The Answer

Chapter 13

Ideally speaking, sting operations to save your son from certain death are meant to be done with people you completely trust with your life and the life of your child. Gerard knew this wasn't some hard and fast rule written down somewhere that he had to follow, but he definitely wished he could rely on the two people supposedly risking everything to help him.

Why would they want to help him at the risk of themselves? What was their angle? He hated asking himself these questions when he wanted nothing more than to accept their support and trust them completely. He needed them, so badly, yet he was too afraid to lean as he didn't know if they were that solid yet. He wondered what it would take to be enough for him.

He shifted from one leg to another, standing alone in the darkness. They'd asked him to meet at their old spot in the park, where he'd previously met David to tell him about the shit that happened that night- back then, at least he trusted someone. He was ready to be jumped by a bunch of thugs they'd have sent, he'd come appropriately prepared.

He lightly tapped around his jacket, doing the most subtle check of his weapons- some more concealed than others. All unregistered; procuring each one made him question everything he'd believed in. Gerard bit his nails, looking around for someone, anyone. He'd replaced his craving for a high with a small degree of pain, every now and then he drew some blood from the nail biting and he felt more alive.

Standing alone and waiting for something to happen gave his body no distractions from the withdrawals. He was sweaty, jumping and ready to put up a fight. Gerard was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of soft running echoing through the party. He turned around in circles, trying to locate where it was coming from. The sound seemed to be bouncing off the buildings and coming from all directions, getting louder and overwhelming him.

A hand touched his shoulder and Gerard jumped back, frightening himself and the person before him. It was David, positively startled by Gerard's reaction.

"Why are you in a fighting stance?" David asked, looking him up and down.

Gerard took a look at himself and on seeing David was right, straightened himself out. "I thought you were someone else."

David looked even more confused, "Like who? And why are you covered in sweat?"

"Alcohol is terrible that's why." Gerard grimaced.

"Well," David pulled out a perfectly folded white handkerchief and gave it to him, "get cleaned up and let's go."

Gerard's face was red with shame and agitation, despite his every brain cell wanting to be paranoid he found himself putting his guard down. He wiped his face and stuffed the handkerchief in his jacket pocket, refusing his attention on Max and bringing him home safely.

He followed David around the block to where an unmarked car stood waiting for them. Gerard could see someone sitting behind the wheel, he already knew who it was. Travis pokes his head out and took a better look at Gerard, a question on his face.

Gerard avoided his gaze and the two of them piled into the car. He felt the blood rushing up to his cheeks as he sat alone in the back seat. "What's the plan?"

David turned behind and gave him a black blanket. "You hide in the back and we go through the front entrance."

Gerard looked at them, bewildered. "And it'll work? It's that simple?"

"Of course not, we can't risk someone seeing us all together on the way." Travis replied, shaking his head at David, "This isn't a time for foolery, focus David."

"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous." David shrugged and smiled sheepishly, "there's a lot at stake here."

"Don't we all know that," Gerard groaned, the heat and sweat all coming at him again.

"Jeez, you look like you fought a bear before you got here." Travis said, looking at Gerard in the rear view mirror.

"It's nothing." Gerard muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

"Withdrawals suck, I know." Travis commented, starting the car, "Now duck under the blanket."

Gerard grimaced and complied. The ride seemed to take forever, but as expected it did come to an end.

"Alright, you can come out from under there now." Travis replied, looking around and tossing a black mask behind. "Put this on."

Gerard put his on and noted that both of them wore theirs as well. The things one does for the ones he loves.

"Are you guys ready?" Travis asked, looking at both of them.

"No." Gerard replied.

"None of us are, we'll do it anyway." David said.

With that, they got out of the car and made their way towards the docks. Gerard noted the smell of the ocean and the unmistakable stench of bird poop. He know exactly where he was going. He snuck their way around the buildings, though there clearly wasn't a soul in sight. He noted the Bay Area Discovery Museum as they made their way toward the bay.

"Are we going on a boat?" Get asked, ask they piled behind a building, peering over the corner. Travis gestured to the far right beyond the buildings, "There's an unmarked loading dock there, they hide their stuff in a cave in the mountain so nobody can see it unless they go right up to it."

"But wouldn't they spot the ships?" Gerard asked, unconvinced.

"That's why they use inflatable rafts, we'll just steal one. By my knowledge, there's nothing sensitive coming in this way so at best there's one armed guard for everything in the cave- including the raft we plan to steal."

"Great," Gerard whispered sarcastically. "How do we ambush a guy if there is what appears to be only one entry and exit point?"

David looked at Travis and shrugged, "He has a point, so what's the plan?"

"We use a diversion." Travis replied confidently.

Gerard and David looked at each other, dreading asking the next question.

"Who's the diversion?" David asked eventually.

"Me, of course. Paul is on duty here and he's probably one of the few guys who actually likes me." Travis smiled, "I'll just coax him out of his working station with a six pack and you guys steal the boat and go."

"Wait, go without you?" Gerard said, bewildered. "This is the worst plan ever, what happens if we need you when we get there. Also, where are we supposed to go?"

"Angel Island." Travis replied.

It made sense, the island had long been abandoned and was right under the nose of the most famous bridge around- completely the Doctor's MO.

"Okay, enough fooling around. We need to improve on this plan." Gerard said, huddling them closer "I have an idea."