AN: The song referenced is Strawberry Fields by the Beatles. The last few chapters have been mostly dialogue and little action…all that's about to change. *laughing demonically*
I own nothing
Back in the basement…
Penelope cradled her hand with the broken finger. It was amazing to her that such a small part of her body could cause so much pain. Then she felt guilty for even thinking about her pain after what Will had just been through. She looked over at him and her heart ached for him. He was laying on his left side, facing her, still curled in on himself. He had tried to protect his head, but they still got a couple of kicks to it. He was mostly awake but his eyes were dilated and unfocused. Pen had hoped that their pain had been worth something. She really hoped Reid had understood. He had given her a couple of small nods so she had to believe that he got her message. It would be the only good thing to come out of that phone call.
"Well, I do not know about you, but I think that went very well Penelope." Bob told her, as he knelt down between her and Will. "All your friends are probably sitting there crying, worrying whether Will can survive this beating. But my men know how to deliver a painful, but survivable, message so you should not worry your pretty little head about that. HA! Best team in the business, my ass. They took everything away from me. My job, house and family and I will do the same to them. I am a little sad that there are only two children from all seven of you. I guess when you are too busy meddling in other people's lives it does not leave room for much else. "
He brushed his knees off and stood up, "I am going to leave you for now Pretty Penny. Try to get some sleep; we are going to be very busy in a little while."
"Wait," Penelope called. Bob turned back to her. "If you are bringing the boys down could you please let me clean Will up a little? I don't want Henry to be scared and you have been so good to them up to now."
Bob chuckled, "Such a sweetheart Penelope. I had already planned on getting him cleaned up." With that he turned and made his way up the stairs.
There was a moment of silence and then the goons, (or Thing 1 and 2 as Pen thought of them) came down and hauled Will into a sitting position. Ignoring his moans of pain, they dragged him back against the wall where he was before. They didn't bother to chain his waist; they just circled one ankle with the cuff and secured that to the wall. Thing 1 (with the broken nose) squatted in front of Will and with and started cleaning his face with baby wipes. He was being unnecessarily rough with his scrubbing, enjoying the extra pain he was causing Will.
"Hey Tweedledee?" Pen called out. "You and Tweedledum obviously don't want to be cleaning up, so let me do it."
Thing 1 turned to Thing 2, "Did she just call me Tweedledee?"
"Yea, which I guess makes me Tweedledum," replied Thing 2. "Having a smart mouth won't get you anything in here but pain, Blondie. You would do well to remember that and keep that pretty mouth shut. Otherwise I might have to fill it, so you can't talk at all."
Thing 2 started to move towards her, but Thing 1 stopped him. "You know what the boss will do to you if you mess up his plans. Here, take the trash out and I will be upstairs in a minute. I got the Cajun as clean as I could."
Thing 2 took the bag of dirty wipes and started up the stairs. He leered at Penelope one last time, "Just wait bitch, you will get yours." Then he was gone.
"You and your friends sure know how to make enemies, huh?" said Thing 1 and then he was gone too.
"Will, can you talk? What hurts the most?" Penelope asked her friend.
"I'm pretty sure my ribs get the award for what hurts the most. What were you thinking, Pen? Yelling that in French? What if he'd been lying about understanding me? And why did Bob break your finger…what were you doing?" Will grimaced and clutched his sides, winded.
"I was sending Reid messages using Binary code." Penelope wished she could do something to ease his pain.
"That's the computer code with ones and zeroes, right?"
"Dumplin, you got it right in one! I'm pretty sure he understood me, but even if he didn't, they recorded the video. Reid will watch it two or three more times. We have to do something, we only have 24 hours." Pen got panicky thinking about just how short an amount of time that was.
"Yea, I heard. I'm not gonna be much help in an escape attempt. I'm pretty sure Tweedledum broke my ankle when he stomped on it. Geez Pen, really? Tweedledum? You shouldn't antagonize them." Will couldn't be too mad at her, not many other people would have stayed as together as she had. Plus, it had made him smile.
"I give everyone nicknames, my charming Cajun, and that was the first that popped in my head. I'm not known for filtering what comes out of my mouth." Pen looked slightly abashed, but not sorry.
"Well, please work on filtering with these guys. I think if Tweedledum had been alone in here he would have cause you a world of pain. Trust me; it's not something you want. "
Before Will could chastise her anymore the door opened and the boys came down the stairs.
"Henry," Penelope called. "Come sit next to me." She motioned for Jack to set on her left side so that Henry would be on her right. She figured Jack would be less likely to bump her broken finger. She showed it to him, so he would be aware of it, but put her fingers to her lips to keep him from alerting Henry to it.
"Daddy, how you get dose boo-boo's?" Henry asked in a tiny voice.
"Henry, how I got them is not important. What is important is how long it will take mommy to kiss them all better." Will told his son.
"A loooonnnngg time, Daddy!" Henry almost shouted.
"What did you guys do up there all that time?" Penelope asked.
"We watched cartoons," Jack told her. "We watched Fanboy and ChumChum and then Phineas and Ferb, which reminded me of my dad. He said Baljeet kinda reminds him of Uncle Spencer." This brought a chuckle from Will.
"Well, sweetie, I don't know who that is but if your dad says he does, than I'm sure he's right." Pen smiled down at him.
There was a moment of silence and then Henry said, "I'm scared. Am I gonna get boo-boo's too?"
"Love Bug, they are not going to hurt you. Your mommy and Aunt Emily and all your uncles are coming for us. We just have to sit tight. Come here, sugar." He raised her arm a little so Henry could slide under and cuddle up against her.
She had no idea what time it was but figured it was way past either of their bed times. "Close your eyes Henry, try to rest.
"Aunt Pen?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Will you sing us a song?" Jack always loved when Penelope stayed with him when Aunt Jess couldn't because she used to sing to him at bedtime. It reminded him of his mom; they both had pretty voices.
"You bet Jackers, lay your head on my shoulder and you close your eyes too. I shall sing my fair lads a lullaby."
The boys did as she asked and she started singing one of her favorite songs to them.
Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me.
Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
No one I think is in my tree; I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad.
Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Always know sometimes think it's me, but you know I know and it's a dream.
I think I know of thee, ah yes, but it's all wrong.
That is I think I disagree.
Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.
By the end of the song Henry was asleep and Jack was almost there. He whispered, "One more, please,
Aunt Pen."
She obliged and sang until he was asleep and she noticed that Will had either passed out or was asleep
as well. Penelope closed her eyes as well and was surprised when she felt herself falling asleep. Too bad
it didn't last long.