Realistic or Modern Gangs of Birmingham - IC Thread [Open & Accepting]

[neverbackdown]

Tony and Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Julia Fletcher

​

A small laugh escaped her lips at his comment about the unfinished room, but the amusement never quite reached her eyes. "Exactly, sure I can’t reach the curtains, so you have to stay around to do it,” she quipped, her voice light but strained as she tried to hold herself together—for Tony’s sake. He was cracking jokes, which she told herself was a good sign, but the amount of blood told a far grimmer story. Her stomach twisted with worry, but she forced herself to stay focused, her façade of calm the only thing keeping the rising panic at bay.

At the mention of Robert’s name, Julia’s brow shot up in shock. She knew he’d threatened Tony just days before, but this? This was Robert they were talking about—the man who had never taken things this far, not with the Fletchers. They were supposed to be working together. And, above all, he was Rory’s father. Her shock quickly morphed into anger, a blinding rage that she fought hard to suppress. It didn’t make sense that Robert would do something so extreme, and yet the blood on her hands made it horrifyingly real.

When Sully returned to the room, Julia’s eyes followed him as he knelt beside Tony, his expression as grim as her own. “We don’t need to have anything. You’re not dying,” she said, her voice defiant and absolute. She clung to the words like a lifeline, willing them into existence, as though speaking them out loud could rewrite the fate unfolding before her.

As Sully darted back out of the room, Julia instinctively thought to call him back, her lips parting to shout his name. But she stopped herself. Instead, she let him go, silently praying that he would find the bastard responsible and make him pay for what he’d done.

When Tony’s hand rested weakly on her own, Julia’s focus snapped back to him. Tears streamed down her face as she leaned closer. “I love you too—forever and always, my love,” she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. She placed a gentle kiss on his lips, lingering for a moment before pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. For the first time, she allowed herself to accept the terrible truth she’d been fighting: Tony might not make it out of this.

As her mind reeled with the crushing acceptance of what might happen, a sudden flash of blue light illuminated the room, and the wail of sirens shattered the tense silence. Relief and desperation warred within her, her voice breaking as she screamed, “In here!” hoping to catch the paramedics' attention outside all the while keeping the pressure on Tony's wounds.

She turned her attention back to Tony as though sheer willpower could keep him tethered to her. “Just a little bit longer,” she whispered, her voice trembling but determined. “You’ll make it out of this. You will.”


*******
Int;-
Misty Gray - Tony
BeyondDandy - Sully

 

[ReverseTex]

Undiscloced Warehouse
-Somewhere near Welsh Border-

Misty Gray
neverbackdown

Ellias Conway
​

The transit from Birmingham to Wales went smoother than he expected, considering the extra acquired target. The girls slept soundly; no need for bindings, thanks to the sedative. They didn’t raise any suspicion at the border crossing. A simple smile and story that his sisters had a rough night in Birmingham and needed to call their older brother to pick them up seemed to suffice for the border officers. Once he was well past the crossing, he made a stop along the side of the road to restrain both girls temporarily with some rope. They’d have more professional restraints at the warehouse, but it was purely precautionary.

Once the trio arrived, Ellias handed off the girls to Aidan’s lackeys. Rhys was directly in charge of the men, so he thought best to leave the grunt work to them. He was above that sort of babysitting. But he knew he needed to remain present for Aidan’s arrival, in case any further instruction was necessary or if Rhys needed more delegation. Plus, he needed to know the fortunate hiccup. So he simply stood quietly on the outside of the warehouse. The crisp Welsh air was harsh on his lungs, wet from the forming dew and mist. It had been years since he stepped foot in his homeland. Something etheral yet sobering overcame him. Was it nostalgia? His life had been nothing but remaining in motion. Constantly moving and always with something on the horizon. But now, outside this measley Welsh warehouse, which he hadn't expected to be at, he was faced with his emotions for a moment. To pass the time, he lit a cigarette to keep him occupied.

Before he could finish his smoke, headlights appeared upon the horizon. From their shape, he determined it was Aidan’s driver and car. Ellias continued his smoke, taking a lazed drag as the car rolled to a stop on the gravel road. “Evening, Sir.” Ellias said coolly, his emotionless tone hinting at nothing. It was as if he was addressing an officer for a mission report. “In our original consultation, I knew I’d be able to acquire one target, either Felicity Walker or Rory Fletcher. Well, as fortune may have it, both ladies happened to be together this evening. My research didn’t indicate this, but I had enough supplies to get them both.” He explained. Now that his smoke was finished, he tossed it upon the gravel before snuffing the bud with his toe. “Everything else is moving according to plan. I remain uncompromised, and Rhys is inside handling the girls.”

Ellias's back straightened out of habit, and he rested his pockets casually in his coat. "I'll need to remain back and forth in the city to maintain my cover and alias during the girl's stay. The contract we've negotiated expires at the conclusion of this job. But I can make myself available for further work. You'll just need to give me notice so I can make necessary plans." Their contract only specified this job, but he knew the way men like Aidan worked. Once they got a taste of his talent and efficacy, they often needed his services again.

 

[ReverseTex]

The Tea-Terrace - Tea Shop and Bistro
- City Centre, Birmingham, England -

BasDorcha

Dr. Richard Finley

Richard listened intently to the little girl’s recount. It was clear who was who, at least to him. The bully was his late nephew, who by no means was a meek or little threat. Forensic evidence, along with Marco’s confession, only confirmed the situation at hand. In some degree, Marco was acting in self-defense. That truth was what both Caroline and Robert had to understand. Charles wasn’t murdered in cold blood.

His mind was working through the information in front of him. Of course, he couldn’t disclose the truth to Dean just yet. The lad’s trial hadn’t started, so Marco’s testimony wasn't public knowledge. Shit, Robert didn’t even know the extent of that conversation. And where things stood, private eye Dean Walters wasn’t far off the trail either. Moreover, with the current climate between the Walkers and Fletchers, it just wasn’t ideal timing for all of this to be resurfacing.

“Yes, yes. God, there’s no need to rhyme.” Richard snapped from thought, the little girl’s voice breaking his concentration. “Thank you, Dream; you’re an observant girl.” He kindly complimented. Dean’s next plea was met with equal enthusiasm. “Why, I don’t see the harm in that? Reckon there’s a burger and ice cream shack a few blocks from here.” He raised a playful eyebrow. With Dean’s assistance, he pushed himself off the ground. His leg was starting to ache with the cold and the strain of the end of the day. But he’d make do. Once he was up, he offered a kind hand to Dream, who seemed apprehensive of the whole affair. “Don't worry, I'm good company. At least I think so? Dean’s put up with me for nearly thirty years.” He explained. The tone he adopted hadn’t resurfaced in nearly a decade. Now that his nieces and nephews were grown, there hadn’t been a need to speak so tenderly to a child. But his ever-compassionate nature prevailed over any grand logic. This child was lost, alone, and needed help. Whatever he could do, he’d manage. “You’re safe, I promise.”

 

[Misty Gray]

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Somewhere, England-Wales Border -

Aidan Jones​

Aidan took advantage of the car journey to have some time to himself. Between his meeting with Russo, Tony being shot, and giving Ellias the go ahead to execute the plan, it had been a productive even already. Robert's refusal had been completely expected, so Aidan had no doubts he'd be travelling to the warehouse to debrief Ellias on the mission. Aidan's night was still young, so he relaxed back in the front passenger seat as his driver got them safely to their destination. He'd already told Sarah and Dylan not to expect to see him for a day or so, fully expecting to be dealing with things at the border.

When the vehicle pulled into a spot outside the warehouse, Aidan spotted Ellias standing outside having a smoke. It had been on Sarah's own recommendation to hire a hitman - someone highly skilled for the tasks Aidan had in mind. Ellias appeared to be that, along with professional and efficient. He supposed now was the time to find out if the man's reputation was warranted.

Aidan climbed out of the car and pushed the door to a close as he began walking around the vehicle. The driver switched of the engine but remained seated in the car. "Good evening," Aidan greeted Ellias in return. He had every confidence the evening was indeed good, at the very least. Aidan stood directly opposite him and listened as the man reported back on the mission like a soldier addressing his superior. Professional, as expected. Aidan's mouth subtly contorted to reveal a small smile upon hearing both Felicity and Rory had been taken. "Impressive", he thought.

"Excellent work, Conway. Efficient and effective, with double the reward. This certainly give us more leverage for the next stage," he said, ideas already forming for ways to further use the development against the Walkers.

Aidan nodded in agreement when Ellias spoke of maintaining his cover. With mention of the contract, Aidan sent the man a knowing look. Given how well the evening had gone, he was inclined to make further use for his services after the current objective. "I would appreciate if you could make yourself available for the new few weeks, Conway. Between the Walkers, Fletchers, various legal and authority figures, there's still much to do before my work in Birmingham is completed."

ReverseTex (Ellias)

 

[BeyondDandy]

Tony Fletcher’s Residence
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

SULLY FLETCHER
​

Sully ripped through the thick underbrush, his breath ragged and heated in his throat. The rain had begun as a drizzle, but it suddenly came down in torrents, soaking his clothes and turning the woodland floor into a slick, muddy mess. His feet slipped on the muddy ground, but he pressed on, chasing the man who had just shot his brother.

Twigs snapped in the distance, leaving a trail of sound that drew him ahead. His pistol felt heavy in his fingers, the grip slippery from the rain. The trees grew denser around him, their skeletal branches raking at his face and arms as he dashed into the gloomy woods. Thunder rumbled low in the distance, a warning roar that appeared to shake the ground beneath his boots.

Then he noticed it—a glimmer of light in the trees. A car. Its headlights shone into the gloom, lighting the soaked road beyond the forest border. Sully's heart pounded in his chest as he ran faster, his legs burning from exertion. He emerged from the treeline just in time to see the automobile door slam shut. A stranger leapt into the passenger seat and shouted something at the driver.

Sully did not hesitate. He sprinted for the automobile, clamping his hand around the passenger door handle just as the tires squealed on the wet pavement. The car jerked forward, but Sully wrenched the door open with all of his strength, grabbing the man inside by the collar. Sully was pulled over the ground, his knees scratching against the tarmac, before the two of them slid down the embankment and into the trees below.

They landed forcefully, forcing the air out of Sully's lungs. His pistol flew out of his grasp, sinking into the muck and leaves. He jumped to his hands and knees, his gaze darting around madly. The rain obscured his eyesight, but he saw the masked assailant just a few steps away, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.

Sully rose to his feet, hands clenched at his sides. He raised them by his cheeks, unconsciously adopting the position his father had instilled into him as a child. The masked man mirrored him, raising his hands, his movements careful and practiced.

The man attacked first, with a wide hook aimed at Sully's jawline. Sully stopped it with his forearm before countering with a fast cross, his knuckles meeting with the man's cheekbones. The masked man fell back a step before lunging forward, throwing his arms around Sully's waist and tackling him to the ground.

Sully grunted as he landed in the mud, snapping his head back against the soil. As the man attempted to pin him, stars danced in his vision, but Sully twisted his body and used momentum to push him away. He rolled to his feet and leaned against a nearby tree for stability.

The two men surrounded each other and exchanged punches in the pouring rain. Sully's fists ached with each punch, leaving his knuckles raw and bruised. The masked man's strikes were severe, but Sully stood firm, his father's warning reverberating in his mind: "Keep your guard up. Look for an opening.”

Sully feinted low, diverting the man's attention to his gut, before landing a tight right punch on the man's jaw. The masked man faltered, and Sully took advantage, hitting a jab and then an uppercut that put him crashing on the ground.

Without hesitation, Sully pounced, straddling the man and tearing his mask off. He grasped the man's hair, pulling his head back to get a better look at him. Recognition came slowly, like a cold sword pressing against his spine.

“You… you’re Russo’s man,” Sully breathed, his voice barely audible over the pounding rain.

The man responded with a flash of steel. As a knife pierced Sully's ribcage, pain erupted in his side. He gasped, his hands rushing to the incision as blood dripped between his fingers. The man shoved him and stood over him, the blade still dripping.

Sully struggled to stand up, his eyesight blurred, but the stranger moved too swiftly. The knife plunged down again, this time into his gut. Sully coughed, a wet gurgling sound, as he felt his lungs fill with fluid.

As the man drew the knife free and stabbed him for the third time, the world around him blurred and darkened. Sully's body leaned back against the tree, his breathing faint and gasping.

The two men who had come for him argued momentarily before returning to their car, their voices disappearing into the storm. Sully's arms felt like lead, but he shoved one hand into his pocket and took out a crumpled paper. His bloodied fingers stained the paper as he attempted to write, his thoughts urging him to leave some sort of hint.

The letter R—Russo's name—was all he could muster before his strength failed. The note slid from his grasp and fell open in the muck next to him. The rain started to wash away the blood, but the words he had scrawled earlier remained, faint but discernible.

“I’ve been thinking about you. Maybe more than I should, but I couldn’t let another day pass without writing this. Let me know you’re okay, yeah?”

Sully's head dropped forward, his chin resting against his chest. His breathing slowed, each more difficult than the previous one, until they came to a halt entirely.

The storm roared on, the rain falling in torrents, but Sully's note persisted. One final message.

Misty Gray
neverbackdown

 

[Misty Gray]

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Somewhere, England-Wales Border -

Felicity Walker
Aidan Jones and Rhys Collins​

Rhys smirked when Rory growled back at him, insisting her father, or whoever she thought was her father, wouldn't fall into line. He didn't try to hold back an amused laugh when she compared his request to a "shitty kinky B&B". He looked around at the other two man as if to ask if they'd heard the same. His eyes then landed back on the two young women. "I'll take that as a no, then."

Without further word, Rhys turned on his heel and walked away, returning to the back office until Aidan arrived and wished to speak to the two abductees.

Aidan didn't rush to greet Rory and Felicity. Instead, he joined Rhys in the office, remaining out of sight. The evening had been eventful back in Birmingham, so he sent Rhys out to call Russo and other contacts from a public phone, to get an update on the outcome of the attack on Tony.

After leaving the girls to stew in the presence of the two silent, masked guards, Aidan and Rhys joined them in the warehouse. Rhys remained a distance away, standing with the the guards. Aidan stood much closer, not concerned if either managed to reach out enough to strike him. They'd soon learn.

"On your feet!" he commanded them. He stared Felicity down as she took her time to comply, but it's was a short-lived protest. He glanced to the restraints around one each of their wrists, feeling they weren't necessary as neither would get far if they tried anything. For now, he would keep them there to drive home the concept they were powerless.

"I'm going to introduce myself and briefly explain the situation we have here. You're both going to keep your mouths shut until I'm finished. Is that clear?" he asked.

"Have you heard yourself?" Felicity hissed. In her mind, they'd either been brought to the warehouse to die or were to be used as leverage. She doubted her compliance would affect their captor's plans. Before she could say anything else, she was struck across the face by the back of Aidan's hand. Whilst he held back on the force, it was still enough to startle her and leave a mark.

"I won't warn you again!" he firmly told them both. "I'm Aidan Jones. You don't know me, yet. Neither do your parents... or uncle," he said, mostly referring to Robert, Norman, and Richard. "But Robert and Richard knew my old man. Brutally killed him many years ago. That's after other members of my father's business and family were killed, beaten, and extorted. Your father took Birmingham from families like mine. And the Fletchers," he said, fixing his gaze on Rory, "they did nothing to stop it. They even worked with him for a while."

Aidan smiled at the two women. "So, I'm taking it all back, no matter who has to die in the process... Funny story. I only intended to have one of you here tonight, but good fortune is on my side. Robert will get to save one of you and then watch one of you die before I end him too. Who do you think he'll choose?" he taunted them. He then pointed at Rory. "I think I already know you're not safe. Before I came to speak with you, I was given the news that Tony has been shot dead in his own home. Robert is doing my work for me, it seems," he said, grinning. "Your dad had your brother killed? That's pretty cold, even by my standards."

He let out a bored sigh. "Anyway. This is your permission to speak now," he told them.

neverbackdown (Rory)

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert and Caroline Walker​

Caroline smiled when Alfie assured her he was doing fine. That expression dropped a little at his mention of getting along with Tony. Whilst she knew their families were having to work together against a mutual enemy, it didn't mean her tolerance for the eldest Fletcher siblings had increased. "Maybe it's a generation thing, because I find him quite insufferable!" she commented. A more positive expression returned upon hearing of the responsibilities her son was taking on lately. He'd certainly come far in recent months.

"Good luck getting Robert to take some time off. I don't think he knows how to switch off. It can typically be quite attractive," she said, turning to look at her husband as she did. Robert's work ethic and drive was something that had first drawn her to him. Through the decades since their marriage, the fact that he'd never been one to give up was always alluring to her. Now, with losing her father and Charles in the last six months, along with the other stress and trauma surrounding the family, the idea of some room to breathe was more enticing. As angry as she had been with Robert, she thought some time to relax together would do them the world of good. "But I agree. Some time off for once is long overdue."

"I appreciate the offer and encouragement," Robert said, looking at Alfie and then Caroline respectively. "But whilst we have people making threats on our family, it's completely inappropriate for me to slack off now." Sensing Caroline avert her attention away from him, he let out a somewhat relenting sigh. "But if you could handle things with Tony and continue running the shipments, that's less for me to be concerned with," he confirmed to Alfie.

Caroline nodded in agreement before sitting up straight, letting Robert keep his arm around her but lifting her head from resting on his shoulder. "We should arrange a Sunday dinner for all of the family next weekend. At the house, of course," she said, keen to avoid family gatherings in public at the moment. "You could invite Bonnie too," Caroline added, knowing Alfie was taking this relationship more seriously than ones in the past, and therefore she wished to encourage it.

BasDorcha (Alfie)

 

[purplecowdutch]

View attachment 1189056Jackie Walker - walker house - neverbackdown


Jackie was just observing Vinny, taking the two lines with a fifty note. He snorted two lines with his head back, he had obviously done this before but the last time they hang out it really wasn't obvious. Vinny always acted mysterious, as if there were things of him that weren't allowed to be seen.

Jackie had a dazed grin on his face, not really sure what he was smiling about in the first place. His reaction about the basement barely being used and how it was a good place to study went right above his head as Jackie was only focused on the note being passed onto him. With a card he started scraping the lines to make two perfect ones, if Vinny did it then what could possibly go wrong. Jackie wouldn't decline a fucking needle at this point, sitting in this basement was really depressing.

Jackie bend forward to take the line but looked up when he spouted on about how he got why people did this sort of stuff. 'You know what, I think it's impressive you do the shit you do without it,' Jackie blurted out. He remembered the first time pulling a trigger without it, an experience he would never ever do in his life sober again. The thought of it made him crawl.
Did he just gave Vinny McConnel a compliment? Jackie shook his head, snorting the two lines without hesitation. 'Maybe if you stop kissing Robert's ass, you could actually achieve something on your own,' he continued after wiping the residue of snow off his nose without any expression on his face at all. It burned, why was it burning? Coke burned but not after the night he had, he looked to the plate and then back to the man sitting in front of him again. He definitely just had coke because he felt himself sober up at least a little but the second line wasn't coke. It couldn't be.

'So, you got something to drink?' He asked, stumbling over the sentence while speaking and trying to form any sort of thought. His dry mouth was killing him, he reached his hand to the bottle of whiskey that stood besides the little coffeetable but his coordination was all the way off and so he leaned back on the couch. His body wasn't working together with his mind, somehow all the puzzle pieces wanted to fall together but his mind was a blur. It was a blur this whole time.
'Did you fucking drug me?' He got out as all he could think about was reaching for the gun in his grey, wrinkled suit pants. It was right there but his arm wouldn't move and neither did the rest of his body.
Why would he drug him? He took the lines himself, Jackie saw him do it. If he wanted to kill him, he would've done it already. Jackie tried to keep his eyes open but it felt like there was a thousand pillows pressing against his face forcing him to close them but something was stopping him from doing it. Maybe it was fear that underneath his intoxicated interior was still there. His act of not caring if he lived or not was slipping right their through his fingers.
Vinny McConnel, you are fucking dead.

 

[neverbackdown]

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Somewhere, England-Wales Border -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher
​

The silence that settled over the room after Rhys left was suffocating, pressing down on both girls like a heavy weight neither seemed able—or willing—to break. Their predicament hung between them, unspoken but impossible to ignore. It felt like hours had passed by before the door creaked open again, though in reality, it had only been minutes. Rory’s brow arched slightly as a new man stepped inside and immediately approached them.

She had stayed on her feet since Rhys had left, her body rigid, ready to lash out if anyone dared get too close. So when Aidan strode in and barked at them to stand, Rory bit back a growl of frustration—she was already standing, just as he demanded.

Her eyes darted toward Felicity, who wasn’t nearly as quick to comply. Instead, Felicity took her time, her movements slow and deliberate, a subtle but unmistakable act of rebellion. Rory’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, a flicker of amusement breaking through her guarded expression. It wasn’t much, but it was something, and it earned Felicity a silent nod of approval.

Crossing her arms, Rory fixed her gaze on the man in front of her, her expression carefully crafted into one of utter boredom. She held the look perfectly, giving nothing away—until the sharp crack of his hand against Felicity’s face shattered her composure. Shock flashed across her features as she instinctively lurched forward toward her half-sister, but the heavy chain around her wrist yanked her back, a cruel reminder of her powerlessness in this situation.

Her hands curled into fists as she forced herself to stand still, the weight of frustration and helplessness gnawing at her. With no other choice but to listen, Rory begrudgingly shifted her attention back to Aidan as he launched into what she could only describe as a self-pitying monologue. His story about being driven out of Birmingham by their families drew a flicker of incredulous amusement to her face. In her mind, she imagined a tiny violin playing just for him and his old grudge.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes as his voice droned on, her patience wearing thin. Rory was already sick of him, his theatrics, and his misplaced sense of injustice. However, his next words sparked her interest and the idea that it was a happy coincidence he got both girls felt like a kick to the stomach. One of them mightn't have needed to die and the only reason they ended up in this situation was that Felicity tried to save Rory from being followed, a cruel irony that made her sick to her stomach.

As Aidan taunted Rory, hinting that Felicity would undoubtedly be saved by Robert, she kept her expression neutral, raising a single eyebrow in a gesture that wordlessly conveyed, “And so?” She didn’t need his reminders to understand the dynamics at play. From the moment she had woken up and seen the chain around her wrist, Rory had accepted that her own death was the only outcome. His words didn’t shake her—they merely confirmed what she had already resigned herself to.

But what Rory hadn’t prepared for was the bombshell about her brother.

Her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat as the room seemed to tilt and twist around her. For a moment, it was as if the floor beneath her had given way, sending her spiraling into a vortex of disbelief and grief:

Tony is dead?
Tony was killed?
By Robert? My father?
No, it’s not true—it can’t be. Robert wouldn’t kill Tony. We’re supposed to be working together.
How would he even know?
He’s lying... but about what?
He killed Tony.

As her racing thoughts came to a screeching halt on that final, devastating conclusion, Rory’s entire demeanor changed. Her eyes glazed over, and an almost suffocating aura of rage enveloped her, filling the room with a cold, deadly intensity. The tears that streamed down her face seemed disconnected from the vacant expression she wore, her emotions consumed entirely by a blinding rage.

Before she even realized it, her body moved on instinct. Her right hand shot forward, connecting with Aidan’s cheek in a strike that was both vicious and unrelenting. The sound of the impact echoed in the bare room, but it wasn’t enough—not nearly enough.

Rory raised her left hand for another blow, but the chain around her wrist halted her movement, its cold restraint mocking her. Undeterred, she swung her right hand again, this time grabbing hold of Aidan with a vice-like grip, pulling him closer with surprising force. Her only thought—her singular, burning purpose—was to get him near enough to her left hand, to use the chain as a weapon, to wrap it around his neck.

She was going to kill him.

And in that moment, there was no hesitation, no fear, no thought of repercussions. No-one else was present, it was only her, Aidan and an all consuming desire to kill him.

********
Int;-
Misty Gray - Rhys / Aidan / Felicity

 

[BasDorcha]

McConnel Cottage

-Small Heath, Birmingham, England -​

Vinny McConnel

The compliment that Jackie gave him surprised him. He almost snorted in amusement, withholding any sounds or responses to pressure Jackie into following through quicker. When the man finally snorted down the two lines back to back, Vinny grinned, all pretenses falling away. There was a devil in the room with Jackie now, shadowy horns growing from the shadows above his head, eyes turning malicious and wicked in the gleaming shoddy light of the basement. The grin that went across his mouth could only be described as evil. There was a sick pleasure coursing through his body as he watched Jackie stumbling. This was going to be so very good. When he reached for the whiskey bottle, Vinny let out a malevolent chuckle, just sitting back and watching the sloppy mess that was Jackie. With his right elbow propped on the back of the couch, Vinny bit his lip before touching his thumb to his chin and settling his pointer finger over his lips, stifling a full laugh.

Standing, he moved over to Jackie, reaching down to search through his jacket and pockets. Jackie's hands tried to lift and struggle, but he pushed them easily away, removing everything from him. He tossed all of Jackie's personal items in a bucket that was sat beside the chair, then grinned, setting it on the table as he looked down at the puddle of goo in front of him. Leaning over the man, he put an arm on each side of the chair, bringing his face right up next to Jackie's, his eyes wild and uninhibited as he looked like a predator about to pounce on his prey. "Look at that Jackie, you're not as dumb as I thought you were. Here I was, thinking you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between coke and powdered sleeping pills. Too bad, I'm not often wrong. Guess you win that round." The look on his face though, that look. It said he hadn't won, it said Vinny had won and he didn't give a shit if he was caught now.

Standing up, he began moving around the room. Aside from some basic living essenntials - lights, a bed, a couch, a chair, a table, a desk, and wardrobe, there wasn't anything else in the room - which meant nothing to use for an escape. He straightened his clothes, picked his jacket up and put it on, returning to the normal Vinny - properly dressed to a T, hair in perfect place, his suit carefully tailored. He walked over to the bed and pulled out something from underneath. It clanked and clicked, sounding loudly in the room as if metal was being hit against metal. He picked up something in his hands that he dragged from beneath the bed. It appeared moderately heavy, and in the shadows of the bed area, almost snake like as he hauled it out. Finally, he stepped towards Jackie and back into the light. In his hand was a manacle attached to a heavy chain. It had enough length to reach the bathroom and bedroom door but no more. He moved over to Jackie and with the grace of practiced fingers, he slipped it around his ankle and locked it into place.

"There we go. You're all set. We'll remove it during training and when you need to change, but otherwise this baby is your new best friend and will be staying with you during your stay to prevent any unplanned exits." As he finished, he stood and dusted his hands off, giving Jackie a darker less amused look. "For the record, I don't kiss Robert's ass. I get paid - very well - to do a job and I do it right every time. THAT is why I have power and you don't. But don't worry, fadhb], we're gonna get you fixed up and fixed up right. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be as good as me. Well… maybe not as good as me but you'll at least be worth the time Robert has to deal with you. You'll be worth something. Get comfortable. This is your room until I deem otherwise. Training starts at 6 am tomorrow, I suggest you get some sleep. Oh wait, that's right, you're already going to bed. Good job, that's what I call initiative."

Vinny gave an evil howl of laugher, waving his left hand over his shoulder as he slid his right into his jacket while he walked away. Life was about to get fun.

purplecowdutch - Jackie

 

[Misty Gray]

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Somewhere, England-Wales Border -

Felicity Walker
Aidan Jones and Rhys Collins​

Felicity was taken by surprise when Aidan hit her, even if she did sense he'd held back and used it more as a warning. She lifted her free hand to her cheek as she glared at the man across from her, with clear disdain in her eyes. She slowly lowered her hand as he told them his name. She didn't know the name and he went on to say none of them would. What did draw her full attention what the suggestion that Robert and Richard had killed the man's father. She wasn't sure what she believed in that moment. She knew how her family's business worked and that her dad had to make ruthless decisions. Her family had to cross many moral and legal lines to secure their power in the city. Regardless of whether or not she believed his words, she didn't care. The man had no right to take it out on her or Rory. Nor should he have dragged innocent people into his daddy issues if he was behind the gala attack too.

Even though he'd already hit her once, when Aidan began speaking about taking everything back, she had to consciously stop herself from scoffing or rolling her eyes. But then, he went on to taunt Rory, saying Robert would leave her and choose to free Felicity. Followed by saying he'd kill Robert too. She felt her heart beating in her chest as her blood began to boil. No matter what her father had done, Felicity did not like anyone threatening him. For all of his faults, she remained fiercely loyal to him and their family.

The revelation that Tony was dead and Robert was behind it caught her off-guard. Whilst she had little time for him, she wouldn't want him dead. And those sentiments felt even more certain standing next to Rory. She turned to look at her half-sister, seeing how much the news knocked her back. "He's lying. He's just trying to get to us. My dad wouldn't have done that," she reasoned, but could see Rory was stuck in her own mind at that moment. Felicity turned back to look at Aidan, a burning fire in her eyes. "You're fucking lying!"

Before anything else could be said, Rory snapped out of her thoughts and punched Aidan square in the face. The man's head turned with the impact of the punch, but he otherwise remained firm on the spot, a goading smile on his face as he turned to look back at her. She then grabbed him and pulled him closer, but before she could further act, he forcefully pushed her backwards. Her back slammed into the wall and the back of her head hit it with a painful thud.

"Let go!" Felicity meanwhile yelled as Rhys grabbed her from behind to prevent her from helping Rory or joining in with the attack. Aidan took a few steps back, now out of Rory's reach. "You keep your mouth shut!" he commanded Felicity pointing in her face. He then turned back to look at Rory, laughing mockingly as he touched his cheek where she'd hit him. "I'm glad to see you've both got some fight in you. It'll make it more fun breaking you down," he assured them.

Motioning for Rhys to let go of Felicity, he began to walk away, but turned back to face them. "I'll give you ladies some time to reflect tonight. We'll speak again soon. In the meantime, I'll leave you in their capable hands," he said, pointing to the two masked gunmen who were on guard duty for the night.

Once Aidan and Rhys were walking away, Felicity turned to Rory with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked. Whilst she didn't appear injured, it still must have been a shock to collide with the wall. "We'll get through this, yeah? We stick together," she firmly told her. Partly, she was trying to reassure herself too.

neverbackdown (Rory)

- - End of Chapter - -​

 

[Misty Gray]

Chapter 10 - Prologue

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker and Richard Finley​

It was 3am when Robert received a phone call, which he didn't hesitate to answer from the bedside telephone. Despite having been in bed, he hadn't been asleep. He hadn't had a good night's sleep for almost two weeks, since Felicity and Rory had been taken. Although it was for only half of that reason, Caroline had struggled too. Both of them had been working overtime trying to track down where the two young women were. They had no doubts the same people who had been behind the gala attack were to blame. They also suspected the same group to be behind Sully’s murder and the attempt on Tony's life. Robert had been called into the station for questioning about both of those attacks, from which the police drew up no real evidence to pin on him or the Walkers.

With Caroline awake in bed next to him, Robert answered the call from the bedroom extension. He’d found himself speaking with the same caller from a couple of weeks ago, Robert had been given the "choice" to save one of his daughters. As difficult as it was to have to make such a decision, the answer could only have been Felicity. If the Fletchers and Rory could never forgive him for the affair with Dorothy, he at least hoped they understood that he and Caroline had to help Felicity first.

Once the call had ended, Caroline had left the bedroom to make a strong coffee, worried about her husband having to go alone to bring Felicity home. However, she was equally keen for him to go and get their daughter back. Robert was concerned about leaving Caroline at home, knowing Thomas wouldn't be able to handle her if she were to get in a state. Robert had a further plan - a risky one - that he couldn't upset Caroline further with the details of. He knew who would be best equipped to deal with her... despite their recent issues. So, by 4am, Richard's night was disturbed by the phone ringing repeatedly. Thankfully, he'd answered during the second attempt.

"Rich," Robert was quick to speak, using the shortened name he didn't often use, before his brother could express any frustration at the late night caller. "I've just had a call from those who took Felicity and Rory. Long story short, I have to go alone, immediately, to get Felicity back. They made me choose only one of them and I have to go alone, else risk both their lives and my own. I know things haven't been good between both of you recently, but I need you to come here and be with Caroline. If you can, that is. It might not seem like it, but she will appreciate you being there."

It took a moment for Richard to shake the grogginess. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever you need.” He replied, confused and delirious from sleep. By the time he recognized the more dire notes, particularly his nickname and Robert’s tone, his brother continued on.

Robert cleared his throat before lowering his voice. "I can't tell Caroline, but once I can secure Felicity's safety, then I... Well, I can't just leave Rory if there's a chance they're keeping her alive. You know what that's like," he said, referring to when Richard rescued him during his abduction and torture during the war. "And I have a good idea of what it's like to be in the position Rory could be in."

Richard ran a nervous hand through his sleep-tossed hair as he stood over his office phone. From the sound of it, this situation escalated much faster than he anticipated. “Rob, I can send police out there; you realize that?” he sighed. Robert stayed silent before reminding himself he didn't have much time. "They're watching the house and they'll know if anyone follows me, so I can't risk us planning anything now. I have to go alone and follow their rules until Felicity is safe…”

With his free hand, Richard rubbed his eyes, waking himself up the best he could. Unfortunately, his brother made a point. More attention was worse for the girls fate. But this? “Rob, this isn’t like the war. We aren’t twenty-year-olds figh-” Robert interrupted his brother’s logic. “Rich. If I don't come back from this, I need you to know how grateful I am to have met you. I know I'm a bastard and it hasn't been easy putting up with me. But we're brothers and you've always meant the world to me." Richard’s lip furrowed in frustration and sorrow. This couldn’t be it? His voice rasped, trying to scrape an argument from this whole thing. But he stopped himself short. What if these were the last words he got to speak to Robert? “Wingmen or brothers, you’ve been the best part of my life, mate. Chin up; I'll see you on the other side of this.” He tutted, trying to manage a positive tone. They’d seen worse than this, but had youth on their side. Now, life was a race against the clock moreso than chasing it. Even he couldn’t be certain Robert would make it out.

Hearing Caroline approaching, Robert quickly shifted his tone. "Hopefully we'll speak later. Look after yourself, Rich."

Once the receiver gave out, the dial tone echoing, beaconing in his ear, Richard slammed the phone back in it’s slot. The jangle of the bell and parts shook the desk from his force, tossing a few stray papers to the ground.

Mentioned: ReverseTex (Richard) neverbackdown (Rory)
BasDorcha BeyondDandy purplecowdutch

 

[Misty Gray]

Chapter 10 - Prisoners
- Sunday 15th February 1976 -
...12 days later...
Early Afternoon - Overcast, Cold, Windy

***************

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Chepstow, Wales (Near the England Border) -

Aidan Jones​

Over the course of the last 12 days, Rory and Felicity had been kept in the same part of the warehouse, only allowed to move away one at a time to use the bathroom. In that time, they had at least been given mattresses and thin blankets to use, along with being given food and drink should they wish to give in to it. Unless either of them directly warranted it, Aidan had refrained from using violence. Still, he had tormented them in other ways to break them down. Fully aware of Sully's death and Tony clinging onto life, Aidan had still continued to feed them an inaccurate truth. He maintained the story that Tony had been killed, even presenting them with photographic evidence of the police presence and ambulances around Tony's home. Perhaps by the end of it, Rory will want him to kill Robert!

Throughout their time, especially when they had peace and quiet without Aidan or Rhys taunting them, Felicity and Rory had talked. Perhaps it was the fact they were trapped together and suffering the same trauma, but it was quite easy to get along with her half-sister. Regardless of believing Tony was dead, Felicity still maintained Robert had nothing to do with it. She didn't understand why he would do it now of all times. Their families were finally working together and Rory had just learned the truth about him being her father. Why would he make things a million times worse at an already bad time, not the mention when their families were cooperating? Regardless, the two young women learned a lot more about each other. Felicity even trying to assure Rory that Caroline wasn't as bad as she seemed; that she'd been hurt by Robert and Dorothy too. That they were all still grieving for Charles. That was one of the hardest things to stomach. The thought that her parents would lose a daughter now too, so soon after losing Charles. Hell, Robert stood to lose two now.

One thing that did become evidently true, was that Aidan had been serious about freeing one of them. It was still dark outside when he arrived at the warehouse and joined the two women. Rhys removed the shackle from Felicity's wrist and commanded her to stand. "Get yourself freshened up. Your old man's chosen to let you go home," Aidan told Felicity. "The favourite has be revealed."

As she began to protest in Rory's defence, Rhys dragged her with him and practically pushed her into the windowless bathroom, slamming the door shut as he remained outside of it. "Hurry up!" Rhys commanded her from outside the room.

Not long after she emerged from the bathroom, Rhys tied Felicity's hands together and put a blindfold over her head to cover her eyes. Once she'd been led away and taken outside to the car by Rhys, Aidan pulled up a chair a short, unreachable, distance from Rory. "Now, what do we you with you?" he coldly asked as her as he glanced at his watch. He then looked up, fixing his eyes on Natalie who was standing close by. Breaking his gaze, he stared back at Rory once again. "Have you thought of any last words for your Dad before he watches you die? Not that I expect he'll care much..."

Direct interaction: neverbackdown (Rory, Nat)
Robert, Rhys, and ReverseTex (Ellias) will join shortly.

Industrial Park
- Blackpole, Worcester, England -

Robert and Felicity Walker
Rhys Collins​

The sun was rising when Robert pulled into the parking lot. Up ahead, he saw the black vehicle standing idle. Outside the vehicle, Rhys stood, keeping his hand gripped on Felicity's wrist whilst she stood blindfolded alongside him. In the man's other hand, he displayed a gun. Robert had just processed that scene when two armed men stepped in his own car's path, commanding him to stop a distance away from Rhys and Felicity. Instructed to remove his keys from the ignition, Robert carefully exited the vehicle, his hands held up to show he was unarmed. One of the men proceeded to frisk search him whilst the other inspected the interior and exterior of the vehicle for any dangers.

Robert was ordered to step forward and stop halfway between his own car and Rhys's. After being nudged forward, Felicity began to carefully walk in a straight line, all the while still blindfolded whilst Rhys aimed the gun to the back of her head. As soon as she was within reach, Robert gently spoke her name and wrapped his arms around her to pull her in for a tight embrace. "It's okay, sweetheart," he said. Keeping her held close, he reached up to remove the blindfold from in front of her eyes. She appeared shaken and had a few marks on her face, but she didn't appear physically harmed. "Did they hurt you?" he softly asked her, his eyes fixing on Rhys as he looked over her shoulder.

"No. Not really. I'm okay," Felicity cried, unable to let go of her father. "I want to go home," she told him. Robert nodded his head and was about to ask about Rory when she beat him to it. "Dad... They still have Rory. They wouldn't let her come with me," she explained, now breaking away from the embrace to look him in the eyes.

"I know. They called me and would only let me choose one of you to go free," he told her. Taking her hand, he placed his car keys in her palm and closed her fingers securely around them. "Felicity, I need you to go straight home - to your mother. No detours, no risky behaviour. Straight home," he firmly told her.

Felicity knew what he was doing and whilst she knew he had to try help Rory, she didn't want him to walk into danger. "You can't. He's going to kill you, Dad. Said his name is Aidan Jones. Claims you and Richard killed his dad years ago." The name rang a bell and if he was right about the man's father being Elwyn Jones, then it made sense this was all for revenge. He still couldn't walk away though.

"No. Listen," he said, stopping her from arguing. "I have to do something to try help her. She's on her own and nobody knows where she is. I know what that feels like."

Felicity nodded her head as her sobs overcame her. "I know... Please, Dad. Make sure you come back," she pleaded as she hugged him again. "You survived the war and everything since. You have to do it now too."

"I fully intend on it. I'm proud of you and everything you've achieved so far. The best you can do now is get in that car and drive straight home. Your mother needs that. I love you, Felicity," he told her.

"Walker! That's enough timewasting, sentimental bullshit." Rhys called out to Robert. "Rory's still alive, you know. Our Boss is ready for that face-to-face meeting. If you're ready to take him seriously now, of course."

"Great. I thought you'd never ask," Robert drily remarked. "Let my daughter get in the car and go, then I'm all yours."

"Of course." Rhys beckoned the two armed gunmen to re-join him and leave Robert's car unguarded. He kept his eyes fixed on the two Walkers as Robert and Felicity gave each other one last embrace. "No funny business, Felicity, else I'll put a bullet in your old man's skull and then go back to do the same to Rory. If I see anything remotely suspicious, this bastard dies," Rhys warned, now aiming his gun at Robert.

Felicity rushed into the driver's seat of Robert's car and started the engine. She struggled to hold back her sobs as she watched the man push Robert against Rhys's car and restrain his hands behind his back. Rhys motioned to Felicity to drive away, to which, she reluctantly complied, the last sight of her father was him being dragged into the back of the car.

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Felicity Walker​

Felicity wasn't sure how she managed to drive back to Birmingham in one piece. Despite her geographical knowledge and navigation skills, she'd never been to Worcester. Not to mention, her hands trembled as she gripped the steering wheel. Her feet shook on the car's pedals. Thankfully the roads were quiet so early on a Sunday morning. Every so often her eyes filled with tears as everything flooded back to her. Forcing her to wipe them away with the back of her sleeve to clear her vision.

When she eventually reached the closed gates of her parents' house, she slammed the breaks on in frustration. The guard approached the vehicle, prompting her to wind the driver's side window down so he could ask where Robert was, given she was in her father's car. "Just open the fucking gate and let me see my mum!" she snapped. For a moment, it was as though she'd evoked a part of Caroline. The guard quickly did as instructed, with his colleague given the go ahead having at the same time checked in with Richard, who was overseeing the house security.

Felicity didn't give much attention to how badly she'd parked Robert's car in the driveway, simply wanting to get out of it so she could find her mother. In her haste, she hadn't even registered Richard's car was already there. She barely stepped into the house when Caroline rushed towards her and pulled her in for a tight hug. For a moment, Felicity's whole body tensed, the car keys slipping out of her hand and falling onto the hallway's wooden floor wish a crash. "Thank God," Caroline whispered, placing her hand on the back on her head as she kept her close. It didn't escape her attention that Felicity had entered alone and with Robert's keys in hand. Even as she looked outside through the gap in the half-opened front door and didn't see him, she was trying to convince herself Robert would enter the house at any moment.

When the two women broke away from the embrace, Richard then pulled Felicity in for a tight hug. Tears rolled down her cheeks as her uncle spoke to her. Meanwhile, Caroline had approached the front door, peering out only to find no sign of Robert. She closed the door and before she could ask, Richard had pulled back from Felicity and prompted her to tell him as much as she could.

Glancing to her mother, knowing what she was thinking, she knew she had to break the news about Robert within her explanation. "I don't know where me and Rory were being held, but they made Dad drive out to some industrial park in Worcester to meet me. There was nobody else around, just me, Dad and them," she explained, not surprised the place would be empty at the crack of dawn on a weekend. "They still have Rory. And Dad... Well, he had to go back with them."

"Had to?" Caroline asked, her voice cracking as it was confirmed her husband wasn't safe.

"Yes. Had to," Felicity firmly told her beneath the tears. During the twelve days spent with Rory in the warehouse, the two had bonded amongst their shared suffering. Regardless of Robert being unfaithful to her mother and the fear of now losing him, Felicity fully supported his decision to try to help Rory. Even if Aidan had claimed he would kill both of them. "He couldn't just come home with me and leave her there without trying. Besides, they always intended on him going back to that warehouse today," she asserted.

"I don't know where I was held all this time. It was some warehouse. There were a few of them there. Some masked, others not, but I didn't recognise any of them. The leader said his name was Aidan Jones and none of us would know him. But..." she said, looking Richard in the eyes. "He was certain you and Dad knew his father. Claimed you both killed his dad and bullied his family out of Birmingham a long time ago. He said he wants to take Birmingham back from us and the Fletchers," she explained. "He was the one behind the gala attack," she firmly assured them. "He's going to kill Dad. They killed Tony too, didn't they?" she asked, not believing Robert would have arranged that, as Aidan had claimed. Not knowing Sully was dead and Tony had survived.

"Tony survived," Caroline assured Felicity, but held back from mentioning Sully was killed. "Regardless. Your father had nothing to do with any of that."

Richard soon released Felicity, calling Thomas over to stay with her and Caroline. "Please. Can I go change first?" she asked, but set off upstairs without waiting for an answer. She needed to change into some clean clothes. To try feel human again.

By the time Felicity had cleaned herself up and dressed in some of her mother's clothes, she made her way back downstairs. Having rushed off before, she approached Thomas and gave him a hug. "I'm sorry," she told him, somehow feeling like he might blame her for their father now being in danger.

Dean was then brought into the house and Richard led the three of them to the study, Felicity linking her arm with Thomas as they walked. Felicity sat on the sofa in her father's office, having Thomas join her. She pulled the sleeves of the sweater over her hands as she looked expectantly through her red raw eyes at Dean, awaiting his questions.

BasDorcha (Dean) neverbackdown (Thomas)
Mentioned: ReverseTex (Richard)

Birmingham City Hospital
- City Centre, Birmingham, England -

Tony Fletcher​

The last thing Tony had remembered from the shooting was seeing Julia through his blurred vision as she told him she loved him. "Forever and always, my love." He'd felt her kiss his lips. But after that, everything became hazy and dizzying, with the distorted sirens ringing in his ears.

The next thing Tony knew, he was laid in a hospital bed. After being rushed to hospital he was taken straight into theatre where he was operated on and given a blood transfusion. Despite the bullets avoiding seriously damaging any internal organs, the severe amount of blood loos had been life threatening. Even after the operation, his prognosis was uncertain and Tony was kept in an induced coma.

During the nine days he'd ben in the coma, his family were dealing with further grief. Sully's body had been discovered in the woods near the Fletcher house. His handwritten letter to Felicity and the paper with an "R" scrawled on had been taken in for evidence, but questioning had yet to draw up any clues. The letter head been shown to Robert during his questioning, but it had been just as much a surprise to him as anybody else. And Felicity was missing so couldn't shed any light either.

Not only were the Fletchers struggling with the loss of Sully, but they also had to try deal with Rory being missing. Nobody had been able to find her. Even with the Walkers also having people out looking for the two women, there had been no leads.

When Tony was brought out of the medically induced coma four days ago, it was to the sight of Dorothy and Julia at his bedside. Dorothy and Sammy had rushed back to Birmingham as soon as they heard all of the news about the Sully, Rory and Tony. Dorothy had even marched over to Robert's house, regardless of Caroline's presence, and demanded answers. Whether the rest of her family were convinced or not, Dorothy was inclined to believe Robert when he swore he had no part in the Sully's death and Tony's attempted murder. Nor in Rory's disappearance.

Tony had been given the bad news about Sully and Rory those four days ago. As expected, he took the news badly. Despite being weak and in pain, he rushed out of bed, dragging the various wires that were attached along the way. Shock, anger, grief, and desperation all exploded from him, desperate to do something. Whether it was hunt for Rory or kill Robert, he wasn't quite sure in his heightened reaction. Of course, his sudden actions were quick to catch up to him and Tony collapsed on the hospital floor.

Tony had been kept sedated since that day, the sedatives being gradually reduced since yesterday. This morning, he was slow to come around but when he finally became fully awake and lucid, he saw Julia and Penny at his bedside. "Hey," he groggily spoke to them. He struggled to sit up, wincing as pain was sent to his wounded chest and abdomen. "You lasses okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"How long have I been out?" he asked. In that moment, he looked around at himself, already aware of the tight bandages around his torso, but checking everything else about him was in tact! "Jeez," he mumbled as he rested his head back against the pillow. "I had the weirdest fucking dreams about Rory and Sully..." he trailed off, a weak smile on his lips as he tried to weigh up that it was all in fact a dream...

neverbackdown (Julia) BasDorcha (Penny)


Active Cast: Misty Gray BasDorcha BeyondDandy neverbackdown purplecowdutch ReverseTex

 

[ReverseTex]

Finley Residence ~ The Walker Residence
- Birmingham, England -
- Sunday 15th February 1976 -
Misty Gray
BasDorcha
neverbackdown

Dr. Richard Finley
​

“Look after yourself, Rich.” Robert’s words hung heavily in his head, reminiscent of the old clothes line that sagged from his father’s factory clothes. He hadn’t thought much of his childhood home in the Ladywood slums. But suddenly, and certainly uncontrollably, some of his fonder memories with him and his brother overwhelmed his thoughts. There was no use in trying to go back to sleep. Without much thought, he headed back to his bedroom to grab a coat. No matter the cold or time of morning, he needed to get out of this house. He couldn’t be contained by a single wall this very moment.

Before stepping out to his small garden, Richard managed to put on a pot of coffee. While the brew gurgled to life, the sudden

rush of the February frost shot his senses awake. Thankfully, the sky was still dark and void of dawn’s kiss. Exactly what he wanted. He took a seat in one of his wooden chairs and turned his eyes upward. To the stars...

The way back to base was a well-memorized journey now, despite being rather uncoordinated. Richard lazily stumbled alongside Robert, a cigarette in hand and his mind elsewhere. The pair had spent a good deal longer than they should’ve at the pub, a lengthy tab to show for it. No matter, the drunken walks home were Richard’s favorite part of the adventure. The stars were out in full, shimmering off the distant tide, calling out to him like a moth to a flame. Being part of the sky did bring peace to his soul. To be so free in something so vast, not made for man, felt like a privilege on good days rather than a job... Taking a drag from his cigarette, he glanced back up at the stars, truly enamored by their brilliance. He then looked at the nearing airfield, the manicured grass they sat on only hours ago calling to him. A nice place to nap under the stars! Before long, as soon as they reached the shorter grass, Richard threw himself to the ground, cigarette in mouth, the haphazard barrel roll getting a good laugh from him. Robert was able to carry himself in a tall and proper posture, albeit with the odd deviation from walking in a straight line. He chuckled to himself as Richard stumbled next to him along the way back to the barracks. “Come on, Rob! It’s quite nice to see the stars like this! Don’t hurt your neck so much,” he said as he properly adjusted himself. In his acrobatic splendor, he unfortunately petered out his smoke. "You're a fool," Robert lightly joked, along with a chuckle. Richard rested his hands lazily behind his head, grateful to touch midnight grass, as he listened to Robert jest back. “You’re such a sod, you know it? You’re absolutely no fun. Maybe I take back what I said about the best-mate stuff. Looks like I'd be better off by myself in the slums again; at least I'd be fun and poor. Not rich and boring.” His drunken stupor was harmless, merely to rile up Robert and entertain himself. On Richard's encouragement, Robert joined the man on the grass but remained sitting upright for the time being. "I look forward to you showing me all of this poor man’s fun I'm missing out on," he teased. "Although perhaps not. Considering you're threatening to revoke my 'best mate' status." Robert finally laid back and looked at the sky above as his friend was doing. It actually felt good to take the weight off and relax for once.


The pot of coffee snapped Richard from thought; a sniffle matched with a light chuckle prompt followed. Oh, to be young and a fool again. He pushed himself off the chair, a grizzled grunt with age to follow. Long gone were the days where he had zero direction in his life; the only thing keeping him alive and upright those days were cigarettes and a simple pledge. A pledge he made to a young Robert Walker: to get him home safely to his family, even if that meant his own life. Considering he had nothing to live for in those days, it was a rather easy promise. Decades of life only made that challenge ever more difficult and more evolved. Now, he had to protect more than just Robert. He had Caroline, his nieces, and his nephews. Today his focus had to be on the pledge, if it were Robert’s last wish. His hands worked on fixing his cup of coffee, a sacred morning ritual. “I'll do what I can to make your pledge easy to stick to, old boy,” he sighed under his breath, stealing the words his brother uttered to him all those years ago…

******************​

By the time he arrived at the house that morning, Robert had set off on his crusade, and the house was only beginning to stir. As it seemed, Richard was the man in charge of the Walker household today. Even though Robert requested he support Caroline, he wasn’t one to barge into her room. Especially where the pair stood at the moment... His first order of business was ensuring home security was on full alert. It had been decades since this had once been his job, managing the lackeys employed in the greater security side of the business. Per his orders, the gates were not to allow anyone in or out of the house. Robert or Felicity were an exception, of course. But anyone else required strict approval. Second, he made sure to notify Alfie to steer clear of the house today. His details and instructions were vague, considering he couldn’t be certain the house phone lines had been bugged by their new adversaries. Nevertheless, the message was clear. Keep yourself occupied today.

Once those matters were attended to, Richard set up camp at the kitchen table. Now that the sun was blinding through the windows, the length of his morning was starting to catch up with him. As his eyes scanned the empty kitchen, they landed on one thing. The pot of coffee, warm but seemingly a third drunk, caught his eye. So Caroline had been about the house a bit. Without a second thought, he went to make himself a cup. At least if one thing remained consistent this morning, it was his coffee routine.

Time felt extremely warped today. He couldn’t be sure how much coffee he’d been through sitting at the table by himself with his thoughts. All the memories this house held were seemingly flooding back. Part of him wanted to numb the anxiety and all the bad memories. But there was another part of himself that appreciated them. It was a pleasure to live such a full life, even if there were bums along the way. The only thing that broke his fog was Thomas coming down like he normally would. Richard was quick to explain the situation at hand: don’t leave the house; your father is gone to get your sister; keep to yourself unless instructed otherwise. Once he went back upstairs, he was back to his own devices.

“Dr. Finley?” The handheld radio that sat on the table in front of him cracked to life. It was the voice of the guard operating the gate. “Go ahead,” Richard replied. “Right, Miss Felicity is back.” “Good God, let her in!” His rushed tone left no room for a reply as the guard went to work immediately. Before much reasoning could take place, footsteps ran down the stairs, followed by an emotional welp coming from the entryway. Richard rushed up, his leg sending a sharp pain from the sudden movement, and hurried to check the commotion. There, his niece stood, engulfed in her mother’s arms. A lump in his throat ballooned, both relief and dread swelling it. He hung by the kitchen door as the two reunited. Once they were done, he stepped forward to give his niece a blanket-like hug. “I’m sorry…” Richard choked, muffled by Felicity’s head. Since Robert couldn't be here to give her a hug, he'd do his best to make her feel home. There was no right or wrong way to approach one of these situations, having dealt with Robert in the war and his own experience. All he could do was be present for her. Once he let her go, he placed either of his hands firmly on her shoulders to ground his niece. “Felicity, I'm going to need immediate details. As hard as they might be at this moment, you’re going to need to tell me now.” He could feel his eyes burning, holding back tears. He needed to stay strong and focused on the task at hand. Uphold the pledge.

It wasn’t much of a surprise that she hadn’t a clue where she was housed. He didn’t expect that information. Hearing that Rory was alive and also there was a good sign, along with the fact they took Robert with them. Whoever they were, they wanted to talk with Robert. If they wanted him dead, then they would’ve shot him in Worcester. He wiped a stray tear from her eyes with his thumb, careful not to graze a scrap. She’d clearly cried the whole drive here. God bless her. But the shocking news of the whole story was a name. Aidan Jones. When Felicity met his eyes, it took everything in him to not trail off in thought. But by his expression, it was clear; he recognized the surname. She didn’t need to hear that story, and frankly he didn’t want to relive that time in his life. “Felicity, listen to me,” Richard pushed a wild strand of her unkempt hair behind her. “Your father is going to be alright. We’ve been through much worse.” Part of his words were to reaffirm the fact as well. But at the same time, what they faced was thousands of miles away from home. The battleground was entirely different, as were the stakes. “You’re safe here; nothing is going to happen to you.” Once more, he pulled her in for one last hug. With that, he released Felicity.

Once the story was straight, as well as it could be, his mind went into problem-solving mode. “Thomas!” Richard shouted, his rage bellowing his voice more than he intended. He released Felicity, allowing her to return to Caroline. This couldn’t be the same Jones family... Could it? The boy’s hurried footsteps from upstairs reminded him of days when the lad might’ve been in trouble, running down to face the music. “Stay with the girls; I need to make a phone call.” He instructed. It wasn’t a patronizing tone; rather more reflective of his own stress. He was quick to head off to Robert’s study to place the call to the only person he knew could help: Dean Walters.

Richard’s instructions to Dean were like Alfie’s: concise yet vague. He instructed his partner to do two things. One, dig up anything he could manage on such short notice on Elwyn Jones and his immediate family. Two, come to the Walker house immediately. Once that was clear, he took a seat in his usual spot in the study. The moment of silence in the hallowed room where he and his brother spent many nights was needed. He sighed, leaning his head back on the cushioned leather sofa. For a moment, he removed his glasses to rub his eyes. Today was only going to expedite the grey hairs blotching his head.

Dean’s arrival was confirmed by the guards an hour later, and he met with Richard outside. Once in person, his mind was still stuck in business mode. Even if he needed a hug at this time, his body was still fueled on adrenaline. “Right, thank you,” he nodded, taking the file. “I’m going to need you to talk with Felicity. She’s been through quite the ordeal, but you’re the only person I know who can handle this confidentially.” He placed a firm yet grounding hand on Dean’s arm. “Use the study. It’s private enough to conduct that conversation.” He instructed, leading the man into the home.

Richard instructed Thomas to accompany his sister for the conversation. As much as he knew Caroline wanted to watch over her baby, he knew some of the details would best be spared from her ears. If the Jones family was the one behind this, then he knew for certain some degree of what horrors she endured. Once the trio was settled in the study, he shut the door and left them to their own devices. As he strolled down the hall, back to the entryway and stairs, Caroline Walker stood idle, waiting for him. For a moment, he frozen, stuck in limbo. His eyes met hers, holding the same resolution they had since he arrived. Hers held the same fire they always had, set aside from the deep sorrow that he knew lingered under the rage. His mustache furrowed, knowing what was about to unfold. It was time.

“Let's take this upstairs,” Richard nodded, accepting the duel. He limped past Caroline, making his way up the stairs and to the opposite end of the house of the study. Sure enough, the room that made the most sense was the guest room. He opened the door, shutting it once she passed before him. The irony of the room didn’t escape him—the fact this was his room whenever he needed and also the spot where his most humiliating secret was uncovered. He backed towards the window, leaning against the wall to give his sister-in-law space. “You start,” he said, rather pointed. The stress of the day culminated now that he was backed in a corner with a lioness.

 

[BasDorcha]

Chapter 10

- Sunday 15th February, 1976 -
…12 days later..
Early Afternoon - Overcast, Cold, Cindy

***************

Around the City - Birmingham- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -


Alfred Walker​

The overcast sky was beautiful tonight. The colors filtering through here and there, the cold breeze making you want to be comfy and warm, it was Alfie's favorite time of year. As he stood on his balcony, he looked out over the street below, waiting for the time to get ready to pick up Bonnie. They had been out before, but it felt different this time. Last time, Alfie was expected to show up because of the formal event, something his family's name was all over. He taken Bonnie on a whim, not yet knowing how much of an impact that woman was going to make on him. Since the Gala he'd likely been insufferable. He'd never pined for a woman, yet Bonnie never let him as close as she did that day in his office again. They had been growing closer, and he enjoyed it. It was the first time ever in his life he spent more time looking for ways to be around her than getting away from a woman. A cheeky grin spread across his face as he finished his coffee and headed back inside. He had a whole plan for tonight.

As he headed inside, he snagged a towel and clothes were laid out on the bed. He spent some time showering, shaving, fixing his hair, he wanted tonight to be perfect. When had that mattered to him before? It was an odd feeling, wanting to impress someone when he normally couldn't care less. He cooked, he packed, he made three trips around the apartment trying to figure out if he had left anything.

A few hours later, the car was packed and he was dressed to impress as he headed out the door. In the back seat of the car was a basket, a few thick blankets, and some odds and ends he had packed. He wasn't sure this was the best date, since dating wasn't really his thing, but he had been having ideas of things he'd like to do with Bonnie and this was one of them. He hurried through the busy streets to her flat, arriving entirely to early and spending the next thirty minutes sitting in the car, only to head up ten minutes early anyways. In his hands he held a small potted flower. The flower was up on a thin branch, hanging to the side, with little pink and red shaped hearts hanging off it. The Bleeding Heart flower was apparently supposed to be a very romantic gift according to the flower shop owner.

He stood awkwardly, shifting side to side before he finally lifted his hand and knocked. Swallowing hard, an unfamiliar face answered the door.

"Hello, I'm here to pick up Bonnie?" He tried to peer over her shoulder but decided not to, instead catching her eyes. "I'm Alfie, it's a pleasure to meet you." He offered his hand, but she looked at it like he had rabies. Flipping her hair over her shoulder and walking deeper into the apartment, she waved for him to come in. "Go ahead and take a seat on the couch. She might be a minute. BONNIE, YOUR PUPPY DOG IS HEREEE." She called out down another hallway as Alfie turned a deep red and seated himself on the couch to wait for her.

ReverseTex - My Sugar Pieeeee

************************************************************​

McConnel Cottage

-Small Heath, Birmingham, England -​

Vinny McConnel

Vinny paced around the kitchen, frustrated that he couldn't be at the home today to help Robert and the family - which was his primary job. As he moved around making lunch, he found his movements much sharper than necessary. He took a deep breath, stopping for a moment to recenter himself. There was nothing he could do, it wasn't his job to take care of them unless they wanted it. Besides, he had a problem down below to still deal with. Things were right on schedule. As Vinny finished making lunch, he went over to the microphone he had installed on the kitchen counter - directly above the basement - to fuck with Jackie a little bit more. Clearing his throat, he turned on the mic, leaning forward to breath heavily into the device. Then with a jagged, rough, demonic sounding tone, he said softly, "It's coming…" Before he flipped it off, picked up the plate and headed down. He'd been doing this to Jackie since night one, and the man had tried desperately to convince him the basement was haunted.

Good lord, if the man was scared of a ghost, how was he ever going to have the balls to shoot someone sober? So he pushed. It had been 12 days since Jackie had a drop of alcohol or anything that could numb his mind and body. Plus, he only made healthy foods so the man had lost some of the slight extra weight he had carried from lack of working out - ever. Between morning physical training, and afternoon mental athletics, Jackie was slowly being broken down. He'd stopped asking for drugs or release finally, realizing that Vinny could give two shits what he threatened, who the threatened to tell, or what he threatened to do in revenge.

Vinny even took pity on him one day as he was leaving, stopping to look him dead in the eyes as he said, "You're right, I'm a monster. I kill people and don't blink. I have no morals - if I'm paid for something, I'll do it, doesn't matter what it is. But you know what I have that you don’t? A fucking backbone. You're right, I sure as shit am enjoying torturing you, but what you fail to see is I haven't actually touched you. The torture you're feeling? That's the shit you did to yourself coming out of your body. You should be god damn grateful that Robert and Caroline don't want you dead, because I'd rather not put in the time to fix you if I had it my way, but they don't, so of course your safe, for now. When this is over though, I promise you, you will be grateful for what I'm doing and you might not even think of it as torture one day - just a really hard wakeup call and training to be someone worth something to this family. You might even one day have some real power if you pay fucking attention, dumbass."

He'd left after that, letting Jackie stew in his words. It had apparently worked some as he had been slightly less confrontational since then. The truth was, Vinny needed a mindless underling that he could bully or brainwash into being loyal to him, and therefor Robert and family. Jackie needed someone to put him in line and keep him there. The man had been left to his own devices for too long.

The door creaked open as Vinny entered the bedroom, not bothering to look around before he sat the plate of food on the table and sat down in his normal spot, waiting for Jackie to join him. When he did, Vinny gave him a plastic smile, sliding his plate over to him while keeping one for himself. "You know, I had a pretty good night last night, Jackie. I thought I'd tell you about it. I was out at the club after our evening session and you'll never believe who I ran into." He grinned, this time a real grin with that maliciousness seeping out of it. "Pretty little Beth. That girl, I'll tell you, has a set of lungs on her, but I guess you probably already know that don't you?" That wickedness flickered in his eyes as he let Jackie think one he meant, before solidifying another. "Too bad she didn't see me coming."


purplecowdutch - The Junkie

 

[neverbackdown]

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Chepstow, Wales (Near the England Border) -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher
&
Natalie Smyth
​

She wasn't sure how long she had been there, locked up in the warehouse, minutes turned into hours, hours in to days, it could have been months for all she knew, time was a funny thing and she found it extremely difficult to judge without a source of telling it. What Rory did know, however, was that Felicity had been saved by Robert, something that she was neither surprised by nor did she hold against her biological father or half sister. As Felicity began to protest in her defense, Rory looked up at her, the faintest smile breaking through the exhaustion and pain etched across her face. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to send a message—a silent reassurance. At least one of us gets to go home. Rory needed Felicity to understand it was okay, that she didn’t hold this against her and that she shouldn't dwell on it either.

Just before the blindfold was secured over Felicity’s face, the girls locked eyes. Rory gave her a small, subtle nod, conveying everything she couldn’t say aloud. It was a silent thank you for the bond they had begun to forge over the past few days, a bittersweet acknowledgment of the sisterly connection that would now never be realized. And, most of all, it was a final goodbye.

While Felicity had seemed determined that both girls would survive, Rory knew since the beginning that only one of them was leaving here alive and there was never any doubt in her mind that it would be Felicity. With that in mind, Rory had made Felicity promise to deliver a message to her family—a parting gift from the youngest Fletcher. She wanted them to know that it wasn’t Robert’s fault, that she didn’t blame him for choosing Felicity. She wanted them to understand that she hadn’t given up, that she had fought until the very end and so should they. Most of all, she needed them to know how much she loved them, how deeply thankful she was to have been part of their family, even if her time with them was cruelly cut short.

As the door clicked shut behind Felicity, Rory straightened slowly, her movements casual, almost lazy, like someone stretching after sitting for too long. Her gaze stayed fixed on the ground, her fingers idly toying with the chain wrapped around her wrist. She tuned out Aidan’s voice entirely, his words nothing more than background noise, but her ears were sharp, taking in every other sound in the room. Every shuffle, every breath, every movement. Felicity's release had sealed Rory’s fate, and she knew it. It was only a matter of time before she joined her brother in death. But Rory had no intention of making it easy for them. If she was going down, she was sure as hell taking as many of these bastards with her as possible.

She caught Natalie’s approach out of the corner of her eye, her measured steps and the silent exchange of glances with Aidan. There was a plan brewing between them, but Rory had no interest in playing along. She was done waiting, done with their games. A flash of movement to her left caught her attention. One of Aidan's goons had ventured too close and was now perfectly within reaching distance. Rory’s lips curled into a devilish smirk as her grip on the chain tightened, her knuckles whitening. Her head snapped up, locking eyes with Aidan as her grin turned feral. "How about fuck you," she growled, her voice dripping with venom.

With a sudden burst of movement, Rory sidestepped, swinging the chain in a deadly arc over her head. The momentum built, and the room echoed with a sharp crack as the chain slammed into the side of the goon’s head. Without missing a beat, Rory followed through with a swift and brutal uppercut from her free hand, her knuckles connecting with his jaw in a sickening crunch. The impact sent him crumpling to the floor in a heap, blood trickling from a jagged gash at his temple. The shackle on her bruised wrist, which had felt like a cruel, unyielding prison for days, now served as a grim reminder of her rage—and a weapon. She tightened her grip on the chain, the cold metal biting into her palm as her knuckles turned white.

A silent nod seemed to be exchanged between Natalie and Aidan and Rory stood ready waiting until the red head was within striking distance. Rory lashed out without warning, the chain flying toward Natalie. The metal hissed through the air, but Natalie dodged it just in time, the whip-like crack of heavy metal missing her face by inches. In the same fluid motion, Natalie closed the distance, her fist aimed for Rory’s ribs with the intention to quickly and swiftly subdue the girl. In the last second Rory twisted just enough to avoid the worst of it, but the blow still landed with enough force to knock the air out of her momentarily.

Rory swung the chain again, the metal clashing against Natalie’s arm harsh and unforgiving. Natalie winced but she didn't have time to dwell on the pain as the chain came towards her again, instinctively she ducked under Rory’s next swing and drove her knee hard into Rory’s side. Rory involuntarily exhaled sharply as the force of the knee made her stumble back. Pushing past the growing ache in her ribs, Rory struck back with a high kick to Natalie's ribs forcing her to stumble sideways from the impact.

Natalie retaliated immediately with a sharp punch that landed hard against Rory’s jaw. Rory’s head snapped to the side her vision momentarily blacking out as the pain itself almost made her crumble but she pushed through, she was not going to loose this fight. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth and she wiped it away with the back of her hand, only for it to quickly be replaced with the flowing stream, her eyes flashing with a feral determination as she lunged again.

The chain came down once more, aimed for Natalie’s head. But this time, Natalie was ready. She raised her arm just in time to deflect the blow, the metal biting into her skin as her forearms took the brunt of the strike. She twisted her body and shoved Rory into the wall pinning her in place with her forearm pressed hard into her neck. The two stared at each other in silence for a moment, both breathing heavy, it seemed the fight was over and Natalie was just about to let go off her when Rory raised her knee and struck Natalie harshly in the stomach, the pain and shock causing her to immediately let go off Rory as she stumbled back slightly. Rory took the opportunity to reach forward and grab Natalie's face pulling her close enough to slam her forehead into Natalie's nose.

Natalie hissed in response as her nose began to bleed but she seemed to be more focused now than before. Catching the leg that Rory kicked with, Natalie threw it up, causing Rory to loose balance and hit the ground hard, the chain clanging loudly as she scrambled to her feet, but before she could fully recover, Natalie’s boot slammed into her stomach, knocking the breath out of her. Rory gasped, her body folding in on itself as she clutched at her abdomen and fell to her knees. In a desperate attempt to gain an upper hand, Rory lunged forward reaching for Natalie's ankles, determined to pull her down to the ground but she failed miserably. Natalie took a step back, easily avoiding the weak lunge, before stomping down hard on Rory’s outstretched chained wrist. A deafening scream filled the room as the pain shot up Rory's arm but she couldn't give in, she couldn't stop.

She swung her free arm, striking Natalie’s thigh. The blow landed, but it evidently lacked the power of her earlier attacks. Natalie grabbed her by the hair, pulling her up just enough to slam her head back against the wall. Rory’s vision blurred, blood trickling from the fresh cut on her temple as her body grew heavy with exhaustion but yet she forced herself to stand, her back pressed against the wall as she tried to stop the room for spinning. Sensing Rory's weakness, Natalie didn’t hesitate to end the fight. She threw a strong punch to Rory’s stomach, followed by an elbow to her collarbone. The hits were relentless, each one driving Rory further down, until she crumpled to her knees.

Natalie stood over her, breathing heavily, but still on her feet. Blood trickled from a cut above her brow, and she wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her expression hard and unyielding. Rory was on her knees now, swaying slightly, barely able to hold herself upright. Her face was bloodied, her breaths shallow, but the defiance in her eyes hadn’t dimmed completely, and that was what infuriated Natalie the most.

Natalie didn’t take any satisfaction in this—it wasn’t something she particularly enjoyed—but it was necessary. Rory needed to be broken, to be taught a lesson she wouldn’t forget. She had to be subdued before her father arrived. Natalie’s orders were clear: Rory needed to be put in her place, and this was the only way to do it.

She crouched down slightly, grabbing Rory by the chin and forcing her to meet her gaze. Rory’s lips curled into a weak snarl, but the strength to pull away wasn’t there anymore. Natalie’s grip tightened. “Stay down,” she warned, her tone like ice. “The sooner you learn, the less painful this’ll be.”

Rory’s body trembled with rage, but she couldn’t summon the strength to get up as the adrenaline faded and the pain of her injuries began to set in. Her bloodied hand weakly tightened around the chain, her vision swimming as she tried to breath through the pain. She had never lost a fight before and that idea alone hurt more than any of her injuries.

Natalie stood back up, shaking her head as she walked back towards Aidan and away from Rory's reach. Rory’s time was running out, and Natalie wasn’t sure if the girl understood just how much worse things were about to get.


*********
Int;-
Misty Gray - Aidan

 

[neverbackdown]

Birmingham City Hospital
- City Centre, Birmingham, England -

Julia Fletcher

​

The past twelve days had been nothing short of a nightmare and Julia could confidently say it was the worst time of her life. In less than a day, her entire world had shattered—her husband shot, her brother-in-law killed, and her sister-in-law kidnapped. The weight of it all bore down on her heart, a constant lump placed in throat, tears constantly on the verge of spilling out and each breath getting heavier than the last. The sight of her husband lying unconscious in the hospital bed, hooked up to a tangle of machines, was enough to break her.

But what twisted the knife deeper was knowing that when he woke up, she’d have to destroy his world all over again. That he would get no peace in waking up and realizing he survived. She would have to tell him that his younger brother—his recently returned brother—was dead, shot in their own backyard. And worse still, that his youngest sibling was missing, taken by someone who left no clues behind. No leads, no trail and so far no hope. The thought of his reaction, of watching his heart break, was unbearable. But it was nothing compared to the guilt of what she felt now: that tiny flicker of relief in her chest that he wasn’t awake to face it yet.

Breaking the news to Dorothy, her mother-in-law, had been one of the hardest things Julia had ever done. She could still hear the anguished cries on the other end of the line, the kind of grief that reaches deep and twists. Julia had been grateful she’d thought to call Sammy first, to give him the news privately so he could be there to catch their mother when the weight of it became too much. It had been a small mercy, one of the few she could give.

But still, it haunted her—the devastation she had unleashed with that phone call, the raw, unrelenting pain she’d had to deliver. She doubted she would ever forget it. How could she? Those cries echoed in her mind, a reminder of the horror they were all living through, of the person they’d already lost, and the one they might never see again. It made her reunion with Dorothy all that much harder as she found herself struggling to look the woman, a woman she admired, in the eye and how could she? Dorothy had trusted her and in her absence everything had gone down in flames.

Julia was beyond grateful to have Dorothy by her side when Tony finally woke. She had rehearsed what she would say over and over in her head, but when the moment came, the words caught in her throat, stumbling out in fragments and stutters that made no sense even to her. The weight of shattering his peace, of being the one to destroy his world, was too much for her to bear. She faltered, struggling to even look him in the eyes as she tried and failed to deliver the news.

Thankfully, Dorothy stepped in, her voice steady yet heavy with grief as she told him the truth. But the aftermath was nothing short of chaos. Tony’s reaction was explosive, as Julia should have expected—but in her own haze of fear and heartbreak, she hadn’t fully prepared herself for it. His grief, rage, and desperation came in waves, and the nurses were forced to intervene when his body, still fragile from injury, couldn't handle the strain.

Julia watched in horror as they sedated him, her heart breaking all over again as she saw his body go limp under the medication. It wasn’t like the coma—this time, she was told, the sedatives would wear off more quickly—but it didn’t make the sight of him being put back to sleep any easier. She felt helpless, standing there as Dorothy reached for her hand, both women leaning on each other for strength. Julia knew Tony’s reaction had been inevitable, but it didn’t lessen the ache of watching him suffer all over again.

Thankfully, Sammy had taken charge of Fletcher operations since his return to Birmingham, allowing Julia to spend most of her time by Tony’s bedside. In the days following the incident, she’d rarely left his side, venturing away only to shower, change clothes, or when Dorothy had insisted she take a break. That one day away from the hospital had been unbearable. Julia had tried to go home but found she couldn’t stay there—the curtains still lay crumpled on the floor, and the sitting room carpet was stained with splashes of paint and blood. The house felt frozen in the aftermath of the attack, and it was too much for her to bear. Instead, when exhaustion finally overtook her, Julia sought refuge at Dorothy’s. There, in the quiet solace of the Fletchers childhood home, they found comfort in each other’s presence. With everything that had happened Julia didn’t feel strong, but at least at Dorothy’s, she didn’t feel so alone and so wrapped up in her fears and grief.

Penny and Julia had been there for a while, the silence between them heavy but companionable as they waited for Tony to regain consciousness. It seemed that none of them knew what to say anymore, too tired to talk, to grief ridden to speak. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the room, punctuating the tense stillness. Julia sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her exhaustion visible in the dark circles beneath her eyes and her pale complexion. Despite the nurses’ reassurances, her nerves were frayed what if Tony didn’t remember anything? What if they had to relive that nightmare all over again by telling him the devastating truth for the second time?

Breaking the silence, Julia turned to Penny. “Have you been to see Marco lately?” she asked, her voice strained with weariness. She was trying to distract them, to fill the air with something other than the sound of her own anxious thoughts.

Before Penny could respond, Tony stirred. Both women immediately shifted their attention to him as his eyes fluttered open and the familiar sound of his voice filled the room.

“Hey” Julia said softly, a gentle smile gracing her lips, though it lacked the warmth it once carried. “You’ve been out for the last four days. It’s been 12 days since... the incident,” she added, her voice measured and careful as she watched him closely.

At the mention of his dream, Julia’s heart sank, her stomach twisting into knots. She swallowed hard, her worst fear realized. He didn’t remember. She was going to have to tell him again. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Julia reached out and took his hand in hers, her touch light but firm. She glanced at Penny first, a fleeting look of warning, silently telling her to brace herself. Turning her attention back to Tony, her voice caught in her throat as a single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

“I’m so sorry, my love,” she began, her voice trembling but steady enough to deliver the blow, this time she didn't have Dorothy to hide behind, Tony needed to know and Julia had to tell him. “It wasn’t a dream. Sully died that night... and Rory was kidnapped.” Her words hung heavy in the air, cutting through the fragile hope that had momentarily filled the room.

Julia squeezed his hand gently, her heart breaking all over again as she watched the realization dawn on his face.

*********
Int;-
Misty Gray - Tony
BasDorcha - Penny

 

[ReverseTex]

Around the City
- Birmingham- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -
BasDorcha

Bonnie Moody

​

Bonnie’s last few months in Birmingham, set aside from the Gala incident with Alfie and his family, were some of the smoothest in her life. No parents to muddle in her affairs, not odds and ends behind a job that kept her in danger’s path. This was stable. Perhaps that was needed? Either way, being the Madame of the House gave her a renewed sense of purpose. Being able to make sure the women were cared for, well compensated, and safe from any arid customers was something she had surprisingly been good at. So much so, Alfie had left her to her own devices management-wise.

Now there was the wrinkle in her simple life. Alfie Walker. She had no intention of crushing on her boss; that wasn’t her way of carrying herself. Her mother taught her better than that! But here she was rolling her hair for the guy. With him being caught up in family affairs and her with work, the two hadn’t had proper time for one another in quite some time. Tonight would be a nice departure. A proper date, as her British paramour put it. Bonnie heard Aflie’s arrival from her room, putting the finishing touches on her outfit. Her roommate, mostly out of circumstance rather than choice, teased her from the living room. To herself, she shook her head, amused and embarrassed.

Alas, the woman of the hour emerged. Her carefully manicured appearance knowingly caught Alfie’s eyes, which was met with a bashful blush. Her attention, however, was directed to her roommate. A salutory middle finger was raised in her honor with a shake of the head. “I don’t want to hear another word out of you. You can jab that mouth of your’s when I see a man knocking at that door for you, hun.” Bonnie tsked. She extended her elbow, awaiting her escort to take it with care. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Alfie.”

 

[neverbackdown]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Thomas Walker
​

The past two weeks had been hell, plain and simple. Felicity was missing, their father was under investigation for murder and attempted murder, Tony was in critical condition after being shot, Sully was dead, and Rory had been kidnapped. The chaos seemed unending.

While Thomas would admit he only truly cared about two people on that list—his sister and his father—it was impossible to ignore how everything was interconnected. Someone out there was systematically targeting both families, and the message was crystal clear: no one was safe.

Thomas had always been good at keeping a cool unemotional head, but the weight of it all was pushing him to his limits. He couldn’t stop replaying the events in his mind, analyzing every detail, trying to figure out who was behind it and where his sister was being kept but there was not a trace left behind, no clue, no hint, no error and that's what made the whole thing even scarier.

Thomas had spent most of the last two weeks holed up in his room, tucked away in the hotel, or chasing down leads on Felicity's whereabouts. Every effort turned up nothing, leaving him frustrated and helpless. Being at home was unbearable—his mother’s unpredictable moods and his father’s endless moping were enough to drive him up the wall. For someone who had always avoided confronting his own emotions, dealing with his parents’ raw grief was like being thrown into the deep end without a life raft.

The walls of the house, once a source of comfort, now felt suffocating. He couldn’t breathe in the oppressive weight of their sadness and anger, couldn’t stand the tension that hung thick in every room. If nothing else, the past two weeks had made one thing abundantly clear: it was time to move out. Not now—he couldn’t leave while things were in complete disarray—but someday soon, when the dust settled. When the time was right he would be gone.

Thomas had been rising unusually early over the past week, carefully planning his exits and returns to avoid any run-ins with his parents. He’d perfected the timing—early enough to grab coffee and food or leave the house without a confrontation, and that Sunday morning was no exception. What he hadn’t anticipated was walking into the sitting room and finding Richard seated there, a grave expression etched on his face. The moment their eyes met, Thomas felt his stomach twist, his pulse quickening as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Bracing himself for the worst, he quickly ran through every grim possibility in his mind. But instead of the devastating blow he was expecting, Richard’s words brought the faintest spark of relief. Felicity was alive. She was coming home.

Thomas nodded stiffly, his face betraying little of the whirlwind of emotions rushing through him. Taking his uncle’s advice to keep things low-key for now, he poured himself a cup of coffee and retreated to his room without a word. He wasn’t in the mood to face his mother’s likely emotional rollercoaster or the storm of tension that followed her everywhere. For now, he’d process the news alone, away from the chaos that had consumed the house.

It seemed like hours later, Thomas heard his name being called from downstairs. He closed his book and practically bolted out of his room, taking the stairs two at a time. He nearly tripped in his haste but managed to catch himself before tumbling down. His eyes immediately found Felicity, scanning her for any visible signs of injury. Apart from the bruises on her face, she appeared relatively unharmed—shaken, as expected, but intact. He watched as she hurried past him to change out of her clothes. Thomas understood without her saying a word. If it were him, he’d already be in the backyard burning every shred of evidence of where he’d been.

It didn’t escape his notice that his father hadn’t returned, and one glance at his mother’s face confirmed it. He wanted to ask, but he knew better. Instead, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his mother, offering what he hoped was a comforting hug.

When Felicity came back downstairs, Thomas immediately approached her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “You have nothing to be sorry for. None of this is your fault,” he said softly. Her apology confused him, but he didn’t press for answers. His only concern was making sure she knew she was blameless and that she wasn’t alone.

Before he could say more, Dean was brought into the house, and Richard led them all into their father’s study. Once inside, Thomas took a seat beside Felicity, his arm draped protectively over her shoulders. He kept his expression neutral, doing his best to remain composed as they waited for Dean to speak


*******
Int;-
Misty Gray - Caroline / Felicity
BasDorcha - Dean
ReverseTex - Richard

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Caroline Walker​

Caroline hadn't seen Felicity look so upset since her daughter was a teenager. Back then, the girl had pushed herself to be perfect. growing self-critical to an unhealthy level, on top of being isolated by her peers. Only when everything became too much, with her starving herself and obsessing over her dance routines, did Felicity let her tough mask slip. But since things improved for her and she stepped away from ballet, Felicity had been the picture of strength and resilience. Some might say cold and detached at times, but all Caroline knew was that it had been years since she'd worried about her strong-minded daughter. Felicity now appeared broken and devastated, which broke Caroline's heart to see.

After Felicity had retreated upstairs, Caroline appreciated the hug from Thomas. "We'll be okay," so told him whilst embracing him in return. Despite her words, she was afraid none of them would be okay. She feared that when she'd kissed and held Robert earlier that morning, it was for the last time. She now suspected her husband must have known that. The way Robert prolonged the warm embrace no longer felt so much that he'd done it just in case he didn't return home, but it was his way of saying goodbye knowing he wasn't coming back with Felicity. That he was risking it all for Rory.

When Dean arrived to speak with Felicity, Caroline was ready to join her daughter, wanting to know everything she could about what had happened. Wanting to know who the bastard was that had tormented her. Instead, Richard told Thomas to join Felicity, clearly keen to address the issues between himself and Caroline.

Caroline stood with her arms folded as she waited for Richard to re-join her. In her bid to hold herself together and not break down in front of her kids, her emotions were instead converted to anger and frustration. She had to wonder if Richard had a death wish to want to be in the same house as her after recent weeks, never mind alone in the same room. She silently nodded when he suggested they went to the guest room to speak, no doubt a calculated move to be out of earshot of the others.

Caroline stood in the centre of the room, facing Richard as he placed himself by the window. He prompted her to start. It felt like a challenge, as if he wanted her to unleash her frustration onto him. Despite her stubbornness that would normally resist giving people what they wanted, she had plenty to say that she was tired of not saying.

"Well, firstly. It's about time you showed up to see me," she drily joked. She sucked in a breath, torn between her genuine care for her brother-in-law and the upset at some of his recent decisions. "The things you did that day..." she trailed off, part of her knowing she wasn't being completely fair, but unable to pretend she hadn't been hurt. "You knew Marco had killed my son and you protected him. That rat murdered Charles and you helped him get away with it. And then!" She stopped to take a deep breath. "Then you had to go and tell the truth about Robert screwing Dorothy. That should have stayed locked away. You should have kept that to yourself. Nothing good has come from the truth. Rory doesn't want to know him nor does anyone, including myself, want him acting like he's the girl's bloody father. He never will be. Especially not now he's gone off to get himself killed for her!"

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[ReverseTex]

The Walker Residence
Misty Gray


Dr. Richard Finley
​

Richard kept his eyes firmly on Caroline, trying to provide some level of grounding despite their physical distance. She needed to have her say in all of it, from Marco to Rory. His arms were crossed casually, practically hugging himself to stay awake, as she tore into him. There wasn’t a flicker of anger on his face; rather, he intently listened to her outburst. Had he had a full night’s sleep and not been wrestling with the idea that Robert wouldn’t return, he might’ve been more argumentative. Robert wouldn't want him badgering at Caroline, at least not yet. It always was an uphill battle getting her to see things his way, but he had decades of practice. Even with the mounting circumstances, he had faith in himself to get her through this.
“Caroline,” his tone was level and still careful not to rouse her further. “I’m sorry I didn’t come ‘round to see you. That is a fault I'm willing to accept.” He apologized, honestly. “You know, you were the first person I told,” he chuckled, referring to his newfound position as mayor. “I knew you’d tell me off if it was a bad idea. But you didn’t. You knew I could do something. You and Robert have always seen bigger things in me before I could. Bloody clairvoyant you lot are.” He lightly joked, managing a simper. “But i’d be lying if I didn’t say It’s bloody draining... I know that’s a sorry excuse and one you likely aren’t willing to accept, but its true. Every day I have a new batch of decisions to make for the city, hands to shake, and keeping on top of the family outside of that. The whole family.” He added, alluding to Rory. “And you know what? I’m fucking exhausted.” He sighed.

“I took an oath to serve Birmingham as equitably and justly as I

could. For some politicians, that might not mean much. But I'm no politician, and I'm sure as shit not going to break any sort of oath or promise I make.” Richard continued. Caroline had a deeper understanding of he and Robert’s bond through their forged brotherhood over their shared promise. “So yes, I protected two young men who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. That was the right thing to do. Allowing Marco to have a fair trial is the right thing to do, and letting his fate be decided by law and not by man. Charles can rest at peace rather than distrubed through any misfortune caused on his behalf. I’m simply a public servant doing the just thing in this situation.”

Before she could interrupt, he raised a finger. Perhaps it was chastizing, but his sister-in-law needed to hear it. “Before you argue just and unjust with me, you tell me that allowing Robert to beat that boy to a bloody pulp in a holding cell is just? Can you stand there and seriously tell me that would make Robert feel any better, let alone yourself? You don’t know what it’s like to have blood on your hands, Carol. Robert and I have fought a war and worked decades here to make sure you never had to experience that!" Richard hadn’t expected his own passion to enter this conversation, but Caroline always spurred him on more than he liked. The fact that his brother, her husband, was currently demonstrating this point frustrated him more.

He took a deep breath, returning to some form of composition before continuing. “So yes, I told a lost and confused girl the truth that was bound to be discovered anyway. That was the right thing to do. She had a right to know.” Richard looped his logic back around to Rory, ensnaring Caroline. “Nothing good comes from locking away feelings and lies, Caroline.” He sighed, pointing to the guest bathroom. “Remember how well that worked for me?” In their youth following his undergraduate studies, Richard had gone through a rather reckless and unstable substance phase. Similar to his nephew Jackie. The day he was found out was thanks to Caroline discovering his stash in the very bathroom they stood next to. Without her exposing the truth, odds were high that he could’ve ended up dead before his life really began. “I’m doing all I fucking can.” He gestured his hands in a frustrated shrug, but relatively referring to all of the colliding issues. “I’m sorry I've angered you, dear. But I won’t apologize for what I've done. I’ll only apologize for the fact that it took me this long to tell you these things.”

 

[Misty Gray]

Undisclosed Warehouse
- Chepstow, Wales (Near the England Border) -

Robert Walker
Aidan Jones and Rhys Collins​

Unlike Felicity, Robert hadn't been made to wear a blindfold for the journey. He wondered if he should take that as a sign that it didn't matter if he knew his location as he wouldn't be leaving alive. It seemed any need for anonymity was being tossed out of the window especially for the encounter that lay ahead. Aidan surely wouldn't have given Felicity opportunity to pass on his name otherwise. It gave Robert chance to think over the situation now he knew who was behind everything, and why. Elwyn Jones deserved everything he got, as far as Robert was concerned. Surely Aidan didn't have some distorted impression that his father had been a saint.

"I had planned on visiting Wales this year, but I had somewhere like Snowdonia in mind," Robert commented as the driver pulled the car to a stop in the gravel parking lot.

Rhys turned from the front passenger seat to look over his shoulder at him, the gunman by Robert's side awaiting his cue to drag him out. "Well, weren't taking requests. Enjoy this bit of Wales whilst you can," Rhys told him. Rhys was first to step out of the vehicle, sighting Ellias waiting outside nearby with a couple more of Aidan's men.

Robert was led into the warehouse, hands still tied behind his back. He couldn't see much of Rory at first, with Aidan standing in a way that blocked her from him. With his hands clasped together in front, Aidan wore a constant small smile on his face, almost like he was happy to see Robert. He supposed he was, in a sense. Robert was stopped a short distance and out of reach of Aidan for the time-being. Aidan stepped aside a little, now allowing Robert to see Rory. "Let her go. You have me here now, so you can deal with me," Robert commanded through gritted teeth.

"No. We won't be letting either of you go," Aidan dismissively replied. "Anyway... Robert Walker! It's great to finally stand face-to-face with you. You could have taken my recent offer and none of you would have had to die, but I already understood you were stubborn."

Robert held his tongue for the time-being, honestly not interested in Aidan's words at that moment. His eyes fixed on Rory as he took in the sight of her bloodied and bruised face. "Rory. Are you..." he stopped himself. Of course she wasn't okay. He sent her an gentle, apologetic look, wishing he could have somehow stopped her from suffering. It was clear her wounds were fresh and she'd taken a heavy beating. He hadn't seen her look that way before, knowing full well she was a fighter. Fighter or not, it did not sit well with him seeing her hurt. In fact, his eye involuntarily twitched as he unconsciously wrestled with trying to free his tied hands from behind his back. "Beating up young women?" Robert growled, fixing his eyes back on Aidan. "You're Elwyn's son alright. Are you aware he kidnapped my eight-year-old son all of those years ago? Or doesn't that fit within your misguided narrative?"

"Untie his hands. He can't properly beg for his daughter's life with them tied behind his back," Aidan commanded Rhys. He wasn't afraid of Robert attacking him. "As for, um, Charles, was it? Sounds like my dad was doing the world a favour given how your son turned out," Aidan goaded Robert, just in time for the man's hands to be freed. Robert had told himself the whole time that he would remain in control and not lash out. And in that moment, he was in control. His fist collided square in Aidan's jaw, prompting Rhys to pushed Robert back, only for Robert to deliver a similar blow to him too. Neither punch was out of his control. Both fully intended and deserved. Aidan held his hand to his throbbing cheek as he laughed and gestured to Rory. "Like father like daughter! And you'll be put in your place just like she's been. You're not invincible, Walker!"

With that, Aidan looked to Ellias and gave him his cue to have Robert dealt with. Rhys stepped aside, knowing his own part of the plan didn't involve striking Robert in return. Instead, he stood and watched, taking the pistol that was handed to him from one of the guards. Aidan, meanwhile, casually stepped away to rest back against the wall close to Rory as he watched Robert being dealt with. "It'll all be over soon, Rory," he calmly taunted her.

ReverseTex (Ellias & Co)
neverbackdown (Rory/Nat)