Author's Note: Again, I wanna thank BluCrayons for input and beta. Please, everyone, let me know how you're liking this as it gets darker. I want to know for something I have planned in the next chapter. So I really need your reviews this time around. KaO4? Please.
Chapter 28: Poisoned
The next ten minutes seemed like the longest ten minutes of Mike's life. He couldn't stand the fact that Davy had done what he did, but he also couldn't blame him. In Davy's shoes, he would have done the exact same thing. But that didn't mean he had to like it. They all watched Davy; waiting for something to happen. Mike had no doubt in his mind that the food had been drugged in order to gain as much information from them as possible. It was only a matter of time before Davy succumbed. Sure enough, Davy was soon clutching his stomach and slurring his words.
"I...I think…" Davy tried to get out.
"It's ok, Davy," Mike said. "Pete, help me carry him to the bathroom?"
"Of course," Peter said wrapping one of Davy's arms around his shoulder. Peter really hadn't left Davy's side since he'd eaten the sandwich and Mike could see from the look on his face that this was killing him. Mike quickly grabbed Davy's other arm and they lifted him off the ground and quickly carried him into the bathroom to throw up. Peter held Davy's hand as Davy slumped over the toilet and Mike waited by the door that closed, but didn't lock. After a few moments, he heard Claire go into the room. Part of him wanted to stay here; to protect Davy. But another part of him wanted to go out there.
"Where are your friends?" he heard Claire say through the door.
"Leave them alone," Micky answered. "This is between us."
"You didn't eat," Claire said.
"One sandwich is missing," Dr. Eichmann said. "Someone ate."
"One of your friends ate," Claire said. "Why didn't the rest of you?"
"We knew you probably poisoned it," Micky said.
"So you make your friends test your food for you?" Claire said.
"I didn't make them do anything," Micky argued. "He did it before we had a chance to stop him."
"How sweet," Claire laughed. Mike heard a small scuffle and gasps come from Micky and Sarah.
"Rose!" Micky exclaimed. "Let her go!" Mike's stomach dropped not knowing exactly what was going on. He and Peter exchanged worried glances.
"Come out and play with us, boys," Claire said loudly. Before Mike could react, the door was yanked open and Shirley smiled at him.
"Aww," she said. "Davy looks very sick."
"He is," Mike answered looking past her into the room. Micky was clutching Sarah protectively to him and Rose was being held by the throat by Cole. A very large knife pressed into her neck, almost drawing blood.
"Don't be stupid," Dr. Eichmann said indicating that Cole would hurt Rose if Mike tried anything. "Come out here."
"Mike…" Peter pled as though Mike would have an answer, but he didn't. They had to comply, but Mike vowed not to let anything happen to Davy. He was vulnerable and he knew exactly what Claire liked to do to people when they were vulnerable.
"Don't worry, Peter," Mike said softly leaning down to help Peter lift Davy between them again. "I won't let them hurt Davy. He's gonna be fine."
"He looks terrible," Claire said smiling as Mike and Peter carried Davy out into the main room. Mike held onto Davy's arm tightly and wrapped his arm around Davy's waist with Peter on the other side.
"How could you do this to us?" Peter asked.
"Because she's psychotic, Peter," Micky said.
"Let's just take a look here," Claire said walking over to Davy and inspecting him.
"Leave him alone," Mike said in his best threatening voice making sure he had a good grip on Davy.
"I'm just checking to make sure there are no adverse effects from the drug," Claire smiled. "Davy, dear, how do you feel?"
"Hurt," Davy managed.
"Where does it hurt?" Claire asked.
"Head," Davy answered.
"And your stomach?" Claire asked. "How does your stomach feel? Does it hurt or are you just nauseous?"
"Sick," Davy answered. Mike was a little worried that Davy's answers were one words, but had seen plenty of people drugged before. He had no doubt Davy would just have to wait for it to wear off.
"One more question, Davy," Claire smiled. "Can you answer one more thing for me?"
"Yes," Davy answered. Mike thought he knew what was coming and his stomach knotted not knowing how to handle it.
"The little girl," Claire said. "Is she alive?" Davy opened his mouth to answer, but Mike knew he couldn't let him. In his head, he said an apology to Davy before gripping Davy's wrist tightly and twisting, knowing the pain was the only thing that would keep Davy from speaking. He even half expected Davy to throw up again, but what he didn't expect was for Davy to hurl all over Claire. When he did, the entire room fell silent and Claire froze for a split second before her face twisted with rage. "That, Michael, was a mistake. A very big mistake."
"Hey, I didn't do anything," Mike said trying not to laugh. "You're the one who drugged him and then stood right in front of him knowing he was nauseated."
"I don't like playing games, Michael," Claire said threateningly. "You really do not want to mess with me."
"I already told you," Mike said sternly, "I didn't do it. You are the one who drugged him. You're the one who made him sick. I didn't do anything."
"Really," Claire smiled. "Then you won't feel guilty when I make my move?"
"Do whatever the hell you want to me," Mike challenged.
"Oh, dear no, not to you," Claire smiled turning away from him and staring at Cole and Rose. "Cole, dear, why don't you go take Rose and make her a little...welcomed."
"What?" Mike's heart stopped; he let go of Davy and Peter carefully and quickly moved with Davy over to the nearest bed. "No. You can't do that! She didn't do anything!"
"Like you didn't do anything?" Claire whirled on him. Mike opened his mouth to admit what he'd done in the hopes of saving Rose, but Claire kicked him in the knee. He heard a pop and dropped to the ground. Claire grabbed Mike's hair and ripped his head back making him cry out in pain.
"Leave them alone!" Micky exclaimed. "Your beef is with me; leave them out of it!"
"Shut the fuck up, Micky!" Claire yelled angrily. Mike could only watch as Cole dragged Rose out of the room. His eyes met with hers and he tried desperately to convey how sorry he was, but was surprised when he didn't even see a hint of fear in her eyes. What he saw instead was determination and strength. She knew what was going to happen, but she wasn't afraid. If anything, she was worried about Mike.
"Davy really didn't mean to!" Peter tried. "Please don't hurt Rose or Mike. Please."
"Peter, shush," Micky said firmly. Claire just ignored them though as the door closed behind Rose, Cole and Shirley, who'd followed them out.
"Like I said, Michael," Claire whispered in Mike's ear. "You don't want to play games with me. I always win. Always. I have the better pieces. I know all the moves. I've been playing a lot longer than you. I will win. Remember that." With that, Claire yanked his head back so hard that Mike's head bounced off the ground a little. As soon as he recovered, he jumped up and ran to the door, despite the pain coursing through his knee. He was too late, though; the door closed behind Claire and Dr. Eichmann. Mike pounded on the door trying desperately to get it to open; desperately trying to save Rose.
"No!" Mike cried, tears welling up in his eyes. How could he have let this happen. He swore he'd protect them; he swore he'd keep them all safe. But he'd not only just hurt Davy, but made Claire leave with Rose doing who knew what to her.
"Go; I'm fine," he heard Micky whisper behind him as he sunk to the ground on his knees knowing pounding on the door was useless.
"Mike," Sarah said softly kneeling down next to him. "This isn't your fault."
"Yes, it is," Mike cried. "I lied. I did it; I hurt Davy; I twisted his arm because I didn't want him to say anything."
"We know," Sarah said. "We know you did. But it's not your fault. You did what you had to and we all know that. Micky knows that; Peter knows that; I know it and if Rose were here, she'd say the same thing. And as soon as Davy comes to, he'll forgive you, too."
"I didn't know she was gonna do that, though," Mike cried, unable to keep the tears from escaping. "I can handle whatever she does to me personally. But Rose...They're gonna…"
"Mike, stop," Peter said. "This isn't your fault."
"Mike, you have to know they would have done this to her sooner or later," Micky said. "They would have found another reason. It's just sooner rather than later. And they probably would have done it just for the hell of doing it. All of us are upset and none of us want this to happen and we all wish we could have done something to stop this, but no one could have done anything. But the important thing is, you did the right thing."
"She didn't even look scared," Mike said.
"She wasn't," Sarah answered. "She's strong. That's how I know she's going to be ok. You are hurt, though. You need to get off your knee. Let me look at it."
"I'm fine," Mike said but didn't fight back when Sarah pulled his legs out from under him.
"You're not fine," Sarah said. "We all heard the pop when she kicked you."
"It doesn't hurt," Mike argued.
"Adrenaline can do that," Sarah said lifting up his pants. His knee was a little swollen and looked bad. He wasn't even sure how he'd been able to walk on it in the first place.
"How bad is it?" Peter asked walking over to them.
"It just looks a little displaced," Sarah said. "It shouldn't be too bad. But I'll have to reset it. Should be fine in a few weeks if he keeps it stable. Help me get him to the bed?"
"Of course," Peter said reaching down to lift Mike up.
"It's not really that bad," Mike argued. "I can walk."
"No, you really shouldn't," Micky said. "No more than I should right now. Stop being stubborn and just do what Sarah says. If we're gonna get out of here, we're all gonna need to be as healthy as possible." Mike didn't argue; he knew Micky was right. He let Peter carry him over to the bed and set him gently down onto it.
"Peter, go into the bathroom and find me something to keep his knee stable with please?" Sarah said.
"They teach you how to treat wounds, too?" Mike asked as Peter nodded and darted to the bathroom.
"Micky and Rose did," Sarah answered. "Just the basics. In case I ever needed it." Mike looked over at Davy, lying limp and prone on the bed across from him. He hated seeing Davy like that and desperately wanted to help him. Peter came back a moment later with a piece of wood he'd found in the bathroom broken in half and some bandages.
"Will this work?" Peter asked.
"That'll work perfectly," Micky said. "Good job, Pete." Peter smiled before he, too, glanced over at Davy.
"You can go to him in a minute," Sarah smiled. "But first I need you to help me. I need to reset the knee and it's gonna hurt, so I need you here for a second."
"Whatever you need," Peter said.
"Hold his leg still," Sarah said. Peter nodded and gripped above and below Mike's knee. Mike didn't look, but held his breath as he prepared for the pain he knew was about to come. When the sharp pain hit him, he cried out in pain and suddenly felt dizzy and sick himself.
"He's gonna be ok now?" Peter asked.
"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Hold these boards tightly, but carefully against his leg." It only took a few minutes to wrap up his leg and the pain to begin to subside.
"You alright, Mike?" Micky asked. "You're looking a little green."
"I'll be good," Mike answered.
"Peter, we're good here," Sarah said. "But before you go check on Davy, just grab a trash bucket or something for Mike in case."
"Davy's gonna be ok, too, right?" Peter asked grabbing the bucket.
"He just needs to sleep it off," Sarah said. "They probably gave him the same thing they gave me back at the house. It'll wear off and he just needs to sleep. Make sure he's comfortable. Mike, you need to rest. Try and sleep."
"How can I sleep?" Mike asked. "I can't close my eyes without picturing what they're doing to her."
"Just try," Sarah said with a smile. She carefully fixed his hair and kissed his forehead a little. "You did the right thing, ok? Don't forget that." Mike leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He must have drifted off a little because when he opened his eyes again, hours had passed and the locks on the door were opening. Mike pushed himself up a little and stared at the door, waiting. After just a second, the door opened and two men Mike hadn't seen before shoved Rose in so forcefully she fell on her face. Mike moved to help her, but Sarah pushed Mike back down.
"Sit," Sarah ordered before rushing off to help Rose up.
"I'm ok," Rose said letting Sarah help her up. "Is Mike ok?"
"I'll be fine," Mike said. "Just a little busted up knee."
"Let me look at it," Rose said walking over to him. Mike couldn't help but noticed she walked with a slight limp.
"It was a little dislocated," Sarah said. "I fixed it. Are you sure you're ok?"
"Fine," Rose answered. "Just sore. You know how it is. I'll be fine with a little rest."
"So will I," Mike said as Rose inspected his leg. "Rose, I'm so sorry."
"For what?" Rose asked sitting on the bed next to him.
"You know what," Mike said. "If I hadn't done what I did…" Rose cut him off by leaning in to kiss him. He was surprised and didn't exactly return the kiss.
"If you hadn't done what you did, they'd know the truth about my daughter," Rose whispered softly.
"But they hurt you," Mike answered.
"It doesn't matter," Rose said. "They'd have done it eventually. It's nothing I can't handle. I'd do anything to protect her. You kept her safe. That's all that matters to me. Thank you."
"Thank you?" Mike asked, still shocked a little by the kiss and now shocked that she was thanking him after what happened to her.
"Yes," she said lying down next to him. "Thank you for saving my daughter. Now, will you rest with me?"
"Of course," Mike answered wrapping his arms around her. Now that she was safely in his arms and didn't seem to be too hurt, he could rest easily. He closed his eyes and felt her warmth slowly taking away his pain and worry. She definitely was a strong woman and seeing her reaction, he knew he couldn't fight how he felt about her anymore.