboard to me and then to Lee almost rolling her eyes. Elizler was usually a sweet girl, but under circumstances like that… she wasn't exactly someone you wanted to mess with… She had this sort of switch that converted almost as fast as a lightning strike- almost as frightening as one too…

"There you boys are!" She was on the brink of shouting and stormed over to us both. I gulped. Sometimes she could be as scary as Angeler… and that was saying something… If she did ever want to be an agent one day, I wouldn't be surprised if she made it to General by the first year… Those sisters really were something else… Each completely diverse yet share such similar traits you pick up on through the years.

Angeler was extremely witty, independent and strongminded almost every waking moment you were with her. However, compared to Peggler, who was really fun to be around, although still had a side you didn't want to mess with. But that (and very high wits) was the only thing that the oldest and youngest sibling had in common. She was part of the tactics department in this base though also did a lot of cleaning and working as a chef in the food hall. The youngest sister also helped with Elizler on occasion, mainly just replacing bandages and bring medication. Elizler (being the middle sister) was a mixture between both. She had the happy, sweet, joyous side of Peggler, but also the strong, clever mind of Angeler, along with a sharp tongue to the mix.

It was a lesson that many have learned the hard way, not to mess with these three. But other than the continuous worry that you could be eaten alive any second, they were good company. Liked by nearly everyone I could think of…

"Hey Elizler…" Lee smiled, with what may seem to others as charming, I just saw as disgusting. Yes, he was kind earlier but I still hated him and that feeling was thankfully mutual.

We didn't get a chance to explain before she yanked us both by our arms towards her office just a few doors down from the victim. Lee and I both looked like lost lambs in the fog with Elizler as a hungry wolf coming from behind us. She slammed the door shut, stormed passed Lee heading in beeline for me…

"You are so stupid! Do you realise what you've done?!" She scolded with livid eyes.

"I… I… I'm sorry… I just… I just panicked…" Was all I could muster. She was terrifying…

"Jesus Elizler, you look like crap." Lee bluntly stated from behind her as she almost pinned me to the wall. You see, neither of us could tell her off. Yes, we were both Captains of Squadrons, just below the General in importance. But the fact she was the leader of the Medical Department, meant we basically had no control over what she did. Therefore, pinning me to the wall and yelling in my face made me completely defenceless. She would never harm anyone, so we didn't have to worry about that. But her words were a completely other matter…

Elizler shot Lee a look that could kill and he instantly shut up, making me smile slightly soon easily being shot back down again.

"You can't smile. I am more-" She stopped herself by rubbing her temples and then looking back to me. "Sorry. I'm not mad at you. Those Banes deserve more than we're going to give them… You see… He was really broken… I don't want to get into it but… let's just say it caused me many sleepless nights just to get him stable…"

Lee and I gave concerned looks to her and she seemed to dart eye contact all together…

"El… What's happened?" I asked picking up on her anxiety throughout every second we stood waiting.

"Well…" She sighed, taking a seat at her desk, "As I said before, he's beat up pretty bad… Thankfully, no brain damage was caused. But… the tranquiliser problem… it made things worse… I mean, a lot worse and…" She took in a deep breath added extra tension to the room, "It caused him memory loss."

I took a step back, looking away, trying to find something to keep my eyes on but it was useless. I ran my fingers though my hair and took in a loud gust of air. "How bad is it?"

"All he can remember is his own name and the prison he was in. I don't know if he can still remember anything logical, but as far as I know- he has no memories. He's practically useless."

The two Agents were killed for nothing. Laf was shot for nothing. All because of you dumbass. He's ruined because of you. I bet you're happy you shit.

I never let it show though. I'd never let it show.

Calm, Laurens… Calm and stern.

"I'm sorry 'Liz. But I promise I won't make him useless. He will be a use to us some way or another."

She smiled, "I know you will. He's in room 12e."

"Huh?" I looked confused.

"Go see him! Please! I'm guessing Lee will have to go too?"

We nodded, rolling our eyes.

"I'd hate to be you two right now."

"Thanks 'Liz." Lee shot an unamused look to her. She just smirked at his annoyance.

"Now go! Get your information. I'm off to my bunk. See you!"

Lee and I didn't get a chance to object before she swung out the door into the hallway. Us two just rolled our eyes and continued in her path. This man's room was closer than expected at first, around eight doors down. We entered his room to a sea of nurses and one phycologist (most likely to monitor his memory). They all looked up to us, the nurses shuffling out the door while the Dr just stood to speak to us.

"Evening gentlemen." He greeted, walking us back out the door closing it behind him.

"Evening Dr." I spoke accepting a handshake, "Lee and I were hoping to speak to this man if that would be okay?"

"That's fine Laurens. I'll just need to run it by Elizler first."

"No need to sir, she sent us down here."

"Alright then, I'll just need to give you details. He had severe memory loss but the rest of his intelligence seems to be top-notch. I'm not sure what you plan to get out of him but do what you must." He stepped out the way of the door signalling us to walk back through. We did as gestured, closing the door behind us.

The room was engulphed in silence, just a repetitive beep from the heart monitor and drip from the IV attached to him. He was dressed in a hospital gown, shying himself beneath the sheets, seeming uncomfortable with what he wore. His skin was still pale except hints of his natural tan was peeping through like the sun on a cloudy day (not that I'd seen many of them). And his hair framed his face very firmly. Thick, shoulder-length, natural brown with hints of copper towards the ends. No freckles or moles on his face. Just… pure… Other than the heavy bags beneath his eyes nothing stood out in that category. But his expression was locked on us, tightening like cobra's around us. However, it was the eyes that were too unique to name. So brown that you almost had to squint to separate his gaping pupils from the iris. Also, around the edge of said iris's, was an electric blue stabbing down in different lines. He had me caged in his gaze. I didn't know about Lee behind me, but I was lost.

"Are you going to speak or…" He broke me away from my gaze.

"Seems like you did anyway." I snapped back.

"Yes it does but someone had to do it."

This kid was quick.

"I guess so." Was all I could input.

"So… Is my 'knight in shining armour' going to tell me why he and his buddy-Bill are stood around my bed? Or am just going to have to relish in your stares?"

Jesus Christ, he had a lot to say.

"It's Captain Lee actually." Lee corrected stepping forward.

"Oh… Okay I guess we're doing introductions now. I'm-"

"Only last names please." I butted before he could finish.

"And what makes you think your special enough to earn the trust of my first name?"

I was speechless, mouth gaping.

"Wow. I like this kid! He's got a mouth!" Lee blurted as I shot him a death glare and mumbled,

"Well that's gonna change..." I looked back at this man, his arms crossed in his lap, "So, what's your name?"

"Hamilton. And you're Captain Laurens. I know. So now were all now introduced would you mind asking the modest question of, 'where the fuck am I'?!"

I cleared my throat in an attempt to tell him to mind his language. He wasn't fazed.

"You're in the medical department of an underground agency- The Liberty's."

"The who now?"

"The Liberty's. We're a secret agency to defend the rights and freedom of people from another group trying to defy our objectives. What we do is sorta in the name."

He hummed in understanding, "I get that. And from what I can remember, it doesn't exactly surprise me either. I can just hope you won't try to torcher me. I've had enough of that for a lifetime."

"W-what? So you remember your torcher? But nothing else?"

"Yeah, I can remember that they beat me but I can't remember why…"

"You were valuable to us. They were probably trying to kill you off slowly."

"That's normal…"

"Nothing's normal now, Hamilton."

"I'm guessing I'll be staying in this 'paradise' then?" He sighed, huffing into the sheets.

I smiled in dominance, "You'd be guessing correctly."

Author's Note: Now, I know I said I was in a writing mood but I had to do something else with family ;_;

(I'm totally not dying inside right now at an amazing writing opportunity that I missed… noooooo wayyyyyyyyyy *nervously laughs*)

Please review x

-L.E-Rae _x_