Chapter Three
Author's note: I didn't expect to fall in love with this story as much as I have. Clearly it has taken a life of its own. And can I just say, thank god I watch Criminal Minds. I do not own MDAS and I just realized that I've been spelling Dragaunus's name wrong the entire time.
Wildwing had to talk to Mallory before they could ask Rhynie any questions. Giving Duke enough time to calm Rhynie down from her panic attack.
"I can understand your frustrations Mallory, but you need to back off." Wildwing warned.
"She's a spy, Wildwing!" Mallory shouted.
Wildwing's patience finally snapped, "We have no proof that she is!"
"We don't have proof that she's not!"
Wildwing and Mallory were moments away from tearing into each other when Tanya and Nosedive appeared before them.
"We'd hate to break up your predictable fight, but Tanya found something." Nosedive said, as he pushed Mallory away from his older brother.
Wildwing took a couple of deep breathes before turning towards Tanya, "What'd you find?"
"Something that I didn't even consider until I saw some markings on Rhynie's wrists and ankles." She pulled out a photo and held it up to the light. "Do you see these markings and how each of them are different color? Those indicate levels of healing at different times."
"Yea, what about them?" Mallory asked.
"Well I'm not expert, but these are signs of being restrained more than once for hours at a time. Days even." Tanya explained.
"You can't be serious? Tanya are you saying Rhynie was being held as a captive by Dragaunus?" Mallory asked, suddenly feeling like crap.
"Not just as a captive." Tanya held up an x-ray of her rib cage in place of the photo, "I didn't want to show this in front of Duke. But this tiny faded cracks are just like her scars on her wrists and ankles. They indicate a year of abuse, so Rhynie either got into a lot fights or…"
"Or Dragaunus was torturing her. There's your proof."
"And I feel like a jerk." Mallory's shoulders sunk.
Nosedive wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Its okay Mal. It wouldn't be a day if you didn't jump to conclusions."
"Thanks…I think." Mallory said, pinking Nosedive's hand until he released her. "I promise to keep my beak shut while we're in there. And I'll apologize to Duke…later."
Wildwing shrugged, smiling meekly as they walked into the room, "Good enough."
Duke was sitting next to Rhynie, leaning forward on his knees with his hands clenching together. He was glancing up at her with love in his eye as she finished drinking her water. When she was done, Duke didn't kiss her forehead or called her Sweet Heart when he took the cup away to fetch her another glass. The others were a little surprised because Duke always seemed like a helpless romantic, but Duke knew something was wrong. He had seen the scars on her body and just by looking into her eyes he didn't the confident glow her blue eyes once held. Instead, he saw someone who was broken and scared.
"Rhynie, if you're up for it, we'd like to ask you some questions." Wildwing spoke calmly.
"I was a double agent." Rhynie admitted freely, catching everyone off guard. "I worked for Dragaunus and the PSF. I gave Dragaunus's forces faulty information while telling the military everything. But the enemy found out somehow and sent me straight to Dragaunus."
Rhynie clutched one of her wrists, rubbing the sore skin, and opening and closer her hand. The other's understood her situation immediately.
"He did this to you for a year?" Wildwing asked. "We've been inside the raptor several times and never saw a sign of you. Not even in the dungeons."
"Wraith kept me locked away inside a pocket dimension, so I'm not surprised. When I saw my chance to escape, I took it and grabbed Chameleon's teleporter. I don't know or why it brought me here."
Duke took one of her hands into his and peered into her eyes. "I need to know how you escaped."
Rhynie took a moment to collect her thoughts. "I'm not really sure myself, one minute I'm lying on the ground dying, expecting the explosion and then I'm suddenly inside a Saurian ship with droids all around me."
"They must've heard about your plan to blow up the base." Nosedive suggested.
"Then someone in our group tipped them off." Rhynie and Duke glared at each other and then said in unison. "Falcone."
"I told you we couldn't trust him." Rhynie gloated.
"Yea and you never stopped reminding me." Duke chuckled, "It's probably a good thing that he's locked up in a London jail."
"I think we have all the answers we need, so we'll leave you two alone." Wildwing stated as he pushed his teammates out of the room. "Rhynie if you need anything just let Duke know."
"Let me show you around." Duke held his hand out and when Rhynie reached for it—flashing her scar—he cringed.
"What's wrong?"
Duke swallowed hard, "It's nothing. I just…do these hurt?"
He held the back of her hands in his palms as gentle as possible. Rhynie clenched her hands shut, "Not really. They're just disgusting to look at."
Duke stood and wondered over to a cabinet full of gauze and ointment and began to treat each of her injuries. She winced a few times when finished tying up the protective material.
"Sorry, my hands have gotten a bit rough." He apologized quietly.
"They always have been." Rhynie retorted, "But I've never really minded them."
Duke beamed up at her, ready to say something witty and sarcastic, but that quickly faded when he saw the tears in her Rhynie's eyes. He cupped her face, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears that fell. He joined her on the bed, laying all the back with her resting in between his legs—her head on his chest. His arms wrapped around her tightly when Rhynie's sobbing shook the both of them. He thought that he would have broken down as well, but the shock had finally passed and he was able to think clearly. Duke couldn't even imagine what kind of hell Rhynie went through for the past year, but he knew one thing for certain. He needed to be strong for her for episodes like these.
After Rhynie fell asleep, Duke carried her to his room and tucked her into his bed. He sat on the floor beside her and watched as she peacefully slept for the first time in months. Duke caressed her cheek until she sighed deeply and smiled a little at the warmth. He left her when he knew that she was deep asleep and walked into the kitchen to find Mallory and Nosedive sitting across from each other—talking. For the last few months the two had gotten close and even though Nosedive was open about it, Mallory was still denying the reality of their relationship. Not that any of them cared that they were dating, if anything Nosedive's laid back demeanor smoothed the female's stubborn edges and Mallory had the same effect on the hot dogging duck.
"Hey." He greeted quietly, pouring himself a tall glass of coffee; knowing that he's not going to be able to sleep at all.
"How's Rhynie?" Nosedive asked scooting over to make room for his buddy.
"Asleep, finally." He leaned back into the cushioned bench.
Nosedive kicked Mallory from across the table and tilted his head towards Duke, who wasn't paying attention to the two.
Mallory quickly dropped her glare and turned towards Duke. She cleared her throat to gain his attention, "Listen Duke, I'm…I'm sorry."
"About?" Nosedived said as he glanced to the side and pretended to take a swig from his cup.
"I'm sorry about jumping to conclusions about Rhynie."
"And?" Nosedive was smirking as he pushed Mallory along.
"And I'm happy for you. I hope that she thinks of this place like home and…" She paused to glare at Nosedive before he could interrupt, "I'll try not act hostile towards her or you...anymore. You've earned my trust a long time ago, I was just too stubborn to admit it."
The male ducks gawked at each other and then at Mallory, "You feelin' okay Mal-Mal?" Duke leaned forward and touched her forehead with the back of his hand.
She shoved his hand away and glared at the two jokesters before getting up and storming out of the kitchen. The buddies glanced at each other through the corner of their eyes and broke out in boisterous laughter.
Author's note: Feels. That is all.