Chapter Text
The moment the Captain said that he had wanted him gone Ace felt a weight grip his chest that wouldn't let go. After his mom chased after his dad he was left standing alone. Ace wasn't one to cry, no he argued with his dad many times in the past, but this time it was different.
This time, his dad had kicked him out of his home. Ace didn't know what to do, what to say, or where to go. It took him a half a minute to snap out of his thoughts before leaving the spot he stood in and heading to Ryan's car. He sped to his house in hopes to get in and get out before his parents could make it home.
That task felt easier than it should have. He grabbed as much as he could and piled it in the front seat. He left his parents house the way he had found it. He left his house keys on the table so that they would know he had already come and gone. He gave the place one last look, his lip quivering in attempt to hold back tears, before reluctantly going to see Nick and George.
His two friends were welcoming. They told him to take all the time that he needed but he didn't want to over stay his welcome. He promised them that he would get a second job and get a place of his own. George sadly tried to reassure him it was fine but Ace wouldn't listen.
After Asher had been arrested, Ace had assumed that Bertram was done with him. He had planned the meet up at his mother's work place purposely and Ace was annoyed with himself for not listening to Mr. D sooner. Carson had told him to get his dad, to go to the police, but he was too stubborn. He wanted to figure it out himself.
When he had ran into his parents at the police station and informed him someone had thrown a brick into his window Ace knew that wasn't the case after all. Carson told him he needed to find Bertram in order to clear his name. Ace tried talking to Amanda about it but she shut him down after telling him that her dad is all that her and Gil have. Ace bit his inner jaw in order to hide his frustration. How could she not tell him when his innocence was at stake?
"Even if I did know I wouldn't tell you." Her eyes were sad but her face showed no emotion.
She left him sitting there. Ace knew that deep down their relationship was over. He couldn't trust her anymore. She was willing to sacrifice his freedom for her dad's and Ace knew that whatever they had wasn't deep enough to warrant an excuse for that. He watches her walk away and his face falls...so much for not being completely alone.
For now, Ace had to get to work. He always tried to not miss when he was scheduled to be there and he knew that George understood his absence. However, that wasn't going to keep him from going in and fulfilling his duties as the best dishwasher The Claw, or even Horseshoe Bay, had ever seen. He took pride in his work.
He kept to himself once he arrived at The Claw. He ignored the stares coming from Bess. He wouldn't ever admit it but he was relieved when she had to run which left him and George manning the restaurant. Once closing time came, he volunteered to finish closing the place.
Ace didn't have anywhere to be. He didn't want to rush to crash on his friends couch nor did he want to interrupt their private life anymore than necessary. He finished the remaining dishes, he mopped the floors, wiped down the tables, and cleaned the kitchen. He hung up his apron, turned out the lights, and locked the door as he exited the building.
The parking lot was empty aside from Florence. She's the only thing he's got to resemble a home and he wondered how Bess had lived in a van for so long. He sits behind the wheel and thinks where it all went wrong. He blames himself mostly, he shouldn't have ever went digging, and he never meant for his mom to find out either.
"Guess it's just you and me." His words light up the dark as his breath fogs up the surrounding space.
He turns the key and Florence comes to life. He reaches for his seat belt when two hands come around from behind him. The ends of a rope are held tightly in each one and the owner pulls back bringing Ace's head crashing into the headrest. The rope is pulled tightly against his neck and he struggles to pry the braided restraint away from his skin.
"You tried to turn my daughter against me?" The voice belongs to Bertram Bobbsey.
Fear seeps it's way into Ace's stomach. The more he struggles the worst it gets. He feels the rope threads digging into his flesh but he doesn't give up trying to free himself. He's finally able to get a finger wiggled through and then his entire hand. He yanks down on the rope causing Bertram to loosen his grip.
A fist comes down on the side of his head and Ace tries to open his door but the blows keep coming. He manages to grab the handle and he falls to the ground. Ace tries to get up quickly but his vision is splotchy and Bertram is fast. He's there in an instant sending his boot into Ace's stomach.
"I told you that you'd regret not helping me."
Bertram grabs Ace by the hair and forces him to his feet. He unintentionally sways and Bertram doesn't hold back. He sends Ace's head into the roof of the car and he collapses to the ground. Ace's forehead has a gash that is freely bleeding and his eyes are fluttering. He's trying to fight off the heaviness that seems to be spreading over his body but the darkness in his vision keeps growing until his eyes flutter closed.
Ace hears groaning and he tries to open his eyes to see who is making all that noise. He lifts his head and groans again realizing that it's him who is causing all the ruckus. He gathers the energy to open his eyes and he is met with darkness. He feels something over his eyes, his eyelashes feel the resistance when he tries to blink, and it dawns on him that he must be blindfolded.
Instinctively, he attempts to reach up and pull it off. Ace is met with surprise when his arms don't budge. His wrists are bound to the arms of the chair, his feet to the legs, and he can feel a similar sensation wrapping around his upper arms and torso. He tries to think back to what happened and then it all comes back to him, Bertram.
"Help!" His call is drowned out by the gag that is in his mouth.
Ace notices how dry his mouth is and then he notices the aches traveling through his upper half. His head is relentless with the throbbing and he notices the cold. For the first time since regaining consciousness Ace feels himself shivering.
"Oh good, you're awake!" Ace's head moves in the direction of Bertram's voice.
His captor removes the blindfold and looks into Ace's blue eyes. "You know, I can see how Amanda fell for you."
He takes the knife in his hand and runs it across Ace's forearm. He clings his eyes shut and tries to hold back the pain that's vocalizing in his throat. Once the blade is removed he opens his eyes and looks down at his right arm. Ace sees blood pouring from the cut.
"You could've helped me, Ace. Could've stayed with Amanda. Could've saved your own life." Bertram crouches in front of him. "Once I'm finished with you I'm going to find that mom of yours and I'm going to make your dad watch as I slit her throat." Ace tries to lunge at him but his held by his restrains.
Bertram's laugh twists his gut in nausea. The man stands and sends a fist into Ace's mouth causing his bottom lip to split on impact. He sends another fist into Ace's stomach and then one across his right cheek.
Heavy eyelids make it hard to take in his surroundings. He notices that he's in a wooden box and assumes it's a shed. He hears the faint sound of boots on gravel and then a bright light fills the small space. Men and women with guns flock inside and apprehend Bertram. Ace blinks slowly trying to regain his awareness but it's not enough.
He feels a gentle tapping on the left side of his face. The hand is warm and familiar. He opens his eyes and sees the Captain kneeling before him. He's cutting the rope off of his wrists and Ace doesn't feel the gag in his mouth anymore.
"You came." He croaks just as his dad looks up at him.
Ace's eyes are closing again but the tapping starts up just as before. He forces his eyes open to see his dad sign for him to stay awake. Ace doesn't want to disappoint his dad again but he can't help how heavy his eyes feel. He can't help how heavy his head feels.
The tapping is there again and Ace blinks his eyes open. He doesn't know how they keep getting closed. Ace looks over and sees the Captain draping his left arm over his shoulder in preparation to help him stand.
"Where are we going?" He half asks half signs.
"To a gurney." Thom signs in return and then hauls his son to his feet.
Ace stumbles but his dad keeps him steady. They don't have to go far before his dad is giving him to the arriving paramedics. The moment he's on the gurney his eyes are closing again. Despite the attempts to keep him awake he can't do it anymore.
The next time his eyes open he's surrounded by a soft light. He recognizes the walls from his last stay in the hospital. The one when he was in a coma and his friends had to bring him back. He shifts a little in the bed and feels a weight on his left hand. He looks over to see the Captain's hand clinging to his.
His movement caused his dad to stir awake. Thom quickly realizes that Ace is awake too. He sits upright in his seat and looks at him.
"You came for me." Ace signs with his right hand which proves to be difficult from all the things attached to his arm. "Thank you."
He wonders if he's done something wrong when his dad's brow furrows. "You're my son, I'll always come for you."
"I messed up." Ace responds sadly. He holds back the tremble that tries to take over his bottom lip. "I should be dead right now and I never would have gotten the chance to say I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a disappointment to you."
The Captain squeezes Ace's hand in his. "You're not a disappointment." He signs. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
Ace isn't used to his dad being open about his feelings. His lip starts trembling and the tears start falling. "I love you dad."
"I love you too." Ace hears the words and looks over at his father. His face is gentle and Ace can't help the breakdown that follows.
He's surprised when his dad wraps him in a hug. He doesn't remember the last time they shared an embrace. The safety he feels while being held by the Captain, his father, is a feeling be never wants to forget.