THE AGENCY

Chapter 46: GUILTY RESCUE

GUILTY RESCUE

I run around the hallways gasping as I come across the elevator. I jab the button hard as I look behind me, but the coast is clear. The door slides open and I scramble in as the doors close. Then I hit the third floor button and wait impatiently as it rides up slowly. As the doors open I sprint out to find the closet. Room 308....I needed to find it. I scavenged the floors with scrutiny until I came across room 309... I had gone too far...so I took a step back and found room 308. As I twisted the door knob it jingled locked. Dammit! Why?! For once couldn't luck be on my side? Ok....think Sky...Wait! I had a small hairpin in my bracelet! I immediately unclasp it and stick it into the lock. Then I twist it in the right sequence and the door clicks. Successful! I slip in to find him drugged or at least asleep on the ground. I fall to my knees as I shake him.
"Get up, Xander! Please...just get up....I need you to get up....Xander! He's coming!" His eyes were still closed shut. I can't drag him out of here alone...I'll need help. I scavenge for my phone in my pocket as I get a grip on it. I immediately get Jemma on the phone. It rings six times, but she still doesn't pick up. Uhh.....Then she does.
"Have you beaten he crap out of my brother? You need a medic or something?" she asks in a bored sarcastic tone.
"Jemma it's an emergency! It's Liam! He....and they switched....he's coming! Xander....closet!" I scream into the phone.
"Sky, you're not making any sense. Calm down and talk to me. Liam? Where are you?"
"3rd floor room 308! Come now! Please! He's drugged out on the ground!" I say to her.
"On my way with John and Scarlette." She says and then hangs up.
"Xander!" I yell again. "Scott, get the hell up right now! I'm counting on you, Agent Shield!" I say to him desperately as I shake him once more. He starts to crinkle his eyes. "Xander!" I say relieved as he starts to open his eyes.
"Sky? What are we doing in a closet?" he asks a bit groggily. He still can't seem to sit up.
"It doesn't matter right now...what matters is if you can get up and if you have your gun." I say to him urgently.
"I don't have my gun and I think I can get up." He responds as he shakily tries to stand. I try to support him, but his knees buckle and we both crash to the ground. "I guess not he says with a groan. " I can't feel my legs. What's wrong...you've got your extremely dire worried face on." He comments. I frown.
"We need to get out of here....where are they?" I ask as I bite my lip.
"You've got to explain what's going on, dear." He says calmly. The surface of my lip breaks as my tooth digs into it with tension. "Whatever it is we'll figure it out. Calm down."
"I am calm!" I yell.
"Your lip would beg to differ." He says as Jemma comes crashing in.
"Took you long enough!" I scold her and John walks in as well. "Help him up! We have to get the hell out of here!" I yell. They all give each other a glance and then do as I say. Scar stays with me as Jemma and John help Xander up.
"Why are you so freaked out? Even Xander is weirded out by your weirdness." She scolds me.
"He is?" I sigh. I lick the blood off my lip.
"Yes, and so am I. What happened, Sky?" she asks.
"Liam. He turned on the simulation effect in the training room, so he looked like Xander to me. He was training with me and I thought it was Xander...and..." I say stressed out.
"You kissed him!" she accuses.
"No! He kissed me! Not the same thing!" I clarify.
"Will it make a difference to Xander?" she says. Then she leans in real close. "Was he better than Xander? How was it?" she asks.
"SCAR! It was disgusting and I love Xander, you idiot! He has to understand that I thought it was him! I'm not ready to tell him all these details yet...ok?" I say with a worried breath.
"Ok, fine. This is between you two." She says.
"Thank you." I say with a sigh. "Liam he had me up against a wall and I stabbed him and it was just crazy, Scar." I say. She is folding her mouth shut. "Scar?" I ask.
"I'm sorry, Sky...you know I've never been good with secrets...She kissed Liam!" She yells. I follow my instinct and run. I sprint down the hallway and I feel footsteps behind me, but I keep running and focus on my breath and destination. I start to clamber as fast as I can down the stairwell, but the footsteps approach even faster. Then I'm shoved and I collapse down the last flight of stairs. As I fall against the last stair I feel the wind knocked out of me and I stay there on the ground.
"How could you do that to my brother, Sky! I trusted you!" Jemma yells at me.
"I thought it was, Xander! You can't accuse me like this! I was tricked! Liam turned on the simulation effect! You can't honestly blame me for this!" I say in my defense.
"But you ran...why?" she asks sharply.
"Because I blame myself! If I'm so madly in love with your brother that I should recognize him no matter what gets in the way. I'm so sorry...its my fault too...I should've known...Jemma...but he was just like him!" I say on the verge of tears. She forgets whatever she was about to say as she trusts my sincerity. "I'm ashamed." I state.
"Don't be..." she says guiltily. "I was just...I don't know what got into me..." she says.
"You care, that's all and that's good." I say with a smile.
"I don't know about care...I'm kinda forced to care for that guy." She says with a wry smile.
"How am I supposed to explain this to your brother?" I say scared.
"He hopefully knows you love him...and he's hopefully not so stupid...,but you never know with him." She says. "Come on. I've got your back." She says as she pulls me up and I groan.
"Sorry, about the whole knocking you down a staircase thing. It happens you know..." She says sheepishly.
"Sure, someone's knocked down a staircase every now and then." I say sarcastically.
"Exactly, I'm glad you understand." She says with a smile as she helps me up the staircase. Who know maybe it'll be her tomorrow... We climb up the stairwell and I try to think of how to start this conversation with Xander. He kissed me and I didn't know it was you? No...that's just....no.... By the time I can come up with any other ideas we're already there. I swallow before opening the door. Scar and John are on the sofa and Xander is on the chair as a medic checks him out. His eyes find mine immediately as I enter with Jemma. He gives me a look that I am yet to decipher a meaning to.
"Took you long enough. Why am I not surprised by your actions?" he asks sarcastically. Wow...when did he turn into sergeant sarcasm?
"Because you know me better than I know myself..." I say.
"Come here, you should know I won't bite, darling." He says. I take a step and stop as I think about how to explain myself. "Any time now, Sky." He says a bit irate. He didn't even call me sweetness...he must be upset. He gestures to his lap, but I stand.
"Are...are you ok?" I ask as I eye the medic.
"Are you? You look like you fell down a staircase." He says. I give Jemma a look.
"I'm fi...fine. But can you stand? Was the drug poison?!" I ask worriedly.
"It was a sedative with a really mild paralytic. I'll be fine. I assume you're not going to stop being jumpy until you explain...so explain." He says.
"Ok...it...well...he sabatoged our training by drugging you and stuffing you in a closet. Then he turned on the simulation effect in the training room while I was changing. Then he made it look like I was training with you...and I thought it was you all that time. Then he kissed me and I thought it was you, so you can't blame me." I say in a rant.
"Ok....so what are you so worried about?" he asks.
"I didn't know if you'd take it the right way." I say.
"I didn't know there was a wrong way of taking it. Now come here. Are you clear of anxiety now?" he asks. "Did he touch you?" he asks again seriously.
"We did a hand to hand fight and I thought it was you. Then he slammed me against the wall and we talked, but that was it. I'm fine. I was more concerned about you, when he told me he had you locked up in a closet." I say.
"Did you win?" John asks.
"Yes, technically." I say.
"Well, then that's all that matters." John says. "When the medic clears Xander, then you guys can go back to training." John says. Then I remember something....Liam...he knew about my nightmares.
"Xander....I need to talk to you...uh privately...." I say a bit shyly. "Can you stand?" I ask him gently.
"Yeah, I think." He says as he tries to get up. He still seems shaky so I give him a hand up and we walk out into the hallway slowly.
"Maybe you should sit down." I suggest as I look up at him.
"Okay, tell me what you wanted to tell me." He says as we walk down the end of the hallway towards a bench.
"He's been spying." I say.
"And that surprises you?" he says as he sits down. He pulls me onto his lap.
"Xander, he's really been spying. Like really...."
"Really?" he asks with a laugh.
"Really....I'm serious. He knows about the nightmares! That's why I thought it was you because only you know about the nightmares, Xander. He coaxed me into telling him what happened. I thought it was you. He knows everything...he even knows I'm claustrophobic!" I say exasperated.
"Aren't you going to talk about it?" he asks coaxingly as he rubs my back.
"Talk...about....what?" I ask confused.
"The nightmare. You haven't told me what happened." He says.
"Oh...well...it all came up because he had a knife to my throat and he had me pinned...so I freaked out because it was really similar to the dream." I say.
"He had a knife to your throat?" he grounds out.
"Yeah, but I mean I should be used to it with the whole agent training." I say.
"So I had a knife to your throat in this dream?" he asks concernedly as his hand moves rhythmically across my back.
"Yeah...you...you....were trying to kill me and I was fighting against you and I was chained, but you know I'm claustrophobic...so the chains freaked me out a bit." I say to him. I lean into his chest.
"And you told all this to him?" he asks with slight annoyance.
"I thought it was you!" I say in defense.
"I know...I still can't believe he faked being me to get to you." He says in disbelief.
"He didn't get to me." I say.
"Really? You were being weirder than usual when you were in the closet. Not to mention your complete panic mode in there." He says with his chin on my head.
"I was just stressed out because I didn't catch him in the training room and he had you all locked up, so I wasn't sure of his plans and...and ...I was just....just..." I start.
"Just what, Sky? Does your ego forbid the word scared in your vocabulary?" he asks snidely.
"No....well...maybe? I don't know....Ok, yes...I was scared about what he would do to you. I've already lost so much....I can't bare to lose more. I couldn't risk anything happening to you, Xander. I...I...." I say stuttering.
"You what?" he asks.
"I care too much...." I say.
"You care? That's what you have to say? Is it really that hard?" he asks me a bit frustrated as he pulls away slightly. He glowers down at me.
"I...I...I...love you too much?" I say with effort.
"Next time say it like you mean it, would you?" he asks.
"I'll try." I say with a sigh.
"Sky." He says as he tilts my chin up towards his face.
"Mmmmm?" I respond.
"Do you remember that first day when I met you on the roof?" He asks.
"How could I forget, you were being obnoxiously annoying." I say with the roll of my eyes.
"I told you that it will be forever hard for you to get rid of me. It's not as easy as you think. You're concern is adorable, but you don't need to worry about me. Like you told me, I'm an agent and it takes a lot to bring us down. I can handle myself, okay?" he tells me. I frown at him.
"No! What about today, when you were drugged in a closet and I didn't know if you'd wake up!" I say to him.
"Today was an anomaly and life is full of those. Even though they are...I'm fine." He says with a laugh.
"What if next time you're not!" I argue.
"Sky, don't argue with me about this. All you need to concern yourself with is keeping yourself safe." He says with a frown. '
"I will argue with you if I want to! I have the right to care about you and our forever! You promised this is a forever!" I accuse him.
"Great argument. Well done. I'm glad you support my case." He says with a smile.
"What are you talking about?" I ask.
"I feel the same about you. I promised a forever and a forever you shall have, sweetness. I'm trying to make you understand that although you care so much...I can handle myself." I smile.
"You know how I feel." I giggle.
"Okay...okay...we're starting to talk in circles now. Bottom line?" he asks.
"We shouldn't over step with our care because we can handle ourselves?" I ask.
"No. How about we can depend on each other because we understand each other better than we thought?" he suggests.
"Why do you just make everything sound moralistic and sophisticated?" I ask.
"I'm just stating what we discussed, but the compliment really does boost my self esteem." He says with the smile I know and love. I press my forehead into the crook of his neck.
"Are we supposed to train...?" I ask.
"Yeah...I guess being sabotaged doesn't change anything." He says.
"John's just strict." I grumble.
"Look I know you don't really appreciate the training room downstairs...so why don't we, I don't know...why don't we drive down to the shooting dome on the other side of THE AGENCY." He suggests.
"Really?! Gosh, Xander...You're the best! Thank you! Wait...but John says that only sections one through three have access to the dome." I say.
"Really? He must of kept some information away from you. We can go. We're honor graduated agents." He states.
"So? Wait how did you know that?" I ask suspiciously.
"I do my research." He says with a smile.
"You stalk your girlfriend before you date her?!" I claim.
"I wouldn't say stalk. It's got a bad connotation. More like research." He says.
"Potato....potato!" I say.
"Anyway...we have full access to all the ranges and equipment. Ready to go check it out?" he asks.
"Yeah...let's just let them know, before we leave."
"Of course, come on." We head back to the apartment and step inside.
"Are you guys done with your convo?" Scar asks.
"Yes, we're going to head down to the dome for training." Xander tells them. I give John.
"Why didn't you let me practice at the dome?" I ask John.
"You'll see, but I'm sure you'll be fine with Xander." He says with an annoying smile. I just groan. Yet again something I'll just have to find out for myself.
"Let's go." I say as I start to walk out the door. Xander grabs my shoulder and I stumble back. "What?" I ask impatiently.
"It's like 12 degrees outside. I believe you're forgetting a coat." He says. I roll my eyes.
"We're driving and it's only a few steps to the car." I argue.
"You still need a coat." He says. I groan.
"What are you my mother?" I ask as I continue outside.
"No, but Sky you need a coat." He says more sternly.
"It's only a few steps! I don't want to have to carry it around inside!" I argue.
"It's freezing and even with me hugging you, you're likely to get hypothermia. Put on a damn coat, Sky." He scolds. His eyes pierce mine with a glare.
"Xander, please it's just a hassle." I whine.
"We're not leaving this apartment till you have a coat on. So it's your choice." He warns me.
"I hate it when you make it seem like I have a choice!" I yell back.
"You do have a choice." He says. "Oh and I hope you realize you're barefoot." He comments with a puzzled look.
"No! Uhhh! You never get it! Fine! I'll put on the damn coat! I'm not happy about this!" I grumble as I walk into the bedroom. I take out my red button up coat and a scarf. I yank it off the hanger and slip it onto my shoulders. Then I twist and tie the scarf around my neck. I take out my combat boots and sit on the bed as I put them on. Then I start to tie the laces. I walk out of the room with a huff.
"Much better." He comments with a smile. "As I've told you, I'd rather have you unhappy and safe. A smile really would be a bonus though." He says as he tries to work his charm.
"Let's go." I state with a sigh.
"Come on at least a smirk?"
"No it's either coat or smile." I state.
"Coat it is then. Let's go, sweetness." He says as he ushers me out with his hand on the center of my back. I step forward, so he isn't touching me.