#theredflagau

[theredflagau]

Ch. 39

Grantaire kicked the waste basket over and Courfeyrac moved to pick it up.

“You know, it’s hard enough keeping this place somewhat clean with only having one useful arm,” Courfeyrac told him as Grantaire paced around the apartment.

“Why the hell did he do that?!” he ranted. “He’s still wounded! Not to mention he could have gotten out with us. There was no reason for him to turn himself in.”

“Probably because they’re not going to care about us now,” Courfeyrac mused. “They got the leader so most likely they’re going to leave us alone.”

“That’s not a good enough reason!” Grantaire yelled, knocking over the coffee table. Courfeyrac sighed. Grantaire finally lifted the table back up and crossed his arms. “What are we going to do then?”

Courfeyrac placed himself in one of the chairs around the table and leaned back. An idea crossed his mind, but he shook it out of his head.

“What?” Grantaire asked.

“No, it won’t work,” Courfeyrac whispered.

“Tell me.”

“No, I don’t want to go about giving you ideas and getting you in trouble,” Courfeyrac told him.

“Tell me right now Courf,” Grantaire said in a low voice, “or so help me God I will throw every piece of furniture in your apartment on its side and leave you here to pick it up on your own.” Courfeyrac grumbled.

“Fine, but if you do it and get caught, it’s not my fault!” he replied. He took a deep breath. “I was thinking, what if we broke them out from jail, Enjolras and Jean Valjean?” It took a second, but Grantaire’s face lit up.

“Yes...Yes! We can break them out!” he said with excitement. Courfeyrac groaned, wondering what he had started. “We’ll get Marius to help and Eponine can help with the locks...”

“And we can wind up arrested too,” Courfeyrac stated. “Or worse: shot.” Grantaire shook his head.

“We’ll be fine,” he said, still thinking over the plan. Courfeyrac rolled his eyes.

“Enjolras was our strategist. Let’s face it. It won’t work,” Courfeyrac said firmly.

“Hey, I planned the bank robbery, didn't I? Eponine, Marius and I pulled it off without a hitch!” Grantaire boasted.

“A bank robbery is one thing,” Courfeyrac started. “Raiding a jail is another.”

“But we could do it...” Grantaire insisted. Courfeyrac racked his mind. He knew Combeferre had warned him once about what the law said the penalty for selling alcohol was. He ran back to the bedroom and emerged with a handful of Combeferre’s documents. He began flipping through them till he found what he was looking for.

“Here!” Courfeyrac pointed out, looking at a section of the Volstead Act. Grantiare sat next to him to get a better look. “It wouldn’t be worth it to break him out if this is what he’ll get. For maintaining a place that stores and sells liquor he would be sentenced to no more than one year in jail and / or a fine of $1000. For selling the alcohol he can’t be fined more than $1000 or imprisoned more than six months. The worst case scenarios would be a loss of $2000 or jail for a year and a half. Enjolras can handle that. It’s much better than what you would face if you try to get in there...and what he’d get if you got him out and they caught him.”

“But what if they connect him to other things, like the murder of Minette?” Grantaire whispered as if someone might overhear him. “Enjolras has done other things, you know? What if someone rats him out to get a deal or something? There’s enough against him that they’d send him to the electric chair right away if they knew.” Courfeyrac grimaced. He hadn’t thought of that. He neatly stacked Combeferre’s documents as best as he could and sat back in his seat in thought.

“We may have to wait till his trial then,” Courfeyrac mused. “If they only sentence him for the Flag, we let him go. If it sounds like someone is trying to make a deal, we’ll figure out a way to get him out of there.” Grantaire shook his head.

“It’s not good enough,” he said, standing up and pacing once more. “Enjolras has enemies too. Enemies that are already in jail. They could get him in there.” Courfeyrac rubbed his face.

“Christ, Grantaire!” he sighed.

“This is why I told you he shouldn’t have let himself get caught!” Grantaire yelled. “I swear if he winds up on that chair I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“His trial is in a week. We’ll see what they say and we’ll go from there,” Courfeyrac told him. Grantaire finally just nodded and accepted the idea. The phone began to ring and Grantaire rushed for it before Courfeyrac could move. Grantaire’s face warmed as he heard the voice on the other line. Once the call was over Grantaire smiled at Courfeyrac.

“We had forgotten about bail!” Grantaire grinned. “He’s got a hearing in two days. I’m going to grab the money for him and bring it and we can get him out until his trial.” Courfeyrac smiled, much more content with the new plan.

[theredflagau]

Ch. 38

It was just hours before opening and Valjean stood behind the bar, wiping down the glasses. Enjolras nodded at him as he walked by, still a little starstruck from having the famed bootlegger working at his bar. As he walked, Courfeyrac rushed to him and whispered something to him in urgency. Valjean noticed the fear on the young man’s face and approached the two.

“Is there a problem?” Valjean asked.

“Yes,” Enjolras whispered. “There are policemen outside. They’re going to raid us.” Enjolras’s eyes grew wide. “We can’t afford to...They’ll...” He turned to Courfeyrac. “Get everyone out the back way as fast as you can. The fewer people they can catch, the better. Hopefully they aren’t aware of our escape exits.” He patted Courfeyrac’s arm as he ran to warn the others.

“It must be Javert...” Valjean muttered to himself and then turned to Enjolras. “Let me go talk to them,” he said. Enjolras gave him a bewildered look.

“Are you insane? They’ll take you on the spot if they don’t shoot you right there!”

“I know,” Valjean said, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “But if it’s who I think it is, he’s going to be more concerned about catching me. If I can convince him to leave you all alone, I’d gladly go in.”

Enjolras moved to stop him, but Valjean had already started making his way up the stairs.

Outside, Javert prepped himself to go in. He’d take a handful of men with him to help capture those running the speakeasy, but his goal was to grab Valjean. As he turned to go inside, he nearly ran into Valjean himself.

“Valjean!” he yelled, reaching forward and grabbing hold of him. He found no resistance.

“I’m yours,” Valjean stated calmly, “as long as you agree to leave these boys alone.”

“I can’t do that,” Javert scoffed. “These ‘boys’ are going against the prohibition laws and must answer for their crimes.”

“They’re not causing harm and they've just suffered greatly,” Valjean pleaded. “You have what you were after tonight. Let them go.” Javert eyed him warily. He motioned for his men to move downstairs as he handcuffed Valjean and put him in the back of the wagon.

When the men arrived in the main bar, they were welcomed only by one man. Enjolras sat calmly at one of the tables, facing them. He had his hands in the open where they could see them and no weapons nearby. Still, the policemen raised their guns as they approached him.

“Where are the others?” one of the policemen asked.

“There are no others,” Enjolras stated calmly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Courfeyrac forcing Grantaire towards the escape, his good arm trying to keep Grantaire silent while pushing him back.

The policemen pulled Enjolras to his feet and handcuffed him. They led him up the stairs and to the wagon with Valjean. As they sat inside, they heard one of the men report to Javert.

“There was no one else down there. The place was empty,” the officer informed him. Javert nodded and cast a look at Enjolras before he shut the doors to the wagon. As they drove off, the smallest of smiles formed on Enjolras’s face.

[theredflagau]

Ch. 37

It had been weeks since the bank had been robbed and Javert was nowhere near finding Valjean. He walked through the abandoned hideout, using his pistol to move things about on desks and on the walls. It had been two weeks since the last time someone had reported a disturbance caused by the Minette gang. Since then, one of his men had located their hideout. When they had busted down the door, they had expected a shower of bullets. What they found was a hideout that hadn’t been touched for a good while. Dust had started collecting and it was left as if the residents had planned on returning.

Javert didn’t like it. Minette had always been one the most infuriating groups he had to deal with. For them to disappear like this was bizarre to say the least. As he looked at the leader’s desk he saw a picture of a young woman, an ad for her performance at a speakeasy. He noted the address on the bottom and pocketed the ad for future reference. One of his lieutenants ran into the room.

“Sir! We’ve found him!” he announced.

“Valjean or Thenardier?” Javert questioned, always desiring for the first.

“Valjean! He’s at a place called the Red Flag!”

Javert pulled the ad out once more and read it over. He gripped it in his fist and a sinister grin covered his face.

“Then let’s bring in our prey.”

[theredflagau]

Ch. 36

Once everyone assembled in the bar of the Red Flag, Enjolras cleared his throat and began to speak.

“I understand everyone has been having a really rough time,” he said quietly. “We have laid too many friends to rest over the past several days. However, I have some good news that might help lighten things around here.” Enjolras took a deep breath. “Jean Valjean has offered us his fortune so that the Red Flag might continue.” Murmurs were drawn from the group.

“Seriously?”

“Jean Valjean?”

“Will it be enough?” Joly finally asked. “I can see us being ok with money, but what about people? We’re sorely short-staffed now.”

“For starters, Valjean himself offered to be our new bartender,” Enjolras told him. “I’m a little tempted to ask Cosette if she’d be willing to help be a waitress for us,” he said turning towards Marius, who nodded slightly. “We could use a new accountant, but I can manage without. Really all we need is a bouncer.”

Courfeyrac stepped forward.

“I should be able to do that,” he said. Enjolras shook his head.

“But your arm...”

“Isn’t that necessary,” Courfeyrac told him with a smirk. “They will be aware that if they don’t calm down or leave they'll be dead.” The group froze, shocked by Courfeyrac’s new directness. Enjolras nodded slowly.

“I don’t like the idea of you shooting our rowdy patrons, but right now we don’t have another option. Just try not to be too trigger happy,” Enjolras told him.

“So the Red Flag is back,” Feuilly sighed, beaming a smile to the group. “Maybe now all this misfortune will be behind us!” Enjolras walked behind the bar and stood on a chair so he could reach the flag.

“There’s one more thing that needs to be done,” he said, pulling his pocket knife out. He cut three holes into the flag. “Our fallen brothers need to be remembered.” The group erupted into applause in recognition of the dead.

[theredflagau]

Ch. 34

Two days later, Enjolras sat at his desk, pouring over the books. He didn't know how he was going to manage the Red Flag now. He was short-staffed and while he had a cushion of money now, it wouldn't last. Enjolras ran his hands through his hair and sighed.

“You should be lying down, resting,” Grantaire told him as he took a sip of wine from the bottle.

“I can’t,” Enjolras sighed. He winced in pain as he stretched a little. “Without Combeferre I have to figure out these books. It never was my strong suit.” Grantaire rolled his eyes.

“The Red Flag can wait. You’re in pain and your wounds won’t heal if you keep pushing yourself.” Grantaire offered his bottle to Enjolras. He eyed it warily, started to turn away, and then grabbed it and took a sip. “You’re gonna need more than that to dull the pain,” Grantaire scoffed. Enjolras laughed.

“No I won’t,” he said. “My wounds weren't as bad yours was.” He shut the book in front of him and gently leaned back in his chair. “Could you do me a favor and grab me a glass of water, though?”

“Only if you promise to lay down for a while on the couch after you drink it,” Grantaire said as he gave him a look. Enjolras smiled.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Only for a little while though!” Grantaire nodded and left the office. As he walked down the hallway he almost ran into an old man.

“Can I help you sir?” Grantaire asked, a confused expression on his face.

“I’m looking for Enjolras,” he replied. “Is he down this way?” Grantaire eyed him hesitantly.

“He’s not feeling well, today probably isn't a good day to talk-”

“It’s important,” the man interrupted, “and I’m sure he’ll welcome the news.” Grantaire nodded and pointed him in the direction of Enjolras’s office and then continued to fetch the water.

Enjolras heard the door open and let out a huff of a laugh.

“That was fast,” he said without looking up.

“I’m not who you think I am, I believe,” the man told him. Enjolras nodded, still not looking up.

“Sorry, we've hit a bit of a rough time. The Red Flag is closed for now until we get back on our feet,” Enjolras informed him.

“That’s why I’m here. I want to help you. Cosette told me...”

“Cosette?” Enjolras barely whispered. He looked up at the man. “You mean you’re...”

“I’m Jean Valjean,” he said with a smile. “Cosette told me her boyfriend works for you and Thenardier’s gang hurt you all badly. I am incredibly sorry for your losses and I wish to help in anyway I can.”

“Sir, I am extremely grateful...” Enjolras started, not even sure what to say, “b-but I can’t accept...” Valjean laughed.

“Of course you can,” he grinned. “My days as a bootlegger has come to an end. I’m too old. I've set aside more than enough money for Cosette and her future and the rest I’d like to see invested in a wonderful place such as this. I heard also you’re in need of a bartender, a job that I can fill if you’re willing to hire me. You won’t even need to pay me.”

Enjolras sat there in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

“People will see you...” he murmured.

“I know,” Valjean told him. “I think people view me as more of a myth now. If they recognize me, it’s fine. As I said, I’m done with my business and I’m only here to help yours.” Enjolras nodded.

“T-thank you!” he said warmly. “You don’t know how much this means to me...and the others! You can bar tend here whenever you want.”

Valjean sat down across from Enjolras at his desk, pulled out huge stacks of cash and set them in front of him.

“This is just for starters,” he told him. “I’ll be bringing more later.” They shook hands and Enjolras thanked him several times more. Valjean left the office, passing Grantaire as he went.

When Grantaire walked back into the room, he saw Enjolras sitting behind several stacks of cash, cradling his head in his hands and crying. Grantaire rushed over, setting the glass of water down.

“Enjolras?” he asked. He had never seen the man cry in all the years he had known him. “Enjolras, what is it? What happened?”

“Jean Valjean just saved the Red Flag,” he mumbled. “We’re going to be ok!” he announced. He stood up and gave Grantaire a hug, not caring that his whole body screamed in pain as he did so. Grantaire held him and then gently pushed himself away.

“Will you rest now?” he laughed. Enjolras rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Yes. I’ll lie down for a bit,” he said as he took a sip of his water and then made his way to the couch, Grantaire walking with him and steadying him.

[theredflagau]

Ch. 33

The following night, Bahorel stood outside and watched for everything - patrons, police officers and Thenardier’s gang. It had been an oddly quiet night; he hadn't seen a soul on the street. It was a Tuesday night, their slowest night, but usually a few regulars would still come in. Bahorel sighed as he leaned against the archway. Something wasn't right.

He saw a man walking down the sidewalk. As he neared him, Bahorel gave him a nod of acknowledgement. Before he knew it, the man had stabbed him in the side, forcing Bahorel to fall to his knees. Bahorel pulled the alarm while the man was signaling for the rest of the group. He then reached for his gun and managed to down one man before he was shot himself.

Downstairs, everyone was in a panic. Joly, Bossuet and Feuilly had hidden in the kitchen area and were ready to attack if anyone came in. Marius and Jehan went backstage. Enjolras and Grantaire hid themselves within the hallways while Courfeyrac grabbed Eponine and hid in the closet. He pushed her in first, making sure she was well hidden within Enjolras’s coats and things and then stepped in and closed the door behind them.

It felt like forever that they had waited. They knew either Enjolras would come in and tell them it was ok or else they would hear others. They just continued to wait in silence. As Eponine watched Courfeyrac, she could see from the small sliver of light that came from the side of the door that he was shaking. She wondered if it was from fear or from rage. The office door busted open.

“So this is the office,” Thenardier said as he waltzed in. “I tell you, this kid has it too good. These guys have it easy nowadays.” He sat himself down in Enjolras’s chair.

Eponine felt Courfeyrac move, and she grabbed his arm to stop him. She felt him just barely relax.

“We still haven’t found Enjolras or Eponine yet. Want us to go look through these hallways?” one of men asked. Thenardier laughed.

“Sure. You’ll catch anyone before they come in here anyways. I’ll be fine,” he told them and sent them along. Thenardier reclined back in the chair and sighed.

Courfeyrac kicked the door open and immediately shot Thenardier in the chest and then aimed for his hands, making sure he didn't have a gun in them.

“YOU BASTARD!!” he yelled as he fired. Thenardier fell out of the chair and Courfeyrac kicked him so he could see his face. The man spit out some blood and looked up at him.

“Oh, it’s you again,” Thenardier groaned. “Why won’t you just die?”

“I can’t die,” Courfeyrac fumed. “Not until I avenge Combeferre’s murder.” Thenardier rolled his eyes.

“Cause that will bring him back.”

Courfeyrac kicked him hard in the stomach.

“No. No it won’t,” Courfeyrac spit out. “But it damn well will make me feel better.” He raised his gun and aimed at his head as began unload the round.

Eponine sunk further back in the closet, terrified of the new Courfeyrac she had witnessed. She didn't want to see or hear any more.

Courfeyrac’s rampage was cut short as someone began to shoot at him. He turned and began firing back, but was then shot in the right arm. He knelt down behind the desk, knowing he didn't have much time, and quickly reloaded his gun. Before he could get back over the desk to fire back, he heard more gunshots and the men fell. He peered up from behind the desk and saw Grantaire making his way to the closet first, a hysterical Eponine rushing to grab him in a hug. Courfeyrac stood up and made his way over to them.

“Christ, Courf, what happened in here?” Grantaire asked as he looked around. He saw Thenardier’s destroyed face, Courfeyrac’s arm and the number of other bodies lying dead on the floor.

“To be fair, I only killed one of them!” Courfeyrac told him. It was the first time a hint of his humor had appeared since he lost Combeferre. He held his handkerchief over his wound as they walked out of the office.

“What’s going on elsewhere?” Courfeyrac asked. “Where’s Enjolras?” He saw Grantaire swallow hard.

“He got a few minor bullet wounds, he shouldn't be too bad off,” Grantaire told him, his arm still around Eponine as the moved down the hallway. “Scared me half to death when he fell over though. Joly is patching everyone up right now.” He took a deep breath and looked Courfeyrac in the eyes. “We lost Bahorel and Bossuet. Jehan took a really bad shot to the leg that went deep. Marius, Feuilly and myself are doing ok, just a bit scratched up.” Grantaire was finding it hard to look at Courfeyrac as he saw blood streaming down his arm, the handkerchief not doing much to stop it. “You are probably in just as bad of condition as Jehan if not worse off,” he sighed.

Courfeyrac shrugged. He had avenged Combeferre’s death. No amount of pain could bother him right now. As far as he was concerned, Combeferre was finally sleeping peacefully and that was all that mattered.

Grantaire led him to Joly who immediately began to operate on his arm to the best of his abilities. Joly grimaced after he stitched it up.

“It was really deep,” Joly explained. “Deep enough it tore up your muscles something awful. You’re probably not going to be able to use your arm for much any more.”  Courfeyrac frowned and looked at his wound.

“What should I do then?” he asked. Joly shrugged.

“Wear a sling or something? Something to hold it out of your way,” Joly told him. “You could go for an amputation, but I think that’s a bit extreme and way too risky. A limp arm would be easier to deal with.” Courfeyrac nodded as he looked over to where Enjolras was sleeping. Joly had medicated him enough to knock him out since the pain of taking all of the bullets out was taking its toll on him. Grantaire sat next to him and wouldn't leave his side.    

As he continued to look around, he saw Feuilly standing over Bossuet, tears in his eyes. Jehan was wincing in pain as Marius tried to wrap the bandage around his wound. Bahorel was lying close to Bossuet, a sheet pulled up to his neck. Courfeyrac’s lips trembled and his eyes stung. At least the bastard was dead now.

[theredflagau]

Ch. 32

Cosette was in awe from the moment she first walked into the Red Flag. Marius had explained to her that he would have to wait tables, but he would come visit her whenever he got a chance. She didn't mind in the least and used his absence to look around and take in her surroundings. Finally, Marius popped by again and sat down with her, setting a drink in front of her.

Eponine swore to herself as she watched the couple from afar behind the curtain. It had to have been a cruel twist of fate that he just happened to bump into a girl and immediately fell for her. A hand rested on Eponine’s shoulder and startled her.

“Everything alright?” Enjolras asked quietly. Eponine let out a sigh of relief and gave him a soft smile.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” she told him. “I’m just watching Marius and his new girlfriend,” an air of bitterness in her words. Enjolras peered through the curtains above her head.

“Shit,” he hissed.

“What is it?” Eponine asked, looking up at him.

“That’s Cosette. Jean Valjean’s daughter.”

“Jean Val-who?”

“He’s one of the wealthiest bootleggers in the nation,” Enjolras told her. “What the hell is Marius thinking, bringing her in here when all hell could break loose at any moment?”

Eponine couldn't help a small grin as the thought of her getting caught in the crossfire went through her mind.

“Is that really a problem?” she asked.

“Yes,” Enjolras glared. “A very big problem. If anything happens to her, Valjean will have our heads. It wouldn't matter if any of us survived Thenardier’s attack because he’d come and finish us off!” Enjolras fumed for a moment. “That damn idiot!” he swore as he turned to go grab the boy and force him to take the girl home.

Eponine turned back towards the couple. It certainly was a cruel twist of fate.

[theredflagau]

Ch. 31

Enjolras had everyone who worked for him meet in the middle of the Red Flag. A new air had fallen among the group - a fear not of what might happen, but of what would inevitably come. While they all tended to avoid eye contact that night, everyone had tried their best not to catch Courfeyrac’s gaze. They all felt his pain when they looked into his eyes, and none of them could bare it. Enjolras finally cleared his throat.

“We’re going to have to take action,” he said quietly. No one said a word. “We’re going to take the fight to him. Thenardier is not going to take anyone else away from us.” Enjolras swore.

“Enjolras, just let me go back. It’s not worth...” Enjolras glared at her.

“You’re not going back to him,” he said firmly. “You’re one of us and he doesn't deserve you.” Enjolras folded his fingers in thought. “We’ll all have to go, maybe leave one or two behind in case he decides to hit the Flag while we’re gone.” Eponine rolled her eyes.

“It’s a bad idea. Thenardier knows his way around there like the back of his hand. He’ll trap you all easily and there’s no way you’ll survive,” she told him. “Just let me go talk to him at least,” she sighed.

“ENOUGH,” Enjolras bellowed, causing Grantaire to almost drop his bottle. “I said, you’re not going anywhere. You’re staying here!”

“Then what are you going to do, have him come here?” she asked in a huff. Enjolras leaned back.

“Yeah...” he started. “He can come here.” He looked around the group. “If we can’t beat him in his place then we can’t allow him to beat us in ours.”

“That’s great and all,” Feuilly said lightly, “but how do we get him to come here?”

“He did say he’d come here and murder us all,” Grantaire mused as he took a sip.

“Isn't that a bit dangerous?” Marius asked. “We’ll have no idea when he’s coming. He could catch us by surprise...”

“We have to always be ready,” Enjolras murmured. “No matter what.”

“What if we send him a message?” Jehan asked. “Tell him we’re not letting Eponine anywhere near him?”

“Yeah, who’s going to deliver it?” Joly scoffed. “Anyone goes near there and they’ll be shot.”

“I’ll take it,” Courfeyrac said immediately.

“No,” Enjolras said firmly. “I don’t need you going off the handle yet. We can’t lose you at the beginning of all of this!” Enjolras thought through everything, trying to find something he missed.

“We continue running the Flag as normal,” Enjorlas told them.  “Bahorel, I want you upfront and on alert. If anything suspicious is going on, you activate the silent alarm. Courfeyrac, you’re to stay by me at all times. If the alarm goes off, you and Eponine will go into the back closet in my office and hide.” Courfeyrac moved to say something and then Enjolras stopped him. “I’ll will give you your chance, but I want you to protect Eponine first and foremost.”  Courfeyrac frowned, but nodded.

“I’m going to have you all stationed in various places should the alarm go off. Otherwise, you continue doing your jobs around the Flag as if nothing were going on, understood?” Enjolras made eye contact with everyone present. They all murmured words of acknowledgement.

“Good,” Enjolras said. “And good luck.”