77 HOURS

*six*

6 DAYS EARLIER

There was a stillness that lingered in the air at Donald Fitzroy's home. The afternoon overcast kept everyone in a dull mood. The nanny had left just an hour ago to buy groceries. Claire was in her room, playing Frank Sinatra as she reorganized her room for the second time that month. Eight walked the perimeter. Every once in a while she would look up towards the gray clouds and wonder if it would eventually rain. It had probably been three months since she last saw rain, and having grown up in Oregon, she missed it. Six laid out on a cot outside of Claire's room. Trying to catch some sleep. It was safer for them to try sleeping during the day. Most suspicious activity takes place at night. Eight offered to take watch most of the time. She would say she didn't feel tired, but both Six and Claire could see her growing dark circles. They never said anything though. Six knew when to give someone space, and with all that sleep deprivation, she was too irritable to be pushed.

A high-pitched ringing brought him back to consciousness. His phone buzzed on the accent table only a few feet away from his head. With a grunt, he sat up from the cot and retrieved his cell. The number wasn't a contact, but he recognized it to be Donald.

"Was starting to think you were dead." He answered.

Fitz let out a dry chuckle, "Can't be killed that easily. How's Claire?"

"She's good."

"Any issues with the pacemaker?"

"No, Sir."

"Any visitors?"

"Nope." Six looked over to one of the large windows, catching a glance of Eight as she walked around the house.

"Has Eight been behaving?" The question caused a small smirk to form on his lips.

"Relatively speaking, yeah."

"Glad to hear it. She been sleeping?"

"Not enough."

"Shocking." Donald replied sarcastically. "Put a small dose of Rohypnol in her water tonight for me." Six's posture stiffened at the order, taking his eyes away from her and looking down at the ground.

"Any reason why I'm drugging my partner?" He lowered his voice and stepped further away from Claire's bedroom. Although, he was sure she wouldn't be able to hear him anyway considering the volume at which she played the song 'My Way.'

"I need her sharp for tomorrow."

"Really think it's a good idea? I'm pretty sure she's not a big fan of the date-rape drug."

"She'll thank me later." Six highly doubted that.

"I'm not doing it." He peaked his head out to look back towards the window where he saw her last. When she wasn't there, he walked towards the other side of the home, finding her there, still walking. "What's going to happen tomorrow?"

"Let's just say that my business meeting didn't go as planned. Fennel didn't appreciate my conversation skills, I guess. Made a few threats towards my family that I don't take very kindly to, and I need you both to take him out of the equation. Want to get to him quickly before he thinks to leave New Zealand. Didn't seem to be very bright when we spoke."

"What about Claire?"

"I should be back by midnight tonight. Just got off one of my connecting flights. Tomorrow morning, I'll brief Eight and then tell Claire we are going on Vacation. This guy won't go down without a fight. I've grown fond of Eight over the past few years-- so has Claire-- so I prefer that she'd be well rested and in prime shape before I put her on a plane. The same goes for you."