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Be the Serpent under It: Part 5-Fear

"The FBI has determined, Mr. Hench, that the bomb used in the attack on Global Justice was one of yours," the FBI agent in the office said, his expression hard and stoic.

Jack was frowning in distaste, sitting behind his desk with hands balled and under his chin as he critically examined the agent. "Has it now?" Jack replied.

"Our source is credible, and our findings corroborated their own. There's no doubt," the agent said.

That credible source, Betty knew, was GJ. They had leaked to the FBI that the bomb used to attack them had been a HenchCo product. Sharon Sload had been one of theirs. They'd wanted in on this so she'd given them the courtesy, but ensured the leak didn't go beyond GJ or the FBI. It had all been very clandestine. All she wanted was some pressure on Hench. Her hope was to draw out some actual answers. Yes, Jack had confronted his Uncle at the strip club and called him out for stealing a prototype, but there was no guarantee that prototype had been the bomb. Even if it had been, what reason would the Uncle have had for attacking GJ? How had he even known it existed? Admittedly, in the few years GJ had been operating, they had dug their noses into the business of quite a few cartels and organizations, but had they really been getting close enough to one that it resulted in such a brutal attack? And what were the odds it would have been the organization run by Jack's Uncle? Coincidences like this happened, yes, but this felt like more.

The FBI was conducting a silent investigation, interviewing HenchCo employees and seeking answers. Jack was in damage control mode, and you'd better believe he was in the zone. "HenchCo isn't liable for what its products are used for after they leave our possession," he said in response to the investigator.

"That wasn't our question, Mr. Hench," the man replied. Betty, arms wrapped around herself, listened silently in the background.

"My implication is clear," Hench replied. "Understand, agent, that we have very strict rules surrounding the confidentiality of our clients. What I can tell you is that a prototype from my research facility went missing not long before the attack on GJ. If you'd like, I have the surveillance footage. I had no luck making it out myself, but if you can and you find who stole my property, maybe you'll have your perpetrator." Betty perked up ever so slightly. Video footage?

"Terrorist, Mr. Hench," the agent replied.

"Terrorist, right," Hench dubiously replied, smirking at the man. "If you'd like, I can pull the footage up right now. I have it stored on a hard drive. It's in my desk. "

"If you wouldn't mind, Mr. Hench," the man replied.

"Not at all," Jack replied in that faux pleasant tone of his. He opened the drawer, pulled out the hard drive, and inserted it into his computer. He clicked a couple of times, then beckoned the agent over. Warily the man approached, along with her, to look over Hench's shoulders at the camera feed.

KP

Dr. Director watched the security feed, hands balled in front of her mouth. Tapes of the night before the attack on Global Justice. A few fast-forwarded hours into the footage, they watched as the Uncle's van pulled up to the facility. The man exited the vehicle with his people and gestured for them to breach. They did so, forcing their way in. Flashes of light signaled gunfire. It wasn't long after that the men exited, carting with them the bomb.

She let out a sharp breath. It hadn't been Jack. It had been his prototype, but it hadn't been him! The amount of relief she felt at that moment... But wait, what about her other questions? How had the Uncle known of GJ? Why had he chosen to target it? She could dig into those later, she decided. Right now she just wanted to bask in the knowledge it hadn't been Hench.

"Satisfied?" Jack asked the investigator.

"For now," the man answered, seemingly unphased. "My men will finish up interviewing your employees and we'll get out of your hair."

"Of course," Jack replied. "My apologies for all the trouble this has caused you, Agent. I had no idea how dangerous it could be. Should the families require compensation, I'll of course be happy to oblige. I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for this tragedy."

"Good day, Mr. Hench," the stoic agent replied, turning and leaving.

Betty let out a slow stream of air. "It was your Uncle?" she asked, voice sounding a bit overwhelmed. "But-but how did he know about GJ?"

"Since its inception, Miss Director, GJ has developed a reputation among the criminal underworld for sticking their noses where they don't belong. That includes the business of mobsters and cartels. It was only a matter of time before they crossed the wrong one," Jack replied. "That it didn't happen sooner is the real surprise. In my humble opinion, it would be far better on their part to fly a little lower under the radar than they currently are. Let the people think they're dead! Go deep underground to work from the shadows. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some matters to tie up in relation to this investigation. Err, are you planning to use your recreation spot at the end of the day today?"

She started then smiled at him in amusement. "Investigate and see," she replied, walking away with a hopeful spring in her step.

KP

She left the room grinning like a fool. He was innocent. He hadn't done it! There was no reason for GJ to seek retribution anymore! All she had to do was call them and explain the situation and...

"Oh no, absolutely not sir. HenchCo is absolved from any damages done by their products after a purchase has been made. Honestly, we had no idea how deadly the thing could be," she heard one of the employees say. Grin becoming a curious frown, she slowed down and looked over. The receptionist from the front desk, she realized. Doubtless on his break.

"The prototype was stolen, agent. End of question. What happened with it after it was snatched from the Research Facility isn't on HenchCo. Mr. Hench has insurance and liability clauses to protect against incidents like that. We're deeply sorry for what happened to GJ," she heard another employee say from a floor below. She looked over the edge quickly. The lead researcher and Jack's primary business consultant. Foggman, she believed the name was. She looked around again, slowly this time, and saw various agents quizzing various employees, the agents looking frustrated. An unsettled and uneasy feeling began to prickle down her spine.

"He knows we've been watching him. Gods, how did we fall for this? He'll get away with it. He always does. He'll claim he had no idea how dangerous it was. He'll offer condolences and compensation. Hardly a penny to him. The damn man could persuade a lion not to make a meal of him."

The words of her late mentor echoed in her head and her jaw twitched a bit as she reconsidered the situation. Something was still off. Maybe she could buy into the idea that the Uncle knew about GJ through word of mouth or an unfortunate encounter, but how had he known about the prototype? How had he even found it? How had he managed to steal it so easily? She'd attempted to infiltrate Hench's research facility and hadn't been able to get close. The security around it had been insane, yet the Uncle had just pulled up, climbed out with a bunch of gunmen, and broken in without a second thought or any hesitation? They hadn't even been met with resistance...

"You're valuable to me, Jack, and I'd hate to lose you, but if you ever act up again like you did all those months back, I'll cut my losses."

Her eyes slowly began to widen as she started piecing it together.

"You may not play by my rules anymore, but I expect your respect."

"Then show me the same."

"Respect is earned, not given."

"I agree, and I gave it to you most of my life. Now you earn it."

"Two birds with one stone... It was a setup," she whispered in realization.

"What was, Miss Director?" his voice said from behind.

She gasped, turning quickly and staring at him with wide eyes. He was watching her, casual smile plastered on his face. She could see the coldness behind it though. She could see the danger.

You tread deadly waters. More than one agent has disappeared in them.

She kept staring in silence before turning once more to look out over the lower floor. "That's why he came for you. Your Uncle," she said numbly. The allusions to kidnapping, to death, to torture... Every menacing undertone in the conversation he and his Uncle had had at the strip club had stemmed from this. "You tried to outplay him. You failed."

GJ had been the sacrifice.

Jack was silent, watching her. "Are you scared?" he asked.

She let out a soft breath, tingles racing up and down her spine. Sniffing, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and felt an unwelcome burning behind them. "Yes," she whispered.

"Hmm," he replied. After a moment, he turned and she heard him walking away. He paused before disappearing through a door, looking back at her. "I'm afraid of you too," he said. She opened her eyes once more.

He knows...

She didn't understand why that didn't scare her more than it did. She denied it immediately. If he knew, she wouldn't still be here.

"I love you. And I'm so afraid of that."

"I know. So am I."

A tear escaped her good eye.

He knows...

She heard the door shut behind him and stayed frozen in her spot for far, far too long.

KP

She sat by the pool in her swimsuit, chin resting on the tops of her knees as she stared out over the water. Why had she come here? HenchCo was empty. It was only her and him in this entire building.

No one would think twice about a drowning accident...

As the minutes ticked by with no sign of Jack, she began to dread his absence more than she dreaded his presence. She should never have come here. She wished she'd never met him. She could have sent literally any other agent to try and infiltrate this place, but no, she'd had to come personally! She damned herself for that mistake.

Eyes darkening, she stood angrily and turned to go only to scream when she felt strong hands seize her arms violently. She fought like a wild animal trying to break free. Her mind raced in a thousand different directions. She screamed again when her assailant threw her into the pool. She was disoriented for only a moment, but that was all the time it took for her attacker to leap in after her, wrench her arms behind her body, and hold her head beneath the water. She thrashed desperately in his grasp, frantic to get away, but the man was powerful. She couldn't get him off her, she realized with a chill. She couldn't get him off her! He forced her all the way to the bottom of the pool, putting his entire weight on her.

Jack.

She damned herself for not leaving. She damned herself for taking this chance! Spots began dancing in her vision. She felt her thrashing becoming weaker. She was going to black out. She was going to black out and that would be it!

She heard an alarmed shout. A male. She heard someone leap into the pool.

Suddenly the weight was off her and she broke for the surface, gasping for air and coughing. She turned quickly around and caught her breath, eyes widening. "Jack!" she screamed. There he was, grappling with a masked assailant scowling murderously!

It hadn't been him!

Gasping, she surged ahead to help him subdue the attacker. Hopefully prevent him from murdering the man too, because she could tell by the look in his eyes that murder was definitely on his mind right now. Together they grappled with the man until at last they managed to subdue him and drag him out of the pool. Jack seized the mask, ripping it off with a scowl, and the way his eyes darkened told her more than she wanted to know. "No, don't!" she cried when Jack seized the man's head and looked ready to bash it in on the ground.

Jack paused, looking sharply over at her, then turned his attention back to his victim. It was too long before he seemed to recover himself and let the man go, standing up. "My Uncle sent you, didn't he? I told him the woman isn't in a relationship with me!" he shouted, pointing at her.

"She was the closest there was," the man replied, scowling up at Jack.

"Her brother is my best friend. If my Uncle wants to punish me by erasing someone close to me, go after him instead!" Jack practically snarled. Betty looked at him in shock, eyes wide. What was he...? Wait. Gemini had an entire syndicate under his belt and sported a weaponized gauntlet as everyday attire. For them to go after her brother would be suicide. Jack was sending them to an execution!

"No!" she immediately blurted. "Mr. Hench, please. Call your Uncle! Clear this up! If you just talk to him... Maybe an apology is all he wants!"

"He wants me to bend my knee!" Jack retorted, turning angrily on her.

"Then bend it! It's better than having these people hunt down anyone you've ever spent five minutes of your time with!" Betty argued. He started a bit. "You end it or it keeps on forever," she hissed.

Jack turned sharply back to the man on the ground, who was glaring darkly at them both. His jaw twitched a bit and with a scoff he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, eyes flashing. He put it on speaker. "Evenin' nephew. Not often that I get a personal call from you. What's the occasion?" the man answered after the third ring.

"My men are delivering yours to your doorstep. Uncle? Never test me again," Jack venomously said. "The next man you send after my people disappears!"

"Jack!" Betty snapped.

Jack looked quickly over at her, then back at the man on the ground. "I'm sorry, what was that? Kinda sounded like a threat," the Uncle darkly replied after a long pause.

"There was silence for a moment longer. At last, Jack let out a defeated sigh and massaged the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry," he at last said, voice quiet. All of its punch had dissipated, becoming defeat. The change was physically jarring for Betty. "I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry for stepping out of line. It won't... it won't happen again. Just leave them alone."

"Who, nephew? Who?" the Uncle menacingly asked.

"Anyone you figure I've ever cared about," Jack quietly replied.

"Will you come for that ride with me?" the man asked. Betty caught her breath, paling.

No... No, no, no!

Jack was silent, staring at the ground. Soon, though, his gaze turned to her, and if possible, she went even whiter. A sick feeling came to her stomach and she felt almost dizzy. She shook her head numbly. "Don't," she whispered in a breath, not even thinking about it.

Jack said nothing for a moment, just watching her. "Yes," he answered at last, tone bitter and cold.

The Uncle was quiet. "Bring my man back. Personally and alone, Jack. Personally and alone. No hidden snipers, no backup. Just you."

Betty felt her heart plummet. Her lips parted numbly. "Agreed," Hench said.

"He's not going to you!" she blurted without thinking. Jack's eyes became cold, filling with reproach, but she wouldn't be shamed out of this. "He's not going to you," she repeated numbly.

The Uncle was quiet. "On second thought, bring the girl," he said.

"No!" Jack immediately answered, eyes filling with a flash of fear and skin paling a bit.

"Yes!" Betty cut off. She looked at Jack once more. "Yes," she repeated. He stared at her in wide-eyed disbelief. She couldn't blame him. She wasn't even sure what she was doing at this point, she just knew she couldn't let him go alone. If he did... If he did, he might never come back... Revenge belonged to GJ, not to the Uncle, she told herself. Revenge belonged to GJ...

KP

He was furious with her. She could sense it. The tension was palpable as they drove towards where she presumed his Uncle's residence was. He hadn't spoken since hanging up the call to his relative. The would-be assassin sat in the back glaring darkly at them both in the rearview mirror, sharpening a dangerous knife.

They pulled up to what looked like a factory that had been converted into a home. Jack parked and stared darkly at it. She was silent, watching too. "I'm gonna gut your girl like a fish," the assassin finally and darkly said from the back.

Jack scoffed and got out of the car. Betty winced a little and followed him guiltily, head bowed. The man in the back got out on her side, glowering dangerously. She ignored the gaze and almost hoped he'd try something just so she could show him what a mistake it would be. The Uncle opened the door, clearly waiting, and glared darkly at them. Jack approached. Betty stayed close to his side. They stopped in front of the man together, Betty with her hands folded in front of her and the would-be assassin at her back.

The Uncle looked his man over. "Get in," he ordered. The man shuddered a bit but didn't argue. Just passed them by and entered grimly. Betty watched after him in some concern. "Good man. Obedient, skilled, respectful. It'll save him this time," the man said, watching after him. He turned back to Jack. "Tell me, nephew. What do you have goin' for you?"

Jack's jaw twitched a bit. "Nothing," he bitterly answered.

The Uncle hummed. "Let's go for a little ride," he said at last. Jack was quiet, staring at him. He looked like he wanted to say something, but ultimately refrained. The man stepped forward, taking his nephew's arm firmly. A look of utter disgust crossed Jack's face, a scowl spreading across his face. The Uncle completely ignored the look, leading him toward a dark car. Betty stayed put. The Uncle paused and looked warily back.

"I haven't been given permission," she said calmly. Jack blinked in surprise, clearly thrown off by whatever it was she was doing.

The Uncle tilted his head, then darkly chuckled. "Didn't seem you cared much for permission when I was havin' a private conversation with my nephew here."

"I overstepped. I don't intend to do so again more than I already have," she answered.

"Humph. Get in the car," he ordered. Betty nodded and followed them. The Uncle was rougher with Jack, all but shoving him into the car through the driver's side. Jack grunted a little in discomfort and gave the man a dark look, but didn't open his mouth. Climbing in, the Uncle started the vehicle and began to drive.

KP

There was absolute silence in the car. Jack glared out the front window in frustration. Betty gazed out the side, watching the scenery pass them by. And memorizing every landmark along the way... You never knew, after all. She had no clear-cut plan here. Plan A was to try and win the Uncle's favor so that maybe, just maybe, she gained enough sway that she could soften the blow that came to Jack. Maybe even mediate the interaction. They could all get out of this alive...

The car went down a forest path, and her hopes that they'd all walk out of this were dimming fast. The Uncle took a side road, and for about twenty minutes they drove on before at last the man parked. They sat silently. "Open the glove compartment," the man ordered. Jack shifted a bit and did so. He stiffened when he saw what was inside. A handgun. A large one. "Hand it over," his Uncle said, turning darkly to him. Jack was silent, staring at it. A fleeting thought to pull it on his Uncle crossed his mind, but he knew better. There was no reason it should be in a place so accessible to a potential victim. Whether it was a trap or test, he didn't care. Huffing, he pulled it out and handed it over to the man. The man cocked it and aimed it back at Betty. Hench flinched ever so slightly, jaw ticking, and for a moment he regretted not failing the test.

Betty turned her head ever so slightly with a disapproving frown. Gods she was dancing a fine line... When neither she nor Jack moved to retaliate, the Uncle took the pistol off of her and aimed it at Jack. This time Betty sat up straight, eyes filling with concern. "Get out," the Uncle ordered. Jack glared at him a moment, but then obeyed. The Uncle followed. Betty resisted the urge to open the door and get out before she was told. "Go to the bridge," the Uncle ordered.

Jack glanced once more at Betty before sighing and closing his eyes. As ordered, he went towards it, turning his back on the man even though every part of him screamed not to. Uncle thought little of those who chose to shoot their victims in the back, though, so odds were good he wouldn't. The uncle turned to Betty. "Get out," he ordered. She did so. "Go after him." She turned and pursued Jack rapidly.

They walked out onto the old bridge. Jack looked over the edge down at the river far below but said nothing. She watched him, deeply concerned. There was this look in his eyes... He'd been here before. "Stop," the Uncle ordered. They did so. "Turn around," the man ordered. They did as commanded. Immediately the gun cracked and Jack cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground and shouting a curse, wrapping an arm around his middle.

"Jack!" she cried in terror, looking quickly back at him.

She tried to drop to his side, but the Uncle stepped in. "Don't even think it!" he sharply ordered. She froze, looking quickly back at the man with eyes wide. Jack looked sharply up at the man. "It's a flesh wound. He'll be just fine." She was still. "Get up on the ledge," he ordered her.

"No!" Jack cried in what almost sounded like despair. She looked quickly at him. His eyes were wide in terror. Almost... almost traumatized. Her heart twisted in her chest.

"Beautiful place, isn't it? Nice and quiet. Isolated. A good place to die."

She swallowed over a lump in her throat at the memory of those words. He'd seen someone die here before, she realized with a cold chill... "It's okay, baby. It's okay," she murmured softly. His eyes turned quickly to her in a mix of shock and fear.

"Get up on the rail," the Uncle repeated. Betty hoisted herself up onto it and stood. Jack was white from fear. She saw him trembling... She turned to the Uncle, watching him calmly. "The boy stepped out of line. I'm real sorry you had to get caught up in all this, ma'am. I truly am. My nephew's bad decisions? They shouldn't have had to come back on you." Jack looked frantically at the man.

"Stop," she said calmly. "He's had enough. He understands he screwed up." The Uncle's jaw ticked ever so slightly. Maybe, somewhere in the deepest depths of his heart, he truly did care for his nephew. Even if only a little. A little might be all she needed. "You're torturing him," she said, voice wavering ever so slightly. The Uncle glanced at the young man that was collapsed on the bridge clutching a badly bleeding wound. Flesh wound though it may be, there was a lot of red. "The most dangerous animals are the ones that have nothing left to lose," she reasoned. The Uncle's eyes darted sharply and quickly back at her, narrowing dangerously. "He still has something to lose," she pressed, knowing full well she was really pushing her luck. It wasn't like there were many options at the moment, though. "You still control him," she pressed a little more. "No one else. Just you."

The Uncle turned to the young man. Jack met his eyes, lips pursed tightly and skin pale. "Humph... You're valuable to me, Jack. At least as long as you're on a leash," the Uncle finally said, lowering the gun. Betty let out a slow breath of relief. She really hoped it wasn't premature relief. The Uncle tucked the gun away and turned his back, making his way to the car. "Marry that girl, nephew! She's just what you need."

Betty waited until she heard the Uncle start the car before getting quickly off the railing and hurrying to her would-be lover but stopping just short of him. Something told her physical contact was the last thing he wanted right now. After a moment, she dropped to her knees and folded her hands in her lap defeatedly. "I'm sorry," she shamefully said. He wouldn't meet her eyes, and she hated that. She offered him no excuse or explanation. Neither of those were things he wanted right now. "I'm sorry," she repeated again, voice wavering ever so slightly. Silence. "Let me help you," she pled, reaching slowly out. He jerked away from her and staggered to his feet. She winced and bowed her head low. She'd expected it of course, but it still hurt. He walked quickly passed her. At least as quickly as his injury allowed. She stayed put.

Jack yanked open the door to the car and slid into the passenger's seat. His Uncle was sitting there, slowly drawing on a cigar, and he'd never wanted to kill anyone more. He didn't even look at the man. "You really wanna leave her out here all by her lonesome?" the man asked after a moment. Jack was quiet. The Uncle glanced at him, then shrugged. "So be it, nephew," he said, putting the car into gear. "Would be a real shame if some animal got a hold of her though." Jack was quiet. The Uncle glanced over. "I don't necessarily mean the denizens of the forest either," he added.

"An animal already had her," Jack darkly replied.

The Uncle huffed. "You talkin' about me or you?" he challenged.

Jack was quiet. "Two animals already had her," he darkly replied after a moment. Recalling her own Uncle, he closed his eyes. "Three," he corrected.

"Strong woman to square up with all three," the Uncle said.

"Your tether is broken the moment I send her away," Jack darkly said.

"No it isn't," the Uncle calmly replied.

"Just. Drive," Jack ordered. The Uncle shrugged, put out his cigar, then drove away.

KP

Betty sat on the bridge against the stone railing, face buried in her knees. It was getting dark. She heard a car pull up. She knew who it was, just wished she didn't. But she hadn't had any other choice... At least not one she'd been willing to face right now. She heard footsteps approach and stop close by. "Prom night all over again?" a voice, so familiar, dryly asked.

She sniffed, lifting her head and staring straight. "You were right," she said.

The person was quiet. "For once I don't even have the desire to say 'I told you so'," he finally replied.

"Just get me back to the city, Sheldon," she said, standing up.

"Our truce ends the moment you're out of my car," her twin answered, glaring after her with arms crossed. The ride back was silent. She stared out the window feeling a massive headache coming on. Her brother didn't ask for the details. "Is he alright?" he finally questioned.

"Flesh wound," she replied. "And gods know what kind of reopened trauma."

Gemini nodded quietly, taking this in. "It was his father," he finally said. Betty looked quickly over at him, eyes wide. "His father died on that bridge. He jumped... Leaned back and toppled to his death... If he hadn't, his son would have been killed by his brother-in-law. They found Jack sobbing and terrified next to the mangled remains." Tears stung Betty's eyes and she looked away from him again. "Do not do that to him again, Betty. Let him go. He's too much of an asset for his Uncle to risk erasing him."

"He betrayed the man. Set him up to take the fall for what happened at GJ," Betty said.

"Jack has no idea the power he has over his Uncle. Victims tend not to understand just how much power they have over their assailants after growing up. Some sort of mental veil of fear just falls over your eyes and you can't even imagine for the life of you stepping up and facing him down no matter how strong you've grown. No matter what he did to you or your..." Gemini stopped himself.

Betty turned sadly to him. "It wasn't your fault, Sheldon," she said. Gemini's grip on the wheel tightened. "Let it go. Please. For your own sake." He didn't answer. He didn't speak for the rest of the trip, in fact. Betty didn't try to either...