Chapter Text
Senses…
That was the first thing that Tim Bradford became aware of as he emerged from a fog. A pounding headache, exhaustion filled his body and every part of it ached. As he emerged, his mind compensated by becoming rational in a way he hadn’t for years. He’d been there before, the fog of war and wounds that came with it. He thought that part of his life had been left behind but it was the same feeling as twenty years before. That had been then, but he was no longer that man whose Army persona was known as the Reaper.
Smell came first and he could smell mildew, a rarity in the city of Los Angeles.
Sound followed, the drip, drip, drip of water in a pattern.
Taste told him that the air was damp, meaning it had rained recently.
A touch of coolness on his wrists spoke of handcuffs, real ones like he wore on the job. He was handcuffed with his arms behind his back and they encircled something hard. Shifting, he felt the metal dig into his back and he knew he was on the ground, his hands behind his back and handcuffed around a pole.
Daring to open his eyes, his sight focused on what was ahead of him and he took in the darkness of the area. Sewage pipes or abandoned rail station, there were several in Los Angeles. He was alone, shifting he looked behind him but there was nothing but him in the area.
Shuffling made him focus and he saw the flash of light before someone came into view. He quickly closed his eyes again and took in the sounds of the people coming. The voice was female and familiar, a warning on her lips as she spoke but it wasn’t to him.
“You think you’ll get away with this but you won’t, our station won’t stop searching the city until we’re found.”
The person she was talking to grunted as something hit the ground with a thud. “They’ll never find you, at least not while you’re with us.” The sound of handcuffs clicking were heard, “now sit there and shut up, we’re waiting for Sleeping Beauty to wake up. Trust me, this has nothing to do with you so I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut and wait to be released.”
“Fuck you.”
Pride filled Tim’s chest, he placed the voice immediately and warmth returned. Lucy Chen, a badass sergeant in her own right, the woman he loved and the woman he planned to marry. Memory of that special moment turning to horror would forever hang over them. He vowed to make sure they both made it out to have a do over, to propose again so they had a happy memory untainted by a joint kidnapping. The good thing was they worked well as a team and if it had been him or her, maybe it’d take a miracle to escape. However, Heath Everett and his associates didn’t do their homework because together, they’d get themselves out of where they were.
“Your station will release Heath and pay the amount requested in order to get you. I highly suspect they will without a second thought. You’ve used the toilet and were given water, so no more tricks.” The man walked away, his steps saying as much.
Lucy’s voice lowered to a whisper, “Tim?” He felt as her foot nudged his and he opened his eyes but kept his head down like he was still out. From his limited view, he saw her sitting opposite in the same position against a pole. Her face was covered in sand and dirt, a little blood on the corner of her mouth from what was likely a split lip. Her hair was knotted a little, like when she’d been up for hours trying to work on personnel assessments and had run her fingers through her locks repeatedly. “Tim, are you awake?” Her foot nudged his again.
Releasing an inaudible breath, he picked up his head and looked at her fully. “Lucy?”
“Thank god.” She looked at the ceiling for a moment before looking back at him. “It’s been almost half a day, they had to give you twice as much sedative as me so you’ve been out for longer.”
His eyes went to the door, “who are they?”
“Everett’s brother and sister-in-law, they plan to trade me in exchange for his release and two billion in small bills. They have no plans to release you.” Her voice maintained the whisper she’d been speaking in. “His release means he gets revenge on you for not taking the bribe.”
“Any indication where we are?”
Lucy nodded, “I heard something from a manhole when walking back here, it sounds like we’re downtown in an abandoned streetcar rail. It’s a simple setup, just the two of them and beyond the sedative, limited supplies or weapons. She wanted to find a ghost gun seller. They have no idea what they’re doing and I suspect they’re in over their heads.”
Tim felt the squeeze of the headache that sat in his brain. “Good, that’ll work in our favor. Right now, my head is pounding.”
“From the sedative.” Lucy reached her legs out and captured his foot between her own, holding a little tight in a way that was meant to feel connected. “Tim?”
“Hmm?” He looked straight at her.
Lucy pressed her foot against his, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Leaning his head back against the pole, he spoke. “I’m sorry you’re in this position once again, Luce.”
“This time I have you.” She was honest, “we may have nightmares for years to come but we won’t be doing it alone.” Looking over her shoulder where their captor had left, she continued for a moment. “Rest, I’m going to run through all our options.”
Tim left his head resting against the pole and closed his eyes, knowing Lucy would consider every option before their captors came back. He could breathe easier knowing Lucy was in front of him, somewhat safe given the situation. He hoped that the headache subsided soon so he could start forming a plan with Lucy on how to get them out of the situation they were in.