AN: So as I said, next chapter is up :) although admittedly a little later than I intended. Enjoy and I shall get the next 2 chapters up soon, I promise x

Kallie x


Chapter 19

Oscar's POV

"I'm to do what?!" I couldn't believe it. Who's crazy idea was it to send me to Kittie's? This wasn't what I needed right now. Why her place? Why not somewhere else?
"Oscar, please," said Kittie as she took a step towards me.
I tried to back up and then remembered I was in a medical bed at MI9 headquarters. I wasn't going anywhere any time soon. "Don't come near me! This… You did this. It's all part of your master plan. Well you know what, it won't work."
"What won't work? What on earth are you going on about?" she asked angrily, causing her hair to bounce.
I can't believe she didn't know after everything she's tried to do. Huh, I could see why I'd liked her before I found out she was a liar. She was rather pretty and very cute when she was angry. Dammit Oscar. Why think like that? I hit my ear, trying to dislodge the thoughts and probably ended up looking like a nut-job. Luckily given that I'd just been rescued from SKUL they'd probably dismiss it as something they did to me. "You're trying to get me to like you by having me spend time with you at your house. It's not gonna happen. There is no magical fix-it just because you want me to stay at your house."

She scowled and placed a hand on her hip. "You think that's what this is about? You think you're coming to stay with me because of that?! Are you out of your mind?! You've been in a SKUL cell. You don't have anywhere else to go. You can't go back to your foster home."
"Why not?" I didn't see what the problem was. At least there felt like home, even if it was a foster home. I hadn't had a place to call home in a long time and now I was being told I couldn't go back there?
"Well for one you're scarred, mentally and physically because of SKUL which makes you a danger to them because we have no idea what wacky side-effects you'll have. You cannot be around normal people at the moment. It would just scare them."
"No it wouldn't. I can be around "normal people" as you put it. Just let me have one night at home as a test-run and we'll go from there."
She looked at me. "You're willing to risk it?"
"Yes." I glared at her. Why was she doing this to me? I mean come on, couldn't I get a break? Why me of all people? Why did I have to deal with a stroppy 15 year old girl who apparently had a major crush on me?
She sighed. "Fine. Have it your way but when they try to put you in a mental hospital don't bother asking me for help." She turned and stormed out angrily.
I rolled my eyes at her. Talk about moody. Michael shot me a look-what-you-did look and ran a hand through his hair. "You stay here." He turned and followed Kittie out the room muttering in Russian.
"It's not like I'm going anywhere," I mumbled, looking down at the bed. My left hand was twisted up in the sheets and I groaned. This was not a good day.

I heard a knock at the door and I looked up. It was Rose. When she saw I was awake she came in.
"Hi, how are you doing?" she asked walking over to the bed. She tried to smile but I could tell it was forced. Maybe things weren't quite so good with her either.
I shifted slightly so she could sit on the bed, unclenched my fist and I winced. "I feel like I've been swallowed up by hell and then spat out again, just like I've been through Tartarus and back."
She smiled and sat down on the bed. "You look it." She flinched. "Sorry. That isn't really what you wanted to hear, was it?"
"It's better than you lying to me," I replied gruffly.
Rose sighed. "She never meant to hurt you. It was a cover to protect SKUL from hurting her."
"So why didn't she tell me? I thought I was her friend." I sighed and gripped the edge of the bed, looking down, afraid to look at her. I knew what Rose was like when she was cross and I was afraid I'd pushed her over the edge. She's been telling me this for a while, everyone has. Then again, I wasn't afraid to admit how I felt. I felt like Kittie had betrayed me. "I liked her Rose and she lied to me," I said angrily. "Rose, I really liked her. Why on earth didn't she tell me?"
Rose shook her head. "I don't know. She had a lot which she didn't tell anyone about. Her family, her past… her life is very complicated, more complicated than yours."
"So you're sticking up for her?" I couldn't believe this. I've known Rose longer than Kittie has, a lot longer and yet Rose was here defending her rather than me.
"No, I'm not defending her. I'm telling you the facts that you can't see because you're blinded by fear and hate. You're so scared because the second you really started trusting someone, loving someone, you found out there's more to them than what you knew. You feel like you don't know her anymore. That's why you don't want to stay at hers, not because you hate her."
"That's not true!"
"Really? Because I think you're deluding yourself or at least trying to. You're afraid of getting hurt. Just… just grow up!"

I was beginning to think she was right. I was scared of getting hurt again. Was it really that obvious?
"Look," she sighed. "It wasn't Kittie's idea for you to stay at hers. It was Michael's and you know what, it's the best plan we've got. The director agreed to it. There isn't anywhere else for you to go. If Frank was here… then maybe things would be different but he's not so whether you like it or not, it's your only option. It's not like you're being asked to share a room with her, is it?" She stood up. "Just give it a chance ok? Who knows, you may even be able to fix this."
"Yeah I doubt it," I murmured. I couldn't see any way that me and Kittie would be back to the way we were before. I rolled my eyes and rested my head against the headboard.

Michael came back in. "Man, you know you're really upset her."
"Yeah, well she upset me." I winched and sat up further.
"I know. Look, I totally understand but you two can't keep sniping at each other."
"I know. Maybe if I just stay in the room you give me it should avoid conflict."
Michael frowned. "Wait, you'll come stay with us?"
"Yes, as long as Kittie doesn't throw herself at me."
"Kittie doesn't throw herself at anyone. She's not that sort of girl."
"I was… sort of joking." I was sort of. She'd gotten very… attached I think is the word.
"Sort of?" Michael looked at me a little annoyed and I don't blame him. I'd heard that he and Kittie were really close but then most twins were.
"Never mind." I waved a hand at him unable to move much without being in pain. "So do you want to go and tell your sister I've agreed to your hair-brained scheme?" He looked at me startled and I continued. "Yes, I know now it was your plan not hers. Just go and tell her."
He grinned. "She's gonna be thrilled!" He raced out of the door.
"Hey!" Geez, that's not what I wanted, not that I knew what I wanted right now other than to be normal.


Franks' POV

After the lady… rescued me from Leo I was taken to a rather dim and under used washroom with large trough like basins similar to the ones you get on farms. I'm guessing from some of the guards hesitating, this was where prisoners were taken to "get cleaned up". Some however seemed more confident than others, especially one big brute who pushed me down onto the floor and shoved my head straight into the murky water in the basin. I have no idea what his idea of cleanliness was but it definitely was nothing like mine. I was pulled out of the water by my hair which now stuck to my skin and I gasped for air. Again and again he ducked my head under the water trying to get rid of the dirt that had mingled with my sweat to create a mud like substance on my face, unpleasant I know. Eventually he stopped when… I'm sure it was the same young blond man I'd seen earlier spoke quietly to him. The man bristled and I could tell they had some history together – the brute definitely hated the blond one. Maybe something had happened recently. The brute let go and the blond one took his place. He knelt down beside me, drained the water and added some more, some that was fresh. Using a slightly dirty rag which he pulled from his pocket he wiped my face with the clean water.
"There you go. Millicent doesn't like her victims dirty, not at least for what she's got planned for you and Pete's dunking wasn't working," he said.
I blinked away the water that was in my eyes and looked at him properly. He looked familiar but I couldn't quite work out why.

"That's enough now Barney," sneered the brute – Pete. "He doesn't need to be mollycoddled. Why don't you stick to finding your sister after Honey Harper imitated her and infiltrated here. I mean how could you not even know that she wasn't your sister?" He chuckled. "She must really be a wimp to let a goody two-shoes like Miss Harper tie her up and take her place here."
Barney growled. "I didn't alright. Harper is very good and you know it. Look, she took Murdaug on and won. You're the one who messed up with the security, that's why your precious Millicent is so angry with you, not to mention the Grand Master. You messed up, not me."
I could tell any second they were going to start hitting each other. Maybe I could escape but then I remembered the rest of the guards in the room. Maybe not. I shivered and tried piecing together all the things I knew about Barney and all that he'd said. Maybe then I could… wait, he'd been talking about Honey Harper. Kittie had used Jack as "her brother" or at least her characters brother to get her in which meant… this was Jack.

"Excuse me," I mumbled but they didn't stop. "Excuse me," I said a little louder and they turned to look at me. "Hadn't you better take me to Millicent? She doesn't seem like the sort of person who likes waiting and I am now cleaner thanks to you two."
Pete growled. "Oh like that is it pretty boy? How about a proper cleaning then." With one sweep he lifted me up and threw me into the basin causing the water to tidal wave over the sides. Now let me tell you I'm no feather. Whilst I'm slim, I've got a lot of muscle so for him to pick me up like I weighed nothing, well he must be incredibly strong.

I sat up gasping for air struggling to stay above the water easily with my hands tied behind my back. I leant on them and pushed myself up.
"Now look what you've done," said Barney. "She's going to be furious with you. He'll drip everywhere."
"Me?! It's your fault not mine. Maybe if you hadn't been arguing with me then I wouldn't have got annoyed. Maybe if you knew your place…" he pushed Barney in the chest sending him a few steps back.
"That's it, you me, outside in the yard. We'll settle this once and for all. Maybe then I won't have to deal with this crap that you keep spewing at me," replied Barney angrily. Now I don't really know Jack so I wasn't sure if this was an act or not. If it was he was very good. Even I would be annoyed at Pete if this was the way he treated me all the time. Now I could see how Carrie, Kittie and Oscar felt when Horatio was picking on them all the time.
"That's enough," said one of the other guards. "Both of you need to get your act together. Millicent wants to see him now and you know how she hates to be kept waiting."
Pete clenched his fist and scowled. "Alright then, you take him to see her then seeing as it's so important to you."
The guard rolled his eyes and helped me out of the basin. "Come on you." He pulled me roughly out of the room and another guard came and held me on the other side. I was not looking forward to this now.

Pete's POV

Barney annoyed me so much! He's just a kid and yet he goes around like he owns this place. He drives me so mad. First he goes around insulting Millicent, then he laughs at me when I fail to break the Dixon-Halliday boy and now he says the boy being rescued was all my fault. Seriously, does he not know his own sister enough to recognise that it's not even her? He makes me so mad. So mad that I forget my job and even act like Millicent isn't important. She is important to me but I'm definitely sure I've now blown all chances with her. I am being blamed for the fiasco earlier but I did do as much as I could and of course it was the Harper girl who rescued him. Her reputation precedes her. It's a shame she's working on the wrong side. If she worked with us then maybe I could see how kids can be spies because she is amazing just on the wrong flipping team!

I flexed my knuckles. Now I had to deal with the kid Barney and make him pay for treating me like dirt. I was the senior one here, not him. He's only been here what, a month, maybe more and yet he was shooting up the ladder to become a successful powerful SKUL agent. I would so laugh if he was a double agent like Flaxx and Jesse were. It wouldn't surprise me if he actually was. I'm beginning to think that SKUL isn't safe these days at all. I shook my head. I was just being paranoid. SKUL is still the best criminal organisation at least within the UK. I'd heard the Circle were very good but they tend to operate in America these days, chasing after some long lost descendants of someone or other. Nope, now I had to go and deal with that little worm Barney and show him who is boss.

Barney's POV

Why was I so stupid? I nearly blew my cover getting so annoyed with Pete. I wasn't even sure why I was so annoyed with him. Now I know what Kittie feels like when Stark is pushing her around. Pete's just a big bully – all strength and no brain. Although it did seem I was doing the right thing for what I – what Barney would do. I just couldn't wait to get out of here, leave this place behind but I couldn't, not until we'd destroyed SKUL from the inside. There were so many of us working here, heck even Leo was here and he was my boss. I know we'd lost good moles here – Alan, Johny, possibly Abbey but I think the plan was working. Only the director knew apart from those actually involved what the real plan was. Kittie just thought I was there to pass on information and I don't even think Michael knows that I'm here. He probably just thinks I've given up on the family and am staying with a friend instead but that's not true. I haven't given up on my family. That's why I'm here, to make it safer so that we can be a family again without the fear that someone could die. If SKUL was brought down then maybe we could stop. We wouldn't be needed so much and then we could let someone else take over, someone who doesn't have to look after their family because their parents are dead. I wish.

3rd POV

Frank was immediately taken from the washroom into a large, comfortably furnished room. Frank blinked in surprise. "This can't be right," he thought.
"Let him go," called a voice, a female voice. "It's not like he's going anywhere is it? No, just leave him here and leave us." Millicent stepped forward and began herding the guards out of the room like lost cows. She turned and looked at Frank, smiling. "Look at you, you're a mess. Tut. When I told them to clean you up I meant get you cleaned up. You look as though you've have water poured all over you."
Frank didn't correct her, just staying silent.
"You poor man." She rang a bell and a guard entered from a side door. "Ah good. Fetch me a towel, no make that a bath robe, a set of clean and dry clothes and a large pot of tea. Chop chop."
The guard left and she turned back to Frank. The guard re-entered the room with a change of clothes and a bath robe. "The tea will be coming ma'am," he said before bowing and exciting.
"Wonderful," she replied, a large and very convincing fake smile on her face. "Here, why don't you put the robe on and we can have a chat."
Frank didn't move. "Oh dear, I almost forgot. Let's see if I can make you a little more comfortable." She untied Frank's hands, passed him the robe and sat back in a large arm-chair. Frank took the robe, put it on, sat down warily on a chair and rubbed his wrists.
"Now, you've been identified as Frank London, project leader and senior agent in MI9, is that correct?"

Frank considered the question. It was obvious that SKUL already had detailed information on him so confirming his identity couldn't do any harm, could it? However he didn't want to confirm any information that they weren't sure about, thereby giving away MI9 secrets. Keeping quiet could be bad for him. He had seen briefly what SKUL had done to Oscar and the lady didn't seem like she was going to hurt him but then appearances can be deceptive. It could all be an act. Instead he could decide to be co-operative which could put him in a better position to do some serious damage. After all the information he gave didn't have to be accurate now, did it?
"Yes, that's correct," he answered after some time.
The lady smiled a friendly smile. "Thank you Frank. I'm glad you've decided to be co-operative, unlike your young friend we had before." She blinked. "Where are my manners? My name is Millicent and I'll be your SKUL liaison today. Is there anything I can do for you Frank?"
Frank shook his head, suspicious of her offer.

"Shame." A guard entered carrying a pot of tea, another carried two cups with matching saucers and a third had a jug of milk and a bowl of sugar. They set the items down on the table in front of Millicent. "Why thank you. You may leave." The guards left. "So Frank, how do you take your tea?" She poured tea into the two cups and passed one over to him leaving him to help himself to milk and sugar.
Frank stared at the cup of tea in front of him. Surely it couldn't be bad if they drank from the same teapot. That decided he picked up the milk jug, added some milk and then two sugars.
Millicent continued talking. "Now, we're going to have a little chat you and me, nothing too serious." She took a sip of her tea and sighed happily. "Lovely. Now, down to a little business. Your role in MI9; you're in charge of the children aren't you?"
Whilst not strictly completely true, Frank decided to go along with it for now. "Yes, that's right."
"And you give them missions – such as coming to rescue one of your own?"
"Correct again." Technically he was given the missions to give to them but she didn't need to know that.
"Yes, I suspected as much. You definitely seem the strong leader type to me, when my boys aren't knocking you around." She paused and took another sip of her tea. "I've had the privilege of working with a member of your team over the past few days. Charming young man. Stubborn though and a little sad."
"What did you do to him?" hissed Frank angrily leaning forward on his chair and almost letting go of his tea-cup.

Millicent looked up a little shocked. "Why nothing personally. I never got a chance to speak to him properly. He was always whisked away by someone else's orders. If I had gotten to see him then maybe then he would be in a better state than he is now."
"Who hurt him? What did they do to him?" Frank asked setting his cup down on the table.
"I'm the one asking the questions here." Millicent scowled, her voice hardening slightly.
Frank responded sarcastically. "I thought you said we were going to chat."
Millicent paused for a moment then laughed. "So I did. My you are a clever one. He only had done to him what was expected of us evil people where there was no-one to protect him or to help him, until that Harper girl turned up," she muttered darkly.
Frank looked up indignantly but chose to ignore the comment about Honey. "So why aren't you torturing me? Why do all this? The bathrobe, the clothes, the tea? I'm not going to tell you anything."
"What tell me nothing after all I've done for you? Where's your chivalry and honour Frank? Are men born these days without it?" Frank didn't answer. "No, you will tell me what I want to know in time, I can be sure about that." She smiled a little cruelly, revealing a little bit of her darker side which Oscar had seen.