A/N: So sorry for the delay in this. I'm trying but stupid life gets in the way of being a slacker and honestly at some point the fact that I've written 40,000 words of fanfiction and *checks notebook* 0 in my third book in the past month is a problem. But like I said this angsty piece is probably helpful in getting in the mindset of my angsty novel right?
Thank so much to the reviews it helps to think at least people are enjoying this probably more than anyone would enjoy book 3 anyway XD.
Walter studied Morgain. Debating one last time if this was his best course of action. There was no going back if he showed his hand, but he didn't want an enemy of Morgain.
"The Honjo Masamune. One way or another my team will get it but I don't want an enemy of you. I also assure you that you don't want to make an enemy of my team. Give me the sword and I guarantee no one will ever prove where it came from, and I'll upgrade your servers."
Water kept his voice stoic and serious, he needed to be matter-of-fact about this. A simple business transaction with just the hint of a threat.
Morgain remained silent betraying nothing of surprise at Walter's unusual payment request. His fingers trailed along his desk and Walter knew he was thinking through is next move just like Walter had.
"Homeland said nothing of your mission. But the military is much less tight-lipped. I had my team look into rescue missions that occurred around the time of your reappearance. Found a company that gave up leave to rescue a government asset. The company wouldn't talk but their interpreter was easily bought." Morgain studied Walter before continuing. Walter tried to remain impassive, but he knew Paige and Toby would know by the movement of his cheek that he was affected.
"So I know who it was that did this to you. Oh, not specifically of course but the group responsible. And I'm sure Homeland must have briefed you on a particular method of torture this group has…" Again, Morgain trailed off to study Walter.
Walter had expected this and he knew exactly what Morgain was going to ask and wondered if it was better to let Morgain ask or just admit it outright.
"Yes, I was informed by Homeland," Walter said as if it made what he did any better. As if it really changed anything.
"I'm sure you are aware why I am asking. How far did you go to protect Homeland's secrets? Are you truly a man of your word?" Morgain asked.
"I am." Water said, still wishing the conversation would end, that Morgain would drop it and just give him the sword. But Walter knew that was not about to happen.
"How many?" Morgain asked.
Walter closed his eyes and breathed deep instantly seeing the faces and hearing the cries. He quickly opened his eyes again.
Walter started at Morgain. He knew this conversation was always going to end up here. Morgain needed to prove to Walter he knew his deepest secret before allowing Walter access to his servers. Potential access to everything Morgain wanted to hide, and Walter was smart enough to create a backdoor if he wanted. Morgain needed to be certain that would not happen. Still, Walter wanted Morgain to say the words, to say it out loud because Walter was not even sure he could.
"How many what?" Walter asked softly.
Morgain smiled a sickening sinister smile. "How many people did they put in front of you? How many begged for you to save their lives by spilling your secrets? How many were killed because you wouldn't talk?" Morgain said every word slowly, each sentence almost it's own form of torture for Walter.
Walter looked down. "Five." He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. Even knowing it was coming it was still hard to admit.
"Five. So would it take more than five to break you or is it a matter of the right five?" Morgain asked.
Walter glared at him. "They would have died anyway." Walter said.
"Perhaps. But you don't know that for sure." Morgain said.
Walter clenched his teeth. He wanted to be angry and argue that Homeland had told him exactly what to expect. That it happened before. And yet Morgain hit exactly what Walter's mind had every day and night. He didn't know those people would have been beaten and killed no matter what he did. He didn't know if Homeland lied just so he wouldn't talk.
"No," Walter admitted softly.
Morgain nodded. "So, your fee." Morgain tapped the desk.
Walter barely cared anymore. He was gone full of faces and screams and darkness. He couldn't shake his head or open his eyes to make it go away. He breathed deeply trying to calm himself and his heart that was racing causing his exhaustion to get worse and his lungs to burn. He pushed it back, he had to or there would be a little girl dead because of him.
Walter stood tall again ignoring the trembling in his limbs.
"I have kept it hidden and honestly the upkeep and care of the thing is more trouble than it is worth to me. You keep your end O'Brien, and you will leave here with the sword. We are in many ways evenly matched in our ability to be an unwelcome enemy to the other. I have no desire to have the wrath of your team any more than you wish mine. But heed my words O'Brien, my business is my own. We have an understanding in this instance and nothing more beyond that."
"Agreed," Walter said.
"My men will take you to the server room. Your team will be brought to meet you. Give Mr. O'Brien back his comm. I am sure his team is beside themselves."
"The guard that had been quietly in the corner until now appeared suddenly beside Walter and held out his hand. Inside the guard's palm was Walter's comm.
"I need the Honjo," Walter said.
Morgain eyed him. "I already agreed to give it to you AFTER you finish."
"You have your assurance that the job will get done. We are under your guard, and you drove us here. I need my own assurance of payment." Walter stood his ground, but he knew from his shaking and the sweat on his brow he wasn't the most imposing figure.
The pair started at each other in silence for a few minutes before Morgain nodded.
"Bring me the Honjo Masamune." Morgain said and Walter knew Morgain must have had comms of his own the entire time. The guard's hand closed around Walter's comm, and Walter could almost hear Paige screaming at him to answer.
"Thirty minutes. That's in I'm going to get him." Happy said moving toward the door of the SUV that was still open.
"Happy," Toby started. He understood the desire to get to Walter but didn't want Happy to risk herself either. "I am not sure that is the best move. Those guards are probably armed."
"I don't care." Happy said, crossing her arms.
"We have to do something," Cabe said. "We can't wait forever. The guard said we could ask about Walter." Cabe tried.
'I'm sure if they killed him the guard is going to be upfront with the information." Happy said bitterly.
"Happy!" Paige shouted a warning.
"I'm trying to access his security cameras, but I haven't been able to find one for whatever room Walter is in," Ralph said.
"I knew you never should have gotten in the car," Sly said pacing back and forth.
Cabe went to the open door and then saw the guard standing off to the right. It was likely the guard had heard everything they had said.
"Hey! What is taking so long?" Cabe asked the guard.
"Mr. Morgain sends his apologies, but Mr. O'Brien demanded proof of payment upfront. Mr. Morgain is securing the payment. I can bring you to the server room as soon as Mr. O'Brien is satisfied." The guard said.
"Payment up front? What the hell is Walter doing?" Elia asked.
"I don't know but I hope he knows what he's doing," Cabe said shaking his head.
A few more tense minutes passed and finally they heard the voice they all needed to hear.
"I'm done. Heading to the server room now. Walter said his voice soft and strained.
"197 you okay there?" Toby asked. "I don't like the sound of your voice."
"If you think he sounds bad you should see how he – is that the Honjo?" Elia said as he saw Walter emerge from the room struggling with his crutches. Beside him a guard carried a sword.
"Mr. Elia, Mr. O'Brien says he trusts you with this while he works on the servers." The guard said, handing the sword to Elia.
Walter shrugged. "Figured it was best not to try carrying a sword while walking with crutches."
"You got the Honjo as payment?" Simone asked, amazed once again at Walter.
"It was that or make an enemy I don't think we want to make. For what it's worth he thinks the same of us. Let's just get this done so we can get back on the case." Walter said feeling like his limbs were filled with bricks. His body seemed reluctant to follow any commands.
"Do you need to sit down Walter?" Elia asked. Walter shook his head.
"Let's just get to the server room. Happy, Cabe are you on your way?"
"Yeah, O'Brien. On our way to you." Happy said.
"Walter, are you okay?" Paige asked softly.
Walter sighed. " Just…tried. It was a tough…negotiation."
Toby shared a look with Paige. He knew it. Whatever Walter had been hiding from them, Morgain had found it out.
"Hey, Pal. Elia seems to think you look rough. So anything hurting? Sweating, heart rate, breathing, what's going on? Are you just coming down from an adrenaline high or something else?" Toby asked.
Elia and Walter reached a door with the guard and through the glass door, he could see a small room filled with familiar machinery, lights, and computers.
The guard opened the door and motioned for them to enter. After they stepped in the guard also gave them back their phones. Walter found a seat and gladly fell into it.
"You are allowed to have your phones back but remember do not cross Mr. Morgain." The guard said as he left the room.
"Good you got your phone back. How about a quick video chat while you wait for Cabe and Happy?" Toby asked.
"Already here. Calling you now Doc." Happy said as the door to the server room opened.
Happy swallowed hard. Walter did look rough. Pale and sweating. His eyes were sunken but more than that he looked nervous as if the usual confidence his IQ gave him just vanished.
"Jesus kid. You okay?" Cabe said.
Toby answered Happy's call and she pointed the phone at Walter. Walter groaned as he was faced with the worried looks of Paige, Toby, Ralph and Sly.
"I'll be fine. I just need a minute and we have a job a to do." Walter said trying to remind them all of what was actually important right now.
"I'll get started. You talk to the Doc." Happy said handing him the phone.
"Do you have a fever?" Toby asked.
"I'm fine. Just not used to standing on crutches for so long." Walter said. Cabe reached over and put the back of his hand against Walter's forehead.
"He's a little warm Doc," Cabe said heading for one of the gear bags that they had brought that had a few of Walter's meds. He grabbed the antibiotics and the one Toby said to use if Walter's fever spiked and handed them over to Walter along with a bottle of water.
"Okay, Pal. Just let Happy, Cabe, and Elia do the heavy lifting." Toby pleaded.
"What heavy lifting? We're upgrading a server not moving furniture. Most of it is just installing Walter's encryption program and giving Morgain the key." Happy said.
"You know what I mean," Toby said.
"Walter just relax okay? Whatever happened with Morgain, it's over and you got the sword. That's all that matters. We will save the girl." Paige said.
Walter nodded but didn't respond to Paige. He guided the others with as few words as possible and found that he could barely keep his eyes open. But he also couldn't bear to close them.
"Okay O'Brien, do you have the drive? You have to do the install, it's your software." Happy asked looking over at him. Cabe and Elia turned as well. For a second it looked like Walter had just fallen asleep but his eyes were wide open.
"Walter?" Cabe shook Walter softly not wanting to hurt any of his wounds.
"Doc…any thoughts on this?" Happy said pulling out her phone to show Walter on video.
Toby ran his hand over his mouth. "I think he might be hallucinating. Between the lack of sleep, weakness, head injury, and whatever he talked about with Morgain his big brain is definitely somewhere else right now."
"Great and we don't have the waitress to pull him out of it." Happy said.
"I'm not sure having him think Paige is with him in a terrorist cell would be good. What he needs is someone he expects in a rescue. Cabe that's you."
"Walter! Walter! Come on son. I'm here. We got you out remember? It's not real." Cabe shouted.
Walter didn't respond.
Happy looked at Cabe and Elia and then shrugged and slapped Walter across the face.
"O'Brien. Snap out of it. We're in the middle of a job. You're being unprofessional." Happy said angrily.
Toby pulled the phone further away and shared a scared look. His lady love was not the woman you wanted to cross. "Uh, little rough there Hap."
Walter's eyes focused on Happy. "Happy?" He said drowsily but then came to focus. "Sorry, it was just another dizzy spell. They'll go away soon. I'm fine. Do you need me to finish the install?"
Toby highly doubted it was just a dizzy spell but it wasn't the time to discuss it.
"Yeah just waiting on you pal then we can get you back to the garage for some rest," Elia said kindly.
"After the case," Walter said on autopilot as he grabbed his laptop.
"Why did we ever let you out of the hospital?" Toby said shaking his head.
"Walter you are going to rest if Ralph and I have to tie you to the bed and sedate you," Paige yelled.
"Already tying him up are you?" Toby said with a sly wink.
"I need to focus on this job so we can get back on the case or she dies," Walter said curtly annoyed once again with his shortcomings and how they were hampering the case. Walter was ignoring his stiff fingers that had no desire to fly over the keys like they used to but Walter willed them to do it anyway.
When the install was done, Cabe helped Walter out of the chair and back onto the crutches. Happy and Elia packed up all the gear and headed toward the door where the guard was waiting.
"I have the encryption key for Mr. Morgain, where is he so I can give it to him?" Walter asked.
"You can give it to me Mr. O'Brien and I will take you back. Please follow me to the car."
Walter shrugged and decided whatever got them back to the garage the fastest was fine and they had what it was they came for, he thought eying the case that Happy was carrying with the Honjo safely inside.