Aww gee I feel really bad. It's been so long :( sorry. But here's the next chapter. Hope you like it and the next 2 should follow pretty soon as I've already written chapter 20 :/

Kallie x


Chapter 18

Kittie's POV

The journey back to MI9 was silent. Stark was furious with us for not following orders, for not telling him and for leaving Frank there. Rose and Carrie sat together in the back, away from Stark and I didn't blame them. I sat beside Oscar, half-hoping he'd wake up and half-hoping he wouldn't. There was no telling what he would do in his current state. When we got to MI9 Stark strode off into the building straight away, no doubt eager to get rid of us or land us straight into trouble. Maybe both knowing him and how much he hates us, me especially.

Two agents came out and took Oscar away. I hurried after them and a hand on my shoulder pulled me back. I turned to see who it was, who it was that was stopping me from getting to Oscar.
"Kittie, wait. Let the medics tend to him," said Michael pulling me back."No. They don't know. They don't know what they did to him." I struggled against Michael but he held me tight, not letting me stroked my hair trying to calm me down, something no-one had done in a long time, not since my mum had died. "No Kitten, let them take care of him. They know what they're doing. He needs proper medical care."
"But I just got him back," I cried like a small child, tears streaming down my face. I should have been more controlled. I knew I was making a scene but I didn't care.
"I know, I know. You'll get him back again soon, once he's been taken care of. Let the doctors help him and then you can take care of him," he replied soothingly, still stroking my hair.

I collapsed against him, giving up. He did need medical attention and it was probably best if they looked after him. I wasn't really in any position to help. As I leant against Michael crying, I realised just how much he really meant to me. I had just got him back and now he'd been taken. Granted it was for a good reason, but it didn't stop me from feeling like I was missing something, something incredibly important. When I'd been with Robin, I'd wonder what he was doing when he was with others, but it was nothing compared to this. I felt like I couldn't live without Oscar. He was my life and without him, I felt… dreadful. There'd been days where I'd wanted to curl up and die, but I knew I couldn't. I couldn't let one person rule my life like this, especially when I had other people depending on me. It wasn't fair on them to let him take up so much of my time but I didn't know how to change that. I couldn't change how I felt, even when I knew he didn't feel the same way. He had once, but now he didn't. Back at SKUL there had been a moment when I thought maybe, maybe things were ok between us, that they weren't awkward or cold but I don't know. Maybe this is all my fault. I didn't deserve this but then good has got to be countered by bad some way or another and I guess me not having happiness is the way of evil counteracting all the good I've done. I shook my head. I shouldn't think like that. Bad things happen, they just do, not because you're good or because they should.

Behind us I heard footsteps and I spun around quickly, forgetting Michael was holding me. My face met his chest and I flinched. He chuckled and let go, stepping to the side. I looked up rubbing my nose and saw the head of MI9 in front of me. I groaned inwardly. No doubt I'd get blamed for all of this because of Stark.
"Gupta, Stewart, Swan, come with me, now," she said, showing no emotion. I could tell this was going to be bad. I squeezed Michael's hand and the three of us began to follow the director.
"Ma'am," called Michael and she stopped, turning back to look at him. "Ma'am, if you're going to yell at them then you may as well yell at me too. It was my idea, well part of it. I was involved and it's my fault Frank got captured, so if you're going to yell at them, then yell at me too."
She stared at him, a small smile on her face. "Agent Swan I have no intention of yelling at them, I just want to know their account of what happened and devise a plan for what's going to happen next."
Michael blushed and looked rather sheepish. "Oh. Right. Well as you were then."
She smiled again. "Indeed Agent Swan. Haven't you got family to get back to?"
He took a step forward and took hold of my hand. "Kittie's family too. She matters just as much as they do."

I smiled up at him, grateful that he was here. Jack… well I was worried about him, but at least I knew most of my family were safe and I thought I had helped him. If not then I'm sure John could help. He was still a mole in SKUL after all. The head rolled her eyes, but continued smiling.
"As you wish Agent Swan. Now that we've got that all sorted, is there anything else before we get down to business?"
Michael opened his mouth and I stood on his foot, shutting him up. "No ma'am," I said, shaking my head.
She turned and began walking down the corridor, Rose and Carrie following. I glared at Michael and began dragging him down the corridor. "Not another word," I hissed at him.
I love my brother and all, just sometimes I wish he'd learn how to shut up and not put his foot in it.

The room we entered was just like any other interrogation room – blank, empty with a table and several chairs around it. There was a chill in the air and I huddled in a chair, as close to Michael as I could be. Rose and Carrie sat next to us, the director opposite of us.
"Now, who's going to tell me what happened?" She looked around at the four of us, none of us daring to speak. "Well? Who's going to start?" As the four of us stared back at her blankly she sighed. "How about we start with what the plan was to rescue agent Cole."
Rose looked at me and I shook my head. I didn't want to tell her where we'd got the idea from. Rose tried to smile but gave up. "Well, Kittie and Carrie went into SKUL under cover for a… what was it, something to do with meet the evil youth of today."
"Bring your younger relative to work day," I muttered.
Rose looked at me and nodded. "Yeah, sorry, bring your younger relative to work day, to get Oscar back."
"And how did you manage that? I highly doubt SKUL just let you walk in looking like… that." She gestured to mine and Carrie's outfits and we looked away.
"Using contacts from within SKUL, we uh got Kittie and Carrie in so they could rescue him."
"Can I ask how and who the contact was?"
I shook my head. "No. I can't risk exposure or them getting hurt."
The director nodded. "Very well. So what happened once you two were inside? Agent Stewart?"

Carrie shifted nervously, something I'd never notice her do before. "Well uh we earned their trust, then Kittie went off to get Oscar. I don't know what she did but she was followed by a guy and somehow she lost him between leaving the room and getting Oscar. I got a call from Kittie telling me to get out of there now any way I could. When we got out, Rose took Oscar to the van. Me, Kittie and Frank tried to hold off the guards but it didn't work. They took Frank but they let us go. Maybe they were just after Frank, who knows, but they got him and we had to wait for Stark."
The director nodded thoughtfully. "And Kittie? What happened when you and Carrie split up?"
I looked at Michael worriedly. He squeezed my hand. "Go on, it's ok. That's what we're here for."
I nodded shakily. "Ok, um well James – the guy who followed me out of the room tried… tried… uh he wanted me and I knocked him out then tied him up. Then I went to find Oscar where our source told us where he would be –"
"Our source?" interrupted the director. "You mean you all know who the mole in SKUL is?"
I shook my head again. "No. I can't say anymore. Ma'am I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me. It's just not right."
She nodded. "Alright then. So what happened when you went to find Oscar?"
"He was where I was told he would be, chained to a wall. I unchained him and as we were about to leave this lady came in. I don't remember if she said what her name was. I fought her, knocked her out, then got Oscar out of there. I called Carrie to tell her to get out, and then called Frank telling him we were coming. Then it happened like Carrie said. Frank got taken away, however I think I have made a personal enemy now."
She nodded. "That happens sometimes with these sorts of things."

The room was silent as she wrote down notes on what we said. I sat there fidgeting in my chair. I had to go and find Oscar. I had to know what they were going to do to him. I had to know that he was ok, well as ok as he could be after what they did to him. "Ma'am," I asked, causing her to look up. "What's going to happen to Oscar?"
"That's a good question," she answered. "He can't very well go home to his foster family in this state, yet we don't have time to arrange alternative accommodation with an agent. I'm not even sure how it would be explained to his foster family. In all honesty Kittie, I don't know."
Michael looked at me then at her. "He could come stay at ours."
The director looked… shocked is an understatement. "I beg your pardon agent Swan?"
"He could come and stay with me and Kittie. We don't have parents to ask questions, not that they would have done anyway because they were agents, Kittie knows his cousin Amy so can talk to his foster family through her and just say that he's staying over for a bit with a project or something and he will be safe with us."

I had to admit he had a point. He would be safer if he was with us and we were the only ones who could and would willingly take him at short notice like this. If Frank was here… he'd probably stay with Frank because I know they see each other as family but Frank's not here. At least if he was with me then I'd know where he is and be able to try to keep him safe. I could also try to fix things between us but maybe that's going a little too far.

I nodded. "He's right. He can't really go anywhere else at this point without raising questions. Frank is… unavailable, Rose and Carrie both have normal families who would ask questions but Michael and I don't have that. We've got the room at home and –"
"Room…" Michael interrupted. "Where would he stay at the house?"
"Luke's room. He's not using it at the moment and I highly doubt he's going to be home in the next couple of weeks. It will be fine."
Carrie looked at me. "Are you sure you'd be able to handle this Kittie what with everything that's happened in the last week and a bit?"
I nodded, my mind made up. "Yes. I've been looking after my family as long as I can remember. One older person is not going to make much difference. It'll just be like having Luke or Alec or Jack home again."
"Will you be able to handle whatever SKUL have done to him?" asked Rose. "He looked really bad."
"Yes," I said trying to sound confident. "I've dealt with 2 year olds having temper tantrums and stuff. I'm sure I can manage a 15 year old. Besides, I kinda know what he's going through." I turned to Michael and curled up against him again. "He's not the only one to have been kidnapped before," I mumbled.

There was silence for a few moments as the director pursed her lips, thinking. Then she nodded. "Alright, it seems like it's the only good option we have left." She reached out and pressed a button on the table. "Can you send Agent Stark in here please?" She let go of the button and looked around at us again. "I hope you know what you're doing Agent Swan."
Stark entered the room, grinning like the Cheshire cat, obviously thinking we were in trouble and admittedly we should have been. I mean we rescued one team member, lost our leader, got stranded at an enemy's lair and didn't tell MI9 our plans.
"Ah, Agent Stark.""You wanted to see me ma'am," he replied, still as smug as ever and I resisted the urge to hit him. How could he be so happy at a time like this?
"Yes. Regarding the latest mission of the MI High division…"
"Indeed ma'am. That… failed mission which led to the capture of agent Frank London –"
"Agent Stark I hadn't finished," she snapped and I noticed him flinch a little and his smile slipped.
I rolled my eyes inwardly. He wasn't this insanely happy, well maybe just a little because we'd messed up but he was wearing a mask so to speak. I looked up at his eyes. They were like mine – full of pain. But why? I mean… I could have killed myself for being so stupid, well not literally kill myself. I didn't need another death right now. He was… Frank… I…
"Regarding the mission it has been decided that Oscar Cole is going to be in the care of Kittie and Michael. However regarding their lack of current adult supervision –"
Michael tried to cut in but ended up grunting, probably in pain from me stamping on his foot to shut him up. No-one could know about him yet.
The director looked at Michael and carried on. "I think it's best if as the senior field agent here and as I place you in temporary care of London's team until his return both from SKUL and when he is capable, that you check up on them regularly and make sure they haven't tried to kill each other or gotten each other hurt by any means."
Wait, did this mean she knew about the smashed beaker and the fight in the corridor?

Stark stared at her, gawping like a gold-fish and I was quite inclined to do the same had I been thinking more rationally.
I stood up quickly, shoving my chair back. "Wait, wait, you want him to check up on us? How is that fair? He hates my guts, wants me dead and he doesn't care for Oscar either."
"I don't want you dead, that's… a little over kill Swan. That is exactly my point. I don't need to be looking after melodramatic teens," said Stark and for once I almost agreed with him. I say almost.
"Excuse me!" I rounded on him. "I am not a melodramatic teen thank you very much and I do not need anyone keeping an eye on me. I am quite capable of looking after my family and Oscar. I don't need some jumped up shirt checking up on me like I am 2. I can look after myself and my family. I have done for years."
"Agent Swan…" began the director.
"Who are you calling a jumped up shirt? May I remind you I am the senior field agent here, not you," Stark yelled back.
"Kittie enough." Michael grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. "Stop please before you get into trouble."
"You should listen to your brother," called Stark as he smoothed back his hair and I swear at the point Michael could have slapped him.
"You shut up." He turned back to me. "Please Kitten, it's just temporary and it probably is needed just to make sure you don't go off the deep end."
I nodded. "Alright, but he has to let us know first when he's coming. He can't just turn up unexpectedly."
The director nodded. "Agreed. So it's settled. Oscar will go and stay with you. Swan, Swans, you are released. Go and take Oscar home."
I smiled gratefully. "Thank you ma'am." I took Michael's hand and we left, heading off to find Oscar.


Frank's POV

The rotten taste of sweat filled my mouth, drowning my nostrils in the putrid scent. I could feel the bile rising in my throat and my stomach churned as I breathed in the odour of the gag around my mouth. My hands were pulled sharply behind my back, tied expertly so there was no chance of easy escape even if there hadn't been the guards. My right eye throbs, blackened from the punches they threw at me when I tried to escape before. They learnt not to use handcuffs on me. The grip on my shoulders was tight and vice-like as I was roughly shoved down the dark seemingly endless corridor. Where to I had no idea. A doorway loomed ahead of me, quickly out of the darkness but the guards didn't even stop to open it. They just barrelled straight through the unlocked door, taking me with them.

They pushed me roughly from behind and I fell to the floor, the hard tiles ripping through my trousers, grazing my knees.
"Look what we've got here boys," called a voice from the darkness. "An MI9 agent."
"The leader of the kids, boss," said a guard behind me. He moved forward into my line of vision and I saw that he was a snivelling wretch, an under-dog, scum. Maybe not quite scum but he was one of the worse of the SKUL agents and probably was a trying to gain power by sucking up to the "boss".
My head was jerked back and I glared up defiantly.
"Well boys, what do you think we should do with him?" came the voice again and I strained my eyes to try and see who it was. Unfortunately for me the room was too dark and all I could see was a shape.
"Leave him to General Flopsy, just like the boy. Maybe this one can be reduced to a wreck," said a guard behind me. I tried to see who it was who'd spoken but I just ended up getting hit.
"He's a pretty one. Maybe you're right Karl. However pretty ones should be used accordingly. I get first go with him," said another.
"No," growled the voice from the dark. "We may be evil but we're not sex-driven maniacs. If you feel that way Aaron maybe you should be part of another organisation. Maybe join a strip-club. We don't do that sort of thing here." The voice was firm and I was glad. Who knows what Aaron would have done to me. It wasn't worth thinking about. I just wanted to be out of this place, back with my team.
"No, he shall be dealt with accordingly," continued the voice and I looked up.
"Well what do you suggest then Leo?" asked the guard who had suggested leaving me to General Flopsy.
"I suggest you leave him to me. Millicent want's to speak to him soon and I think she would prefer he wasn't damaged mentally, physically or emotionally much. No, I just want to talk to him before she sees him, see if I can get anything out of him manno e manno."
The creepy one nodded. "Yes boss. You heard him, scram." He ushered the guards out and closed the door behind him with one last look in the direction of the voice from the darkness.

After the door was shut the room was silent, so silent I could hear him breathing heavily.
"Turn around." His voice was so quiet, barely more than a whisper.
"Sorry?" I asked unsure what he meant.
"Turn around. I won't do anything to hurt you, I promise."
I frowned. This was the first time I'd ever heard of a SKUL agent promising they won't hurt someone and sounding like they meant it. Hesitantly I turned around, just in case this was some trick.
Footsteps came up behind me and he knelt down, one hand on my shoulder. He pulled a knife out from his boot and… he cut the rope that bound my wrists.
I rubbed the reddened skin and turned to see who this man was. He was tall, sandy-blond in his late 20s with piercing grey eyes that unlike the rest of SKUL didn't have a hard edge to them. No I'm wrong. There was one who didn't have quite the same hardness in his eyes but he couldn't have been more than 19.
"Thank you," I said, studying him further. He leant slight to the left, favouring his left leg and his hands were scarred. He didn't look as rough as some of them yet he had an air of dominance about him.
"No problem. Makes it easier to talk." He went into the shadows and came back with 2 fold up chairs. "Here, have a seat."

I sat gingerly, and although my back was to the door, I was closer to it than he was. He sat down and I stared at him trying to figure him out. "Why are you doing this?" I asked eventually. "Why untie me?"
"Because I need to talk to you and I can't very well do that with them all around. Besides, I thought you'd be more comfortable like this, unless you'd prefer to be tied up on the floor?" He smiled slightly.
He had a sense of humour I could give him that. "So what did you want to talk to me about then?"
He leant forward. "I need you to deliver a message. It's very important you deliver it once you get out of here."
"Who's this message for?" The day kept getting stranger and stranger.
"Oscar Dixon-Halliday." That surprised me a little.
"You want me to give a message to Oscar? What kind of message?" I looked at him a little sceptically. Who knows what kind of game he was really playing.
Right then I swear he'd lost it because he laughed. "Not that kind of message. It's just words I can assure you. Tell him he needs to forgive Kittie and that she never meant to hurt him."
"Why… Why should I give him that message and how do you know about that? Do SKUL know about that? They…" I wondered what on earth was going on. He knew about Kittie but how? He knew Oscar was annoyed with her but how could he? He was SKUL and if SKUL knew that Kittie was Honey… we were in a lot of trouble.

"Because it's important. I know that it's hurting both of them. Don't worry the rest of SKUL don't know about that. It's only me and a couple of others and they're not likely to tell anyone. They don't want to hurt her."
"Who are you?"
"A friend," he replied looking at me signalling the end of that discussion. "Please, you need to tell him to forgive her when you get out of here. They're destined to be together but in order for that to happen he needs to forgive her and get rid of the hurt that's stopping them from being together. Please Frank, it's very important."
"Alright, I'll deliver your message when I get out of here but I have no idea when that will be. It may not be for a while and they've already tried killing each other."
"I know Frank, but he still needs to hear that. I'll do what I can but I can't promise anything. Maybe you'll be rescued like Oscar was."
I looked up at him. "I highly doubt my team would risk it again."
"Even though you're their leader?" He shook his head. "Frank you underestimate them sometimes. You've been spending too much time with Agent Stark."
"Horatio is not a bad person like everyone thinks, he's just misunderstood and the only reason I've been spending so much time with him is because we've been working together on cases."
"Deny it all you like Frank but we both know that you like him."
"I…" I have to admit he pretty much had me speechless. How did he know these things?
"You see? Look, I'd love to stay and chat a little further but I think the rabble are getting restless. Any minute now they'll be back in here and I can't blow my cover."
"Wait, you're MI9? You're the mole?"
He laughed again. "No, not MI9 I'm afraid but I am one of the good guys and I'm not the mole." He looked at his watch and sighed. "It's been nice having a proper conversation with you again. It's been years since we last met so you probably don't remember me. I'm really sorry about this now Frank."

"Sorry about what?" Out of nowhere he punched me in the face, his fist locking with my jaw, knocking my chair backwards onto the floor. I barely had time to register the action enough to stop my head colliding with the concrete. He stood over me, looking regretful and helped me to my feet. "Sorry Frank but it needed to happen. They'll have been asking questions and I have to show somehow that you wouldn't co-operate with me after all."
I nodded shakily and put my hand on my aching jaw. "So what now?"
"Well I'm afraid I'm going to have to tie you up again like you were before."
I nodded and he pulled out a length of rope from and pocket and walked behind me. "I am sorry Frank. If there was any other way then I'd take it but they outnumber us 10 to 1 even with everyone here."
"By everyone you mean…"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that mate." He tied my wrists together rather expertly and I wondered again who he was.
"You seem to know what you're doing," I said, voicing my thoughts.
"I pick things up quickly," he replied as he folded up the chairs and put them back where he'd got them from in the darkness. "Again, forgive me Frank."
"For –" I started to say and stopped as he hit me again, this time splitting my lip. He punched me again in the stomach and I buckled, sinking to the floor.

The door opened behind me and several guards came in.
"Insolent little worm!" shouted the man. "Tell me about your team!"
I heard the sound of heels on the concrete but maybe that was just because of the blood rushing in my head. "That's enough Leo," called a female voice and I felt sure I'd heard that right.
The man – Leo stopped. "Yes ma'am. I'm afraid I couldn't get him to tell me anything. He's all yours."
She walked around me slowly, her heels clacking on the floor until she stopped in front of me. She bent down and lifted up my chin, tutting. "Look what a mess you've made Leo. It will take a lot to fix this one, but then again maybe not." She snapped her fingers. "Clean him up boys and then bring him to my rooms. Let's see if we can make this little canary sing shall we."
I did not like the sound of that at all.