Angel of Mercy
Written for fanfic100 prompt: Death
Title: Angel of Mercy
Character(s)/Pairings: Colby, Callie Walker, Dwayne Carter, Mason Lancer
Rating: R
Summary: She was his angel of mercy...
Author’s Notes: Callie Walker is mustangcandi's OFC
Spoilers: Trust Metric
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Colby scowled as he sat in the boat next to Dwayne Carter. His eyes were no longer accustomed to the sunlight and everything was so damned loud after four weeks of being in a soundproof room.
He was fighting the urge to cover his ears and was glad that he’d at least found a knit cap and some sunglasses to slip on when he and Dwayne had gotten rid of their clothes after the escape. The ocean air was cool on his face as they made their way to the Chinese freighter and he let his thoughts drift for just a moment…
Don could have shot him today…he’d had the perfect opportunity, but he hadn’t taken it. He took a deep breath. Maybe somewhere, some part of his former boss had believed him when he’d called telling him what he knew and voicing that he thought he was in trouble and had nowhere else to turn.
He’d done all he could do and now all that was left was to do his best to finish carrying out this assignment. He’d come too far to turn back now. For the past two years he’d been lying to everyone in his life and he was tired. He was tired of pretending to be someone he wasn’t, tired of lying to people he loved, and tired of not even being able to live his own life - being ever at the mercy of his superiors and what they had planned.
The small boat pulled up next to the freighter and the three men easily hoisted themselves aboard. Though his time in solitary had somewhat messed with his senses, Colby still found his old instincts were still intact. He wasn’t sure if it were the soldier in him or the FBI Agent, but either way, he took in everything around him. He noted the number of guards that were occupying the outside of the freighter before stepping into the cabin and taking off his hat.
He ran his hand over his hair as he looked around, noting the guards there as well, being sure to seem as relaxed and nonchalant as was possible given the circumstances. A man was waiting for them there. He had a look about him that Colby didn’t trust, but then again that was why he was here, wasn’t it?
The man smiled at him and Dwayne as he adjusted his thick glasses and reached out to shake Colby’s hand. The two men took a seat, Colby ending up sitting across from the man known to the world as Mason Lancer. He looked to Carter and asked, “Any problems?”
Dwayne muttered, “Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
Lancer nodded then turned his gaze to Colby once more and asked, “Do you…know who I am?”
Colby regarded him carefully as he asked, “Should I?”
Mason replied, “Well, that’s a question I need answered, Agent Granger.”
Colby stated, “It’s not Agent anymore.”
Mason paused and pursed his lips, “Mike Kirkland says differently.”
Colby’s heart lurched to spite himself. This man knew of Kirkland…and if he knew that, then he knew he wasn’t who everyone needed to think he was. He wasn’t a spy for the Chinese…he never was. He knew that he would be taking risks, that he would at some point be in danger, he just hadn’t expected it so soon. However, he said nothing, only held the gaze of Lancer.
Dwayne asked, “Am I missing something?”
Colby sat quietly then as Lancer revealed to Dwayne that his supposed best friend was in reality, a triple Agent and had been lying to him for the past two years. He was disarmed and Lancer took his phone before once again sitting across from him. One cold look from the man and Colby knew…he knew his game. He’d seen that look before in the eyes of men right before they had tortured him and he steeled himself for what might lie ahead.
Lancer took his time, enjoying his game as he set up a camera and carefully laid out his tools. Colby was strapped to the chair, carefully watching every move his enemy was making. He was talking non-stop, but Colby barely heard a word as he noticed the vials that were being set up. This situation was turning out to be a lot more life-threatening than he had at first suspected. Lancer turned around then and tied off his arm as he prepared the first needle.
Colby’s expression remained neutral and calm, but in reality his soul was beginning to stir for the first time since he’d last looked upon Callie’s tear-stained face. His resolve began rushing through his veins once more as he realized that he didn’t want to die like this. Lancer had killed Kirkland and he had been the only person to know his story. He couldn’t let the world and everyone he knew and loved think that he died a traitor…someone needed to know his story. He decided then and there that he was going to fight this…somehow, he was going to persevere.
Colby felt the sting of the needle as it pierced his skin, yet he made no moves and gave no indication that he was anything less than completely calm. Within seconds, he began to feel the effects as Mason explained, “What I administered was a non-lethal dose of Tubocurarine. It paralyzes the muscles and depresses the respiratory capability, creating what I’ve heard described as the sensation of slowly drowning.”
Colby was sweating profusely and he swore that he could feel his heart beating in his throat, hindering his breathing even further. His chest ached and though he wanted to fight for air, he was helpless. He couldn’t move. “Focus, Granger,” he told himself. He wanted to close his eyes, but wouldn’t give Lancer the satisfaction. Instead he just focused on a spot in front of him and though he’d been trying to keep his mind from going there…he let his thoughts drift to the only place he’d felt safe: with Callie.
This feeling of not being able to breathe…was translated into waves crashing over him as he and Callie went surfing. He let himself drift further…the two of them were swimming and even under water they couldn’t keep their distance and she kissed him fully. As they pushed their way to the surface, she gave him air and for a brief moment, he felt a relief from the pressure in his chest. As they broke the surface, the sound of her laughter echoed all around him and more than anything, he wanted to call out to her as she swam away, back to her surfboard…
He was broken from his thoughts as the droning of Lancer stopped and Colby realized he had yet another needle in his hand. He was asking him questions and though he didn’t want to leave this haven with Callie…he brought himself back to reality. He had to know what it was that he was fighting. “Quinuclidinyl Benzylate…produces akathisia - intense desire to move. It also amplifies pain receptors so that even a pinprick will feel like you’re being stabbed.”
Colby again tried to refocus as Lancer once again pierced his skin with a needle. With resolve, he rasped, “Also causes hallucinations and loss of mental and physical control.”
Lancer looked at him, with a surprised expression on his face. “Good. Then you’ll know what to expect.”
Again, the effects only took mere seconds and Colby’s thoughts began to whirl. Lancer was asking him questions and he was fighting to be alert enough to continue showing Lancer that he didn’t intend to give up and most importantly - that he wasn’t getting any information out of him, whatever the cost.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, his heart leapt as he heard a familiar voice, “Colby.”
He didn’t dare turn his head in case Lancer noticed, but he slid his gaze to his left and there, kneeling next to him was his Callie. Her green eyes were as brilliant as they had always been and her red hair just as fiery. He wanted to tell her to hide, to get out of here, but he wasn’t given the chance before she spoke again, “Colby…focus on my voice. You need to breathe. I know it’s painful…but you need to take some deep breaths. This will help you fight the urge to move, even though you can’t.”
Colby knew she was right and with a barely discernable nod, he set to this very task. He winced as he breathed in, taking the air into his lungs and feeling like someone was crushing him all the while. He could do this…Callie was here now and she would help him through this, as she had so many other things, even though she might never have known.
After a few moments, though he was still feeling the effects, the symptoms had lessened and he turned to give a grateful look to Callie, but she was gone. Good…she’d hidden before anyone else could see her. She always had been one hell of an Agent, but he would be damned if he would let anything happen to her.
With this thought, his heartbeat accelerated once more and his breathing was once more becoming labored. “Colbs.”
His eyes shot forward and he felt fear rush through him that she would be so bold as to be right out in the open. “Don’t worry about me, Colby. I am fine…I am safe. Just breathe, baby…you need to breathe. You’re going to get through this.”
By now, Lancer was clearly becoming frustrated and annoyed by the fact that Colby wasn’t budging…not even an inch. He repeatedly asked him questions, only to receive smartass answers and he was finished playing. He stood up and sighed, “The last syringe is potassium chloride - the finisher in the lethal injection cocktail.”
He picked up the vial and studied it before shaking it and showing it to Colby, as if to prove to him that he meant to follow through. “If I can’t know what you know, then it’s really best for me that no one else does.”
He prepared the syringe and then stated, “What it comes down to is, do you want to spend your last hours in unholy pain just so that you can die?”
From behind him, Dwayne finally spoke after being silent up until this point, “Granger! Don’t do this! It’s not worth it for some secrets nobody will care about six months from now.”
Colby groaned, “Dwayne, I really wish somebody else had pulled me out of that fire.”
Dwayne asked, “Why?”
Tiredly, Colby responded, “Cause I hate owing you.”
Moments later, Colby heard the sound of sirens and choppers and felt a sense of relief wash over him. Callie had called for help. She told him that he would make it through and now she’d delivered. She was his angel, his saving grace - he owed her his life, he owed her everything…if she would just give him a chance.
The sound of gunfire and men shouting filled the air and Colby prayed every second that Callie was safe, that he would be able to see her beautiful face once more when he got out of this.
Lancer seemed unaffected by all that was going on and was calmly preparing the syringe that he’d promised was next. He walked towards Colby and as he steeled himself, waiting for his salvation, Dwayne spoke again, “What are you doing?”
Lancer stated, “What I said I would…”
In the next second, a jolt of pain rocked through Colby’s body as the needle was stuck into his chest. His mind whirled and his body protested. He clenched his fists and all he could think about was that he couldn’t die. He had to see her…had to find her…to make sure that she was ok. His Callie was here somewhere and…
Blackness surrounded him even as the pain intensified. The world around him disappeared and his head snapped back only moments before he slumped forward and he knew nothing else…
Title: Angel of Mercy
Character(s)/Pairings: Colby, Callie Walker, Dwayne Carter, Mason Lancer
Rating: R
Summary: She was his angel of mercy...
Author’s Notes: Callie Walker is mustangcandi's OFC
Spoilers: Trust Metric
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Colby scowled as he sat in the boat next to Dwayne Carter. His eyes were no longer accustomed to the sunlight and everything was so damned loud after four weeks of being in a soundproof room.
He was fighting the urge to cover his ears and was glad that he’d at least found a knit cap and some sunglasses to slip on when he and Dwayne had gotten rid of their clothes after the escape. The ocean air was cool on his face as they made their way to the Chinese freighter and he let his thoughts drift for just a moment…
Don could have shot him today…he’d had the perfect opportunity, but he hadn’t taken it. He took a deep breath. Maybe somewhere, some part of his former boss had believed him when he’d called telling him what he knew and voicing that he thought he was in trouble and had nowhere else to turn.
He’d done all he could do and now all that was left was to do his best to finish carrying out this assignment. He’d come too far to turn back now. For the past two years he’d been lying to everyone in his life and he was tired. He was tired of pretending to be someone he wasn’t, tired of lying to people he loved, and tired of not even being able to live his own life - being ever at the mercy of his superiors and what they had planned.
The small boat pulled up next to the freighter and the three men easily hoisted themselves aboard. Though his time in solitary had somewhat messed with his senses, Colby still found his old instincts were still intact. He wasn’t sure if it were the soldier in him or the FBI Agent, but either way, he took in everything around him. He noted the number of guards that were occupying the outside of the freighter before stepping into the cabin and taking off his hat.
He ran his hand over his hair as he looked around, noting the guards there as well, being sure to seem as relaxed and nonchalant as was possible given the circumstances. A man was waiting for them there. He had a look about him that Colby didn’t trust, but then again that was why he was here, wasn’t it?
The man smiled at him and Dwayne as he adjusted his thick glasses and reached out to shake Colby’s hand. The two men took a seat, Colby ending up sitting across from the man known to the world as Mason Lancer. He looked to Carter and asked, “Any problems?”
Dwayne muttered, “Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
Lancer nodded then turned his gaze to Colby once more and asked, “Do you…know who I am?”
Colby regarded him carefully as he asked, “Should I?”
Mason replied, “Well, that’s a question I need answered, Agent Granger.”
Colby stated, “It’s not Agent anymore.”
Mason paused and pursed his lips, “Mike Kirkland says differently.”
Colby’s heart lurched to spite himself. This man knew of Kirkland…and if he knew that, then he knew he wasn’t who everyone needed to think he was. He wasn’t a spy for the Chinese…he never was. He knew that he would be taking risks, that he would at some point be in danger, he just hadn’t expected it so soon. However, he said nothing, only held the gaze of Lancer.
Dwayne asked, “Am I missing something?”
Colby sat quietly then as Lancer revealed to Dwayne that his supposed best friend was in reality, a triple Agent and had been lying to him for the past two years. He was disarmed and Lancer took his phone before once again sitting across from him. One cold look from the man and Colby knew…he knew his game. He’d seen that look before in the eyes of men right before they had tortured him and he steeled himself for what might lie ahead.
Lancer took his time, enjoying his game as he set up a camera and carefully laid out his tools. Colby was strapped to the chair, carefully watching every move his enemy was making. He was talking non-stop, but Colby barely heard a word as he noticed the vials that were being set up. This situation was turning out to be a lot more life-threatening than he had at first suspected. Lancer turned around then and tied off his arm as he prepared the first needle.
Colby’s expression remained neutral and calm, but in reality his soul was beginning to stir for the first time since he’d last looked upon Callie’s tear-stained face. His resolve began rushing through his veins once more as he realized that he didn’t want to die like this. Lancer had killed Kirkland and he had been the only person to know his story. He couldn’t let the world and everyone he knew and loved think that he died a traitor…someone needed to know his story. He decided then and there that he was going to fight this…somehow, he was going to persevere.
Colby felt the sting of the needle as it pierced his skin, yet he made no moves and gave no indication that he was anything less than completely calm. Within seconds, he began to feel the effects as Mason explained, “What I administered was a non-lethal dose of Tubocurarine. It paralyzes the muscles and depresses the respiratory capability, creating what I’ve heard described as the sensation of slowly drowning.”
Colby was sweating profusely and he swore that he could feel his heart beating in his throat, hindering his breathing even further. His chest ached and though he wanted to fight for air, he was helpless. He couldn’t move. “Focus, Granger,” he told himself. He wanted to close his eyes, but wouldn’t give Lancer the satisfaction. Instead he just focused on a spot in front of him and though he’d been trying to keep his mind from going there…he let his thoughts drift to the only place he’d felt safe: with Callie.
This feeling of not being able to breathe…was translated into waves crashing over him as he and Callie went surfing. He let himself drift further…the two of them were swimming and even under water they couldn’t keep their distance and she kissed him fully. As they pushed their way to the surface, she gave him air and for a brief moment, he felt a relief from the pressure in his chest. As they broke the surface, the sound of her laughter echoed all around him and more than anything, he wanted to call out to her as she swam away, back to her surfboard…
He was broken from his thoughts as the droning of Lancer stopped and Colby realized he had yet another needle in his hand. He was asking him questions and though he didn’t want to leave this haven with Callie…he brought himself back to reality. He had to know what it was that he was fighting. “Quinuclidinyl Benzylate…produces akathisia - intense desire to move. It also amplifies pain receptors so that even a pinprick will feel like you’re being stabbed.”
Colby again tried to refocus as Lancer once again pierced his skin with a needle. With resolve, he rasped, “Also causes hallucinations and loss of mental and physical control.”
Lancer looked at him, with a surprised expression on his face. “Good. Then you’ll know what to expect.”
Again, the effects only took mere seconds and Colby’s thoughts began to whirl. Lancer was asking him questions and he was fighting to be alert enough to continue showing Lancer that he didn’t intend to give up and most importantly - that he wasn’t getting any information out of him, whatever the cost.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, his heart leapt as he heard a familiar voice, “Colby.”
He didn’t dare turn his head in case Lancer noticed, but he slid his gaze to his left and there, kneeling next to him was his Callie. Her green eyes were as brilliant as they had always been and her red hair just as fiery. He wanted to tell her to hide, to get out of here, but he wasn’t given the chance before she spoke again, “Colby…focus on my voice. You need to breathe. I know it’s painful…but you need to take some deep breaths. This will help you fight the urge to move, even though you can’t.”
Colby knew she was right and with a barely discernable nod, he set to this very task. He winced as he breathed in, taking the air into his lungs and feeling like someone was crushing him all the while. He could do this…Callie was here now and she would help him through this, as she had so many other things, even though she might never have known.
After a few moments, though he was still feeling the effects, the symptoms had lessened and he turned to give a grateful look to Callie, but she was gone. Good…she’d hidden before anyone else could see her. She always had been one hell of an Agent, but he would be damned if he would let anything happen to her.
With this thought, his heartbeat accelerated once more and his breathing was once more becoming labored. “Colbs.”
His eyes shot forward and he felt fear rush through him that she would be so bold as to be right out in the open. “Don’t worry about me, Colby. I am fine…I am safe. Just breathe, baby…you need to breathe. You’re going to get through this.”
By now, Lancer was clearly becoming frustrated and annoyed by the fact that Colby wasn’t budging…not even an inch. He repeatedly asked him questions, only to receive smartass answers and he was finished playing. He stood up and sighed, “The last syringe is potassium chloride - the finisher in the lethal injection cocktail.”
He picked up the vial and studied it before shaking it and showing it to Colby, as if to prove to him that he meant to follow through. “If I can’t know what you know, then it’s really best for me that no one else does.”
He prepared the syringe and then stated, “What it comes down to is, do you want to spend your last hours in unholy pain just so that you can die?”
From behind him, Dwayne finally spoke after being silent up until this point, “Granger! Don’t do this! It’s not worth it for some secrets nobody will care about six months from now.”
Colby groaned, “Dwayne, I really wish somebody else had pulled me out of that fire.”
Dwayne asked, “Why?”
Tiredly, Colby responded, “Cause I hate owing you.”
Moments later, Colby heard the sound of sirens and choppers and felt a sense of relief wash over him. Callie had called for help. She told him that he would make it through and now she’d delivered. She was his angel, his saving grace - he owed her his life, he owed her everything…if she would just give him a chance.
The sound of gunfire and men shouting filled the air and Colby prayed every second that Callie was safe, that he would be able to see her beautiful face once more when he got out of this.
Lancer seemed unaffected by all that was going on and was calmly preparing the syringe that he’d promised was next. He walked towards Colby and as he steeled himself, waiting for his salvation, Dwayne spoke again, “What are you doing?”
Lancer stated, “What I said I would…”
In the next second, a jolt of pain rocked through Colby’s body as the needle was stuck into his chest. His mind whirled and his body protested. He clenched his fists and all he could think about was that he couldn’t die. He had to see her…had to find her…to make sure that she was ok. His Callie was here somewhere and…
Blackness surrounded him even as the pain intensified. The world around him disappeared and his head snapped back only moments before he slumped forward and he knew nothing else…