Chapter 9:

A deafening report, the sound of a lone gunshot, echoed through the walls of the Nucleus as Blu Spy ran its halls, trying to find the missing member of his team. Unfortunately, it was his son, Adam and he was nowhere in the respawn room. Moments later, he came upon an individual who limped to him, hand clutching onto his side while the other on a railing trying to support himself.

"Dad..." he gasped and hissed as he fell on his knees, blood painting his hand red. Quickly, the Frenchman carried his son and made their way to the respawn room. His worst nightmare was confirmed. That gunshot hit Adam, and it was the unmistakable sound of a revolver being fired.

"10 seconds." the Administrator announced through the speaker.

There was no use trying to win the control point at the last minute. The REDs won the control point, and yet Adam tried...and now, he was about to pay the price.

Spy made it in the respawn room with six seconds to spare before the other team will come and finish their business with them. Everybody knew what happens if you don't respawn in time...and so you could imagine how Spy stressed Adam to hold on, for if he slipped into unconsciousness, there was a high chance that he'll never wake up again.

"Doctor!" Spy called frantically, we only have a few seconds left!"

Medic's eyes laid on the writhing lad in his arms and quickly activated his medigun as Spy laid Adam down, resting his head on his lap.

"Dad..." Adam coughed weakly, " I tried..."

"Son, hold on! Don't let go, Medic will heal you."

Relief washed over Spy as he saw the wound starting to cover itself, but it was short lived when the medigun instantly disappeared. All of the weapons started disappearing, and Spy opened his eyes, wide with fear and realization.

"Doctor!" he ordered as he saw Adam deteriorating once more. The young man knew this was it and with great effort, held his father's arm and forced the man to look at him.

"Dad...it's alright..." he whispered, barely audibly, "Go. The other team will be here any second now."

"Adam, no-"

They were cut short by the sound of cheering coming their way. Adam turned to Heavy as much as his sore neck would let him and nodded. With a heavy heart, the Russian hoisted Spy and forced him to leave the young man alone to fend for himself.

The young man closed his eyes as he saw his dad flee with the others

Where they hid, nobody knows, but as soon as the REDs were gone, Spy rushed back to the respawn room and found his son, grey and lifeless as he laid there in a pool of his own blood.

"Adam..." Spy called, hoping he was just bluffing, just acting to deceive the other team into thinking he was dead. But no reply came and Spy went closer, kneeling beside his son and taking him in his arms, shaking him as he kept on calling his name.

"Adam!" he yelled, "ADAM!"

Everybody who witnessed the scene in front of them either looked away or bowed their heads and grieved. Blu Spy released a pained and shattering scream as he refused go believe that his son was gone. He was the only one he had, and they took him away. He broke down and clutched his son close to him, staining his suit with crimson.

"Not my son," he snarled, gritting his teeth, "NOT MY SON!"

In a flash, Adam was gone and Blu Spy found himself on his bed, in his bedroom, sitting upright. The shock caused him to break a sweat as he realized that his nightmares kept coming back.

Regret. Remorse. These things kept coming at Spy in his sleep, in his wake and even in his work. He knew his son Adam was very close to danger than he could have been anywhere else; and yet he didn't stop the young man and let him in the team instead. In his reminiscence, he remembered how terrible he felt- he almost killed himself twice due to depression, but he got over it after a year. In his reminiscence, he figured what if Spy were to feel the same. What if Nathan's life were to end and he wasn't around, oh the brilliance of it was astounding it caused him to chuckle. After 23 years, it was finally time to put the final touches of his plan.

It was another day for the mercs to do their jobs and try to wipe the other team out, and once again, they were assigned in the Nucleus. Every time Blu Spy looks at the place, he would avoid taking the route where he found his son staggering to him, the memories of it as vivid as the day it happened. But this time, something interesting was about to happened.

Blu Spy cloaked himself and became his worst enemy, Red Spy, as he surveyed the halls, killing any REDs that try to get into the Control Point, and those few that do get past him are no match for Blu Sniper's aiming skills. One of those few happened to be Nathan, Red Scout. The young man came up to him, thinking he was his teammate and the other used the situation to his advantage. Using the familiar, muffled voice, Blu Spy led Nathan all the way down to the lower entrance of the RED Base and once the lad was set, the mercenary revealed himself and pointed his black revolver at him.

"You think you're the only one with a gun, huh?" Scout challenged readily, aiming his scattergun at him. But before he could fire, his antagonist pulled the trigger and fired a bullet straight into his right shoulder, making him drop the gun and onto his knees.

"Not quick enough, amateur." Blu Spy whispered darkly and pushed the young man harshly unto his back, his head nearly hitting the brown, rock wall behind him. He fired another bullet just under his previous shot, disabling Nathan's arm from moving at all. The yiung man cried in pain as he felt an undeniable searing sensation running up and down his arm. He saw his attacker smirk menacingly, feeling rewarded. Looking down, he saw a darker shade of red stain his clothes and the floor, and the flow was overwhelming. He felt it gush like an angry river breaking a dam, and it was painful- so painful that it caused his vision to blur and change perspective. Things moved and swayed, and he couldn't keep his eyes open, but through it all, he heard the Administrator's voice reminding them all that there were only 10 seconds left in the mission. Nathan knew he can't respawn in time, but unfortunately, so did Blu Spy.

"My team already beat your team's ass, you son of a-"

But he winced as Blu Spy gripped his arm tightly, leaning in to his ear.

"By the time they'll find you, you'll be nothing more than a cold corpse. They'll be too busy trying to look for us they won't even notice you." he whispered darkly, stood up and lef, turning invisible.

Scout coughed weakly and looked at the cold metal door just five feet away from him. It was so close, but to him...it felt like fifty.

He was so weak, he couldn't even whisper Medic's name as audibly as he'd hope. Where were they? Suddenly, behind him, he heard the metal door slide up and out came Pyro, who just respawned in time.

Upon catching sight of the fatally wounded mercenary before him, he released a muffled exclamation and hurriedly carried Nathan and ran off to find Medic. He found the German and the others together near the Blu Base, but as usual, the other team was nowhere in sight.

They heard Nathan release a soft, pained groan as he struggled to make himself comfortable in Pyro's arms.

"What's zhe commotion-" Spy asked as he saw them all huddled together, but he, too, became awestruck and silent as he laid eyes on his injured son. As anybody would've expected, Spy tried to snatch the boy from Pyro, but the other's quick reflexes prevented him from doing so.

The Frenchman's head quickly diverted itself to Medic, who quickly got his medigun and tried to stabilize the boy; he won't be able to heal him fully in time, but it will be enough until they get back in the base. Win or lose, both teams will have their weapons returned before they go back to their respective bases. This was the protocol.

When their vehicles came to pick them up, Spy had tore off a piece of his clothing and wrapped it around Nathan's shoulder and arm, creating pressure in hopes of stopping the continuous blood flow. Even then, blood leaked out through the material and down the young man's arm, threatening his life. As Nathan sat uncomfortably, teetering into unconsciousness, Medic called his attention and handed him a bag of the two bullets that were causing Nathan's pain. Examining it, Spy saw, through all the thick, dark blood, that this was, unmistakably, the bullets of a revolver...and nobody else on the could wield this weapon but him and-

No...he told himself. This was it. Blu Spy was really out to get his son, and he knew he wanted him dead today. If Pyro hadn't found him in time...

Spy wasn't even going to think about it. His brows knitted themselves at the abuse his antagonist gave to his son, but deep inside, he knew his nightmares were starting to come true. He led his son to the danger he has been trying to protect him from all these years.

"...wouldn't it be a shame if I take-"

He didn't let the voice finish this time. "I won't let you take Nathan." he said, countering Blu spy inside his head. He clutched his son close to him, careful not to hurt him. "Nathan will make it."

But if his son does make it, what then? Will he allow the same thing to happen once more? Leaving Nathan at the mercy of Blu Spy? What if he strikes again and this time, nobody founds him? What then? What if he won't respawn in time? He knew he can't protect his son all the time, even now when he needs it the most. There was still living proof beside him of the damage his enemy could do. Blu Spy would stop at no bounds...he was a killer. A murderer.

The thoughts crashed and ran in his head, causing him to break a sweat. A headache soon followed, and Sniper caught him just as he was about to slump forward.

"Spy!" he exclaimed, "you alright, mate?"

"I...I am, don't worry," the Frenchman assured, "it's just zhe heat."

"Here," the Aussie said, handing out a canteen of water, "we're near the base anyway."

Nodding, Spy took the water and drank it nearly in one gulp. Sniper tried to hide his worry as he observed Spy. Yeah, sure, his son was shot, he could get that...but something else was bothering him.

"Quick," Engineer said, "bring Scout to Medic's lab."

Working together, eight of them did a part, making sure the young man could make it to the German's lab with as little trouble as possible. But when they all made it, they noticed that Soy was nowhere in sight, and when Medic ushered them all to wait outside, he was still nowhere to be found.

"Where's Spy?" Soldier asked. Heads turned, trying to get answers, but if only they headed up, they'd find him silently pacing the halls, trying to calm himself down. He sighed and passed by a room, but this wasn't just any body's room. It's Nathan's.

He went inside and saw his suitcase under his bed. An idea grasped him. It was menacing, but he knew he had to do it. It was his only option. Bending down, Spy grabbed the young man's suitcase and opened it with a click, and as he looked around the dimly lit room, tears brimmed his eyes at the thought of what he was about to do.

Downstairs, Nathan opened his eyes and looked at his arm, cleaned and wrapped with gauze. It was cast in a sling, but he didn't care. The pain was gone.

"Gee, thanks a lot, Doc." Nathan exclaimed, looking at his arm somewhat with pride.

"Don't move it a lot," Medic reminded, "you might vorsen it. Vait for it to heal."

"Whatever you say, doc." Scout replied and stood up, tired of lying down. But just as his feet hit the ground, Spy came in the doorway and looked at Nathan, looking rather tired and drained.

"Nathan, come with me." he said and led him out. The young man shrugged it off and thought Spy was gonna give him another one of those lessons, or ask him about what had happened awhile ago. But instead, he led him to his car.

"What's all this?" Nathan asked, "are we gonna go for a drive?"

He meant the whole thing comically, but Spy didn't look amused. "Get in." was all he said. His voice suddenly turned cold, and it made Nathan shudder inside.

He did get in the vehicle, but throughout the trip, the Frenchman was quiet. Usually, it would be him who'd start conversations and he'd try to avoid them, but now, it wasn't the case.

"Spy, is somethin' wrong?" Scout asked after sometime, looking at him.

But Spy kept his eyes on the road, hands on the wheel as he pushed harder on the gas. "I'm fine, Scout." he said, not looking at the boy. He didn't even ask how his arm felt, or if he could work tomorrow. Nathan didn't know why but it bothered him...bothered him in a sad way.

The vehicle halted in front of Nathan's house. It was a long trio, and Nathan knew they were headed here.

"Woah- what are we doing here?" the young man exclaimed, "are we gonna visit ma?"

Spy remained silent as he went to the back of his car. He opened the trunk and all of a sudden, Nathan found his suitcase being thrown into the ground with all his stuff inside.

"Spy!" he demanded, "What the fuck are you doing?!"

"You're out of zhe job, boy," Spy replied, "Don't come back."

"W-wait a second!" Scout yelled, "You can't fire me because I got injured!"

"Scout, it is for zhe best." the other sighed, trying to take this as calmly as possible.

"I ain't fired from no shit,'" Nathan fired back, "you need me in that team- you know it Spy! "

"Scout, please!" Spy scolded, losing patience, "We don't want you anymore- I don't need you!"

The words were stinging Scout in ways he never imagined. It was painful, and every word that came out of his mouth stabbed him like the knife he kept on carrying.

"Why are you doin' this?" Nathan asked quietly, "what did I ever do to you?"

Spy bit his lip at the sound of his own son begging for answers. "Its for zhe best." he repeated. "You don't have to know."

Scout shook in anger. He begged him for that answer?! He degraded himself to this bastard and that was all he got?!

"You better give me some straight shit, Spy!" Scout replied, trying to stop the man from going back into the car. "Look at me!"

Red Spy turned to him and stared at him dead straight in the eyes, waiting for his son to speak. He noticed how Scout turned red, flushing himself with so much emotion. He struggled to find the right words, but he somehow couldn't. Words jut didn't help at the moment.

"Look...this job was the best thing that happened to me," he began quietly, "I had so much fun in that team, I don't wanna go away. Spy, please, don't do this."

The other mercenary looked away from him and fished his wallet from his coat, getting a huge amount of cash before giving it to Nathan.

"W-what is this?" Scout asked, rather confused as he held the stash in his hands, looking intently at it.

"Take your pay," Spy said, "and go look for another job. Goodbye, Nathan."

"NO!" Scout pleaded, taking his arm, "Please!"

"I'm sorry, Scout."

"Spy, don't!"

"Nathan-"

"Don't do this!"

"I'm sorry-"

"Spy, you can't do this!"

"ENOUGH, NATHAN!" the man yelled out, "You are an amateur and a fool!"

Spy snapped. In a haze, he turned around and slammed a fist on Nathan's cheek, taking the lad aback. Realizing what he had done, Spy's anger disappeared, replaced by guilt, sorrow and confusion.

"Nathan, I didn't mean it." Spy whispered, coming closer to his son. But instead, the young man stayed away from him, keeping his distance, having enough of Spy's attitude. If he doesn't like him, fine. So be it.

"Just stay the fuck away from me." Nathan said, throwing the bar of cash harshly onto Spy, tears threatening to fall, "and I won't be needin' that crap. I don't need someone like you."

With that, he turned his back on the Frenchman and crossed his arm. That punch was the last straw. He could take a hint. He could forget he even met the guy.

With a heavy heart, Spy went back in his vehicle and drove away, leaving Nathan and his suitcase outside the main gate. But as the lad looked at the speeding car driving away, an awful feeling swelled in his throat and he released the tears that he worked so hard to keep in. Deep inside, Spy was important to him, and it hurt, because he knew he meant nothing to him.

"No use cryin' over someone who doesn't deserve it..." he told himself and wiped his tears away, trying to compose himself. But soon, he heard the sound of a car halting behind him. Hope filled him. Is Spy back? Will he take me back to the base?

Nathan turned back, but instead of Spy's automobile, he found a white van with the logo of the Blu Team printed on it.

"Shit." he thought as an alarming thought filled him. He went for the gate, but felt two huge hands grab the scruff of his shirt as soon as he turned a heel.

"Let go of me!" Scout yelled out, squirming and writhing against his captor's body. Unfortunately, it was no use. Nathan felt one of the arms leave him, and the next thing he knew was the awful sensation of metal slamming against his head.

Red Spy drove the highway like a madman on a police chase. Several times, he nearly hit pedestrians, other cars and a traffic enforcer. He knew he could get someone seriously hurt, and so he turned a sharp corner leading to an abandoned village and stopped his engine.

As the motor died down, the noise was replaced with the sound of Nathan's pleas earlier.

"Why are you doin' this?" he had asked. He sounded so...vulnerable. Spy bit his lip even harder as he remembered the feel of how his fist just slammed itself onto his son's skin. Je remembered the tears that brimmed his eyes. Scout trusted him. He knew he trusted him.

And he let him down all his life.

The very thought of it angered Spy. He was a failure. He wasn't a father. He will never be one.

Releasing a cry of pain that he bottled up for a long time, Spy angrily jabbed the car wheel he held and broke down weeping at what his family turned out to be. He couldn't do it anymore...he couldn't pretend. He couldn't let his son suffer for his mistakes.

Nathan deserves to know the truth.

He grabbed his phone and messaged his cheri, informing him that Nathan is outside. He knew she'll answer soon, but when she did a few minutes later, her message sent a deadly chill up his spine.

"Nathan's not here, sweetheart," she said, "just his suitcase."

His heartbeat sped up and he quickly turned the engine back on, stepping on the gas, driving as fast as he could to the base. It was evident what had happened.

The BLUs saw their chance and seized Nathan when he left. Spy knew there was no use trying to wish back time...he failed his son a lot of times already, but this time, he will make sure those mistakes don't happened.