In Spying, Love, and War: A This Means War Fanfiction Story
Chapter 3:
Into the late afternoon, at a carnival by the docks...
Festive music is playing: From the light red concession stands to the very light blue midways. Crowds of little children and their parents are going on the two mostly dark red tilt-a-whirls, the Ferris wheel, and several other rides lining the open dock area.
Lauren is grinning wide as she's walking hand in hand with Tuck.
Lauren is wearing a dark red detective like jacket with black buttoned pockets over her concealed top and blue jeans. Tuck is wearing a open buttoned dark blue army jacket.
Lauren says, "oh my god, I love these places."
Tuck faintly laughs.
He says, "I thought you might like it. And, we're not gonna leave until we've spent quite some tokens."
Lauren pauses.
Before Tuck can say something though... She says something.
With her free hand playfully tracing over his army jacket sleeve... Lauren wonders, "I'm not against just quite a bit. But, why not a lot? Why not until it gets dark?"
Tuck faintly laughs. Lauren faintly chuckles.
After a bit... Tuck considers, "I have something else I'd like to show you. And, because you're dating me and my best friend until you decide, I don't want to leave him out in the cold."
Lauren smiles. She concludes, "ohh. How considerate of you."
Lauren and Tuck continue walking to the midways.
Yet, over Tuck's black cell phone's screen... There's two unanswered messages.
There's no ringtone. It's just vibrating in his pockets.
Meanwhile, not far off from C.I.A. headquarters...
There's a answering machine:
Hello.
Sorry. I'm not in.
Please leave a message after the tone. I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
A beep goes off.
On the other end... FDR is nervously sitting back at his desk, impatiently tapping his fingers on the desk. He's holding his cell phone with his other hand.
FDR leaves another message, "yeah, Tuck? Tuck?! Damnit. Where are you man? We have a mission!"
Just then... Collins comes in: Shutting the door to FDR's and Tuck's shared room from behind.
Collins presses tensely, "FDR. What the hell are you still doing in your office space?"
FDR puts down his silvery rimmed mostly black cell phone, almost slamming it.
He frustratedly comments, "apparently nothing. I thought Tuck would pick up."
Collins moderately sighs. She states, "sorry. I'd pick you out a partner if there was one available. But, we're near out of time to keep a GPS lock on international smuggler Ivan Sokolov before he gets out of range and flies out of L.A. I'll be sure to brief you about Tuck. But, you got to get out there on your own for this mission."
Looking fairly stunned... FDR goes, "wow. Um...yeah. I hope he's ok. I'll get going."
Collins adds, "good."
On his way out the door though... FDR turns back to her briefly.
He suggests, "not even agent Dive Chair?"
Collins very faintly smirks.
She answers, "she's away on Operation Red Bikini. Sorry."
FDR mutters, "figures."
He then walks out, closing the door behind him.
Meanwhile...
Lauren and Tuck are taking turns throwing darts at light colored balloons for popping.
Lauren gets five. Tuck gets six.
Lauren misses a few. But, they're both faintly smiling to each other most all the while.
Around then, in a nightclub in L.A...
Ivan is sitting in a backroom at a black table. He's with his poker buddies, mostly all muscular and all wearing open dark blue jackets.
He has medium dark brown hair, gold studded earrings, and "LIVE" tattooed in blue ink across the knuckles of one of his hand. He wears a black jacket and a white undershirt reeking of sweatshops.
By the back way... FDR is walking to it.
He has a kind of old fashioned silvery watch on. But, the center has a light up red arrow pointing the way to Ivan: Coordinated with C.I.A. GPS triangulation.
It changes direction accordingly, turning to directly face the backdoor.
Around then, in a corporate building somewhere...
The sun is setting through the large windows. The walls are mostly pale tan.
The light gray tiled halls are mostly vacant for the weekend. But, some C.I.A. guys in black suits are guarding the perimeter around a certain office.
Still walking hand in hand... Lauren and Tuck are walking in.
In Tuck's red car in the parking lot... A inflatable light and dark swirled pink dog from the midways is in the back.
Lauren nervously wonders, "okay. Where are we going?"
Tuck faintly smiles. He kind of jokingly says, "I train lions here. You're safe with me."
Lauren faintly chuckles. She comments, "no. I don't see or smell any lions."
Tuck faintly smiles. He adds, "not now, no."
Lauren chuckles. Tuck faintly laughs.
With no questions asked, one of them opens the light blue office door for Tuck.
Tuck just says to him, "thank you."
He leads Lauren in. The man at the door closes it behind them.
It's pitch black. But, a light switch is barely visible to the right.
Lauren wonders, "are you serious?"
Tuck tells her, "close your eyes."
Lauren kind of reluctantly puts her hands over her eyes.
Tuck flips the light switch.
The light is bright for a bit. Then...
Tuck says, "okay. You can open them."
Lauren pulls her hands away and opens her eyes.
Before them is a set of stairs going down to basement level...where there's a towering rope jungle gym held up by metal poles in a spider web like hourglass shape.
Dark blue lights line the metal plated circus like pentagon of a arena. Rope trapezes on cables and pulleys automatically run up and down the metal poles in sloped circuits. Dark blue mats cover the floor.
Black tarps are over dark gray government issue crates with C.I.A. logoed locks on them. They're filled with rifles, grenades, and spy watches.
Lauren tears up a little. But, she's also grinning.
She expresses, "wow. It's so beautiful. Thank you."
Tuck wraps a arm around her, pulling her in close by his side.
He kisses her cheek.
Lauren blushes a little, smiling back at him.
Tuck adds, "you're welcome."
Lauren wonders, "I have just one question. Why is there a giant corporate testing facility down here for focus testing?"
Tuck faintly shrugs.
He comments, "what else? Maybe rope nets. I don't really ask. FDR has good connections."
Around then, back at the nightclub...
Past the strippers by the gold pole putting on a show... Past the wooden round tables, glass bottles of wine and beer bottles, and the crowd of betters and onlookers... The song It Ain't Over by Southpaw Swagger is in the middle of playing.
A bouncer in a black suit and tie is forcibly escorting FDR out.
Sounding drunk all a sudden... FDR murmurs, "I just wanted a drink an...to the queen...king...whoever..."
The bouncer mutters with contempt, "yeah yeah. Go bother someone else, drunk."
Just before they get to the front door though... FDR punches him down easy under his belt.
The bouncer crouches down on his side, clutching over and crying out in indescribable pain.
The kind of sharp yellow lights over by the front door make it hard for the crowd to see much of FDR's face or the bouncer. But, most all of them are getting up: Fairly shocked.
FDR fires off a warning shot from his pistol.
Acting angry... He calls out to the crowd, "you get one warning!"
The crowd runs like hell, screaming.
Several other bouncers are struggling to usher everyone out and themselves.
FDR then punches out the bouncer still on the floor. He falls unconscious.
Then... Ivan and his poker buddies come out from the backroom.
They all get out rifles. And, they all fire.
FDR tumble slides out of range.
Many bullets make holes in the walls and gold tinted railing.
On his side on the floor... FDR kind of spins back around with his pistol.
He shoots one of Ivan's men in the leg.
He stumbles down, groaning violently.
He cries out, "bollocks!"
He drops his rifle, clutching his dark red liquid dripping leg.
FDR very faintly smiles. He adds, "ouch."
Around then, back in the C.I.A. facility...
Lauren faintly chuckles.
She observes, "yeah. Some focus testing."
After a bit... Tuck suggests, "come on."
Lauren figures, "we get to go up there? That's awesome."
Tuck faintly smiles. Tuck adds, "yeah."
Soon, they're racing each other to the rope jungle gym.
They've taken off their jackets, leaving them on the mats.
They're climbing up higher and higher for the upper rope web.
Halfway up, Lauren stops to take some heavy breaths.
She keeps a kind of shaky grip on the ropes. She's a little sweaty, and so is her light blue sleeveless top.
Tuck pauses, turning to her right by him.
He checks kind of nervously, "you all right?"
Lauren questions nervously, "you're gonna catch me if I fall, right?"
Tuck mostly assures, "yeah. Absolutely."
Lauren faintly nods. She faintly smiles.
She adds, "okay."
After some more heavy breathing... She and Tuck keep climbing up.
Tuck barely pulls himself up to the center of the rope webs, ready to take a breather against the upper rope web. He's somewhat sweaty all over.
Then... Lauren's now sweaty hand slips.
She struggles to pull herself up over to the center of the rope webs with one hand and two legs. But, her other hand is quickly slipping.
She screams...as she starts to fall fast.
Tuck calls out worriedly, "Lauren!"
He jumps down after her.
In a blur... He pulls her close to him in midair.
And, from the corner of his eye... He keeps a eye on where the nearest automatic trapeze is.
With his other arm, he grabs the automatic trapeze.
The momentum and combined weight almost shakes Tuck off. But, he keeps his grip.
The momentum steadies more and more. The automatic trapeze keeps climbing up around the center of the rope web.
Lauren opens her eyes. She's faintly teary eyed.
She sighs in great relief. She very faintly chuckles.
She goes, "oh my gosh. That was scary."
Tuck apologizes, "I'm sorry. Just now...I thought you were going to the hospital."
He's getting teary eyed. He faintly sniffles.
Lauren tries to assure, "no, it's ok. You didn't let me fall. That's what's important. Besides...sometimes almost falling is the best part."
Tuck very faintly smiles. Tuck tells her, "okay. Keep holding on to me."
As the automatic trapeze comes over the upper rope web... Tuck suddenly swings off.
Lauren lightly screams as they both come down fast.
They both land in the rope web.
But, with both arms behind him... Tuck makes sure to shield her with his body against it.
Lauren gets off of him, holding onto some rope herself.
Tuck groans violently a little. His arms have rope burns along them.
Just as quickly, he reorients himself: With one arm still holding a firm grip on the ropes and his legs against some ropes.
Lauren checks worriedly, "oh my god. Are you ok?"
She reaches out a sympathetic hand to Tuck's arm. But, Tuck puts a sympathetic hand on hers instead.
Tuck concludes, "oh that? They're okay. I've seen worse in Afghanistan."
He finds it hard to look at her though. Some silent tears fall from his face.
Lauren points out solemnly, "I didn't mean your arms, Tuck. What's really tormenting you?"
Realizing first though both their arms are getting tired... They climb down to the bottom of the upper rope web.
They lie down over it, breathing a little easier.
Then... Tuck finally answers, "I was thinking...about the karate incident."
Lauren puts a sympathetic hand on his.
Awkwardly... Lauren thinks out loud, "what was that? I... Moderate sigh. I'm sorry. I don't know about it. But...yeah. I'd like it if you could tell me. That's what I'm trying to say."
Tuck looks a little confused at her at first. But, he very faintly nods at the last part.
Tuck solemnly says, "okay."
In his head...
Blurry flashes go by of a mostly pale white tiled martial arts arena, with a medium black haired guy with a beard and mustache on a stretcher.
He's severely bruised in multiple places. He's coughing up dark red liquid and falling unconscious fast.
Paramedics try to stabilize his condition with surgery then and there.
The kids at the karate class are running scared to their parents, who are waiting out in the grass surrounded parking lot.
Among them is a teary eyed mother named Katie. She has long very dark brown curly hair and a pale tan business coat. Her very shaken son named Joe has medium dark blond hair and his karate gi still on.
And, off to the corner of the martial arts arena... Tuck is silently sobbing, clutching his hands with faint dark red liquid around them.
Presently...
Nervously... Tuck reveals, "after my time in Afghanistan...there were images. I came back to my wife and four year old son. But, those images... They can't be shaken easy. Several months ago, there was a father with his kid. Full of it... Faint sniffle. ...but not a killer. We had a little karate competition with our sons. My son lost. But, no one was...like I was then."
Tuck takes a heavy breath.
He then reveals, "he... Faint sniffle! He playfully punched me. He said pain is just weakness leaving the body and that it makes you stronger. But...then the images came back. All I heard were bombings, screaming kids... Faint sniffle! I thought I was being interrogated by the Taliban. Next thing I remember...was the ambulance coming with a stretcher. He almost didn't make it. But, he never forgot. My wife divorced me and filed a restraining order. Weeks ago, I got out of the mental hospital okay. But... Faint sniffle! I don't think I'll get to see Joe again. I can't really blame them though."
Lauren looks stunned. Some tears fall from her face.
She murmurs nervously, "wow. Faint sniffle. I'm...I'm really sorry, Tuck."
After a bit... Tuck reflects, "thank you. It's been hard after the war. But... Faint sniffle. If you also want to walk away...I can't really blame you."
There's a nervous silence.
But... Lauren doesn't let go of his hand.
She wipes away most of the teariness in her eyes with her other hand.
Solemnly... Lauren assures, "you don't seem like a serial killer to me. Maybe you kind of were close to it once, Tuck. But... Faint sniffle. ...you seem so better now. Even when we first met, I could see it."
Tuck says, "thank you Lauren. For me...it means a lot."
Lauren adds, "you're welcome."
She suddenly admits, "besides... Faint sniffle! I've seen some things I can't forget."
Tuck asks, "wait. You mean you really are a spy?"
Lauren faintly chuckles.
She asks back, "what? You really think I could be?"
With nervousness... Tuck just answers, "I don't know. It's a big city."
With some mixed feelings... Lauren adds, "yeah. It can be."
Then... They just lie there against the rope web for who knows how long.
Around then, back at the nightclub...
Ivan's men suddenly pause.
Before he can react... FDR is grabbed up by one of Ivan's men from behind.
At the same time, he calls out angrily, "you little bugger! Get up!"
FDR tries to swing his pistol at him. But, he just tightens his grip around FDR.
FDR groans violently a little. His pistol goes flying.
In the struggle... FDR kind of back jumps against the railing behind them...crashing them both through it.
They fall on the vacant wood dance floor below.
The guy by FDR has fallen unconscious. His head is heavily bruised.
FDR stumbles back to his feet, clutching his aching bruised side.
But, just as he does... Ivan backhands him.
FDR falls unconscious on the floor.
Ivan laughs. He mutters, "I love when the agents get sloppy. Gotta be C.I.A. or some crap. Leave him."
Some of his men smirk to themselves.
Soon, they're heading out the door...leaving FDR's body handcuffed against the gold pole.
That night, at C.I.A. headquarters...
FDR is storming out of a silvery elevator. Concrete bunker walls line the hall.
The handcuffs are gone. But, FDR is clutching the faint purplish bruise over his forehead: Still groaning violently a little from his injuries.
TBN steps out of the elevator just before it closes behind him.
TBN calls out, "FDR! Wait. It's not what..."
FDR whirls around, glaring angrily at him. He shouts back, "well damn you! I cannot believe you stood me up on a mission!"
He clenches his fists with his arms up over his chest briefly. He then starts storming off again.
TBN mutters, "hey. I thought if it was that important, Collins would call."
FDR mutters back, "I don't believe you. Your phone was on vibrate. Or, was it you mixed up my call with what's under your pants? That was a date, and you know it!"
FDR is already halfway to the metallic gray door to their room.
TBN pauses. He heavily sighs.
FDR is about to open the door. But, he pauses.
He cuttingly remarks, "I'm calling to tell Lauren I'm taking a cold shower first. I'm not cancelling. Faint laugh. Oh right: I already took one. Now I got to get another. Don't wait up."
He opens the door.
Very nervously... Tuck calls back, "FDR."
FDR whirls around.
With a sharp glare... He mutters lowly, "what?!"
TBN gets teary eyed.
He brings up, "you can be angry at me. But... Heavy sigh. You're really going out to see her with all those bruises?"
FDR lowly mutters, "yes!"
With that... He slams the door shut behind him.
TBN shakes his head. He looks down, sighing heavily.
And, as he walks away... He mutters nervously under his breath, "don't get yourself killed, pal."