| "Square One" | ||
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May 27, 2008, Tuesday Morgan Marina 2010 hours "So...is there something going on between you and Joshua?" Baz asked quietly. Paige just grinned as she studied the gravel road they were walking on. Baz had called early that morning, home from Safehouse 1 and nursing his injuries. He was thoroughly bored and after whining a little convinced Paige that they should hang out. She had called Saf on Monday to let Saf know that she was okay and was just taking a few more days to relax by herself. So, Paige had felt a twinge of guilt when she had relented to Baz but she promised herself she would call Saf in the morning, and Jordan, and the whole team would hang out together. Baz had taken a cab to her place and was going to stay a few days. Since they were both on injured status it would be good to mope around together bitching about their injuries. "So, is there?" he asked again. Paige picked at the rubber sleeve that covered her cast. They had taken a long walk along the docks and with the damp air and potential of falling in the drink, she had worn the rubber sleeve to protect her cast from getting wet. It wouldn't be such a good thing to go through two casts in less than a week. Now they were on their way back to her apartment walking along the gravel road that led between the marina and the complex. It was pretty dark, the only lighting offered from the marina itself, that was well behind them, and her apartment complex, that was well in front of them. Even though it was cloudy, there was still enough light to see the facial gestures made between the two. "You're grinning, so is that a yes?" "No, it's not a yes," she answered. "But it means something." "Why are you so curious?" She kicked at a rock sending it skidding into the field of reeds to their right. "I dunno, it just kinda seems like something's going on between you two. I mean, it's none of my business, if you don't want to talk about it I totally understand. But I was out with him last week and your name came up a couple times..." "My name?" Paige asked. "Yeah, just talking shop and all...but he would just get this look about him when your name came up, like he was thinking about something." "Oh," she said quietly. "I don't think that there's anything between us. Certainly, I think, there's an attraction or something ." An attraction like a nuclear explosion, she thought. "Well I picked that up," Baz said kicking a rock himself into the reeds. "Even if there was something it could never work between me and him." "Ah, the lifestyle we lead...yeah, I can see that." "Yeah, the lifestyle," she said solemnly. "Was it like that where you guys came from...that Section place?" "He told you about Section?" she asked. "No, not really. I've heard it mentioned just as much as Oversight is mentioned, but I don't know anything about it." "Section was a difficult place to deal with, it was a bad place, and we're all very happy to be out of there. But no, you couldn't have started anything in there either. It's just too much with this kind of life that we lead." "Yeah, I hear you. That's why I keep all my bootie on the side, you know?" Paige laughed, "you're an ass." "What?" he feigned shock, "I am a man...I have needs." "Yeah, I know all about you men and your needs...watch this van." They moved to the side of the road giving the van some room to pass. It wasn't a very wide road, just enough to get one large car passed mostly. Paige squinted a little as the headlights hit them as the van made it's way around the sweeping curve in the road. To the right of them, was an open field of large plume reeds and to the left of them, was a steep cliff sort of thing that had been carved out when the road was put in. "It's kind of late for someone to be coming down to the marina," she remarked casually, "but still, even with the bootie on the side you gotta be careful." "I'm starting to pick up on this paranoia you guys have so rest assured I'm being careful." "Well, that's a good..." her words died away as the both of them stopped walking. The reason being the van had skidded to a halt just behind them. They looked to each other as her thoughts started to race. It had been a black van after all. It only took her a second to look behind them just in time to see the van doors fly open and the black suited figured coming out. There were four of them, armed, and they moved slowly towards her and Baz. She knew instinctively they were Section. She pulled her weapon out of the back bands of her jeans but kept it hidden behind her back. "What is this Paige?" Baz whispered. "Just don't say anything," she whispered back as the figures approached slowly. She looked to the left trying to figure a way out of this. She could move fine but Baz, his shoulder injury and his arm still in a sling, he wouldn't be able to get away. She narrowed her eyes at the four figures as they stopped a couple feet from them. "You need to come with us," one of them spoke nodding his head towards her. "You tell me what this is about first," she demanded quietly. "That's not how it's going to work," the man shook his head and took a step towards them. Paige wanted to draw her weapon but she was afraid that in doing so they would hurt Baz, maybe even kill him. She took a step towards them slowly and stood in front of Baz. "Let him go, he has nothing to do with this." The man shook his head, "I don't think so." "He's a civilian, let him go and we'll talk." The three others looked to the man that had been speaking. After a moment the leader finally nodded his head, "get out of here," he said to Baz. "Paige," Baz said quietly from behind her. "Just go," she said to him, "before they change their minds." "Paige," he said again. "Just go," she hissed at him. "Go home." She kept her eyes fixed on the leader. "Fuck," Baz muttered but she heard him take a step away from her. He took another and then she heard him walking away. "Alright, let's go," the leader said. "Not until I know he's safe." "You're not in a position to make demands," the leader said. She pulled her arm out slowly leveling the weapon at the leader. "I'm sure whoever sent you here wants me alive and kicking. And if you've been briefed, which I'm sure you have, then you know I'll take at least two you of out before you can get to me." The leader was visibly pissed but said nothing. So they stood there with their weapons aimed at each other for a full five minutes until Paige was sure that Baz had made it back to the apartment complex. She then lowered her weapon and tossed it in front of her. Two of the four men moved quickly snatching her weapon and holding her arms. They got her into the van and the slammed the doors. So here she was again. In the one thing she never thought she'd be back in...a Section van. "Where are we going?" she asked the leader who sat at the front of the van. "For a drive," he answered absently as he played with his laptop. She turned her attention to one of the two men that flanked her, "so, what Section you from?" "Shut up," he said flatly. She sighed and focused her gaze on the floor of the van. What kind of mess had she been pulled into this time? And more importantly...who was behind it? Return |
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