A/N: Just so you all know this is going to be a 36 chapter fan fic with a sequel of about 27 chapters or so. At least at this point, after I wrote out the outline. Once again, reviews are always appreciated as I tend to wait for a few before I put up the next chapter. Thanks so much for reading!
22CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Dim. It was so dim in the room but at least the lack of light helped her headaches which had long vanished. The blood from the earlier blow had since dried and crusted over. Her breathing had even slowed, though it had taken forever. It was pretty quiet aside from the quiet labored breathing of the little boy beside her who was drawing little pictures in the dirt floor if only to keep from going insane. Krys however provided an, on the outside, calm medium as she sat there very still like a statue, looking toward the door.
How long had Harold been gone? She knew the answer to how long their captor would hold them for (though she wouldn't tell Parker the answer: until death) but she had no idea if and when he'd be back. She recalled Doctor Brennan and Hodgins mentioning the various tortures and yet currently, aside from a few bumps, her and Parker were wound free. He'd be back. It fit the pattern. Oh great, now she was thinking like a psychologist. Doctor Sweets would be just thrilled to hear this, if he ever heard it.
Pushing those thoughts away from her mind she was soon consumed by the sound, not of silence, but of her stomach growling. She cursed inwardly at herself for not eating the day before, before she was even kidnapped. Then again the blame was pointless because how could she possibly know that she would be in this predicament? And yet, Krys was blaming herself for it all. God was she hungry, apparently Parker was of the same mind set.
"Krys, I'm hungry." The little boy with dirt streaked cheeks announced quietly, staring determinedly at the picture of a house in the dirt.
Looking up at the mop topped boy Krys took him in with a quiet breath before nodding her head. So the little kid was hungry. Children always topped yourself regardless of circumstance no matter how damned hungry you were. But what could she give him? She began to shift about feeling around her shirt and chest, really even cardboard would be just fine. It wasn't until she patted her back pants pockets that she felt a lump.
Thrusting her right hand into the back pocket she retrieved a fun pack of M&Ms that she had taken from a desk in the lab from one of those little glass jars that old ladies insisted on having. She had only forgotten it until now. But there was only one pack and it was very small not big enough to hold herself over let alone two people. Well, that was that then...
"Here." Krys spoke up, holding out the small dark brown pack for Parker to take. He lifted his hand quickly to take it but stopped at the last moment, blinking at the young woman in silent question. "Go ahead. Take it. You like chocolate don't you?" Krys tilted her head with a kind little smirk and finally Parker took the bag.
The bag material crumpled and crackled as he practically tore it open. His little dirty hand fished it's way inside pulling out two browns and one red, popping them in his mouth, chewing loudly. "M&Ms are my favorite." He announced with a full mouth, practically drooling but managing to hold it in.
"Mine too." Krys nodded, subduing her stomach that wanted to growl again. She could hold out, a bit longer than Parker could. She knew this and convinced herself of it, there was no time for selfishness. "Candy for breakfast." She continued with a little smile, trying so desperately to be light hearted in the darkest of circumstances. Reaching out with her own dirty hand she nudged Parker's leg. "Today's you're lucky day."
"Not very lucky." Parker murmured quietly, his eyes now focused on a blue and green M&Ms in his left hand. Because of the sweatiness of his palms the colors were staining his skin.
"Lucky enough." The data analyst offered quietly with a little smile, reaching out she nudged Parker's knee causing him to waver slightly and smile in return.
He moved up on his knees to push back in a little 'play fight'. That was until they heard the door unlock and both froze. Parker, in a moment of quick thinking reached out and shoved the candy wrapper down his pants so that the bad man wouldn't see it. Turning his young, frantic eyes back on the door just in time to see Harold turn around looking quite menacing and he was holding something, some sort of jug and leather belts.
There Harold stood, looking sleep deprived and quite menacing, even as he stood still by the door. "Get in the chair." He stated simply, looking right at Parker. Krys, blinking as the words settled in held out her hand to the young boy before she stood to get in the chair which seemed to set the evil man off for some reason as he turned red in the face and advanced rather quickly. "Not you!" He shouted so loudly that it shook both victims and could have shaken the walls if they weren't so sturdy. And without warning he whacked the young woman with his left hand sending her onto her back.
Krys let out a silent hiss, cringing as she curled up her hands to her head. What was with this guy and hitting? Oh yeah, that's right. He was a killer. And really this meaningless hitting and abuse was better than inevitable death. Or at least that's what she kept telling herself even as she laid on the dirt ground. She never had to deal with this at the FBI. All she had to worry about was dealing with computers, never people, let alone crazy ones. Then again she was beginning to question Agent Booth's sanity for dragging her to the Jeffersonian on loan in the first place. She'd have a bone to pick with him when she got back. A bone. Thinking about the irony in that statement in her head she smiled weakly into the ground burying her face in the cold dirt. Everything seemed funny when you were screwed.
Harold meanwhile had his focus set elsewhere. His arm jutting out he grabbed little Parker by the arm yanking him to his feet as the little boy let out a yelp. Shoving him into the wooden chair with Krys out of commission the man made quick work of using the leather belts to strap Parker by the wrists on the arm rests of the chair. Parker could only look on with wide eyes as he squirmed about, sweating perfusely he felt like he might hyper ventilate. His eyes shifted back and forth as Harold leaned forward with the plastic jug forcing it right at Parker's face. The little boy couldn't look away as it was thrusted right in front of his nose and lips.
"Open your mouth." Harold ordered quietly, calmly though there was some heat and need to his voice.
Parker didn't obey. Instead he trailed his eyes unsurely over to Krys who was lying on the ground not speaking. He caught glimpse of her frantic eyes that screamed silently 'no'. Parker was a smart enough boy to pick up on this and Harold, catching the change in the little boy's eyes used his other hand to force the boy's chin and face back in his direction before barking: "Open your damn mouth."
Parker could smell the liquid and he could feel it burn his nose hairs. Not in a good way like hot sauce on the chicken wings his dad ordered on their movie nights. Not in that delicious sense. His stomach grumbled again. He was so hungry and the M&Ms did little to quench this hunger. Harold was shaking him roughly right now, begging for obedience, begging for a way to release his frustration and want. "DRINK IT." Harold bellowed in a way that made Parker cringe and tilt his head back as far as he could, even with the old wood of the chair creaking behind his head. Shaking with every inch of his body he somehow managed to clamp his mouth shut.
Harold was growing more and more angry and he pushed it closer to the boy's mouth. "Now. NOW." The insane man was growing increasingly irritated and more forceful. Krys cringed and decided to risk movement only to find that her legs didn't want to move, her hands pushed against the dirt slowly so not to arise any suspicion. Harold, unaware now pressed his fingers against Parker's cheek and jaw hinge causing his mouth to force right open. Smiling maniacally he lifted the 'jug' toward Parker's lips.
Parker, in a last ditch, frightened effort got his little legs to kick in a sudden movement upward that connected with the unsuspecting Harold's shin causing him to lose his footing and drop the jug which emptied right onto the floor. A drop of it came out and made contact with Parker's cheek causing him to scream out and wiggle even more before Harold regained his footing and grabbed the child by the neck, forcing him to sit still.
"Fine. You want to be difficult you'll go hungry." Harold hissed still maintaining a voice of calm as he whispered that little promise before stepping back.
Krys buried her face in the cold dirt again, more so out of relief. Did he really think he was feeding the kid acid for nourishment? She somehow doubted it. He just got his sick kicks out of hurting people as much as possible. She didn't need to be ridiculously intelligent like Doctor Brennan to know that. Doctor Brennan.. Oh god, what Krys wouldn't give to see that woman now. Or Booth, or Hodgins, or Addy, or Murray, or Sweets, anyone... She felt alone in a way because she was hiding so many emotions, things she could never tell Parker because he was young and easily frightened. Things she had to keep from her abductor in order to live and not give him further ammo against her. To be with two other people and feel so utterly alone.
"You dig your own grave." The man whispered gruffly before opening the door, shutting it, and locking it with a loud click.
Immediately Parker began sniffling and crying, all the while kicking and wiggling against the restraints that still held him in place. Wildly he thrashed about with enough force to strain his neck which provided Krys with that extra little push that got her stumbling back onto her feet as she approached the chair.
"Parker. Hey. Sh.." Krys attempted to coax, even though she was beginning to feel dizzy. "Hey... Sh..." Her hands found their way to the back of the wooden chair, bracing herself before she went about it. The little boy kept on screaming, it was understandable but she couldn't get him out of the chair if he kept wiggling. "Stop.." Her voice was hushed at first as the boy continued to move about. "Parker.. Parker.. Parker!" Her voice raised seemed to still him, her hands on either side of his legs as she moved in front of him before going down on her knees and reaching toward the leather belts. "I'll get you out of here okay. But you have to be still as best you can, ok?" Parker was panting wildly, his little shoulders moving up and down heavily as he forced his head to nod. Krys' fingers cascaded over the cold metal and firm leather before finally she undid both hands and the little boy tore out of the chair and ran to the opposite end of the room.
Tears streaked his eyes and cheeks as he pressed his little back against the wall shaking his head back and forth wildly. His little hands moved to his wrists, rubbing them as though to get the feel the belts had on him off. "Wh–Where's my dad? He wou–would be here by now." Parker stuttered, about ready to have a panic attack.
Krys immediately rushed over going right down on her knees to grasp him, or maybe she just didn't have the strength to stay standing. "Parker it's okay." A lie, but her voice was frantic to prove otherwise. He had to stay calm. "It'll be okay. He'll find us. Alright?"
Parker's eyes met with Krys' and without warning he threw his tired body on her, hugging her close. Krys meanwhile scooted toward the wall, resting her back against it as she began to rock him back and forth. Her hand making circles on his back and then moving to run soothingly through his hair. Some sleep would do him good. She would stay awake and keep watch.
Parker sniffled again, a bit more subdued than before. "I want my dad..."
"Me too Parker." She admitted honestly in a soft voice. "Me too."