Deviation Actions
*A lot going on here, maybe too much, hopefully not. Swear warning, as usual, and mentions of drug use. Love triangle, between AdamXOCHadley, and HadleyXOCBlaine*
Chapter 9: Rain Life Down Upon Me
After getting into the helicopter, Hadley felt drained, exhausted, but Adam seemed to perk up, and wanted to talk. Part of the agent wanted to entertain him. The other part wanted to strangle him.
"What happened whilst I was gone?"
Hadley huffed. "Well, Finch has gone crazy, Blaine got arrested, and when I went to visit him, he told me he loved me. That was unexpected".
Adam smirked. "Really? Even I saw that he did".
The women groaned. "What?"
Adam looked at her, and nodded. "Picking you up, the way he looks at you, the way he talks, it's obvious".
Hadley grimaced and smacked her forehead a few times. "Am I really that stupid? I've never been in a relationship, and there were no men in my family, so I genuinely don't know how men are supposed to act. I just thought he was being friendly".
"Men don't act the way Blaine does, if they simply just like you. I know". The thought of Megan, and what they had hurt him a little inside, but of course, Hadley would never see that, nor would the rest of the world.
Hadley looked at him, and felt something was wrong. Although, broaching the subject of love with Adam would be like defusing a bomb, that had ten seconds left on it's timer, before it exploded. It would be dangerous. She wasn't sure on how to approach the topic, and really wanted to change it.
Adam looked back at her and knew, without needing the help of his augments, that she was very uncomfortable with the topic. She shrugged.
"What? I don't want to piss you off. I'm giving niceness my all".
The ex SWAT man looked away and felt a grin pulling at his mouth. "Hah, I'm trying not to piss myself off. Don't need you trying too".
The Brit felt the urge to grin too, and barely suppressed it. "Hah. Okay. What's love like? I mean, I have heard the crap about it feeling like you are floating, and it's like rainbows are in the sky, so you feel euphoric all the time. But that is complete and utter bullshit, right? Please tell me it is, it sounds like an LSD trip gone wrong".
The question made Adam gulp. A solid lump formed in his throat, and it didn't seem to want to budge. He tried to grunt inconspicuously, but failed in spectacular fashion, and started coughing violently. Hadley jumped and put her hand on his back. She smacked it a few times, before mechanical fingers stopped her.
"Hey, you really don't have to talk about it. I can tell this Megan meant a lot to you. And don't want you to ever feel pressured, when speaking to me. You don't have to answer my questions, trust me, I won't get prissy or start shouting at you".
Adam's C.A.S.I.E aug highlighted Hadley's face, and it was turning red. Her hand was still on his back, and he shifted nervously. He couldn't pinpoint why exactly he felt nervous.
Then again. It has been a long time since any woman dared to get that close. I never let them get close, even. Why would they try if I won't let them?
Hadley extracted her hand and put it on her lap. She looked at her watch and groaned.
Brilliant. Only eight more hours of awkwardness.
A wave of tiredness hit her and she rubbed her eyes.
"Look, Adam. I'd hate to spoil the fun, but I really need some sleep".
The agent let her head rest against the padding of the helicopter wall, and shut her eyes.
Adam tried to do the same, but despite feeling exhausted, he just couldn't rest.
He simply lent back, closed his eyes, and sat in contemplative silence.
17 hours later
Hadley and Adam stood in Finch's office. Both had been allowed to go back to their apartments after they'd arrived back in London, as they were falling asleep every few minutes, and were not in a fit state for the mission overview.
Now came the nitty-gritty of the situation, and Edward was twiddling his thumbs. "Alkalev and Dobrev aren't giving us anything. I sincerely hoped the reports lacked information for a reason. And they do, because no information has ever been given, by either party. Frustration is not a strong enough word".
Hadley looked at her boss, and had a potentially deadly idea, brewing in her mind. Her brain flipped the idea about again and again. It would be something disallowed for a reason. But this situation really did warrant this problem.
"Sir, we may have to break the rules here, and give the detainees sodium pentothal".
Edward's jaw stiffened, and he stopped breathing. "That is breaking far too many rules Hadley".
Hadley placed her hands on his desk and bit down her rage. "If torturing didn't work, then what else can we do, to the get the intelligence we need? Leave them in the cells, to go mad? That would prove fruitless".
Adam was stunned. "You call yourself professional, been in the job a long time, and yet you suggest truth serum?!"
Hadley turned and her rage was boiling over. "Well, what do you suggest? Keelhauling? Water-boarding? Stringing them up? These two have been pushed to the limit, and neither revealed anything. We need answers".
Edward shook his head, and kept on shaking it. The agent was done, she had enough. "Okay, just kill them then. That should help us, shouldn't it? I am pretty sure that the documents leaked will already reveal breaches of protocol, and rule breaking. It's not like it hasn't been done here before now, is it? I'm done. Blaine's been bailed, and he's the only one that can stand me like this".
The Englishwoman walked out of the office, and held up her hands.
"Hadley, wait". Finch's voice made her stop and turn. "You're right. I have neglected to do some things by the book, sometimes, I was unknowing, but I am not innocent. Give them the serum. Get Ron to help you, he'll know the right dosage to give. Adam, can I talk with you for a second?"
Adam nodded, and Hadley walked to the elevator.
"Adam, I understand the implications of this, and I accept them. If I have to step down, I will. What do you think we should do? I'd like a different perspective and input on this".
"Honestly Sir?" Edward nodded. "I think you are mad, so is Hadley. There has to be a way to get information out of them, without having to resort to drugging them. My C.A.S.I.E aug can help with that".
Edward's eyes widened, and he got on his comm. "Get Hadley back, now! Your what? Does she know?"
Adam shook his head. "No, I never disclose what augments I have. They are kept privately. Only Sarif knows the full list of what I have".
Hadley walked back to the office, and stood outside. "Er Sir? What is it now?" She walked in and saw her boss staring intently at her partner. She looked at him too, and then got defensive.
"So you can read everyone, hmm?"
"Wait, what? Read? Just what the hell is in your head Adam?"
Adam didn't want to explain the fundamentals, so he paraphrased it. "My brain has what's known as a C.A.S.I.E augment in it. It can detect minute changes in brain waves, eye flickers, changes in body positioning. If someone is lying, I will know. If someone is bluffing, I'll know".
Hadley walked over to him, and bent down, tapping on his temples. "Isn't it a good job that I've never lied to you then? I'm not sure I like that, I can't even think for myself in that case...".
The now livid Adam frowned. "And you think I like it? I didn't ask for this. None of this happened with my consent. It all happened because Sarif crapped himself, and realised he would lose me unless he intervened. I woke up like this, this metal freak, and you think I like any of this? And I can't read your damn thoughts, why would I want to even? I can't keep pretending like all of this is fine, because it isn't".
He calmly stood up, and left the office. "Drugs it is then. Adam, never took you for a coward!"
Adam stopped himself retorting, but couldn't keep in his emotions anymore.
He felt his bottom lip tremble and knew he had to get away from the building, quickly.
Maybe you're right Hadley. Maybe I am a coward. Ever since this happened to me, I have fled, I chose to escape into anger. Become violent. A borderline sociopath.
I didn't ask for this, but it happened anyway. I didn't even know.
And I am tired of not being in the know anymore.
Hadley sat, in an interview room.
"Interview tape rolling...now. Hadley Groves, agent ID number 513947218. Interviewing a Mr Valentin Alkalev, on the 28th March, 2025, at 20:00 hours". The agent took a deep breath before continuing. Valentin slammed his hand onto the tape recorder, before she could interrogate him, and that was it.
Screw twenty years of work, I am not having this asshole beat me at my own game.
Hadley pressed the stop button, then slammed Valentin's head on the desk. "I am done with you. You were involved in Yerevan, weren't you?"
Valentin barely managed a nod.
"Good boy, finally getting something decent out of you. The men there, they were working with your group?"
Valentin made a gurgled laugh and Hadley let go of his head. He spat on the table and held his head.
"For your group? You act as liaison?"
The man nodded two times, and Hadley sighed. "Okay. How many cyber attacks have there been?"
Valentin tapped the side of his nose, knowing full well what this do, how it would affect Hadley. "Now why would I tell you that?"
Oh god.
"Okay, since you won't behave like a good little doggy, we do have other means to get you to talk. Ron? Bring the drug".
The scientist in a room not far away from their's did as he was asked.
"You never did let me do you. Why not now? You'll be dead before the day as out, so will Edward, and your precious Blaine. May as well have some fun, before you go out, with a bang".
Hadley swallowed and narrowed her eyes at him. His laugh made her feel sick, made her skin crawl. "Will we now? And how, pray tell will that happen?"
Valentin crossed his legs. "A man should be near Anton's room now. He has a concealed weapon, and will use that to kill him. Then, he will kill your men, come into this room, and kill you. There is a man, awaiting the order for Blaine's execution right now, not far away from the Police station".
Hadley shot up, grabbed her gun, and ran out of the room. She locked the door and put on her comm.
"Blaine! Get down!"
Blaine was in a cafe, having been let out earlier than expected, and he wasn't too impressed with Hadley's screeching down his ear. "Hey now, what's up? Why do I need to get down? I'm fine".
Hadley heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay. Someone is coming to kill you. Do not stay where you are".
Blaine huffed. "Had, I am not giving up my seat, I can see the guy trying to kill me, he can't be that well trained, clearly. And I will not stop drinking this coffee. Seriously, it's amazing. Need to bring you here at some point. I'm fine, he won't act now". He sent his location coordinates to her.
His colleague growled. "I'll get someone to take care of him". She put in a quick call, and had someone head to Blaine's location. "Everyone! This is an emergency! Secure the building, get everyone out, and guards, get to Finch, and get a squad to his family, stat! We've been compromised. I need a team here in the interview room, near room F...Ron? OH GOD, RON! Man down!"
Hadley turned off her comm, and bent down, to see Ron's stone cold dead body. She rummaged through his pockets, and found the vial of truth serum, a needle, and a syringe. Biting her lip, she let out a muffled scream, unlocked and ran inside Valentin's room.
"Alright asshole. I really am done with you now".
Valentin laughed, so Hadley drew her gun and shot him in his left arm. He groaned and swore. She opened the syringe and needle packets, and used them to draw some serum. She walked closer to him, needle in one hand, gun in other, and smirked.
"Oh, I despise people like you. You natter on, and on, and on, and yet, you don't say anything useful".
Valentin's unhurt arm shot out, and his hand almost touched her thigh, so Hadley shot him again, this time, in his right arm, and he screamed.
"Yawn. Trying moves on me will never work. Bored now Such a prick. A spiteful, delusional man, who believes he is worth far more than he really is. God complexes are dull. Aww, don't spit your dummy out. Throwing your toys out of the crib only makes me think you want a teething ring. And I know just the thing, for the job. Here, bite down on this rag, this will hurt".
She stuffed a rag into his mouth, and taped over it. She plunged the needle into his neck, walked out of the room, past the cleanup crew, and Ron's dead body, at a brisk pace.
She didn't wish to see any more of the chaos that had befallen them.
When she checked on Edward, he was fine, and overjoyed when he had confirmation that his family were safe too. Hadley informed him of what had happened, and he teared up, as well as she. Both had known Ron for a long time. He was a genius, an utter genius, with a heart of gold, and a great sense of humor.
Finch told his mentally drained agent to go home, and as she did, she checked up on Blaine, who was back in his apartment, with a guard now there, just in case anyone else tried anything.
Hadley decided that she needed to apologise to Adam. She had been well and truly vile toward him. and felt it only proper to say she was sorry.
She knocked on his door, and fresh tears burst their way out of her eyes, and flooded down her face, and he heard her sobs. He wasn't planning on letting her in, but upon hearing how badly she was shaken, he immediately knew that he needed too.
Hadley flung herself at him, the second the door was open, and was trembling badly. Instead of being pessimistic or nasty, Adam simply put his arm around her waist and led her into his living room. He sat her on the couch and knelt in front of her.
When she had calmed down a bit, he spoke, as gently as he could. "What happened?"
Hadley choked and sniffled. "We were compromised. Someone got in, armed, killed Dobrev, our scientist, would have killed Edward too if Valentin hadn't have said anything. Someone went after Blaine too. He is fine, but. Shit, Adam, we are in way over our heads here. This is a matter of global security now. The entire world is fucked if secrets get out. Stuff that should not see the light of day may well do and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Valentin didn't tell me what we needed. Unless he does when he is interviewed again, then we are screwed".
Adam moved up, and held her, which shocked her, but she wasn't complaining. Having someone to lean on, literally, was a good thing. He knew exactly how she felt, and decided that she wouldn't feel it alone. He decided a long time ago, that he would deal with his issues himself, and keep them to himself, unless it was urgent. This was urgent, and he knew personally that Hadley would need all the help she could get.
What she said next however, surprised him, and not in a good way.
"Sometimes, you have to play it their way".
"What do you mean?"
"Well, they'll surely have a compound. If we raid it, we will find out more".
Hadley was not in the right frame of mind to be suggesting this. "Are you insane?!"
"Yes, I am. But you and I both know that playing it by the book just doesn't work sometimes".
That's true, but, this isn't child's play Hadley. This won't be simply breaking and entering. Do you know what you'd be risking?
Everything, that's what.
"Listen to me. Get some rest, stay here if you need too, and we'll talk this over when you are of sounder mind, okay?"
Hadley went to protest, but knew he was right. She wasn't thinking straight.
"Besides, when this blows over, you still owe me drinks".
Hadley laughed and playfully slapped his cheek. "Why yes, I do. And you're right. Listen, I'm really sorry, for everything. I don't mean to piss people off, but my attitude gives off the wrong impression sometimes. And I called you a coward, that was uncalled for".
Adam shook his head, and stood up. He got her a glass of water, and some paracetamol tablets.
"No, you're right. I am a coward. I've known that for a while. I'm sorry too. I've been nothing but an asshole to you, and that was uncalled for".
His companion took a sip of water, and swallowed some tablets down. "Well you did get gut punched, so, I suppose I don't have to punish you. Blaine says sorry, by the way. He shouldn't have done that".
Adam couldn't look at her now. "No, he should have. I don't know what I would have done to you, if he hadn't".
Hadley stood up, and wiped her drying tears off her cheeks. "You wouldn't have gone too far, I know that. You aren't like that. And you certainly aren't a freak, or ugly". She scanned him over suggestively and nodded. "Nope, not ugly in the slightest. Hmmm, anyway. I'll take the sofa for a bit".
Don't blush, don't blush, don't...
He blushed.
Goddammit, I look like an idiot now.
Wait, couch?
"Take the bed, I don't use it".
Hadley pointed at him, and wagged her finger. "So you don't sleep, at all? That isn't good for your health. Care to come join me?"
That sent Adam's mind into a spin.
WHAT?
Her laughing brought him back to the now. "HAH, I'm only kidding. Sheesh, you looked like I'd just said I was going to kill you then. Calm down. Right, I'll see you in an hour or so, okay?"
Adam shook his head a few times, and walked to the couch.
He sat down, and pulled a gun case from under the couch, and began dissembling his gun and cleaning it.
He had to do something, ANYTHING to get his mind off, well, that.
And all that could be heard was Hadley, snickering to herself in his bedroom...
