15. Chapter 14
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"Everyone listen up!" Eagle looked out at the crowd that stood in front of him. It had taken three days before they had finally released him from the hospital. He had been kept for observation, making sure his ankle had in fact only been twisted and not broken. He was also kept on an IV drip for nutrients and hydration. Eagle hated the feeling of a needle under his skin and had complained the whole time.
MI6 had come the day after he woke up. The day after that back up arrived. That day had been spent in Eagle's hospital room, drawing maps and making plans to retrieve his unit. Once Eagle was discharged the plans would be put into motion.
Today was that day and Eagle was in charge.
"Team A you're going in first, make sure to stay quiet! We don't need to spook them. If that happens they might be able to move our people before we can find them. Team B will be following in behind. Team A will protect our front while Team C protects our backs. Team B! Our main priority is to find the prisoners. This is a big place and I have only a very vague idea of where they are being kept. We also have to keep in mind there might be more prisoners than just them. Once everything is under control, Teams E and F will sweep the building while A and C help keep things on lock down."
"Team D! Your main priority is to gain control of the building. Find out where the guy in charge is and take him down. Once he is gone you should be able to gain full control of the building. Everyone know what they are doing? Any questions?" Silence answered back.
"Ask now men because if we fail we'll be in hell for a long time!" Still no one said a word.
"Alright then. The helicopters should be here soon. They will be dropping us in a clearing about 5 ½ miles from the building. We have a long walk ahead of us so be ready!"
Eagle walked away from the crowd as they began to talk amongst themselves. Those who knew Eagle took a moment to point out how different he had become. The Eagle most of the men knew was light-hearted and funny. Of course he knew when to be serious, and when he came back from assignments the man could be quiet for a few days, but never had they seen him so cold and distant.
It was, of course, understandable. Knowing that your unit (your family) was being tortured while you were safe was something that changed a man's demeanor. A few of the men had even been in his position before. It was not an easy one.
"Eagle!" Eagle jumped at the sound of his name. He quickly swiveled around to see Maria. Her brown hair pulled up into a tight pony tail while her bangs hung into her face. She had somehow gotten ahold of a uniform, and Eagle couldn't help but be reminded of the first time Cub had come to Brecon Beacons. The uniform hung from her small frame, the red converses standing out from the combat boots that were normally worn with the uniform.
"Maria? What are you doing here? I though MI6 had arranged for you to be flown back to my flat?" During the few days he was in hospital Eagle had really gotten to know Maria and vice versa. Maria lived on the streets. Well, she had. She had grown on Eagle much like Cub had grown on Ben. Eagle had surprised her the morning of his release by allowing her to come live with him back in London. She should have been taken back to his flat earlier that morning. Apparently she had decided to make a change of plans.
Maria shrugged, mumbling something along the lines of 'it would have been boring'. Eagle smiled, shaking his head as he turned back to the map of the surrounding area of the facility K-Unit was being held in.
"You know you won't be able to come with. You're just going to be stuck here when we leave, and it's going to be just as boring."
"Not really. I'll be staying with your friends in the van." Maria smiled. She had been able to charm her way into being allowed in the van when everything went into action. She would be able to listen to the conversations between the teams, and once the building was under control they would be able to gain CCTV access to see everything as well. She would be well informed while in the van, and she would be able to make sure Eagle made it out alive.
Eagle ruffled her hair, something he had quickly learned she hated. He laughed as she flipped her head upside down to pull everything back up into a ponytail. The glare she gave Eagle afterwards vaguely reminded the man of a bunny. She would have stood no chance next to Wolf.
"EAGLE!" Someone bellowed. Eagle didn't need to turn around to see who it was, he was quite use to the voice considering the past four years had been spend with the man yelling at him. Eagle automatically turned around, standing at attention as the sergeant hopped out of a Jeep that slowed just enough for the sergeant to jump out before going to park. "At ease solider."
"What's up Sarg?" Eagle asked as he relaxed.
"You ready? The helicopters are on their way for pick up. Once they pick you guys up your own your own. We'll have back up ready but they won't arrive for almost an hour after you call. There is no going back once you get on those helicopters." The Sergeant looked Eagle in the eye, resting a hand on his shoulder. Eagle couldn't help but be reminded of how much was currently resting on his shoulders.
"They're family Sarg. I can't leave them there. I've mapped out all I know about the building and I know the general area they're in. I have to do this." He knew the Sergeant would understand, he had once been in a Unit. Most units ended up becoming family. It was inevitable when you were forced to spend almost every day with them.
The Sergeant sighed letting his hand drop to his side and for a split second Eagle could swear the Sergeant aged 20 years.
"Alright then. Get your men ready." Eagle nodded. Just as he started to jog away the Sergeant voice stopped him.
"Eagle! Good Luck. You'll need it." Eagle let a small smile of gratitude slip onto his face before it disappeared as he turned back to the task at hand. It was almost time.
"Alright men! Helicopters are almost here. I want everyone loading up as soon as they land, got it?" There was a loud chorus of 'Yes sir!' and Eagle turned back to look at the map once more, committing it to memory.
He was going to get his friends out or die trying.
-Line Break-
The silence in the cell had been suffocating while the two youngest slept. Wolf had been less than happy to be told he wasn't going to learn anything from Ben. Snake had been much more understanding and after a few hours he had managed to make Wolf come around as well.
Alex was still in and out of consciousness. He was beginning to stay awake for longer periods of time, but he was still weak. After a few days Alex had been allowed water, although Josh continued to restrict his food. Snake continued to worry. Alex was very dehydrated at this point, and the little water he was allowed to have would do nothing to help rehydrate him.
Ben was dreading today. The guards had told them that they would be returning to 'their regularly scheduled programing' soon. Meaning Alex was going to be tortured. K-Unit was terrified. The small amount of progress Alex had had was going to be completely destroyed. Yesterday he had actually tried to get out of bed, though he had not gotten very far. He had ended up on the floor half way to K-Unit, who had been asleep at the time. They had woken up to his scream as he landed rather harshly on his battered torso.
Right now Alex was asleep, Ben right by his side. He hadn't left Alex alone since he had tried getting out of bed. He had barely slept since, worried Alex would try getting up again. Ben rested his head on the bed as he sat on the floor, eyes concentrated on Alex's face as he brushed his fingers through the boy's hair.
Wolf was pacing by the door, something he had been doing all day. Snake sat in the corner eyes flicking between Alex and Ben, and Wolf. Snake found himself unconsciously watching the rise and fall of Alex's chest as he slept, reassuring himself that he was still alive. John was currently sleeping in Snakes lap, seeing as everyone else was either moving, sleeping, or hovering over the sleeping. Snake had somehow ended up being John's comforter once Alex was out of commission. The small boy always seemed to be touching Snake in some way.
Everyone was on edge. It had been almost a week since Eagle's escape. Alex was still in bad condition and things weren't looking any better. They were all losing weight, becoming weaker with each meal they missed. Eagle should have been able to find help unless he had gotten lost in the woods, or had been captured without them knowing. They were slowly losing hope with each passing day. Ben was the worst, he couldn't help but think of all the things that could go wrong and if Snake didn't know any better he would have said that Ben was slowly going insane. Snake, being the medic, guessed that Ben was falling into depression. Honestly, they all were. Snake also worried about John, who was becoming smaller than was healthy for his age range. Every time they got a 'meal' Snake gave his to John.
After hours of tension; hours of Ben staring at the sleeping Alex while Snake switched between watching them and the pacing Wolf, the doors banged open with more force than they had heard in a long time.
Wolf stopped pacing, turning to face the door, body blocking the entrance into the cage. Snake jumped up to join Wolf in keeping who ever tried to come through out. John was placed on the bed next to Alex, the boy quickly latched onto Alex's hand. Ben stayed where he was, sitting straighter, becoming fully alert as men filed into the room. Alex's eyes snapped open at the sound of the door, but he barely bothered to move once he knew what was going on. He let his eyes slip close, drawing in deep breaths as he listened.
"Hello boys! It's been a while. How have you been? Don't answer that because the truth is I don't really care." Josh smirked as if he had said something vaguely amusing. "Time for things to go back to normal. Sorry about the past week, I've been busy dealing with...things." He grimaced and Snake held back his smile. Eagle had caused a lot of trouble.
"Anyways, I have to talk to Alex. He seems to be asleep at the moment but that's okay, I'll get him to wake up one way or another. Move aside please. I've gotten some new toys that I won't mind testing out on you." A glance at the guards showed that Josh wasn't joking. Wolf had seen a cattle prod or two in his time, and the sleek black design of these hinted to their high end nature. High end instruments usually meant much more pain.
Slowly Snake and Wolf moved aside but hovered over Alex, ready to attack at one wrong movement.
The guards must have known not to push their luck. They grabbed Alex and quickly walked out of the cage, the boy stumbling along with them as he struggled to get his feet under him.
"I'm glad to see you boys listening to me. Now we'll just get going." Josh smirked once more as he turned on his heels to leave.
"I swear to god, if he dies because of you I will make sure you die a very painful, very slow death in a hole filled with horrible things." Wolf growled, grabbing onto the bars of the cage, trying to get in Josh's face as much as possible.
Josh rolled his eyes before leaving, the guards carrying Alex following behind him obediently. The door slammed and it felt like a piece of their hearts were bring ripped out.
Wolf went back to pacing, muttering very graphic ways to kill Josh and his men, as Snake went back to his corner. Ben held a crying John in his arms, rocking back and forth trying to calm the distressed child. Ben couldn't help the dark thoughts that flitted through his mind.
Alex was all Ben had left and Ben was all that Alex had left. They had become close in the last few month, and neither could afford to lose the other. Ben vowed to quit MI6 the minute they were free.
And he was taking Alex with him.