𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖈𝖎𝖊𝖘||𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖔𝖘

3.7

nov 1 2007

Nakia had been stuck in S.H.I.E.L.D's basement for almost three weeks. She was really starting to have a serious dislike of basements.

It was just a basic white room with a hospital bed. No television, no books, nothing to do.

Nakia thought she was going to die after a week of this. It's not like she was able to move freely. The doctor suggested that she stayed in bed until everything appropriately healed.

It was her, her bed, and 24-hour surveillance agents that wouldn't even look at her.

After a week Ross had decided that she was safe for the most part and he allowed the others to visit. Thomas was there by her side the very next day. He had snuck her books, her walkman, and a small tablet.

Clint, Natasha, and Phil visited when they could but they were currently going through a crime wave across the globe. So it was mainly her and Thomas. He updated her on Charlie's status every time they met. He had finally woken up a week later.

They spent the rest of their time binging shows.

Nakia seemed happy with the little routine they had started. But he knew it wouldn't be long before she began to deteriorate. He just hoped they'd find the bastard soon.

So he and Nakia could start their new lives.

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On the afternoon of the first of November, Thomas was sitting at the edge of Charlie's bed as usual. He was eating his dinner and watching a movie while Thomas was slumped into his chair. Charlie paused the movie, looking at his younger brother.

"What's got your mind thinking," he asked hoarsely.

Thomas sighed. "It's Nakia. I'm worried about her."

"Is she hurt?"

"No, nothing like that," he mumbled. "Well, nothing new. I'm just worried about what this isolation is doing to her." Charlie looked at his brother.

Thomas rubbed his hands together. "She's seven years old. She shouldn't be locked up in a basement."

"Isn't it for her safety?"

"Charlie, that's not the point," Thomas told his brother. "This is psychologically damaging to a child!"

"Thomas," Charlie sighed. "Calm down. What's most important to this kid is what you're going to do when this is over. What's going to happen to Nakia when they catch this perp? You need to prepare yourself to take the next step."

"Next step?"

Charlie rolled his eyes.

"Right now, the government is Nakia's legal guardian. When this is over, they get to control every move she makes. Thomas, what are you going to do to protect that little girl's childhood innocence?"

"With me," Thomas said. "I can put her in school...sign her up for stuff. Be a family."

"Alice and Savannah would want this," Charlie said. "It's time to start over."

Thomas nodded, looking down at his phone. "I have to go." He ran out of the room, dialing a number.

"Agent Overton," he heard Pierce's voice say.

"Director Pierce," he said, walking down the hallway.

"I thought you'd be happy to know we may have apprehended the subject who attacked your brother and Miss Hargreeves. She should be able to go home in a week or so."

Thomas's breath hitched as he hung up the phone running to his truck.

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nakia was sitting in her hospital bed, slightly wincing from her stomach pains. She was reading her book, waiting for Thomas to drop by. She had never felt pain like this. She thought her bleeding was getting worse, she was feeling dizzy and she hadn't seen a doctor in a week. Even the medicine they were injecting into her wasn't helping. One of her ribs had painfully healed, and the other was on the mend.

She peered at the door to see the guard sitting at her door for an hour. She had called him twice to strike up a conversation but it seemed like he was given orders not to answer her.

After a while she grew bored and slipped her headphones onto her ears and began to listen to her music, continuing to read her book.

Thirty minutes later, a cart strolled up to the door.

"Lunch and medicine for the kid," the person told the guard.

The guard nodded, unlocking the door.

"Hey," the cart driver whispered. "Why don't you take a break and I'll watch the girl."

"Can't sir, it's against orders."

"Come on kid," the man said. "Don't you have to use the bathroom or something?"

The guard looked at the girl before staring at the bathroom. She didn't seem to be in any danger. He could hurry. "Fine. I'll be quick." The guard broke into a run, rushing to the bathroom.

The cart driver chuckled, pushing the cart into the room. Nakia glanced at the person before returning to her book. She quickly whipped her head to see the man preparing to stick a needle into her arm.

"H-hey," she stuttered. "I'm only supposed to take pills. What are you doing?"

"Relax," the man said, with a thick Russian accent. Nakia's jaw clenched. She was waiting for her hands to heat up but-nothing.

Shit, she thought. Of all the fucking times to be injured. Thinking fast, she clenched her fist and punched the man in his jaw. She then swerved her leg, kicking him in the stomach, sending him across the room. He dropped the needle groaning in pain. She held her wrist - which hurt like hell. She had to get out of here.

Nakia began to unhook herself from the IVs on her body as she watched the man recompose himself. She winced as the pain from her stomach shot up her spine as she stood up, wobbly.

The man had turned to her, tackling her to the ground. His body was pressed onto hers pinning her to the ground. He grabbed the needle, sticking it into her neck.

As she felt her power draining, she gave him one big kick to his groin. She then dropped unconscious to the sound of his grunt.

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thomas had just left the hospital again. He had gone to the store to pick up some things for Nakia and dropped them off with Charlie.

He walked to his truck when he saw a car pull up. Thomas heard his phone ringing and reached for his phone. He heard Alexander's voice again.

"Thomas," his voice said. "Something may have happened to Nakia."

Thomas froze, dropping his keys to the ground. The air began to whip.

"W-what are you talking about," Thomas said, voice cracking.

"Taken," Pierce reworded. "Nakia was taken from her chambers this afternoon."

"Shit," he muttered. "What are we going to do?" The line went quiet before Pierce spoke again.

"Unfortunately Agent Overton," he said. "You won't be able to help Miss Hargreeves." Pierce hung up leaving a very confused Overton in the street.

In a flash, Thomas felt a sharp pain in the back of his head as he fell to the ground. As he felt someone holding him tightly, it all went dark.