Look out for the <>

"I told you I don't know any more information!" I said after been beaten to a pulp. I had been insulted, spit on, punched, and beaten for the past four hours and I knew this could go much longer if they wanted it to. The Russian's here were brutal and ruthless. I couldn't last much longer. I needed to say something to the man in front of me so he would give me a break from this. I at least needed a breather. Maybe if I was lucky Mycroft would have some one come in and save me from this, but I wasn't holding my breath. Distant 

He went to punch me again but right before his fist his my already bruised stomach I said, "Wait!" He stopped and looked at me, allowing me to take a deep breath. I just hoped this would work. "I know by how you fiddle with your hand that you use to have a ring that isn't there anymore. There is a tan line on your ring finger. A wife? She was not happy with you working so much. The bags under your eyes prove just that. Your phone has rung two different times in the last 45 minutes. She is calling and she still loves you. But if you don't go to her now she'll make love to your boss. She's in the office."

He looked at his phone then looked at me in shock. I was right, like always. He turned on his heels and ran out of the door. In the emptiness of the room, I spit out some blood from my mouth. I collapsed in the chains that held my arms. I could feel them cutting into my wrists but I couldn't will my legs to hold me up any longer. 

I stayed like this for a few minutes, going in and out of consciousness until the door opened again to revel a man with a thick dark reddish beard. He looked me up and down then frowned as if he disapproved. Without saying anything he unlocked my chains. He grabbed me before I fell to the ground. "Let's get you out. You had enough Rori," his voice was a bit rough but I knew it all the same. Kale.

I looked at him in amazement. I didn't recognize him. He had changed so much. Had I changed that much? Could he recognize me easily? "Since when did you get to Russia?"

"I've been here for months, long before you came," he explained as he opened the door to the room I was in.

I remembered the last time I saw him, I was walking to the supermarket with him. He told me he was going to take a trip. He reassured me that he would be fine and back in no time. He didn't tell me where he was going, but I didn't ask. I thought he would be home soon, but after a month of no calls, no emails, I knew he wasn't coming back. That was when Mycroft asked me to work for him. I told him I wanted to go for dinner when he got back. I didn't think he would be gone so long. I defiantly didn't think he would be here as well. "The beard doesn't do it for you." I said and followed him out the door. I leaned onto the door frame for support as I watched what our next move was going to be.

"You don't like it?" he frowned as he stroked his beard as he thought about it. "We need to get out quickly before they noticed I took you out. They just think we're changing rooms."

"How long have you known I was here?" I said gripping my stomach; I think the man broke a few ribs. I was going to be sick.

He frowned but didn't say anything. He knew that I wasn't well. And he knew I had been here for a while. He just didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to talk about this.

Anger raged in me. How could he let this happen? He knew I was here for who know how long but he just decided to do something about it now as I was to my breaking point? "You knew the whole time didn't you. And tell me, did you enjoy watching me get beaten? Huh?" I snapped at him with harshness in my voice.

He took a step back as if I just punched him. "I had to wait for the right time to get you out. It killed me watching what you had to go trough," Kale said with sadness clear on his face.

"Oh yeah, sure," I said my voice dripping with sarcasm. I stumbled as I started to feel dizzy. I leaned on the wall for support. Kale quickly took my side gentle to aid me out of this place. We stumbled through numerous halls get out of this maze of a building. My legs were not working properly, they felt like spaghetti, like fawns legs, klutzy and uncoordinated. Kale was practically carrying me at this point.

Noticing that I was struggling even with his help on he spoke up. "We're almost out. I already have a car ready for us to get to the airport and the plane will be ready when we get there." He scooped me up into his arms. 

<>

"Where are we going?" 

"You're going back to London. I'm staying here," he said as he walked out of the side of the building were a car was waiting for us. Kale put me down on the ground as he opened the door for me. I felt the sun on my face but the cold wind made me shiver. Without saying anything Kale took off his coat and put it on my shoulders, imminently I felt the heat from it start to warm me. We got into the car where a driver was waiting for us. Without saying anything he sped us away.

"Tell Mycroft that there is more work to be done here. I am staying here to find more." Kale handed me a large brown envelope. "Give this to him and please don't open it. It's just for his eyes."

I eyed it, feeling extremely curious about what he just handed me. I wanted to know what was in it. "You are working for Mycroft?" I was thinking I was the only one working his dirty job for him.

Kale frowned as if he didn't like me asking him that question. "Yes." 

Sensing that he didn't want to talk about the subject I changed it. "But I don't see why you need to stay."

"Zane was afraid of something bigger then himself. He owed money to someone bigger then him. I am working on finding out what that is and bringing it down. I have been working with Mycroft for six months, we are so close to getting to the bottom of this. That file has all the information I have gotten this past month."

"Why did he send me if you were already here?"

He had been doing this a little to much lately and I wasn't liking it. "I don't know. Maybe he knew you worked differently and you could get different information. I don't know what goes on in his head and I don't want to try to understand it. Honestly I think he doesn't like me much."

I let out a chuckle that turned into a cry in pain. "You tell me, I know for a fact he hates me," Kale frowned as he put a stand of hair behind my ear.

"I think he hates anyone who threatens him."

He chuckled as the car turned a corner, so we were out into a main road. White flakes started to rain down from the sky. I was tired of it always being snowing and being cold, freezing cold. I wanted the rain again, I wanted the London gray, if that was even possible to miss.

"You think we threaten him?"

"I know so. It's just like Sherlock. We're just as smart as Mycroft and it bothers him. I have had lots of time to think about this. It makes sense in my mind."

I just left his words to float in my mind.

We were at the small airport in a matter of minutes. There on the run way, ready to take off, was a small plane that I was supposed to be boarding. No one else would be traveling with me, just myself. I got out of the car and walked to the base of the stairs to board the plane. My hand gripped the cold metal railing as I tried to not fall over. I stopped to turned to look at Kale. With me on the second step we were about the same height. He looked as good as always but it looked like his mind was somewhere else. His eyes were distant. He was thinking about something else.

I gave him a small smile as I tried to lighten the mood. He returned it and gave me a quick hug goodbye. "Next time I see you I want that beard gone," I said and smiled at him, larger then before. I wanted him to lighten up. I didn't want this look on his face to be the last look he had until I saw him again.

"You got it," he chuckled then frowned as if he was thinking about something that stressed him a little too much.

"Hey don't make that face. I'll see you soon," I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I grabbed a hold of his hand but he quickly let go. He was pushing me away. Maybe he moved on. Maybe he didn't want me anymore.

"Yeah ok. You need to get on the plane or they are going to leave without you."

I looked at the plane behind me. "I highly doubt that. I'll see you soon. Promise me that."

He paused for a second or two as if he was thinking about if he would be able to live up to that promise then said, "I promise." He kissed me quickly on the cheek then turned on his heels and walked back into the car.