For those of you who requested a long chapter—you may regret those words. Even still, here you go. Make sure you have a moment to spend reading it all.

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Chapter 8.

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Declan's POV.

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Oh, it hurt. It hurt really bad. It hurt so badly I almost wished for torture.

My hands were tied over my head to the showerhead in Lucas's hotel bathroom, and she had spread bath oils on the shower floor so my feet would slip if I tried to get up. She sat next to me and watched me with eagle eyes that were supposed to make me crumble under her stare. No such luck for her. When I didn't give her an answer she liked, I got a slap in the face… or other places.

But that wasn't what hurt. I was trained to withstand pain and torture.

What hurt was that this lady had plans for me, and by now I knew my friends had aborted mission. It was policy: disavowing all knowledge and whatnot. Sure, they might be back to rescue me, but that would be a day or two at least.

What hurt was how much she knew about me, my family, my past… She had done a very thorough background on me. She knew all about me, and I didn't know a thing about her.

What hurt was the fact that I might die before I ever got to tell Zhen how I felt about her because I realized now, that I definitely did feel something for her. She was the only thing I had been worried about this whole time, not the mission, not Luther's mishaps, not my sticky situation and not even myself…

Just her.

"Working for IMF," Lucas explained. "It definitely had its advantages for a while. I still know all the little tricks."

I couldn't really focus on her words, for that horrible hand of hers was reaching for my midriff and it stole most of my attention. It wasn't every day a marked criminal femme-fatal on the worldwide most wanted list had a thing for me. I couldn't say it was a new experience I was enjoying.

"You would think they would get creative and think of a few new ones?" I heard her ramble on. "Perhaps it's hard for them, since Ethan Hunt left. He always was the most imaginative out of all of you. You make it too easy! All I do is load your picture into my computer over there, and BAM!"

I jerked in surprise when she slapped her palm on my stomach.

"I know everything, just like that! Amazing, technology nowadays, isn't it? Now," she got up and began to pace back and forth by me. "Feel free to correct me if I get something wrong… you are a convicted felon, correct?"

Her tone made me realize immediately she was searching for my undoing. All the information in the world, and she knew nothing of the real me, or my personal life. She was taunting me, in an attempt to make me believe she already knew it all, when I knew she was only fishing in the river. I stayed completely silent as she driveled on about me, being sure to give her no bites from me. Anything I said could very well be the last thing I ever said.

"A carjacker--" she went on, describing my past as if I wasn't the one who had lived it.

"A teenager who ran away from home and spent most of your years as a hooligan who got a nasty enjoyment out of stealing cars… and when finally caught, you were given a choice… prison, or… 'Oh, we have a better idea'! Why don't we send you to IMF where you might be of some use? Best driver they've ever seen, am I right? Getting warm, am I?"

She sat down again, and that treacherous hand was finding its way to my chest once more.

"And let's not forget, you're allergic to crustaceans, love to be cleanly, and you fear any insect that sucks your blood."

Right now the only thing I feared was that long-nailed hand on my bare skin. What was she trying to achieve here? What could she possibly gain from keeping me here in this room? If she was going to kill me I wished she would shut up and just do it already. She didn't need to know about me to attain her desired ends. She baffled me greatly by all this chatter.

"What do ye want?" I asked outright. She gave me a daring smile.

"I should think it was obvious," she replied without hesitation. "I could've waited to expose you until after we made love, but your damn friends were too ahead of the game. But… we do have a few moments to spare now, if you happen to want--"

"--Don't even think about it, Lucas," I interrupted, offended by the very idea. "Don't try t' tell me that this entire thing, this whole setup—was fer me."

"That's not what I'm saying at all. You're just an… 'added bonus'."

"And yer Spaniard boyfriend? Costales?"

"More recreation that comes with the occupation. I do love my job."

"And what job would that be…" I drawled with disdain. "A warfare supplier and a whore?"

That's when she slapped me across the face for about the tenth time that night. I imagine my face was quite red and bruised by now.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone, young man!" she said with unrestrained rage. "Yet again you have just proven to me that I overestimate you all entirely. Did you even bother to do a background check on me before you accepted this mission, perchance? If not, then it's no mystery at all as to why you don't even know what I'm after."

She stepped into the shower and turned on the faucet, letting the water rain on my head mercilessly. It was ice cold, and I couldn't help but shiver.

"Don't tell me you never get any 'added bonuses' in your line of work," she contradicted, coming much to close to me for my personal comfort. "I know I did when I worked for IMF. The opportune chances are simply overabundant."
I shook my head in an attempt to get some of the water off my face and see her clearly. I couldn't keep an eye on what she was doing to me.

"Never took one," I replied as best I could through the loud drops and my chattering teeth. I felt her hands on me, her touch gentle at first, as if patting me down for any other useful items I might use in escape, but then her touch became painful as she injected me with something that required a very long needle in my butt. I groaned with the unexpected pain.

"Oh, I see now, and what a pity," she lamented as she drained the contents of the shot into me and stared at me closely. "You already have a love… What is her name?"

I fell silent. I tried my best not to let my face show that I was wondering how in the world she could tell that from simply looking at me-- yet another thing that hurt my heart and head.

"Does she feel the same?" she pressed.

Still, I said nothing in reply to her provokes. I felt her drive the shot deeper into me in her fury at my insistent silence, and I tried hard to stifle my noise without very much success.

"Is she the Asian girl coming back for you on the second floor, or the blond?" she demanded of me, her voice changing into a much harsher tone at the drop of a dime.

My eyes now grew wide. Zhen… and Roberta? My heart raced in a new hope. Someone was coming for me. Zhen was coming for me. Shouldn't be long now, just enough time to play the cards right. In other words, stall.

"Neither," I recovered, deciding it best to argue and keep conversation going before she got any ideas. "An agent can't love anyone, you should know that."

"Ah, but your eyes tell different. It's the blond, isn't it? Men always go for the blonds first."

I chuckled. She spoke truth. I had gone for Roberta first. But that was before I met Zhen…

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"Ethan! Good t' see you again." I slapped the hand of my old friend in a good shake, and he returned it heartily.

"You too, Declan, you too," he replied. "Have you met Luther?"

"Nope, can't say I have." I shook the hand of the large black man warmly.

"Another one of Ethan's trainees, I presume?" Luther guessed.

"Never had the full pride and privilege to take credit for that," Ethan replied for me. "Declan's trained in a different department. Transportation, language, the like. We met in acting class."

"Ethan was always the best at staying cool under pressure," Luther agreed giving me a pat on the back. "It's good to know you're learning from the best. You guys off to another session of our good ol' education?"

"Something like that," Ethan retorted with a smile. "I'm testing him and a couple others for the next few days."

"Can't say I'm lookin' forward t' it," I admitted. "With Ethan at the helm… Well, you get what I'm sayin'. No offense, Hunt."

"None taken," he replied hastily, chuckling it off. His eyes fell behind me, so I turned to see what had caught his attention. I saw what his eyes had fixed on…

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"What are the names of these women?" Lucas insisted of me, finally turning the faucet overhead off to talk serious with me. Still I was silent, off in my own little world, not even bothering to look her in the eye. Best not to give her the satisfaction of any reactions.

"Don't you know I can kill them both with the snap of my fingers? It's what I came to do, after all. Do you want Blondie dead? Do you want Miss Geisha Girl's heart ripped out through her mouth? Do you?"

Some reactions can't be contained. As much as I tried to fight it, I inhaled sharply, and she noticed.

"It's the Asian, then, huh? Oh, killing her would be wonderful, you'll see. We can enjoy it together. How I long to feel the last beat of that little heart in the palm of my hand…"

My own heart began to speed up. I didn't like it. She was getting to me and for once I couldn't control my emotions. What was wrong with me? I was angry with her for this but just as angry with myself for rising to her bait.

"We'll drink her blood with a teriyaki salmon and a light salad… Should be delicious."

I tried for the umpteenth time to rise to my feet but yet again slipped. She was making me feel not only helpless, but also hopeless.

Suddenly Zhen coming to save me was the last thing I wanted.

Not Zhen. Anyone but her…

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A tall, thin, and extremely beautiful Asian woman had just entered the room, capturing the full attention of all three of us men.

Most of the women around here were beautiful, I had soon realized, so her being easy on the eyes wasn't too much of a jaw-dropper. I guess good-looking women prove to be more useful around here. Still, I sensed something different in her, but passed the thought off just as quickly as it came.

"Declan, this is Zhen," Ethan explained. "She's taking the test with you. You're going to have to work together with her, you know, as a team, in order to pass. Declan, Zhen-- Zhen, Declan. Get to know each other while I set up. I just asked you here to let you know that, and that the test has been moved to tomorrow."

Ethan smiled and patted Zhen on the back.

"Good seeing you again," he said to her before turning to go, a moment that aroused curiosity in me. Ethan didn't hand out formalities with just any old trainee. I concluded that this one… must be good.

"You watch out for Declan, huh?" Ethan said to her as he walked off. "He could charm the rats into loving him if he wanted. He breaks hearts for a hobby, so don't listen to a word he says."

"That shouldn't be too hard," she replied smartly in a smooth voice, her words falling from her lips like warm honey tea. "I find men easy to ignore."

Ethan sauntered off with Luther at his heels, and Zhen and I turned to face each other, shaking each other's hands courteously.

"We have a bit of studying to do," she said decidedly.

"I look forward to it," I replied with one of my best smiles.

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Not Zhen. Anyone but her.

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Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue