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

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The Walker Residence
Misty Gray Misty Gray


Dr. Richard Finley


Richard’s expression softened, knowing that Caroline’s stern tone was the last sign of anger he had to crack through. The wall shortly flattened as she inched closer to him. She’d never admit it, but he knew she needed someone to hold her. It reminded him of a young child, stubbornly refusing a parental hug while holding back tears. If Caroline was anything in this life, it was stubborn.But she needed support, not just from Robert or her kids. And frankly, he needed the same. As she aired her own exhaustion, he stepped forward, swallowing his dear sister-in-law in his arms. He held her close, letting her head rest where it always nested in times of need. “It’s alright, dear,” he cooed. Caroline continued on, muffled slightly by his chest, reminding him of Robert’s dire situation. In order to avoid that subject, he decided to comment on her latter remark. “You always manage a bigger bark than your bite, dear. I can’t recall a day when your signature iciness wasn’t in vogue,” he lovingly teased. Once she seemed content, he let her go, remaining closer if needed for more reinforcement.
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Once she spoke again, he nodded along with her sentiments about Dorothy, listening rather than commenting on them. She just needed someone to soundboard off of. While she did this, Richard leaned himself against the bed frame for extra leg support. The winter had done a number on it’s aching, and his stress level wasn’t helping matters either. Her next lament was self-centered. This sparked more of his interest as he raised a curious brow at her rising tone. “Control is something we never truly have. Your husband often forgets that,” he retorted. He’d known the couple for decades, and both of them equally struggled with the idea of losing control. He always had a sinking feeling that day would come, but he never expected it to be this severe.

Caroline’s heroic comment about his brother made him scoff. “Ha! Robert refusing a chance to run head first into danger? You are blind,” he laughed, not directly at her but rather the irony. “That bastard ran miles through bloody mud and farmland in the middle of an aerial bombardment to pull my decrepit body from a plane. I traveled across three countries in the desert to pull that man out of a horrid bunker. Trust me when I say this doesn't surprise me in the slightest. And deep down, you know it doesn’t surprise you either.” He sighed.

However, like I tried to tell him before he rudely interrupted me,” Richard remarked, still in jestly brotherly love. “We aren’t twenty years old anymore. We don’t have the bandwidth to keep up and fight as hard as we did back then. It’s just not the same world.” He sighed, running a stressed hand through his hair. “That’s my concern more than anything. Robert has the mental resolve to make it out of this just fine. But physically? Only time will tell, and we’re only losing it these days.”
 

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JACKIE WALKER
It was a big blur, Jackie had no clue what day it was or if a day had even passed. His hair was sweaty and there were bruises on his ankle from the giant chain a certain someone had put on him. That pain was nothing compared to the withdrawal symptoms he had been going through, the first twelve hours he had been vomiting in the tiny bathroom that he had been given and the next day was him hanging over a bucket while listening to the agitated voice coming through the fucking walls.

Jackie was confused, he knew him and Vinny couldn't agree on anything but he had been thinking a lot and even started suspecting Robert put him up to this. Vinny couldn't hate him this much, he hated Vinny this much but would never put him in a basement and mentally torture him. Well, after this he would, obviously.
Vinny had a tight schedule, he'd wake him up with the little amount of sleep he could get on a wooden, unisolated cold floor and made him workout. The first workout was mostly Jackie complaining, threatening Vinny how his head will be hanged on the wall, how he would tell Richard and how he wouldn't be happy at all. He found out quickly enough it didn't change anything, Vinny had dark eyes that would look right through him. It freaked him out and Jackie had seen scary shit.

Then there was the mental athletics as he called it, it made Jackie's skin crawl. He'd ask things and expected a reply, Jackie tried to punch the wall three times the first days but learned fast enough that brick did not break. His hands were bloody and his face felt like it was melting and then the next day, Vinny showed up again with the same bloody routine. This was worse than prison. Way worse.

On day five they had an altercation, he was standing there with that smug look on his face. Jackie was slowly overcoming the vomiting on day three but felt extremely agitated, he looked for the drugs like Vinny was the fucking easter bunny. He was sure the torture would end if he could just have one bump. Just a little taste even.
When Vinny walked in with the food he made every night which insisted mostly of vegetables so Jackie slowly started to look like James Rebhorn.
Though he was hungry, he refused to eat anything. Jackie just sat there, against the wall. 'I hope you get a bullet straight through that messed up brain of yours,' he blurted out. Vinny hadn't answered the first few days, ignoring his cries for help but now he had turned around. Jackie thought he had him but all he did was torn down every little bit of self-respect he had left in that basement.
Robert and Caroline didn't want him dead but maybe they liked the feeling that he was. The more days went by, the more Jackie felt like he was in prison all over again. There were no calls or people worried about him, there was only Vinny who would without a doubt be there every single morning. How ironic.

As days went by, Jackie gave up on the struggle and did what Vinny asked while he slowly lost every part of his dignity. Every morning he'd still look under the plate, hoping there'd be something to numb his mind. Vinny's words how he all did this to himself were repeating throughout the day as did his words about he didn't even touch him. Jackie couldn't even have an honest fight with him. He tricked him into this and Jackie was dumb enough to fall for it. Arriving higher as a kite and out of his mind, he beat himself up over the fact he just simply couldn't resist. How he trusted his biggest enemy.
Jackie started eating again, knowing if anything wasn't going to kill him it would be hunger. He woke up by the stupid, stupid speakers installed somewhere in these walls. Jackie leaned his head back against the wall, he wanted to die. Jackie had made lots of plans for escape now his mind started to clear up but the old ball and chain wasn't going to go anywhere. He tried breaking it but it was just wasting the little bit of strenght he had left.
The door creaked open, Jackie didn't move an inch looking at Vinny go to the same spot he had been sitting the last couple of days. He slid the plate his way as he kept one for himself, it looked like it came straight out of a magazine.
Jackie leaned forward to grab the plate but tried to avoid any eye contact, there was something so very degrading about being stuck to a big chain.
Vinny started talking, about how he went out last night and how much fun he had. He heard him grin which made Jackie look up, he continued but Jackie stopped listening when he heard her name. Beth.
Jackie looked at him trying his very hardest to pretend he just didn't care but the last sentence got his attention. Jackie let out a hollow laugh, the kind that slipped out when you couldn’t believe the universe had it out for you, shaking his head like he was in on some cruel joke. 'Beth didn't see you coming?' Jackie repeated him, looking at Vinny straight on, he couldn't for the life of him see if he was trying to break him even more with a little white lie. Jackie didn't have the power in him to fight him or argue back but him mentioning Beth did something to him. Beth was innocent and caring, sure, he used her at first but Jackie had never felt something like that for anyone.
He could feel his face flush with heat, but he locked his expression in place.
'You have me sitting right here but that's not enough for you is it,' Jackie rambled. He broke eye contact, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling as if searching for an answer.. 'What do you want from me Vinny? I did everything you wanted me to do.' His gaze fell onto the plate, wishing he could just smash it to pieces and break that chain but the thought of him having to leave, having to tell someone what Vinny did was almost too emberassing. Like it was his own doing that got him here.
'Could you do me a favor? Tell me what you really get out of dragging Beth into this.' Jackie felt his stare, those dark black eyes. 'Just kill me if you hate me this much,' he added. The mental torture was really getting to him, there was no possible way he would come out of this unscathed.




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

Robert Walker
Aidan Jones and Rhys Collins

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Robert had been expecting a physical attack even before he hit Aidan and Rhys. Still, he was taken by surprise when Connell stepped in to throw him down onto the concrete floor. He'd expect it to be one of the other two men. Robert hit the floor with a thud, winding him and causing him to lose his breath, having to quickly try take in a deep breath of air. Just as he did, the violent impact of the heavy boot kicking him in the right side of his abdomen stunned him. Robert let out a pained groan as the blow was directly over the site of the scar he'd had since his torture at the hands of the Nazis. The scar tissue had resulted in bouts of chronic pain ever since, which was now intensified by Connell's kick. Then again. By the second blow, which landed higher and caused a painful cracking sound as his lowest rib was fractured.

Rory's voice screaming for them to leave him alone cut deeper that Robert could have imagined. Despite how angry and disgusted she had been to find out he was her father, it was clear in her voice she didn't want to see him being hurt. Whether it was simply down to human decency or something more, he expected he'd never truly know. What he did know, was that it killed him to hear his youngest daughter so desperate. Just as it was upsetting to see her bloody and beaten. He wished he could save her now, but it seemed more likely he would die never getting to prove himself to her.

Robert reached his hand to cover the site of the pain in his abdomen, but was instead dragged upright by his hair by Connell. The action briefly directed his attention to the scrape on his head, but for a moment, Robert lost focus on the present situation. He heard an unfamiliar Welsh voice saying the words "let him catch his breath". The voice wasn't one he recognised, yet, the words were all too familiar.

..Once again, the water was poured over the wet cloth covering his face. Robert gagged, unable to breathe as his airways were blocked and the drowning sensation overcame him. By now he just wished the bastard Nazis would finish the job. The fear and panic was enough to distort his thinking and break his resolve. The desperation to escape the situation was tempting him by the second. Then, the towel was removed from his face and an immense wave of relief overcame him. With the guards leaving to get more water, Robert rolled onto his side on the cold, wet floor as he coughed up the excess water. He took deep, strained breaths as he tried to stop himself from choking. He breathed heavily as he rolled onto his back again to see Max standing over him. That twisted, evil face that would still haunt him decades later...

Back in the present, Robert took panicked, suffocated gasps for air, more than would have been expected despite the heavy blows. Aidan raised his eyebrow in curiosity. An amused yet intrigued smile contorting on his face as he observed. On Ellias's words about it being rude to steal someone else's kill, Aidan straightened his posture but remained firmly on the spot. A silence hung in the air and Aidan was happy to let it continue as he observed Robert. He caught Ellias's look and nodded his head, but remained patient on the spot for a moment longer.

When Rory accused him of hiding behind others, suggesting he couldn't fight his own battles, Aidan smirked back at her. "Inspiring," he told her before stepping into action with the next stage of the plan. When he stood over Robert, the man was kneeling, one hand on the ground whilst the other clutched at his broken rib. The older man coughed for a moment, each action causing an intense pain in his chest. "Are you alright down there?" Aidan taunted Robert as he crouched to his level, but just out of easy reach.

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Robert briefly turned his head away. There was a metallic taste in his mouth though not from any visible wounds. As tempting as it could have been, Robert spat the blood out on the floor, away from his tormenter. He then looked up at Aidan, locking eyes with his. "Do whatever you have to do to me, but let her go. She has nothing to do with this. I'm the one you want, so kill me," he urged him.

"Don't waste your time," Aidan said, acknowledging the fact Robert appeared to have some internal bleeding. He needed the bastard to keep talking for now. "I'm calling the shots. Tell me what happened to my dad. Who killed him. The fucking truth," he darkly urged him.

"Isn't it obvious?!" Robert weakly asked, shaking his head in frustration. All he wanted to know was that Rory was going to be okay but had no way of securing it. "I ran your father's business own of town and he sought revenge. He kidnapped my kid and used him to lure Richard into a trap. He kept my brother tied up in a basement for weeks... I can see where you inherited that from," he pointed out, given what Aidan had done to Felicity and Rory. "I found out where Richard was and went to get him out of there. Elwyn showed up and I killed him," Robert explained. Every part was the truth, except for the fact it was Richard who had lost control and brutally beaten Elwyn. "He terrorised my kid, for Christ's sake. I snapped and beat your father to death," he said, wanting to be as accurate as possible so his account would be believed.

Aidan was no longer emotional about his father's death as he had been in his younger years. Now, it motivated him. The need for revenge and to take back what Robert had stolen was executed in a calculated manner. That didn't mean Robert didn't deserve to suffer for it. Standing, Aidan grabbed Robert by the hair and forced him up onto his feet, delivering a violent punch into the man's face. Mindful that he wanted the man to remain fully conscious for what was about to follow, it was enough to bruise and give him a black eye. Allowing Robert to double over in pain and fall back to his knees, Aidan stepped behind him. Once again taking a clump of hair, he forced Robert to look ahead in Rory's direction.

Robert looked at Rory, his eyes pleading with her. "I'm sorry," he gasped. Anticipating what was about to happen, he wanted to tell his daughter how he felt before it was too late for him. "I wish I'd been there for you. I'm sorry you were lied to for so long... that I was never a father to you. Rory, you're--" He fell silent as he noticed Rhys step forward into view.

The large man gripped his gun as he raised his arm, but not towards Robert at all. "Wait. NO!" Robert yelled. "NOT HER!" he desperately cried. Rhys aimed his gun in Rory's direction before the loud gunshot rang out. Aidan let go of Robert, the older man falling forward in a heap, unable to look ahead out of fear of seeing Rory dead in front of him. "Oh God," he cried out, a wave of devastation overcoming him.

Rhys lowered his arm, the bullet having ripped into the wall a safe distance above Rory as intended. Aidan stood, watching Rory as she no doubt sat shocked, processing the fact she hadn't actually been shot.

neverbackdown neverbackdown (Rory/Nat)

Mentioned: ReverseTex ReverseTex (Ellias & Co)
 
Undisclosed Warehouse
- Chepstow, Wales (Near the England Border) -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher
&
Natalie Smyth

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Rory had never felt so powerless, so utterly defeated, and it was tearing her apart. Every part of her ached, her wounds throbbing with a relentless, unforgiving pain and every breath felt like a dagger twisting in her ribs, but it was her pride that had taken the hardest blow. She wanted to fight, to force her way out of there and wipe that smug look of Aidan's face and yet the cold chain which was a lot tighter now on her broken wrist held her firmly in place, her body too battered to move.

She hated feeling like this—weak, fragile, and vulnerable. For the first time in her life, real fear gripped her, and there was no shaking it. She was going to die here. She was sure of it. The only question was when—how long Aidan would drag this out, how much more taunting and torment he’d inflict before finally putting an end to his sick, twisted game.

Rory listened in silence as Robert recounted the story about Aidan’s father, her head leaning back against the cold wall. Her eyes stayed fixed on him, absorbing every word. When he mentioned the irony of the kidnappings, a faint smirk tugged at her lips, but it quickly faded as the full weight of his words sank in.

By the sound of it, Aidan’s father was just like any other gangster caught up in power struggles that ultimately lost his business and standing and she could understand his retaliation to an extent . But the thought of retaliating by kidnapping and terrorizing a child over business matters? That crossed a line. No matter the justification, dragging an innocent child into the chaos was something Rory could never stomach and she believed that Elwyn got exactly what he deserved.

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When Robert turned his attention to her, Rory met his gaze, giving him her full focus. A sad, bittersweet smile tugged at her lips as a single tear slipped down her cheek, betraying the storm of emotions she was fighting so hard to suppress. Two weeks ago, she would’ve scoffed at such words, maybe even laughed in his face or thrown something to shut him up. Back then, she wouldn’t have wanted to hear it, let alone let it sink in.

But now, knowing that they were about to die, those words meant everything. It wasn’t just an apology—it was a cure for a wound she hadn’t realized she had, a wound still raw, hidden deep within her. And yet, in this moment, it stirred something inside her, as though that long-ignored wound was finally trying to heal, if only it wasn't too late.

Staring down the barrel of a gun was nothing like she had imagined. The violent, fearless bravado she wore like armor was stripped away in an instant, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. In that moment, she wasn’t the sharp-tongued, headstrong fighter she prided herself on being. She was just a 23-year-old girl, terrified and far too young to die. Her chest tightened, and a lump formed in her throat as the thought hit her like a punch to the gut—she didn’t want to die. Not like this. Not here. The realization was both heartbreaking and overwhelming. For the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t want to be tough or clever or brave. She wanted her mom.

A deafening bang shattered the tension in the room, silencing Robert’s desperate pleas. The sound reverberated off the walls, leaving an eerie, suffocating stillness in its wake. Rory sat frozen, her eyes squeezed shut, her mind racing. Was this it? Was she dead? Her body still throbbed with pain, her wrists still felt the cold metal of the chain, and her chest heaved with shallow breaths. She wasn’t sure what death was supposed to feel like, but if this was it then she was seriously disappointed.

Cautiously, she cracked one eye open, then the other, her heart pounding in her chest. She blinked in disbelief as her gaze landed on the wall above her, a small hole in the concrete a safe distance from her head. Slowly, she lowered her eyes, first to Rhys, and then to Aidan. When their gazes locked, her shock melted into anger. She stared at him for what felt like hours, her expression hardening into a glare. The realization hit her like a slap—this was just another one of his twisted games. Her lips curled into a silent snarl as she forced herself to swallow the fear clawing at her chest. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how deeply his little stunt had rattled her. Instead, she steeled her expression, masking any trace of vulnerability. She refused to let him win

Her eyes drifted to Robert, who remained sprawled on the ground. She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment. Her voice felt fragile, and she worried it might betray her, but she needed him to know she was still here. “I’m okay,” she said a gentle air to her tone before her tone turned sharp and laced with defiance as her gaze flicked to Aidan. “The child is still playing his stupid games like a spoiled brat. Did you come up with that all by yourself or did you need a coloring book to help?" She asked him as though speaking to a child "So unoriginal, so pathetic"

Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head slightly to the side, a smirk tugging at her lips. Her voice was dripping with disdain, the words cutting like knives. "I mean, it's almost cute how predictable you are." Her laugh was cold, and the air of cruelty was impossible to miss. “And your poor old dad? I bet he's turning in his grave knowing what a pathetic excuse for a man you’ve turned out to be. If I were him, I’d be ashamed. I personally think Robert did him a favor"

*******

Int;-
Misty Gray Misty Gray - Robert / Aidan / Rhys
ReverseTex ReverseTex - Ellias & Co.
 
The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Caroline Walker

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Caroline practically sank into Richard's chest when the man wrapped her in tight for a close hug. Given how long they'd each other, he generally had a good idea of how to deal with Caroline by now. The embrace served to push away the anger and frustration she'd been feeling towards him. As if the resentment she'd held over the last few weeks was put to bed in just a matter of minutes.

Although she didn't outwardly express it in any way, she at least found some amusement in his teasing about her known iciness. When he released her from the embrace, she slowly let go of him, taking a moment to ground herself. She used her thumbs to wipe away any residual tears from her face.

She listened as Richard spoke about Robert's and his own heroics in the war. Richard seemed aware of the fact he and his brother weren't young men anymore. Perhaps it was on account of his leg injuries and the chronic pain he suffered with, but Richard clearly knew his limits. Her husband evidently didn't.

"I've always loved that about him. His courage and work ethic has always been attractive..." she began. She paused, conscious of how uncomfortable Richard appeared as he leaned on the bedframe. "Sit down," she told him. She moved to sit on the edge of the guest bed, reaching up to grip Richard's arm to prompt him to sit beside her. "I know you and him are far from the men you were in the war. No offence intended - merely the truth. But you're right. Robert is so headstrong and his brain is still constantly active, he doesn't accept he's getting old," she pointed out. "There's always a reason why he can't just take some time off for himself. I swear, I already told him, if anything gets between us going on holiday at Easter, I will lose it!" she hollowly threatened.

Caroline chewed her lip as she mulled things over. "I'm sure you don't want to talk about it, but I can't pretend this isn't happening," she said, turning to look him in the eyes. "Robert was kept alive by those monsters in Casablanca because they wanted something from him. This Aidan Jones man... If he was behind the attempt on Tony's life and Sully's death, then I can't see any reason for this other than to kill Robert. Not just because he wants to take the businesses, because we both known what's going on here. His father was the one who took you and Charles. I know how this goes. You've already heard me run my mouth off about wanting revenge on Marco," she pointed out.

Clearing her throat, she reached down to grip Richard's hand in hers. "It's not just me and the kids who are hurting. He's your brother," she said. Even if not brothers by birth, the whole time Caroline had known Richard, he and Robert considered each other to be brothers. They'd been through a whole lifetime of hell in just a few years before she even met Richard. Their bond was as solid as if they had grown up together. "What are we going to do?" she desperately asked, clearly believing Robert wasn't going to make it home alive.

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

Robert Walker
Aidan Jones and Rhys Collins

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Aidan stood straight, and motioned for Rhys to step away so more distance was created. Whilst he doubted Robert would rush up and try grab the gun, he wasn't about to take the risk. For a moment, most eyes were fixed in Rory's direction as the young woman slowly opened her eyes to the realisation she was still alive. Aidan looked her in the eyes, not afraid to do so regardless of what he'd put her through. Her snarl drew a dark smirk from him. He'd done what he'd set out to do, evidenced by the fact Robert was on to the floor, beaten back down to Earth.

The sound of Rory's voice prompted Robert to lift his head. Despite her saying she was okay, he still dreaded looking at her in case she'd still been shot. As she continued speaking, berating Aidan for his actions, Robert looked her over and was glad to see no gunshot wounds. It was the wall the had taken the hit, thank God. He focused back on his daughter's face, as she continued on, smirking whilst calling Aidan predictable. Perhaps it was the fact he'd been overcome with a wave of relief that she was okay, or simple amusement at her confidence to continue taunting their attacker, but he couldn't help the exhausted grin that formed on his lips. The only thing to cause him to quickly change his expression was the cough that caught up with him. With it came another mouth of blood, which was forced to spit out again.

Aidan listened as Rory continued speaking cutting words, going as far as bringing up his father. "You've certainly got an attitude on you. I'm glad I'm predictable. Maybe that means you, and this man here," he said, pointing at Robert, "and the rest of your family, will know what you have do next. What it will take to protect your loved ones."

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Robert was about to give Aidan a piece of his mind, but the younger man's words registered. He was talking about what this meant for their future decisions, clearly not intending on killing either of them now. For the sake of not risking Aidan having a sudden change of heart, Robert swallowed whatever pride he currently had in him and held back from providing further fuel for the fire. He did, however, move to sit down, rather than kneel, not wanting to give Aidan any further satisfaction. The movement caused a fresh wave of pain to his chest and abdomen, but Robert tried to contain it. "We'll take keep that in mind," he simply replied, looking Aidan in the eyes.

Aidan nodded his head, looking down at the man. "Good. This is only the start of what I can and will do to you and your family. I gave you the easy way out and you threw it back in my face. You're not a God, nor can you win this. I'll give you some time to think things over, Robert. With a little more persuasion, I'm certain you'll come to your senses." Aidan motioned for Natalie and the men to start clearing out of the warehouse. "I'll be in touch," he said, gripping Robert's shoulder. With his other hand, he pointed at Rory. "You need to keep out of this, kid, else you'll end up as dead as your brother."

Robert batted Aidan's hand away from his shoulder. "Show some bloody decency," he berated Aidan, unable to ignore the taunt about Rory losing her brother. Granted, Robert assumed she'd been told Sully had been killed, not Tony.

Thankfully, Aidan decided to walk away. Any longer, Robert was sure he wouldn't be able keep quiet, given how much he really wanted to say to the sick bastard. Before Aidan left the building, the man shouted out about them needing "this" followed by the sound of the metal key hitting the floor between Robert and the exit. With that, Robert and Rory were left alone. He was about to approach her before he was reminded of the shackle around her wrist, and realised what the key was for. "Hold on," he told her as he struggled up onto his feet. He clutched the site of his broken rib as the pain intensified, but was determined to go get the key.

Robert returned to Rory's side placing the key in her free hand before he sat down on the mattress he assumed Felicity had been restricted to in her time there. Robert rested his back against the wall and took strained, quick breaths. He knew he needed to spring into action, but he required a moment to ground himself and calm his nerves. He turned to Rory and suddenly his focus shifted onto helping her rather than catching some rest. Her tied hand was swollen at the wrist and with the way she struggled, clearly pained, he suspected it was broken. "If I can help..." he cautiously suggested, holding out his hand to take the key back from her. He sat forward, wrapping his free hand around the metal shackle as he unlocked it with the other. Careful not to cause further discomfort, he supported her arm as he prised open the shackle to remove it and free her hand. "Your wrist is broken, I can see that much," he commented. "Bastards," he hissed.

Once that was done, Robert sat back against the wall again, not wanting to crowd her. "I need to go call for help. Can you hold on for a few minutes or do you need me to help you in any way? I know you've taken quite the beating."

Without needing to desperately help Rory in that moment, Robert told her to stay put whilst he went to call for help. After checking in the office, he established the phoneline there was dead. He did manage to return to Rory with a first aid kit and some bottles of water, but he couldn't deal with those for now. Instead, Robert recalled seeing a public phone box on the drive into industrial estate. By the time he reached the phone outside, he was out of breath and still coughing up blood. The rush had brought on a wave of nausea, but he managed to dial for an ambulance. It was only then that it caught up with him how quiet the area was, with little to nothing and nobody nearby. Other than a rough recollection of the town name, he didn't recall any street names from his journey there. Still he gave as much description as he could in hopes help would find its way to them. After that call ended, Robert knew he needed to get back to the warehouse whilst he still had it in him to do so. That meant when he called home, he was grateful Richard answered as he knew Caroline answering would have prevented him from being concise. As much as he wanted to hear her voice, he was sure she'd fret. With a quick update to say he and Rory were okay, he also mentioned the town they were in in hopes Richard would be able to work out which hospital he and Rory would be taken to.

By the time Robert got back to the warehouse, he stopped outside for a moment, gripping the brick wall as he bent over to cough up another mouthful of blood. Every movement drawing attention to not only the broken rib, but the fact something else had been injured enough to cause the internal bleeding.

Robert made his way back inside to Rory, out of breath and clearly needing to sit back down. The mattress felt more comfortable that it should have. He turned to Rory and studied her for a moment. Despite her brave act she'd clung onto when addressing Aidan, it was clear she'd been through a lot. He'd only been a couple of years older than she was now when he'd spent months locked up in a cell and tortured. He knew how horrific even those first few days had been, so he felt he had some understanding of how the last twelve days had felt for Rory. With Aidan having a vendetta against both the Walker and the Fletchers, he knew he wasn't wholly responsible for her abduction, but he still felt bad. Wishing he could have protected her as well as Felicity. "You're safe now," he reassured her. "Help is on its way." He expected she either had a lot to say or didn't want to say anything to him, so he decided to let her direct any conversation. Regardless of what had just happened and how horrified she'd been at his suffering, he was under no illusions that she would want to speak to him now the main ordeal was over.

He fished through the first aid kit, finding nothing of use, especially for a broken wrist. For now, he dragged the nearby chair to Rory's side. "Keep your arm elevated on against that for now," he suggested. Sitting back down against, he unscrewed one of the water bottle caps and handed the opened drink to Rory before grabbing one for himself.

neverbackdown neverbackdown (Rory)

[FYI the call to the Walker house won't happen in Richard's scene for a while yet. I'm just working through this logically for the above scene.]
 
The Walker Residence
Misty Gray Misty Gray


Dr. Richard Finley

With a stubborn huff, Richard heeded Caroline’s suggestion to take a seat. He let his legs rest against the frame, his poor leg appreciating the break.
None taken,” he lightly chuckled, patting her helping hand. “I think I’m reminded of that more often than not these days.” He ran a hand over his thigh, trying to loosen the scar tissue from the gala wound. These days, the chronic pain only seemed to worsen. It’s typical dull throb would turn dagger-like on the drop of a coin now with his new injury, which made it more unbearable.

Even though the water was under the bridge between the pair, there was still tension in the air. Before he could comment on it, Caroline
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was quick to bring the unspeakable subject to the surface. What if…? “Casablanca is entirely different.” He said it matter-of-fact. “It’s not fair to compare apples to oranges, dear. Aidan Jones and what transpired over 30 years ago aren’t the same.” He sighed.

There wasn’t a piece of literature he could read that could prepare Richard for the sensation he felt. It was as if something switched off in his head—a killer instinct, if you will. He’d read about sharks before: a layer of protective film rolling over their eyes before they sunk their teeth into their prey. That veil of animalistic drive was the closest thing he could ever compare the feeling to... Richard, without much warning or consideration of the others in the room, pushed past the rescue team and Robert. He heard none of Robert’s speech; sound was simply nonexistent at this time. He managed to walk over to the Elwyn Jones fine enough on his own, releasing the firm grasp he had on his broken rib and lung to appear stronger than he was. Crouching low to the ground, the gun firmly placed on Elwyn’s kneecap, he leaned in. “You’re about to have the worst five minutes of your meaningless life. You’re going to die like an animal.” He whispered, not wanting the others to hear.

With that, he let his finger slip the trigger. The loud bang was surprisingly muffled by how close the barrel was to Elwyn’s knee. Unfortunately for him, that knee was shattered beyond repair. He wanted him to feel that pain before he inflicted anymore. He couldn’t stand his own pain of crouching anymore, so he plopped to a seated position between Elwyn and the brute who did his bidding. “You,” Richard turned his attention to the yes-man. Elwyn’s suffering was simply background noise. “You kidnapped a child.” He expressed it bluntly, unsure if Robert knew or not who exactly had taken Charles. Before he could do more, he lazily unloaded a pair of bullets into the man’s stomach. If left unattended, he’d surely bleed to death, but the shots weren’t fatal. Robert could decide his fate.

Richard turned back to Elwyn, who seemed to have better days. As promised, he kept his end of the bargain. He flipped the gun around, holding the now warm barrel to use the handle end as a blunt weapon. He was going to die like an animal. With fury like no other, he threw himself on top of him and began to beat. With each blow, he could hear less and less from Elwyn Jones. He struggled and twitched less and less. Soon, he could distantly start to feel a warm pool and flecks on him. But he had no idea what it was; his focus was purely animal. No one else in the room mattered, if there even were others. Elwyn Jones had to die.


The touch of Caroline’s hand wrapping around his own, cold to his warm senses, snapped Richard from memory. He hadn’t thought of that day in quite some time—he thought he’d come to terms with his regret. With Aidan’s newfound importance and threat, the regret he felt all those years ago seemingly rushed back. He shouldn’t have lost control. None of this would be happening had he killed Elwyn. His death was deserved, sure, but never again had he committed such brutality. “I don’t know,” he said distantly. In their shared silence, now that he was fully aware of his surroundings again, he squeezed her hand tight. It was his last anchor at present from slipping somewhere much darker and left deep in the past.

I’ll be strong if it comes to that…” Richard choked on his words, taking a deep breath. “But I feel it in my soul. He’s not dead.” He nodded, shaking her hand affirmatively along with his own. “This was the same feeling I had during the war. It was awful and I did everything I could to shove it deep down. Sex, alcohol, all of it... Nevertheless, I knew Robert was alive. I never gave up that hope, and I won’t do it now.” He released her hand. “The day that man dies, I’m sure to know it in my bones. Shit, if I don’t go first,” he scoffed.
 
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The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Caroline Walker

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Caroline echoed Richard's sigh when he told her she couldn't compare Casablanca to what was happening now. As he fell into a silence, clearly mulling something over in his head, Caroline had lowered her own gaze. She had no regrets about supporting her husband's defiance regarding Aidan's threats and preposterous propositions. Her family wasn't the kind to cower down to people like him. But she hated the thought that Robert could pay with his life. She was far from ready to lose her husband, especially now they were finally getting back on track. Without any secrets or shocks left to upset them, their marriage was strengthening once more.

She let out a choked breath wen Richard told her he'd be strong if Robert did die. The emotions once more bubbling within her. Her heart ached more than it ever had before, with the real possibility of losing the love of her life. The only man she'd ever loved.

Caroline turned her head to look Richard in the eyes when he assured her he didn't believe Robert was dead, that he wouldn't give up on him. She clung to his words, slowly nodding as she tried to channel that belief to herself. "You've always been more of an optimist than I am," she reasoned. After he released her hand, she then then clasped both of hers together, subconsciously fidgeting with the wedding ring on her finger. "But I hope you're right. And I think you've got a lot of life left in you yet, Richard." She looked down to her hands as she struggled to find the same optimism. "All of the kids still need Robert's guidance, even Alfie, despite everything he's now taking on. Now, I know my husband won't leave us behind when he hasn't had chance to delegate," she drily joked.

Caroline softly smiled at Richard. "He thinks the world of you, I'm sure you know. Even when you've both gone through rough patches and disagreements, it was always clear that didn't change how he felt. You've saved both of us in ways even beyond Casablanca." She looked out towards the window, wishing a car would roll into the driveway with Robert inside at any moment now. Hell, with her senses coming back to her, she hoped Rory would be there too, even if the girl wasn't aware of the chaos that awaited her within the Fletcher family. "I'm sorry for being a... well, a bitch. Even if I don't like or agree with your decisions, I know you always do what you believe is right. I really don't deserve you, but I'm certainly glad to have you," she admitted.

ReverseTex ReverseTex (Richard)
 
Around the City - Birmingham
- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -

Alfred Walker
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Time stopped moving for a split second when Bonnie walked out and Alfie was finally able to lay eyes on her. Like a star struck kid, his jaw hung open and his eyes gleamed with delight. Before he could say anything, she turned on her roommate and that quickly snapped Alfie back to reality with a laugh. This woman was something else, all spitfire and gasoline and he adored that about her. It was the thing that struck him as the first thing he noticed and every time it pulled at his heart strings. He had never met someone like her before and he wasn't sure he ever would again. Smiling he took her arm and lead her out and down to his car. For a moment, his mind slipped from its happy place, thinking about everything that was happening at home.

Alfie worried about his family, his uncle, the business. It was all weighing on him to the point he had been losing sleep, had visibly lost weight albeit not dramatically, and was more serious these days. The boyish nature was ever so slowly leaving the man's daily personality, though around Bonnie it seemed to come out more vividly. Felicity was still gone, and he had been working tirelessly with his father and uncle and even the Fletcher's - who were missing Rory - to find the girls and get them home. His uncle Richard had encouraged him to get out of the house and do something to take his mind off everything tonight, and since he owed Bonnie a date he figured it was the perfect excuse to do something good during a time when everything was bad. What he needed now was a reprieve from the hurt and panic he had been feeling for the last twelve days.

He looked up at Bonnie and smiled as he opened her door for her and helped her get settled in. "Don't hold your breath, I've never been very good at real dates. Wouldn't want you to be too disappointed." He grinned and winked playfully, before making his way around to the side of the car for himself and crawling in with a quick turn of the key. "Feel free to tune the radio where you like, any music is good with me." With that, he pulled the car into the road and the world was soon melting by as they drove. Soon the city was falling away and they were surrounded by the country side. The cool air whipped through the car as he smoked a cigarette and tossed it out the window when he was done. "We're almost there. Sorry it took a bit to get here, but I wanted to bring you to somewhere special." He winked and within a few moments they were pulling off the road onto a side one that was barely paved.

It didn't take long for the lake to come into view. The dark blue waves could be heard crashing on the beach, birds calling in the air as they hunted. The area was not particularly good for swimming or water sports, but rather a small strip of rocky cliff that dropped into the water below, with a nice flat area leading up the edge. He pulled off and parked, giving her a grin before climbing out. He quickly made his way over to the passenger door and opened it for Bonnie, before offering a hand to help her out. "This way, m'lady."

A few minutes later and Alfie had laid out the majority of the things he'd brought. The largest blanket had been spread out on the ground, the basket and extra blankets arranged on the top, and in the middle was a small lamp that was unlit at the moment because a bright full moon sky was above, lighting the area. Turning, he offered her his hand, and smiled, "Welcome to my lakeside café, please, take a seat."

ReverseTex ReverseTex
 
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Birmingham City Hospital
- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -

Penny Fletcher
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…Beep…Beep…Beep… The smell of disinfectant and sickness filled Penny's nose. Her mind was wandering, no longer focused on the book in front of her. She hadn't turned a page in ages. The lights above had been dimmed, and low-light filtered in from the single window in the room. It was pristine, clean, and such a lie. A hospital's shining appearance often hide the darkness that occurred here - the tears, the pain, loss and birth, it was not a place you ever wanted to visit but somehow, everyone ended up here. She didn't want to be here, she didn't want her family to be here. The pressure in her head started to build, a throbbing, aching urging sensation to just grab everyone and run, run from this place. If she could just get Tony away…

"Have you been to see Marco?" The daydream, or maybe nightmare, snapped away, and Penny turned her eyes to her sister in law, ready to respond. As she tried to gather the focus to respond, Tony sat up and Penny immediately felt ready to cry. She had been so worried. Everyone in the family had taken turns at sitting with him, and Penny had yet to catch him awake. Finally hearing his voice, she broke into a big smile as her eyes threatened to spill over. "Hey there, brother bear." She hadn't called him that since they were much younger. With a quick nod, she answered him. "Fat lot of good worrying about us will do, you're the one injured you know. Worry about yourself for once." She teased softly.

Looking up at Julia she gave her a reassuring smile. Penny had come from their house, a small surprise to help Julia out when she got home. She had spent the previous few days cleaning and fixing as much as she could in the house. The walls had been cleaned and repainted, the floors redone. She had hand sewn the curtains and hung them herself to match the original look. Hopefully that helped them return home more at ease. When Julia began explaining to him, Penny took his free hand and held it, rubbing small circles on the back to try and assist in keeping him from freaking out again.

The tears she had been holding back escaped as Julia finished speaking. This time though, Penny was ready. She knew he might lose it again, and if he tried to pull away from them, she would firmly but gently raise her voice and tell him that he was scaring both of them, and if he didn't want to be asleep for another 8 days, he had better stay in bed and breath through it because the nurses were on standby ready to knock him out again. When she finally got a chance to speak, she gave him a steady look and said, "You're not the only one hurting right now Tony, but we have to stay calm and work through this without acting impulsively. We need you, brother bear."


neverbackdown neverbackdown - Julia
Misty Gray Misty Gray - Tony
 
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The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -​
Dean Walters
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The low lamp light hovering over his desk cast a soft glow on the papers before him. Dean had been knee deep in research for days, trying to find anything to help his friends. A lot of things had turned up, but nothing important to the case as of yet. He had scoped a few people out through word of mouth and local history about possible Walker family connections through the years, each with a file full of related information. Most of it was the above board business information, but a few thinner files had been collected on past enemies and people who had suspicious connections to the Walker's then disappeared. As far as he could tell so far, none of them were red flagging enough to warrant telling anyone anything.

Sitting back he sighed, closing his eyes. His wife walked in, followed by Theo who was carrying a cup of milk very carefully across the floor while his wife carried a plate of cookies.

"Theo said you needed a snack, so we made you cookies and milk. He even helped me with the cookies so they're still nice and warm." She smiled at him. Theo handed him the glass and before he had time to process, his son was climbing in his lap. He gave them both a smile, closed his folders and gave his son a quick hug before trying one of the cookies.

"Mmmm, super yummy. Thank you both, that's very sweet of you." He kissed his son on the forehead, setting him back down on the floor as he went to stand up, only for his desk phone to start ringing immediately. As Rich's voice hit his ears, he looked up at his wife who gave him a sympathetic smile in return. A soft nod and she knew it was time for them to leave the room. "Come on Theo, Daddy has very important work to do." His little boy nodded, a very serious look on his face. "Okay! We'll leave daddy to get the bad guys." With that he took off out of the room. Alice gave him a kiss on the cheek, set down the plate and followed after him.

Once everyone was gone, he talked briefly with Rich. When he said the name Elwyn Jones, Rich looked down at the pile of files in front of him. Second to the top was the thinnest file yet due to the length of time back it went. Dean confirmed the instructions with Richard, collected everything he thought he would need including his investigative kit, and headed over to the Walker residence. The guards outside confirmed who he was and let him in. With little hesitation he grabbed everything he would need and headed up to the house. When Richard met him on the porch, Dean stopped to talk to him, handing the file over immediately. "This is everything I have. I do have one of my employees researching into some more leads for this particular case since we now have a name, but it could be a few days."

When he told him that his next task would be talking to Felicity, Dean nodded. He had figured he might be needed for that, and the briefcase at his side was evidence of him being ready to go. He watched Richard carefully, dying inside to reach out and touch him. Instead, Rich reached out to him, causing a rush of warmth to invade Dean's body. He'd smile if the situation wasn't so dire, but seeing Rich always brought a smile to his face. Instead his lips just twitched slightly followed by him nodding and following Richard into the house even though he still remembered where Robert's office was. He waved a hello to anyone he passed, and soon was seated at a chair pulled up next to Thomas and Felicity.

"Hello, I'm Dean Walters. I'm a friend of your dad and uncle, they asked me to talk to you. I know it's been rough, and it might be hard to talk about, but we need to get the information while it's still fresh in your mind. Do you think you can do that?" He gave her a gentle look, his voice soft and calm, soothing even. He pulled out a writing pad and clipboard, ready to start writing and asking the questions. When she nodded, he continued.

"The first thing I want you to do is just close your eyes, think back to the beginning, and tell me whatever you want to tell me about the last twelve days. As you're telling me, think about things you might have noticed unintentionally - sounds, smells, things like that. Thomas is going to be right there, holding you in the present, the entire time."

Misty Gray Misty Gray - Felicity
neverbackdown neverbackdown - Thomas
 
Undisclosed Warehouse
- Chepstow, Wales (Near the England Border) -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher

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Rory’s eyebrow arched instinctively at Aidan’s words, the implication that they might leave this place alive catching her completely off guard. As much as she wanted to accept and believe this, she refused to let herself hope—it felt like just another one of his cruel, twisted games and she wouldn’t fall for it. Not this time.

Her eyes darted to Robert, noting the flicker of surprise that mirrored her own. Unlike her, though, he seemed to be clinging to Aidan’s words, a hint of relief settling on his face. She couldn’t tell if it was because she was still breathing or if he genuinely believed Aidan might let them go. Either way, Rory wasn’t about to let her guard down. After everything that had happened in the last twelve days she held no trust for that man or his words. Still, on the slim chance that Aidan was being honest, she bit her tongue, unwilling to give him any reason to change his mind.

When Aidan addressed her directly, a smirk played on her lips. His order for her to “stay out of it” was laughable and her expression made it clear that she wasn’t about to cower or back down. But when he mentioned her brother, her defiance faltered. Her stomach twisted, and tears burned at the edges of her eyes, threatening to spill. Refusing to give Aidan the satisfaction, Rory forced herself to maintain a neutral expression, though her grip on her composure wavered when Robert stepped in to defend her.

Even with the gruesome evidence Aidan had taunted her with—photos, details of how it happened—a tiny part of Rory had clung to the hope that it was all a lie. That Tony might still be alive. But Robert’s reaction shattered that fragile hope. Aidan had been telling the truth all along. The weight of it hit her like a blow to the chest, leaving her hollow. She might be walking out of here alive, but she was going home to a fractured family. And in that moment, Rory wasn’t sure which was worse.

The sharp clatter of metal hitting the floor snapped her out of her grief-stricken thoughts. Her head whipped around as Aidan turned and walked out after the rest of his men and Natalie, leaving them alone in the now eerily silent warehouse. Rory’s eyes tracked Robert as he scrambled for the key, and she couldn’t bring herself to speak, terrified that opening her mouth would unleash the flood of tears she was barely holding back.

When Robert handed her the key, she offered him a grateful smile and tried to unlock the chain binding her injured hand. The effort sent sharp jolts of pain shooting up her arm, her trembling fingers unable to work the lock. Thankfully Robert, noticing her struggle, gently offered to help. Gratefully, Rory nodded and passed the key back to him.

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on them. Rory’s thoughts were a chaotic swirl of grief, anger, and disbelief. She couldn’t shake the nagging fear that this wasn’t over, that Aidan would burst back through the door with his sadistic grin, ready to inflict more pain. Her eyes remained fixed on the door, even as Robert stood and announced he was going to call for help. Panic surged within her, tightening her chest and quickening her breath. The thought of Robert leaving, even briefly, filled her with dread. What if he didn’t come back? What if they were waiting outside? But as she took in the pain etched across his face, she knew they had no choice. Help wasn’t coming unless someone sought it out.

I’ll be okay,” she murmured, her voice small and drained of its usual fire. “Just… please be careful.” She watched him leave, flinching slightly as the door closed behind him. Alone now, Rory let her head fall back against the wall, cradling her injured arm. Exhaustion seeped into every part of her, but she knew rest wouldn’t come—not until they were far away from this prison. Instead her thoughts turned to her family, to the broken home she’d be returning to. Tears she could no longer suppress spilled freely down her cheeks. Tony’s face flashed in her mind, and the ache in her chest grew unbearable. She would never get to speak to him again, to see his face or hug him and worst of all she never got to say goodbye.

Rory flinched when the door creaked open again, her breath hitching as a wave of dread washed over her. For a fleeting moment, she braced herself for Aidan’s return, her pulse quickening. But relief soon followed as her eyes landed on Robert he made his way back toward her. She watched silently, her body taut with lingering tension, before finally letting her head fall back against the wall, her gaze lifting to the ceiling.

This nightmare was over. She had resigned herself to dying in this place, convinced her family would never learn what had happened to her. In her mind, they were already holding a funeral for an empty grave. And yet, here she was, alive. Free. The realization left her feeling almost confused, caught between relief and uncertainty, unsure how to process the weight of it all.

Rory turned to Robert and offered him a small, weary smile. It didn’t reach her eyes, and she made no effort to force it. Now that it was just the two of them, she didn’t have the energy to pretend anymore. The mask she’d worn for so long slipped away, exposing the raw fear, heartbreak, and exhaustion etched into her features. She didn’t care if Robert saw it; she didn’t have the strength to hide it anymore.

Obeying his suggestion, Rory rested her arm on the chair. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat, her voice stripped raw by screams, cries, and silence. Taking the bottle of water he handed her, she drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing her dry throat. When she placed the bottle on the floor beside her and shifted to face him, her voice finally emerged, soft and tentative.

Did Felicity make it home safe?” She expected the question would catch Robert off guard. But Felicity had been on Rory’s mind since she left the warehouse that day. Despite their rocky start, the bond they’d built surprised Rory as much as anyone. And since Felicity’s release, Rory’s worry had gnawed at her—had she really made it home? Or had Aidan lied? Rory had been too afraid to voice those fears aloud, terrified they might be true. But now, in the fragile quiet of their survival, she clung to the belief that if she was still alive, Felicity must be too.

Robert didn’t have a chance to answer before Rory’s next words tumbled out, unbidden and heavy with grief. “He blamed you for Tony’s death.” Her voice cracked filled with every piece of the grief that consumed her. Even she seemed startled by the rawness in her tone. “I knew it wasn’t your order—Felicity did too. But he killed Tony, didn’t he?” It was the first time she’d said it aloud. The finality of her brother’s death sliced through her, sharp and unforgiving. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over despite her best efforts to hold them back. She quickly swiped at them, as if brushing them away could erase the pain.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, trembling as she tried to push through the overwhelming ache in her chest. “He’s gone… and I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” For a long moment, Rory stared down at her hands, struggling to steady herself. She felt exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to be for years. But she couldn’t stop the tidal wave of emotion washing over her, the grief and guilt threatening to pull her under.

She looked up at Robert then, her eyes glassy but determined. “Tell me everything that's happened while I've been here I need to know… all of it.

********
Int;-
Misty Gray Misty Gray - Robert
 
The Walker Residence
Misty Gray Misty Gray


Dr. Richard Finley
I’m an optimist by choice, not by nature, mind you.” Richard lightly teased. Life hadn’t been kind till he was well-lived. Throughout all of the bad times, when he did allow himself to fall in despair, nothing good ever came of it. Through trial and error, he forced himself to blaze forward, keeping the good on the horizon while leaving the bad behind him. Though if he ever turned around, it was still waiting for him. “I think you and I make a mighty delegation force. If necessary.” He joked.
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Though he never took compliments well, out of embarrassment rather than ego, he let Caroline say hers. They were genuine, which was all that mattered. “The feeling’s mutual, dear,” Richard nodded along. Even through Robert’s toughest times and more challenging points in their brotherhood, he always stood by him. Not many got to see Robert Walker in his rawest form; he and Caroline were graced with that honour. And it was a privilege he didn’t take lightly. He knew his brother like the back of his own hand, and Robert certainly felt the same. It was just the way things were between them. A simple, unspoken understanding and love.

Richard couldn’t help but scoff, amused that Caroline debased herself. There were plenty of times he would agree with her; she had a bitchy side. But he learned over the years there was always a reason behind it. Whether it was self-doubt, insecurity, or general disdain, there was always a root to her madness. “Even on the days where you royally piss me off, Caroline, I always know you’ll be the one to hold me to the highest standard. Robert does a fine job, sure, but it’s your maternal instinct. You’ll always be better at that.” He admitted. “Perhaps it’s because your generally better looking in the mirror than Robert or I. But you do a fantastic job at turning that damn mirror on others,” he teased, leaning to the side to nudge her shoulder playfully with his own.
 
Undisclosed Warehouse
- Chepstow, Wales (Near the England Border) -

Robert Walker

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Over the years, Robert had known Rory to be a strong, confident, and at times aggressive young woman. She was always willing to stand up for herself, even if her opponent was bigger and more powerful. From the distance he'd always had to keep, he didn't have the opportunity to see other sides of her. Until now. Unsurprisingly, the whole ordeal had affected her and he could now see the vulnerable, broken girl beside him. He was under no illusions that he had a right to comfort her like he would Felicity or Diana, but it still broke him to see Rory - his youngest daughter - in this state.

Whilst Rory focused on her drink, Robert took a moment to centre himself. Bringing his hand to his chest, he was certain a rib was broken. The pain would certainly be explained by it. Though his breaths were strained and the blood continued to rise into his mouth with each cough, he wanted to fight past his own physical state for as long as he could. There were things Rory needed from him whilst he still had the physical and mental resolve for it.

Robert had been about to confirm Felicity was safe before Rory quickly moved the subject onto Tony's death. His eyes widened as he realised Aidan had told her a twisted lie. But it wasn't a lie that could simply be cleared up. Rory had still lost a brother. As she continued to speak, expressing her grief through words and visible emotions, it became more difficult to find the right moment.

When asked to tell her everything, Robert nodded his head and painfully shuffled closer towards her, keeping his back rested against the wall. "I promise you, I had nothing to do with it," he confirmed to her. "But, Rory..." he began, his voice softening. He knew the order to which he broke the news to her was important. He couldn't get her hopes up with this.

"It's Sully... Sully is the one who was killed, not Tony," he told her. Seeing the shock and further grief in her eyes, he cautiously placed a supportive arm around her shoulder. Though she flinched at first, she leaned into it, allowing him to maintain the comforting gesture. "Tony was shot in his home and I understand Sully chased down the gunman but was killed in the scuffle. Tony is still in hospital and I believe he will recover. Rory, I'm so sorry you had to hear it this way. I'm sorry you had to hear it at all," he told her, his own eyes now filled with tears. He knew how such a loss felt. He also knew how Dorothy and the rest of the Fletchers were already grieving at that very moment.

"Our families have been working together to find you and Felicity. Your mother and Sammy are there too. You're not alone right now either. I'm here for you."

neverbackdown neverbackdown (Rory)
 
The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Felicity Walker

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Felicity appreciated her brother's hug, wrapping her arms tightly around Thomas in return. She was grateful for him telling her she didn't have to be sorry. As trivial as it might sound, she felt responsible for their father's fate now. Had she not been kidnapped and had he not had to take steps to get her home safe, then maybe Robert would be home now too. Her family needed her father more than they needed her, she was sure of that much.

Whilst in their father's study, Felicity appreciated her brother's arm around her shoulder. Although Rory had been next to her during her capture, she'd still felt alone and empty, so the warmth of the embraces from various family members since her release reminded her she was still human and very much alive. When Dean introduced himself, Felicity nodded along. She knew who he was, even if she did appear dazed and uncertain at present. When he asked if she was able to talk about what had happened, she nodded again to confirm. "Of course. Whatever helps bring them home," she said of Robert and Rory.

Felicity closed her eyes when instructed to, sinking a little heavier into Thomas as he sat with her. "One minute I was walking with Rory, in the city centre, then the next I woke up in that warehouse with my wrist shackled and chained to the wall," she said, making it clear she knew nothing of how she'd got from Birmingham to wherever she'd been kept prisoner. "It was some disused warehouse. There was shelving, pallet trucks, that sort of thing. I um..." she paused as she thought of what little there had been to focus on in there. "There was some old label on one pallet truck, but a chunk of it was ripped off. 'Property of something logistics'," she recalled. "It bugged me that the name had been worn off. With little else to stare at I hated that I didn't know the name of the company," she trailed off.

Sucking in a breath she tried to focus more on Dean's request. "Sounds..." she trailed off, her voice faltering as she had to place herself back in that warehouse. When the lights went out at night and the guards retreated to the back office, the place was pitch black. She'd been grateful not to have been stuck in that darkness by herself. But even then, she found the silence deafening, except for that familiar sound outside, once in a while. "A train! I think there was a train track close by," she suddenly recalled. "From time to time, I heard the sound of a passing train, and a few times the horn sounding." She wasn't sure how useful that would be, given she didn't know which town she'd even been held in, only that it wasn't close to Birmingham. She opened her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know how that would even help," she apologetically told him, feeling like she was letting her father down. She wiped her tears away with her sleeve. Her eyes then opened wider as she remembered something else. "I think there may have been a river nearby too. One of the men was threatening us one time, mentioning we were close enough to be dragged to the river for them to dump our bodies and we'd never be seen again. I don't know which river, though..."

neverbackdown neverbackdown (Thomas) BasDorcha BasDorcha (Dean)
 
Birmingham City Hospital
- City Centre, Birmingham, England -

Tony Fletcher

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"Hey, Penelope Pitstop," Tony groggily replied to his sister's greeting. "I'm the boss... I've got to worry about you lot," he weakly told her.

Tony managed a strained smile when he felt Julia hold his hand, giving hers a light squeeze in return. He was aware of how close he'd come to never seeing her again, so a wave of relief hit him now he was still alive and with her. When she began by saying she was sorry, Tony was about to tell her not to be. How could him getting shot be in any way her fault? But as she continued, it was clear she wasn't saying sorry for that. He took a choked, struggled breath when his wife confirmed it hadn't been a dream. Sully was dead and Rory had been kidnapped. "No..." he said, struggling as he attempted to properly sit up.

Despite Julia and Penny each holding one of his hands to try keep him grounded, his mind blocked out the physical gestures as the wave of grief hit him and his heart sank. He looked at his sister when she told him he wasn't the only one hurting, urging him to stay calm. She said they needed him. He immediately thought he'd failed on that front. "Sully and Rory needed me," he seethed through gritted teeth. As much as he wanted to dive out of bed this time, he was exhausted. His chest felt heavy and the pain excruciating.

"What happened to him?" Tony asked, unable to hold back the emotions as he burst into tears. "He was there. He was okay," he said, looking at Julia with a pleading gaze. "I shouldn't have let him come back. He'd had been safer away from Birmingham." Tony took in a deep, strained breath. It didn't feel real. Was this a dream too? The pain in his chest certainly felt too real to be only in his mind.

Sniffling, he shared his focus between Penny and Julia. "And Rory? Is she still gone?" he asked, hoping to hear his sister was safe by now. "Who's dealing with Robert?! Someone has to make him talk. I thought he was just throwing his weight around... but he threatened to do it. He as good as said he'd kill me. And now he's took Rory too, 'cos she don't want shit to do with him. Who's dealing with him?!" he angrily asked Julia and Penny.

neverbackdown neverbackdown (Julia) BasDorcha BasDorcha (Penny)
 

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