CHAPTER 4: The Final Dosage.
By ElementsOfSapphire
DISCLAIMER/Please Note: This/these stories are all purely for fan-fun purposes only; no copyright infringement intended. I own none of the rights relating to either The Avengers, nor The New Avengers; none of the characters, sets, the lot. I'm awfully sorry if posting such stories relating to the show is not allowed or is unwanted. In which case, please accept my every apology and inform me so I can take them down. Once again, I'm just a teen fan that wants to get their work shown and evaluated, so please tell me if its is wished for my story/stories to be taken down- or even my entire username. Thank you :)
Having left Steed's rather extravagant abode, Purdey didn't really want to have to make any stops between the house and Kendrick's surgery. However, her car insisted otherwise, the fuel monitor glaring devilishly towards her, warning her that she would have no option but to make a short pit stop. True, it was still only very early morning, so the pumps would most likely be clear and there shouldn't be any queues. But all the same, the stop would still waste those precious, precious seconds.
She pulled over mournfully into the petrol station, jumping out of the car as quickly as possible, and filling up with as little fuel as she dared. The pumps were slow, so the less time she spent filling up, the less time she would waste. Purdey was rather fortunate that day, despite how gloomy it was shaping up to be. To her luck, Trevor (a rather greasy fifty something, who, despite his awkward appearance, had a heart of gold and a soft spot for the woman) was on the till, and having glanced out of the window and seeing that Purdey was in a hurry, simply waved her off. He knew he could trust her to pay later, and she was ever so grateful to his gesture. She waved promptly back at him through the glass before clambering back into her car, throwing her not-needed purse onto the back seat, and screeching back out of the station. Back to Gambit, and pronto.
It must be noted, that during her brief stay to fill up the car, Purdey had failed to notice one very important occurrence. Whilst preoccupied with both thoughts of Steed and the progress of the petrol gauge, she hadn't seen the woman on the other side of her car. It was Trisha, and in her hand was a large screw which she used to jab multiple times at both of the left hand tires. Purdey hadn't seen or noticed a thing, nor did she pay much attention to the vehicle that followed her almost all of the way back to the Ministry's medical department. It was a place that no agent wanted to spend much time, not because it would probably mean they were critically injured, but because every other man in the room was almost certain to die. And that could wreak havoc on morale. It was a sad place, and almost always filled with the inexperienced first years, those who hadn't prepared themselves for the rigours of the job. Those who would almost certainly die.
She was mere metres away from the turning for the Ministry when Purdey jumped in surprise. A cacophonous bursting noise shook her eardrums. The car began to judder continuously, leading Purdey to pull it over to take a closer look. On examination she found two burst tyres, both on the left hand side, to which she sighed in annoyance. Why now of all times? Concluding that it would only take her about twenty seconds to sprint round to the building, she decided to ditch the car, swinging the back door open to grab her purse. She didn't know who was at Kendrick's surgery, but no doubt someone would have a car she could borrow. Perhaps it was fortunate she'd decided to double check here before joining Gambit. She may have never made it to the flat with her car...
"I'm glad I caught you, Purdey. I was afraid I'd miss you."
The figure stood beside Purdey, looming ominously over her. She slowly pulled herself out from the car, bag in hand. She could feel the cool touch of metal upon her neck, eyebrows climbing in anxiety as the weapon pressed harder and harder against her skin.
"What do you want from us, Trisha?" Purdey questioned in a steady voice, too experienced to be cocky, too strong to play scared.
"Oh, I don't want them," replied Trisha, bringing the hand not holding the gun she pressed to her neck in front of Purdey's face so she could show her the syringe it held. She pressed the syringe against her neck, then dropped the other weapon with confidence, holding Purdey in check with the same device she'd used only half an hour ago on her victim's colleagues. Purdey gasped at the stinging sensation in her neck as she felt as the needle jab in, the prick about two inches up from her shoulders.
"Just you," The woman finished, pushing the solution from the tube and into Purdey's stretched neck. She waited for her more experienced colleague to fall to the floor before heading back to her car to pull it forward a bit. Purdey was extremely dainty, albeit tall, and hence weighed not much more than a leaf, but Trisha had no intention of dragging the body back to her car when she could bring the car to Purdey just as easily.
"I don't think so, Trisha," called a voice from the gates to the Ministry. Out from the morning shadows strode Kendrick, calm and collected, and holding a small gun. It was then that Trisha regretted her overconfidence, and realised her error in getting rid of her gun. Kendrick pulled the trigger without hesitation, aiming directly at Trisha. He took no pleasure in watching her fall. As a Ministry man, he had the right to shoot and kill when under duress, but as a doctor, he much preferred saving lives to taking them. Although, he could see this was a kill to save situation, and right now, Purdey was in preference.
Before him lay the bodies of two women, one just about breathing, the other growing colder by the minute. Trisha had turned out to be a traitor, so his immediate loyalty was to Purdey, whom he went to without hesitation. Her eyes were fluttering, but he was satisfied that she would survive. She must be a fighter, he concluded, noting that most people who took such a high dose of lead wouldn't normally stand so much of a chance.
"Purdey? It's Kendrick." He smiled down at her reassuringly, using his arm to partially prop her up. "Now my dear, we're going to get you back to my surgery, but you need to listen to me. It's very important, all right?" Purdey managed a slight nod, before returning to her weak, limp state. "Where are Steed and Gambit? I need to find them in case Trisha got to them, too. Do you know where they are?"
"Her flat," she breathed, eyes struggling to stay open, and head tottering against his arm.
"What, Trisha's?" She nodded, collapsing onto him, her eyes shutting completely. "Come on, let's get you somewhere safe," he concluded, scooping her up and hurrying back to his surgery.
VVV
"Do not concern yourself, Mr Gambit. My colleague and your girlfriend will join us very soon."
Both Steed and Mike had awoken far too early in Soo Choy's opinion. His hope was for them to wake up with the girl already in place, so that they could watch as he injected the last, lethal dose of lead hydroxide. However, all had not gone to plan, and while neither of them were the picture of health, they were fighting the effects of the poison better than he had estimated.
"I'm not worrying, and she is not my girlfriend," snarled Gambit, trying his hardest to pull from the chains which bound both him and his comrade to the sofa.
"Oh, that is sad. Such a handsome man and beautiful young lady would suit one another so well. But you won't be sad for long, oh no. When they arrive, Purdey shall be injected once more, but this time lethally, but it will be a slow enough process for you to watch. And once she's no longer with us, you two can also... leave."
"What makes you think that it will be us that leave; it could be you, Soo choy," Mike shot back again. He continued to struggle against the chains, trying his hardest to be freed of their punishing clamp.
"I doubt it, Mr Gambit, after all, I... What is he doing? Mr Steed, what are you doing?" Soo Choy looked upon John with a sense of urgency. His eyes fell upon the syringe the agent now had in his hand. No one had paid much attention to the man whilst Gambit and Soo argued, meaning that sneaking the lethal device from the sideboard wasn't as difficult as some may have presumed.
"Just... borrowing this," Steed said cheerfully, lifting the object in his hand to show Soo choy his intention to use the thing.
"No, Mr Steed, you cannot do that. You MUST see the girl!" Soo Choy ran to the man, stopping in front and swinging his arms around wildly in an attempt to grab hold of the evil thing. But Steed was too quick, and in the work of a moment, Soo was no longer standing, but instead found himself on the floor, pinned beneath Steed's foot with the needle millimetres from his neck.
"Looks like he couldn't take his own medicine," mused Mike, prodding the man on the floor with a well polished shoe.
"No. Clearly that wasn't his ointment for success," Steed replied with a slight grin.
"But," said a voice as a man appeared at the doorway, "clearly you two could use my help." Kendrick wandered in to look at the scene, taking a pair of handcuffs from Mike's back pocket and tightening them around the villain's legs. Next, having collected a knife from Trisha's kitchen, he hacked away at the chain's padlock which constrained the agents, receiving bountiful thanks as the pair left the seat.
"Where's Purdey?" inquired Mike, as he both himself and Steed were supported by Kendrick en route to his car.
"She's resting in the surgery" puffed the doctor from the weight of the two men.
"Is she ok?" Mike continued, lifting Steed into the back seat and climbing in himself.
Kendrick started the motor and began to set off en route back to his surgery. "We'll find out when we get back," he replied with a small smile, returning his attention to the road.
VVV
"...Happy Birthday to you," the crowd finished their tune as a rather rosy-red Mike blew out the candles. Five or six figures surrounded him, each cheering merrily in the confinements of his flat as he opened his eyes again after making a wish. Steed was there, as was Kendrick. McKay had arrived late with Sandra and Phil, Mike's friend from the old days, who had apologised profusely for being only two minutes late. He smiled at them all, offering the knife to Steed so he could cut everyone a slice of cake. Having received his own, he wandered away from the kitchen and to the sofa bed, besides which rested a small photo of him and that one missing person. John watched as Gambit walked away, keeping his smile fixed but knowing inside that Mike would much sooner go back to his smaller, lonelier party of the previous year. It may have just been him and her, but at least she was there.
He took the photo into his grasp, placing the cake beside him so he could take the frame with both hands. A year tomorrow, he reminded himself, tracing her infectious smile and big bright eyes. No one had ever been able to make him smile like she did; no one ever woke him up by purely being irritating; no one ever could make him want to face the worst day, like she did. This time, 1978, he lost his best friend to some disgusting woman who, having recovered from her own shot, was now doing time in prison. And she hadn't even received life.
That picture he held was just one of an entire album he kept out of sight. Only Purdey had ever known it existed. They'd called it 'Our Album' and inside were photos of their every memorable trip, their favourite Christmas presents and their greatest memories. He wanted to pluck it and hold it close to him, try and convince himself for a moment that she was still there, that the album had photos yet to come. But he couldn't, and it didn't.
He sat in silent for some time, until eventually he felt the weight of someone's hand upon his shoulder. The touch was cold, freezing almost, but more worryingly, familiar in the wrong way.
"I broke my promise, Mike," whispered a voice, breath cool upon his neck. "I never gave you the other half of your present, did I?"
In front of him now stood a woman he had only dreamed of seeing again, had longed for so desperately. He held out his hand as though to stroke her chin, but stopped as the freezing chill hit his fingers, making his spine shudder coldly.
"I... I don't mind," he breathed back, never letting his eyes fall from hers. She smiled weakly, gently leaning forward and bringing the cool breeze with her.
"I do," she stated before letting her icy lips meet his. They stayed in the kiss for only a few seconds before Purdey pulled back, keeping the same, weak smile. "I miss you, Mike," she whispered, holding onto one of his hands ever so delicately.
"I miss you too." He smiled, letting his fingers intertwine with hers.
"You'll see me again soon. I promise."
"How will I find you?" Mike inquired, holding tighter onto her hand as the fully fleshed body began to dissolve into some sort of silhouette.
"Go to my flat, I'll meet you there someday," she soothed as her hand his lost grip. He followed the dying outline in pain, hoping somehow it wasn't an illusion and that Purdey had actually been there, in that room. But it was not to be, and eventually what had been the woman became once again just a view of his wall.
Mike scanned the room briefly, observing his guests with little thought attached. He looked shortly at Steed. He was used to losing friends, he'd learnt to cope with it. True, Purdey's sleep had lingered with him for far longer than even he had expected, but for Mike, Kendrick's solemn head shake was as gutting now as it ever had been.
With Purdey around, Mike had never had a chance to realise how lonely he actually was, how little there was he could do with the others in the Ministry. With Purdey, every evening was filled with pointless games or dinners out; anything that would make them cry with laughter.
Now he was almost completely alone. No family, no pets; just Steed. Even Charlie had begun to show a preference for his neighbours. The Ministry had continued to function perfectly well without him these last six months. Clearly he wasn't needed there, either. In fact, there wasn't anywhere he needed to be, just places he was invited to.
Two days time and she'd be gone. Forever. For good. The machine switched off by one smooth hand stroke by Kendrick. They didn't know what he knew; how he was so sure that just a little more time would be all it took for Purdey-girl to wake up. He was angry at them for their impatience as much as he was angry at himself for being the fool to get kidnapped all that time ago...
Mike switched his focus to the gun that lay beside the sofa bed, the one John had so kindly bought for him the previous year. It lay exactly where it had been placed when Purdey had still been in that room, and only tonight would he consider lifting it one more time.
And for the last time.
VVV
"You're extremely early!" Purdey quipped as Mike barged through her front door, marshmallows in his hand and a grin on his face.
"Ah, well, I thought I'd try and catch you unprepared," he replied with a smirk, collapsing into her sofa and shuffling over a spot so that she could join him.
"At what?"
"You name it!" He smirked again, pointing at the looming games cupboard not three paces away.
"We've been a bit out of practice this year in all of them, so we'd better make up for it."
"Yes," replied Purdey, tapping him on the knee in the friendliest manor. "I missed your company."
"You're telling me! But hey, Purdey-girl, that doesn't matter anymore, does it? All that does matter is that we're out of shape as far as those games are concerned, and we have an awful lot of time to make up for. You were asleep for quite some time there."
"Exactly, we've got plenty of time for that." Purdey reached across Mike and stealthily took hold of his marshmallows. Seeing Gambit reaching out to grab them back, she panicked and stuffed half a dozen into her mouth at once, reminding the man of a rather cute hamster. He instantly fell into laughter at her face, blowing out his cheeks in mock humour. She pushed him back with her free hand, trying her best to contain the laughter and the gelatine within her mouth.
Her hand had landed but several centimetres away from a rather large hole in Mike's chest, the T-shirt surrounding it painted crimson. He was glad her aim had been quite so accurate; he knew the pain would have been next to crippling if not. Mike didn't ponder on his near-pain experience, and instead he retaliated with a light nudge himself (which as you can probably guess, lead them into a rather amusing battle). He was glad to have his best friend back; and she was relieved to finally have hers too.
This, Mike told himself, IS home now.