Chapter 20

"Okay, we've got a location of the two agents. You've been selected to follow myself and my son in for the rescue." Garrett told a small contingent of agents.

Garrett the younger paced in the back.

"We'll be leaving in about twenty minutes. The IMF is more than likely going to be expecting us, so we'll have to be careful."

The group nodded as one.

"We'll be split into two teams. The first team will come with me, and the second will go with Garrett. Any questions?"

None were raised.

"Good. Move out."

They headed out and separated into teams.

"Garrett? You with us?" Garrett asked his son quietly.

"Yeah. I'm coming."

"Good. Let's go."

The younger man headed out first.

Garrett followed.

~*~*~*~

Chelsea looked up as the door opened. She'd been pretty much left to herself in the small room for the time she'd been there.

Kayla walked into the room, looking nice and healthy... almost glowing.

"Kayla? Are you okay?" Chelsea stood.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." She smiled.

"Where have you been?"

"With a guy."

"WHAT?"

"With a guy."

"A GUY?"

"Would you rather I was with a girl?"

"Kayla, we're being held prisoner by the IMF, how the hell did you meet a guy?"

"Well... he sorta paid off Dylan, but he's really nice and all."

"Yeah, he'll be nice right up until when he kills you."

She shrugged. "I'll take that chance."

"You can't honestly tell me you want to stay."

"Maybe I do."

Chelsea shook her head. "This is insane."

"I guess."

"So you're staying with them?"

"Looks like."

Chelsea sighed. "What's going to happen to me?"

"Look... just hang in there, okay?"

"Hang in there? I've been locked in a room for who knows how long, and you tell me to hang in there while you're off screwing some guy?"

Kayla shrugged. "Sorry."

Chelsea looked at the wall.

"I *am* sorry, Chels."

"Just get out."

Kayla tapped at the door.

Chelsea was sorry to see her only company go, but knew if Kayla stayed, Chelsea would've started beating her up.

Kayla slipped out of the room, with only a sad look toward her cousin.

~*~*~*~

Garrett came back to the vehicle. Kayla had already been moved. He'd sent some of his team to search the building in case she was still there.

Garrett the younger was having more success, however. He carefully dropped through the vent. "Chels?"

Chelsea blinked a few times before standing up. "Garrett....but...?"

"Shh. Come on, it's time to go."

She nodded and stood up.

He helped her into the vent and then climbed up himself using the rope attached to his belt.

She followed him out.

Garrett led her to the waiting car. "Let's go."

Chelsea climbed into the car and a few stray tears slid down her cheeks.

Garrett gently kissed them away. "What's wrong?"

"I...I don't know..." She replied shakily.

"It's alright." He held her close.

She clung to him. "I didn't know what they were going to do...."

"You're safe now. With me."

"Yeah."

He wiped away the few tears still falling.

"They did something to Kayla...."

"What do you mean?"

"She's staying with them. Voluntarily."

"She's... oh shit..."

Chelsea sniffled. "She came in to tell me."

Garrett gave her a hug.

She buried her face in his shoulder.

He stroked her hair gently, almost lovingly. "Shh. It'll be alright."

"They weren't going to kill me...right?"

"No, they wouldn't have killed you. You were bait... for me."

"They were going to kill you?"

"They were gonna try."

"But they didn't."

"Because we're too good for them." Garrett smiled at her, still holding her close.

She rested her head against his shoulder.

He kissed her forehead.

She shivered involuntarily.

"You alright, baby?"

"I just got a chill. This dress isn't really internally heated." She motioned down to the tiny black dress she was wearing.

"But you look great." He slipped off his long jacket and wrapped her in it. "Better?"

She nodded. "Much....and I looked better in it before we were kidnapped."

"Mmm... I can only imagine."

One of the agents from Garrett's team snickered a bit.

Chelsea didn't reply, she was staring out the window.

Garrett shot the man a glare and then gently turned Chelsea to face him. "Baby, you okay?"

"They didn't do anything to me, Garrett, just left me in that room....well, one guard tried to attack me, but I knocked him out....I'm fine."

He kissed her cheek. "I was afraid."

"So was I." She admitted.

"But we're fine." He smiled.

She nodded.

He kissed her softly, on the lips for the first time since he'd found her.

Chelsea closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of his lips on hers.

He gently pulled her onto his lap.

She placed her hands on his face.

"Mmm... we better stop... there's people in this car with us," Garrett said quietly.

She nodded. "Mmhmm."

He just held her.

She rested her forehead against his.

"Almost home, beautiful."

"Good."

The car pulled to a stop.

"We're home?"

"We're home." He helped her to her feet.

Chelsea held his hand as they walked into the house.

Gavin immediately pulled her into a hug. "Chelsea..."

"Daddy..."

"My little girl..." He kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry about how we parted company last time."

Cassidy watched from the doorway, waiting for her own little girl to step out of the car...

"Me too..." She said.

"I love you, you know that?"

When Garrett stepped out of the car alone, Cassidy went to him.

"I love you too." Chelsea hugged him tightly.

"Garrett?" She asked quietly.

Gavin squeezed her.

"I hate fighting with you." Chelsea said.

"I hate it too baby… but this is why... I didn't want this to happen to you."

"I know...but I'm okay."

"You might not have been."

Garrett sighed. "They moved her. I left my team behind to keep looking, but I need to see if there's been any reports..."

"But I am."

Cassidy nodded, biting her lip.

"I don't want you doing this, Chelsea..."

Garrett pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry...."

Chelsea sighed. "But I do want to do this."

Cassidy just rested in his arms. She at least felt safe... but Kayla... "Garrett... our little girl..."

"I know. But Chelsea, you could have been killed."

"I know....I'll bring her back..."

"I know that!"

"I know you will," Cass said quietly.

"Do you realize how terrified your mother and I were?"

He kissed her forehead. "I promise."

"I trust you to, Garrett."

"Yes, dad, I do. Do you realize how scared I was, locked in a room, not knowing what they were going to do with me?"

"Okay."

"You know I trust you," she said quietly.

"Then *why* are you begging for it to happen again??"

"I'm not begging for it, Dad...I like working for Uncle Garrett."

"I know."

"Fine. When you're dead he can explain to your mother."

"Dad..."

Cassidy kissed his cheek.

"Chelsea, I'd like you to outlive me."

"I know, Dad."

"Please."

Garrett walked with her inside.

"Dad..." She closed her eyes. "Don't make me stop working."

Cassidy sat down, unable to help the worry for her child.

"I can't make you... but I can damn well try."

Garrett pulled her close. "We'll get her."

"I love you, and I don't want to fight."

"I don't want to fight either Chelsea but I can't in good conscience condone this."

"I know... doesn't stop me from worrying.'

"I know." Garrett replied.

"Then don't condone it...just accept it in good faith that you raised a daughter who is capable of making her own decisions."

"I have to. I'm the Mommy."

"I can't, Chelsea!"

"I know you do, baby, but I'm gonna need your help getting her out...."

"Dad, please."

"You know I'll help."

"Chelsea..."

"Dad..." She had a pleading look in her eyes.

"I know you will, but I need you to be as calm as you can be."

"No."

"And I'll do what I can, Garrett."

"I know you will." He kissed her forehead.

Chelsea took a step back. "If that's how you feel..."

"Chelsea... let's not do this again."

"Then don't fight me, Dad."

"I CAN'T LET YOU DO THIS! You mean too much to us, Chelsea."

Chelsea began to cry. "The more you try and get me to stop, the farther you're pushing me away, Dad. I hate what this is doing to us, but I...can't...."

"Chelsea where did we fail?"

"You didn't fail."

"If we hadn't failed you wouldn't be doing this!" Gavin's tone was almost tortured.

"You never failed me!" She cried. "You failed Nathan!"

He stepped back, shaking. "It's good to know how you feel," he said coldly.

"Dad..." She said quietly. "I didn't....that's not what I meant. He was four years old....and no one ever told me why he died....and then you just stopped talking about him like he just didn't exist..." She sobbed.

"Isn't it?" He snapped. "Go do your fucking debrief."

"Dad..."

"Go!"

Chelsea walked inside. She was so upset over what had happened with her father...it seemed their relationship was beyond repair...she didn't even notice someone standing at the top of the stairs.

"How can you do this?" Zack snapped.

"Zack? I'm not doing anything."

"You're ripping apart this family, and I won't let you!" He shoved her, hard.

Chelsea didn't scream...didn't have a chance too....Zack sent her tumbling down the stairs like a rag doll, stopping only when she hit the wall at the bottom.

Garrett carefully picked her up. "If she's hurt, you fucking prick..."

Zack walked past. "She deserves it."

"If she's hurt I'll make you cry."

"After everything she's put this family through, she deserves to die."

"She's done nothing to your family."

"She's ripped it apart!"

"No. Your parents have ripped it apart." Garrett carried Chelsea to the sofa and gently placed her on it. "Chels? Can you hear me?"

She didn't respond.

"Chelsea... go get a doctor, you useless shit," he ordered Zack.

Zack took his time walking outside to a group of medical workers who were checking over some agents with minor injuries. "Garrett needs one of you in there."

One of them immediately went into the room and, quickly sizing up the situation, began to tend to Chelsea, bringing her around fairly quickly.

She moaned quietly, her eyes still closed.

Garrett gently stroked back her hair. "Chelsea... shhh, it's alright..."

She cringed.

"Can you carry her?" The doctor asked.

"Yes." Garrett lifted her gently.

"Follow me. And be careful." He warned, leading her outside, past Gavin and Zack and down into the medical unit.

Garrett followed wordlessly, holding her close.

Gavin looked to Zack. "You shouldn't have done that..."

"Done what? She deserved to be hurt like she hurt us."

"Zack, she's your sister," Gavin said sharply.

"She's a selfish bitch."

The doctor led Garrett into a room. "Set her down there."

"Do *not* speak of her that way."

Garrett did so, staying close nearby.

"Why? She's fucking ruined our lives! She deserves to die." Zack said in an almost eerily tone.

"Zachary SHUT UP!" Gavin barked.

"So you're allowed to talk about her like that but I'm not?"

"No. You're not."

"But you are?"

"I'm sorry, as I understand you're the child and therefore I don't have to defend myself to you."

Chelsea squeezed her eyes shut and reached for Garrett's hand.

"She's a selfish bitch, Dad! After what she's done...and said to you and Mom, she deserves to die."

"she deserves no such thing."

Garrett lifted her hand and kissed it gently.

"Yes she does."

"If you don't shut up, *now,* I will inflict serious pain on *you.* Understood?"

"If you care so much, why aren't you down there making sure I didn't cause any permanent damage. I was pretty sure I heard a few bones break when I pushed her."

"When you're a parent, you can fucking correct me."

"Why are you getting mad at me? I did you a favor! You obviously don't care if she's dead."

Gavin's rage had absolutely boiled, and for the first time in his life, he struck his son. Not to injure... but enough to get his attention.

Zack took a step back, not so much from the blow but more from the shock of being hit. He looked at his father with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry," Gavin said firmly. "You know that's not something I ever wanted to do. But your sister is part of this family."

"And look what she's done to us."

"That does not make her any less my child or your sister."

"If she's this all important child, why aren't you down there?"

"That's... none of your concern."

"Isn't it?"

"No.'

"So if I went down there right now and snapped her neck you wouldn't care?"

"I'd care quite a bit... just because I'm not there does not translate to me not caring about her."

"What about what it translates to her?"

"I'll visit."

"When?"

"Soon."

"But not now?"

"Not this second, no."

Zack smiled almost cruelly. "Honest to God, I'll kill her."

"Get out," a new voice said firmly. Cassidy was standing in the doorway. "You aren't welcome in my house."

"Why not, Aunt Cass?" Zack asked.

Chelsea opened her eyes after what seemed like forever and looked at Garrett.

"Because I'm listening to how you're speaking right now and I won't have it in this house. Out."

"I'm just voicing the feelings no one else will."

"Well I'm voicing what I'm feeling, and I'm going to physically remove you from the building if you don't leave."

Zack shrugged. "I'll find some way to do it, then." He went outside.

Cassidy looked to Gavin. "Get his ass in line."

Garrett kissed her forehead. "Chelsea... how do you feel?"

"Hurts." She said quietly.

He smoothed back her hair.

"My dad here?"

"He's upstairs... I think he's scared."

Gavin simply nodded and went down to see Chelsea.

Chelsea sighed. "Where's Zack?"

"He left," Gavin said quietly, entering the room.

Chelsea looked over towards the door. "Dad...I'm sorry..."

"Shh." He sat on the other side of the bed.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, Chelsea. We'll worry about it when you're alright."

She blinked back some tears. "I didn't mean it...please don't hate me."

"I don't hate you, Chelsea."

"I couldn't take it..."

"Shh... it's fine."

She squeezed his hand.

He smiled a little bit.

Chelsea opened her mouth as if to say something else, but she never got the chance. The doctor returned.

"I love you, little girl."

"Let's see what we've got here." The doctor checked her over. "You're going to be sore for a few days, and you've got a broken leg and wrist, you're very lucky you didn't snap your neck."

"See, you're alright."

Chelsea nodded.

Gavin kissed her cheek.

"Other than that..." The doctor looked to Garrett and Gavin. "Don't let her move around too much...and she can stay here, but if you want, she could be moved upstairs."

"It'll be more comfortable upstairs, if you want, Chels," Garrett said.

Chelsea glanced over at her father and then nodded. "I don't want to stay here."

Gavin nodded. "We'll get you upstairs."

She nodded. "Thank you."

Garrett lifted her gently. "Tell me if I hurt anything."

"My leg..." She winced slightly.

Gavin stood, holding her leg steady. "Better?"

She nodded.

The two men carefully got Chelsea upstairs and settled in a first floor bedroom.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, little girl." Gavin kissed her forehead then nodded to Garrett. "I'll come back to see you soon... you rest."

Chelsea nodded again. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too. Rest, Chelsea."

She nodded and closed her eyes.

Garrett sat by her side, smoothing her hair.

Chelsea opened her eyes again and smiled at him.

"I want you to rest too," he said firmly. "But I'm going to stay here the whole time."

"Sit with me?"

"Yes." He sat close to her.

She rested against him. "It figures, I don't get hurt on the mission, but as soon as I get home..."

"Of course." He smiled, kissing her gently.

She sighed. "I've made a giant mess of things, haven't I?"

"No. You haven't."

"No?"

"No. It'll be fine."

"I hope so."

"I promise."

Chelsea sighed.

He kissed her. "Rest."

"Could...could you...umm..." She looked down at the dress she was still wearing.

He went to the closet and brought some pajamas. "Here... I'll help."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." He carefully helped her into her pajamas.

"Better." She said, pulling the shirt over her head. "So much warmer."

"Good." He smiled.

Chelsea kissed him.

He kissed back. "Now rest."

She nodded, and settled herself against him, only to open her eyes a second later. "What about Kayla?"

"They didn't find her... but we will," he said.

"She said she didn't want to come back..."

"Shhh...."

"They did something to her, Garrett..."

"We'll fix it. I promise."

"I hope so."

"We will."

"Yeah." Although she still didn't seem convinced. Something about that conversation...the fact that Kayla had met a guy...bugged her.

"Shh, baby."

Chelsea closed her eyes.

"That's it. Sleep."

Chelsea nodded.

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