TraitorPOV
I sat at my usual table in the Clarendon Grill, the last few days had been nothing short of hell. I was tired, hungry and I hadn't been back to my apartment for days. I felt like I had a years worth of grime sticking to me and all I wanted to do was hide out until the dust settled. Unfortunately that is not possible with my job. I was hoping that once it got back to that scum that Swan and Cullen were dead, that would be the end of my involvement. Debt paid thank you and good bye. I guess I'm generally an unlucky person and my misfortune is not limited to the casino.
I'd received a call 5 days ago, I grimaced as the number flashed on my cell, I wish I'd lost the cell and had it replaced anything not to have answered the call.
"Hello?" I spoke nervously.
"About time you answered, you really should have better manners than that, considering your position." A voice sneered.
"Sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't near to the phone," I said panicking a little.
"No excuses, it won't happen again." She said, leaving little doubt in my mind that I had no option in the matter.
"Of course, I'm sorry, I'll keep it close at all times." I stuttered.
"Good. Now I have a task for you."
"I've done everything you asked of me, I've planted the Intel, I gave you the information you requested." I responded shakily.
"It seems that our 'guests' have escaped..." The woman started.
"I.." I gasped but she interrupted me.
"I'm not finished. Should they reappear in your locale, they are to be silenced...permanently." She spoke icily.
"But...that would be murder, I can't, I have a respectable job, a family..." I stumbled out.
"You can and you will, I don't care how, but they will be dead, either at our hands or yours. You will call us when it is done." Without waiting on my response she hung up.
I shuddered at the memory and focused back on the coffee cup in front of me. My hand shook as I lifted the cup to my lips. How could I have gotten myself into this mess? I looked out of the large window facing the street, my eyes scanning my surroundings for anything suspicious. I sighed to myself; I'll always be looking over my shoulder now.
As I sipped at my coffee, memories of that night that my nightmare came to life flashed through my mind.
I was walking through the corridor at Mclean, much like any other day, the halls were in chaos, something big was happening. A petite woman came running from the Operations room, her hair flying in all directions, not paying any attention to where she was going and ran straight into me. We both landed on the floor with a thump. My coffee splashed up my legs and the cup rolled away from my now unclenched hand.
"Oh my I am so sorry, I really should have been paying attention." She said with embarrassment.
"No blood no foul, what's got you so panicked?" I asked.
"I've been covering Swans job with SOCOM, it's the Seal team, they've got her, well actually they've got them." She said with excitement bouncing in her eyes.
"Them?" I asked.
"Swan and Cullen, they're banged up, pretty badly from what I gather, but they've got them and they're bringing them home. I need to get back to the Operations Room, I need to organise Med-evac to NNMC." She stated standing and running back the way she had come.
I stood quickly making my way down the hall to my office, I had to plan. I knew that should I get caught this is the end of me.
The chime on the door signalled a patron entering the Restaurant, my eyes switched from the window to the door, a tall blonde haired man with piercing blue eyes walked in. He walked with an air of authority, like he had an important profession, perhaps a banker, no a Doctor probably. He waved at someone across the room and immediately moved to join them. A petite woman with bronze/brown hair stood to greet him. Obviously married. The hair colour of the woman was odd, not out of a bottle odd, but unusual, reminded me of someone I'd met before. I shrugged to myself and went back to looking out of the window. The memories of the last few days flooding my eyes.
I'd arrived at the NNMC shortly after Cullen and Swan had arrived by Med-evac chopper. They were both in surgery and the waiting room was filling up with family and colleagues, all eager for news. I shrunk away from the crowded room and headed off towards the Doctors lounge, I was quite familiar with the hospital, but the map from the volunteers desk was most helpful. I looked around and entered the closed room quietly hoping I wouldn't run into anyone. I breathed out a sigh in relief to find it empty. The room was divided into two parts, changing area with lockers, and washrooms and a lounge area with seating and coffee pots. I silently stepped through to the changing area and found myself in luck to find some scrubs set out beside a locker. I could hear water running from a shower in the washroom and guessed the medic the scrubs belonged to was washing up after a long shift. I didn't hang around to find out, taking the scrubs and rushing back out of the lounge. I bundled the scrubs out of sight and headed out of the hospital, I had the means now to get access, I just had to wait a little for the right opportunity.
I waited two days, Swan had woken and was pretty lucid, that could be a problem, but I'm sure there would be a way around it. Cullen was still out for the count, so all it would take would be an overdose and he would be out of the picture. I closed my eyes mentally telling myself I could do this. My biggest problem would be the guards. I slipped into a supply closet, lightly pulling the door closed behind me, but not so that it clicked and pulled the syringe from my pocket. Lifting the small vial, I filled the syringe and replaced the stopper, dropping it back into the pocket it had come from.
I stepped back out into the hall and strode confidently towards Cullens room, the guard was stood outside watching everyone warily as they approached or passed him. He stepped in front of the door as I approached.
"Sorry Doctor, restricted access. I can't let you in without the say so of the Senior Medical officer." The guard said, stopping me from gaining entry to the room.
I expected this.
"I was actually here to see you Corporal, a General Garrett was asking for you to brief him on the current situation at the nurses station." I stated with a shrug.
"Oh, I er, damn I can't really leave my post, they're not meant to be left alone."
"I can stay till you get back," I responded nonchalantly.
I didn't expect him to go for it, but I guess he was more frightened of pissing off Garrett. Bloody fool. I waited for him to turn the corner before I entered Cullens room, it's true, he was pretty banged up, yeah if you think looking like you've fought and lost a fight with a tank is banged up. The machines continued to beat steady and his chest rose and fell in unison with the ventilator. I approached his bed on the side that the IV hangs; I figured putting the drug in through the drip feed would make it less suspicious. I was just about to proceed when a man walked in.
"Oh hey Doc, how's the kid doing?" he asked.
I was struck dumb, what could I say?
"Doctor? I asked a question." He continued.
"Oh he's doing fine, just checking his vitals I won't be long." I said trying to look like I knew what I was doing. Shit Shit Shit!
"What's the syringe for and where's the guard?" He asked.
"Wasn't here when I arrived." I shrugged.
"I suggest you stop whatever you're doing and wait for the guard to come back, we don't really like people messing with him on their own." The nosey guy said.
I was ready to just stab the syringe into the IV, when the damn surgeon arrived.
"Oh wait, what room is this? Shit I thought it said 219, sorry wrong room I'll be on my way." I stammered making for the door.
They tried to grab me, but I pushed passed, dropping the syringe in my haste to get away. There were shouts and I crashed against the door, hitting my shoulder hard. Damn that hurt. I righted myself and sprinted down the corridor, hoping that no one was on my heels. Well shit that didn't go to plan. I eventually found myself heading towards the morgue, I knew there was a rear access here and threw myself out the doors leading outside to the parking lot. I needed to get out of here and fast before they go into lock down. I eventually managed to get to my car, pulling a large sweater over the scrub top to make me look less conspicuous. I pulled out of the parking lot as the sound of Military Police sirens approached.
I'd had a lucky escape, and now I was trying to lay low. I'd spent so much time in my office back at Mclean since that day, worried that I'd get another phone call about my failure. I did get a phone call, just not one I was expecting. It was the day after my failed attempt at murder.
I was hiding in my office, avoiding all contact from anyone to do with Swan or Cullen. The phone on my desk rang, I picked it up nervously.
"Hello?"
"Can you send a memo to everyone please? I'm sorry to say that Isabella Swan deteriorated overnight and was placed on life support this morning. At 0755am, she sadly slipped away and was pronounced dead soon after. Also Edward Cullen succumbed to his injuries in the early hours, due to sepsis at the wound sight. Thank you." The phone clicked to say that they had hung up.
I sat there puzzled, I'd gone through all of that effort the night before and they succumbed to their injuries themselves. I picked up my cell and made the call. The woman picked up immediately.
"Is it done?" She asked stonily.
"Yes." I responded emotionless.
"Good, we'll be in touch." She replied before hanging up.
A shudder ran through me, of all the things I'd remembered this morning, that gave me the heebie jeebies. I finished my coffee and placed a twenty on the table, leaving the quiet solitude of the restaurant. I never did get to eat the steak I'd ordered. I wasn't that hungry anyhow. I pulled on my coat and slipped out quietly, I glanced up and down the street before heading out to my car. That's the problem with doing bad things, you'll always be looking over your shoulder, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I knew I was running out of time.
****
5th July 2010 - NAB - Little Creek.
EmPov
I strode around the crew room at Little Creek, tugging my hair and scratching the back of my neck.
"Come on. You should be there by now, pick up the damn phone." I muttered at the cell.
I'd been trying to get hold of Jasper for hours, but with no luck. After everything had kicked off last night it was decided that Jas and I would be the only contacts on this. No one could know where they were. When the announcement had come that they had died, the guys stood around the waiting room for hours, in a state of shock. They played their parts well, appearing to go through a range of emotions from bewildered, to grief and frustration and anger. If the insider was in the room with us, then we hopefully made it believable. It had already come too close on two occasions, the second under our own noses. I couldn't think like that, right now I had to live with the fact that they were alive and being taken to safety. I knew too well that the less anyone knew, the easier it would be for us in the long run. At least that's what I told myself.
Jake had escorted Carlisle and Esme home; it was our duty now to take care of them. In a way it felt like they really had died and as much as it hurt to think like that, knowing the truth hurt just as much. We now knew that there was more to this whole bunch of fuckery than before. It was pretty darned obvious that there was someone on the inside working against us and we needed to stem that wound quickly.
I thought back over last night...
Edward was swiftly removed from his room under a sheet, Jasper and I forming a temporary guard alongside Jasper's 'friend' the Doctor or whatever the hell he was, I didn't ask. We soon found ourselves outside the morgue and stepped through the rubber curtains to a loading area where an armoured military ambulance waited for us. We swiftly loaded Edward and Jasper climbed in beside him.
"Go get her Em, we need to get out of her sharpish if this is going to work."
I nodded and the Doc and I headed up to Swans room. We entered quietly, she looked so tiny while she sat there looking at us from her bed. Her huge Doe brown eyes straight from the Bambi movie I remember watching as a kid. Yet she showed no fear, no apprehension, she was just as eager to get this over as we were. She had an inner strength that I admired, yet I couldn't help but need to protect her from all the bullshit fuckery around us. She deserved that much.
"Okay Bella, time to go to sleep. Charlie if there's anything you want to say, I'd do it now, because she'll be snoozing soon." I said in a whisper yell.
"Bells, you stay safe and come home to me okay baby, you come home to me." Charlie said, choking slightly.
"Love you Daddy, I'll see you soon, we'll go fishing." She said trying not to sob.
"You hate fishing baby." He said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, but I'd do it to be with you Dad. Keep yourself safe and tell Sue I love her."
"Will do kiddo. I er guess it's time huh?" he said looking at me.
"We'll keep her safe Charlie; she'll be home in no time." I said patting his back.
"If you don't you'll have me to deal with son, I might not be some big ass Navy Seal, but I still have a gun." Charlie said, his moustache twitching.
"I promise sir, nothing will happen to her on my watch." I said.
"When you've finished your pissing contest, can we get this done already?" She said, looking exasperated. I chuckled to myself.
The Doctor chuckled from beside her, he was preparing to set the IV/Drug concoction to drip. She looked at him waiting for him to set the drip feed, but he did nothing, almost as if he was waiting to be told. She looked at me and my father, I'm sure she registered that we were waiting on her say so. We weren't going to force her.
"Well ugh I guess it's good night then dad, love you." She said settling into the pillow and closing her eyes. So damn brave.
"Stay safe Bells." he said kissing her forehead lightly.
I nodded minutely at the Doc and he set the drip to feed into her system. We stood there watching as her breaths settled and she slipped into an unconscious state. We didn't have much time. I turned to Charlie, who stood there gazing at his only child, rubbing his hands through her mahogany hair, he looked like he was memorising her features, as if he'd never get another chance.
"You'll take good care of her right?"
"That's a promise and I intend to keep it sir." I replied with sincerity. "I wasn't lying when I said that she's the bravest person I know, she's strong, and she'll be back to you in no time."
"Thanks." He replied, his gaze remaining on Bella's face. He leant down and kissed her forehead before turning and heading out of the room.
As soon as he was gone, the Doc was there unclipping the IV from the stand and manoeuvring it to sit on Bella's chest. He then left the room for a moment and returned with a gurney. I swiftly transferred her from the bed, she was practically weightless in my arms. No words were spoken as I pulled a sheet over her still form, had it not been for the slight rise and fall of her chest she would look dead. That was an image I immediately pushed from my mind. It didn't bear thinking about. I couldn't start thinking like that. We swiftly moved towards the morgue, just as we had with Edward. It wasn't long before she was at his side in the ambulance and Jasper and I stood on the side of the loading bay watching as the 'Doc' drove away with them.
"Come on, we've got some work to do before we get out of here. Me and Ali are going to head out in a few hours to follow them. 'Doc' is taking them to Montana; we've got an unlisted safe house there. He'll have a back story and everything set before they arrive. He's good for it Em, trust me." Jas said quietly before we headed back into the hospital.
"I trust you bro, I'm just a bit overwhelmed is all."
"Yeah, there's a lot of fuckery going on and I've no idea who to trust anymore, so it's you, me and Ali for now. He said confidently.
I was still pacing the room when I slipped from the memory. I shook my head to remove the images from last night, I needed to focus. We needed to find out who this asshole was that was trying to kill Edward and Swan. Not to mention but why, surely they had had plenty of chances when they had them captive. Why now? If anything they would be worth more to them since they'd escaped than they had before.
I lifted my cell once more, hitting 1 on speed dial, hoping they would answer it this time. "Come on Jas, pick up the phone." I murmured as the dial tone changed to ringing. It rang twice before being answered.
"Finally, I've been trying all day." I moaned into the cell.
"Hello to you too." Jasper responded.
"So news?" I said looking around me.
"Cousin Anthony and his wife had their holiday home invaded, so me and Ali are heading out to see how they are. Anthony is in hospital but so far seems to be stable."
"Good, all is quiet here, no leads on our missing friend." I said with a sigh.
"We'll call you later when we've been visiting, hopefully we'll have some good news. Give the family our love." Jasper said before hanging up.
I flipped my cell closed and put it back in my pocket, they were fine; we just needed to find the mole here and prevent them from causing anymore problems. That was going to be easier said than done. Who could we trust? We were really out on a limb and I'm afraid to say that that limb was very unstable right now.
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