-
Author's Note: This is the second version of this chapter that I have posted so for those of you who thought you had already read chapter 8 I have made some major changes and you will want to read it again.
I didn't like where I had the story going so I pulled the chapter and have re-written it. I have also made some changes to all the chapters before this, but most of them are just grammatical changes. I had written the previous chapters when I was still new to the site and newish to writing, but now that I am getting a better handle on how to write I thought I would make the changes so that I could feel better about the whole story. Every time I would read the older chapters I saw problems that I knew I just had to fix.
-
-
Danny and Abby walked around with Belle while she showed them everything; well not everything. They had wished that she had shown them the medical ward since that was where Connor was; or had been.
As Belle was leading them into another room that really didn't look much different from the last one they saw, Abby finally had all she could take. She stopped dead in her tracks and finally said what had been on her mind all day, "I think it is time you let us see Connor. I am not going any further with you until you take me to where ever he is".
Belle turned around and looked at Abby. From the way Abby had asked to see Connor, she could tell they were more than friends. She really sympathized with Abby, but didn't want to get in trouble by telling them anything. "I've been told that your friend is no longer on the base, but I am sure that you will be able to see him as soon as you can, why don't we continue with the tour".
Abby didn't like the response and it was clear in her tone of voice, "I don't give a damn about the tour, I just want to see Connor".
Belle looked around nervously hoping that Abby's raised voice didn't alert anyone to a potential problem, "Look, I don't know where he is, if I did I would take you to see him". She walked closer to Abby, "Now I suggest that you come with me so that we can continue the tour".
Danny could see the tension growing between the women, but he sensed something about Belle that may work to their advantage. "You know something but you're not telling us, why?"
Belle turned to him, "Look, I don't really know that much about your friend and what they are doing with him, but if you really want to find out more I suggest you put on the appearance of someone who is content with the tour and one who does not wish to cause trouble. They are watching us and if you really want me to help I would suggest you do as I say".
This was not the answer Danny was hoping for. It only caused him to have more questions, but from the tone of her voice he knew he would get nowhere. There was however something honest in the way she said it and he decided they should do as they were told. He knew that to continue he would have to convince Abby. "All right, we will continue but please let me talk to Abby for a minute".
"Ok, I'll give you a minute, but after that I am afraid it will bring attention to you and believe me, you don't want that".
Danny gently grabbed Abby's arm and pulled her into the corner. He could tell she was agitated by his action, "Abby, there is something going on here and I think that we need to do as Belle said. There is something about her that I think we can trust".
Abby looked pissed and kept looking over Danny's shoulder to see where Belle was, "I don't want to keep doing this Danny. I just want to find Connor and get the hell out of here. We can't trust her, we only just met her".
"Abby, if you trust me then please do as I ask. I promise you that we will find Connor and get out of here soon, but I think we need Belle on our side to find out where they have him and more importantly, why they have him".
"I do trust you Danny, but this is getting us nowhere".
Danny was about to say something else to Abby when he was interrupted. He turned around and found Belle looking very nervous.
"We have to go now, they are wondering why we have stopped and they may be sending someone to find out". She kept looking behind her waiting for their answer.
Danny gently grabbed Abby's arm again and pulled her out of the corner. He turned to Belle and said, "Lead the way".
The three of them continued the rest of the tour and luckily no one came to ask why they had stopped. Danny knew that Abby was not happy with him but he could see that she willing to do as he had asked.
-
-
Connor opened his eyes and found that he was strapped to a gurney, "Hello, is anyone around?"
He sat there waiting for someone to come in the room, but when no one showed up he decided to try and get out of leather straps that were holding him down. Nothing he did seem to help. He laid his head back on the pillow to gain back his strength so he could try again. He was still feeling groggy from whatever they had given him.
As he lay there, the door to the room opened up. He looked up and instantly recognized the woman.
Trina had been told that Connor was ready to be transported, but wanted to come and see him. "Well, how are you feeling Mr. Temple?"
"I would feel a lot better if you told me why I was strapped to this gurney".
"We are going to take you somewhere else for treatment".
Connor was confused, "Why, I'm feeling better. Is there something wrong with me that you haven't told me?"
"No, but we just want to make sure you make the best recovery and we don't feel you can do that here".
"Will Abby and Danny be coming with me?"
"No, they are going to stay here, but when you are better you can come back and join them, OK?"
Connor was about to protest when someone else entered the room.
"Ah, your ride is here Mr. Temple. Once you're settled I'll come and see how you are doing".
As someone wheeled Connor away he struggled against the leather straps holding him down and called out to anyone who was listening, "I want to see my friends; let me out of this so I can see my friends".
Trina ignored him as she walked the opposite way.
-
-
Belle was done with the tour and was leading them back to their room when Danny stopped to rest against a window. He wasn't very tired, but any chance he got to look outside he took it.
Belle looked back when she realized the two were no longer following her, "Hey, we really need to get back. Your tour is done for the day".
Danny stared out the window briefly occupied by something, but when he felt a hand on his shoulder he came back to his senses, "Sorry, I was just tired and wanted to rest before we moved on. I never realized this place was so big".
Belle tried to pull his arm toward her, "Come on, we really shouldn't linger her too long".
Danny was once again occupied as he looked out the window. He had been watching a van that had pulled up and opened the back. There were several people standing about; waiting for something, but he couldn't see enough to know the answer. When he felt his arm being tugged he pushed Belle away, "Wait, I just need another minute".
As he watched he saw them wheeling a gurney toward the van, and if he wasn't mistaken they had Connor strapped on it. "Hey, that's Connor". He looked toward Belle, "how do I get down there? They have our friend".
By then Abby was also looking out the window trying to get a good look. She saw that it was definitely Connor and that he was struggling against the straps, "Hey, it looks like he is trying to sit up". She shot a look at Belle, "I thought they said he was not up to visitor's, but he looks perfectly healthy to me?"
Belle looked out the window and didn't really know where they were taking Connor or why. She was told to keep Danny and Abby occupied but that was all. She knew who they were, but didn't understand why their arrival was being kept secret. "Look, I don't really know all the much, but for some reason they don't want anyone to know you're back".
Danny roughly grabbed Belles arms and forced her to look at him, "Tell me how to get down there".
"You're hurting me".
"If you don't tell me, you'll be hurting even more"
"Ok, Ok, let me go and I'll show you".
"Can we trust you".
"You don't really have a choice now do you".
Danny let go, "alright, lead the way".
Belle looked around first and then led them to a back stairway that she knew would lead them to their friend. She didn't know if they would make it in time since they had to go down 2 flights of stairs.
Once they were at the stair well Danny pushed Belle aside as he and Abby ran down the stairs. When they reached the bottom they opened the door just in time to see the back of the van door being closed. They could just make out the silhouette of their friend, but nothing more.
They ran outside of the building as the van drove off. Danny stopped and pulled Abby to him, "We have to stop and think about this. There is something going on here and we can't just go running off after Connor without knowing".
Abby was trying to pull free of Danny, "But Danny, we need to go after him. It didn't look like he wanted to go with them".
"I know, but if we try to follow them they may take us as well and then we will be of no use to him". He made eye contact with Abby and said, "We'll get him back and then get out of this place, I promise".
Danny led Abby to the side of the building where they could get a view of van as it drove off. He needed to know which direction they had gone in if they were going to follow him. When they could no longer see the van he turned back and found Belle had followed them. "Do you know how we can get out of here?"
Belle looked nervous and knew she shouldn't help, but there was something wrong about this whole thing, "I have a car over in the parking lot. If we leave now it may be some time before they realize were gone".
The three of them made it to the car where Belle dug her keys out of her pocket, "I think you should hide in the back. I have to drive through the guarded entrance, but they usually don't check the cars that are leaving. Just keep your heads down and we should be able to get out of here.
Danny and Abby did as they were told. After a few minutes they heard the all clear from Belle. They sat up and saw that they were driving in the same direction of the van.
"Do you know where they may have taken him?"
"I have an idea".
-
-
Trina had just been informed that Belle and their two guests were nowhere to be found and she was not happy about it. She had yelled at the poor person who told her the news and ordered them to get Lt. Becker.
She had just gotten done ordering a full search of the place when she was told that Belle had just left for the day.
When Lt. Becker came into the room Trina was furious, "You said we could trust Belle to keep them busy, but instead she helped them escape".
The lieutenant didn't have anything to offer for his cadet's actions. "Well what are we going to do about it?"
"Were going to go and find them. I think they must have seen Connor being loaded onto the van since they left shortly after the van left. At least we know which direction they are headed".
-
-