Guardian: Chapter 13
Summery: When a threat on her life appears, Claudia is forced to leave the Warehouse and go to the small town of Haven, where she will be safe - if she isn’t killed by the odd, supernatural occurrences around the town, of course. However, once at Haven she realizes that the town and its inhabitants - especially Audrey Parker - might have more of a hand in her destiny - and true purpose to the Warehouse - than she thought.
Rating: PG-13 for violence and swearing.
Pairings: Audrey/Nathan (romantic), Artie/Claudia (father & daughter)
Spoilers: For Season 1 of Haven and all 2 seasons of Warehouse 13.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Haven or Warehouse 13.
Credit for banner: This awesome banner was made for me by the great dandilandi22!
Recaps: Read this quick recap to find out what’s currently happening on both shows!
Previous Chapters: Chapter Index
Chapter 13: Reunion
“What?”
“Please don’t make me repeat myself Claudia or this conversation will get very tedious.”
“I -” Claudia didn’t know what to say. A part of her screamed to hang up the phone, but another part knew that if she did, it could mean Valda would come barreling into her living room. A third voice screamed that they were probably tracing her call. Torn, Claudia held the phone halfway away from her ear, as though the indecisive movement was the same as making a decision.
“Now, I know that you are probably very close to making a stupid decision right now, as you are apt to do.” Valda’s smug voice came through the phone. “Let me tell you right now that whatever you’re planning to do is foolish and I will get you anyway, so allow me to present my plan first. If you want to hang up after this and try to run away, then you may do so. Be warned, though, I still will find you.
“Still on the line? Good. Now, I am currently in Haven’s docks - yes, I am already in Haven, Claudia - waiting on a yacht. I will wait for precisely one hour after I get this call, and then I will come after you in the town. And once I do so I will have no problem striking down any human being that gets in my way.”
“And please don’t try running. A friend of yours will find it most severely detrimental to their health if you think of doing so.”
Friend? Claudia felt her breath catch. Valda was already in Haven, had he grabbed Audrey? Nathan? No, they were both with Vince and Dave. Claudia’s eyes widened as she realized who that left.
“If you hurt Duke -”
“Duke?” Valda laughed. “Trust me, I have no interest in kidnapping a man whose name is often used on mongrel breeds of dogs. No, I was thinking more about old friends. Then again, six months isn’t that long a time...”
“Who?” Claudia said, her hands beginning to tremble. ‘Oh God, oh God, oh God’ was the only thing her mind, so sharp, could come up with.
“Really? You can’t guess?”
“WHO?”
Suddenly a horrible half scream, half groan came through the speakers, making Claudia’s eyes well up with tears. She covered her mouth with one hand to cover the scream she wanted to let out as soon as she recognized the voice.
“Don’t hurt him.”
“Well, it’s a bit too late for that, Claudia. He’s sent me on quite the wild goose chase to find you. But - you can stop the pain. Just come to me at my yacht and I won’t touch him anymore. He’s still got enough blood that if the torture stops now he just might make it. Then again -” Another horrible scream.
“Okay! Okay.” Claudia said, hands trembling. Her stomach felt like it had dropped out from under her and she didn’t even notice the tears streaming down her face until she reached up to wipe them away. “I’ll come. Just - just don’t hurt him anymore.”
“It’s a deal. Remember, one hour.” Valda hung up.
Claudia dropped the phone with shaking hands and felt herself drop to her knees in shock. Her hands were trembling as she tried to pull herself up, but she was shaking so hard with fear that it took her ten minutes to get out the door.
*
Artie opened his eyes, certain he was dead.
The pain was gone - completely. No cuts, bruises, aches, broken bones, scars or burns. Every inch of him was fine.
All he could feel for a second was relief that the pain had stopped. And then remorse caught him - he hadn’t been able to warn Claudia. He just had to hope that her natural cleverness and instincts would help her survive.
Death, Artie mused, was odd. He was in a dully painted gray room, lying on a cot. He got up slowly, wondering when God or the Devil or whoever was in charge was going to reveal themselves to him. He idly wondered if he’d see James MacPherson again.
“Hello Arthur.” Artie whipped around to see Valda in the doorway of the room.
“No.” Artie said. Unless...had Valda died with him?
“I’m sure you have many questions, Arthur. Starting with the fact that you are completely unharmed.”
Valda held out a small purple stone. “But I’m sure this answers all of them.”
Artie’s eyes widened as he took in the artifact. It was a powerful one, one that could let the holder go inside a person’s mind. Suddenly everything added up: the reason he suddenly didn’t feel any pain, the reason Valda’s torture had never gone far enough to kill Artie...
“You were inside my head the whole time.”
“Exactly.” Valda nodded and slipped the stone into his pocket. “And while I was in there I learned something interesting. You didn’t tell me where Claudia was directly, of course, but after I was out of your sight and leaving your mind, I heard a very interesting word.”
Artie’s blood ran cold.
“You should take pride in yourself. Most men would have broken down under the torture and told me everything I wanted. I had to resort to listening at the fringes of your mind for Claudia’s hiding place.”
“No.” Artie whispered.
“Yes. And guess where she is now?” Valda said, smiling cruelly.
*
Arite was led by gunpoint deep into the bowels of what he realized was a ship - this meant they were close to Haven and were attempting to enter and exit in an unusual way. They knew that their enemies would be expecting a plane or car. Instead of the faster route, they had chosen subtlety over speed.
Valda and his henchmen accompanied him, Valda smirking like a madman, making Artie’s stomach turn. Finally, they stopped at the lowest floor of the ship, where several rusted doors stood on either side of the hallway. Valda gestured to one of his henchmen to open up the last door on the right and thrust Artie inside.
The area - it couldn’t be called a room, it was too large, rusted and disgusting for that - seemed to be a storage area. It had rust flaking off of the walls, floor and ceiling. Dust motes floated through the air, glimmering from the only light that came from a few bare bulbs hanging off the ceiling. It was empty save for a cage like structure in the corner - three interlocking chain walls with the fourth wall being the steel metal of the ship. It, like everything else, was rusted and disgusting, but it held one of the most precious things in the world to him.
“Claudia!” Artie rushed to the cage, throwing himself against the interlocking chain structure. She was curled up in the corner, her head buried in her legs which were tucked up to her chin. Her arms were wrapped around her legs, for comfort. When she heard his voice, she looked up.
“Artie!” She stood up and rushed to the cage wall as well. Or tried to. Artie saw, to his horror and anger, that her wrists and ankles had been chained to the wall. She tried to run to him, but the chains pulled her back and she was forced to her knees.
Being away from the Warehouse had taken its toll on her. Her hair was longer, right down to the middle of her back. While she still wore a streak of color in her hair, it was a subdued blue, dark enough to make that much of an impression against her wild red hair but nothing as bright as the colors she used to wear. She had grown thinner, and he could see the deep shadows under eyes. Tears didn’t run down her face at the moment, but their tracks shone on her face.
One of Valda’s henchmen came over and unlocked the door, throwing Artie inside. Desperate to protect Claudia, Artie grabbed her instantly, pulling her behind him. Valda snorted at his actions, apparently amused at the idea of Artie trying to protect Claudia.
“Don’t worry. I thought I’d give you two a few moments alone while I get all my materials ready. But Arthur, don’t forget the ultimatum I gave you when we first met. You refused to help us, so Claudia pays the price. A slow and painful death. I picked up a few artifacts from the Warehouse that will be fun to use. You remember Torquemada’s Chain, don’t you? That’s the first artifact I’ll be using on this pathetic excuse for a Caretaker.” Valda smirked as he and his men left the room.
Rating: PG-13 for violence and swearing.
Pairings: Audrey/Nathan (romantic), Artie/Claudia (father & daughter)
Spoilers: For Season 1 of Haven and all 2 seasons of Warehouse 13.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Haven or Warehouse 13.
Credit for banner: This awesome banner was made for me by the great dandilandi22!
Recaps: Read this quick recap to find out what’s currently happening on both shows!
Previous Chapters: Chapter Index
Chapter 13: Reunion
“What?”
“Please don’t make me repeat myself Claudia or this conversation will get very tedious.”
“I -” Claudia didn’t know what to say. A part of her screamed to hang up the phone, but another part knew that if she did, it could mean Valda would come barreling into her living room. A third voice screamed that they were probably tracing her call. Torn, Claudia held the phone halfway away from her ear, as though the indecisive movement was the same as making a decision.
“Now, I know that you are probably very close to making a stupid decision right now, as you are apt to do.” Valda’s smug voice came through the phone. “Let me tell you right now that whatever you’re planning to do is foolish and I will get you anyway, so allow me to present my plan first. If you want to hang up after this and try to run away, then you may do so. Be warned, though, I still will find you.
“Still on the line? Good. Now, I am currently in Haven’s docks - yes, I am already in Haven, Claudia - waiting on a yacht. I will wait for precisely one hour after I get this call, and then I will come after you in the town. And once I do so I will have no problem striking down any human being that gets in my way.”
“And please don’t try running. A friend of yours will find it most severely detrimental to their health if you think of doing so.”
Friend? Claudia felt her breath catch. Valda was already in Haven, had he grabbed Audrey? Nathan? No, they were both with Vince and Dave. Claudia’s eyes widened as she realized who that left.
“If you hurt Duke -”
“Duke?” Valda laughed. “Trust me, I have no interest in kidnapping a man whose name is often used on mongrel breeds of dogs. No, I was thinking more about old friends. Then again, six months isn’t that long a time...”
“Who?” Claudia said, her hands beginning to tremble. ‘Oh God, oh God, oh God’ was the only thing her mind, so sharp, could come up with.
“Really? You can’t guess?”
“WHO?”
Suddenly a horrible half scream, half groan came through the speakers, making Claudia’s eyes well up with tears. She covered her mouth with one hand to cover the scream she wanted to let out as soon as she recognized the voice.
“Don’t hurt him.”
“Well, it’s a bit too late for that, Claudia. He’s sent me on quite the wild goose chase to find you. But - you can stop the pain. Just come to me at my yacht and I won’t touch him anymore. He’s still got enough blood that if the torture stops now he just might make it. Then again -” Another horrible scream.
“Okay! Okay.” Claudia said, hands trembling. Her stomach felt like it had dropped out from under her and she didn’t even notice the tears streaming down her face until she reached up to wipe them away. “I’ll come. Just - just don’t hurt him anymore.”
“It’s a deal. Remember, one hour.” Valda hung up.
Claudia dropped the phone with shaking hands and felt herself drop to her knees in shock. Her hands were trembling as she tried to pull herself up, but she was shaking so hard with fear that it took her ten minutes to get out the door.
*
Artie opened his eyes, certain he was dead.
The pain was gone - completely. No cuts, bruises, aches, broken bones, scars or burns. Every inch of him was fine.
All he could feel for a second was relief that the pain had stopped. And then remorse caught him - he hadn’t been able to warn Claudia. He just had to hope that her natural cleverness and instincts would help her survive.
Death, Artie mused, was odd. He was in a dully painted gray room, lying on a cot. He got up slowly, wondering when God or the Devil or whoever was in charge was going to reveal themselves to him. He idly wondered if he’d see James MacPherson again.
“Hello Arthur.” Artie whipped around to see Valda in the doorway of the room.
“No.” Artie said. Unless...had Valda died with him?
“I’m sure you have many questions, Arthur. Starting with the fact that you are completely unharmed.”
Valda held out a small purple stone. “But I’m sure this answers all of them.”
Artie’s eyes widened as he took in the artifact. It was a powerful one, one that could let the holder go inside a person’s mind. Suddenly everything added up: the reason he suddenly didn’t feel any pain, the reason Valda’s torture had never gone far enough to kill Artie...
“You were inside my head the whole time.”
“Exactly.” Valda nodded and slipped the stone into his pocket. “And while I was in there I learned something interesting. You didn’t tell me where Claudia was directly, of course, but after I was out of your sight and leaving your mind, I heard a very interesting word.”
Artie’s blood ran cold.
“You should take pride in yourself. Most men would have broken down under the torture and told me everything I wanted. I had to resort to listening at the fringes of your mind for Claudia’s hiding place.”
“No.” Artie whispered.
“Yes. And guess where she is now?” Valda said, smiling cruelly.
*
Arite was led by gunpoint deep into the bowels of what he realized was a ship - this meant they were close to Haven and were attempting to enter and exit in an unusual way. They knew that their enemies would be expecting a plane or car. Instead of the faster route, they had chosen subtlety over speed.
Valda and his henchmen accompanied him, Valda smirking like a madman, making Artie’s stomach turn. Finally, they stopped at the lowest floor of the ship, where several rusted doors stood on either side of the hallway. Valda gestured to one of his henchmen to open up the last door on the right and thrust Artie inside.
The area - it couldn’t be called a room, it was too large, rusted and disgusting for that - seemed to be a storage area. It had rust flaking off of the walls, floor and ceiling. Dust motes floated through the air, glimmering from the only light that came from a few bare bulbs hanging off the ceiling. It was empty save for a cage like structure in the corner - three interlocking chain walls with the fourth wall being the steel metal of the ship. It, like everything else, was rusted and disgusting, but it held one of the most precious things in the world to him.
“Claudia!” Artie rushed to the cage, throwing himself against the interlocking chain structure. She was curled up in the corner, her head buried in her legs which were tucked up to her chin. Her arms were wrapped around her legs, for comfort. When she heard his voice, she looked up.
“Artie!” She stood up and rushed to the cage wall as well. Or tried to. Artie saw, to his horror and anger, that her wrists and ankles had been chained to the wall. She tried to run to him, but the chains pulled her back and she was forced to her knees.
Being away from the Warehouse had taken its toll on her. Her hair was longer, right down to the middle of her back. While she still wore a streak of color in her hair, it was a subdued blue, dark enough to make that much of an impression against her wild red hair but nothing as bright as the colors she used to wear. She had grown thinner, and he could see the deep shadows under eyes. Tears didn’t run down her face at the moment, but their tracks shone on her face.
One of Valda’s henchmen came over and unlocked the door, throwing Artie inside. Desperate to protect Claudia, Artie grabbed her instantly, pulling her behind him. Valda snorted at his actions, apparently amused at the idea of Artie trying to protect Claudia.
“Don’t worry. I thought I’d give you two a few moments alone while I get all my materials ready. But Arthur, don’t forget the ultimatum I gave you when we first met. You refused to help us, so Claudia pays the price. A slow and painful death. I picked up a few artifacts from the Warehouse that will be fun to use. You remember Torquemada’s Chain, don’t you? That’s the first artifact I’ll be using on this pathetic excuse for a Caretaker.” Valda smirked as he and his men left the room.