They were sitting in the back of a small van now, surrounded by a handful of armed people. Tony asked David where they were headed numerous times but received no answer.

"I'll explain when we get back to the compound." David finally said. "What's most important is that you're safe."

Tony chewed the inside of his cheek, staring at him, still not liking the situation. He felt Michelle lean her head against his shoulder, too exhausted to try asking any more questions. So, he conceded, spending the rest of the drive brushing his thumb over the back of her hand.

Eventually, they arrived at the compound in question, and judging by their slightly less rural surroundings and faint memories of work trips from years ago, Tony guessed they were around Washington now. David escorted them both inside to what looked like the main area of the building. People stood at all entrances, making it very clear that they wouldn't be leaving any time soon.

David cleared his throat. "Right, you two have been through quite a lot, so I think it's best if you take some time for yourselves before I explain anything."

A woman in a white coat, whom Tony recognised as the doctor who'd helped them when Michelle had miscarried, walked in from an adjacent room. She smiled a little at them. "Michelle, if you come with me, I can check you for any injuries."

Michelle's breathing shortened up, and her fingers moved to wrap around his wrist. Looking down at her, she shook her head at him. Tony didn't blame her. He didn't exactly want them to separate, either.

Tony looked up at the doctor, speaking firmly. "I'd like to stay with my wife."

"Of course," David said. "You might have gotten some whiplash from the accident; it's best if you both get examined."

They followed the doctor into a small ward. She asked questions and started checking Michelle just like she had back then before giving her an IV drip. Michelle's eyes kept flitting between him and the doctor.

"I-I don't understand." Tony said. "What's going on?"

She sighed. "About two days after you came to me, David approached me." The doctor seemed a little nervous. Tony noted himself to be careful with what he said in this place, even behind closed doors. "I had no idea who he was, but he made it very clear that if I didn't comply with his demands, he would silence me."

Tony remembered the nurse who had been with the doctor last time. He had to wonder whether she had been part of David's persuasion. The idea made him very concerned. David might be giving them a warm welcome, but he certainly seemed to be no stranger to violence.

"So, I've been working for him ever since. Any time his people have been injured, I've been the one to stitch them up. I must admit that always tending to stab wounds and GSWs has gotten a little boring, but the pay is certainly something else, and at the end of the day, a patient's a patient."

He lowered his voice. "What exactly does David do?"

The doctor shrugged. "I'll be honest, I'm not sure. I'm guessing it's not the most… legal work. He mainly talks about taking jobs and locating shipments. I see plenty of weapons and drugs come and go here, so I believe he's some kind of mercenary."

Once she finished with Michelle, she gave him a quick check-up too. She didn't seem to find any issues, and by the time his examination was over, he was glad to see a bit more colour in Michelle's face than usual.

"Other than some obvious fatigue, elevated stress levels, and some superficial bumps and bruises, both of you seem fine. David takes care of his people, so I'm sure within a few days, you'll feel better soon enough."

"Where exactly are we staying?" Michelle asked.

She turned to face her. "David's set up a room for you upstairs. You can rest there for a while. I'm sure it's nicer than the places you've been staying in the meantime."

Tony met Michelle's gaze, and she nodded, seeming far too tempted by the thought of a comfortable bed and a place they could almost call their own. While they weren't exactly letting their guards down or ready to settle in here, this was certainly better than nothing. He was sure Michelle didn't like the idea of staying in a mercenary's compound any more than he did, but, for now, it was all they had.

They made their way upstairs to the room in question, finding it spacious, well-furnished, and clean — three qualities that none of their previous accommodations had. The bathroom, too, was rather luxurious and seemed fully stocked with everything they might need. Michelle went to say something but Tony was quick to pull her in for a hug, practically squishing her against his chest.

"They've probably bugged the room." He whispered in her ear. "If we need to talk, we're going to have to stick to talking in the shower."

She nodded against him. "I don't know how much I like this."

"I don't either, but, right now, I don't think we have a choice."

Michelle sighed. "You're probably right."

After eating their first meal that wasn't takeout or sandwiches in months, David gave them the night off. Even though it was only early evening, the two of them needed rest. They fell asleep practically instantly, to their surprise. David's insistence that they were heavily guarded here seemed to have sunk in subconsciously. Neither of them could deny that being taken care of and feeling somewhat safe for the first time in God knows how long outweighed a great deal of their stress.

—

Michelle woke in the middle of the night, wanting some water. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this refreshed. At this hour, she also figured it wouldn't hurt to try to get her bearings. Quietly stepping downstairs, she managed to find a small kitchen. It took her a couple of tries, but eventually, she found a cupboard with clean glasses and filled one with the tap.

"Michelle?"

She jumped a little, gripping the glass of water tightly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just thought I'd take the chance to talk to you alone." David smiled, the light casting a sinister shadow over him.

Michelle furrowed her brow at him.

"I've read both your files." David said. "One thing that stuck out to me was your sense of duty. It's admirable. As someone who once worked for the government, I respect it." His voice then took on a more serious tone. "But the thing I value above all else is loyalty. I treat those loyal to me very well, but those who betray me often don't live to see the light of day."

She sipped the water slowly, feeling his eyes bore into her.

"My point is, Michelle, I know perfectly well that you may not appreciate what I do here." He moved closer to her. "However, the fact is, you and your husband have the potential to be very useful to me. I have no intention of letting go of either of you after trying to chase you down for almost two years-"

"You were following us?" She dared to ask.

"We thought you might try to contact CTU, or that the people after you might let up, but they didn't." He explained. "We tried to protect you from afar where we could but you did move around an awful lot."

That wasn't what she expected to hear. She wasn't sure whether to feel gratitude towards him, at least, for that.

"But the people who tailed you today were just one small cog in a big machine. After everything you've been through, I think it would be suicidal to go back out there alone." He advised, and she unfortunately agreed. "If you both stay and work for me, you will have a safe and stable home here. I can give you everything you need or want. But do not underestimate how far I will go to gain your loyalty." The corners of his mouth turned up a little. "Understand?"

Michelle gulped. "Yes."