Chapter 39
Time was a funny thing, he’d found. When you were enjoying something it just slipped away, no matter how hard you clung onto it. Yet when it was something you hated, time almost seemed to stand still.
It was this that could send you mad. Sure the pain was terrible, but it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, the madness was. Every specialist was trained to withstand torture, to loose yourself in memories to forget the pain your body was undergoing. No one taught you that it was the madness that could get you. You were trained to withstand torture for days, weeks but not knowing how long you’d been there for that was the killer. Sure in some cases knowing the passing of time could make things worse but it was one thing he liked to know.
When he’d been grabbed he’d snuck a glimpse at his watch, noting the time. It was one way to keep his mind busy as the kicks rained upon his chest. The Kevlar vest provided some protection but enough force over time and your body will weaken. Instead of counting the ribs that were breaking, he focused on the pattern, using it to count the passing of the time.
Kick, pause, kick, pause. Six minute later he was dragged to his feet, a bag thrust over his head. Ten stumbling steps down being prodded in the back, turn, another ten steps down. A creaky door, nice security alert, thirty paces down a corridor, his boots echoing over the walls. By his calculations Skye should be safely back at base now, though he didn’t imagine anyone would be safe from her. He’d seen her expression as the helicopter left, she was strong, she would fight for him. He couldn’t tell her the plan; she would have wanted to stay. She’d become strong but she shouldn’t have to go through this. He’d protect her for as long as possible.
He’d expected the stunning blow to the head, the dizziness a refreshing change to the pain. His clothing was removed, leaving him in just boxers, the cool air helping to sharpen his mind. He almost wished it hadn’t, for now the ‘fun’ began.
Hanging from the roof by your arms, toes barely scrapping the floor, took its toll on the body, weakening it, which was the point. The stench of blood became cloying though the plinking noise it made as it hit floor was a good keeper of time. Three hours had passed since the evac on the roof, not that it meant anything right now. It was approximately 30 minutes since he’d been left alone, that did mean something. If they kept to usual interrogation techniques they’d be back soon. In the beginning constant torture was needed to break the subject, only later did the times become random and unpredictability became your friend.
As if his thought had brought them, the door swung open. This one was well maintained, no squeak to give away its movement. If you could surprise your prisoner it was all the more in your favour. They’d even managed to disguise the tell-tale blast of air from the door by occasionally letting off puffs of air from what he assumed was an air conditioning unit. Unfortunately for them they couldn’t disguise the stale stench of sweat that was emitted from his torturer.
A buzz of electricity crackled through the room as his body jerked in response. No matter how hard you tried to lock down your muscles electricity always overruled them. Concentrating his mind he found himself trying a new technique. Previously he’d always let his mind wander, floating away from the present, only focusing on his timepiece. Focusing on happy memories had never worked for him like others, probably because he didn’t have that many happy memories. Now it was different. As the next jolt of energy passed through his body he swore he could smell Skye’s body wash, calming him, even as she chased a giggling Phil around the room as he evaded his bath.
“Daaaaaad.” Jemma whined. “Tripp’s being mean.”
“Am not.” Tripp replied indignantly.
“Are too.”
“Am not!”
“ARE TOO!”
“AM NOT!”
“CHILDREN!” Skye bellowed louder than either of them, looping an arm around a giggling Phil and hauling him to the bathroom.
“Sorry mum.” They both sounded so contrite, yet Ward knew if he could see them, their faces would give away the lie.
The plinking of his blood mixed with the music of the DVD as Leo and Mel watched Wall e for the tenth time. Grabbing a precariously balanced drink of the bedside table before it covered Skye’s clothes in blackcurrant, he perched on the bed as Leo snuggled closer. What could be better than watching a kid’s movie?
Smiling to himself he focused on that memory, it could sustain him through whatever torture they threw at him. His family would sustain him and he would go home to them. He’d made a promise that he’d intended to keep. Grant Ward was a survivor. With his family’s support he would survive this.
************************************************
If he believed in them, he would’ve called her an angel. But he didn’t and he would never say such a thing out loud.
“What took you so long?” He growled, glaring at her from the top of the stairs.
“Hey. I’m doing you a favour Mr Grumpy Pants. Besides I brought Pizza.”
“Pizza?”
Out of nowhere the elder two of the troublesome lot appeared.
“It’s Director Fury or Fury Miss Lewis. Giving them junk food isn’t a good idea. Trust me.”
Picking up one the kids by the scruff of the neck he headed downstairs.
“Darcy please. Anyway I have a plan.” Her grin was slightly mischievous as she headed into the kitchen.
“Oh God!” Fury complained, more to himself than anyone listening. Setting down the wiggling child he followed after her like a sheep, determined to find out more of this plan of hers. Things had a habit of getting out of hand with Miss Lewis.
“FOOD!” She bellowed, practically deafening him in one ear.
Within seconds all of the kids were around the table helping themselves to pizza.
“Who are you?” Jemma inquired, as she gobbled down her slice.
“I’m Darcy. I’m here to help look after you.”
“I thought that was Grandpa’s job?” It was one of the first times Fury had seen a confused look on Leo’s face, normally he figured everything out eventually. Clearly taking Fury’s glare as a warning not to mention Leo’s name for him, Darcy smiled gently at him.
“Well I was in the area and Jane and Thor told me all about you, so I thought I’d drop in.”
“You know auntie Jane and Uncle Thor?” Mel paused in retrieving what he counted was her fourth slice of pizza.
“Yup!”
“So that means you’re our auntie Darcy?”
“I guess so.”
“Just go with it Miss Lewis.” Fury muttered.
“I guess that’s how you became Grandpa.” There was nothing much he could say to that.
“Za.” Phil bounced waving his hands and sending tomato sauce flying across the room.
“I think he’s trying to say pizza.” Leo offered around his mouthful.
As the kids continued to devour the pizza, Fury took the opportunity to find out more of the plan.
“The plan?”
“We’re going to tire them out. There’s a park nearby. I checked. We let them run themselves ragged there and then they’ll sleep all night.” She said it as if it was so easy. “Don’t worry you play with Phil and I’ll run with the kids.”
Oh yeah this was definitely going to go wrong.
Though it was a sunny day, the park was relatively quiet, which suited Darcy’s needs perfectly. Having shooed Fury off with Phil to the swings she was left with the older group.
“Ever played tag?” There were nods all around. “Well do you want to play a mix of tag and hide and seek? You hide and I’ll try and find you. If you get found and tagged then your it.”
“Sure.” Darcy recognised that grin, Tripp may become a good agent but at the moment he was just a teenager who couldn’t control his expression.
“I’ll count to thirty. One. Two.” The pounding of feed faded away as they went to hide. Reopening her eyes she had a quick scan of the area. She knew the kids were up to something; it was fairly obvious, as was the fact that they had Fury wrapped around their little fingers. She’d already picked her target. Now it was just a case of finding her. It wouldn’t be too difficult; she’d slipped a tracker inside her top for this reason. Plus if anything happened to any of the kids they’d be able to find them again.
Laughing as she caught sight of Fury, she snapped a quick picture. Payback was still needed for Shield removing all their equipment in New Mexico. Fury swinging with a toddler beside him would do just fine. Pulling up the tracking app she had downloaded since the incident with Eric, she did a couple of faints before heading to corner her prey.
“Why didn’t you just tag me?” Mel wondered sullenly.
“I want to ask you something before I tagged you. What are you doing to your grandpa?”
“Nothing.” Darcy tried a tact she’d seen Fury use. “Oh alright. We’re distract him so we can get sweets.”
“And?”
“That’s it.”
Darcy just looked at her. Maybe being a responsible adult wasn’t that hard.
“OK. We were planning on playing a trick on him.”
“That might not be the wisest. He would probably see straight through it like your dad would.”
“We were going to set it up and then make sure no one was near him.”
“I tell you what, no more stealing sweets and I’ll help you get your grandpa. Deal?” Who needed to be a responsible adult? This was way more fun!
“Deal.”
“Now tag. You’re it.”
****************************************
Skye fought them but without thought. All she wanted to do was retrieve Grant but they wouldn’t let her. She barely notices the slowing of the blades, the dipping of the helicopter. Arms gently encircled her and lifted her. Images fluttered through her mind but none registered. All she kept seeing was Grant being pinned down. God knows what would happen to him.
She vaguely registered being placed on a bed, someone fussing around her. Almost mechanically she handed over the data she retrieved. Someone could work on that.
‘Come on Skye. You need to stay strong.’ She could practically hear Grant lecturing her. This wasn’t going to help him, but it felt like she was in a fog.
Slowly she became more aware of her surroundings. A video screen was in front of her, along with a man she recognised from the helicopter.
“Ma’am we retrieved the data and Agent Skye. Agent Ward stayed behind and was captured.”
“Thank you Agent Clifford. Skye can you hear me?”
“They took him. They grabbed him. Maria they were attacking him.”
“Skye listen to me. Ward is strong. He’s a survivor. We’ll formulate a plan then go rescue him. Some agents will come and talk to you. They’re friends and can help.”
“We have to get him back.”
“We will Skye.”
Food and drink were supplied, not a patch on Grant’s cooking but she never expected it to be. It was supposed to be a simple mission. Break in, retrieve the data and sneak back out again. How had it gone so wrong?
“Agent Skye?”
Breaking her train of thoughts was a tall blonde woman, casually dressed who’d spoken and a tall dark haired man with stubble, carrying a cowboy hat.
“I’m Bobbi Morse or Mockingbird if you want my codename. This is Lance Hunter. He’s part of STRIKE.”
“STRIKE?”
“The British version of Shield love.”
“We’ve been sent by Maria. She’d asked us to help rescue the missing agent. We’re to create a plan while she contacts the avengers. If they’re free they’ll help us, if not we’ll go in alone.” Bobbi continued.
Nodding Skye relaxed her stance slightly, muscles aching from being tensed for so long.
“What do you need from me?”
“Can you tell us what you remember of the building? The better an idea we have of the layout before we go in, the easier it will be to find the agent.”
“His name is Grant Ward. And yes anything that I can do to help.”
‘Hang on Grant.’ Skye thought, almost willing him to hear. ‘We’re coming to get you.