A/N: I still don't own anything recognisable. And I'm really, really nervous and insecure about this chapter...

Thank you for the lovely reviews, everybody!

come on and change the course

Cold flashes were exploding behind his temples, numbing the inside of his pupils and burning into his skullcap. His head was spinning and Rusty had to fight the urge to let himself sink into nothingness again, this empty, choking space that held endless falls into the dark.

His heartbeat caught up with the explosions and for a moment the deafening fear of the unknown, the unforeseeable, was everywhere, in every pore, threatening to overpower him.

Trying to get his body to react, he fought to control his breaths, letting every sense, every part of his brain concentrate on inhaling, exhaling, inhaling, exhaling… And then the exterior became existent: Coldness was clinging to his lips, entering his mouth, filling his lungs.

And his body reappeared, his senses spread over his shoulders, his torso, his legs… coldness covering every inch. His mind racing and aching, he noticed he was sitting, leaning against stone, arms tied behind his back, absolutely naked.

He felt his muscles tense and with bated breath he waited for the moment he'd wake up, open his eyes to a sunny morning, some hotel room, view wandering from the white suit to the black, figuring he shouldn't have eaten this much cheese the night before.

He didn't wake up and he had known he wouldn't.

Between white and black bursts inside his head, Rusty tried to remember. A cellar room, white walls, heavy doors. Somewhere, a door had been shut. Somehow, he hadn't reacted when the air had changed. A blow to the head, the fall into darkness.

But they had been-

Danny.

His breathing stopped, the flashes were bright and burned his mind.

Danny.

Knowing it would hurt, already feeling the pain, Rusty opened his eyes, only to feel something tight that was wrapped around his head quite firmly hindering his sight. A blindfold.

It wasn't the right moment to panic, Rusty reminded himself. Blocked vision. He felt as if he'd bump against something by only moving his head two inches.

His tongue glided over his lips. He didn't want to do this, he really didn't. It didn't feel right, but he had no choice. Slowly, he opened his mouth.

"Danny."

No reaction.

"Danny, are you-" Alright?

Here?

Awake?

With me?

Alive?

"Can you do anything? Is there…"

Anything you can do?

Is there anyone?

Nothing. No noise, no reaction.

Rusty had to tell himself to calm down, to breathe again, to listen to himself, to stay composed, to build a wall around himself.

Check your location. Check your situation. Concentrate on the solution…

And suddenly, he knew he wasn't alone. He could feel the eyes, feel the body somewhere close, a few feet away, gaze fixed on him, witnessing… and without thinking, he raised his chin, raised his whole head and the world collapsed.

Nausea washed over him, entered his body, his mind, his everything, and he threw his throbbing head to the left, not being able to get enough space to move in, vomiting and shaking, shoulders heaving, his body clenching.

"Upset stomach, Mr. Ryan?"

The voice cut through his bones. Heavy footsteps came closer, the man laughed and Rusty couldn't stop this feeling of sickness. Shivering, he leaned against the wall.

This voice, these memories, images from…

"Or shall I say... Mr. Partch?"

Long walks under palm trees, white sand. Danny and Reuben and the perfect plan. And the first time he'd have to hear that voice, pointing a gun at their heads, escaping from Reuben's estate…

"I'm sure you remember …"

The thing with the guy.

"… although your memories might be a bit more positive than mine."

Belize.

"Your cry for help was unheard, I'm afraid. I will inform Mr. Ocean of your loyalty when I next get the chance to talk to him."

Danny. He wasn't here, he was… safe?

"Now, I must say, it is quite a pleasure to see you speechless for once, Mr. Ryan. And so defenceless. So… exposed."

The steps came closer.

Danny.

Don't let him know, don't let him see, don't let him reach you. Us.

Danny, I-

I know.

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A/N: This might be the moment for a violence warning...