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Pride, Admiration and Respect
Chapter Twelve
"Williams… Lombardi…. grab your gear!"
"What the hell is the matter with you?... Colombian drug dealers? Are you out of your mind?"
"Stop it, Danny."
"ANNIE…. WATCH OUT!"
"You're a good cop, Annie, anyone can see that."
"Have I told you how wonderful it is to have you here?
"TONY? TONY! Come on man...don't do this. Wake up…. WAKE UP!"
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Wake up? That would be a great idea if not for the muddled and scattered visions keeping her buried under their weight. Jumping from one memory to the other like one of those flipbooks they used to have as kids. But these pictures weren't coming together to make a logical moving picture. She struggled to concentrate on the only one she seemed to be able to grab onto and hold.
.
"WAKE UP!" ... "WAKE UP!"
Sitting on the cold hard floor, she watched as the last seconds of Tony's life dripped away between her fingers. The haze of her tears was making it hard to see. His kind face, his easy smile, the blond hair now covered in blood. His pale blue eyes losing the light that always made them sparkle. Wait…... what? Blond? Blue eyes? No… that's not right. Annie forced her tear-filled eyes to focus, to look down at the dying man in her arms. Her heart almost stuttered to a complete stop. Danny? No… No… No…. that is not right. What's going on? What's happening?
"Annie…. I need you to do something for me..." Danny weakly begged as his life was ending.
.
"NO!" Annie struggled to consciousness. "Noooooo…." she weakly sobbed, as she finally managed to peel her eyes open.
The feeling of a mouth full of cotton along with the awful taste told Annie she'd been drugged. It took a few seconds for recall to kick in before she remembered entering the small warehouse with Steve to look for Danny. Steve? Oh God… where was Steve?
She did her best to pull herself out of the drugged stupor. Giving herself a few moments to try to get her head to clear, she attempted to assess her surroundings. It didn't take her too long to realize this was not the same warehouse she and Steve had entered …. when was that, exactly? This one was much bigger, judging by the height of the ceiling. The room was cold and damp, so probably on a lower level of the building.
She wasn't surprised to find herself restrained, tied to an old wooden chair in what she assumed was the center of the floor. She turned her head as much as she could to try to see the rest of the room but abruptly stopped when a sharp pain pierced the side of her neck and shoulder. Her sudden and sharp gasp drew the attention of the men she didn't even know were there, lurking just past the edge of her peripheral vision.
"Well, how nice of you to finally join us, Officer Williams," the smooth voice began. Moving slowly into her line of sight, he continued. "You have been a most bothersome young woman to me. It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."
"Cordoba," Annie seethed, "you son-of-a-bitch!"
"Now, is that nice? I go to all the trouble to arrange this little get together and the first thing out of your mouth is an insult? I'd mind my manners if I were you, my dear."
"I am not "your dear." I am the person who wants nothing more than to put a bullet in your head!" Annie spat as she struggled against the ropes holding her wrists to the arms of the chair.
Cordoba just chuckled, then slowly walked forward. His smile never wavered as he raised a hand and slapped Annie across the face. She thought she heard a muffled growl from somewhere behind her as his hand made contact with her cheek which was now stinging. But the slap hadn't been hard enough to do any real damage, more like a parent reprimanding a recalcitrant child. "You are in no position to make threats. You are in no position to do anything at all except to listen and watch. But, now that I think of it, you're not in a position to watch, are you? Gentlemen, if you please…"
Annie tensed as two men, the same two she suspected had been the ones beating on Danny, advanced on her. Since she was bracing herself for an attack, she was surprised when the two men did nothing more than lift her and turn the chair to face in the opposite direction. She gasped at the sight that greeted her eyes.
Danny was still unconscious, hanging from his wrists against the wall. Blood had pooled around his haphazardly sprawled feet having tracked down from not only the many cuts and lacerations on his head and face but also from his wrists where his dead weight was causing the handcuffs to dig mercilessly into his skin. The front of his shirt had been ripped open and Annie could see the havoc many blows to his torso had caused. His overall complexion had a gray pallor which was frankly scaring the shit out of her.
Next to him was Steve. He was shirtless and, like Danny, also handcuffed to the wall but Cordoba, knowing Steve by reputation, wasn't going to give him any opportunity to use his legs to his advantage, so Steve's feet had been tightly strapped into a pair of work boots, not unlike those Steve normally wore. Except these had been cemented into the floor. There was no way he'd be able to use his legs to try to defend himself. And, where Danny was unresponsive, Steve was wide awake. The duct tape over his mouth preventing him from speaking, yet his eyes, singularly focused on Cordoba, were blazing with such fierce determination and fury Annie was surprised the building hadn't spontaneously combusted by now.
Annie closed her eyes, trying to ground herself. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage and she could feel she was breathing much too fast. So it had come to this. Convinced this was not the same warehouse as before, she knew Chin and Kono had no idea where they were. Danny looked to be close to death and she knew Steve would die before giving up without one hell of a fight. A fight that would probably kill him too. They were all going to die here.
She looked from Danny to Steve, the pain of that realization written all over her face. "I'm sorry," was all she could bring herself to softly say as she looked Steve in the eye. He looked back at her, his gaze intense. Although the duct tape was preventing him from speaking, she could read all he wanted to say in his overly expressive eyes. "It's not over yet." "It will be alright." "This is not your fault." Oh, how she wished she could believe him.
Cordoba read the play of emotions across her face and chuckled softly. Bending down to speak softly into her ear, he said, "Ahhhhhh, the silent communication between lovers is most heartwarming."
Even speaking so softly, Steve still heard him, which was Cordoba's intention. The confusion on Annie's face was missed as he concentrated on Steve, who kept his face stone still, not willing to give Cordoba anything he could use against them. Unlike Annie, who was utterly confused by Cordoba's words, Steve saw them as a sign of weakness. He wasn't as in control as he thought he was if his flow of information was so inaccurate. Maybe this was something he could use even if, at the moment, he couldn't think how.
"I suppose you are wondering why I went to all the trouble of arranging this little get together?
When Annie made no move to answer him, he continued.
"No? Your lack of curiosity is most surprising." He chuckled again, amused with himself. "You see, my dear, you took something that belongs to me and, silly me for being so selfish, but I want it back. But, of course, you know that already, don't you?"
Annie looked to Steve, who silently communicated, "Don't say a thing."
Cordoba continued. "Nothing to say? I see you're going to need some persuasion. Tell me where the flash drive you stole from me is or watch these two suffer for your silence."
Annie flashed alarmed eyes at Danny and then at Steve who was literally vibrating with rage. "Don't tell him anything," still plainly visible in his eyes.
Seeing the silent communication between them, Cordoba advanced on Steve and reaching out, violently ripped the duct tape from his mouth. Even though it hurt like hell, Steve didn't even flinch.
"We won't be needing this any longer. I find it more effective if my detainee can hear as well as see the affect their silence has on those they love." Seeing no reaction from Steve he continued. "Ahhhhhh… I see the Navy has taught you well, Commander, but your training won't do you any good here. You see, I'm not of a mind to break you or demand any information from you which you need to stoically protect. You are but a tool to be used to get what I want. Unfortunately, your partner here has pretty much reached the end of his usefulness to me. But he served his purpose well. You are here, after all."
Steve's eyes never wavered in their single minded focus on Cordoba's eyes. Cordoba only chuckled again as he nonchalantly waved his goons forward. Seeing them advance on Steve, Annie started to struggle against her bonds, the wood of the old chair creaking and moaning under the strain of her efforts.
"Stop! Don't!" she cried. But before any of them could say or do anything else, another voice barely made itself known.
"Leave him alone, Cordoba. He won't give you want you want. You're wasting your time on him," Danny barely breathed out. He was deathly pale, the bruising of his face, neck and torso standing out in brilliant shades of black and purple against his grey skin. Every word seemed to sap what miniscule amount of strength he had left.
"Danny!" Annie cried while at the same moment Steve hissed, "Shut up, Danny!"
"So touching," Cordoba oozed, "the bond you all seem to have. Makes it most convenient for me to achieve my goal."
With that, the largest of the two goons walked over to Steve and took out a long knife with a razor thin blade. Steve looked him right in the eye, not giving him the satisfaction of acknowledging what that blade meant.
"Cordoba…. please…. don't," Annie begged.
He ignored her and calmly waved his hand at his man to proceed. In one smooth motion the goon lifted the knife and cut a thin yet deep slice into Steve's raised right arm from the inside of his elbow to almost the arm pit. Involuntarily Steve hissed at the pain it caused and almost immediately blood began to ooze from the wound.
"Leave him alone…." Danny weakly moaned.
"Danny… be quiet," Steve warned. The last thing he wanted was for Cordoba to turn his attention back to Danny. He'd been through enough. Steve could take whatever they dished out. It's not like he hadn't been through this type of thing before. He just needed to hold out long enough, and keep Cordoba's attention away from Danny, until Chin and Kono could figure out where they were. He held his breath as the knife was smoothly brought up again, this time to his left arm and watched as, once again, the rapier like blade came down and an identical cut was made.
The pain was excruciating and with his arms pinned above his head there wasn't anything he could do to try to relieve it. The heat of the room along with the pain was making Steve sweat profusely, the sweat running into the cuts making them sting and burn. Annie's eyes became huge when Steve moved his arms to try to relieve some of the pain and the movement caused the cuts to stretch and open further, the slow ooze turning into steady streams of blood that ran down both arms, onto his chest and headed toward the floor. He was already beginning to get light headed.
Annie was still struggling. She knew she couldn't break the rope holding her wrists to the chair, but she kept trying in her desperation to help Steve and Danny.
"I said, leave him alone, you bastard…." Danny angrily whispered again. And this time, his words did draw Cordoba's attention back to him.
"So, you're not as out of the game as I thought, are you? Excellent!" he said as he motioned the second of his goons to approach where Danny hung. It didn't take much. The goon simply reached up, wrapped his large hands around the cuffs on Danny's already inflamed and bleeding wrists, and squeezed.
Danny screamed out in agony as the metal cut even further into the skin and bone of his wrists while the cuffs were tightened as far as they could possibly go. The pain caused Danny's body to dance and jerk as ripples of torture ran down both his arms and the blood which had previously slowed to a trickle began to flow rapidly again.
Steve let out a primal growl and made an aborted jerking attempt to move in Danny's direction, wanting nothing more than to tear Danny's tormentor limb from limb. But his immobilized arms as well as his captured, encased feet made it impossible to move more than a few inches. This amused the goon to no end and after a quick glance at Cordoba for approval, and with an evil glint in his eyes, he drew his arm back and landed a punch to Steve's temple which caused his knees to buckle. The weight of his unsupported body jolted his outstretched, bleeding arms and he couldn't help the scream that escaped his lips. Cordoba's man snickered at Steve's state and made a move to advance once again on Danny.
"Stop…. please stop…" Annie tearfully begged. "I'll give you want you want…. just please stop."
"Annie…. don't…" Steve wheezed only to have the bastard lay into him with several more blows which not only took his breath away but caused the room to blink out several times. Blood was now pouring from a large cut over his right eye as well as his arms.
Eyes filled with tears, Annie looked at Steve then turned her gaze on Danny. He was awake but just barely. His breathing was ragged and his skin had lost even more color which she didn't think was possible. She closed her eyes, causing the tears pooled there to stream down her face.
Cordoba held up a hand and his man moved slightly away from the two hanging men. Cordoba moved to stand in front of Annie.
"Tell me where the flash drive is…. now!"
She looked past him and caught Steve's eye. He shook his head, ever so slightly, telling her to be quiet. And even though Annie was truly frightened now, more for Steve and especially for Danny, then for herself, she wasn't ready to give in to Cordoba yet. She needed to be stronger than that.
"I don't have it anymore," she replied. "It's in the hands of HPD now."
Anger quickly filling Cordoba's features, he reached back and brutally hit Annie across the face again. This blow, much harder than the previous one, caused not only her head to violently snap back, but the entire chair to shake and rattle. When Annie raised her head again, she could taste the telltale sign of blood in her mouth and feel the large split in her lip which was already beginning to swell.
"Leave her alone, you bastard," Danny wheezed.
"Danny…. for the love of God… shut up!" Steve warned again, even though he knew it was futile.
"Mind your manners, cop," Cordoba's man said as he advanced on Danny again, this time with the knife he'd previously used on Steve in his hand. "You rather we concentrate on you?"
"NO… leave him alone… he's had enough!" Steve screamed as Annie continued to shake and struggle in the chair also screaming at the man, "NO…. no more…. leave him alone." But it was no use.
Ignoring them both, he approached Danny, who painfully lifted his head to watch the man advance. Carefully he studied Danny, looking this way and that, as if trying to decide the best, or in this case worst, place to strike. A slow, evil smile spread over his face as he came to his decision. Holding up the knife, still coated with Steve's blood, in front of Danny face so he could see it, he slowing lowered it to Danny's chest.
Steve and Annie continued to shout. Annie pleading with them to stop. Steve alternating between curses and threats. Terrified, Danny closed his eyes as he felt the cold blade touch the skin on his chest, just below his rib cage. Time seemed to stop when nothing happened for several beats of Danny's heart. He could hear his sister and his brother screaming for him, screaming for it to stop, but they sounded so far away now. His breathing was shallow and ragged, his rapid pulse pounding in his ears, when with one terrible blow, that small amount of air was completely cut off as the blade was viciously plunged into his side.
Danny's eyes sprang open from the shock of the thrust and a blood curdling scream was torn from his throat, mixing with Annie's anguished cry and Steve's murderous shout before everything stopped. He couldn't feel the blood that was pouring from his side. He couldn't feel anything. He couldn't hear anything and what he could see when he looked over to Annie, was tunneling in from the sides until everything was cold, silent and black.
"Danny! Danny!" Both Annie and Steve yelled but there was no response from their beloved brother. When Steve tried again to move toward Danny, his tormentor struck out with the back of his closed fist and landed yet another concussive blow to Steve's head which rendered him unconscious as well.
Standing off to the side, Cordoba was enjoying the show immensely, as his constant chuckling proved. Annie looked over at him, her tear-tracked face filled with unadulterated hatred.
"You son-of-a-bitch," Annie growled "they have nothing to do with this."
"Ah… but you see, actually, they do. Just like your dear partner in New York. What was his name again? Tony, was it? You bring them into the fold, they pay the consequences, just like you do. Or, should I say, like you were supposed to."
"What are you talking about?" Annie seethed. She hated hearing Cordoba talk about Tony. It dirtied his memory, having this piece of trash utter his name.
"What he's talking about, Annie, is that you were supposed to die in that shootout too."