TARGET [Tom Hiddleston Fanfiction]

Chapter 15: Bottled up

His head felt muggy, and his body as heavy a lead as Tom began to come back to his senses. "Mmm", Tom moaned in his sleep as he rolled over again, pulling the duvet closer against his chest as he buried his face into the pillow straining his eyes against the light. Despite all that had happened, he hadn't had a dream that night, or perhaps he was dreaming now, he couldn't tell. What he did know was that it was definitely day time because of the light in his bedroom, but also because he could hear the lawnmower going next door, their radio blaring loudly.  Strangely though, that wasn't the most immediate thing to get his attention to wake up; the smell of freshly ground coffee. 

"Afternoon sleepy head", Luke's calm voice chimed as he heard him enter his room, announcing himself like a town crier, his footsteps sounding like a heard of elephants. Why was he sound loud, Tom thought, and the light in his room so blinding he could barely open his eyes, and his stomach feeling like ... Oh, that's why. Tom then remembered all the alcohol he'd drank last night. God, today was going to be hard. "No, 5 more minutes, please", Tom groaned, pulling the duvet up over his head to try and block out the world, refusing to leave his land of slumber. "Alright, fine. But just so you know, it is actually after midday. But you don't have to get up yet if you don't want to", Luke replied heartily, setting something down on his bedside table which sounded like a cup of something. "I don't want too...ever", Tom's muffled reply came back. Luke just chuckled to himself looking at the curled lump under the covers as they curled themselves up tighter. "Well, when you feel like moving, water and aspirin on the side for you", Luke sighed, only receiving a muffled grunt in reply before Tom was soon gently snoring again. 

Without wanting to disturb the sleeping giant, Luke carefully removed Tom's phone from where he'd left it and put it in his pocket and also unplugged his digital clock and radio, taking care not to knock anything as he took them through to the front room to join the pile of other electronic items, such as his laptop, another radio and the signal box for the TV. He sighed as he placed all the items carefully into a box, securely fastening the lid down before propping it by the front door. Luke knew that Tom would think he'd been robbed during the night or something, but he knew the true as to why the police had ordered him to remove those things. Anything electrical which Tom could use to connect with the outside world to find out what was happening could easily be turned against him, so instead of him being kept out of danger, he would be putting himself out there like bait. If they had been able to trace him to the restaurant, then what's not to say that they could trace him to his house. It didn't matter about the police positioned around the house trying to protect him, if they wanted him dead, nothing would stop them. 

But how long could they keep him in the dark like this before he'd snap? Luke could tell he was already worked up about the whole situation as it was, the amount of alcohol he consumed last night being evidence enough alone. As Luke picked up the box along with his bag and made his way to his car, nodding his head to the police officers standing on guard, he just hoped that Tom would be able to keep his cool and not let this stress get to him. He knew it was a tall order, one which he doubted Tom would be able to manage; who could survive an assassination and still keep positive about it all? The press and media were already in a frenzy about what had happened last night, Tom's face plastered all over the newspapers, Twitter going crazy and even Tumblr crashing. Luke dreaded to think what would happen if the worst did happen, but he didn't dare let himself dwell on it. He had a job to do, just as much as everybody else did, keeping Tom safe. Luke just hoped Tom wouldn't let this change him. 

Tom waited until he heard Luke exit out of the front door before he dared to peak his head out from under the covers. Of course he hadn't actually been sleeping, he just acted like he was so he could wait until Luke had left him alone. Immediately Tom's eyes glanced to the bedroom windows, feeling as if someone was still watching him. The curtains were still drawn, but there was a thin slither of sunlight streaming through the gap between them, dust swirling in it. He sat up a little more in bed and looked towards the bathroom door which was ajar, the room beyond gleaming in the sun, the light bouncing off the surfaces, removing any dark shadows hiding in the corners. Tom turned to look towards the bedroom door, but it was shut. Luke must have closed it silently as to not wake me, he thought. Even though Tom could clearly see everywhere in his room, he still felt like there was someone watching. 

"Come on Tom, snap out of it", he told himself, shaking his head as he reached for the aspirin and water, quickly taking it to calm his pounding hangover, and to try and reduce his paranoia. He chugged down the full glass of water, not realising how dehydrated he was, groaning as he realised he was still thirsty. Wincing a little with his feet touching the cool carpet and gasping when he reached the tiled floor, he refiled his glass from the tap in the bathroom, curiously taking a peek out of the window as he did so. He could see Luke putting a box into the boot of his car, and several police officers standing around the driveway making conversation, armed with their guns. 

One of them looked up at that moment, directly at him, and Tom pulled back in alarm. He didn't know why he did it, but he didn't want to be seen by anyone, let alone by someone he didn't trust. Surely you would think that you could trust the police or any government official with your safety, but right now, Tom didn't trust anyone. He knew he could count on Luke and his family, as well as his closest friends, but then what if he trusted them too much? What if they got dragged into this? Tom didn't want to compromise their safety and be the one held responsible if anything happened to them. He didn't want to accept the paranoia was making him like this, but he knew that things would only get worse. Maybe if he got some food he would be able to think clearer. 

He put his glass back down on the bedside table and paused, frowning. Where had his phone and alarm clock gone? Luke must have taken it, but why? He walked towards his bedroom door, deciding that maybe Luke had moved his phone downstairs so as not to have him worrying about any calls. As soon as he stepped outside his room he froze, a cold sweat running down his spine. At the bottom of the hallway corridor was sat a policeman, his weapon balanced on his lap, who's head immediately snapped up at him. "Everything alright sir?", the man asked, quickly standing up, already advancing towards him. "Y-Yes I'm fine. Fine", Tom stammered in alarm, taking a step back, raising his hand automatically to stop him coming any closer. 

There was an awkward silence between them, and Tom thought the walls were closing in around him, almost struggling to breathe. Without command, his feet automatically backed up, turning straight back into his room, rapidly shutting the door in a silent cry of fright. He couldn't breathe, his chest heaving as his body shook in a blind panic, his hands trembling as he held onto his head. Panic. All he could feel was this sheer pressure of panic, feeling like his world was tumbling down, feeling himself sinking into a dark pit of despair. Tom collapsed onto his bed, and felt his eyes pricking with tears. He didn't bother to try and fight it, letting the weight of reality crush him, sinking deeper into the covers, burying himself under the pillows in any attempt to silence his whimpers. He was now in a world which threatened to bite him at any second. Tom, for the first time in his life, had never felt more alone. 

[ A/N : Hope you like this chapter. Poor Tom. Let's hope things pick up for him. Let us know what you think. Always love hearing your thoughts and what you think will happen next. ]