FIC: Elemental Four (Part 2)
This fic was written for the Angst vs Schmoop Challenge at numb3rswriteoff. After you’ve read the fic, please rate it by voting in the poll located here. (Your vote will be anonymous.) Rate the fic on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being the best) using the following criteria: how well the fic fit the prompt (beach), how angsty the fic was, and how well you enjoyed the fic. When you’re done, please check out the other challenge fic at numb3rswriteoff. Thank you!
Title: Elemental Four
Author: Valerie Vancollie (valeriev84 [at] hotmail.com)
Characters: Don, Colby, David, Megan, Charlie
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Judgment Call, Mind Games, In Plain Sight, Contenders, One Hour
Excerpt: Don pulled at the chains in desperation as he felt the water lapping at his ankles before it withdrew once more. The tide was rapidly coming in and if he didn't get free soon, he would drown.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Numb3rs characters, items or situations. I only lay claim to the original aspects of the fic.
Elemental Four (Part 1)
Sunday: 2:49 AM, May 18th
Panic slammed into Don and he pulled at his chains as the water washed over his face. Just as soon as it was there, it was gone again, running down the beach. Gasping, he took several deep breaths, lifting his head so that he'd see the next one coming. Right when the panic had retreated enough for him to think, he saw the next wave rushing at him. Straining as far as he could, he managed to keep his mouth and nose above the water this time, only to drop to the sand as soon as it retreated once more.
He couldn't keep this up for long.
The thought chilled Don as he jerked frantically at the manacles, feeling his wounds open again.
/
Sunday: 2:55 AM, May 18th
Colby's fingers tapped nervously against the side of the car as it sped along the highway, lights flashing and siren blaring. There wasn't much traffic out this way, but David was going fast enough for them to be warranted regardless. In the side mirror, he could see the lights of the SWAT car behind them. Although not their regular type of assignment, Megan had thought it best to send SWAT members to the top few locations for the expertise and tools they carried. After having seen the setup from Polinski's murder, she knew they could be dealing with some type of contraption.
"Come on, come on," Colby urged as visions of his boss' dead body swam before his eyes.
"I'm going as fast as I can," David snapped as he took a turn far faster than he should.
The winding ocean road meandered along the coastline, constantly twisting and turning. There wasn't much in the way of good beaches here, but there were a few areas where locals and tourists came to see the seals. Colby bit back a nasty response and kept his eyes glued to the road ahead, looking for the signpost indicating the next parking with sea access. Although he loved the ocean, he hardly ever came this way, preferring the surfing areas instead.
It had been at their third stop that David had noticed the tide was coming in and Colby knew with horrifying certainty that when it was fully in, Don would be dead. As Charlie had worked, he'd wondered if there wasn't a possibility of his boss being dumped out at sea, but Megan had pointed out that the killer wanted his victims found, and sooner rather than later. Hopefully that desire would allow them to reach Don in time.
But would he be okay?
Although he tried to avoid it, Colby's mind kept going back to the previous victims. They'd each been tortured in some fashion before they'd died. What was Don going through even now?
"There!" Colby exclaimed as he caught sight of the sign.
"I see it," David replied, slowing down.
"Unit 3, what is your position?" the voice came over the radio just as Colby made to report in.
"Control, this is Unit 3, we are just at location 11," Colby replied.
"Location 11, copy."
"Let's hope he's here," Colby said as they pulled into the parking.
"Yeah," David agreed.
/
Sunday: 2:59 AM, May 18th
Don's ankles and wrists were stinging constantly now as he kept making the wounds deeper and the salt water kept aggravating them. The wounds were definitely adding a red tint to the water and he was lucky he was on the beach instead of further out or he'd be attracting sharks.
The moment the water retreated once more, Don gasped for breath, knowing it would be back almost instantly. The waves kept washing over him now and his feet no longer came out of the water. He only had minutes left before the water would no longer retreat from his face. As the next wave crashed over him and his world became awash in dark blues and greens, he felt tears form as he'd failed to close his eyes in time. He fought back the urge to cough and briefly wondered why he bothered. All he was doing was prolonging the agony for himself; he was doing exactly what she wanted him to do. If he just gave up and stopped trying to outlast the water, it would all be over so much faster...
The moment he started to feel the water pull back, Don lifted his head to be able to breathe faster. He tried to shove the tempting thought out of his mind. He'd never been one to give up as long as there was a chance of success or hope and he wasn't about to start now. As long as he was alive there was a chance his team would find and save him. Try as he might, though, the thought lingered.
When the next wave rushed forwards, Don squeezed his eyes shut to prevent any additional salt from getting into them as they already stung enough. And to think he'd used to love coming to the beach when he had the time. Sun, sand, sports and girls in skimpy clothing, what wasn't to like? Water, apparently. Pity there weren't beaches without water.
"-on!"
It took Don a second to realize that he wasn't just hearing the rush of water on sand as the wave swept back.
He'd actually heard a voice!
"Can you hear us?" the voice was faint and broke up in the wind, but it was definitely David's.
"Help!" Don screamed as loudly as his abused throat would allow. He'd inadvertently swallowed some seawater earlier and it made his throat feel raw, but this was the chance he'd been waiting for. "Down he-"
Don snapped his mouth shut just before the water flooded his face once more. He could only hope he'd been heard as he doubted he had more than three or four more goes at it before the tide would be far enough in for him to drown.
/
Sunday: 3:00 AM, May 18th
"Don!" Colby yelled as he approached the narrow path that wound down from the cliff like edge of the road to the rocky beach below.
"Can you hear us?" David called out as they ran down the rough steps as quickly as possible.
"Help!" the cry was faint and hoarse, but it stopped them in their tracks. "Down he-"
Colby felt his heart leap into his throat as he stormed downwards. He could hardly recognize the voice but was sure it was Don's. The way it had cut off mid word, though, left a sinking feeling in his stomach. Why wasn't he calling out now?
"Control, this is Unit 3, we have found Agent Eppes. Request immediate assistance at location 11," David reported in as he followed his partner. He could just hear the rush of movement behind him as the two SWAT officers grabbed their gear.
"Unit 3, what is Agent Eppes' condition?"
"Currently unknown. We've had audio contact only, but it was cut off."
"Copy."
"Don!" Colby called out. "Don!"
"Don, man, come on," David shouted. "Hang in there."
"Help!" Don's cry came suddenly. "Down here, to the left on-"
"Why does he keep cutting off?" David questioned as they reached the landing halfway down.
"I don't know," Colby replied, taking the stairs three at a time. "Don! Left where?"
"Unit 3, all available units in the vicinity have been rerouted to your location. ADIC requests a report as soon as feasible."
"Understood, Control," David hastily replied.
"Ov-er here," Don's voice was far weaker now and it sounded like he was coughing badly in the middle. "David?"
"Coming!" David called back, desperately hoping it would have Don hold on long enough for them to get there.
If they got this close only to loose him now... he didn't even want to consider the possibility.
Colby sprang the last seven steps down into the sand and rushed around a rock outcropping onto the beach itself. He scanned the area, desperately seeking it for clues about his boss. All he could see were three sets of footprints between him and the water; two going and one returning. He grabbed the butt of his gun as he cautiously but quickly made his way towards the left end of the beach.
"Don! Where are you?"
"At least it's a small beach," David declared as he joined Colby.
"Yeah, but I still can't se-"
"Here!"
"Shit!" Colby swore as he took off across the sand, glad he'd gotten good at it in Afghanistan.
Colby had only gotten a quick glimpse of Don, but it had been more than enough to understand just how dire the situation was. He didn't think David had spotted their boss' face when it had briefly emerged from the water, as he'd been looking in a different direction, but he knew his partner would follow his lead.
/
Sunday: 3:04 AM, May 18th
Don's lungs burned and he had to fight the instinct to open his mouth and gasp for air. In calling out, he'd been practically unable to get any air despite the fact that he'd desperately needed it. He could only hope he'd been both heard and located or this was it. The fact that he was just as firmly tied down as before help had arrived swam into his thoughts.
How the hell were they going to free him?
The eerie sound of water on sand changed abruptly with the introduction of a series of splashes at regular intervals. Don turned his head towards the sounds and opened one eye, bracing himself for the sting. He could briefly make out a dark object before it vanished only to reappear closer to him. Looking up, he could make out a beam of light playing across the surface of the water.
Involuntarily, Don jerked at his restraints once more as the need for air increased to almost unbearable levels. It took all of his will power to keep his mouth shut. The fact that he could see how shortly above him the surface of the sea was, only made it worse. With a loud splash, a pair of knees came crashing down onto the sand next to him. Darkness began to enter his vision even as he felt a pair of hands tilting his head back. In his panic he'd opened his other eye and he could see Colby's distorted face approaching.
As he was struggling to hold onto consciousness, it wasn't until Colby crushed his mouth against his own, that Don realized what the younger agent intended. The instant he grasped the meaning, he opened his mouth and greedily accepted the precious air offered. It took a supreme effort to shut his mouth again when Colby tapped his chin.
Just as the younger man pulled away, Don felt hands on his right arm. They felt along his arm towards his wrist and he could feel them pulling at the manacle. The hard bite of panic started to set in again; yes, his team was here, but now what? Colby couldn't keep up this CPR-ish breathing for him indefinitely and even if they had an oxygen tank with them, there was no way to get it on him as he'd inevitably end up inhaling seawater first.
Were they just delaying the inevitable?
/
Sunday: 3:03 AM, May 18th
"Colby, I don't see him," David said as he followed his partner across the beach.
"He's in the water," Colby replied as he pulled out his flashlight and ran into the waves before slowing, not wanting to step on Don by accident. "That's why he kept breaking off, the waves were washing over him."
David cursed as he pulled his own flashlight and started to search.
"Got him!" Colby called out as he dropped to his knees in the water.
Don appeared to have been stripped of clothing and was lying stretched out on the sand. Colby released the breath he'd been unconsciously holding as he saw his boss' head move. At least he was still conscious, though he wouldn't be for long if he didn't get any air soon and it looked like the tide was too far in for that at this point.
"See if you can get him loose," Colby said as David appeared next to him.
"What about you?" David questioned but then shook his head as Colby dropped his head under the water. "Over here," he called out instead, waving his light so the SWAT officers could locate them easily.
David then stuffed the light in his jacket and reached for Don's arm. The wrist was encased in some type of restraint and a few quick tugs showed it to be solid. He cursed as he felt the metal chain attached to the manacle and it too refused to budge when he pulled at it. No doubt Don had already tried that.
"What is it?" Colby asked, taking a few quick breaths. "Can you get him loose?"
"No, it's all metal."
"Crap," Colby uttered before he took a deep breath and plunged his head under the water once more.
"Oh, Christ," Perez stated as she reached them. "What do we have?"
"Metal restraints and chains holding him down," David stated, following the chain towards a rock. "They appear to be welded to the rock. Do you guys have anything that will cut through the chains or lock? Granger's already providing air for Don."
"Give me some light," Perez ordered as she knelt down at Don's wrist while her partner started going through the tools they'd brought with them.
"Unit 3, what is Agent Eppes' status?"
"Control, Agent Eppes is conscious but in the water. He has been tied down with what appears to be metal manacles and chains that have been welded to the rocks. SWAT is inspecting now and Agent Granger is providing oxygen via mouth-to-mouth. Please advise on best course of medical action."
"Unit 3, please standby."
"Like I have something better to do," David muttered helplessly.
"Jesus," Perez snarled as a wave caught her off-guard when she'd leaned forwards to inspect the manacle through the water. "Shanagan, bring the torch."
"Torch?" Colby inquired as he surfaced again.
"It's an acetylene one."
Colby merely grunted before going under once more. So far he seemed to be getting enough air to Don as he was still conscious and reacting to the aid being given, but as the tide rose further, it would become more difficult to administer. If they got through this, he had no doubt David would find ample ways to amuse himself with the delivery method of the aid given. The almost desperate way Don sucked in the air, though, made Colby painfully aware of the fact that he'd take any amount of teasing if it meant saving Don's life.
"Let me know when you need me to take over," David said as soon as he surfaced once more.
"Yeah, I'm good for now," Colby replied, wondering if the slight burn in his lungs was anything compared to what Don had been feeling when they'd arrived.
/
Sunday: 3:10 AM, May 18th
Don fought the urge to pull at the chains out of sheer frustration and mounting panic. From what little he could see, there were several people crowded around his right arm which he tried to believe could only be a good thing. There was no point in hurting himself even more with a futile effort now that help had arrived. Besides, it would only waste precious air. The problem was he'd never been any good at just waiting around, and with his life on the line...
Now that he could no longer fight the tide to breathe, Don found the whole world around him seemed to be thrown into confusion. Sounds were muffed and delayed. He could hear that the people around him were talking, but he couldn't make out what was being said. His vision was distorted and tinted in various shades of blue, green, purple and occasionally black when a flashlight was pointed in another direction. The sudden shafts of light briefly illuminated the area, letting him see the sand and seashells that tumbled and danced with the motion of the waves as the tide continued to come in as it always had.
The hands on his face startled him and Don glanced up at Colby's concerned face. Had he drifted? He wasn't sure. Taking in the offered air, he wished there was some way he could convey his gratitude to Colby. Instead he could do literally nothing. He jerked at the chains in anger before he could stop himself.
/
Sunday: 3:15 AM, May 18th
"Is that safe?" David asked in worry as Shanagan waded towards them with the torch.
"It's all we've got," Perez countered just as she felt the chain rattle. "Damn, we're going to have to prevent him from doing that while we cut."
"What? Restrain him further?" David questioned in disbelief. "He won't react well to that."
"To stop him from hurting himself, yes. Besides, there's a good chance the heat will be transferred along the chain to the manacle."
"So we're going to burn him too."
"Hopefully by using the torch at a point near the rock, we'll prevent that, but it's a possibility," Shanagan replied sympathetically. "It's the only way to get him free."
"Okay, what do you need me to do?"
"Shanagan and I shall do the actual cutting, so either you or Granger needs to hold his hand still. Oh, and see if you can get him to keep his eyes closed."
"Got it," Colby said, having come up in time to hear the last part. "Wish we could warn him."
"I know," David replied as he got into position. Sometimes he hated his job.
/
Sunday: 3:19 AM, May 18th
Don wondered if it was his imagination or if Colby was taking longer to get back to him. Movement towards his right caught his attention and he glanced over to see someone kneeling in the water near his hand just as he felt hands at his wrist once more. Unlike before, they were taking hold of his wrist itself and not the manacle. Before he could ponder why, Colby was back, only he was turning his head towards the left.
Confused, Don did as directed before taking in the offered air. His nervousness increased when fingers ran over his eyes, closing them. Hoping it meant they were going to try something, he kept his eyes shut, but Colby didn't remove his hand. Just lying still increased his nervousness, especially now that he couldn't see. His sudden tension must have been obvious as whoever was holding his wrist squeezed it reassuringly. David?
At first Don could detect nothing and his whole world was reduced to Colby supplying him with air, the feel of the water as the current swept the tide further in and the unidentifiable noises. A new sound started up suddenly, sounding like a roar compared to the previous sounds. He tensed further, his hands clenching and it was with a jolt that he realized his right hand was being pinned down even further. Panic overrode rational thought in an instant and he struggled against the hold the hands had on his, ignoring Colby's attempts to get his attention. It wasn't until his lungs started to burn once more that he responded to the younger agent, the need for air winning over the need to be free.
While gasping in the air, Don was forcefully reminded that he wasn't alone and that his team was here to help him, not harm him. With Bradford he'd started the slow process of changing himself and learning to truly trust those he worked with. Now he wasn't given a choice, he had to rely on them, but how he went about that would make a huge difference to his sanity and potentially even to the outcome. By struggling, he was making everything harder and diminishing his own chances of survival by wearing himself out. With a supreme effort, he forced himself to relax a fraction.
/
Sunday: 3:22 AM, May 18th
David cursed as Don's hand clenched before he suddenly started to struggle, tugging frantically.
"He's trying to move," David warned Perez and Shanagan.
"Get him to stop!" Perez ordered.
"Easier said than done," David muttered, his heart clenching at the panic behind the efforts even as he noted how weak they were. "Colby!"
"He's not paying attention to me," Colby retorted before he went under again.
The water around them was getting deeper and with Don's thrashing, Colby had a hard time keeping his eyes covered. He resisted the urge to simply grab his boss' head as he knew it would only fuel his panic. The air bubbles escaping from his mouth meant it wouldn't be long before he'd be forced to stop anyway. As soon as the struggles calmed, he reached forwards and pressed their mouths together.
Even as he fed Don air, Colby could feel a slight shift in him as he calmed again. Whatever had triggered the attack seemed to have passed for now. Gratefully, Colby came up for air himself, praying it wouldn't take much longer or he was sure there'd be more panic attacks. It was amazing they'd only had one so far.
/
Sunday: 3:23 AM, May 18th
'Relax and trust them. Relax and trust them. Relax and trust them,' Don ran the mantra in his mind over and over again, desperately hoping to convince himself and stave off the panic.
His control was briefly tested as he felt the manacle around his right wrist start to heat up. It took him a few seconds before he realized it was probably a good thing and could even be why his arm was being restrained.
Don turned his focus back on his mantra and the air Colby was providing him. He managed to block out enough of his situation that it took him a moment to realize that the pull of the manacle at his right wrist had suddenly vanished. It wasn't until the hands released their hold that the meaning of it penetrated his mind. Acting on pure instinct, he pushed himself up as far as he could and took in large gasping breaths of air as soon as his face broke the surface of the water. He was hacking and coughing the next instant as a wave rolled in, splashing water on his face and into his mouth.
Vaguely he heard Colby cursing as he coughed and shook his head, before a weight settled across his abdomen and the water stopped assaulting his face. Ironically enough, the salt stung his eyes more now than it had underwater and he had to scrub his free palm across them before he could even attempt to look about. Doing so, he found Colby straddling him, his back protecting him from the waves as they crested and broke about them.
"Thanks," Don finally managed after he felt he'd coughed up an entire lung and had taken in enough air to attempt talking.
"Anytime," Colby's voice sounded like it was coming from an impossibly great distance.
It was the water in his ears, Don realized, it was still muffling the sound. Even as he reached up to dislodge it, he felt himself start to slide back down, his strength failing him. Just before he'd have gone under again, he felt hands grabbing his shoulders and lifting him up again before they were replaced with a more solid bulk. Letting his head tip back, he found he was leaning on David.
"You still with us, man?" David asked.
Don merely nodded, too exhausted to talk though he did reach up and clear his ears as much as he could. His heart still felt like it was running a marathon while his lungs continued to take short, gasping breaths. Normal hearing returned to him in a swirl of sounds; the splashing of people moving in the water, David's breathing, the nightmarish sound of water crashing along the shore.
"Agent Eppes," the voice was female and unfamiliar. Don slowly turned his head to the left and peered through stinging eyes at her. "I need you to hold your left hand still while we work. It'll probably burn again, but it's necessary to get you free. Can you do that?"
"Yeah," Don whispered, his eyes drifting past her to the other man and the torch he held.
He was just about to turn his head back when markings in the rock beyond caught his attention. There, carved just above where the chain was welded to the rock, was a simple upside-down triangle.
Water.
The fourth and final element.
It suddenly hit Don that he was the fourth victim. A victim, him. Funny how that particular detail hadn't occurred to him at all since he'd been shot with the dart. Sure, he'd realized exactly what his situation was, but he hadn't made the conscious connection to the word and all its connotations. The others probably hadn't seen themselves as such either and yet that was all they'd ever been to him. Victims.
"Don, you still with us?" Colby asked, leaning forwards with a frown.
Don turned his head to look at him and attempted to smile, but knew he must have failed as Colby's concern didn't lessen any. He closed his eyes as some spray from a wave found its way to his face. He reached up to wipe it off and then glanced down at his arm, wondering why it felt so heavy.
Oh, the manacle and chain. They were still there, he'd forgotten about that. He blinked at them for a moment before letting his arm drop. They'd get them off later.
"Control, this is Unit 3, over," David said.
Don glanced up at him, seeing him holding his hand near his mouth and he snorted.
"What?" David asked, meeting his eyes.
"Water," was all Don could manage, his throat still feeling far too raw and his lungs not yet ready to share his mouth with words.
"Huh?"
"He's right, your mike is toast," Colby explained with a smile.
"I thought they were supposed to be water resistant."
"Not salt water."
"Damn."
"I left mine with the equipment," Shanagan stated just as Don felt the tension in his left wrist go lax. "There, let's get him up."
"Can you stand?" Colby inquired, studying him closely.
Don pondered the question for a second, biting back the instinctive 'yes.' Saying so would be stupid if he'd just plunge under again should his strength give out. "No," he admitted.
"S'okay, I got you," David stated as he hoisted Don up with Colby's help.
"You got him?" Colby asked.
"Yeah."
"I'll let Control know what's going on."
In the distance the sound of sirens broke through the silence of the night and Don smiled. It sounded like a small fleet of official vehicles was rushing towards them. For once he'd actually be glad to see an ambulance, then at least he could lie down comfortably on something other than sand and without the fear of drowning.
He was so tired.
"Don, man, stay with me here," David ordered, jostling him gently to get his attention. "No dozing off until an EMT says it's okay."
"Tyrant," Don muttered.
"That's me."
A sudden flash of memory had Don lifting his head. "417."
"What?"
"2KJF."
"417 2KJF?"
"No," Don shook his head in frustration.
"What is it?"
"2KJF417."
"You got to give me something more than that, Don."
"License."
"License... wait, 2KJF417, is that the license plate of the killer?" David questioned in disbelief. "You saw it?"
Don merely nodded.
"Colby!"
"What?" Colby asked, rushing back towards them. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, our killer's made his first mistake, Don saw his plates."
"No," Don disagreed, fighting off the encroaching darkness. "Not he. She."
"The killer's female?" Colby questioned, needing to be sure.
"Yeah."
"Don, did she inject you with something?" David suddenly demanded, worried at how quickly his boss was fading.
"Dart."
Colby lunged forwards and caught an arm as Don suddenly went limp in David's arms. "He's out! Perez, we need him free now."
"Almost there."
Suddenly they were surrounded by more people as the paramedics and additional agents arrived on the scene. A blanket was thrown over Don and David felt more of his weight taken as others moved in to help.
"How long has he been unconscious?" someone demanded.
"Less than a minute," Colby replied, trying to make room. "He was submerged for a good twenty-five minutes with mouth-to-mouth as his only source of air."
"Damn. Was he coherent afterwards? Did he know where he was?"
"Yes to both," David stated as the final chain was cut and Don was hoisted up and carried to a waiting stretcher. "Though he didn't speak more than a few words together."
"He swallowed a fair amount of water and his eyes were bothering him," Colby added, trying to think of anything else they might need to know. "He's probably been drugged, he mentioned a dart."
"Do we know with what?"
"No."
"He's freezing. How long has he been in the water?"
"No idea."
"Nathalie, get an IV in him, Jim we need more blankets here. Let's move people, we need to get him to the hospital."
It wasn't until a series of agents and EMTs carried the gurney off across the beach and he spotted two EMTs waiting by David, that Colby realized he was completely soaked and just how cold it was.
/
Sunday: 1:29 PM, May 18th
"Hello," Megan said as she knocked lightly on the door and entered.
"Megan, hey," Don greeted her with a large smile, though his voice still wasn't quite normal.
"Where is everyone? I'd have expected at least your father and brother to be here."
"The nurse threw them out, said they had to go eat."
"Really? I wish I had seen that."
"It was quite the show. I haven't seen that particular type of consternation on either of their faces since Mom died," Don commented as Megan took the seat closest to the bed which his father had monopolized since his arrival.
"How are you feeling? Colby and David tell me you'll be okay."
"Yeah, well, you know," Don said, holding up his arms to show the bandaged wrists. "They're worried about infection at the wounds and in my lungs given how dirty seawater is."
"Your lungs too? I thought Colby had gotten to you in time."
"Oh, he got to me before I started seriously inhaling it, but I did swallow a fair amount altogether. And, well, with the strain from being deprived of so much air, they think my lungs may be particularly vulnerable. But it's nothing I can't handle."
"This isn't going to vanish overnight, Don."
"Yeah, well, we'll see, right."
"How did I know you'd say that?" Megan shook her head.
"How come you're here? Not that I'm not glad to see you, but I thought you were going after the woman."
"We did, we have her."
"Already?"
"Turns out she used her own car to transport you, so it was very easy to locate both her and her father. Got your hair and DNA on the backseat too, along with McNamara's and Polinski's."
"Nothing like supporting forensic evidence. What's the deal, though? Why did she do it?"
"Looks like it did go back to the '92 case Hawkins and McNamara worked on," Megan explained. "Her mother was one of the major drug lords involved in the operation that was shut down. Only she refused to lay down her weapon and was killed in the resulting crossfire."
"And her daughter blames us? She couldn't have been more than four or five years old at the time."
"Six, actually, and it looks like her father is the one who fostered the hatred and anger in her. From what I could see at the house, he raised her to hate federal agencies and the people working for them."
"So, what, he groomed her to kill the men involved in his wife's death?"
"That is what I think at present."
"And the whole four element thing?"
"Some type of control mechanism or so. Perhaps it even ties back to the mother somehow, I need more time to look into that. When we arrived on the scene, she didn't resist us at all, claiming that she was above us and our lowly laws. When Colby informed her those lowly laws would get her a lethal injection, she merely smiled and said it was too late; that she'd already achieved aether."
"Aether, isn't that Larry's fifth element?"
"Larry's, eh? He'll like that," Megan teased as Don glared at her. "But yes, that is the fifth element he was taking about, the 'heavenly' substance."
"Wait, she thinks she's now somehow above us mere mortals? From killing agents?"
"Apparently she has somehow come to tie the belief of the five elements into the bloodlust her father instilled in her."
"She'll get off with an insanity plea."
"Probably," Megan agreed. "But you'll be pleased to know that she changed her tune remarkably when she learned that you had survived."
"Changed, how?"
"Her belief in being above us seems to be tied to the successful completion of a kill with each of the other four elements. Without that, she apparently doesn't reach aether."
"And since she didn't get water, she doesn't get to, what, ascend?"
"Something like that," Megan agreed with a smile. "David has made a copy of the tape so you can see her reaction for yourself."
"What's the deal with Polinski and me? We weren't involved in the operation that killed her mother."
"No, but the FBI agent she wanted to target died in a car crash five years ago and she somehow seems to think each element needed to come from a different agency and since there were only three involved in the incident-"
"She needed a fourth. So DHS was chosen at random, I'm sure they'll feel honored," Don said as he shifted slightly, trying to find the right words. "Look, I wanted to thank you for getting to me in time."
"It was more Charlie than anyone else. He figured out how she was selecting her victims and that you were the most likely candidate from the Bureau. Without that we would never have realized you were missing in time. Nor would we have found you without his equations."
"But it was you who got him to focus on the problem. I can tell you from experience that's no easy feat, and you had the foresight to send SWAT along," Don continued, shuddering involuntarily as the helplessness and panic rose again in his mind. "If that torch hadn't been there... well, I wouldn't be here now."
"You're welcome," Megan whispered after a moment, the mere possibility enough to chill her to the bone.
Please remember to go rate this fic here. It is the Team Angst entry for the word prompt beach. Thanks!
Title: Elemental Four
Author: Valerie Vancollie (valeriev84 [at] hotmail.com)
Characters: Don, Colby, David, Megan, Charlie
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Judgment Call, Mind Games, In Plain Sight, Contenders, One Hour
Excerpt: Don pulled at the chains in desperation as he felt the water lapping at his ankles before it withdrew once more. The tide was rapidly coming in and if he didn't get free soon, he would drown.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Numb3rs characters, items or situations. I only lay claim to the original aspects of the fic.
Elemental Four (Part 1)
Sunday: 2:49 AM, May 18th
Panic slammed into Don and he pulled at his chains as the water washed over his face. Just as soon as it was there, it was gone again, running down the beach. Gasping, he took several deep breaths, lifting his head so that he'd see the next one coming. Right when the panic had retreated enough for him to think, he saw the next wave rushing at him. Straining as far as he could, he managed to keep his mouth and nose above the water this time, only to drop to the sand as soon as it retreated once more.
He couldn't keep this up for long.
The thought chilled Don as he jerked frantically at the manacles, feeling his wounds open again.
/
Sunday: 2:55 AM, May 18th
Colby's fingers tapped nervously against the side of the car as it sped along the highway, lights flashing and siren blaring. There wasn't much traffic out this way, but David was going fast enough for them to be warranted regardless. In the side mirror, he could see the lights of the SWAT car behind them. Although not their regular type of assignment, Megan had thought it best to send SWAT members to the top few locations for the expertise and tools they carried. After having seen the setup from Polinski's murder, she knew they could be dealing with some type of contraption.
"Come on, come on," Colby urged as visions of his boss' dead body swam before his eyes.
"I'm going as fast as I can," David snapped as he took a turn far faster than he should.
The winding ocean road meandered along the coastline, constantly twisting and turning. There wasn't much in the way of good beaches here, but there were a few areas where locals and tourists came to see the seals. Colby bit back a nasty response and kept his eyes glued to the road ahead, looking for the signpost indicating the next parking with sea access. Although he loved the ocean, he hardly ever came this way, preferring the surfing areas instead.
It had been at their third stop that David had noticed the tide was coming in and Colby knew with horrifying certainty that when it was fully in, Don would be dead. As Charlie had worked, he'd wondered if there wasn't a possibility of his boss being dumped out at sea, but Megan had pointed out that the killer wanted his victims found, and sooner rather than later. Hopefully that desire would allow them to reach Don in time.
But would he be okay?
Although he tried to avoid it, Colby's mind kept going back to the previous victims. They'd each been tortured in some fashion before they'd died. What was Don going through even now?
"There!" Colby exclaimed as he caught sight of the sign.
"I see it," David replied, slowing down.
"Unit 3, what is your position?" the voice came over the radio just as Colby made to report in.
"Control, this is Unit 3, we are just at location 11," Colby replied.
"Location 11, copy."
"Let's hope he's here," Colby said as they pulled into the parking.
"Yeah," David agreed.
/
Sunday: 2:59 AM, May 18th
Don's ankles and wrists were stinging constantly now as he kept making the wounds deeper and the salt water kept aggravating them. The wounds were definitely adding a red tint to the water and he was lucky he was on the beach instead of further out or he'd be attracting sharks.
The moment the water retreated once more, Don gasped for breath, knowing it would be back almost instantly. The waves kept washing over him now and his feet no longer came out of the water. He only had minutes left before the water would no longer retreat from his face. As the next wave crashed over him and his world became awash in dark blues and greens, he felt tears form as he'd failed to close his eyes in time. He fought back the urge to cough and briefly wondered why he bothered. All he was doing was prolonging the agony for himself; he was doing exactly what she wanted him to do. If he just gave up and stopped trying to outlast the water, it would all be over so much faster...
The moment he started to feel the water pull back, Don lifted his head to be able to breathe faster. He tried to shove the tempting thought out of his mind. He'd never been one to give up as long as there was a chance of success or hope and he wasn't about to start now. As long as he was alive there was a chance his team would find and save him. Try as he might, though, the thought lingered.
When the next wave rushed forwards, Don squeezed his eyes shut to prevent any additional salt from getting into them as they already stung enough. And to think he'd used to love coming to the beach when he had the time. Sun, sand, sports and girls in skimpy clothing, what wasn't to like? Water, apparently. Pity there weren't beaches without water.
"-on!"
It took Don a second to realize that he wasn't just hearing the rush of water on sand as the wave swept back.
He'd actually heard a voice!
"Can you hear us?" the voice was faint and broke up in the wind, but it was definitely David's.
"Help!" Don screamed as loudly as his abused throat would allow. He'd inadvertently swallowed some seawater earlier and it made his throat feel raw, but this was the chance he'd been waiting for. "Down he-"
Don snapped his mouth shut just before the water flooded his face once more. He could only hope he'd been heard as he doubted he had more than three or four more goes at it before the tide would be far enough in for him to drown.
/
Sunday: 3:00 AM, May 18th
"Don!" Colby yelled as he approached the narrow path that wound down from the cliff like edge of the road to the rocky beach below.
"Can you hear us?" David called out as they ran down the rough steps as quickly as possible.
"Help!" the cry was faint and hoarse, but it stopped them in their tracks. "Down he-"
Colby felt his heart leap into his throat as he stormed downwards. He could hardly recognize the voice but was sure it was Don's. The way it had cut off mid word, though, left a sinking feeling in his stomach. Why wasn't he calling out now?
"Control, this is Unit 3, we have found Agent Eppes. Request immediate assistance at location 11," David reported in as he followed his partner. He could just hear the rush of movement behind him as the two SWAT officers grabbed their gear.
"Unit 3, what is Agent Eppes' condition?"
"Currently unknown. We've had audio contact only, but it was cut off."
"Copy."
"Don!" Colby called out. "Don!"
"Don, man, come on," David shouted. "Hang in there."
"Help!" Don's cry came suddenly. "Down here, to the left on-"
"Why does he keep cutting off?" David questioned as they reached the landing halfway down.
"I don't know," Colby replied, taking the stairs three at a time. "Don! Left where?"
"Unit 3, all available units in the vicinity have been rerouted to your location. ADIC requests a report as soon as feasible."
"Understood, Control," David hastily replied.
"Ov-er here," Don's voice was far weaker now and it sounded like he was coughing badly in the middle. "David?"
"Coming!" David called back, desperately hoping it would have Don hold on long enough for them to get there.
If they got this close only to loose him now... he didn't even want to consider the possibility.
Colby sprang the last seven steps down into the sand and rushed around a rock outcropping onto the beach itself. He scanned the area, desperately seeking it for clues about his boss. All he could see were three sets of footprints between him and the water; two going and one returning. He grabbed the butt of his gun as he cautiously but quickly made his way towards the left end of the beach.
"Don! Where are you?"
"At least it's a small beach," David declared as he joined Colby.
"Yeah, but I still can't se-"
"Here!"
"Shit!" Colby swore as he took off across the sand, glad he'd gotten good at it in Afghanistan.
Colby had only gotten a quick glimpse of Don, but it had been more than enough to understand just how dire the situation was. He didn't think David had spotted their boss' face when it had briefly emerged from the water, as he'd been looking in a different direction, but he knew his partner would follow his lead.
/
Sunday: 3:04 AM, May 18th
Don's lungs burned and he had to fight the instinct to open his mouth and gasp for air. In calling out, he'd been practically unable to get any air despite the fact that he'd desperately needed it. He could only hope he'd been both heard and located or this was it. The fact that he was just as firmly tied down as before help had arrived swam into his thoughts.
How the hell were they going to free him?
The eerie sound of water on sand changed abruptly with the introduction of a series of splashes at regular intervals. Don turned his head towards the sounds and opened one eye, bracing himself for the sting. He could briefly make out a dark object before it vanished only to reappear closer to him. Looking up, he could make out a beam of light playing across the surface of the water.
Involuntarily, Don jerked at his restraints once more as the need for air increased to almost unbearable levels. It took all of his will power to keep his mouth shut. The fact that he could see how shortly above him the surface of the sea was, only made it worse. With a loud splash, a pair of knees came crashing down onto the sand next to him. Darkness began to enter his vision even as he felt a pair of hands tilting his head back. In his panic he'd opened his other eye and he could see Colby's distorted face approaching.
As he was struggling to hold onto consciousness, it wasn't until Colby crushed his mouth against his own, that Don realized what the younger agent intended. The instant he grasped the meaning, he opened his mouth and greedily accepted the precious air offered. It took a supreme effort to shut his mouth again when Colby tapped his chin.
Just as the younger man pulled away, Don felt hands on his right arm. They felt along his arm towards his wrist and he could feel them pulling at the manacle. The hard bite of panic started to set in again; yes, his team was here, but now what? Colby couldn't keep up this CPR-ish breathing for him indefinitely and even if they had an oxygen tank with them, there was no way to get it on him as he'd inevitably end up inhaling seawater first.
Were they just delaying the inevitable?
/
Sunday: 3:03 AM, May 18th
"Colby, I don't see him," David said as he followed his partner across the beach.
"He's in the water," Colby replied as he pulled out his flashlight and ran into the waves before slowing, not wanting to step on Don by accident. "That's why he kept breaking off, the waves were washing over him."
David cursed as he pulled his own flashlight and started to search.
"Got him!" Colby called out as he dropped to his knees in the water.
Don appeared to have been stripped of clothing and was lying stretched out on the sand. Colby released the breath he'd been unconsciously holding as he saw his boss' head move. At least he was still conscious, though he wouldn't be for long if he didn't get any air soon and it looked like the tide was too far in for that at this point.
"See if you can get him loose," Colby said as David appeared next to him.
"What about you?" David questioned but then shook his head as Colby dropped his head under the water. "Over here," he called out instead, waving his light so the SWAT officers could locate them easily.
David then stuffed the light in his jacket and reached for Don's arm. The wrist was encased in some type of restraint and a few quick tugs showed it to be solid. He cursed as he felt the metal chain attached to the manacle and it too refused to budge when he pulled at it. No doubt Don had already tried that.
"What is it?" Colby asked, taking a few quick breaths. "Can you get him loose?"
"No, it's all metal."
"Crap," Colby uttered before he took a deep breath and plunged his head under the water once more.
"Oh, Christ," Perez stated as she reached them. "What do we have?"
"Metal restraints and chains holding him down," David stated, following the chain towards a rock. "They appear to be welded to the rock. Do you guys have anything that will cut through the chains or lock? Granger's already providing air for Don."
"Give me some light," Perez ordered as she knelt down at Don's wrist while her partner started going through the tools they'd brought with them.
"Unit 3, what is Agent Eppes' status?"
"Control, Agent Eppes is conscious but in the water. He has been tied down with what appears to be metal manacles and chains that have been welded to the rocks. SWAT is inspecting now and Agent Granger is providing oxygen via mouth-to-mouth. Please advise on best course of medical action."
"Unit 3, please standby."
"Like I have something better to do," David muttered helplessly.
"Jesus," Perez snarled as a wave caught her off-guard when she'd leaned forwards to inspect the manacle through the water. "Shanagan, bring the torch."
"Torch?" Colby inquired as he surfaced again.
"It's an acetylene one."
Colby merely grunted before going under once more. So far he seemed to be getting enough air to Don as he was still conscious and reacting to the aid being given, but as the tide rose further, it would become more difficult to administer. If they got through this, he had no doubt David would find ample ways to amuse himself with the delivery method of the aid given. The almost desperate way Don sucked in the air, though, made Colby painfully aware of the fact that he'd take any amount of teasing if it meant saving Don's life.
"Let me know when you need me to take over," David said as soon as he surfaced once more.
"Yeah, I'm good for now," Colby replied, wondering if the slight burn in his lungs was anything compared to what Don had been feeling when they'd arrived.
/
Sunday: 3:10 AM, May 18th
Don fought the urge to pull at the chains out of sheer frustration and mounting panic. From what little he could see, there were several people crowded around his right arm which he tried to believe could only be a good thing. There was no point in hurting himself even more with a futile effort now that help had arrived. Besides, it would only waste precious air. The problem was he'd never been any good at just waiting around, and with his life on the line...
Now that he could no longer fight the tide to breathe, Don found the whole world around him seemed to be thrown into confusion. Sounds were muffed and delayed. He could hear that the people around him were talking, but he couldn't make out what was being said. His vision was distorted and tinted in various shades of blue, green, purple and occasionally black when a flashlight was pointed in another direction. The sudden shafts of light briefly illuminated the area, letting him see the sand and seashells that tumbled and danced with the motion of the waves as the tide continued to come in as it always had.
The hands on his face startled him and Don glanced up at Colby's concerned face. Had he drifted? He wasn't sure. Taking in the offered air, he wished there was some way he could convey his gratitude to Colby. Instead he could do literally nothing. He jerked at the chains in anger before he could stop himself.
/
Sunday: 3:15 AM, May 18th
"Is that safe?" David asked in worry as Shanagan waded towards them with the torch.
"It's all we've got," Perez countered just as she felt the chain rattle. "Damn, we're going to have to prevent him from doing that while we cut."
"What? Restrain him further?" David questioned in disbelief. "He won't react well to that."
"To stop him from hurting himself, yes. Besides, there's a good chance the heat will be transferred along the chain to the manacle."
"So we're going to burn him too."
"Hopefully by using the torch at a point near the rock, we'll prevent that, but it's a possibility," Shanagan replied sympathetically. "It's the only way to get him free."
"Okay, what do you need me to do?"
"Shanagan and I shall do the actual cutting, so either you or Granger needs to hold his hand still. Oh, and see if you can get him to keep his eyes closed."
"Got it," Colby said, having come up in time to hear the last part. "Wish we could warn him."
"I know," David replied as he got into position. Sometimes he hated his job.
/
Sunday: 3:19 AM, May 18th
Don wondered if it was his imagination or if Colby was taking longer to get back to him. Movement towards his right caught his attention and he glanced over to see someone kneeling in the water near his hand just as he felt hands at his wrist once more. Unlike before, they were taking hold of his wrist itself and not the manacle. Before he could ponder why, Colby was back, only he was turning his head towards the left.
Confused, Don did as directed before taking in the offered air. His nervousness increased when fingers ran over his eyes, closing them. Hoping it meant they were going to try something, he kept his eyes shut, but Colby didn't remove his hand. Just lying still increased his nervousness, especially now that he couldn't see. His sudden tension must have been obvious as whoever was holding his wrist squeezed it reassuringly. David?
At first Don could detect nothing and his whole world was reduced to Colby supplying him with air, the feel of the water as the current swept the tide further in and the unidentifiable noises. A new sound started up suddenly, sounding like a roar compared to the previous sounds. He tensed further, his hands clenching and it was with a jolt that he realized his right hand was being pinned down even further. Panic overrode rational thought in an instant and he struggled against the hold the hands had on his, ignoring Colby's attempts to get his attention. It wasn't until his lungs started to burn once more that he responded to the younger agent, the need for air winning over the need to be free.
While gasping in the air, Don was forcefully reminded that he wasn't alone and that his team was here to help him, not harm him. With Bradford he'd started the slow process of changing himself and learning to truly trust those he worked with. Now he wasn't given a choice, he had to rely on them, but how he went about that would make a huge difference to his sanity and potentially even to the outcome. By struggling, he was making everything harder and diminishing his own chances of survival by wearing himself out. With a supreme effort, he forced himself to relax a fraction.
/
Sunday: 3:22 AM, May 18th
David cursed as Don's hand clenched before he suddenly started to struggle, tugging frantically.
"He's trying to move," David warned Perez and Shanagan.
"Get him to stop!" Perez ordered.
"Easier said than done," David muttered, his heart clenching at the panic behind the efforts even as he noted how weak they were. "Colby!"
"He's not paying attention to me," Colby retorted before he went under again.
The water around them was getting deeper and with Don's thrashing, Colby had a hard time keeping his eyes covered. He resisted the urge to simply grab his boss' head as he knew it would only fuel his panic. The air bubbles escaping from his mouth meant it wouldn't be long before he'd be forced to stop anyway. As soon as the struggles calmed, he reached forwards and pressed their mouths together.
Even as he fed Don air, Colby could feel a slight shift in him as he calmed again. Whatever had triggered the attack seemed to have passed for now. Gratefully, Colby came up for air himself, praying it wouldn't take much longer or he was sure there'd be more panic attacks. It was amazing they'd only had one so far.
/
Sunday: 3:23 AM, May 18th
'Relax and trust them. Relax and trust them. Relax and trust them,' Don ran the mantra in his mind over and over again, desperately hoping to convince himself and stave off the panic.
His control was briefly tested as he felt the manacle around his right wrist start to heat up. It took him a few seconds before he realized it was probably a good thing and could even be why his arm was being restrained.
Don turned his focus back on his mantra and the air Colby was providing him. He managed to block out enough of his situation that it took him a moment to realize that the pull of the manacle at his right wrist had suddenly vanished. It wasn't until the hands released their hold that the meaning of it penetrated his mind. Acting on pure instinct, he pushed himself up as far as he could and took in large gasping breaths of air as soon as his face broke the surface of the water. He was hacking and coughing the next instant as a wave rolled in, splashing water on his face and into his mouth.
Vaguely he heard Colby cursing as he coughed and shook his head, before a weight settled across his abdomen and the water stopped assaulting his face. Ironically enough, the salt stung his eyes more now than it had underwater and he had to scrub his free palm across them before he could even attempt to look about. Doing so, he found Colby straddling him, his back protecting him from the waves as they crested and broke about them.
"Thanks," Don finally managed after he felt he'd coughed up an entire lung and had taken in enough air to attempt talking.
"Anytime," Colby's voice sounded like it was coming from an impossibly great distance.
It was the water in his ears, Don realized, it was still muffling the sound. Even as he reached up to dislodge it, he felt himself start to slide back down, his strength failing him. Just before he'd have gone under again, he felt hands grabbing his shoulders and lifting him up again before they were replaced with a more solid bulk. Letting his head tip back, he found he was leaning on David.
"You still with us, man?" David asked.
Don merely nodded, too exhausted to talk though he did reach up and clear his ears as much as he could. His heart still felt like it was running a marathon while his lungs continued to take short, gasping breaths. Normal hearing returned to him in a swirl of sounds; the splashing of people moving in the water, David's breathing, the nightmarish sound of water crashing along the shore.
"Agent Eppes," the voice was female and unfamiliar. Don slowly turned his head to the left and peered through stinging eyes at her. "I need you to hold your left hand still while we work. It'll probably burn again, but it's necessary to get you free. Can you do that?"
"Yeah," Don whispered, his eyes drifting past her to the other man and the torch he held.
He was just about to turn his head back when markings in the rock beyond caught his attention. There, carved just above where the chain was welded to the rock, was a simple upside-down triangle.
Water.
The fourth and final element.
It suddenly hit Don that he was the fourth victim. A victim, him. Funny how that particular detail hadn't occurred to him at all since he'd been shot with the dart. Sure, he'd realized exactly what his situation was, but he hadn't made the conscious connection to the word and all its connotations. The others probably hadn't seen themselves as such either and yet that was all they'd ever been to him. Victims.
"Don, you still with us?" Colby asked, leaning forwards with a frown.
Don turned his head to look at him and attempted to smile, but knew he must have failed as Colby's concern didn't lessen any. He closed his eyes as some spray from a wave found its way to his face. He reached up to wipe it off and then glanced down at his arm, wondering why it felt so heavy.
Oh, the manacle and chain. They were still there, he'd forgotten about that. He blinked at them for a moment before letting his arm drop. They'd get them off later.
"Control, this is Unit 3, over," David said.
Don glanced up at him, seeing him holding his hand near his mouth and he snorted.
"What?" David asked, meeting his eyes.
"Water," was all Don could manage, his throat still feeling far too raw and his lungs not yet ready to share his mouth with words.
"Huh?"
"He's right, your mike is toast," Colby explained with a smile.
"I thought they were supposed to be water resistant."
"Not salt water."
"Damn."
"I left mine with the equipment," Shanagan stated just as Don felt the tension in his left wrist go lax. "There, let's get him up."
"Can you stand?" Colby inquired, studying him closely.
Don pondered the question for a second, biting back the instinctive 'yes.' Saying so would be stupid if he'd just plunge under again should his strength give out. "No," he admitted.
"S'okay, I got you," David stated as he hoisted Don up with Colby's help.
"You got him?" Colby asked.
"Yeah."
"I'll let Control know what's going on."
In the distance the sound of sirens broke through the silence of the night and Don smiled. It sounded like a small fleet of official vehicles was rushing towards them. For once he'd actually be glad to see an ambulance, then at least he could lie down comfortably on something other than sand and without the fear of drowning.
He was so tired.
"Don, man, stay with me here," David ordered, jostling him gently to get his attention. "No dozing off until an EMT says it's okay."
"Tyrant," Don muttered.
"That's me."
A sudden flash of memory had Don lifting his head. "417."
"What?"
"2KJF."
"417 2KJF?"
"No," Don shook his head in frustration.
"What is it?"
"2KJF417."
"You got to give me something more than that, Don."
"License."
"License... wait, 2KJF417, is that the license plate of the killer?" David questioned in disbelief. "You saw it?"
Don merely nodded.
"Colby!"
"What?" Colby asked, rushing back towards them. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, our killer's made his first mistake, Don saw his plates."
"No," Don disagreed, fighting off the encroaching darkness. "Not he. She."
"The killer's female?" Colby questioned, needing to be sure.
"Yeah."
"Don, did she inject you with something?" David suddenly demanded, worried at how quickly his boss was fading.
"Dart."
Colby lunged forwards and caught an arm as Don suddenly went limp in David's arms. "He's out! Perez, we need him free now."
"Almost there."
Suddenly they were surrounded by more people as the paramedics and additional agents arrived on the scene. A blanket was thrown over Don and David felt more of his weight taken as others moved in to help.
"How long has he been unconscious?" someone demanded.
"Less than a minute," Colby replied, trying to make room. "He was submerged for a good twenty-five minutes with mouth-to-mouth as his only source of air."
"Damn. Was he coherent afterwards? Did he know where he was?"
"Yes to both," David stated as the final chain was cut and Don was hoisted up and carried to a waiting stretcher. "Though he didn't speak more than a few words together."
"He swallowed a fair amount of water and his eyes were bothering him," Colby added, trying to think of anything else they might need to know. "He's probably been drugged, he mentioned a dart."
"Do we know with what?"
"No."
"He's freezing. How long has he been in the water?"
"No idea."
"Nathalie, get an IV in him, Jim we need more blankets here. Let's move people, we need to get him to the hospital."
It wasn't until a series of agents and EMTs carried the gurney off across the beach and he spotted two EMTs waiting by David, that Colby realized he was completely soaked and just how cold it was.
/
Sunday: 1:29 PM, May 18th
"Hello," Megan said as she knocked lightly on the door and entered.
"Megan, hey," Don greeted her with a large smile, though his voice still wasn't quite normal.
"Where is everyone? I'd have expected at least your father and brother to be here."
"The nurse threw them out, said they had to go eat."
"Really? I wish I had seen that."
"It was quite the show. I haven't seen that particular type of consternation on either of their faces since Mom died," Don commented as Megan took the seat closest to the bed which his father had monopolized since his arrival.
"How are you feeling? Colby and David tell me you'll be okay."
"Yeah, well, you know," Don said, holding up his arms to show the bandaged wrists. "They're worried about infection at the wounds and in my lungs given how dirty seawater is."
"Your lungs too? I thought Colby had gotten to you in time."
"Oh, he got to me before I started seriously inhaling it, but I did swallow a fair amount altogether. And, well, with the strain from being deprived of so much air, they think my lungs may be particularly vulnerable. But it's nothing I can't handle."
"This isn't going to vanish overnight, Don."
"Yeah, well, we'll see, right."
"How did I know you'd say that?" Megan shook her head.
"How come you're here? Not that I'm not glad to see you, but I thought you were going after the woman."
"We did, we have her."
"Already?"
"Turns out she used her own car to transport you, so it was very easy to locate both her and her father. Got your hair and DNA on the backseat too, along with McNamara's and Polinski's."
"Nothing like supporting forensic evidence. What's the deal, though? Why did she do it?"
"Looks like it did go back to the '92 case Hawkins and McNamara worked on," Megan explained. "Her mother was one of the major drug lords involved in the operation that was shut down. Only she refused to lay down her weapon and was killed in the resulting crossfire."
"And her daughter blames us? She couldn't have been more than four or five years old at the time."
"Six, actually, and it looks like her father is the one who fostered the hatred and anger in her. From what I could see at the house, he raised her to hate federal agencies and the people working for them."
"So, what, he groomed her to kill the men involved in his wife's death?"
"That is what I think at present."
"And the whole four element thing?"
"Some type of control mechanism or so. Perhaps it even ties back to the mother somehow, I need more time to look into that. When we arrived on the scene, she didn't resist us at all, claiming that she was above us and our lowly laws. When Colby informed her those lowly laws would get her a lethal injection, she merely smiled and said it was too late; that she'd already achieved aether."
"Aether, isn't that Larry's fifth element?"
"Larry's, eh? He'll like that," Megan teased as Don glared at her. "But yes, that is the fifth element he was taking about, the 'heavenly' substance."
"Wait, she thinks she's now somehow above us mere mortals? From killing agents?"
"Apparently she has somehow come to tie the belief of the five elements into the bloodlust her father instilled in her."
"She'll get off with an insanity plea."
"Probably," Megan agreed. "But you'll be pleased to know that she changed her tune remarkably when she learned that you had survived."
"Changed, how?"
"Her belief in being above us seems to be tied to the successful completion of a kill with each of the other four elements. Without that, she apparently doesn't reach aether."
"And since she didn't get water, she doesn't get to, what, ascend?"
"Something like that," Megan agreed with a smile. "David has made a copy of the tape so you can see her reaction for yourself."
"What's the deal with Polinski and me? We weren't involved in the operation that killed her mother."
"No, but the FBI agent she wanted to target died in a car crash five years ago and she somehow seems to think each element needed to come from a different agency and since there were only three involved in the incident-"
"She needed a fourth. So DHS was chosen at random, I'm sure they'll feel honored," Don said as he shifted slightly, trying to find the right words. "Look, I wanted to thank you for getting to me in time."
"It was more Charlie than anyone else. He figured out how she was selecting her victims and that you were the most likely candidate from the Bureau. Without that we would never have realized you were missing in time. Nor would we have found you without his equations."
"But it was you who got him to focus on the problem. I can tell you from experience that's no easy feat, and you had the foresight to send SWAT along," Don continued, shuddering involuntarily as the helplessness and panic rose again in his mind. "If that torch hadn't been there... well, I wouldn't be here now."
"You're welcome," Megan whispered after a moment, the mere possibility enough to chill her to the bone.
Please remember to go rate this fic here. It is the Team Angst entry for the word prompt beach. Thanks!