Holy, Dirty, and Unforgettable [2/?]

[rubberbisquit]

Title: Holy, Dirty, and Unforgettable [2/?]
Author: Faline
Rating: R
Summary: The long awaited sequel to 'Man With No Country'. Jake remembers why he fights and Heather breaks some rules so she can see Beck.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I also didn't do a whole of research other than the top facts. I will be refraining from getting as military as I did with the last few, so the basics are what you guys are gonna be getting.

Hey moon, please forget to fall down

Hawkins's fist connected solidly with the soft cheek of the woman handcuffed to the chair in front of him. Her head snapped to the side and she was slow in bringing her gaze back to him. But she did, sure enough, spitting blood on to his shoe before looking up at him.

Behind him, Chavez chuckled low in his throat. “The bitch is hard core.”

Hawkins appraised 'Angela'. Her left cheek, the one he'd just bashed, was swelling horribly. The other cheek had split, along with her lip, and he'd moved to fresh space. He could see blood dripping from her hair line and the right eye was almost completely swollen shut.

He had been working her for the better part of an hour and she hadn't cracked.

It was then that she decided to grin up at him, blood dripping freely from where she'd bit in to her own cheek during one of his more violent punches.

“Yes, hard core indeed.” Hawkins knelt in front of her, resting easily on his heels. “We've already been inside your bunker. Obviously, we lack some skills to crack your files but we will. I've been in contact with Columbus. They have their best hacker this side of the Mississippi at our beck and call.” He put a hand on her shoulder, which was clearly dislocated. Pushing softly, but firmly, he managed to get a wince out of her. “Tell me what your real name is and why you were sent to Jericho.”

She was silent in front of them, her eyes still raised in defiance and her teeth still bared, still streaked with her own blood.

“This is pointless Hawkins. She's too well trained to give us anything.”

Hawkins eyes flickered away from Angela's face, to the wall behind her head, and she grinned wider at his obvious frustration with the situation. Standing, the man turned and faced his colleague. The two walked to the far side of the room and spoke softly.

“There's no rush on this one Robert. We've got her in custody and so far we don't have any indication that she's actually harmed anyone that hasn't come from Cheyenne.” Chavez was trying his hardest to placate his friend. They'd just returned from a not so pleasant road trip from Texas and Hawkins hadn't even seen his family yet.

Hawkins growled in frustration and Chavez sighed. “What are you more upset about? The fact that she's not talking or the fact that she was here under your nose the whole time?”

Death in his eyes, Hawkins' mouth twisted in to a sneer and he stalked back to the woman secured to the chair. Circling to her back, he regarded her handcuffed hands; the cold metal was wound through the metal supports on the furniture. She wasn't going anywhere any time soon. He put his hands on her shoulders once more and he hoped like hell the pain from the dislocation was enough to wipe the stupid smile off her face.

Bringing his head down to her level he whispered in to her ear, “One more time. Who do you work for and what is your real name?”

She shuddered as his grip tightened and her head fell forward. She took one deep breath and then brought her head up with a snap, cracking him in the nose with it. Pain shot through his face. Stumbling back, he groaned and brought his hand up. It came away bloody. Chavez straightened on the other side of the room and took a step forward. Hawkins shook his head.

He raised one combat boot clad foot and brought it down hard on her left wrist. Audibly, the bones cracked moments before she screamed and pitched forward, jerking violently in an attempt to escape. He brought his foot back up and slammed it down on the other wrist. More screams followed as the struggling ceased; Angela slumped over.

Satisfied that she got the message that he didn't appreciate a broken nose, Hawkins circled back around and knelt in front of her again. The stupid grin had left her face. Snot dripped freely and mixed with the tears that she cried. Somewhere around her chin the mess turned red with the blood still seeping from her wounds. He cupped her face, bringing her gaze up to him.

“I have the feeling we're both working towards the same goal. Until I can confirm that, I will attempt to collect the information that I have asked for. Your lack of cooperation will only make this harder. Now, I'm going to knock you out. When you wake up, your wrists will be swollen because I have broken the bones. It will probably cut off circulation to your hands. I've heard about your prowess with a gun. You can imagine how effective you'll be after all ten of those feminine digits are amputated.”

He allowed his words to soak in to her brain. Her eyes hardened and he knew he'd finally reached the part of her brain responsible for her survival instinct. “I'm going to ask you one last time. Who do you work for and what is your real name?”

Again her mouth split in to a bloody smile. She coughed, spraying flecks of bloody spit over his face. When she spoke, her words were as clear as possible, given her split lip. “Kish m'in toukhes.”

His fist connected solidly with her chin; her head jerked and she was sent sprawling in to the land of unconsciousness.

- .... . / - .-. ..- - .... / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... / -... . -.-. -.- --- -. ...

He'd only been gone a week and a half. Not even that. Nine days.

Taking a deep swig of the home brew Mary had placed in front of him, Jake looked out over the darkened Main Street he had known his whole life. There were two working streetlights. The one in front of town hall illuminated the United States flag that was flapping in the slight breeze of the Spring evening.

That at least brought a smile to his face. It was a reminder of why they fought. Why so many lives had been given. It reminded him why he had made the terrifying journey to Texas and why he'd come back home, to the middle of a war zone.

The other lamp light was across the street. It was tilted at a perilous angle, looking worse for the wear from what he'd been told was the simultaneous explosion of eight vehicles just four days prior. Compliments of a computer guru who'd been mostly absent from the struggles of post-war Jericho.

The vehicles were gone but the scars on his town were still evident. A black hole in the J and R building, just behind the aforementioned streetlight, made him smile as well. As bad as the situation was now, he knew that he would keep fighting.

If he had to, he would single-handedly bring down the AS government, even if it meant putting a bullet in to the head of the corrupt president.

Next to him, Emily nudged his elbow, a soft smile on her face. He glanced back at her, smiling in return.

What he fought for, what they all for, was worth every moment of pain.

“Where did Hawkins get off to?”

Her words caused his eyes to peruse the building quickly. Hawkins had come in with them. He was absent now, however, along with Chavez. Also conspicuously absent were Heather, Mac, and Oliver, the Ranger Jake had been the most cautious with. It seemed that Oliver had held off the beginning stages of the AS invasion days prior and Jake had been hoping to give him thanks for his quick thinking.

He'd also wanted to talk to Heather. Although Bailey's was not the venue he'd been hoping for, he was willing to have the conversation anywhere possible. There was still the matter, in his mind, of Major Beck. He wasn't all that sure he was willing to forgive easily the matter of his imprisonment at the Major's hands.

Jake gave Emily a kiss on the cheek and squeezed her hand. His lips lingered and he breathed in the scent of her, happy to have been given the chance to get back to her. He patted her hip, signaling for her to move out of the booth and let him by.

Standing, he drained the last of his beer. “I'm going to see if I can't find him, maybe Heather too.” Emily's smile was now blinding as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He took the time to hug her back before dropping a kiss on her head.

Those in the bar that witnessed the exchanged shared their own smiles with one another. Everyone was glad to see Jake back and none the worse for wear after his journey.

Emily's eyes followed his leather clad back out the door.

Once outside of the building, Jake thought for a moment. Hawkins could be anywhere, really. Him and Chavez would have plans to make between the two of them before bringing Jake in. They'd want somewhere quiet, out of the way. Jake instantly thought of the hunting cabin. It would be a perfect spot for planning.

Before he left town, however, he wanted to talk to Heather. He needed to hear it from her, face to face, that one of his greatest adversaries was truly on their side.

Her house. He headed towards it, half way there before realizing that he should have just brought a vehicle and headed for the cabin straight after. He shook his head and continued on his way anyhow. He had all night. There was no rush.

..- .--. / .. -. / --- ..- .-. / -... . -.. .-. --- --- -- / .- ..-. - . .-. / - .... . / .-- .- .-.

Mac would be proud of her, she figured. Heather patiently waited in a closet, the door cracked slightly, as the night nurse cleared the corner from her rounds and headed back to her station. Giving the situation a few extra moments, Heather slipped out of her cover and made her way as silently as possible to the third door on the right.

To Edward.

She smiled inwardly at the familiarity she had with him now. The door gave way silently under her finger tips and she entered, making sure to close the door as quietly as she could.

Edward was asleep in bed. The soft rise and fall of his chest was rhythmic and reassuring. It drew her to him, moth to the flame and all that. Pulling up the chair next to his bed she planted her butt and just watched him. She didn't want to wake him, just be near by.

The worries of the world seemed pointless when she was here with him. She'd found the feeling exhilarating and intoxicating. A place with no worries.

He stirred in his sleep and his eyes blinked open. As soon as he realized she was there he smiled. “Hey beautiful.”

His words sent stabs of electricity through her body. She could feel the blush creep up her face. He'd been doing that recently. Giving her off-handed compliments disguised as greetings and other things. She loved it, but wouldn't admit.

“How do you feel?”

He sighed, sounding satisfied. “I'll let you know when I'm fully awake. What time is it anyway?”

“A little after ten. Jake and Hawkins got back about two hours ago. They brought back Parker. Introduced him as Chavez though.”

Beck frowned. “Lieutenant Parker? Why would they do that?”

Heather shrugged. “I have no idea. I just know he disappeared with Hawkins not too long after they arrived at the party. I don't think I even had a chance to say hello to any of them before sneaking over here.”

“Oh Heather. You should have at least said hello to Jake. He probably has questions that he needs you to answer for him. Most of them are probably about me too. Not something that should wait.”

She reached out, grasping his hand. She turned it over, palm up, and firmly placed her fingers between his. “Jake isn't going anywhere. And you're in the hospital. He can wait to be reassured, yet again, that you're really not evil.”

Beck wished he could take the regret out of his eyes to reassure her, but he knew it would be impossible. “I don't think you can really tell a man who's been tortured that the one who did the torturing is okay after all. That's something that takes time.”

Heather was silent for a moment, her eyes looking out the window in his room. She sighed once, deeply, before nodding. “He'll come around. He has to, after he hears what you've done for us.”

His voice was soft with his reply. “For you mostly.”

The blush came again to her skin. “However you justify it, you and your troops have become heroes. And that's not something this town is likely to forget any time soon Edward.”

As his name fell from her lips, he smiled again. He liked hearing her say it. It made this whole situation less about a war torn country and more about a love story.

“I need to tell you something and then I'm going to let you get back to sleep.”

She sounded nervous. It was unusual for this new Heather that was strong and willing to take on an entire military camp to make sure he was okay. Their eyes locked. Beck felt her admiration for him through her gaze and it warmed his whole body.

“I . . . think I'm falling in love with you. I'm not completely sure how I feel about it, but I think it'll be okay. If you don't feel the same way, I'll understand. You've gone through a lot and I know you need time and you'll get as much as you need. But I just want you to know how I feel. So you know that when you get better, and you get out of here, you'll have someone waiting for you and I won't be going anywhere.”

She was seeping emotions. Love and concern and possibly even worry that her admission would be rejected. Beck's heart broke when he saw the last cross her face. Didn't she know? Didn't she realize that he'd been worrying about falling in love with her for longer than he wanted to admit, especially to himself?

Her words were comfort though, despite the clear strain they put on both their minds. He brought her hand up, still clutched in his own, and kissed her fingers.

“Thank you.”

He didn't really know what else to say. He decided to forgo words and pulled on her arm lightly and brought his other hand up, mindful of the IV still stuck in the back of it.

Their lips met easily now, no longer steeped in worry that they would be rejected. They met now with an knowledge of things to come. Parting moments later, Heather kept close, resting her forehead on his.

“I think I'm falling in love with you too.”

She kissed him again, all worry and concern now far from her mind.

.-- .- - -.-. .... .. -. --. / - .... . / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. / ..-. .- .-.. .-.. / ..- .--.

From his view point at the door, Jake was able to hear the whispered words between his friend and what appeared to be her new beau. His grip on the door frame tightened when Beck returned Heather's confession and the emotion that flowed through his body was a little frightening.

He backed away slowly, not bothering to close the door behind him.

Nancy, the night nurse, looked up, confused, when he left only minutes after sweet talking his way in to see Major Beck. She rose and went to the Major's door. The sight of Heather curled up on the Major's good side, away from any position that might possibly hurt the man, made her smile.

She glanced back at the front doors when they slid open, allowing Jake to leave. Her eyes found the pair on the bed again and she closed the door. Nancy shook her head as she made her way back to the Nurse's Station. This was convoluted. Anyone who knew one of the three would be able to see that.

Jake's lungs filled with the cool air of the Kansas night and he sighed. He buried his hands in his pockets and walked towards the truck he'd talked Eric in to letting him borrow to get out to the cabin.

Beck and Heather.

Heather and Beck.

He'd only been gone nine days.

If he was honest with himself, he'd admit that the two of them had been circling each other for a while. Despite the wife and the crush that he was sure Heather was still holding on to for himself.

He didn't want to be honest though. He wanted it to feel like one of his friends wasn't betraying him by siding with someone he still thought of as the enemy. He wanted a hug from Heather and her promise that she was glad he was home.

Jake slid in to the driver's side and started the engine. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the cabin. He also did his best to not think about the pair in the hospital. He was mildly successful and had managed to work up a reasonable story for the situation by the time he'd pulled up to the wooden structure. Something about tequila. Heather never could handle her tequila.

There were lights on inside and a car parked outside. At least something was going according to plan. He saw Chavez on the porch, a cigarette hanging between his lips. The other man straightened as Jake pulled the truck up and cut the motor. Half way down the stairs, Chavez looked grim when he greeted Jake.

“Looking for Hawkins?”

Jake nodded. “Is he here?”

The front door opened, light spilling out in to the front yard. A familiar scent assailed his senses as well and he realized it was blood. Hawkins exited, closing the door behind him. “Jake.”

Jake was used to the one word greeting by now, but was surprised that Hawkins would use it. Hadn't they 'started a revolution' together? Hadn't he stood by the FBI agent's side when fuck all was the quid pro quo of the day?

“I was worried when I realized you weren't at the party. I saw Darcy there.”

Hawkins was vague, looking off in to the distance, when he answered. “Had some things to discuss. Needed some questions answered.”

Fully suspicious now, Jake took a few steps forward, stopping at the porch. “Questions about what?”

The two agents shared a look that made Jake very uneasy. After an extended glance in which they seemed to come to an agreement, Hawkins looked back at Jake. “Are you aware that you've had a Mossad agent working out of your town for years?”

Jake blinked. And then blinked again. And then laughed. “What the hell are you talking about.”

Hawkins shrugged and turned, heading back inside. “You'd best come and see for yourself. We may need your help to get the information we need.”

The three entered the cabin. As soon as he saw the situation, Jake gasped and held back the urge to vomit. This was too fresh; it was too much like being taken by Beck. Flashes of light behind his eyes and he was suddenly very very thirsty.

With his grandfather's voice fresh in his ears, Jake turned away and took several deep and calming breaths. Regaining his mental balance, Jake looked back at the figure sitting in the middle of the room.

They looked female, if the clothing and body were an indication. Her head was down and she wasn't making any noise. There was blood splattered around the chair. Hawkins reached for her head and Jake really didn't want him to. Didn't want to see what had been done to her.

Despite the swollen cheeks and the eye that wasn't going to be opening again for a while, if ever again, Jake could recognize Angela MacDonald. Mac. Heather's new best friend after the abandonment of Emily.

“Is she-?”

“No, she's still alive. Just asleep. She broke my nose.”

Jake nodded, having noticed his bloodied face. He stared long and hard at Hawkins and then looked back down at Mac. “What the fuck is going on?”

Hawkins let her head dropped. “She's a Mossad agent. She's got a trailer on the other side of town with three fallout shelters built underneath it and an arsenal. You heard she was the one with a 50 caliber on a roof top, right? The one that decided to have an impromptu AS bar-b-q in the middle of Main Street.”

Joke nodded slowly, approaching Mac. They'd worked her over good. Aside from the facial damage, she had what looked like a dislocated shoulder along with bruised legs. He stepped to her side and winced at the sight of two broken wrists behind her back.

“And this was necessary?”

“Yes Jake. Until we find out what she's doing here.”

“You couldn't have just asked her politely? From what I heard in Texas there were almost a dozen Mossad agents planted in the states when the attacks happened. All have sided with the US, or Texas, and have been working with Columbus to clean this mess up. I even heard one of them managed to get in good with the Cheyenne government for a while and did a world of damage.”

Hawkins was unapologetic. “She refused to ID herself. When we asked her nicely she didn't even respond.”

“And what happened when you asked her not so nicely?”

His grin dark and disturbed, Hawkins looked down at the woman. “You can see for yourself. Now Jake, this was necessary-”

“No! Torture is never necessary.” He was silent for a moment, again trying to push down the memories of his own capture. Now, however, the images were peppered with soft words from the hospital and it made him furious at the whole situation.

“Jake-”

“Unlock her hands. Get her laid down on the bed.”

There was silence in the room. Chavez and Hawkins both stared at Jake. He refused to buckle under their glares. “Now. Uncuff her and put her on the bed. We don't torture people Hawkins!”

“The AS obviously didn't get that memo.”

Through gritted teeth, Jake spat out, “We are not the AS.” He took a step forward and held out his hand. “If you won't do it, give me the keys and I will. Please don't make me pick the lock.”

Hawkins was still for a moment before he reached in to his pocket and pulled out a key ring. He looked very irritated but unlocked the cuffs, showing care with their removal. Chavez helped him pick up the limp body and they deposited her on the bed. Jake crossed the room, standing shoulder to shoulder with the two.

“Now go home Hawkins. See your wife and your children. And take Chavez with you. I'm sure Darcy remembers him.” The venom in his voice was stinging.

Hawkins and Chavez shared a look over Jake's bowed head. They didn't offer any more contradictions, instead leaving the cabin.

Jake rubbed a tired hand over his face and sighed deeply. He had been so happy to come back home. Just to be here. To hug Emily and his mom and Eric. To see the smile on Heather's face that he knew would light up the room.

He sat down on the side of the bed and glanced over at Mac once more.

He'd only been gone nine days.

A nice and long chapter after a long absence. Ahhhh, it's nice.