A/N: Good morning/night-time/afternoon I get confused. It's just after 4 am Sunday morning here. Anyway wow thank you for your interest in this story…Thank you if you have read, reviewed, pm'd, or added me as an alert. It is very much appreciated you are awesome!
I know who else is awesome, JCap for being a wonderful Beta she has battled the evil curse of the full stop and comma for me…they are my foes…plus I have a really bad cold at the moment and my brain refuses to work so she is the winner, so thank her. I do!
Anyway I hope you enjoy…All mistakes are really mine and spell checkers - two people have looked over this but mistakes still happen …so blame me if it sucks… Also I do not own any characters or film's, tv shows I may be abusing in writing this story it's all in good fun...ok I'm rambling again, here we go…
Chapter 2: Scary stories my father used to tell.
"Really, these are your coordinates? They take us right through the Deadlands. I myself have no problem with this, but my crew…we're a family and majority rules. I'll need to talk it through with them first. We'll find somewhere safe and hidden to stop, and then we'll take a vote." Callie cleared her throat; she could already hear Bailey's argument to go around. That would add at least a week on to the journey, going through the Deadland would take four days tops as long as they stayed clear of trouble.
"Awesome, we totally understand if you can't help us further, but can you at least take us to someone who would be willing? My father will meet us there. We really appreciate what you've done so far and I know my father specifically asked for you!" Tim smiled brightly towards the brunette, his dimples on full show. He had noticed how her features had darkened again at the mention of his father, but they had disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
"Come on I'll take you to a room. They're small but they at least have a bit of privacy and a place to rest your head." Callie could do nothing but smile back at the attractive man; he just gave off this trust vibe. She didn't trust people quickly. She had been a good judge of character in the past and that was one of the reasons her crew showed blind trust in her decisions. Though, Bailey did like to throw a spanner in the works sometimes. She just didn't get the creep vibe from Robbins, Sloan on the other hand…she wasn't quite sure.
"Yeah I remember this type of transporter. We used to call them "The Motherships". Very reliant vehicles but they need a lot of love and care." Mark joined in the conversation while the four walked through the cramped walkway to the lower deck, "So how did you managed to get your hands on one of these? I see you've done some modifications?"
"Found it, half buried in the sand. We needed something, the bigger the better for our line of work." Callie shrugged, she wasn't about to tell them that they had hijacked it from a bunch of scumbags, who were notoriously know for kidnap and rapes on the outskirts. They hadn't killed them, but they were as good as. They just left them tied up, naked in the edges of the Deadland. Confessing we left the dickheads with sand in there butt cheeks to try and survive, wasn't really an ice breaker conversation.
"I think people had left it because it is a bitch to keep running, but I have one hell of a mechanic. She can fix anything. We called her Bambi, this 'Mothership'…not the mechanic, she's our baby." Callie smiled at Mark. She suddenly found herself a bit tongue tied around the man. He was definitely the definition of Man Candy, and Callie had been by herself for a while know…surrounded by three new very attractive people who were not her 'family.'
"Bambi, really? That's…that's cute for some tough assed smugglers!" Tim laughed, still keeping the blonde girl in a protective hug. Tim's voice had snapped Callie out of very inappropriate thoughts and she shook them from her head.
"Yeah, Karev…you met him at the door, not the brightest. He decided to keep calling it Big Assed Monster Bitch, and to be honest, he's an idiot…so it was christened Bambi!" Callie laughed. Arizona looked up from her brothers' chest in hearing the warm seductive laugh from the Latina.
Callie quickly realised that the blondes eyes were know fully concentrated on her. They were the most amazing blue colour Callie had seen in a while. They reminded her of the sky. She hadn't seen the sky since she was a child; there was now just grey smog that loitered above their heads. As she continued to keep eye contact, she had quickly become aware that the small blonde was shaking. In her line of business, Callie had gotten used to not asking questions about her passengers or what she was delivering…yet there was something that drew her in, her eyes were so clear…so...innocent. She felt sorry for this woman; she seemed so weak and petite. Callie never cared for anything other than herself and her family, yet looking at this woman all she wanted to do was take her obvious pain away.
"Does she need anything, food…clothes? I'll gather some clothes, she's shaking and that gown is not very warm looking!" Callie's mind had been drawn to the pale but beautiful skin on show. She took note that this girl had probably not been outside in a while. The sky may have had that layer of smog but that hadn't stopped the UV rays that through the years had only intensified. Again Callie found herself having to literally shake herself out of thoughts of the beautiful blonde. "I'll gather some clothes then and I'll speak to my crew. Once we have a decision, we'll get you to the kitchen and you can join us for dinner." Callie stopped in between two doors. She hit the two buttons on the wall and waited for the sliding doors to open. "I have two rooms for you, they both have two bunks in them so two of you are going to have to share, and I recommend the girl in a room on her own. I don't like any funny business on my watch!" Callie smirked when Tim's obvious shock grew.
"Oh…no, nothing like that, she's my sister. I would appreciate it if it would be ok that she stayed with me, I need to watch out for her." Tim smiled when Callie nodded. "That would be super, thank you. We know how much trouble you helping us will mean if you are caught." Callie was sure that Tim's smile could melt ice.
"Well a jobs a job!" Callie replied indifferent; she tried to keep up her tough exterior. "Please tone down the perky, for all our sakes…unless you want me to make you my bitch?"
Tim laughed. "That's nothing compared to what the McPerky twins are like. Well, used to be like. They used to drive me up the wall. I can't believe that I want to hear that again." Mark shook his head as he gave a sad smile towards Arizona.
"Go, rest up for a while. I'll go talk to my crew and then we'll eat, I'll send someone for you soon." With a nod toward the two men, she lowered her gaze to the bright blue eyes that still curiously watched her. Callie gave her one of her best smiles and her heart jumped when the blonde returned the smile. It was slight but it didn't make Callie's heart race any the less. Composing herself, she left her passengers to their rooms.
Callie made her way back to the control deck, "Hey Hunt, do you think we can find a safe place to stop? Somewhere we won't be disturbed! We need to stop for a meeting and some food, hopefully we can enjoy our fabulous feast without interruption this time!"
"Yeah, there's a good spot about 10 minutes away. Just far enough from the outskirts, but not crossing the Deadlands boundary. It should be clear. If you want to alert everyone, I'll join you as soon as we're settled" Hunt smiled after he responded.
Callie picked up the intercom "Ok, people we will be stopping in about 10 minutes. I need all crew…that means you Christina, before you argue. There will be a meeting then food. Bailey it's your turn for kitchen duties, just in case you forgot!" Callie cut off the intercom quickly laughing as she heard Bailey's voice fill the air. "Indeed it is not, you know it is your turn Callie Torres. Get your ass down here now…respectfully, CAPTAIN!" Callie turned to Owen and sniggered.
"You know you should stop trying to get a rise out of her. One day she'll snap and we all don't want to be on the end of a Bailey explosion!" Hunt shook his head as he laughed at Callie's amused grin.
"I know but it keeps her on her toes, I'm going to head down so I'll see you soon. Make sure all the shutters go down and put the scrambler on so we're well hidden!" Callie looked out at the smog and dust filled windows. It was really hard to see anything in front of you. When you were this close to the Deadlands, you had to drive using the radar only. Hunt was an expert, Callie was a close second but she was glad that they had him.
"Yes Cal, I know the drill. Be down shortly, save me some of the good stuff!" Hunt threw over his shoulder as he continued to stare intently at the screen in front of him.
Tim sighed. "Zona's sleeping finally. I think the drugs are starting to lift! Was it bad, she has so many needle marks?"
Sloan closed his eyes, momentarily taken back to the vision of Arizona as she struggled against her restraints and her soul destroying scream. He shook his head toward his best friend. "You know that's why I went in there. We didn't know what they'd being doing to her. Your father knew that you wouldn't be able to control your emotions, so no. I'm not telling you what I saw. All I will say is she's been through a lot. She'll need you and she'll tell you in her own time. Just be there for her." Both men looked up as they heard Callie's voice over the intercom telling her crew to meet. Marks sombre expression changed to a smug one when he heard her voice. Tim saw his friend's expression and laughed.
"She's something isn't she? I thought Dad was crazy when he said we had to deal with a woman, but damn she's a whole lot of woman." Tim shook his head as he watched Sloan tilt his head with a devious grin play on his face.
"I bet I can get her first! You saw the way she was looking at me…A little bit of the Sloan charm and I'll have her screaming my name by the end of the night."
"Oh really? You're on my man. She's too much woman for you, she'll have your balls on a plate, serving them to her crew. Oh I can't wait to see the fall of the man whore!" Tim sniggered.
"You think so, do ya? Let's make this interesting mate. One week's alcohol ration when we get back to base if I win." Mark stuck out his hand and waited for Tim to state his claim.
"Ok, if I win stop pursuing Teddy. You're only sniffing about cause you know I'm interested." As Tim stuck his hand out to shake, Mark quickly pulled back. He tapped his fingers against his stubbled chin as he thought for a moment.
"You're on…there is no way she can resist me, I could see the horniness in her eyes. This will be too easy, my dear boy…Poker!" Mark grinned as he pulled a deck of cards out of his combat trousers and threw them at Tim.
Callie entered the kitchen to see Bailey and Karev already sat at the table waiting. With a nod she went over to take a seat. Christina came in a few moments after Callie and flung herself on the couch in the back corner. She shoved her earphones in her ears and gave Callie small grin.
"Ok, we'll get started as soon as Hunt parks up. I'll just get some water." She quickly made her way over to a cupboard and pulled out five small flasks. She turned back just in time to see Hunt come through the entrance. He smiled at her as she threw a flask in his direction. She then continued to distribute the flasks to the rest of her crew.
"Ok, I'll cut to the chase as I know Bailey's going to want to say a whole lot…and I would like to get this sorted quickly" Callie stopped and eyed Bailey who just creased her brow and made a noise that resembled a growl.
"The co-ordinates that our passengers gave us lands us just on the other side of the Deadlands. I would like to go through. We can get there in four days as long as nothing interferes. You know we do this fair, so majority rules, what do you think?" Callie closed her eyes as she waited for Bailey's voice, it never came and when she opened her eyes she looked over to the shorter woman. Bailey just sat and chewed her bottom lip.
It was Karev that spoke first, "Well, I'm up for it. You know I don't take the easy road"
Christina was next to voice her opinion. "On one condition, you get the stuff I need to make sure Bambi doesn't have to stop. I for one do not want to have to stop in the Deadlands to fix this thing."
"Just make a list of what you need and we'll see what we can get a hold of before we go." Callie nodded she knew they had majority but she wanted to hear what the other two thought.
"I'm with Christina, Bambi's been running a bit slower at the moment and I know I'm good but I'm not a miracle worker, so if we come across them, I want to be ready." Owen stated his position.
"Well it doesn't matter what I think so I'm keeping my mouth shut." Getting up Bailey walked past Callie and just stared at her. Callie felt really uncomfortable. She hated it when Bailey did that. "I'll go and get our passengers. I take it we're going to feed them!"
"Bailey, don't be like that. I promise the first sign of trouble we'll get out quickly." Bailey could always make Callie feel bad. She watched as Bailey threw a hand in the air and walked from the room.
"Ok, that went better then expected. Who's going to give me a hand then?" Callie looked straight at Hunt. He was the only one left who would actually help. He just got up and moved towards her, shaking his head and laughing as Callie patted his back.
As Bailey returned with the two men in tow, Callie received daggers from Bailey's eyes as she passed her and returned to her seat.
"Arizona is still sleeping, so we just left her in the room. Would it be ok to keep some food for her?" Tim smiled as Callie motioned towards the table for them to take a seat.
"Of course, yeah I'll take her some soon. This it's not the best tasting thing in the world but it's probably better than the rehydrated stuff you're used to." Callie quickly put some hot soup into a bowl for everyone. Hunt placed some handmade rolls on the table. "We'll eat first and discuss business after, ok?" Callie sat down at the head of the table and bowed her head and clasped her hands together.
Mark and Tim watched as Callie led her family in a prayer, feeling very awkward rather quickly, both men put their spoons down and lowered their heads in respect. Once Callie finished, she looked up at the two confused men. "What? You think what Preston Burke says is bigger than God? Preston Burke is a cock and can kiss my ass!"
"CALLIE TORRES, you will not use that word in the same sentence as God!" Bailey shouted.
"Sorry, I know you don't like cock!" Callie and Christina childishly sniggered.
"No, I meant Preston Burke" Bailey replied smugly, the whole room erupted into laughter. Everyone picked up their spoons and tucked into they're soup. The room had become quiet from voices. The only noise that remained was the metal utensils clinking against the bowls.
As they finished their meal, Bailey was first to break the silence she wanted to know why they were risking their butts for "So two Alliance officer, breaking the law…What are you up too?"
"Bailey, rule one!" Callie raised her voice towards the smaller woman.
"Yeah, well don't ask, take the money is all fine and good when it doesn't involve the Death Walkers, Callie, I don't want to end up on their menu as rump steak!" Callie rolled her eyes at Bailey being dramatic once again.
"Death Walkers, that's just a myth! Stories that dads told around camp fires to try and scare the children to behave" Mark scoffed.
"Yeah you would like to think so Mr I live in the central belt. The Death Walkers are real." Karev started with excitement "People only think their myth because anyone who has ever came into contact with them either ended up dead or completely insane with the horrors they'd went through. They live in the Deadlands, come into the outskirts to feed, rape and pillage. Nobody knows where they came from. They're monsters. People say that the corpses left after they attack are so badly ravaged that you can't identify them." Standing up and moving behind the two soldiers he continued. "They are sneaky, insanely clever at tracking and you never know they're there until…BANG!" Karev slammed his hands down on the table between the two men gaining the response he had looked for.
"You fucker!" both Tim and Mark jumped, as they looked round the room at the sniggering audience. It was Tim that continued. "Look we understand there may be some risk here, but honestly we are ready to make a stand against Preston Burke. My father has had enough of his lies and realises it's time to fight for the people and not against them anymore." Tim watched Callie as she looked towards Bailey.
Bailey nodded towards Callie and stood, "Well then, if I can get the chance to bring the heartless son of a bitch down, that's all I need" Bailey finished with the largest grin Callie had seen a long time from her adoptive sister.
"Well guy's I think you have your answer, we'll settle here for the night. Its dark out and we're hidden and out of radar. Enjoy yourself. Hunt pass the alcohol and toast our new adventure. I'm going to take this food to your sister, if that's ok Tim? Stay and get to know my crew. You're going to have to pull your own weight around here. We need to work together" Callie came over towards Tim and stuck out her hand to seal the deal.
"Thank you very much Callie. We will do what we can." Tim smiled and shook her hand.
Callie turned and grabbed some warm soup, bread and a flask of water. "I'll be back shortly, Bailey's in charge!" Callie left and laughed as she heard Christina huff.
Back in Arizona's room, the small blonde tossed and turned in the small bunk trying to dispel memories of pain from her head.
"Please don't, I want my daddy, please…please don't hurt me, daddy…daddy!" the twelve year old Arizona lay curled up in a ball in the corner of the bright white room, her eyes hurt from the blinding light. She tried to control her sobs to hear the voice that filled the room.
"Child your father gave you to us. He doesn't want you anymore. You disappoint him. He told us that you were a mistake and he wished you were never born."
At first it was just verbal abuse. Day after day they would enter her room and tell her that she had been left there by her family. She continued to fight and tell them that they would not do that to her. She knew her family had no idea what was happening to her. At first they'd just thought that she was hard to break.
The idea was to break a person, take them down till they thought they were nothing. Then they'd build them from scratch. This was the scientists' first attempts at brain washing. They had picked children from the camps and used them as rats. They were the monsters, the monsters that twelve year old children have nightmares about. What kind of person can beat a child? That was exactly what they did. A daily beating…constant verbal beating, yet Arizona would not break. A year of constant hatred trying to affect a young brain, she still knew that her family did not do this to her.
When they realised that this only worked on some, they had set about creating a drug. The drug was meant to create a placid and easily controlled person. Arizona new many of the other test subjects in the exam chairs next to her would come and go. She never knew what happened to them...whether they had survived or not. After 2 years of drug testing and surveillance, the doctors realised that Arizona had a unique reaction to the drug. Where almost every test subject had ended up crazy and violent, Arizona seemed to be more aware of her surroundings. She could sense when they were coming for her. She had almost escaped a few times before the decision had been made to transfer her to their super soldier tests. More tests…she had been nearly 16, which had been a good age to start the tests as that's when you were allowed to sign up for the Alliance's army.
Eight years of war, weapons, defence and strategic training, combined with the fact that she was a reader. In Arizona, they had created a super solider. They're very own monster in a sweet looking girl. All they had left to do was control it without the use of the drugs.
Arizona started to stir as she felt someone close, without a second thought she was out of the bunk in a flash and had the culprit pinned violently to the wall, her forearm pressed hard under the person's throat. She snarled as she made contact with startled deep brown eyes, as the person tried to push her away.
Callie stood outside the room for a moment. As she took in a deep breath, she hoped that Arizona was awake. She had found herself needing to look into those wonderful eyes again. She pressed the button and quietly knocked on the frame of the door as she entered. She noticed that the blonde was tossing and turning and had such pain written all over her beautiful features. Callie put the food and water down on the table next to the bunk and knelt down next to the blonde. She was about to reach out and comfort the petite woman when all of a sudden she felt herself hit the wall behind her as the air was knocked from her lungs. She struggled to get any more as her airways were blocked by the small arm.
Callie looked straight into the sapphire eyes in shock and then saw as the haze lifted, shock reflected in the eyes of her attacker. Arizona quickly released Callie
"Oh my god, I'm so so…so sorry, please forgive me." Arizona backed away as fast as she could and climbed to the back of the bottom bunk, trying to get as far into the corner as she could. As she brought her knees up to her chest, she started to sob quietly, repeating "What have I become" over and over again.
Callie was angry. Nobody ever dared touch her like that, but in seeing the woman in front of her she couldn't stop herself. She quickly put her hands up in front of her as she made her way forward, telling the woman that she was no threat to her. When she realised Arizona was calm, she climbed on to the bed and held the smaller woman to her chest, soothing her with calming words in her ear, until the blonde stopped sobbing.
"Hey it's ok, I have some food for you…its ok" Callie pulled away from the blonde and gave her a smile "It's ok. No hard feelings. I shouldn't have snuck up on you…my own fault, but damn girl, you're strong. I couldn't budge you!"
"Sorry, I guess I don't know my own strength." Arizona giggled and it made Callie's heart soar. Callie moved a curl from in front of Arizona's face and took in every little detail. She noted that she had an even more amazing smile than her brother. Callie was startled when she heard someone clear their throat at the door.
"Hey bright spark, your awake! Callie your crew have gone to their bunks, it's getting late and with the early start and all that..." Tim smirked when he saw his sister's face redden. He'd always known that his sister had started to show an interest in girls, but being as young as she was when she was taken, he didn't know anything about her now.
Callie got up and rubbed her throat without realising she had, "Ok, I'll go take this stuff back to the kitchen, but tomorrow you and me need to have a little chat!" Callie pointed a finger into Tim's chest. "Make sure you keep her at your side at all times, got it!" Callie said quietly to Tim as she left. Tim turned to Arizona, smiled and shrugged, then got into the top bunk.
As Tim turned the light off he heard Arizona's quiet voice "I always knew deep down you would come for me!"
Tim smiled as he answered "I'd battle the world if I had too."
"Dramatic much!" Arizona replied as she closed her eyes again, hoping for a dream clear sleep, knowing that her brother had her now.
"Ah Miss Torres, I knew you couldn't resist me!"
As Callie entered the kitchen she was surprised to see Sloan sitting on the couch in only his combat trousers. She looked at his toned body and smiled. Man candy did look good she thought to herself.
"I just thought, since you were being so accommodating to us, I would offer my services to eh…elevate that obvious itch that needs scratched on your part?"
"Really, well that's very kind of you!" Callie threw the dirty plates at the sink and began to stalk towards the handsome man. "And you're so sure that you can relieve that itch are you?"
"Yes, ma'am, I can" Mark smiled as Callie straddled him and pulled his head back over the back of the sofa. This allowed her access to his neck which she started to kiss and nip. Mark very quickly started to get lost in the feeling that his hands grabbed Callie's ass. When he got the moan he was looking for he pulled her further down. The pressure of her pushing down on top of him, instantly made his obvious excitement grow.
"You really think you have what it takes to satisfy me" Callie whispered into his ear before removing her lips and taking his in a searing kiss. Now it was Mark that let the moan escape his lips as he started to snake his hands under Callie's vest top. He felt Callie's hand start its slow decent. He was in heaven and just waiting for that one little touch...but it never came. Then he felt it…cold steel pressing into his throat, opening his eyes, that's when he saw Callie's amused face as she held the knife retrieved from her boot.
"You ever try that again and I'll cut your damn dick off!" Callie laughed at Marks shocked expression and gave him one last kiss to remember her by.
"Oh come on, the major's standing to attention...you can't leave me like this!"
"Is that not why you have a strong hand? I can take care of myself thanks. I don't need any help from you!" Callie stood and chucked his shirt back at him
"Really you had to leave me with that image!"
"Have a good night Sloan, I'm sure I will." With that Callie walked from the room happy with herself.
Mark watched the retreating brunette and laughed to himself. "I like her. We'll get on fine." As he got off the couch he looked down at himself and chuckled "Well at least she can't take my imagination away from me, so she'll be helping me tonight" He left the kitchen whistling to himself.
Back at the camp…
The doctors were lined up in a row, suddenly a gun shot was heard and one fell to the ground. A minute later, another round and another body fell. "Dear Doctor how could you be so stupid? You let a top secret government test subject escape. This is just not acceptable. Oh wait, do you know what makes it worse? I'll tell you, she was a reader. She has our secrets locked in that pretty little head of hers." The cold calculated voice, void of all emotion whispered behind the lead doctor as he heard another shot ring out and another body hit the ground. All that was left was him; he closed his eyes and pled for mercy.
"Burke wants you to know that he's disappointed in you and he sent this message" The doctor froze as he felt the barrel of the gun on his forehead, eyes tight waiting for the end.
As she pulled the trigger she smirked at the pool of red beneath her feet. Pressing the button at her ear piece, she was met with the dulcet tones and holograph of Preston Burke.
"I take it you passed on the message to the good doctors? Are the test subjects still in their cells?" Burke acknowledged the nodded. "It's clean up time Hahn. Burn it and all evidence to the ground. You need to recover this situation. Once all is hidden, we'll begin again but for now…TAKE CARE OF IT!"
"As you wish. Do we know if it was Robbins that got someone to break his daughter out?" Hahn replied.
"We have someone keeping an eye on the Major, and I have Barbra Robbins as insurance. We will see what plays out!"
"Yes sir, I'm still reviewing surveillance footage. I'm yet to identify the men, but I'll get them."
"I know you will Hahn, your my most trusted…make me proud."
"I will Sir"
Erica Hahn, Burkes most trusted and heartless assassin turned and made her way back to the computer screens. "Ok, let's see who help little birdie fly the nest!"