Obligatory Disclaimer: Dark Horse and Mr. Mignola own all, save for my own original characters. A special thank you to Guillermo del Toro for bringing this wonderful character to my attention.
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A/N: Sorry for the delay. Life became ugly for a while. Layoffs in the family. Putting down a dog. My muse dried up.
But then it came screaming back and I spit out this chapter.
So thanks for your patience. And thanks for stopping by.
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Torie woke up with a start, her heart suddenly attempting to move up past her collarbone. It took her several long seconds for her pulse to stop racing even after she realized that she was safely tucked away in Hellboy's bed. Trying to stare through the murky darkness, Torie began to see the silhouette of shapes in the room, which offered her some semblance of comfort. The alarm clock glowed faint blue numbers – 4:37. But there was now a pent up energy that was frantically building within her that Torie knew was going to need some sort of release. And while she knew her body would protest the entire time, Torie suddenly remembered that there was an indoor running track in the basement of the building.
The problem was, Hellboy had his left arm draped across Torie protectively. And even though it was his smaller of the two, the arm was still the size of a tree trunk. Swallowing hard against the rising panic that lodged in her throat, Torie carefully slid out from underneath the covers.
Hellboy was on high alert, which meant he woke up quite easily. Every time Torie had shifted in her sleep, Hellboy bolted upright to see what the matter was. And since the medical director had insisted on her eating, then going to bed immediately after, he had given Torie something strong to help facilitate sleep. So most of the time, Torie slept through Hellboy's jolts of concern. Although there were a few times when she too was woken up, foggy-brained and confused, but then she realized that Hellboy was beside her and was always able to be pulled back under within seconds. Torie would never know, but her slow, rhythmic breathing was the sweetest lullaby Hellboy ever heard.
But it seemed that somehow Hypnos managed to get Hellboy to submit to his will. A small half-snore rumbled in Hellboy's chest as Torie sat next to him, watching him sleep. She then kissed him lightly on the mouth, her lips curving into a smile as he responded in kind, despite being deep in the throes of slumber. She then tucked the blanket around him as she moved off the bed.
Pleased with her success in navigating away from the sanctuary of Hellboy's embrace, Torie quickly pulled her running gear from one of the drawers she had commandeered from Hellboy's dresser, then hit the bathroom for a ponytail holder and brushing of her teeth. Morning breath was the worst, but running without having brushed one's teeth just exacerbated the problem. And she was not so disciplined a runner that she was always able to breathe through her nose at all times.
Knowing she couldn't leave without an explanation, Torie pondered the best placement of a note. Concerned that it would get lost in the bedclothes when Hellboy began to panic, she opted for something obvious – lipliner on the mirror.
She wrote a one-word note:
Running.
After thinking a moment, she hastily added:
Indoor track. Promise.
Bright red and impossible to miss. Pleased with herself, Torie tiptoed through the apartment and slipped out into the hallway.
As she walked down the corridor and skipped down the steps, Torie thought back to the previous day…
Torie pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window as they sped towards the Bureau. The landscape outside the car passed in a blur. The industrial buildings gave way to private residences and yet Torie saw none of it. The only thing she could focus on was the cool of the glass pressed against the skin of her forehead. Once Torie found out that Abe was transporting the Spriggans back in separate vehicle and that Hellboy was going to drive her back to the Bureau personally, all her energy just drained away and she allowed her thoughts to drift into a semi-cognizant daydream.
Even though she knew it was real, Torie felt that the past few hours were somehow a dream and that she'd wake up tethered to the wall and lying on a dingy mattress. And every day that she was held captive, Torie kept trying to hold on to the belief that she was in a dream. Isn't it ironic that your 'bad dream' now seems like reality? And that reality doesn't feel right somehow?
Hellboy sat next to her in the driver seat, his eyes constantly scanning the ribbon of road before them, while he quietly muttered to himself. The incessant drumming of his fingers against the steering wheel and rhythmic swishing of his tail alternately caused Torie to drift off and pull her back to reality. She was comforted by his presence, but found his muttering to be slightly disturbing. What on earth is he saying to himself?
Too tired to actually lift her head, Torie just rolled her chin from one shoulder to the other so that she was facing Hellboy. Whatever it was that he was saying, she could now tell that he was repeating it over and over.
Curious as to what he was fixating upon, Torie gently touched his wrist. Her arm felt leaden. Her fingertips were numb. "Sam?" She was glad that her voice came out light and curious, rather than groggy and slurred.
The car swerved abruptly before it righted itself as Hellboy was pulled out of his thoughts. Crap! His brow shot up to his hairline. His eyes were wide as saucers. His heart was in his throat. He said the first thought in his mind out loud. "I love you too," he blurted out, rather loudly, then looked more than a little frightened. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
"What?!" Torie was suddenly wide awake. She sat up straight in the car seat. Panic made her muscles rigid as she tried to absorb both the sudden erratic driving and the equally sudden declaration of love. What on Earth just happened?
His massive right hand arced up and landed hard against his forehead, echoing in the cab of the vehicle, as Hellboy sighed in frustration. Did you just do what I think you did? Smooth. Real smooth. Rather than continuing the conversation with his attention half on the road, he pulled the car over to the shoulder. The crunching leaves beneath the tires helped settle his nerves slightly.
Once the car was stopped, he took off his seatbelt and turned to face Torie. He sighed, his left arm resting on top of the steering wheel as his shoulders rose and fell, his torso pressing against the wheel, causing the horn to toot slightly. The sudden noise caused them to both jump, then both laughed, taking an edge off the moment. When the giggles ceased, Hellboy bit his lip a long moment before launching into his explanation. "This isn't going the way it was supposed to. Not by a long shot. I… was thinking about you taking a long shower and then coming out to a candle-lit dinner before passing out in exhaustion."
Hellboy faltered, making Torie think that he was finished explaining. "You were thinking of me in the shower? While you were driving? I am so confused…" She tried to keep her tone humorous, but the truth of the matter was that she really was so confused.
His head dropped as if the weight of it was too much. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Hellboy pressed his lips together and shook his head slightly. "I wasn't thinking of you showering – although I am now. What I meant was that I was planning out our evening. You taking a long, hot shower while I order food from the kitchen, then set up the house to be peaceful and romantic. Then I was gonna tell you that I love you, too."
The explanation stopped so suddenly, that Torie kept waiting for Hellboy to resume. When it clicked that he was done, Torie prompted him to continue. "Ssssoooo… You instead said it just now, why?" The teasing banter cost Torie a lot of energy, but her eyes shone in merriment even though her color faded to a whiter shade of pale.
His teeth gleamed as his lips slid into a self-depreciating smile. "I was practicing in my head. You know… how to say it. You caught me off guard."
It was as if every incident in her life built up to that moment. Her heart surged and Torie smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot." She laid her hand on Hellboy's massive wrist and looked him square in the eyes.
Hellboy faltered under the intensity of Torie's gaze and had to look away. "I should have said it back there," he mumbled.
Torie's fingers grasped more firmly. There was no way she could dig her fingernails into his skin because of its stone-like texture, but Torie could still make her point. "No. I already knew." Her voice was soft.
"But…? Did I talk in my sleep or somethin'?" His brow was furrowed, as if contemplating when he might have let it slip.
Mock punching him in the arm, the effort cost Torie quite a bit of energy. She sank back against the car seat, but was able to keep her tone playful. "No. You rescued my ass. If that ain't love, I don't know what is."
"But it's my job." The particular emphasis on the last word gave Torie some insight to the drama a 5-year-old Hellboy might have felt. This was going nowhere fast, when it should have been leading to the kiss to end all kisses. Time to rein in Hellboy's self-depreciation.
"Sam, in this case, you made it your job. The Feds were all set to take care of me. Then you stepped in, like a knight in shining armor, to protect me. Again. And as I said, if that ain't love, I don't know what is."
"Torie…" Hellboy's voice took on an extra husky quality and he surged forward, deftly capturing Torie's lips with his own. When he pulled away and saw the exhaustion pulling at her eyes and mouth, Hellboy chuckled. "We need to get you back and get you checked out. We'll get reacquainted tomorrow…"
As she approached the track, Torie could see through the windows that she was not going to be alone. A pleasant looking man, appearing to be in his mid-40's, was loosening up beside the track. His heel was resting on the railing that circled the visitors' area outside the track and he was reaching forward, hand grasping his toes, as he stretched out the length of his leg. The man was wearing a running suit, causing Torie to feel underdressed in comparison. She smiled nervously as she passed him, entering the running space as quickly as she could.
Once she was on the track, Torie sat down and splayed her legs, alternating between her left hand touching her right toe and her right hand touching her left. Just as she suspected, her body screamed in protest as she loosened up, but her mind soared in contentment at knowing that the miles would soon skim past under her feet.
Torie mentally willed the footsteps that approached to keep walking past her, but she felt the man's presence as he stopped next to her. Busily trying to ignore him, Torie stretched forward and grabbed her toes with both hands. Maybe if she didn't make eye contact, he'd give up.
No such luck.
"So you're the gal that's got my top agent all aflutter."
Knowing there was no correct response to his comment, Torie continued stretching, patiently waiting for him to get to his point. But she did turn her face up so that she could silently acknowledge him. After all, there was no sense in being completely rude.
"You ARE Doctor Victoria James." There was no question in his voice, only fact. It was almost as if he was daring her to state otherwise.
Biting back a flippant retort, Torie slowly nodded her head as she secured her laces. "I must apologize for not knowing who you are." Her smile was tight and humorless.
"Dr. Tom Manning. And I want to offer you a job."
Well, this was rather unexpected and, for a moment, Torie regretted getting out of bed. But the feeling was fleeting. Her morning was suddenly interesting, even if she was hoping for mundane. Wrapping her arms around a bent knee, Torie smiled up at the man. "Dr. Manning–."
"Tom," he interrupted. "I insist." He then reached out a hand to help Torie to her feet.
After eyeing the extended hand a moment, Torie finally allowed her hand to be clasped in his, knowing full well that her body would scream obscenities at her.
She was right as pain shot down the length of her body.
"Tom…" Torie hesitated, trying to collect her words. If this wasn't awkward! After thinking a moment, she began again. "I have no idea what kind of job you are offering me, or why, but I must decline. I thank you for thinking of me, but I already have one. At the woman's shelter." She then started jogging, forcing the man beside her to either shut up or keep up.
Manning chuckled as he matched his pace against Torie's as they began their first lap around the track. "You were declared dead. You don't think that it's been filled?"
Torie was pointedly silent as she began to increase her pace, forcing Dr. Manning to either keep up or leave her alone. She hadn't thought that her position would be filled by someone else. It made perfect sense, since she was still legally deceased, but it made Torie angry with herself for not contemplating life after her release.
Seeing that she not going to answer, he opted for a different topic. "Do you love him?"
Torie looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Is that any of your business?" she asked dryly. Gads, the gall the man had for being so forward!
"I'll take that as a yes. Does he know?"
Shooting her running mate a look that would freeze a furnace, Torie bit back a retort. But listening to the rhythmic thudding of their feet hitting the track, she felt her heart soften as images of Hellboy entered her mind.
"Yes. I told him yesterday," she replied quietly. Torie could barely hear the words she spoke, so she was impressed that Manning was able to – until he responded.
"In the heat of the moment?" Even over the huffing and puffing of their breaths, there was no mistaking the near-contempt in Manning's voice.
Rather than dignify the question with a response, Torie pointedly refused to comment. In fact, she even picked up her speed.
But Manning matched her step for step, although it did push the limits of his endurance, so brutal was the pace. But he did manage to keep talking. "So do you even want to hear what kind of job I'm offering?"
Rather than continuing to antagonize the man, Torie decided to change her tactic. "Sure. What can it hurt?"
"We need a diplomatic liaison. I think you would be perfect for it."
Torie slowed her pace while she let the offer sink in. Forcing herself to fight down the panic and breathe regularly, she mulled over what was offered to her. There wasn't much of a market for diplomatic relations, and there was no one more qualified than Torie, but the other didn't sit right with her. Torie then spoke without censor. "Pardon my French, but I'm not super comfortable shitting where I eat."
Nodding his head as if he was expecting this protest, Manning further explained. "You would be part of the advance team. Very rarely would you participate in actual missions. Soon as we would sweep in, you'd head back home. There would be very little overlap, if any. So your working with Hellboy would be minimal. At best."
This was just plain crazy. Torie slowed to a walk, her head shaking in disbelief. "How often to you need help in diplomatic relations? It would seem that if other nations are allowing you access to their information and country, then you wouldn't need me."
"I just think it would be a good idea for him to have you around as much as possible."
The words hurt more than Torie was willing to admit – even to herself. Suddenly her abilities were no longer the focus of the job offer, it was who she was dating. Bitterness crept into her response. "And letting the relationship play out on its own? That would be just wrong… right?" Torie had to turn away to hide her eye rolling as she suddenly stilled her feet.
Tom Manning pulled up short and bent over at the waist, his hands on his thighs, as he tried to prevent any cramping. "That's not what I'm saying–."
But a deep rumbling voice, thick with sleep and rigid with anger, interrupted the man. "What I think you're trying to say Manning, is that you're attempting to bribe my girlfriend into dating me, now wouldn't you?"
Both Torie and Manning turned in unison and made the exact same assessment at the exact same time. Hellboy was pissed.