Disclaimer: I don't have a stake in Marvel, Spider-Man, She-Hulk or any other the other superheroes that are part of the Marvel Universe(s). I wish I did though. Oh, the fluff that would be inked…
Trigger: See Warning, especially if you are a victim of assault.
Warning: Mild violence and threats of a sexual nature after the first scene of this chapter. You might want to skip down to 'September 3rd' after the first scene in this chapter to avoid it.
Navigating the Curve
By Juliette Lyst
Never Let You Go
Part One
Parallel Worlds - Parallel Lives (Alternate Universe)
Hampton Inn - Near LaGuardia Airport
9:29pm
"… Okay, let's go over it one more time, son," Morris began. Currently, he, his nephew and his son-in-law were standing in the main lobby of the hotel. He as struggling to understand what Peter was telling him.
His son-in-law had been almost inconsolable. He knew the risks when emotions got involved. If he had the chance, he would give Peter time to calm down… but time wasn't a luxury they had.
"I just," Peter struggled to speak, his voice raw. His eyes were red from crying. Even now, tears continued to steam down his cheeks. He stiffened his jaw, trying to speak clearly enough. "I was too late," he rasped, "Chip! Oh Chip," his voice deteriorated further… dissolving into sobs.
Sighing heavily, his shoulders sagging, Morris reached out to Peter. "Come here, son," He pulled the younger man into a hug.
Bruce glanced over, a quizzical expression in place. His features were also downcast. He didn't understand why or how anyone could have abducted his cousin. Jennifer had been out of practice for so long… This is our fault, isn't it? His thick brows pinched together tightly. He wasn't a fool. It couldn't have been a coincidence that right after they found her… she was snatched.
Looking away from them, he folded his arms, apprehension taking hold. What are they going to do to her? Would he even see his cousin alive again? What bothered him wasn't the note, but what wasn't written there.
There had been no request for money. Just for a call. What good would a call do?
Morris frowned, feeling conflicted. He wanted to venture right out there and bring his daughter home, but that wasn't possible. He couldn't just charge ahead without a plan. It wasn't safe for anyone involved.
Peter's sobs slowly died down. Inside, he was trembling… shaking so hard that he feared he would crumble. At first, he'd been distressed over losing his wife - then he remembered that they had a baby as well. His child was in some strange place, and he couldn't protect it. He knew Jennifer would try, but she was weakened at current.
Pulling back from him, Morris tried to make eye contact. "Peter?" the older man spoke.
Instead of the response he should have made, Peter's eyes rolled back and he collapsed in Morris' arms.
"Peter!"
Bruce lifted his head and quickly moved to his uncle to help him hold Peter upright.
The young man was completely unconscious, no longer moving.
"This isn't good," Bruce remarked, easing Peter down to the floor carefully.
"I'm on the phone with 9-1-1," one of the employees there stated, moving over to the three men.
Morris looked up.
"What caused him to collapsed?" the employee asked, obviously fielding questions for the dispatcher.
"… A broken heart," Morris replied, his eyes sad.
"He should be waking up soon," Bruce added, kneeling on the floor next to Peter. "… I hope."
"An ambulance is still on the way," the employee replied. He frowned, noticing other people stopping to gawk. "Check-In is this way folks!" he spoke, directing them to the main counter.
"Thank you," Morris replied. Looking at Peter's still features, he sighed. This was the not the sort of evening he thought he would have. When he hadn't been able to reach Jennifer earlier, he'd called her again… but Peter had answered.
Any coherence the young hero had disappeared during the conversation. Having to cancel their flights last minute, he had hurried with Bruce to retrieve Peter from the Plaza Hotel.
"He needs to rest this off," Bruce spoke, in an undertone.
"And we need to get to the bottom of this," Morris added. He waited along with Bruce for the front doors to open.
The ambulance arrived quickly, EMTs rushing in.
For a brief moment, Morris and Bruce looked at each other… then back to the emergency personnel.
Elsewhere - Nondescript Motel 10pm
Tied up still and gagged, Jennifer was curled up on her side on a bed. For the last thirty minutes, she had been trying to scream through the gag in her mouth. She was in so much discomfort. From both the ride, to her less than gentle 'inspection' from Mary to being flung on the bed… she didn't feel well. Now, she was dealing with another problem.
"'ey," one of the men spoke up from somewhere across the room. "Be quiet!"
Jennifer whimpered, squeezing her legs together. The aching fullness from her bladder was steadily increasing. She needed to at least get to a bathroom before she soiled herself.
"I don't understand why she gets the bed," the other man commented.
Jennifer struggled to scream again. Why are they ignoring me?! Did these two men have no understanding of what they were doing? She remembered them questioning if they should even feed her, and she felt fear. They were now ignoring a very basic and urgent need she had.
"Hey!" the first one spoke up, getting up from where he was seated in a chair. "I said shut it!" He walked over to Jennifer, leaning close.
"Do you understand?!"
Her nostrils flared at the smell of musk and sweat filling the air around her. She tried to just speak to him through the gag - hoping that he would remove it to understand her. Please! she mentally screamed.
"I don't care," he commented, snorting. He was quiet for a moment, and then looked to his companion. "She doesn't have to be in great shape, does she?"
Jennifer stiffened.
"Dunno. The boss didn't say. The dame told us she'd let him know," his tone was conversational. "Surprised she's pregnant though. The boss didn't mention that part."
"Shame," the first man replied, leaning closer to sniff her hair.
Chills ran down her spine.
"Still," the second man continued, pausing a moment. "She'll be at least half an hour…"
The petite brunette began to shiver, feeling fingers stroking her cheek. No… please…
"Hmm," the first man responded. He grinned as she shivered. "She can't get pregnant again," he mumbled… quietly enough for her to hear. "Right?" he asked, his voice still low. "I think you'd learn to like that," he added, his voice taking on an emotionless and chilly quality.
Sobbing then and unable to take it, Jennifer lost control of her bladder. Feeling warm liquid coating her inner thighs and traveling down to pool under her, the tears increased. Humiliating sank in, her cheeks reddening. She attempted to pull away from him, trying to scoot her body away.
"Where are you - Wait… She just -" the first man was alarmed at the sudden appearance of a warm puddle under her. He could see clearly that she'd peed on herself. The smell alone told him that.
"What happened?" the second man asked, sitting up fully.
"Stupid little-"
Jennifer thankfully didn't see the blow to the back of her head coming and sunk into blissful unconsciousness.
After that, both men stood over her, trying to figure out what to do.
"I'm not touching her…" the second one commented after a long-drawn-out moment.
"And you think I want to?" the first hollered in reply.
Both men moved away from the bed, arguing. They were so engrossed that they didn't notice that the doorknob to the motel room was turning.
They also didn't seem to notice when the door swung open, a very tall form stepping into the room.
Eyes narrowed; Mary looked at both of the men arguing. What is going on with them? Her gaze drifted over to Jennifer. After a moment, she became concerned, not hearing any sounds out of the smaller woman. What happened in here?
Leaning close to Jennifer, she checked first to see if the smaller woman was breathing. Relieved at that, she noticed that for all intents and purposes… Jennifer was out cold. "This is not good," she muttered, reaching down to feel the smaller woman's midsection. She could feel the baby shifting around a little. However, upon closer examination, she detected telltale moisture pooling under her captive's body.
"Hey!" she called to Jen, tuning out both men. "Wake up!" Nuts! she thought. It won't be good if the 'goods' are damaged! That wasn't part of their price at all. Instead, Jennifer needed to be in tip top shape for all of this.
Nervously, the second man looked over and approached quietly. "I thought you'd be a half hour?" he asked, though he was nervous. It was obvious that he was jittery.
When Mary made eye contact with him, she was obviously not pleased. "What happened in here?" She noticed how the first of the two of them was looking away from her. "What did you do?"
Neither of them spoke up then… however the second man looked over at his cohort, a grimace on his features.
"She peed on herself," Mary murmured, her eyes wide as she redirected her attention to Jennifer. "Which one of you twits didn't notice that she had to go to the bathroom?"
"We… we didn't know!" the first man finally spoke up, sounding defensive. "All she was doing was just screaming at us."
"She's gagged, you idiots!" Mary snapped, looking at him.
He gulped. The woman they were working with easily towered over both of them. "What did you want me to do? Huh?" It was foolhardy to argue back with her, but he was already angry at this entire situation.
"She's a pregnant woman!" Mary replied hotly… eyeing the first man. "What did you think would happen with her being bound for hours with no access to a toilet?"
"… That's above my paygrade," he retorted, glaring up at Mary. "It's not up to me to figure out what she was trying to tell us." He folded his arms.
Useless! Mary thought, returning her attention to Jennifer. Upon further examination, Mary saw that Jennifer had suffered another blow to the head. This is not good. "Which one of you hit her?" It was enough when she'd done it herself, but as soon as she found out
about the smaller woman's condition, she backed off entirely.
The instructions handed down by Nick were easily understood. Do not cause harm to Jennifer. She was bait.
Neither man spoke.
Growling, Mary looked from one to the other. "Speak up! I can't hear you!"
The second man's eyes widened, and he nervously looked to his companion.
That was all Mary needed. She straightened up to her full height and glared down at the first man. "Explain yourself…"
"It's not my fault she soaked the sheets!" the first man yelled, revealing his hand in their captive's condition. "She shouldn't have had the bed to begin with," he glared at Jennifer's prone form. "Waste of a good set of sheets."
Snarling, Mary reached out with her right hand, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and lifted him up to look her in the eye. "Listen to me very carefully…" she began, her gaze laser sharp. "It doesn't matter
if you think it's above your pay - You know what…? Never mind." Stepping over to a window, she dragged him along with her.
"Wha… you doing?" he coughed, struggling for air. Her fist was pressing against his windpipe. He tried prying her fingers open or tearing his shirt to get away. Neither effort yielded results.
"I'm sorry Mister Harvey," Mary began, single-handedly unlocking the window.
"… S… H… H-Help me Gerry!" he cried, terrified. He knew they were on the fourth floor. At the time, he had no problem with that. He knew that far up… their captive wouldn't have a chance of an easy escape.
Paling, the second man shook his head. "You're on your own, Koen!" He looked away, stepping back from both of them.
"It was a simple arrangement, Mister Harvey," Mary spoke, holding him so close he could feel the warmth of her breath. "You were supposed to stay here and take care of her while I handled a call to the boss."
"I… I-I did!" he spoke quickly. Closing his eyes, he tried to lean away from Mary.
"No… Lies!" Mary yelled at him. She moved him over to the window. Adjusting her grip, she almost completely cut off air to his windpipe.
Struggling still, Koen Harvey began gasping. His thoughts were becoming unfocussed.
"How should you go?" Mary asked, rhetorically. "Should I aim you so you see the ground coming for you?" As she spoke, she lifted her arm and angled it in that direction, extending it out the window, the hand still grasping the front of his shirt tightly. "Or just toss you so you see the moon for the last time?"
The whimpering and gasping increased in frequency. He kicked out weakly and fought to get away from her… all last-ditch efforts. As he saw the ground more clearly while suspended out the window, he began to cry in his mind. My family… They'll never know what happened to me! The thoughts of his impending death horrified him. He was so frightened, his heart pounding. The compounding shortness of breath from her fist caught up with him, and he quickly lost consciousness.
Mary watched as he panted, twitched and cried… suddenly going limp in her hand. Instead of carrying out her threat, she brought him back in the room. "Come here, Gerald,"
Hearing his name, the second match flinched.
"Gag and tie him up," she ordered. She watched as the smarter of her two goons followed her instructions. "Make 'em tight," she added.
Looking up for a moment, Gerald complied, his muscles straining from the force needed to tighten the ropes.
While he worked, Mary turned her gaze to Jennifer. This is all becoming more complicated than it needs to be. "I'll handle our prisoner here," she said idly, walking over to the bed. Who knew that we'd end up meeting again? she wondered. Who knew I'd end up not beating you once and for all? Gritting her teeth, she scooped up Jennifer.
"You better be happy you're worth keeping alive," Mary grumbled, walking into the bathroom with Jennifer's limp and damp body.
The Next Day
Hampton Inn - Near LaGuardia Airport September 3 rd - 10am
"Are we ready for this?" Morris asked. He was buttoning up the cuffs on one of his sleeves.
Peter lifted his head, but didn't speak right away. He was currently working on a mixture he'd blended from some chemicals at the local pharmacy. He had no idea how bad things were going to be, so he was doubling up his normal batch of webbing.
"As ready as we can be, uncle," Bruce replied.
The three men had obtained a hotel room with two beds for a few nights. Peter opted for the floor. He had more than enough experience in having a hard floor as a sleeping surface.
This time, Peter agreed to pay for everything. Lowering his head and focusing on his task, he sighed heavily. The EMTs the night before had thankfully been able to revive him with some smelling salts.
It took Morris' words to jar him back to reality. He was doing his wife and child no good by throwing his own personal pity party. He needed to straighten himself up and get to work… doing what he could.
What I'm good at… the young hero thought, loading up a few empty cartridges. Thankfully, they had traveled with him to this universe. To be honest, though… he never thought he'd have to use them so
soon. And never for a reason like this.
"That's very good," Morris replied, straightening out his clothing. "We need to have breakfast before all of this starts today."
"… I don't have an appetite," Peter responded, a frown in place. How could he possibly hope to enjoy a meal at a time like this?
"It doesn't matter Peter," Morris noted. "What's important is that you have energy and don't fall apart." He grew quiet, seeing the glare he was on the receiving end of.
"He's not wrong," Bruce declared from another part of the room.
For a long… very uncomfortable moment, all three men looked at each other.
Frowning then, Peter lowered his head briefly, and then rose to his feet. "Fine," he replied succinctly. It was obvious that he wasn't happy with the arrangement at all. He wanted to keep working. "We'll be back soon enough," Morris stated, waiting as Peter approached him.
The younger man nodded, and the three left the room to get breakfast.
Thirty Minutes Later…
The three men were seated in Morris' rental, eating. The trio had sprung for tacos, which was one of Peter's favorites.
"We need to have a plan of action," Morris said, doing his best not to spill his food on himself. He knew that Peter didn't want to be around people… so they'd opted to find a drive thru instead.
"There's not much we can do though," Bruce replied. Though he was extremely unpredictable in his other form, for now… the scientist was in charge.
Peter remained quiet, eating his food. He wondered how much webbing he would need. This was a completely different place, so he hadn't tested out the formula yet. It should be exactly the same, he thought. He knew there were variations with alternative universes. He also knew that there had to be something different about the person behind all of this.
That led him to wonder… who did this? Who could have put a plan in motion to kidnap Jen - with him unawares?
It wasn't healthy for him to second-guess his own actions. She had wanted to go with me. Brown brows furrowed in thought.
"We'll have to wait to see what happens with this phone call," Morris replied, unaware of his son-in-law's inner turmoil. "They didn't ask for money, but that doesn't mean they won't when we call."
"It doesn't make sense," Bruce murmured, chewing a mouthful. "Why now?"
Peter felt his composure falter a bit at Bruce's words. He had the same question swirling around in his head. Was this part of what Jennifer had been running from? If so… he thought, swallowing hard, Maybe they are why she was captured . He held his tongue, not wanting to contribute to the frustration all of them felt.
"I wondered the same thing," Morris replied. He stopped eating, his eyes narrowed. Was it because of me? he wondered. There was no way to know for sure that he was at fault… but he was beginning to think that might be the case.
Unbidden, Morris' flip phone began to ring. He pulled out his breast pocket. "What is…?" He didn't recognize the number on the screen.
Peter lifted a brow, curious.
Bruce took another bite of his taco.
Taking a deep breath, Morris pressed the button to answer and spoke. "Walters here," he began.
Traveling On the Road - Location Undisclosed
"Long time," Nicholas replied. Currently, he was seated comfortably in the back of a limousine.
"… Trask?" Morris asked. His body froze. As far as he knew, the mobster was dead and gone. When Trask initially went missing, Morris and his officers had no clue. After several weeks passed, they became aware of something that was shaking up the criminal underworld.
Between the lack of communication between himself and Trask, Morris assumed the man had died. There had been no word of him for so long.
Yet now…
"In the flesh, Walters," Nick replied, grinning.
Morris was silent… uncertain what to say. Frowning, he wondered if Nick had anything to do with the disappearance of his daughter.
"I guess you must wonder why I called you," the mobster began.
Actually… I wondered how you got ahold of my number," Morris replied. He didn't want to tip his hand. When dealing with this particular mobster, the Sheriff always felt like he was on his toes.
"It's not that hard Morris," Nick replied. He lightly buffed his nails on his shirt. "You act as if that's private information."
It is," Morris responded. He knew that both his nephew and son-in- law were tuning into the conversation. "My personal phone number is not part of public record."
"Oh," Nick replied. "Well, isn't that a shame?" he asked. He waited, suddenly quiet. He knew that confusion was settling in quickly. The reward he waited for came quickly.
I understand Nick," Morris spoke, after a very uncomfortable silence. "I'll ask then…" his words trailed off. Lowering his head, he inhaled deeply and sighed. "Why did you call me?"
A broad grin stretched his mouth wide. "You lost track of someone, didn't you?"
What do you mean?" Morris asked, his features becoming drawn.
"Don't forget to call at noon, Morris." Nicholas replied. Without waiting for a response, he hung up.
Across Town - Nondescript Motel 11:55AM
"Come on," Mary murmured, pulling her captive into a seated position. "Sit up here."
"Mmph," Jennifer grunted. Her mouth was gagged still and she remained blindfolded, but she was in different clothes.
Mary frowned, still remembering how much anger she felt the night before. It was nothing personal with Jennifer at this point. The small brunette equaled money for her, but it all hinged on her captive remaining in relatively good condition.
She'd been furious over how her captive had been treated. Even remembering it made her anger flare up.
Last Night…
Mary was not happy.
Teeth grinding together, she sighed and turned on the tap in the bathtub. It wasn't going to be easy to do this. "I've already seen too much of you," she grumbled.
Carefully, she set the petite brunette in the tub, after having to strip her completely.
Several minutes passed in utter silence.
To call her upset would be putting it mildly. Here she was, soaped up to her elbows and trying to clean off Jennifer - her captive - all when she should have been getting ready to sleep and planning out their next move.
Because one of her men had a serious lapse of judgement, she was busy mopping up his handiwork. "She's going to need clean clothes," she grunted. Scowling and trying hard not to look too closely, Mary quickly worked.
Wrapping Jen in a towel and propping her up against the side of the tub once she was done, she stepped out the bathroom.
Gerald looked up then, his features twisting again at the furious stare bearing down on him.
Planting her hands on her hips, Mary snarled at him.
Is," he began, nearly swallowing his tongue when the focus on him intensified. "Is s-she okay?" he asked.
Squaring her jaw and almost pouting, Mary crossed her arms. She took a few minutes to calm down. On occasion, she peeked into the bathroom to make sure Jennifer wasn't on the floor.
Unlike his companion, Gerald knew when to keep his mouth closed.
I need supplies," Mary spoke. Once she knew she had Gerald's full attention, she continued. "I need you to pick up some clothes for her," Pausing momentarily, Mary gathered her thoughts.
Where he would find suitable clothing that time of night was uncertain. Gerald frowned. This was going to be tall order. "What kinds?" he asked, curious.
Looking annoyed then, Mary resumed speaking. "The usual. Underwear, a pair of pants, shirt," hesitating, she paused. "And," she added. "I need some medical supplies too. Alcohol, cotton pads, Band-Aids."
Brows furrowed, Gerald nodded, getting out of his chair. "What sizes for her clothes?" he asked.
Freezing, Mary felt her mind lock up then. How was she supposed to know Jennifer's size?!
Dame?" he asked quietly.
Why would I know what sizes she wears?!" she yelped.
Uh," Gerald stuttered. How was he going to even ask her about that? "I'm sorry… Just thought you had an idea?" his words were framed as a question and hope burned bright within him that Mary wouldn't take offense to the insinuation.
It wasn't as if he or Koen would be able to see Jennifer like that. Not without serious repercussions afterward.
Grinding her teeth together again, Mary lightly rolled her eyes. "Just get her large or extra-large in everything," she replied. She refused to look more than she had already.
Gerald nodded, accepting the money when Mary handed it to him a few minutes later. "Be back shortly,"
Now…
Gerald had brought the goods she asked for, minus a few pieces here or there. The shirt Jennifer was wearing was too large for her small frame, but covered what it needed to. Fortunately, the sweat pants were just fine.
For Mary, it had been a surreal experience to be bandaging up a woman she saw as a long-time enemy. However, green spoke louder than her own internal musings ever would.
"Mmff," Jennifer mumbled, unintelligible because of the gag. Blonde brows squeezing together. "I'm going to remove your gag.
You remember the drill."
Silently, Jennifer nodded. When she felt the material being pulled from her mouth, she sucked in a gulp of air and sat up straighter.
"Do you need the bathroom again?" Mary asked. It wasn't that she was that concerned, but she didn't want to have to buy newer clothes.
Shaking her head, Jennifer tilted her head down.
"We just fed you too," Mary remarked, patting Jen lightly on the belly.
The smaller brunette nodded again. Really, they'd overfed her - twice already, but at least they weren't trying to starve her. She wondered how long she would be under their control. What are they getting paid for all this? she mentally asked, managing to stifle a burp… barely. She was certainly far too full.
"Shame about your head," Mary added. There wasn't much she could do about that.
The phone in her hand began to ring, and she checked the time. Noon on the dot.
Swiping with her thumb, she held the phone up to her head. "Afternoon," she purred. She needn't wait long for a reply.
Hello. I've called like you asked," Peter replied. He was sitting in the hotel room again with Morris and Bruce next to him. For safety's sake, he hadn't put the call on speaker.
"Smart man," Mary remarked. While curious who was on the other end of the call, she wasn't that concerned. She could handle troublemakers singlehandedly… easily.
Are we going to negotiate?" he asked. Peter lightly chewed on his bottom lip. He was hoping that Morris was right and that they would be given a price today. That still left the question as to who was behind all of this.
"Actually…" Mary began, a grin forming. "We'll need to meet up for that."
What?" Peter looked at his father-in-law, eyes wide. "Meet up for what?"
"Why to talk, darling. What else?" Mary remarked. Her instructions had been clear. Mislead and distract until the appointed time had passed. As it was, Nicholas was providing the first part of the distraction.
Hearing no sound on her end, she debated hanging up. It was no fun if he'd hung up.
I," Peter began, his voice catching. "I will."
"Good," Mary replied, "I'll send you the address," she added.
Wait," Peter begged.
Hesitating a moment, Mary cleared her throat. "Yes?"
Can… can I speak to her?" He asked. He just needed some assurance - some - that Jennifer was okay.
"Tsk… Sure," Mary replied, pulling the call up on speaker. "Go ahead and speak," she said.
Jen!" Peter called.
Dark brows rising, Jennifer turned her head toward the sound. "I'm here," she responded, shakily.
We'll get you out of there!" Morris interjected. Mary smirked. That remains to be seen. "Dad?!" Jennifer responded, shocked.
Don't worry!" Morris assured his daughter.
"I hate to cut this short," Mary cut in, holding back laughter at the expression on Jennifer's face. "But we really must go."
Is Chip okay?" Peter called out.
Mary's thumb was hovering over the button, but she paused. "Well?" she asked Jen casually. "Answer the man!"
"S-She's fine!" Jennifer stuttered.
"Yes, she is," Mary added. "Both of them are. As a matter of fact, Jen here is about to have some lunch."
Jennifer blanched. "But… I-I just ate." She'd already had two full meals already. For two grown men .
"Well, you are eating for two!" Mary replied, laughter audible in her voice.
Jennifer grimaced. That's not how that works… she mentally whimpered.
"And I'm not getting paid for you to be skin and bones either."
Jen?" Peter was struck with anxiety, not liking this arrangement at all.
"The information will be on your phone soon. See you in a few hours." Without waiting for a reply, Mary hung up. Following the instructions she was given, she quickly sent a message to the number that had contacted her.
Jennifer sat quietly, hearing the rhythmic tapping on the phone. "Now that's done!" Mary exclaimed. "Time to get up again." "Uh?" Jennifer asked.
"You need to get seated to have lunch, of course!"
Jen twitched. "I thought you were joking."
"Nope!" Mary replied quickly. "Once you're done, we'll be on the road again."
Hampton Inn - Near LaGuardia Airport 12:10PM
The call abruptly ended. Frowning at it, Peter's fingers twitched. He wanted so badly to call the number back - to demand more information of the person holding his wife captive. He couldn't just do that though. It would put Jennifer in more danger, which he didn't want at all.
Vaguely, he felt Morris lightly tug the phone from his limp fingers. Instead of responding, he just stared across the room, a frown in place. What are you doing right now? he wondered.
Jennifer - he knew - was very resourceful and clever. She would do what she could to keep herself and Chip safe and sound. It's up to me to get them out of there. Just like that, the weight of responsibility for family fell squarely on his shoulders. He was uncertain if she had been captured because of him, but that didn't matter right now.
"I wonder who that was," Morris commented, bushy brows bunched together. They'd all definitely heard a woman's voice on the end of the line. What kind of woman would do something like this?
"Does it matter?" Bruce asked, a muscle in his jaw tightening. He was restraining himself with sheer force of will. He tried to think of something, anything, to keep himself calm. We don't need the big green guy. Not yet.
Indiscernible expression in place, Peter stood and walked over to his bag. Opening up one of the flaps, he pulled out Jennifer's rings. Even the pop ring was still there. Peter had strung them on a chain to keep them together. Frowning, he removed his wedding band and unclasped the chain.
"Is that from a water bottle?" Bruce asked from behind. He was a little confused. It certainly looked like the white loop from a water bottle was right next to two other rings.
"Um… Yeah," Peter replied. He carefully put his own ring on the chain, clasped it and put it away. He heard a pinging sound come from the phone, but didn't immediately acknowledge it. "It was the first one I offered her," he added.
"Really?" Bruce asked, surprise evident in his tone. "Mm. Yeah," Peter responded. Sighing, he stood up.
"Tell me about it?" Bruce asked, curious. He was also trying to distract Peter away from what troubled him. He couldn't understand how it much hurt to be married one day, only to lose one's spouse the very next day.
Looking up from the message on the screen, Morris was also in inquisitive about that. He'd seen the oversized white loop on his daughter's finger, but hadn't moved to ask. It felt intrusive . Now though… he had a chance.
Thirty-Five Minutes Later…
"It's really not that funny," Peter remarked.
Bruce snorted, struggling to hold back a laugh. "It's just… so impulsive," Bruce remarked.
Morris merely smiled. There was so much more he wanted to learn about how their relationship had turned out the way it was.
"I wasn't exactly thinking clearly," Peter added. Still, his lips turned up at the corners at the happy memory. He'd been so afraid then, worried that Jennifer was really going to up and leave him. The fear that seized him back then felt like it would squeeze the breath out of him. The feeling was wholly distressing. "She was a little baffled too."
"I don't blame her!" Bruce replied, chortling then.
"Yeah," Peter remarked, grinning still. He looked to Morris, seriousness settling in place. "Did they send us the location?" Bruce coughed lightly, trying to settle himself down. Even though he didn't like the change of topic, it was a necessity.
The older man nodded. Thankfully, he didn't look too disagreeable. "Yes. A time too."
Hurrying over, Peter reached out for the phone. Morris handed it over quickly.
Reading the address, Peter's eyes narrowed. He'd seen that area. It was a mostly abandoned and heavily graffitied building. He'd passed it a few times while on extended patrols.
"Do you know where that is?" Morris asked. Soundlessly, Peter nodded.
"We have to be there at 3PM," Morris added. The three men looked at each other.
"I suppose we need to get ready then," Bruce replied.
"Ready how?" Morris asked. What they all really needed, as far as he was concerned, was to just sit still until they needed to meet at the rendezvous point.
"The normal way," Peter replied, pulling some materials out of his bag. He'd been in the process of repairing his mask. No time like the present to finish the work. He perched on one of the chairs in the room, pulling out his thread and the mask. He resumed sewing.
Unbidden… Peter felt as if eyes were on him, and realized he was the focus of their attention. He lifted his eyes.
"Is… that what I think it is?" Bruce asked, his eyes wide.
What - what is? Peter wondered. After a moment, he lifted the mask. "This?"
"Yes! That!" Bruce replied, still in shock. Why would he have Spider - Man's mask?
"W… B…" Peter's words trailed off as he saw Morris' eyes.
The older man looked away guiltily. Morris it seemed… had forgotten to tell his nephew who Peter was.
"Wait…" Peter began, rising to his feet. Both men continued to stare at him.
"You didn't know?" he asked, frowning. Peter had wrongly assumed that Morris had told Bruce. How closely guarded was Spider-Man's identity here? He was really beginning to wonder. He figured since this universe's Peter Parker had spread himself so thin everywhere - that his secret identity had to be out.
Apparently, that wasn't the case.
"Know what?" Bruce asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft. His mind was in turmoil now.
Hazel eyes blinked rapidly a few times and Peter sighed. "W-Well," he began, unable to believe he would have do to this. "So, the thing is that I'm-"
Across Town - Nondescript Van 1:45PM
"Aaaand… swallow," Mary instructed from her seat. Jennifer was seated next to her, the smaller woman turning her head away. "Hey! What did I tell you?" Mary asked.
Grimacing, Jennifer looked at her and swallowed.
"Good girl!" the blonde cheered. She grasped Jennifer's lower jaw. "Open," She was holding a spoon in one hand.
"F-Full," Jennifer grasped. Her stomach felt like some alien thing attached to her body. She'd never been so full in her life.
"I don't care," Mary replied. She was angry at this point. Right in front of her was her arch nemesis, weak and vulnerable… Yet she couldn't do anything at all to hurt her. Without preamble, she shoved the spoonful into Jennifer's mouth. "You're going to finish your dessert ." If I have to deal with her for a full three weeks… Mary thought, cringing… I might as well make sure it's a memorable time .
Tears slipped from under the wrap around Jennifer's eyes. When is this going to end? She wondered, shuddering. She forced down the spoonful.
Then, without preamble, the hands moved away from her.
Surprised and uncertain, Jennifer remained seated, pinned in place. She didn't need her arms restrained to hold her still now. She felt her awareness beginning to drift away again.
Mary frowned, looking at the empty plate in her lap. Well, that was no fun . Finding creative ways to torment her captive was really trying and quite boring. "We'll stay here for a bit, boys," she spoke up.
Both of the men glanced up.
Koen was rubbing his wrists, having recently been released from his bonds. Ever since the night before, he'd been very quiet and obedient. He didn't want to earn himself Mary's ire. Anger did remain in him that he was punished over their captive. His eyes tracked over to where Jennifer was sitting on an incline.
The young woman was languid, her head tilted a little to the side. Her movements were visibly sluggish. Not too long afterwards, she
began to snore.
Mary glanced to Jennifer and rolled her eyes. Now, all they needed to do was wait.
Waiting wasn't so bad, was it?
Main Universe
Columbus Park - New York City, New York 2:15PM
"There's quite a few things I could say about you!" Ben grunted, trying to grab the basketball.
His opponent at the time was Jennifer Walters in her normal hulked out form. Both of them were playing a 'friendly' game on the court.
What counted as friendly could quickly dissolve under pressure from their competitive personalities.
Grinning broadly, Jennifer easily maneuvered around Ben and launched the ball towards the hoop.
Both heroes watched as the basket was landed. "Hooo!" Jennifer exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air. "Just a good shot," Ben replied, grumbling.
Retrieving the ball, Jennifer offered him a faint smile. "So, you say, Benny," she retorted. "Next ball's yours," she added. After retrieving it, she walked toward him and stood a good distance from the hoop. She dribbled the ball a bit, and then passed it to him.
Catching it, Ben tried to get around Jennifer and aimed for the hoop - launching it. He did not expect one of Jennifer's hands to reach up and smack it out of the way. "Ya gotta be kiddin' me!" he exclaimed.
"Nyah!" Jennifer replied, getting the ball in her hands again.
And it began all over again, with Jennifer dribbling back and forth. Every time Ben tried to snatch the ball away, she would toss it just out of his reach.
Bystanders had stopped to watch. They knew better than to interrupt the two huge figures on the court. It wasn't an everyday occurrence to see The Thing going head-to-head against the She-Hulk. Even if it was just basketball, it drew attention.
Who knew they could play a game and only cause minimal damage to the surrounding area?
For safety's sake, everyone had left the basketball court to give the two titanic people some room.
Benjamin grimaced as he watched Jennifer leap over his head. "Unfair Shulkie!"
Smirking the whole time, Jennifer hurled the ball at the hoop. Once she landed, she turned around quickly, the twist to her lips still in place. "How is that unfair, huh?" she asked, her smirk dissolving into a grin.
"We should stay right on the ground," he replied, stepping around her get the ball. "No fancy kicks or jumps."
Jennifer snorted at him. "If you say so,"
"I do," he responded. After he turned around, he hesitated a moment and looked closely at Jennifer. "How ya feeling?" he asked. "Not good?"
Denial was rising on her lips, but she held off. How do I feel, really? While she felt warm, it wasn't to an uncomfortable degree. Her stomach wasn't feeling the best right at that moment. Am I about to get sick again? Her brows knit together in worry.
Ben noticed her suddenly growing pale. "C'mon and sit." He gestured for her to sit on one of the benches.
Dropping onto the bench, Jennifer grimaced - hearing the sound of the metal groaning under the strain of her weight. "This sucks," she grumbled, her eyes squeezing shut.
"Gonna throw up again?" he asked carefully. Ever since finding out part of the reason behind Jennifer's illness, Ben began working overtime to make it up to her. They were friends, after all. It wasn't good for them to have hard feelings against each other, right?
Jennifer lightly shook her head and folded her arms. "Shouldn't… but with how unpredictable this is…" Sitting up abruptly, her eyes popped wide open. She had forgotten… They were in a public place.
"Is -"
"We should head back to H.Q." she noted.
Been frowned lightly, but nodded, reaching a hand down to help her up.
Jennifer accepted willingly, rising to her feet. Then, she abruptly had to hang onto him for balance. Half closing her eyes, she tried to straighten her legs.
"Easy," Ben murmured, moving to help steady her.
"T… Thanks," she choked out, frustration visible on her features.
"Back to headquarters?" he asked. He'd noticed how bystanders were casually pulling out their cellphone cameras to record.
Not one of them asked what was wrong.
"Mmmhmm," she hummed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
To his credit, Ben held onto Jennifer's waist to keep her evenly on her feet.
The twosome headed back to the Baxter Building. Parallel Worlds - Parallel Lives (Alternate Universe) Across Town - Nondescript Building
2:57PM
The building they needed to find had been close, so Morris had parked a block away and the trio walked. Before they drew closer to the structure, Peter's phone began to rang.
Brows rising, he lifted it to his ear. "Hello?" he spoke, waiting with baited breath for a response.
So quick!" Mary exclaimed.
"I'm at the address you sent me to."
Good," she replied. "Only one of you can come in," she added. From her current vantage point, she could clearly see there were three people down there.
She waited a beat.
"Okay," Peter replied. "I'll go in."
"No son!" Morris interjected. "Someone calm needs to go in." He took the phone from Peter's hand. "I'll go."
Agreed."
"Then we can discuss the details of her release?" the older man asked, hopeful.
Yes," Mary replied. Her lips were curved upwards at the corners. "See you soon." Hanging up the call, she watched from a building across the street as Morris stepped through the open front door. Her thumb flicked over to a silent feed from inside the building.
As per their agreement, the two younger men were staying outside.
"I don't like this," Peter muttered under his breath. He was fidgeting, itching to just do something.
"You can understand the old man's reasoning," Bruce replied. "You go in there and you might make some bad decisions."
Peter's features scrunched up, unhappy at the insinuation. He was in complete control of himself!
Wasn't he?
He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that his wife had been kidnapped, and they hadn't even been married for two full days. Exhaling in a rush, he ran his fingers through his hair.
Bruce lightly pat Peter on the shoulder, unsure what he could say. Now that he thought about it, it was odd that Jennifer was snatched now of all times.
Stranger still… why was only one of them allowed inside? Peter straightened suddenly; his eyes wide.
Bruce looked at him, opening his mouth in question.
Grasping his head, Peter hissed aloud. His spider senses were going haywire for some reason, and he was uncertain why.
"What is it?" Bruce asked in alarm.
"Something's not right!" Peter replied. The tingling didn't ease. In fact, it got worse. He began to look around, trying to figure out what
was happening.
Mary continued to watch them, and the cameras inside the building. She was curious as to why the younger man was suddenly looking around. To remain concealed, she ducked down. It didn't seem to matter.
"What is it?" Bruce asked, grasping Peter's arms.
At the same time, Mary watched as Morris stepped right where she wanted him to. "Time to play," she muttered under her breath. Pressing a button on the screen, she saw the sudden shock and alarm on the older man's face as the floor began to cave in.
A simple trick really. Place your bait over a well concealed pit and don't trip it until the prey is in the right place.
"Behind me!" Peter yelled, right before the two men heard the sound of breaking wood - and Morris' screams from somewhere inside the building.
Smirk in place, Mary moved away from her hidden place and made a quick getaway.
It really was all so very easy, wasn't it? A little subterfuge here, a few broken bones there - nothing that was too difficult for her to deal with. That's if he only broke a bone. There was no solid way for her to know what had happened to the older man after the collapse.
What if he wasn't injured as intended, but… killed? She frowned faintly, a little of her joy slipping away.
The job was beginning to pose a real moral quandary with her. At the end of the day, Mary could say all she wanted that she was just following orders, but just how far down was she willing to go?
The longer she thought about it, the angrier she became. I didn't sign up for this… Her eyes narrowed. She would just have to assume that
the 'little' trick hadn't done more than inconvenience the three men. After all, it was Trask's idea…
Squinting, Mary settled her hands on her hips. She was not happy. Main Universe
Baxter Building
4:17PM
"I don't care what anyone says," Jennifer muttered, trying to find a comfortable position in bed. "Diamonds are not a girl's best friend. Sleep is."
The Jade giantess was unfortunately awake again. Once they'd reached the building earlier, Jennifer had headed straight to bed, wanting to sleep off her sickness. It wasn't news to anyone on the team that something was wrong with her.
With Reed scratching his head and scrambling - only to find no answers - the best they could all do was just observe her. There was just one problem with that. Jen didn't like it when people stared at her. Of course, she knew she grabbed attention wherever she went.
The sort of stares she disliked were ones that held tinges of pity. "Everyone keeps staring…" she muttered under her breath. Looking toward the ceiling, she grimaced and pointed directly ahead… as if addressing her readers. "You don't have to join in. You can just, y'unno. Skip ahead to the end maybe?"
The silence she always expected did not disappoint.
"If you do skip ahead in this issue," she continued, as if the conversation was on-going. "Please just take me with you. Maybe there's a cure on the next page?"
Standing right outside her door and listening, Johnny frowned. He'd wandered down to Jen's, hoping to see how she was doing. He heard plenty from Reed and Ben, but with the first it was all medical babble and with Ben… Ben was more inclined just to stand there and say nothing at all. The only redeeming quality to that was the fact he could go undercover and not initially be seen depending on where he was stationed.
Sure, the big blue eyes should be enough of a hint that he was a person, but not everyone paid attention. Often, people tended to be oblivious to the world around them.
Or most people for that matter.
Now Johnny was dealing with another problem. He held conflicting feelings about Jennifer. He'd seen how much the taller woman was struggling with her new normal, had an idea how uncomfortably isolated she felt. What was this though? A new symptom?
"Sure, thanks again if you do look. You can now return to your regularly scheduled comic book reading, already in progress," Once she directed her attention away from her 'readers', she grumbled to herself. "This is so annoying…"
Hesitating still, Johnny lifted a hand to the door - Parallel Worlds - Parallel Lives (Alternate Universe) Across Town - Nondescript Motel
6:54PM
"There's plenty for everyone!" the tall blonde remarked. For dinner, they picked up pizza. Right now, she was trying to cajole Jennifer to have more than she should.
The smaller woman's arms were untied for the time being, but it was only so she could feed herself. "I-I'm fine," Jennifer mumbled around
the slice she was working on. She wasn't in the mood to argue at all. "You sure?"
Jennifer shook her head lightly in reaction. She'd been overfed close to the point of being sick all day. Now, she just wanted to have a normal dinner and sleep. Besides, Chip had been wiggling and kicking away - right against her bladder less than an hour ago.
"You're not just feeding yourself you know?"
Jennifer frowned, lowering her head. She did not want anymore. She was worn out and growing steadily more fearful.
"You should just listen. You know that?"
The words came out of nowhere, and Jennifer felt hands on her again. She tensed her jaw. "Please," she muttered through gritted teeth.
"Please what?" The voice asked.
Shivering, Jennifer reached out. "I'll do it," Inside, the brunette felt as if part of her was being cast aside. Something that made her who she was. After less than two days of being someone's prisoner, she was cracking under the strain. There were far too many unknowns for her to take any unnecessary risks. Her pride wasn't worth the loss of her life or Chip's.
And what was a few stomachaches? Except hers came with terrible indigestion as well… along with heartburn.
At least she wasn't being ordered to do anything else.
Watching their interaction perturbed Gerald. The expression on the dame's face was an ugly one. The dislike she had for the smaller woman was hard to miss. He understood that she couldn't lay a finger on their meal ticket, but he was unsure of the method of torment she was using.
It would be worse if they were starving me… Jennifer thought, biting down into her third slice of pizza. Or not giving me enough water… So far, she hadn't been harmed, aside from this.
Lips quivering into a sinister smile, Mary watched as Jennifer easily bent to her will. Who knew it would be so easy? She could babysit and torture at the same time! There were many things she was unable to do… but overfeeding Jennifer made her suffer.
Quickly schooling his features, Gerald looked away quickly before he gained the powerful blonde's attention. He felt sick even watching. He glanced briefly to Koen, but the man was completely distracted. It seemed…
Was that malevolent grin meant for the dame… or their hostage?
He's certainly looking in their direction. Lightly shaking his head and trying to ignore the goosebumps rising on his skin, he returned to his dinner. Poor thing… he spared a thought for Jen. Stuck in a tank full of hungry sharks .
Out of all of them, he was the first to finish his dinner and got up, walking to one of the stuffed chairs.
Fortunately, it was very comfortable.
Unfortunately, he now had a front row seat to the nightmare Jennifer was experiencing. Instead of subjecting himself to watching that, he looked up and started counting the cracks in the ceiling. Yes… this is much safer.
Fifty-Three Minutes Later…
Nearly asleep, Gerald was startled when Koen shuffled past him and dropped into the chair across from his. The other man had actually swatted him in the face to wake him up. "W… What?" Gerald asked, confused. When Koen didn't reply, he glanced to the other man.
Koen didn't return his look, once again glancing across the room.
Biting his bottom lip, Gerald looked as well. He cringed at what he saw.
Jennifer remained seated on the floor, her face pale. She shivered, feeling very unwell. Eyes watering, she struggled to redirect her focus away from this place. To a future she hoped to see soon . Her hands were lightly resting on her painfully distended stomach, sauce all over her mouth and chin. Pete… she spoke softly in her mind, envisioning his face. Her husband was so expressive, even about little things.
Please come find us… Her lips moved slightly, but she didn't lend voice to what she felt inside.
"… n't talk right now," Mary's voice drifted over from the bathroom.
Through the haze, Jennifer caught bits and pieces of conversation. She tried to listen carefully.
Mary must have been moving around in the bathroom, because her voice became just a bit louder.
Jennifer squinted, straining to hear.
"We've just had dinner. Oh, look at the time! We'll be in touch!" Just like that, Mary hung up the phone call.
Jennifer sighed. A few minutes later, she let out a yelp - feeling herself picked up off the floor.
"You're going to tie your own hands back up," Mary informed her captive, settling Jennifer upright against the headboard of the bed. "Understand?"
Trembling, Jennifer nodded, taking the rope when it was placed in her hands. It was very strange. Normally fear or anger triggered her changing into the She-Hulk. If anyone can help me… she can, she
thought grimly. Why hadn't she been able to change though? Early on, she had tried… but the searing headache that slammed into her stopped her attempt prematurely.
Unable to mask the disgust on his face, Gerald turned his attention to the window.
He was already horrified, and they had only just begun… Featherfall Medical Center - 8PM
ER Waiting Room
Sighing, Peter clenched his teeth tightly together. A trap. That's what it had been. All trickery to throw them off the scent. He should have realized it was far too easy to meet up to discuss how much money they would need to pay to get Jennifer back.
Nothing was ever that simple.
Now he and Bruce were pacing in the emergency room, waiting to hear about Jennifer's father. Morris had been unconscious when they pulled him out of the rubble, but thankfully he was still alive.
They had yet to learn what his injuries were.
If I had gone in there… Everything would have been fine if he'd been the one to go as he wanted before.
There's no need to linger too long on this. It was becoming gradually well understood that to retrieve Jennifer, Peter was going to need some extra help. His fingers twitched. There were a few he could certainly call and he was going to… as soon as they knew.
Even if it was bad news… Oh Jenny, Peter thought sorrowfully. I hope I don't have to give you bad news about your father. He knew the relationship between her and Morris had been decidedly chilly before, but over time they had both warmed to each other.
He knew that the Sheriff loved his daughter. That was why he chose to run headfirst into the building instead of Peter.
Bruce glanced over to Peter, a mixture of feelings battling for dominance. He felt relief that his uncle was alive, but also immense exasperation. He admired the old man for charging ahead of them, but he should have let one of them go instead. He could easily read Peter's face. The other man was even more grieved at what had happened. I don't even know what to think anymore.
Peter tensed his jaw, thankfully slowing to a stop near one of the empty chairs in the lobby. Sitting down, he sighed heavily and rested his head in his hands.
"Don't worry," Bruce spoke up, standing next to Peter's chair. The young webslinger looked up at him.
"Uncle Morris is tougher than he looks," Bruce graced Peter with a very rare half-grin. "He'll be fine."
"It shouldn't have occurred at all," Peter replied. He frowned. "That's true. Sometimes it just happens," Bruce responded.
Leaning back in his seat, Peter sighed. "… and unforeseen…" he muttered, in thought. Afterward, he tried to straighten up where he was sitting.
"What?" Bruce asked, trying to understand.
"All of this," Peter replied, gesturing to the room they were in. Various people of all ages were in there for some problem or another. "It's not surprising that stuff like this happens. Illnesses, accidents or disasters… they don't care who we are when they happen."
"… Yes," Bruce spoke in agreement, after a long moment. "Stuff can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time."
"Yup," Peter responded, his voice growing softer saw is pretty accurate." He glanced to Bruce. "T events overtake them all."
One of Bruce's brows rose sharply at that. It really "Did you read that somewhere?" he asked.
. He sighed. "What I
ime and unexpected
did make sense.
Peter nodded faintly. "Yeah, I found that in-"
"Family for Morris Walters?" a tall man in scrubs and mask spoke, abruptly. He looked around for a moment before noticing the two men, one of them waving.
Peter quickly rose from his seat as the doctor approached them. "How is he, doctor?" Bruce asked, putting his hand down.
The doctor pulled off the blue mask he wore, his lips drawn into a thin line.
Peter swallowed hard. He braced himself, expecting the worse. He knew bad news would devastate Jennifer. He knew she wouldn't blame him for what happened… but in the back of his mind… He always would put the fault on himself.
"He had a small bit of bleeding in the belly, but we were able to stop that," the doctor began, glancing to the chart in his hands. "Which is very good. Mister Walters has done remarkably well considering his age. There were no signs of bleeding on the brain, but he does have a mild concussion."
"See? I told ya!" Bruce commented, nudging Peter with his shoulder. "Old man Morris is as tough as they come!"
Peter exhaled in a rush, relieved beyond measure at such good news. Morris had survived. Whatever injuries the older man suffered; they could find a way to cope with them.
"We did have to set his right arm, so for the time being, he'll need a sling," the doctor continued, reading off the chart quickly. "He also sustained a fracture to his left fibula, so we recommend he wear an orthopedic boot and use crutches for the time being."
"Wait," Bruce began, trying to take all of that in. "Wait… So, you're telling us that he has a broken right arm?"
The doctor nodded.
"And he has a fracture in his - what now?"
"The fibula in his left leg. It's not a weight-bearing bone… like the tibia is. Instead, it's involved with ankle stability. That means that he'll need to be careful on that leg if he wants it to heal properly. So… the recommendation is the orthopedic boot, crutches and rest."
Bruce's mouth dropped open a bit. It was fortunate that Morris would be able to walk at all. How did he manage that one?
"Not weight-bearing," Peter echoed, surprised.
Bruce snorted. "Fortune favors the brave," he replied, a faint grin growing.
"How is he going to use crutches with a broken arm?" Peter asked, looked at Bruce.
"The doc just said that he broke his right arm. Not his left," Bruce cut in. "Of course, he's going to use the crutch on his left side." If they didn't watch him closely enough, the Sheriff might insist on driving them back too.
"When can we go in to see him doctor?" Peter asked, direction his attention back to the physician.
Smiling faintly then, the doctor moved to speak. Across Town - Nondescript Motel
11PM
"Aaand, take it away Rosalee!" the male announcer on the television called. The camera panned over to a young woman outside at night with a news crew.
Mary's left eye twitched. She recognized the building they'd been at earlier in the day.
"Thank you, Lewin. This just in, the identity of a man injured on site has been revealed to be Sheriff Morris Walters," A picture of the man appeared on the screen.
Mary quickly turned the volume down.
"As far as we know, the sheriff has sustained internal injuries that-"
Hearing the toilet flushing, the statuesque blonde quickly turned off the news report. So… she thought, pursing her lips. Internal injuries. Well, that doesn't mean dead, right?
The door opened and Jennifer stepped out. She looked a little haggard, but no worse for wear.
"You know the routine," Mary snapped, rising to her full height.
Numbly, Jennifer walked back to the bed, climbed up on it and began the process of tying her own hands with the provided rope.
"Good girl," the blonde sang, moving over and covering Jennifer's eyes with a blindfold again. "Just rest and relax now," she took over tying up Jen's hands.
"Mm?" Jennifer mumbled, unable to stifle a yawn. Once her hands were tied, she carefully lowered herself onto her left side to sleep.
"Yes… Rest." Mary repeated.
Gerald continued to watch, quiet. Thankfully, Koen was already asleep. He grimaced slightly, thinking of the other man. Then… Mary met his eyes.
The silence stretched between both of them for an infinitesimal moment… before both of them quickly averted their gaze.
Muscles in her jaw jumping, Mary sat at the end of the bed, putting herself between Jennifer and Koen. She still didn't trust him, but she couldn't easily have him replaced.
Straightening her spine, she got herself ready for a very long night. To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Hey there! I'm back and happy about that! I didn't expect to be able to rest as much as I did. I'm settling into living life with a schedule, so there should be less hiccups. At least for now.
I expect to need another break between November and December. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and see you on the flip side!
~J. Lyst
Author's Additional Note: This was one of the tricky chapters I was trying to track down. I knew that one of them… somewhere… was holding some text that was contradictory to the storyline-as it was. That segment has hopefully been cleaned and tidied up.
Y'unno… in case anyone else shotguns their way through this story in one day.
The date for this revision is December 11, 2023.