Red continued to drain and clean the rat bites as Chase related the tale of how he came to be shot and blind in the Sierra Nevadas. Blake and Charlie had pulled up chairs and were listening avidly; Red couldn't blame them. Chase spoke in a low monotone but the tale itself was mesmerising, with it's account of torture, murder, sexual sadism and a mysterious Government agency. CTU was like the CIA except more secretive and Red could see the boys' eyes bright with interest. To their surprise the saga began not last week or last month, but years ago.
Finally coming to an end, no one spoke until Charlie said, "But I still don't understand why Jack shot you, when-"
A dig in the ribs from his brother hushed him, but Chase simply said, "I don't know why either."
Finished wrapping his hands, Red sent the boys back to their cots before quietly saying, "Right son, let's see those other bites of yours too."
"It's okay thanks," Chase said, pulling the blanket over his chest with his bandaged left hand.
Red gave a mock growl, "It wasn't a suggestion! I bet you weren't good at following orders at CTU either, were you?"
Grinning suddenly Chase shook his head and Red realised with a shock who the laughing man in the photo was. Rising, he pulled the photo out of his jacket pocket and placed it in Chase's hand. "It's the photo from your jacket." He explained, but Chase seemed to know already as he rubbed his thumb over it then held it to his chest.
"Thank you Red."
Leaning close, Red placed his hand on Chase's arm, "From what you told us about this Liz woman and by all these bites, I'd say you were sexually abused Chase, and for that I'm sorry. But I need to clean the bites. I won't go anywhere you don't want me to and I'll stop whenever you want... but it needs doing, okay?"
Chase nodded mutely but Red could see the colour creeping up his face. Giving his arm a squeeze, Red began working on the bites on his chest, finding the deepest around the nipple area. Some were still open and raw, but there was no sign of infection. Red cleaned them quickly, with Chase remaining silent, the occasional ripple of pain the only indication he was still awake. Moving down his legs, Red was surprised to see the feet clear of bites but then recalled something from his training days. A foot phobia was a clear sign of sexual abnormality or deviancy.
Chase rolled onto his stomach and Red began at the ankles, moving up towards the worst bites. But Chase didn't call for a halt, even when Red cleaned the deep bites between his thighs. Stripping off the plastic gloves, Red strapped Chase's right arm to his chest to help protect the shoulder, before helping him into clean thermals.
Going outside to the toilet tent, Red found about two inches of fresh snow on the ground. He was concerned to think that Liz and the vengeful Jack could be close by. He couldn't help but feel responsible for the three young men with him.
...
Unable to sleep, Tony silently prowled the house hoping not to wake Michelle. He prayed they had done the right thing in involving Heller and Government forces. Only a few months ago it was those Government forces which had tried to take Jack's life, but Heller had assured him that the order had since been lifted.
Kim had phoned late from Tahoe to say the plane had returned from a successful air drop and she was in a motel, waiting for Chase to be rescued. She made no mention of Jack, and neither did he.
Sitting at his computer, he saw he had an email from Chloe. Groaning, he opened it. Sometimes Chloe really irritated the hell out of him... Chloe and Chase both, he thought sourly. Scanning through the email it seemed to be just a book review, so he closed it and went to the weather report for the Tahoe area. So far three inches of snow had fallen, with more expected. Visibility nil.
Fuck!, he cursed. Now Scott and his men were on their own, with no back up.
...
Early morning and Liz snuggled up to his sleeping form before reaching across a questing hand. Yep, still asleep but with the slightest stroking he was hard and ready to perform. Running her fingers lightly over her body, she wondered if there was time for Jack to lick her clean, but no, there was a great deal to do today and she really didn't have time to be so self indulgent.
With a force which made her breathless, Jack hooked his arm through her crooked knee and pulled her close. Rolling over, he made no effort to hold his weight off her but pressed her down with his entire body as he fucked her hard. His stubble rasped against her cheek and she fought for breath as his body slammed into her, each pounding accompanied by a grunt of effort.
With a shudder, he groaned then rolled off and away. Fuck this she thought bitterly as she rolled onto her stomach and finished herself off with her fingers, her body pumping into the mattress furiously at her climax.
Rising off the bed, she took no noticed of Jack as she stormed to the bathroom. It seemed as if he had forgotten who was in charge here and a lesson might be in order. She smiled in anticipation.
...
The Captain awoke early and when he left the tent to take a leak in the trees he was dismayed to find over five inches of snow had fallen in the night. He wondered how the hell they were supposed to find the targets now.
...
Red awoke and knew something was wrong. He glanced quickly at Chase who was sleeping soundly, drugged by the powder Red had slipped into his tea. The man needed rest and food to heal and Red was determined he would get it.
Rising off the floor where he had slept while Chase had his cot, he looked at the cots of Blake and Charlie, both empty. A note was propped on the table. Red, we think we know where Liz could be hiding, we've gone to look. Don't worry, we won't go close, we just want to film her from afar. See you later, B & C.
"Sonofabitch," fumed Red. One sleeping blind man and two missing boys, what a fucked up way to begin the day.