Bruised
A/N: Thanks again guys! Enjoy it!
Chapter Six – Helena
And what's the worst you take
From every heart you break
And like a blade you'll stain
Well I've been holding on tonight
- Helena by My Chemical Romance
"Mr. President, Karen Hayes is here to see you. She says it's urgent."
Wayne Palmer's brow creased, wondering what Karen was doing back in Washington.
"Send her in," he informed his secretary. Two minutes later Karen clipped into his office dressed in a navy blue pant suit with her hair pulled off her face. He stood immediately and they clasped hands warmly.
"Karen…"
"Mr. President…"
"I thought you were in LA."
"I was. My flight landed a few hours ago. I needed to speak with you."
Wayne indicated for her to be seated on the sofa before he settled on the one across from her.
"How's Bill? Still dealing with family matters?"
"Yes…that's part of what I needed to talk to you about…" she took a deep breath. "If you remember, several months ago when I mentioned Bill's niece to you…"
Palmer's easy expression faded. "I remember what you were suggesting."
"Wayne…" she leaned closer and lowered her volume a little. "I've been trying to get proof for ten months and nothing. They just pulled her out of China a few days ago. She was captured by Cheng Zhi and they're on the run from him and she can't come back to the US - "
"And why isn't she in prison again?"
Karen pursed her lips together. "She cut a deal."
"She confessed, Karen. For all intents and purposes she confessed, no matter what the reason.
"And she left with Jack Bauer to run a covert operation against Cheng Zhi…" Karen interjected quickly. "Sanctioned by Warrington…under the stipulation she could never return back to the US once it was completed."
"A covert operation against the Chinese? We barely survived the incident with them and Jack a few years ago…"
"I know…Alex was captured abroad. That's where Bill and Rick Almeida went…to pull her out - "
"Karen, what your saying is certainly worth investigating, but you know I can't implicate a Senior Senator without any proof… The most we could do would be to have Bill and Tony Almeida testify against Warrington and who knows whether that would hold up in court. You have nothing tangible."
Karen's eyes drooped a little and she exhaled.
"Wayne…" she inclined her head softly. "I know how difficult the fact that she signed the confession makes this, but surely the fact that Warrington authorized the operation and authorized having Alex go when he was the one pressing the charges…"
Palmer considered this. He definitely didn't like being kept out of the loop on these things. The implications of one of his senators authorizing an operation that could destroy any sort of positive ties with China was serious.
"If you can get me evidence of the covert operation and Bauer will verify your statement I'll see what I can do. Bill and Tony and anyone else who can will have to testify as well."
"That may be difficult…"
"I realize that Karen, but we're talking about implicating a senator that was just re-elected right before the new President takes office. We have to have something to tell people."
"I understand."
Karen rose out of her chair and started to leave.
"Karen, wait…" Wayne's tone softened a little.. "How is she?"
Karen smiled weakly. "Fine. As best as can be expected. Alex is strong. She'll pull through."
He managed a return smile. "Glad to hear it."
"Aly…come on, talk to me." Bill rapped lightly on the door that had been shut so forcefully it almost fell off his hinges. Rick had disappeared hours before and still hadn't returned. Chase and Jack had left to comb the area. They couldn't have one of them wandering the streets of London for too long in case Cheng or anyone was on the lookout. It was dark already and they might see Rick before he saw them.
Alex had barricaded herself inside Angie's bedroom minutes after Rick had stormed out. Bill had been trying to cajole her to talk to him, but she'd been ignoring him for the most part.
"Honey, I know you're upset but - "
"But nothing!" the door swung open again and Alex snapped. "You had no right to say that! It wasn't yours to tell!"
Bill hung his head a little. "I know, Aly. It just came out. I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't fix this!" her eyes stung with angry tears. "He didn't do anything wrong and you're pissed off at him for no reason and…" she lowered her eyes too the ground and shook her head and breathed deeply. "Whatever. It's fine. It's not like…"
Bill touched her arm and Alex continued.
"It's not like I was hoping he'd forgive me or something…He'll just be more angry than he already was. It'll be fine."
"Aly…" he reached out to touch her hair. "Maybe you should just…"
"I can't go home!" she exclaimed as the tears threatened to fall. "What the hell am I supposed to say? Tell him I left to…and that I'm sorry and we can try and kiss and make up, only we'll have to do it in Timbuktu because I can't go home!?"
"Karen's working on it."
"Karen's been working on it since the day I left! Nothing's changed. Warrington covered his tracks and Palmer needs proof."
Bill cupped her cheek, his expression sad.
"It's better this way." She insisted through shaky words.
"If you told Rick what happened…if you told him why you…"
"That's not the point. I'll just…I'll let him be mad and no one will say another word and this'll all be over in a few days. Jack and I will disappear and you guys can go home and everything will turn out like it was supposed to."
"I'm not leaving you here to fend for yourself, Alex!"
She squeezed his arm, the animosity leaving her voice. "You don't have a choice. This is just the way it has to - "
"Karen will convince Palmer to exonerate you…"
"You can't promise that - "
"I damn well can!" Bill blast angrily. "I don't care what you signed or what you did. You are twenty-four years old and I'm not leaving you here because of some bastard who…" he shook his head angrily.
Alex gulped hard. She wanted to believe him. She really did. She wanted to be optimistic, but staying realistic had been what kept her alive in China. Focusing on how Jack might never be able to pull her out and felling like she was all alone was what kept her focused. She had to stay focused.
So she gave Bill a quick hug and told him it would be fine. She was starting to get tired of having to hold it all together for everyone else. The reason she left the way she did in the first place was because she didn't want to have to contend with that. She didn't think she was strong enough to say goodbye to Bill and Claire and…and Rick and not break down completely and confess everything and undo what she was trying to do.
Just a few more days and this would all be over. One way or another.
Chase almost missed him as he brushed through the evening crowds. He couldn't quite place what it was that stood out, but before Chase knew it he was sitting side-by-side on a park bench next to Rick who, for all intents and purposes, probably wanted to beat the shit out of him.
Still he went, pushing thoughts of how ugly the confrontation might get to the back of his mind. He'd watched Alex's expression lock on Rick's retreating back and seen the wetness flood her eyes. Chase hated seeing her like that, (not that he'd ever particularly enjoyed seeing women cry, but with Alex he hated it more…probably because it took a lot to push her that far), and he felt the irrefutable desire to wipe that look off her face. At whatever cost to himself.
Plus, Chase may have been a little out of shape but he had no intention of being a pushover. Not to anyone and not ever.
"Hey…" he said quietly, careful not to startle Rick. Rick just snorted a little in acknowledgement. Chase didn't say anything else until the uncomfortable silence forced him to.
"I get you're pissed…"
Rick said nothing.
"But it killed her."
Rick's head craned back and he glared at Chase.
"Did she tell you that when you were screwing her?" his hands shook slightly and Chase tensed.
"It was a one time thing. She was upset. That's it."
"But you like her."
"In small doses." Chase's lips twitched, watching Rick's face harden.
"It was a joke, man."
Rick exhaled exaggeratedly, still sitting with his elbows on his knees.
"She's not what I expected when Jack said he was bringing someone along on this thing. We hung out when she was here and…yeah, I like her. It's hard not to like her when you get passed the whole tough-guy act. She's amazing." Chase tensed a little in anticipation. "I told her to come back to London when this was all over."
Rick's eyes flashed and Chase quickly continued.
"But you don't have to be a genius to figure out what she - "
"She left." Rick snarled. "I…" he bit his lip. "…And she left without a word."
"See that's what pisses me off…" Chase snapped back. "You're too busy feeling sorry for yourself to see what's really going on…"
"Well then why don't you enlighten me about what's going on Chase!?" Rick shouted, the sarcasm evident in his words. "Since after a couple months you seem to know better than anyone…"
Now Chase's eyes flashed. "I know she loved you… I know she spent every second of the entire time she was here missing you - "
"She left!" Rick repeated, as if everything Chase was saying could be proven untrue but that simple phrase. If she loved him and missed him and it hurt her so much why would she just up and leave like that? Even if she was freaking out about what he'd said that day she should've waited it out a bit longer instead of signing up to go to China with Jack.
"And I know that if you stopped feeling sorry for yourself long enough to pay attention to what was really going on you would realize that she wasn't running away from you…even if she was afraid of whatever was happening, I know Alex doesn't run away from something because she's scared. You're too busy paying attention to how I'm looking at her to see how she's looking at you."
Chase finished his tirade, breathing a little heavier. Rick's face had twisted unpleasantly as he stared back at him, feeling nauseous now.
"Start looking at this from all sides and you'll realize this isn't as black and white as you're making it seem."
Chase glanced through the drizzle and rose.
"But I'll do what I have to do to make sure this doesn't kill her this time…even if it means protecting her from you. So if you're planning on blaming her for everything and treating her like garbage, just go back to LA now…" Chase hesitated. "And if not you should come back…she…she's fighting like hell to try and convince herself she doesn't need you right now and I'm getting tired just watching it…
Chase clasped him firmly on the shoulder.
"Think about it."
Bill folded his arms as he watched the apartment door swing open and Rick step inside. He was a little damp from the rain and he ran his fingers through his hair. Bill watched wordlessly as he kicked off his shoes before approaching him.
Rick stiffened at the sight and his jaw shifted to one side.
"What's up, Bill?"
Bill's mouth tightened into a line, biting back a retort.
"I spoke to Karen. One of us needs to go back to LA. Hammond's starting to ask questions…"
"So what?"
"It's just not something we need right now…"
Rick glanced around the room, lowering his voice to an almost-whisper.
"I'm not leaving Bill," he said it softly, but there was a distinct note of finality in his words. Bill inclined his head in agreement.
"It's better I go anyway. I've got a better handle on dealing with the bureaucracy…"
"And I've got a better handle on using a machine gun." Rick retorted wryly, eliciting the smallest of smirks from Bill. Lifting his duffel bag from beside the door and slipping into his own shoes, Bill called for Alex.
She looked reluctant when she poked her head around the corner and her breath caught when she saw Rick had returned.
"What now?" she groaned. Rick's lips curved a little at the corners until she saw Bill holding a bag.
"Where are you going?"
He reached out a hand, motioning her towards them.
"Hammond needs one of us back in LA," Bill explained gently, knowing she would understand what he was really getting at. What little color was left in Alex's cheeks drained, but it was enough for Rick to pick up on. His brow creased. Alex didn't like Hammond but mention of him had never made her anything but indignant.
"So you're…" she glanced at Rick curiously. "You're staying?"
"Yeah…we thought it would be better. Unless you don't want me to."
Alex's eyes flitted towards Rick's but only for a brief second. Bill gaze had clouded with moisture and he engulfed her in a warm hug.
"Be careful, Aly."
"Okay…" she breathed softly against him. "You too…be careful…" her fingers brushed across his cheeks. "I'll be fine here…"
Bill sighed heavily and released her, his own gaze shifting towards Rick.
"I know you will be."
He adjusted his bag on his shoulder, patting Rick briefly on the back before stepping into the hall.
Rick's eyes finally met hers after a few minutes and he touched her arm. She tensed but didn't pull away, though her head dropped to the floor.
He leaned in close; too close. Close enough that she knew if she tilted her head a little his mouth would be half an inch from hers; close enough that she could feel his breath on her and the heat from his body and contrast the solidness of his form to her own shaking one.
"Talk?" he checked, eyes moving behind them and acknowledging whoever had walked into the kitchen. Alex didn't turn around to see who it was, she simply breathed yeah and let him lead her out the door.
Alex slumped down on the floor of the hallway with her eyes on her hands and her nerves getting the best of her. Rick didn't look at her as he did the same.
"I'm sorry," she told him softly. "I didn't know until I…" she paused a beat too long, holding back her slip of the tongue. "I didn't know until I left…" She finished decisively. He studied her expression carefully, not saying anything but having caught her flub.
"And then with Chase…" she gulped hard and squinted her eyes shut. "I…"
"And then you went and slept with Chase," his answering growl lacked something.
"It just…" she blinked back the wetness in her eyes. "I just needed something - "
"And while you were off with Chase where do you think I was, Alex? Did you think I was just going to forget about you?"
"Rick…"
"You don't think hearing that he…had you while I was sitting around - ?"
"You have me, Rick! Since day one you've - "
"Then why did you leave!?" his head dropped slightly to catch her gaze. She blinked hard, feeling the bile rising in the back of her throat. She wanted to tell him. Oh god, she wanted to tell him. She could feel the words forming on her tongue and forced herself not to picture his reaction when he found out; forced herself not to dare wonder if she told him that maybe he could help make this go away and they could try and do this whole thing right. She could go home and they could try again…
"Even if you didn't want…me…" he swallowed the hurt in his voice. "Did you not think of what this would do to Bill? To Claire?"
She cringed. It hadn't been so hard to convince herself leaving Claire would be better in the end. She'd almost gotten Claire killed. At least if Alex was out of the picture Claire could be safe. The tension went to her chest and she felt the wave of emotion starting to rise into her throat. Her plan had worked flawlessly – he thought she didn't want him.
"Al…" his voice no longer sounded accusatory. It was soft and reassuring and all she'd been wanting to hear for the last ten months. She ached for the days her stomach had filled with warm butterflies when he curled against her first thing in the morning and nuzzled her awake, saying her name in that voice being breathed into the crook of her neck. She wondered what had ever possessed her to fault herself for enjoying those types of moments, as if they made her weak or something. Now she'd give anything to have them back.
"Al…" he sounded pained now and his fingertips glided over her arms. She looked away, masking a shudder at the contact.
"Al…just talk to me…" he half-pleaded. She used to tell him everything and now she couldn't even look at him. He used to know her like the back of his hand and now...
She sniffled in response and shook her head abruptly.
"It was the abortion," he cringed when she said the word out loud. "I just didn't want you to ever find out," she clipped, a note of finality in her voice. His head ducked to see her icy blue eyes shining with moisture and frustration rose within him. At least Chase had been good for one thing; Rick was supposed to be able to read her better than anybody and one look at her eyes told him she was still hiding something from him and Rick was going to find out what if it was the last thing he did.
"Damnit, Alex…what aren't you telling me - ?" he growled, hearing her breath catch in her throat as she finally turned to look at him…
The sound of Chase's apartment door opening caused them both to crane their necks around. Jack didn't even bother with his token quiet apology.
"You two need to get inside right now. We have a situation."
"What going on?" Rick felt the dread sink to the pit of his stomach. Everyone was crowded around the kitchen table. Michelle looked ghostly pale, Tony stood directly behind her with a furious look on his face and Chase was staring at his hands. Jack turned to Rick.
"When that woman escaped you said you suspected someone inside DOD was helping her?"
Rick stared at Jack, processing what he was suggesting.
"Yeah…no one else knew where she was being taken or would've had access to her transfer documentation. She was retrieved en route."
Jack swore quietly and fished out his cell phone.
"Claire just sent this to me. It was taken fifteen minutes ago at Heathrow."
"Claire -?"
"Claire's at CTU." Rick's breath was hot against Alex's skin and she might've shivered had she not been furious with everyone for withholding this from her, and wondering what the hell this was about a mole. A mole who'd let Mandy escape nonetheless…
A horrible thought overcame her when she glanced at Jack. Mandy showing up in London was too much of a coincidence…especially if someone at DOD was the reason she escaped in the first place. No one had thought to anticipate that Alex of all people would come back from the operation alive and someone got wind that she had…
Someone wanted her dead.
"What's wrong?" Rick's voice was rife with concern and his hand touched the small of her back.
She ignored the question, but instead of pushing he simply ran his hand down her back.
"Jack!" Tony suddenly yelled out, eyes on the road below. Jack immediately darted to the window and Rick followed staring at the street. Two men stood in front of the building dressed all in black.
"Shit…" Now Jack looked a little anxious. "Alright, grab whatever you can in the next two minutes. We're moving."
Everyone bolted out of the room. Alex grabbed the bag Michelle had packed for her at the hotel in Tokyo and threw in Rick's sweatshirt along with the few clean pairs of underwear, the sweats and two t-shirts she'd acquired. Throwing her bag over her shoulder she darted back into the living room. Accepting a handgun from Jack and tucking it into the back of her jeans.
"Go…I'll finish loading." God only knew where they would have to go to escape these people…whoever they were.
Rick emerged next, a bag slung over his shoulder. He accepted a rifle and a handgun and bent down to help her. A second later everyone else showed up and the weapons were passed around.
"We're ready?" Jack confirmed.
"Let's go."
Jack led the way, Michelle right behind him. Alex felt Tony brushing past her. His face was filled with anxiety and she nudged him gently as they pushed towards the stairs.
"Fifty-points if you hit her between the eyes," she snorted, getting the smallest of smirks from him.
"Nothing too crazy, y'hear me?" he mumbled quietly, eyes still on Michelle. Alex nodded, feeling Chase press against her back as they slipped through the door. Rick was the last one through and he held back a second to pull the fire alarm. There was commotion in the hallways as they all moved quickly down the stairwell ahead of the fray.
When they emerged on the ground floor of the apartment building, crowds of people were already starting to flood it. Chase latched onto Alex's arm, motioning for the rest of them to follow him to the fire exit and disappearing into the darkness of the courtyard behind the building.
Suddenly, gunfire erupted around them and everyone ducked for cover. Alex felt Chase shove her down behind a small fountain and his body fell over hers. Rick crouched down beside them, lifting his weapon to return fire through the darkness. All the lights had been shot out in the first three seconds. Jack was a few steps ahead of them and Tony had pushed Michelle into the alley between two buildings, his head poking around as he too fired back.
"How many!?" Alex called over the commotion.
"Four or five!" Jack called back. Alex curled her fingers around her rifle.
"I can't return fire!" she turned to Chase, expecting him to back off.
"They got it covered - !"
"Christ, Chase!" she shoved harder than she meant too, cocking her weapon; Chase landed on his butt as she squinted to see her first target in the dim moonlight. She adjusted the weight of the gun and her finger pulled back twice before Chase could blink, taking out the hostile and turning slightly to see any others. It was amazing how much more capable she felt after a few poor quality hours of sleep and some decent food. To her right she caught a glimpse of Rick and for those five seconds it felt just like before. Just like before when they were just friends and he was the one handing her extra magazines and telling her where to aim.
"Nine-o-clock…" he instructed and she spun left, her rounds hit the man who was halfway to the place Tony was hiding.
Between two of the buildings Tony had pressed Michelle back into one wall, shielding her from a bullet that had come dangerously close. When he heard the man nearest them drop to the ground he pulled away, scanning the area quickly. After a moment's hesitation he ordered Michelle to stay put as he ventured out slightly into the courtyard to cover Jack. Michelle had just been contemplating moving a little closer to the firefight to see if she had a vantage point over anyone when a dark figure slipped past the entrance at the far end of the alley and stared at Michelle. Michelle pressed back against the wall and aimed her weapon, prepared to return fire. Suddenly the figure started to bolt.
Tony was almost out of sight and definitely out of hearing range given the commotion and no one else was in the vicinity. Without a second thought Michelle darted after the figure and down one of the side streets surrounding Chase's complex.
"We're clear!" Rick called over his shoulder after he'd checked the far side of the courtyard. Alex rose shakily to her feet, slightly winded but otherwise unharmed. Chase held out arm that she rested against as Jack reappeared from the east side.
"Everyone okay?"
Tony ran out of the alley way a second later looking ghost white.
"I can't find Michelle…"
"What!?"
"She was right behind me and then I moved out to lay down the cover and…"
Alex reacted first, grappling for her weapon.
"Okay, okay…we'll just spread out. She was armed. We would've heard something if…"
"Chase check the front of the building with Alex. We'll cover the grounds," Jack ordered darting off in one direction. Rick was already sprinting in the opposite, the panic evident on his face. Tony's brow had started to accumulate some moisture and he cocked his weapon with shaky hands before moving as well.
Michelle peered around the corner, weapon at the ready, searching for whoever it was she'd seen at the entrance to the courtyard. The person had definitely been armed, but it was too dark to notice much from that distance except for their slender build. Had the distance between them been less Michelle had a feeling she would've been wounded if not dead. She'd had no cover while they'd had plenty…
Still, Michelle ran down the streets. If the rest of their attackers were dead this could be the only lead they had with regards to who wanted Alex eliminated. They had to find out who was behind this if they wanted any chance of getting Alex home. Home home. Where she belonged.
In the background Michelle heard the commotion back at the apartment building of people woken from their slumber at the sound of the fire alarm. She hadn't realized how far she'd gone until she spared a quick glance over her shoulder to check her proximity. In front of her she heard the crunch of gravel and spun back around to find herself face to face with Mandy's ghostly pale eyes and icy skin, their weapons poised on each other.
"Hi Michelle…" Mandy breathed. "You should've just stayed with Tony instead of wandering the streets by yourself. I'm surprised at you; that wasn't a very smart thing to do."
Mandy leaned forward and Michelle rocked back on the ball of her foot in response.
"What do you want?" she demanded. Mandy sighed exasperatedly.
"You know what I want."
"Why?" Michelle demanded. Mandy sighed again.
"This is just like before, Michelle. I'm just doing the job I got paid to do. You don't have to get so touchy - "
"Who's paying you?"
"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," she sing-songed. Michelle's glare hardened and Mandy's eyes rolled even in the darkness.
"It's not that complicated; Evans went on a little adventure to China that she wasn't supposed to come back from…and she did. That's where I come in."
"So it wasn't Cheng?"
Mandy shifted her hold on her weapon and Michelle tensed.
"We really don't have to make a big production out of this. Just back away slowly and pretend we never had this conversation and go back to your husband. Nice and clean. It'd be such a waste to kill you if I didn't have to…I'd probably have to kill Tony too…just to put him out of his misery."
Michelle flinched but didn't move.
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me who's paying you."
Mandy stiffened and Michelle ducked a split-second before Mandy pulled the trigger. The ground was hard on her knees and she rolled quickly towards her attacker, her own gun lost in the process. Michelle got to her feet again and Mandy fired another shot, but her aim went wide when Michelle's hand latched onto her arm. Michelle drove her knee hard into the woman's stomach until her grip slackened and Michelle was able to knock the weapon from her hand. Mandy's fist swung around to Michelle who grunted when it collided with her hand, but threw one more hard knee into Mandy's diaphragm and sent the other woman spiraling back long enough for her to turn around and retrieve her weapon. Mandy retained her balance quickly and dove for it too, but Michelle had a head start and pulled the trigger as she swung around to face her attacker. Mandy moaned in pain and dropped to her knees, blood pooling on the pavement. Her breaths were raspy and Michelle rose slowly from the ground, pushing sweaty hair out of her eyes. She checked her weapon and faced the other woman.
"Who sent you?" she growled low. Even bleeding on the ground Mandy looked at her smugly. Michelle's bullet had only passed through her hip and while she was in pain the shot wasn't lethal unless they decided to let her bleed out.
"Figure it out," Mandy's words were strained as she snapped back. Michelle glared at her impatiently, trying to decide her next course of action when she heard her name.
"Michelle!" It was Rick. He darted towards her, the relief plain on his face and stared at the scene before him.
His hand was on Michelle's arm as soon as she was within reach.
"You okay?" he breathed into her ear easily. Michelle nodded almost unnoticeably before turning back to the woman.
"Who sent you?" Michelle repeated.
Mandy's face was whiter than normal, but she still managed to be facetious.
"Y-you know…who sent me, Michelle. And you know…I'm not the only one th-they sent. Evans will be dead in a week," she could no longer keep the shakes out of her voice. Rick turned to Michelle in disbelief. Mandy's hollow laugh was stilted.
"You…never…know…w-who…you can trust…these days…huh, Rick?"
"Rick!" Alex sprinted around the corner as quickly as she could and made a beeline towards them. Mandy grinned.
"H-hand me a gun…and we'll just…put her out of her m-misery now…what do you think? - "
Alex was five feet away when Rick pulled the trigger of his handgun and Mandy slumped dead on the ground.
"What happened!?" Tony's face was pale with worry when he stumbled on them a minute later, still frozen in the middle of the street. His eyes glanced at the ground, watching Mandy's body pool in the blood from her bullet wounds and honing in on Michelle.
"Where the hell were you thinking!?" He snapped. Her eyes blinked shut a second longer than necessary before responding.
She exhaled softly. "She was coming around the far side of the complex and everyone else was distracted. She was going after - "
"Alex was fine where she was - !" Alex flinched at being brought into the conversation, shuddering to think how much worse things could have gone.
"It only takes one bullet, Tony - "
"I don't care! You don't just disappear without telling anyone - !"
"Alright, alright!" Rick intervened, holding up his hand. "Everyone's alive; body parts are in place…let's just call Jack. Some of those other guys might still be out here…"
He motioned for everyone to move closer to the side of one building just as he started speaking into the receiver.
Tony poked Alex in the side.
"Where's Chase?"
She bit her lip and lowered her eyes.
"I ditched him to cover more ground…"
"Chase is with Jack." Rick informed them quickly. "They're on their way."
"Did they see anyone else?" Michelle piped in. Rick shook his head, eyes flitting towards Alex. "Not yet, but that doesn't mean they aren't on their way…or already here."
Alex shivered and suddenly felt nauseous. Her legs started to shake and her vision grew fuzzy and she grappled for something to steady herself on, finding only Rick's warm hand as he settled her back against the wall and she slid to the ground in a daze.
She didn't black out, but her head was pounding and she felt jittery. Sprinting full speed around the complex probably wasn't the best idea she'd ever had, especially when she still wasn't keeping much down in the way of food.
Michelle settled down beside her, informing Alex that Jack and Chase had arrived and they were working out what to do next. Michelle looked a little shaky from the adrenaline too and both women sat close together, trying to calm down a bit.
"At least you kicked her ass…" Alex breathed softly, getting a soft laugh in response.
"What can I say…those are some good moves you have."
Alex laughed too and rolled her neck in a circle.
"You guys shouldn't be here. They're just going to keep coming back."
"We'll figure something out."
"I'm going to get someone killed…" she shook her head gruffly, her vision solid again, and started to rise. With Michelle right behind her, they approached the guys just as Chase darted back into the street without a word to anyone.
"What are we thinking?" she interrupted decisively. Every pair of eyes turned to face her, but no one said anything.
It was Jack who broke the silence.
"If people are being sent after you we need to lead them off your trail. You're in no condition to deal with this right now - "
She protested angrily. "You're not diverting them because I'm too slow - !"
"You cannot deal with this right now, Alex!" Jack snapped back. "I've got a friend who can give you a place to lay low for a while. Tony's going to take you there."
Her eyes lifted to Tony who nodded gruffly.
"What about - "
"Michelle will go with you." Jack informed her. Alex felt the anxiety start to pool in the pit of her stomach.
"But - "
"Chase will go with you too," Rick this time. Every pair of eyes turned to stare at him. Apparently that hadn't been the plan.
Jack observed him curiously for a second, but nodded.
"We'll stage it so they think you're with us while the rest of you escape."
"You can't - "
"This isn't up for negotiation." Jack insisted. "I'm going to find us another car. Chase went to get his …" he glanced around quickly. "Stay here and out of sight. I'll be back soon."
No one said anything for a few minutes until Alex finally turned to Tony.
"So where are we going?"
"You'll see. The less you know the better."
Alex nodded, bringing up a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose.
"You don't have to do this…" She insisted of Rick abruptly. "I can disappear with Jack and the rest of you guys can go home and I'll be fine…"
Headlights interrupted them; it was Chase. A moment later Jack appeared in another vehicle.
Rick motioned her towards the door of the car Jack had stolen as Chase and Jack switched.
"You have your passport?" he swung open the door and waited for Michelle to climb in.
"Rick you don't have to do this for me - "
Out of nowhere he pulled her close and forced her eyes to meet his. She inhaled sharply as he brushed his thumb across her cheek, all seriousness.
"Yeah I do - "
"Rick…"
"We're not done yet, alright?" she heard the slight falter in his voice and wondered whether he was referring to the conversation that had been interrupted early or something else.
Angry tears stung her eyes. He was going god only knew where with Jack to divert them from her while she ran away like a coward to hide. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. If anything happened…
"Hey…" he tilted her chin in his direction, a wry smirk forming on his lips. "It'll be fine. You just stay out of trouble."
She blinked hard and nodded reluctantly.
"Rick!" Jack called from behind them. "We have to go now." Rick turned around and nodded curtly before turning back to face her. He fought to keep the tightness he felt in his chest out of his eyes.
"I'll see ya in a few, Yankee."
His fingers squeezed the back of her neck gently in assurance before he pulled away. Someone pushed her into the backseat beside Michelle, but Alex wasn't paying attention as she watched Chase's car, now holding Jack and Rick, speed away into the night.