The drive to Cabrillo was done in an eerie silence, as both men were terrified of starting a conversation because they knew exactly where it would lead. And that would be right back to the woman currently ensconced in a recovery room at Fort Leavitt. Alyx was in some ways their Achilles Heel, as either of them would go to the ends of the Earth for her, if for different reasons. Neither man wanted to lose her not after all the effort that had been put in over the last six months or so to insure her safety. The SWRB, Changeling, and Chrysalis at the top of a long list of those who would love the opportunity to use her for their own nefarious purposes. Only sheer luck and chutzpah by the Official had kept her at the Agency and relatively safe. Their boss played the game very well, but even his last few moves had cost him some important pieces on the board. Eberts, his right hand man, gone. Revealed to be a mole for Changeling and with his own agenda that the Official had been completely unaware of. In fact, none of them, including Alyx had suspected, which is why Changeling frightened the piss out of all of them. They could hide from Alyx. With tricks they'd developed over the long decades, they could program and control their minds, a shell personality over the true one that she simply couldn't see. Not easily, anyway. She could break them, the shells, but it required the use of a certain chemical cocktail that had high risks and tended to bring out Alyx's version of QSM, a persona that Darien politely referred to as an amoral hellcat. An appellation with which the hellcat in question agreed wholeheartedly.
Alyx made no bones about the person she became when on the enhancement drug, which is why she took such care using it. Darien wished there were some other option, but... You did what you had to do to get the job done. Sometimes the sacrifice necessary was bigger than one would like, but necessary all the same. Alyx had a huge Adric complex and would risk herself in a heartbeat to protect those she deemed worthy, and there had been several in the last couple of years and she bore the scars to show for it.
As Cabrillo hospital wove it's way into view Darien's thoughts rewound about four years. The last time he'd come here to see Casey, she'd offered to help him, to use that brilliant mind of hers to rebuild Kevin's work in hopes of getting the gland out of Darien's brain. Instead, he'd found himself with a Keeper and Casey refusing his calls. He'd always suspected that the Agency had had something to do with Casey's sudden change of heart and though often tempted to go talk to her in person, decided to abide by her wishes. One attempt at killing Hobbes early on in his experience with Quicksilver Madness proved she'd be safer far, far away from Darien Fawkes and his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde impression. Even after the monitor had been placed in his wrist, he'd stayed away, figuring she deserved a chance at a real life without a fuck-up like him.
He'd seen her now and then around town, but had made certain to keep his distance, to make no overtures at all, no matter how much he wanted to. Even after Alyx had come into his life, he'd wondered about Casey, if only to assure himself she was happy; wanting that sense of closure sorely lacking with their sudden and unexpected, by him at least, parting. So, it was with great trepidation that Darien walked into the Emergency Room of Cabrillo Hospital, Hobbes at his side, with that huge file tucked under his arm. The look of determination making it clear he would be pulling no punches with the good doctor, Darien's ex or not.
Hobbes had already checked to see if Casey would be on duty, and indeed was. He flashed his badge at the desk and they were escorted through the doors and told to wait at a nurse's station in the midst of several examination rooms, most of which were thankfully empty. No great emergency besieging the hospital this time around to be used as an excuse for why a certain X-ray or chart had been misread. Darien wanted to believe that Casey had nothing to do with Alyx's sorry state, but knew, thanks to his time at the Agency, that anyone could be bought, and feared his ex-girlfriend had.
Nearly ten minutes passed before Casey appeared, laughing at something the gentleman beside her said. The laughter cut short when she turned and her eyes met Darien's. She didn't seem upset, more surprised to see him standing there. She excused herself from her co-worker and strode briskly over to where he and Hobbes waited.
"Darien? What are you doing here?"
"Have some questions for you concerning a case you handled yesterday," Darien told her, doing his best to keep his voice neutral.
When she did nothing more than stare at him in confusion, he pulled out his badge and showed it to her. "Someone called ahead and told you we'd be coming by?"
Hobbes echoed his move.
"Yes, I just didn't realize..." she trailed off as if seeing Darien with a badge had been the very last thing she'd expected. "What do you need?"
"There someplace private we can talk?" Hobbes asked, lifting the file up so she could see it.
"X-rays?" she asked.
"Yep," Hobbes confirmed.
She nodded. "This way." The walk was fairly short, ending at a room very similar to the one Claire had been stashed in at Leavitt. Must be a standard room in all hospitals. "May I?" She held out her hand for them and Hobbes handed it over. She pulled out the X-rays and slid them up onto the light box, flicking it on. "I don't recognize these," she said after a moment. "Who was the patient?"
"Alyx Silver. Came in yesterday afternoon around three p.m. We have a copy of the file here," Darien told her as Bobby pulled out the file.
"Just need the patient number."
Bobby rattled it off and she excused herself to fetch her original copy. When she returned she slid her X-ray copies on the next light box down and the difference was easily visible to both men. The cracked ribs were gone. The toothpick thing magically invisible. Those were the obvious differences; Darien realized after a few moments that the torso shape was completely different on Casey's copy.
"That's not Alyx," Darien stated.
"Are you certain?" Casey questioned, tone decidedly stiff.
"Well, the X-rays our doc took, match these ones the hospital sent over injury-wise. We can get you copies if you need them." Bobby made sure to keep his voice neutral, and Darien knew why. If Casey had been in on it they needed to pay out just enough rope to see if she'd hang herself with it. However, he knew that look on her face, she wasn't happy with what she was seeing or hearing.
"Is Miss Silver all right?" Casey asked, the concern in her voice and eyes real.
"She will be," Darien answered. "Could the radiology department have sent you the wrong films?"
Casey shook her head. "No... well, yes they could have, but they didn't. Look here," she pointed to what looked like a serial number in the lower right corner, "they match on both films. This one," she tapped the one from her file, "is the fake." She rotated about to face them. "I'll need to check the computer records, but someone clearly dummied this one up. Yours would have been made from the saved image, which is why it doesn't match mine." She hugged herself. "Why would someone do this?"
Bobby looked at Darien who shrugged. "You and Agent Fawkes here used to date, yes?"
Casey blinked, surprised by the sudden non sequitur. "Yes, but what does that-"
Bobby didn't let her finish. "Were you aware that Miss Silver and Agent Fawkes are currently in a relationship?"
"No, why..." She gazed up at Darien. "Isn't she a little young for you?"
Darien chuckled. "No, she isn't, trust me on that one."
She shook her head. "Even if I had known, why would I care?" She aimed those wicked blue eyes of hers at Hobbes. "She was my patient and her relationships are none of my business." Then she turned back to Darien. "Are you happy?"
Darien managed a smile. "Very," he answered honestly.
"Good. Agent Hobbes, I can assure that I will do everything to assist you in discovering how this was done and by whom. An incident like this puts all our patients at risk, not just our high profile ones." Her tone alone told Darien volumes and he was amazed that she had changed so little that he could still read her after all this time. Which, of course, made him wonder, yet again, why she had bailed on him after promising to help. Casey, much like Alyx, made every effort to never go back on her word.
Hobbes grunted in acknowledgement and opened the copy of the file. "Says here you ran a rape kit on Miss Silver."
Casey nodded, glancing hesitantly over at Darien who did his best to keep his game face on. No need for her to know how those words made his blood boil. "Yes, I did. More as a matter of routine at the time, but we did get the preliminary test results back." She picked up her copy of the file and thumbed through the pages. "Tests came back positive for spermicide, but no semen was found. It would appear that at least some of the assailants used condoms."
" 'At least some of the assailants'?" Darien's head whipped about to Hobbes. "How many were there?"
"You don't know?" Casey questioned, brows knit together in what appeared to be concern.
Bobby answered. "No, we don't. Haven't had a chance to chat with the responding officers yet."
"Oh, Darien, I'm so sorry. I just assumed if you were here, that you knew." She struggled to regain her composure, her sympathy and concern for him very real. She surely recalled how touchy he could be on certain subjects. "There were multiple attackers, based on bruising and... tearing I would estimate at least six. I recommended a run of antibiotics as a precaution and offered to write her a 'day-after' script, but she refused."
Darien managed a tiny nod, swallowing hard. The room suddenly felt way too warm. "Bobby..." he got out a throat gone tight and bone dry.
Hobbes grabbed a nearby stool and slid it under Darien just as his knees decided to give out. Red rage and abject horror warred for dominance in his mind. "You okay, partner?"
Darien tilted his head and gave Hobbes a glare that spoke volumes.
"Right. Stupid question," Hobbes muttered, contrite. "Doc, what happened to her clothes?"
"The SDPD collected them, even spoke to her, but she wasn't very coherent. In fact, she claimed to remember nothing of the actual incident." Casey glanced at Darien, looking almost as if she wanted to walk over to him and comfort him, but unsure such an overture would be welcome. "Given her head injury, I'm not surprised. I wanted to admit her overnight for observation, but Doctor Keeply wouldn't permit it."
She raised a delicate eyebrow in question.
"The kid... Miss Silver has some unique medical issues that need to be handled at a more... secure facility," Hobbes explained, using his best steps to dance around the answer.
Casey bought it though. "Understood. I don't imagine she's the only one with unique medical needs," she said with a grim smile and a glance at Darien. A distinct reminder that she did indeed know all about the gland and it's highly classified nature.
"Were any of Miss Silver's attackers brought here?"
"No. We got hit with the victims of a multi-car accident on the PCH shortly after I completed my initial examination. I'm afraid that is partly why I allowed Dr. Keeply to take over her treatment, I was swamped with new patients," Casey told them frankly. "With the restrictions in place as to procedures were are permitted to run, I was certain she would be well taken care of."
"She is, Casey," Darien assured her, having finally calmed down enough to speak at something other than a low snarl. He was still pissed off and wanting revenge in a bad way, but it would have to be deferred for the time being. "Any idea where her... the alleged attackers were taken?" Might as well pretend to be a professional about the whole thing.
She shook her head. "SDPD would know, I'm certain."
"Yeah, we're still waiting on them. We're gonna need some info. Someone at this end knew she'd be coming in. That X-ray trick ain't something you do on the fly." Bobby began pacing the small room, thinking five times faster than he was walking Darien was certain. "Gonna need a list of everyone who was working that shift, security vids, who had access, the whole shebang."
Casey paled at his words. "I can't do that myself, we'll have to go through admin, and they might require a warrant."
"We'll have one if necessary," Darien stated, knowing the 'Fish would have one here in record time if needed. "Let's ask first, pretend to be nice and all. Doubt your bosses will want it getting around they hired someone who tried to kill a fed while on their clock."
"Blackmail? I'm surprised at you, Darien. Thought you were just a con man."
Darien stiffened, readying a retort, but the thin smile and twinkle in her eye surprised him. She was actually kidding, much to his amazement. "Government work, y'know, learned a new trick or two the last couple of years."
Hobbes snorted in amusement. "That's putting it mildly, pal. Doc, if you would lead the way, we'll be more than happy to go through channels."
Going through channels took longer than they liked, but with minimal persuasion, they convinced the administrator to work with them and release not only Alyx's records, but the staff information they needed to begin. With Alyx's files in hand and a preliminary list of who had been on during the shift in question the day before they headed back to Leavitt.
Darien knew this wouldn't be the last time they'd see Casey over the next few days. Claire was sure to have a ton of questions for her if nothing else. He hoped they might get a chance to talk in private, but he'd have to wait and see. The next few hours, never mind days, were going to be busy and nerve-wracking ones as it stood, dealing with the ex while the current was seriously injured might not be the best timing, however, he'd take it if that's how things played out.
Bobby reminded him to get his head on straight before they arrived, else Claire wouldn't allow Darien anywhere near Alyx. So, while Bobby took the long way around to the military hospital, Darien set about centering and calming himself. He would need to hide the truth of what had happened deep to keep her from picking up on it. He found it strange, he who used to lie for a living, and in some ways still did, disliking the need to lie, or at least temporarily deceive Alyx. Yes, he could understand and even agree with why, but that didn't make it a comfortable fit, which made the whole situation even odder. He didn't block the emotional baggage completely as she'd be suspicious as to why he felt nothing. He had every right to feel upset and angry and a need for vengeance. He wanted her attackers caught, he just needed to keep the emotions in check. No need to overwhelm her with his issues. Not now.
He did wonder to how she'd react to him wanting to revisit the whole Casey thing. Most chicks weren't too fond of the boyfriend hanging out with an ex, though he suspected, that like with every other aspect of their relationship, Alyx would have a totally unexpected view of the situation. He was pretty certain he knew how she'd react, but would still tiptoe around the subject just in case. In fact, the whole discussion might be a useful distraction from her current state of body and mind. Something not bogged down in the whole life or death thing that was often the focus of their lives. Dealing with an ex-girlfriend might just be the ticket to bring up a whole worrisome conversation that Darien had been avoiding ever since getting her Valentine's Day gift. Relationship discussions were few and far between for them, any number of factors - time, energy, being on different continents, just to name the obvious ones - allowing those 'where do we stand' talks to slide and the more physical side to be on the top of the personal to do list. Not the optimal way to run a relationship, but one that had gotten the job done so far.
There were things they just simply never talked about and recently Darien had begun to wonder why.
Claire met them out in the reception area, clipping a badge onto each of their collars - Bobby's sport coat and Darien's tan leather jacket respectively - assuring them they would no longer need to jump through hoops to get through security. She took the new and improved file, which had trebled in size and bustled them into her "office." Hobbes called the Official to get an update on the status of the police reports while Claire pored over the new information that included the results of the few tests run.
Darien managed to go a whole ten minutes before whining piteously, "Claire..."
"What?" she practically snapped, then her brain seemed to rejoin reality and she ducked her head. "Oh, of course."
She ushered him from the room, through the maze of halls and into a decidedly sterile-looking area. A quick discussion at the nurse's station and Darien was led into a private room that had an Agency mook standing guard.
She paused and set a hand firmly on his chest. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Claire," he responded automatically and saw instantly that she didn't buy it. "I'm as calm and in control as I'm going to get considering the situation." There wasn't much more that he could do other than avoiding Alyx completely and there was no way she'd allow that without an explanation as to why, which would give the whole game away. "I take it she still doesn't remember?"
"Not a thing as far as I've been able to determine. And I want to keep it that way for the time being. " Claire sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead with one hand. At a guess, the good doctor had been awake for close to twenty-four hours at this point, as she'd only gotten a few minutes of sleep before he had called her in the wee hours of the morning. "I did examine her and what I discovered fits what Dr. O'Claire noted in her report. Alyx was attacked, violently and repeatedly. Some of the bruising was just beginning to manifest post-op and it is clear she had been held down with extreme force before breaking free. The injuries to her extremities were quite possibly caused by her efforts at escape and not intentionally by her captors."
" 'Not intentionally'." Darien barked with harsh laughter. "You're saying she fought hard enough to break her wrist and it wasn't intentional? Lovely." The knife already in his gut twisted just a bit further, but he choked back the emotions that threatened to escape. Claire would not let him see Alyx unless he was in complete control.
"Darien, I know you are upset and want to... to deal with those that hurt her-"
Darien cut her reprimand off at the knees. "Claire, right now all I want to do is see Alyx and know she's okay. I swear to you I will do everything I can to keep her from learning the truth before she's ready, but she's gonna find out eventually."
"Just not today, if you can mange it."
"Not today," he agreed. "Can I see her now, please?" He gave her the full power puppy dog eyes treatment and she caved instantly.
"She's been in and out of consciousness, which is normal." She looked Darien over, catching every sign that he was reaching the point of exhaustion after this exceedingly long day. "Catch a nap if you can, unless Bobby needs you there is no reason you can't remain here. There will be someone by to check her about every thirty minutes and there's the emergency call button if needed."
Darien nodded, bouncing impatiently on the balls of his feet, wanting to see his girl now if not sooner. She swung open the door and gestured for him to precede her into the dimly lit room. Alyx had the place to herself, a lone bed surrounded by beeping boxes and IV poles and assorted other whatnot. He grabbed the chair from the corner of the room and dragged it over while Claire went into the usual routine and checked Alyx's vitals. She made a few notes on the chart, then met Darien's eyes. "She's doing fine. I'll be back in an hour or so to check on her."
Darien gave her a wan smile. "Thanks, Keepy."
She patted him on the shoulder then left him alone, not that he really noticed; his entire attention now on the tiny woman lying so still and silent on the bed before him. Gingerly he lifted her hand and wrapped his about it, noting once again how small hers was in comparison. So small, yet so strong. So much stronger than he could ever be on most days. Glancing down he noticed the new bruises encircling her wrist, clear evidence of the violence Claire had warned him about. He was almost thankful the blankets were tucked tightly around her, afraid to discover exactly where some of that damage lay. Oh, he wasn't a fool and could pretty much guess the exact location of most of the bruising; he just didn't want to deal with it right now. Didn't want to imagine in detail what had to have happened to her; that dream he'd experienced probably only a tiny taste of the horror she must have endured. Gently he lifted her hand and kissed her fingers, the IV in the back of her hand looking decidedly painful at this close-up angle.
"Ah, sweet thing..." he whispered, not entirely certain what he wanted to say to encompass the emotional storm he valiantly contained within. He'd vent later, to Hobbes, to Claire, to anyone who would listen, but for now, he cleared his mind, focused on her getting better, and settled in for her to wake up.