Random drabble prompt: A weekend away
It had been awhile since either of them had spoken. With aslightly noisy sigh, Tabby broke the silence. “You know, this really wasn’t howI pictured us spending the weekend.”
Corinne gave an answering chuckle, the laugh breaking into asmall cough. Her throat was still raw and fragile but she wouldn’t let thatstop her from replying. “Me neither. I wonder if those complimentary cocktailsare still waiting for us at the hotel.”
The mention of alcohol made Tabby whine with longing. Hell,she would have been grateful for a plain ol’ glass of water right about now.
Slumping against the cell wall, the cold concrete pressedinto her back. On the opposite side Corinne looked equally as uncomfortable. They’dboth put a fight when men dressed in black military tactic gear had grabbedthem.
There had been a coylittle smile on Cory’s lips as she read the latest text from Hunter beforeputting away her phone and starting up the car.
“Is your Britishboyfriend being ridiculously smooth and charming again?” Tabby had half aTwizzler hanging from her lips, already breaking into their snack supply forthe road trip.
Corinne turned themtowards the freeway. “Maybe. Or maybe I was reassuring him that we weren’tgoing to run away with a cabana boy.”
“We should try explaining again. That they’ve got the wrongpeople and jokes on them if they think we’re worth ransoming.” Tabby’ssuggestion was half-hearted at best. As much as she wanted to do something –anything – to get out of there, their options were severely limited. They’dalready spent a couple of solid hours poking around their spartan confines,digging at the air vents and food slot in the door with no reward but splitnails and some new, inventive curses.
“No. We should just… wait.” Corinne wanted to say more. ReassureTabby that highly trained help was on the way. But the details behind thatknowledge weren’t hers to share. So she settled for another truth. “And as soonas Brian doesn’t hear from you, he’s going to have the whole of the L.A.P.D.looking for us.”
That was enough toraise a semi-hopefully expression on Tabby’s face. “And then his team are gonnacome busting through those doors and…” She trailed off into a rendition of thetheme song from the S.W.A.T. TV show and for a little while, the weight ofworry lifted from them again.
Some hours later, the duo were in the middle of a ridiculouslyfutile game of I Spy as a way to pass the time, when the sound of gunfire cameechoing through the building. In an instant they both were on their feet.
“Think the cavalry has arrived?” Tabby asked as they bracedthemselves against a wall.
Corinne recalled the nickname that Hunter’s teammate AgentMay carried with her. “I hope so.”
The clanging pulse of rapid fire bullets grew louder andlouder. Then there was silence and the click of someone fumbling with thelocks.
Tabby couldn’t resist one last attempt at bravado. “I swear,if you are bad guys I am going to kick you right in the nuts.”
Brian’s chuckle proceeded him as the door swung open. “That’smy sugar.” Any further witty quips were silenced as Tabby threw herself at him,not caring that Kevlar and helmets were a hard barrier between them.
She was a little overwhelmed by the wave of relief flooding throughher when Hunter brushed past them, drawing Corinne into a tight embrace. Not,however, so utterly distracted that she failed to notice the emblem embroideredon the sleeve of his gear.
“S.H.I.E.L.D.?” This wasn’t the time or the place. But stillher voice pitched higher in incredulity. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Theagency she’d been an informant for. The agency who had leaked her secrets ontothe internet…
“Trust me, mate. If this was a practical joke it would be ahell of a lot funnier.” Hunter had only released Cory for as long as it took tolook at the bruise marking her neck, and to reload his weapon with a tightlycontrolled anger.
Whatever unravelling of secrets needed to unfold would haveto wait a little longer. The way out wasn’t going to be any easier than the wayin but if Hunter had been motivated before, he was tenfold ready now to gettheir girls home with Brian on his six. He lifted his gun, ready to step backout into the fray. “Next time, though, listen to the smart Englishman. I toldyou to watch out for those cabana boys!”
