Chapter Text
“Someone get me Woods!”
Price shouted as Simon ran after him down the hallway, Kyle a ways behind trying to ask what had happened; he'd left for dinner and had switch shift with Simon, only thirty minutes passed and once he got back the only thing he heard was him and Price arguing before they both ran out of the small room.
“KorTac has a officer with Eirwen and didn't fucking tell us!”
Simon yelled back while him and Price turned a corner and Kyle stopped, watching the empty hall as fading sounds of yelling and heavy boot steps faded, turning to the computer room with a heavy sign and hobbling back to his seat to continue monitoring Eirwen.
“Everything good happens while I'm getting dinner..”
He uttered.
“Price just slow down whats-”
“Huges I need captain Woods, now.”
“I understand, it's late and I'll have to check if he's even in base right now. What's happening?”
Simon tilted his head and looked to Price, pressing the mute button.
“Price he sounds-”
“Something's wrong, I know.”
“Three months ago he would've been calling Reginald in immediately. He sounds.. Sick. And out of it.”
One problem after another had been thrown at them, Price now worried about Huges health hearing how drained of life he sounded, the man was hardly older than Price, sure they hadn't spoken in a few months but just from the past few minutes alone he could tell something was wrong, his voice and attention or attitude, it was off.
The phone clicked and he spoke.
“Captain Woods sent a U.C agent into an operation one of my men is working, and didn't tell us. Twelve minutes ago he gave the friendly fire signal to my man, I need Woods in here so I can figure out why the hell he didn't tell us another U.C would be on the case.”
“Well.. Damn it Reggie.. Ill- I'll call him in here and get this sorted out Price..”
A harsh cough ended his words before a door opened and suddenly he hissed. Price sharing a glance with Simon.
“Step down Huges, you should go sleep, you're looking famished.”
Simon sneered, Reggie sounded anything but worried for the man.
“Price! What a surprise hearing from you at such an hour, what can I help you with?”
“Reggie, mind telling me why I just learned you have someone under the guise of Liam Murphy working a U.C case at Cecil's base?”
The line was quiet for a moment and an unsteady pit formed in both the men's stomachs.
“Because I didn't think it was necessary to tell you? Your team lost many people during your last go at Niro, including that boy Murphy and my dear son. I'm so grateful you made it out at all.”
“..Eirwen didn't die, Reggie. We caught Niro a month n’ a half ago now, he flipped on Cecil? We've got a man in Cecil's base working an undercover detail only to learn you've got a guy in there too.”
The mute button was hit again as Reggie fell silent.
“Price, forgive me if this sounds some type of way but you shouldn't tell him anymore about this mission.”
Price almost glared. Almost.
He knew Simon didn't like Reggie for the two simple facts he worked for KorTac and was Eirwen's father.
“Simon I don't care what kind of personal feelings are makin’ you act out bu-”
“Both Eirwen and Jensen thought he was up to something during his time here. Don't you find it even a little suspicious he drops a mountain of evidence on Niro to us only to leave out his access to military weapons? Or how that was our first and only mission chasing Niro where the guy knew we were there and moved things ahead of time to us showing up? And now Huges-!”
The line clicked;
“You, caught Niro?”
It was silent as Price with furrowed brows suddenly fell silent.
“And.. You've got an agent, at Cecil's house? And you didn't have the slightest bit of sense to call me? Or tell me?! What the hell makes you think you can push operations like that without informing Huges or the man who got you all that information! The least you could do as a man is tell me!”
Simon crossed his arms over his chest and turned his back to the phone.
At first he'd brushed the feeling off as anger for what the guy did to Eirwen while he started at the base, but after hearing Jensen talk about him, hearing him talk about Jensen. Then conveniently the next mission they go on- that Reggie's team was supposed to assist on before pulling out quite literally last minute- failed. And not only did it fail, three men were targeted, their identities were known, all their positions were already known prior to showing up, cargo was moved in advance, and the teasing..
There were too many coincidences. At some point someone had to say something.
And now, Reggie didn't care Eirwen- his own child- survived, he cared that he wasn't told about the missions regarding Niro and Cecil Price had been leading. Acting like it was his right to be informed what they did to try and catch the man even though KorTac had surrendered the case to the 141 months ago.
“Reginald, you gave me this case. I'm in charge of how it runs now, and who is informed. I don't have to tell you who's working the case or for how long because it's my case. You're acting as though I have an obligation to get permission or tell you these things when the truth is you're the one interfering with this operation.”
“... My apologies Price. What I meant to say was how overjoyed I am you're so close to getting Cecil in cuffs. You've come so far.. I have business to attend, but I'll be in touch for further questions.”
Before Price had the chance to ask for any more information about Liam the line died and Reggie was gone. Simon peering over his shoulder.
“.. You do know how serious an accusation like that is Simon, don't you?”
Price muttered while looking his way.
“Respectfully Sir, you should've seen what I did.. Do something about it.”
With that he was leaving the room and storming back down the hallway while Price groaned and held his face in his tired hands while trying to navigate his sea of thoughts and questions.
~~~
As he stood in the steaming shower words failed to come to him for check in.
What was he supposed to say exactly?
They hadn't gone over if another UC was working the case. Hadn't told Eirwen what to do.
He sighed and dipped his head back under the water to soak his hair, running his hands through it and down to the back of his neck.
“I got a layout of the property, though some areas I wasn't shown or were restricted.. And, Liam is another UC.. So there's that. I.. Sorry my head is foggy- today was sunny.”
He mumbled to himself and the chip behind his ear, hoping Simon was listening on the other end of it. Giving the code for all clear.
He was missing the man right about now, it'd been all of ten days if not less and here he was already forgetting he wasn't about to join him in the shower, wasn't going to be laying in his bed waiting for sleep, wasn't here to talk about their days and rub Eirwen's back to help release the stress his shoulders carried from it.
He wasn't exactly sure when but he'd been reminded of the quality time him and Simon used to have together, while he was still in physical therapy. They'd often get breakfast together, walk laps together while they talked and slowly opened up. He remembered the massage Simon had done on his leg and back- right now that sounded pretty nice.. Though part of him was really only missing how they fell asleep. Eirwen was almost always the little spoon, laying his head on Simon's chest, holding him by the ribs and wrapping his legs around one of Simons or slotting them between the man's.
His day had been going so smoothly until Liam opened his big mouth.
Now it was like the rest of the day was a mere fog, and hearing Liam open himself up the only thing that mattered.
He couldn't keep his thoughts in order to save his life.
Even as he laid in bed and stared at his ceiling waiting for sleep; his thoughts jumped from one thing to the next without letting him focus on one for too long.
The information Liam had been giving him, the looks, he now understood it was purposeful. Telling him what he needed to know for not just Eirwen but his team- he must've had the same chip in his ear as well, he'd motioned to it earlier on himself.. No wonder he was looking the guy up and down; he was looking for where it might have been, listening to how Eirwen spoke to make sure he was chipped. Liam had been here longer, had been scoping the place out for possibly weeks ahead of Eirwen's arrival, he had information on the place he'd need.
And his new identity's name..
It was probably given on purpose, a name Eirwen wouldn't just mistake or forget. KorTac had to be behind this.. They were the only other base of operations that'd been on the Niro and Cecil case to know about a place like this.
Fuck..
This isn't what they planned for.
This wasn't what was supposed to happen.
This interfeired.. This-
He had another UC. Another agent. Another soldier.. This wasn't so bad.
The next play hadn't been his, hadn't even been Cecil's.
Liam played it for them.
Now all he had to do was play on a team, one kept under wrapps..
And maybe he should stop thinking about Simon.. The bed was starting to feel far too empty as his mind drifted and his blinks suddenly felt too heavy.
That's weird, not too long ago he actually welcomed the loneliness.. And now he wanted nothing to do with it.
~~~
A soft buzzing that vibrated under his pillow slowly brought his mind to consciousness. Able to feel his body turning on and letting his senses wake up before he eyes opened, once again met with the unfamiliar room letting in warm light, the unnatural smells from all of the other men the wall over. Blinking in a small clusters as he tried to get his brain working.
For some reason it felt harder today..
Maybe it was because once again he was waking up without Simon. His body was used to being in fight or flight, working as he did; you learned to live with it. But having Simon around helped, made it easier to sleep or wake up without the quite buzzing if fear behind his eyes.
Now, it was like he started over. Like he was back in his first week of service still figuring out how to comfortably get around and live with it again.
“Fuck..”
Sitting up as a hand reached over and grabbed his phone out from under his pillow, turning off the 7:20 alarm and rising up onto shaky legs. All the physical labor yesterday after all his sitting around must've made him extra drowsy.. Stretching his arms up over his head as a heavy yawn rattled through his chest and pops came from his back. As they lowered his legs carried him to the bathroom, his hands running back and through his hair before he turned on the shower and lowered to the bathroom floor as it heated up, getting his blood pumping and his meds to wear out as he did a set of pushups.
Now that he let himself, he could hear the other soft echoes of showers just a few walls over going, the other men going through their routine just as he was.
As he dried his hair with his shirt waiting on his bed he sighed and hung the towel up on the bathroom door to dry, fixing his jeans before someone knocked.
Looking around the room as if someone else could answer for him before he walked over and opened the door.
“Yes..?”
“Your uniform.”
It was the same man who did roll call. Eirwen would have to come up with a name for him since he didn't have a nametag.
Nodding and taking the stack, it wasn't much.. Guess the rest would be brought to his room. He could ask around and figure out laundry, it didn't seem like Cecil had maids, it was probably left to his men.
Closing the door and getting his jeans off to instead pull on his new slacks, surprised at the fact Cecil got his size right. Lacing up his boots before his shirt was fitted on and buttoned up. Shuffling his phone away in his bed and looking back to his bag that hid his smokes. He was itching for one. He hadn't gotten much time to himself recently..
7:58
He was closing his bedroom door and standing in front of it as his arms folded behind his back and he stood up straight. Looking just up the hall-
Liam was watching him again. Watching the uniform they now shared. Watching the man he now knew was playing the same tedious game he'd been.
Eirwen needed to talk to him. Needed to learn what he knew.
More men came and stood;
Heavy footsteps.
“Roll call, everyone up?”
“Yes sir.”
Liam held knowledge Eirwen needed. Knowledge they'd need to share amongst one another, routine, patterns, codes, the way of living in a house with eyes and ears for walls and neighbors.
~~~
Breakfast today was similar to yesterday.
He was guessing it was the same meals switched around on different days, moving the sweets and fruits off to the side as Liam shortly talked with one of the other men. Once again the head of the table was left open, no one sat in it's place.
“You sleep well Cane?”
Peering over Liam was taking a sip from his water awaiting a response.
“Not quite. A lot on my mind.”
“Thats a shame. You should take it easy, it can be hard adjusting to the routine, got anything to help you wind down?”
Back to small talk, he expected it.
“Mhp.. Used to work out, pressure felt nice.”
Drawing helped.. Then again he left his sketch book back at base. And getting time for a smoke break out here was nearly impossible.
“Hard to get any time to myself, feels like I'm out of quiet places.”
Come on Liam take the hint..
“Well, reading is always nice. Not like the books can watch you. Only listen.”
No camera in the numbered rooms.
A radio? Some kind of listening device placed in the bookshelf?
“Thats reassuring.”
“Mhm. You need any more advice on how to settle in I've got plenty, we can talk later once afternoon truck shows up. If you want. Making friends here is easy once you've got the scheduling down.”
Quiet places to talk? Night truck was safe, though afternoon truck was a hit or miss, more people and more guards. It was tricky deciphering what was code and what wasn't with Liam. They both had really no way of telling who was safe to talk around, and who was listening.
“You do cams? Haven't had my switch over yet and I'm not sure what it's like.”
“Yeah, me and the guy from room seven. It's a twenty four hour shift, all you do really is sit and watch the cameras, if anything needs maintenance or is out of place you report it to a higher up.”
A 24 hour shift every two days.. He could memorize the camera blind spots in a single shift if he tried hard enough. He could find safe spots to talk and slither to if and when he needed it.
“Anyone else with you during the watch?”
“Nope. It's safe to relax.”
That would also be a good opportunity to check in with the base and let them know what the security set up looked like.
“How long have you been here?”
“Mm, about a month now. I was with a group who'd been following Niro, and after he went under our group and another merged, and Cecil took three of us in.”
Was his old squad following Niro too? Sneaking Liam in when it was safe?
“What was your old group like?”
“It was me and two newer guys, Beau and Orcus, and our peers plus a mountain of a leader.”
“You..”
He trailed off, stopping himself from finishing the question.
Liam ran with his fathers squad. Beau, Orcus, the tall German with a high voice and Reggie, there was no way to mistake it.. Liam must've been a medic if he hadn't traveled with their group to Eirwen's base.
“I think I've run into them before on recon, didn't realize you were grouped in with them.”
“Now that you mention it, you do look familiar.”
“Mh.. Not in the way Id like.”
Reggie. Liam probably priced it together by now.
“So, how long till you start missing home?”
I'm Missing Home.
The code for pull out; things were too dangerous, he couldn't stay any longer, he needed help.
Did Liam have the same training?
“Ah.. Maybe.. Four months?”
“Same.”
~~~
Eirwen had found a sense of peace from this morning, knowing someone here was like him, was after the same thing, was here to help.
He had better chances at getting the information he needed and sooner now that Liam- or whatever his real name was- was here. Two pairs of eyes and ears scanning information and people to gather information for one another. They had the same training, same phrases, his dread from last night had dwindled to a meek feeling in his stomach.
Looking down to Buck and holding a thumbs up before reaching up to feel the glass pendant sitting on his chest.
He was doing this for Jensen, for Johnny, for Gaz, and Price.
For Simon.
He'd make them proud for what he'd do here. He will.
Camera duty was quiet with Buck today, less chatty. Only getting five of the remaining twelve down this morning before it was time for break and the men shuffled inside, Eirwen and others grabbing water while some sat and talked about other chores or runs they'd need to do that day. Idle chatter spread sparse as the men enjoyed the forty minute break before shift change.
Afternoon truck was full of food today, Liam and him loading things from the truck to the kitchen by themselves. Everyone else seemed off doing something else.
It was a good opportunity to quietly talk without codes, without wandering eyes and eavesdropping ears.
“So.. I'm leaving around the same time you are. You uh, how'd you get in before me? I only got in because of the party.”
Eirwen quietly asked as he grabbed a large box, Liam waiting at the truck backs opening.
“Oh, that was you? Jesus, you're a party crasher huh?”
He snickered as Eirwen let a soft grin bloom.
“Reggie put in a good word for me I guess, me and my colonel Konig worked out the mission but I guess Reginald laid out the ground work. Niro was sending groups of people to Cecil who wanted the work.”
“Huh.. My team wanted to have someone inside the operation to get an antidote on Z-40. We aren't even sure what all is in it yet. Looks like steroids play a big role.”
Liam nodded as they walked through the large front doors together, nearly hip to hip to be heard better.
“Thats a good angle, Reggie wanted to know where his money and supplies were coming from.”
“I was supposed to gather things like that..”
Eirwen muttered, and it seemed just as the idea crossed his mind it did for Liam as well.
“Hey, why don't I worry about that, and you worry about the drug? Less work for the both of us, plus we're sharing info anyways, I'll handle his inner circle and you can get whatever you need on the drug and what you need to help your team.”
Eirwen nodded, that grin growing as they walked into the kitchen, Liam leading Eirwen. The two had clicked almost instantly after leading one another's identity.
Well- actually they didn't did they?
As they left, and Eirwen nodded to the kitchen staff he looked to Liam as the approached the main entry Hall.
“Eirwen. Eirwen Woods; that's my name. Remember it, please.”
“.. I'm Bennet Louis. And I will, I promise.”
Undercover work was physically taxing.
But mentally, Eirwen found himself losing count of how many times he'd basically forgotten his own name while working long missions, forgetting he wasn't his false identity.
He now had an anchor, someone to pull him back down to earth. And now he was that for someone else.
“So, you wanna tell me about yourself? Not like we gotta jump right into the deep end… I-
It's good to socialize right? Sorry, I've never worked one of these before..”
They were half way through the truck, Eirwen looking back to Liam who was grabbing a bag of potatoes.
“It's alright. UC work isn't a normal mission assignment, go ahead and ask. I'll help you with whatever you need. They trained you at least, right?”
Bennet laughed nervously, quickly nodding as he trotted up to Eirwen.
“Y-Yeah of course. I had about three weeks of briefings..”
Eirwen nodded, Bennet really was new to this..
God he was just a kid.
“You're doing great for your first go at it. Just remember the ground rules.”
Even though Simon had entered his life, he still seemed to struggle with encouragement or putting people at ease. At least it didn't feel any easier..
The afternoon truck was filled with lighthearted stories and soft banter about their lives, their teams. Bennet shared stories about his little tight knit group of men, how each were all unique with their quirks. He seemed fond of Horangi, Bennet he came to learn was the team field medic with Beau.
However Beau had started leaning towards helping in the explosives unit recently.
It made Eirwen start a long rant about Johnny, how he was their team's explosives experts. His personality matched the bombs he worked on.
He didn't realize how many stories he'd have on the small Scott until that moment, stories about moments he had on missions, bar trips, how lively he was at their lunch tables or the sparring gym.
Bennet said one of the new men, Orcus, was quite similar in his outgoing personality and extroverted nature. He lost his left leg from the lower knee down during his first few years in service and wore a prosthetic.
That topic had brought Eirwen to talk about Gaz remembering his leg, how he would miss the celebratory bar trip they'd all go on once he got the cast off. Eirwen liked the quiet docile nature of Gaz, he was a strong and confident individual but didn't need his voice to promote that point. His actions and work proved it for him, he was into art like Eirwen. Something else he missed; He missed his drawing, his own way to decompress and sift through his thoughts and feelings since it was easier than talking about them. It was a good way to relax and pass time, plus he had his best drawings of Simon in that book. He couldn't have his own phone, so no contact or pictures if anyone from the base.
He missed Gaz being so enthusiastic about sharing bird drawings he'd ask Eirwen for certain pictures to add them to his own board of drawings. His own special interest.
That topic had reminded Bennet of the other new comer, Beau. He drew as well though it was much less often than Eirwen and Gaz it seemed. Beau was the introvert of their group. Shy and reserved but a good man.
One by one each member of their teams had been shared and told stories of.
Bennet had even asked about Simon, picking up on the way Eirwen’s body shifted, his voice softened, as he talked about the man.
It was nice talking about Simon to someone. His personality and mentality, his being. It was as though he was gossiping to Jensen all over again, all the tingling feelings and warm and fuzzy thoughts. Simon was his greatest weakness. His biggest push and draw for betterment. Bennet thought it was sweet, hearing about the recovery he'd gone through thanks to Simon with his anxiety, the boy brought up the girl he'd been wanting to admit he liked back at his base.
Another medic on a different team apparently.
It was sweet.
A nice, short distraction from where both then had landed. Where they were headed.
Eirwen merely hoped at least someone from the team smiled as much as he did rethinking everything he'd talked about, the memories and moments of chosen family time.
~~~
The remainder of that week was quite similar.
After he woke up Eirwen cleaned his room and his bed, stole a smoke before lining up in the hall and stealing glances with Bennet who looked just as excited as him to share more stories and information.
Breakfast was spent going over anything they noticed, Bennet shared info about the other men Eirwen would need to know. Guard routines and where they seemed to hang around.
After breakfast he was fixing cameras with Buck who didn't share much aside war stories and bitter remarks about the military.
The cameras themselves were nearly done by the weeks end, Buck seemed excited to have an open hour after breakfast to relax once it was done. The camera crew was waiting to hear if Cecil was going to expand the layout or not.
Afternoon truck was spent either quietly sharing stories and idle conversation, or Bennet and Eirwen asking questions about the operation, both hadn't gathered much in their new tasks. Getting any tips from the other was useful, if one had heard something the other would need that was when it was shared.
As the day drew on and basement intake started Eirwen listened and remembered everything he could about what these doctors needed, the drugs, the tools. Over time he'd pick up a pattern, hear an important name or location, would get the names of a drug the team would need.
It was truly the most important part of each day. Each day they needed at least something. Everyday he learned something new, heard something important. Got just a slightly better glimpse down into that calling basement of dimly glowing greens and orange.
Finally, night truck, Bennet and Eirwen recapped the day, not always alone; they kept things short and sweet, talking in code so the truck drivers and cameras wouldn't pay too much mind to them. That time was spent talking about chores, anything they wanted to vent, and over all- if the day was Sunny, Windy, or Grim.
All clear.
Something's up.
Look. Out.
Then, Eirwen and him enjoyed dinner, silently, and went back to their rooms.
Where Eirwen changed, took another smoke, and showered where he got to talk directly to Simon on the other end of that small metal chip. Recapping everything he'd missed during the day while asking how his day had been, what he'd been up to, how he was.
Just like they did at home.
Then he climbed into bed and took his script, falling asleep all by his lonesome as he imagined Simon next to him and his large warm hands tracing shapes on his back, his head and legs pressed to Eirwen back, or that he himself was curled up in the man's personal space.
Rinse, wash, and repeat.
~~~
As week two came around the corner, Eirwen had gotten his routine down well.
He'd found the right time to fit in his seven hours of gym requirements, his shift in the camera room had helped him learn just where his blind spots would be, what was watching him and where. It gave him a better image of the house's layout.
Everything except the basement.
Bennet had gotten a possible lead on one of the suppliers Cecil used based on something from the basement intake Eirwen had shared with him.
Eirwen was still missing large parts of what made Z-40 but thus far he had a good idea most of the components were muscle enhancing, drugs that kept you up and alert. Though, he knew he was missing the key parts still.
Today was his camera shift day, after breakfast he would go straight to the small room and live there for twenty four hours. Liam and him sitting together during breakfast.
He was slightly more tired than normal, still groggy and less alert. Yesterday he'd nearly fallen from a tree, he still got a few bumps and bruises. He assumed it was that, that was causing his longer wake up period.
“You alright Cane?”
Joe from room seven asked while he nodded, Bennet looking over as he picked at his food.
“You didn't sleep well?”
“Mm.. Had a scare yesterday and I guess it's making it harder to flush out all the sleep.”
“Ah.. You should eat. The monthly health checks are coming up, Cecil will be upset if you skip meals.”
Eirwen looked over and nodded softly as a yawn rolled up his throat, reaching for his coffee after.
“It just messes with my appetite..”
“Not sleeping?”
“Mnh.. Meds.”
They were talking in hushed tones, however as Eirwen said that Bennet nearly jumped. Looking over as his little boot gently kicked Eirwen's leg.
“Dude- your on shrinks?”
Right.. Meds didn't have a code word did they. Bennet must've used Shrink as a cover word to avoid anyone questioning them.
Sighing through his nose while he finished his bite of food.
“Crap.. Yeah. Sleep and anxiety.”
“You know how pissed he'd be if he knew? Holy Christ… And don't talk about it at breakfast!”
He hissed and kicked his leg again. Eirwen knew no medications was a requirement, but he hadn't actually known it'd make Bennet this worried, or why it was a must.
“Why is he so persistent about that by the way?”
“It's the drug. His guinea pigs can't have anything in their system, meds could mess with the results.”
Eirwen nodded as a few men left the table and the room started to clear up.
“You're an ideal subject, he's probably diying to get you on it. If he finds out your on meds it'll mess everything up. He'd flip his shit.”
Bennet took a small breath to calm before he signed and apologized, starting to finish his plate as Eirwen slowly worked on finishing his.
“Just, keep that to yourself. Don't ever talk about that kinda stuff near him alright?”
“Yeah, I will.”
~~~
The camera shift was simple enough. You came to the left wing of the house and switched out with the last man, once sat your alone.
There was a notepad that would occasionally have anything of notice written down for the next shiftee. Like a faulty camera, or if doors had been bowling on and such. Once reading through, your shift started.
You were allowed coffee, and bathroom breaks if needed. If anything was wrong you left the room and went two doors up to Cecil's office or to the nearest guard to report it.
The only thing he needed to do was sit and watch the house. Watch for anything out of the ordinary, make sure everyone and everything was in working order and running smoothly.
The camera layout was secure, very few spots were left out of their reach.
One was above the main door inside and out, the outside covered the front door and steps and the majority of the driveway and front parking, the inside covered the entrance room/ Hall and most of its transition to the lounge.
There was one camera at the corner of each wing facing the Hall. They caught the upper stairs and Hall, even able to see each room from said halls.
That was the first blind spot.
Between the front door and landing before the stairs leading to the second story was out of view. Maybe ten feet of stairs. It was narrow, but private.
No cameras were in the bedrooms, there was one in the room behind him, Cecil's private weapons room.
One camera covered the whole lounge, one that saw the whole gym. And one that overlooked the dining room, the kitchen was only half viewed by its camera which the last watch man had noted was glitching. The I door parking garage wasn't stalked by anything. A completely open room.
The Hall to the outdoor weapons intake was watched by a small camera, it was grainy by nature and often made people looks as they were jumping from place to place- it was a good place for quick conversation.
Finally, the last camera indoors was in that very intake room mounted on the back wall facing the clerk and the back door.
Outside was basically a no go, almost every inch around the house was covered. The nearest woods being the same.
It wasn't much, but he did have just a few places he could call his own.
The camera shift was over all boring, nothing really happened in this house of cards. Everything had a place, and everyone had a place to be. Eirwen watched the other numbered men and how they interacted, who they were close to, and what they talked about. It was a good way for him to get to know them. Bennet was also fun, often casting glances or little waves up to whatever the nearest camera was when Eirwen worked his shift. Sometimes he'd roll his eyes at the camera over a boring conversation.
Eirwen wished he didn't, but he saw a lot of Jensen in the boy. Mostly in his personality, the way he carried himself and spoke to others. It was bitter sweet and hit Eirwen's chest harder than he'd like sometimes.
His eyes fluttered two hours into his shift, trying to fight off a sudden power down that'd hit him.
They normally trailed off by now but stress could've brought this one on..
He kept blinking in clusters, his eyelids felt heavy and his vision was starting to swim as he groaned and shifted in his seat, grabbing the pen he used for note taking as he clicked it in and out, hoping the loud and slightly annoying sound would keep him up.
Maybe he was this tired because he'd been drinking less coffee and not smoking as much as he had just weeks ago..
Suddenly his eyes closed, and when they opened he was outside. A familiar looking field of green grass stretched out ahead of him, he was out of breath, his arms sore. A chopper was sitting in the grass with its blades spinning like a ceiling fan. Simon was standing just yards ahead watching him, Johnny was screaming get he couldn't hear the boy.
Why did this look so familiar?
He looked to his right, Bennet standing strong next to him while a sinking feeling stirred in his chest. He then pointed down, and Eirwen's gaze followed-
As his eyes landed on Jensen's mangled course he felt as though he'd fallen through the green grass he'd just been standing on.
With a soft gasp his body sat up, his eyes quickly scanning the room lit only by screen light.
The soft pounding of his chest slowly fading as he woke and calmed, realizing he must've fallen asleep. Closing his eyes as he sucked in a deep breath and pushed it back out, opening his eyes and looking to the corner of a screen to read the time.
The dream only felt a few seconds long, yet he'd been out for close to thirty minutes.
“Christ…”
He uttered, rubbing the back of his neck to release some tension.
He needed to stop comparing Bennet to Jensen. The last thing he wanted while here was to start getting dreams of the boy again after being okay for so long. Turning his still waking attention back to the small wall of screens I front of him to find the dining room camera had gone out.
“Shit..”
How long had it been like that?
He got up and left the room, looking around the Hall to find no one near, he walked over and knocked on Cecil's door.
“The dining room cam is out, would you like me to get someone to fix it?”
He called.
God what was that smell?
“No need Cane, I'll call one of my men to get on it.”
Cigarettes. That smell, it was the same brand his dad used to smoke.
~~~
“A bad time? Are you serious Reggie?”
Price hissed in an annoyed tone.
It'd been nearly impossible to get a hold of Reginald almost all week between his claims of being on missions and helping his men.
Price had yet to understand when Reggie's UC had been shipped out to Cecil and why. Why he hadn't been told. Simon had been crawling up his ass for updates.
“I apologize Price, I'm a busy man. My team is Browning and.. Well we've had some allegations be thrown around that I'm working to control.”
“So help me Reginald, I'm a patient man, I am. And I respect you, but I'll fly myself out to Kansas and see you myself.”
An annoyed groan left the man on the other end as Price cut the tip of a cigar and finished in his desk drawer for a lighter.
“Fine, ask away dear friend. I'm all ears.”
“Cut the shit Reggie. You went behind my back on a mission I'm controlling to send a man to an operation I'm in charge of and overseeing. Why wasn't I informed?"
“Like I said, after that last mission in April I thought you and your team dropped the case. Two nearly three deaths on a single mission is no easy loss. We were on the case first so I thought I'd send a man that way and get whatever info I could, and if you ever asked, I'd have sent it back to you.”
Price didn't want to assume another captain was being untruthful or dishonest, especially one with such high respect, one he'd known for this long.
But two weeks was more than enough time to come up with a good excuse as to why this happened.
Not to mention he hadn't been able to get ahold of Huges, and when asking around, nearly all his contacts had said he was in pretty poor health and it seemed as though Reginald was next in line to take his seat.
“I'm still leading the operation, protocol states you come to me. You ask, see if im still working the case and if you even have the clearance to do something like this. You didn't ask what I was planning after the mission in April. In fact, how did you hear or even think Eirwen and Murphy had been caught like that?”
There was a small pause, he'd been mid inhale on his cigar and even paused to listen to it.
“Compounds talk. And a big operation like this? Word gets around how it's going, Price, don't insinuate things about me.”
“I'm not insinuating anything, I asked a question. You don't seem like yourself, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say I'm concerned with your motives recently. Causing term oil in two separate bases between three teams, and going over another captains head to perform a mission like this? I'm shocked Huges hasn't reprimanded you yet.”
“Where the hell did you hear that?”
“.. Compounds talk.”
Was Simon right?
Was there really something deeper going on with Reginald and his team?
It didn't feel off that Reggie's appearance at base caused some rough water, or that that mission went under. It happens. But was didn't happen is a healthy operation overseer like Hues falling deathly ill out of nowhere, was almost half of a team to be convinced a captain is up to something, for a captain to break the rules and perform a UC detail like this after thinking his Son died. Not even asking about Eirwen after.
That mission was too solid to just be “faulty”. It was broken up in such a manner that it played exactly into Niro's hand.
Niro..
“Reginald how did you get your info on Cecil if you didn't know Niro had been in custody?”
Silence.
“Reginald?”
Silence.
“Reg-”
“I need to go. Speak to Kate if you need something.”
The line went dead as Price stared at the blinking red dial light.
His cigar burning all by it's lonesome as his shoulders Tensed and raised in an uneasy breath. Setting the cigar down to lean back in his chair and cover his face with his large scarred palms.
How did Reginald know about Cecil if he didn't even know about Niro?
How was that possible?
It shouldn't be…
Couldn't be.
He sat up and quickly left his small office, turning down the nearest right Hall. Simon had been behind him walking to his office, quick to follow him without a peep.
He needed to talk to Niro.