Clean

Chapter V: Ribs

"Sir, I don't know if I can do--"

"Easton, you'll be fine," James said, closing his eyes and trying not to get annoyed at this kid. He knew Easton was sensitive.

"But what if they're not where we expect them to be?" Easton asked fearfully, his watery blue eyes looking up

worriedly at his boss. He pushed up his wire-rimmed glasses with a shaking finger.

James suppressed a sigh. "They'll be there, don't worry. We're counting on you to be a good leader, Easton. Since Riley had his accident, he won't be able to be team leader for a while. It's up to you to get the job done."

That was the wrong thing to say.

Easton's eyes got even more watery with tears, his lips turning downwards and his cheeks growing red. "I c-can't do this, s-sir," he blubbered, reaching up to wipe away the large tears rolling down his cheeks. "Can't you have X d-do it? He's a higher rank than me, anyway..."

"X doesn't talk, Easton. You have to talk to be team leader."

"Wh-why can't Sebastian be leader?"

James's patience was wearing thin. "Sebastian has a few fractured ribs. He can still shoot, but he can't lead a group. Besides, you're a rank higher than him." He swore that after this mission he was moving Sebastian up a few ranks. He never wanted Easton to lead the team. Sadly, James had forgotten that X couldn't be team leader when he "accidentally" broke Riley Gordon's hand.

Easton pouted, but he knew the battle was lost. He slowly nodded. "Okay, sir..."

James smiled. "Good. Now, you know what you're to do after you capture Sykes, correct?"

Easton nodded, sniffing. "Throw him in the g-getaway car, drive him here, put him in the interrogation ch-chamber, and leave the rest to you..."

"Brilliant. Now go assemble the team and go through the plan. I expect you here with him by one. Don't keep me waiting." Moriarty waved as he sauntered off, leaving Easton a blithering mess on his bed. As soon as the door closed, the Canadian burst into tears.

After a minute of crying, someone tapped on his door lightly. Easton lifted his face out of his hands and got up to open the door, wiping tears away and trying to compose himself. X was there, a slightly concerned look on his face. Easton tried to smile. "Hey, big guy..."

X just stared at him in silence, as per usual. Easton had learned how to interperet his looks though, and could tell what X was trying to say.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong..." X gave him a disapproving look. Easton nodded sadly. "Okay, okay. It's just... You know that mission we're doing tonight?" X nodded. "Well, Mr. Moriarty wants me to be team leader because Riley had his hand injury and Sebastian has broken ribs and you don't talk... But I don't think I can lead a kidnapping... I'll probably ruin everything..."

X put a large but gentle hand on Easton's shoulder in a reassuring way. Easton sighed. "You're just saying that to make me feel better..."

There was a silence in which all needed words were spoken.

Easton smiled slightly. "Thanks... I'll... I'm going to go practice my kidnapping skills. W-Want to come with me?"

X nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting. He turned and led the way out.

Meanwhile, Sebastian and James were in the medical ward, where Dr. Lovelady was changing Sebastian's bandages and making sure he was fit enough to go on the mission. The sniper wasn't really sure why his boss had tagged along; surely he had other business to take care of that was more important than overseeing his employee's check-ups. When he asked why James was coming, the criminal had just shrugged and said, "I need to make sure my sniper is ready to go into the fray. Wouldn't want to get that information late, now, would we?"