Chapter Twenty

Rescue

Uploaded on 3/13/07

The guard at the entrance to fourth snapped to attention when he heard footsteps striding purposefully down the hall. His job was to make sure no one made it onto the restricted floor who was not supposed to be there, though truthfully it was impossible to make it there without full clearance afforded to their key card. There were all sorts of checks and balances in place that did not allow any unauthorized entry onto the floor, including checking the thumb print of the person against the identity listed on the card and verifying information only they would know, that way no one could just steal a card with clearance and gain access.

Thus, he was very startled when he looked toward the echoes of the footsteps and saw someone he was not expecting. Boyd did not stop walking, he didn't even acknowledge him, and the guard snapped a hand out, yanking Boyd to a stop before he could pass.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded. "You can't be up here."

Boyd looked over coolly but did not seem bothered by the hand on his arm. "I am here, and only those with clearance are allowed on fourth. Therefore, I clearly can be."

"Yeah?" the guard sneered distrustfully. "You probably just snuck your way in and thought you could wander wherever the fuck you want just because of your name. Haven't you heard, though? You can't hide behind mommy's skirts anymore." Narrowing his eyes, he tightened his grip on Boyd's arm and lowered his voice threateningly. "Now get off this floor before I throw you out."

Boyd seemed entirely unaffected by the attempt to intimidate him. "That would be a poor career choice," he said mildly. "I have clearance; I already told you. I am here to release Agent Vega." He saw the skeptical look and returned it with one that showed he thought the guard was slow in the head. "I am going to reach into my pocket and remove a sheet of paper." The warning was well-received because otherwise the guard probably would have assumed he was going for a weapon when he slipped his hand beneath his coat. He held an official white document that was a little crinkled from being in his pocket but still appeared legit.

The guard scrutinized it, releasing Boyd's arm as an afterthought once he realized Marshal Connors' signature was on the bottom and, he checked the back of the sheet where the indentation from the pen pushed through, real. He then held the paper up to see the watermarks used only on legitimate documentation, and frowned when he saw Marshal Connors' official seal by the signature. Giving Boyd a suspicious look, he brought it down and studied very carefully what it said. It was an order for Boyd to release Sin from confinement and to escort him back to his apartment.

"I didn't hear about this," the guard said with a frown, eyeing Boyd.

"How rude of Marshal Connors to forget to inform you personally," Boyd said mildly.

The guard scowled. "Why didn't he come down himself? I'm going to have to clear this with him."

Boyd shrugged in perfect unconcern, his tone almost languid and bored. "Waste more of my time and insult his intelligence, that's fine. But you will have to go through his secretary as he is out of the office at a meeting. Why else do you think I'm the one doing this? I'm sure your little rumor mill has already spread the fact that I was in his office yesterday. He was angry with my recent disregard for policy and, knowing that it would upset me, he ordered that I be the one to take Sin out of that stupid torture box that you idiots keep him in."

Raising an eyebrow, Boyd looked at him pointedly. "But if you really feel it necessary to bother Marshal Connors in the middle of his busy schedule just to question his orders and insult the official document I'm carrying with me, then be my guest. Perhaps some of his ire will shift to someone else and I can go home. I'd really rather not have to see Sin in the state he will be, as I'm sure you can imagine. After I protected him once from Harry and felt the repercussions of that recently, this is the last place I'd prefer to be." Boyd's eyes narrowed slightly and his voice twisted cold and mocking. "Would you like the details on that as well, or did you not get the memo that your rapist little friend was killed because he fucked with us?"

Glaring, the guard suddenly shoved the sheet into Boyd's chest so hard that he stumbled back and hit the opposite wall. "Go save your little boyfriend, fag," he said in disgust.

Boyd moved the paper carefully from his chest to his side to keep from crinkling it more than necessary. The guard probably didn't realize how painful that was to Boyd, whose torso was covered in bruises and whose ribs still felt a little creaky after Harry's beating. Even so, not even a hint of pain made it into the coldly superior look he gave him. "He's not my boyfriend," he informed the man coolly, "he is just my partner. But don't let me carelessly ruin your little fantasies with the truth. I couldn't bear to make you too frustrated if you lost your wet dream material."

Furious, the guard almost threw Boyd down the hall in the direction of the cell. "Shut the fuck up and get out of my sight," he growled and returned to his post. He glowered and watched Boyd carefully to make sure he headed toward the cell. He didn't feel like getting in trouble for not letting the little asshole do his job; Marshal Connors was not a man to mess with.

Although he stumbled at first to catch his balance, Boyd was easily able to return to the purposeful stride with his head held high. His expression remained calm and blank, and he had the paper ready this time to flash at anyone he passed. No one gave him quite as much trouble as the first guard since the initial guards were supposed to screen the people who made it to the floor and once past them, it was assumed they had a reason to be there. In fact, the floor was nearly empty save some psychiatrists wandering around and one guard who Boyd did not recognize, but who glanced at the paper and was actually nice and helpful by telling him which direction to go to the cell.

Boyd had been to fourth before and already knew exactly where to go but he thanked him anyway. By the time he made it to the hallway that housed Sin's cell, he did not know it but his expression and posture was a near perfect mirror of his mother's when she'd first visited the area.

Gerant and another man stood at the entrance of Sin's cell, looking through the bullet-proof glass warily while they murmured a conversation too low for Boyd to understand. His stomach leapt briefly at the expression on Luke's face, but he did not in any way show it in his face.

"Guards," he said importantly as he came upon them, and they both looked over, startled. "I have my orders to release Agent Vega." He held the sheet up, surveying them both with the same detached, almost irritated coolness, not giving any indication whatsoever that he recognized or was somehow in league with Gerant.

Luke stared at Boyd for a long moment before responding. "We were not informed of this. Typically we are sent direct orders about the release of one of our inmates."

The other guard looked from Luke to Boyd with a somewhat apprehensive expression on his young face. "Who's Agent Vega?"

Luke flashed the younger man, obviously the rookie he'd spoken of earlier, a mildly reproachful look but didn't reply.

"Vega is Sin's last name," Boyd informed the rookie almost casually, and turned his attention back to Luke with one eyebrow raised slightly. "I realize it is unusual, but I frankly don't feel the need to get in trouble with Marshal Connors because the guards would not let me follow my orders. Your friend at the entrance already examined it, but," he held the document out for Luke, "feel free to examine my orders as long as it takes for you to be satisfied."

Luke took the paper and examined it.

Boyd watched Luke and tilted his head slightly. "In this case, I was given this order because Agent Vega will be necessary for an upcoming mission but Marshal Connors was too busy to come release Sin himself. I was sent partially as punishment for acting out recently." He narrowed his eyes very slightly, looking as though he was displeased by the idea but did not say it aloud.

"Well if you're as close to him as the rumors imply, this will be more than a punishment," Luke murmured as he continued to scrutinize the document. After a long moment, he shook his head. "While this is unprecedented, the documents are in order."

He looked at the rookie and jerked his head in the direction of the paper. "When a prisoner is released, unless Marshal Connors is here himself, they would have a document such as this. When checking the document make sure it has the Marshal's seal, signature and watermark on the back otherwise it is not authentic and in that case, back up should be called immediately and the person arrested," He explained, not seeming in a rush to release Sin.

Boyd was pleased that Luke was following his request from the day before; he'd wanted him to treat Boyd as he would have if he didn't know him and wasn't helping him. It was for the same reason Boyd made sure that although Ryan changed the clearance code on his keycard, it would not be traced back to him and the official seal from Marshal Connors' office was stolen by Boyd himself as he'd braced himself on the desk before leaving. As he was planning how he did this, it was very important to him that he was the only one who could be implicated in case it all fell apart. He was tired of being the reason others went through hell and he would do everything he could from then on to make sure he was always the person who got the full brunt of angry administration.

His expression remained remote and a little irritable, however. "I suppose this is as good a time as any to train," he said, sounding just a shade snide. "While you are at it, why don't you give him the synopsis of all the ridiculous rumors circling around and the stupidity of many of the guards on this floor? Just because I think Sin should be treated as a human being I still get comments like yours. Maybe you can teach him a little humanity while you teach him the rules."

"Humanity isn't on my itinerary today," Luke replied blandly, playing his part well. The rookie looked mildly mortified by Boyd's words and shifted uncomfortably at Luke's said, fidgeting with his hands as he looked between the two men.

Boyd ignored the comment and glanced very briefly into Sin's cell, but all he could see was the windowless box. He was almost thankful though, he wasn't certain he'd be able to keep up his unaffected air if he knew exactly what Sin looked like. "Why do I hear nothing in there? Did you kill him while no one was looking or is he just too traumatized to think after what you people do to him?" The question was challenging and no-nonsense, but his stomach still twisted in worry that maybe he was too late, because even if drugged he couldn't imagine Sin being so totally silent if he was in the box.

Luke looked at Boyd and frowned, ignoring most of his tirade. "That's actually what we were discussing before you arrived, Agent Beaulieu. We are concerned that he may be dead by now."

Boyd blinked and only partially covered the startled expression he turned to Luke. He couldn't tell if Luke was just acting or serious, but he knew anyone watching would expect Boyd to react the way he did. "What do you mean?" he demanded, looking to the box again with narrowed, intent eyes. "Let me in there immediately; you've had enough time to peruse the document. Why do you think he's dead?"

Luke returned the document and walked closer to the cell, glancing at Boyd. "He had a head injury and then he was sedated. It has been quiet since and we are not to enter or unlock the box unless given direct orders, which we now have."

Luke hovered before the keypad by the door, blocking it from view and quickly input the code. There was a long beep and then the light turned green. Luke pushed the door to the cell open and beckoned Boyd to follow him as he walked around the 6' by 4' box that sat in the center of the cell. An IV disappeared into a small hole in the side, hooked to a set up mounted on the side of the box where they could refill it without having to open the door.

Narrowing his eyes, Boyd felt his heart thump louder as he approached the box. Sin would not even be able to stand in there, he would barely be able to move. For someone so claustrophobic... How terrible, how absolutely cruel-

"Open it," Boyd said, and if his voice was darker than usual, it was with a mixture of anger he felt on Sin's behalf and the hopefully unfounded fear he felt rising within. If he'd waited too long... If he'd given Connors too much leeway and something irreparable had happened... It would be Boyd's fault, absolutely and solely his, and he didn't think he could handle it if he knew he destroyed Sin....

Luke hesitated, hands poised over the keypad to the door. He looked at Boyd and for a moment, the apprehension was clearly visible in his eyes. He looked as though he wanted to tell Boyd to stand back just in case, to prepare himself, but he shook his head and kept to his act, hovering before the door once again to block the code he punched in.

There was another long beep but this time Luke had to punch in another series of digits, this one longer than the first, before the light flashed green and he was able to open the door. The sheer amount of precaution surrounding Sin seemed almost ridiculous, although it wasn't necessarily unwarranted considering what he was capable of at times.

"Shit," Luke hissed when he looked inside and for a moment, he froze.

Boyd moved in behind him immediately to see, alarm growing so suddenly that it actually hurt how fast his heart leaped and beat.

Sin was half slumped against the wall, his legs splayed awkwardly because the box was too small for him to even properly sit with his legs fully extended.

His hair was hanging around his face and large purple bruises covered a huge portion of his forehead and one temple. A wide bracelet circled one wrist, and the IV disappeared into it. The bracelet was wide enough to hide the needle so that Sin could not possibly remove the IV while the tube itself was made of a special material that could not be torn or ripped apart. Sin's hands rested at his side, fingers curled and bloodied, raw and jagged, apparently from trying to scratch his way out if the walls told a true story. There were bloody hand prints all over, as if Sin was slamming his hands around repeatedly, to the point that even his palms were scratched and torn. His skin was ashen and, worst of all, he did not seem to be moving at all.

He looked dead.

White noise actually seemed to fill Boyd's perception of the world and he didn't even realize how incredibly alarmed his expression became, or that he hissed, "What the fuck?" while shoving Luke aside. He was at Sin's side in the space of a blink, one slightly shaky hand feeling for a pulse at his neck with the other at his free wrist while he stared with widened eyes at Sin's completely slack expression. His blood was actually pumping too fast, tingling his hands in his fear, that he couldn't think well enough to get a pulse at first. It took him a moment, but he finally realized he could feel Sin's pulse faintly beating.

The relief that swept through him actually took all the energy from Boyd as the adrenaline briefly left him and he slumped onto his knees with his head tilted to the ground, his hair hiding his expression completely. He had to take two deep, even breaths before he was able to murmur, "He's alive. But I need to get him out of here immediately and get these fucking drugs out of his system right fucking now!" What had started as something calm and reasonable twisted into fury at the end, and Boyd had to take another moment to try to get his emotions back under control.

"I'm already on it," Luke said, disabling the IV with yet another code that was punched into the bracelet. He pulled it off Sin and threw it on the floor, his face twisting in disgust now that he was hidden from the cameras. "Fucking ridiculous," He was muttering to himself softly. He moved forward awkwardly, the top of his head brushing the ceiling of the box as he walked around Boyd, avoiding Sin's long legs and the toilet which was smudged with blood where Sin had repeatedly smashed his head. There was only a small space that wasn't occupied and he knelt there for a second, gripping Sin's chin in one hand as he studied him. "What are we doing?" He asked in a low voice.

It was bizarre seeing someone being able to so casually touch Sin, and that more than anything caused Boyd to be unable to respond for a moment. Sin had a pulse but he had to be almost entirely dead to allow that, to not respond, to not...

"We're taking him to his apartment," Boyd said as calmly as he could, his voice still a step distant to his ears. He sounded a little bit dazed, but also intent. "I can't carry him on my own. I need help, I don't care who, I just need it, even it's a gurney or someone dragging him with." Boyd stopped himself abruptly when he realized he was actually almost rambling, something he rarely did. He took a deep breath, held it, and let it out slowly, staying out of Luke's way.

Luke nodded shortly and slid both of his arms under Sin's, grunting as he tried to hoist him up. He stumbled for a moment, almost falling under Sin's weight, catching himself and only managing to tilt awkwardly against the wall. Sin sagged against him, hair falling in front of his completely slack face that temporarily blocked the vivid bruises covering his head. "Damn," Luke muttered as he backed out of the box, half carrying and half dragging Sin with him. "He's a lot heavier than he looks."

"He's a lot of things one doesn't expect," Boyd said almost absently, and moved in on the other side to take half of Sin's weight as soon as they were out of the box where there was enough room. He looked at Luke sidelong, his expression composed once again under the cameras, even if his eyes were a little narrowed, and he looked very serious. "Will you be able to escort him to the apartment or do I need someone else?" he asked Luke as if he did not know him well. "And regarding the drugs," there was a twist to his words where he couldn't quite keep the disgust from his voice, "will there be any side effects now that it's removed?"

"James!" Luke called to the rookie as he shifted to get a better grip on Sin. "Radio Travis and tell him I need him to cover me while I give Agent Beaulieu an escort."

The rookie stared at the scene with impossibly wide eyes before grabbing his radio and fumbling with it, trying to find the right switches.

Luke glanced at Boyd over the top of Sin's bowed head. "It would be wise to take him to the medical unit for further evaluation. He might have a severe concussion or worse and he has been unconscious for quite sometime. However, if the orders are to return him to his quarters I would advise that you request further instruction. I assume he is to be watched in some way to monitor his condition. While he has never shown side effects before, I'm not sure what will happen in this case. He has a strong tolerance to the drugs and they normally wear off quickly once they are no longer constantly added to his system, but given his head injury I am not sure what his response will be."

Boyd nodded but his mind was racing furiously. He really should take Sin to the medical unit but could he afford to? What if Connors discovered his ploy? Boyd's entire plan rested on the fact that he could barricade the two of them in Sin's apartment, which was built so securely that it should be easy to defend when it became apparent what Boyd did. He forged an official document and used an example of Marshal Connors' signature that Ryan had provided him with in order to fake the signature on the sheet. He'd used the method of placing the signature over the sheet below and with a needle made little dots at key areas on the name so that when he removed it all he had to do was connect the dots for an official-seeming signature that was written directly on to the document.

But at the same time, what use was it to get Sin somewhere safe if he only died there, or was permanently damaged? Thinking of the blueprints, Boyd quickly ran through a few scenarios in his mind and tried to consider where the most traffic would be according to the time of day. He calculated that he could probably count on about twenty-five minutes leeway before anyone thought to contact Sam, and then it would take at least that long for Sam to contact Connors, then for an order to be given to the rest of the guards to go return Sin to the box. He would give the medics that long to check him over and give him the supplies he needed, and that was all he could afford.

"Follow me," Boyd said firmly and started dragging Sin and Luke both toward a back hallway.

Luke didn't resist although he looked back towards the main exit. "Where does this lead? I do not normally take this route."

"A shortcut to the medic unit," Boyd said calmly and Luke just nodded. The next half hour passed in a blur despite the awkwardness. They were able to take an old set of elevators that were rarely used once they left fourth, but even with the back route that Boyd chose, they still ran into some people who looked at them in alarm. Boyd ignored them and tried to rush Luke as much as he could without being obvious about it.

The medics seemed surprised at the sudden appearance more than Sin's condition; they had probably seen him many times in a terrible state after being in the box, though never quite like this. After a quick but thorough check, it was concluded that Sin would be fine with rest but just in case they gave Boyd a few things that may help. Luke and Boyd were told to inform them immediately if Sin seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, but they felt that he was resilient enough that even with the damage he would ultimately be fine.

Boyd didn't feel comfortable saying anything until they were in the open air of the courtyard on the way to Sin's apartment, the only place they were free of constant surveillance. With his head tilted forward so his hair half-hid his expression, he looked at Luke sidelong and with eyes that expressed the emphasis of his words, he whispered, "Thank you."

Luke glanced at him and nodded, supporting most of Sin's weight as he tried not to drag his bare feet along the cold ground. "You're welcome," he replied. There was a brief silence before he spoke again. "I don't agree with some of the things he has done, I don't even agree with the fact that he is free, but I also don't believe that any human being should be treated like this and I don't wish for him to die."

There was another long silence and just before they reached Sin's building, Luke looked at Boyd again. "And I think being around you helps him."

Boyd smiled to himself a little, a bitter, humorless expression. "I don't think I help anything at all," he said softly, "and I know he's done terrible things. But he'll never stop if he isn't given the chance."

Luke grunted as he carried Sin up the front stairs. "You're not giving yourself enough credit," He replied but didn't have a chance to say any more as they entered the building and approached the guards.

Boyd wasn't carrying as much weight as Luke was; somehow it'd just happened that way. Maybe Luke was trying to keep Boyd, who didn't look much better than Sin, from having to put too much stress on his body. It was easier for Boyd to pull the official document out though without having to fumble too much with Sin, and after minimal scrutiny by the guards, the two were finally able to make it to Sin's apartment.

Swiping his card through the lock on Sin's door, Boyd shoved his way into the apartment and had Luke help place Sin on the couch. He didn't want to bring him back to the bedroom where he couldn't see him clearly from everywhere. Stepping back, Boyd stared at Sin for one long moment before turning to Luke and affecting the same composed sense of remoteness as before. "I'm fine now, guard," he informed him almost imperiously. "You can return to your post."

Luke's mouth quirked up into an almost amused smirk but he hid it quickly. He nodded and backed towards the door with one final glance at Sin. "Good luck with your... friend." He let the words roll off his tongue sarcastically and turned around, disappearing from the apartment and leaving the two alone.

If he weren't so aware of the cameras and the situation weren't so serious, Boyd would have been amused by the act Luke put on even until the end. As it was, he had to get several things done before he would let himself rest. The moment Luke was gone, Boyd shut the door firmly behind him, though he could not lock it from his side in a way that anyone with keycard access would be unable to enter. That was unimportant until they discovered his rouse, however, and he needed to get the surveillance off them first.

He had watched Sin through the live feed enough to know exactly where to find the cameras. Perhaps it was pathetic that he knew that; perhaps it was disgusting, because he had to be a voyeur to have found out but he didn't care to dwell on what it meant.

They were a little difficult to remove, but Boyd had done some research during his planning period and he knew what types of cameras they probably had installed and how best to deactivate them. It damaged the walls and took quite a bit of pained wrenching on his end, but he eventually managed to rip every one of the contraptions down. Each time he removed it, he looked directly into the camera and though he did not particularly have an expression, there was something about his body language that smirked quite clearly, "Fuck you."

The camera in the bathroom mirror was most difficult, as he had to figure out where it was even located. It took him awhile and he eventually had to pry the part of the mirrored cabinet off the wall before he found the camera tucked in a recess behind. That also came out, though it was hardest to do because the angle was incredibly uncomfortable for him to try for any amount of leverage, and he had to attempt this all without breaking the actual mirror unit off the wall because he had no way of putting it back on if he did. He could have just shattered the mirror and gone through the front, but he didn't want Sin to know that the camera was there. Clearly from the feed he saw before, Sin did not think anyone was watching him in there, and Boyd did not have the heart to take away that last shred of privacy Sin had thought he'd retained.

Every time he passed through the living room, Boyd looked at Sin very carefully to make sure he was still alright. Through the duration of taking the cameras down, Sin stayed almost entirely still, but as time passed he started to move a little more. By the time Boyd had the cameras in a pile in the middle of the living room, Sin was starting to twitch. He did not look in pain so Boyd just kept watching him closely as he considered the pile of electronics. He didn't want Sin to know about the mirror camera and he was also just pissed that they watched Sin so invasively and denied him so many simple human comforts.

So, he destroyed them.

It was rather childish, but he just stomped on them and threw them to the floor until they broke apart. It made a horrendous noise but the guards did not come inside and Boyd did not particularly care. Glaring at the pile of broken parts, he murmured mostly to himself, "They can take that out of my paycheck."

Movement caught his eye and he looked over suddenly to see Sin's eyes slit open and turned toward him. Boyd rushed over to him immediately but even within those few seconds he was already asleep again, sweat breaking out on his forehead and his skin turning a little clammy. Even so, the sight of Sin showing even that much life was relieving. Boyd let out a shaky breath he did not realize he was holding,and he could not stop himself from tentatively touching Sin's forehead. He tensed, half-expecting a hand to grip his wrist painfully but Sin did not respond at all. Boyd felt as comforted by the ability to touch him as he was alarmed because it was so unlike Sin to allow it.

Over the rest of the day and night, Boyd was constantly on edge. He watched Sin carefully, almost fiercely protective. At the slightest sound of movement at the door he turned immediately, ready to intercept anyone who stopped Sin's recovery, but no one came and no one even called him on his cell. He could only assume that Connors did not know yet what happened, or there was some other interference that was delaying the inevitable confrontation that would take place. Boyd was determined to make sure Sin was alright and aware before he would let himself be dragged away, if that was what they intended to do. He wouldn't mind too much as long as Sin was alive, well, and out of that fucking box. Some day, Boyd really wanted to destroy it.

Sin woke up several times, but he was in such a state of disorientation that all he could manage was slurred speech and mumbling. He looked very confused, his eyes glassy any time they opened and he seemed even more baffled whenever Boyd came near, as if he could not quite believe it was him.

A few times he suddenly jerked and threw himself around as if he were having a nightmare or thought he was still in the box but Boyd was always there to put a gentle hand on his forehead and a quelling one on his shoulder to keep him from hurting himself as he murmured soothingly, "It's okay, Sin, it's Boyd. You're out of the box, I'm here."

It was clear several times that Sin was almost aware of Boyd's presence but then he slipped back asleep for varying lengths of time and Boyd just took to gently threading his fingers through Sin's overgrown hair to soothe him even when he was asleep. He felt strangely liberated by the idea that he could touch Sin without reprisal; he didn't want to stop stroking his hair, even though it was a little greasy and dirty from Sin being in the box for so long. He trailed his hand softly down the bruises on Sin's temple, smoothed his hand over his forehead, then found his fingers in Sin's hair again.

At one point, Boyd realized he had been staring at Sin quietly for long enough that his knees cramped against the floor where he knelt and one leg had fallen asleep,so he shifted and forced himself away. Sin stirred and mumbled something that sounded a little cranky, but otherwise did not respond. He was so out of it, so incredibly different than his usual self, that Boyd did not know what to think. On the one hand, he felt almost special to be privy to such a moment but on the other, the vulnerability almost frightened him, as if he could do something now that would break Sin when he didn't have the chance to defend himself.

Boyd felt so suddenly sick and angry at the idea of some asshole like Harry molesting him in such a defenseless state that Boyd actually moved to the kitchen to brace his hands on the counter top and tilt his head down. He gritted his teeth and counted silently to twenty very slowly before he could think about something more than wanting to resurrect the man just to kill him again.

Sin stirred on the couch again, murmured something sleepily and fell back unconscious. Boyd looked at him over his shoulder, his eyes a little bright with anger and sadness, then grabbed a large bowl from the cupboards with a little more force than necessary and filled it with warm soapy water. He spent the next hour sitting on the table next to the couch, gently cleaning Sin's face, torso, arms and feet - the parts he could reach without disturbing the only clothing Sin wore; his pants. Sin had not been wearing shoes because, Boyd could only assume the thought process went, in the box he could have strangled himself with the laces. They probably figured, rightly so, that Sin was too crazed or drugged in the box to think to use his clothing as anything dangerous instead.

Although Boyd could have removed Sin's pants to wash him, he didn't feel comfortable doing so and he decided Sin could shower all he wanted when he woke up. Boyd saw no reason to clean his lower body because, even if the intention was to help, he still felt like he would be taking advantage of Sin's helplessness. The fact that others had probably removed his pants when he couldn't defend himself, others like Harry and his disgusting friends, made it impossible for Boyd to even consider performing such an act.

Boyd left Sin's hands for last because it would get bloodiest there even though he emptied the bowl out several times in an effort to keep the water warm and clean. He was incredibly gentle with Sin's hands and ran his fingertips very lightly along them a few times comfortingly to see what such powerful hands felt like when they were not gripping him painfully. He was lost in the feel of Sin's skin, his expression relaxed and entranced when something made him look up suddenly with vague guilt, like a child caught doing something wrong.

Sin's eyes were open and trained on him, but they were glassy and he still looked half out of it, half confused. He searched Boyd's face vaguely, as if looking for the point that would prove him an illusion and murmured, slurred, "You're not real."

Boyd stared at him, caught by the open, confused expression on Sin's face and he whispered with the slightest sad smile, "Yes I am."

Watching him in sleepy, drugged confusion, Sin almost looked sad. "Sorry," he mumbled, struggling to keep his eyes open.

Shaking his head, Boyd smoothed Sin's hair gently from his forehead. "Why?" he whispered, sounding pained, vulnerable and confused. He did not expect an answer and he did not get one. Sin fell asleep within moments and did not wake again until long after Boyd finished cleaning his hands.

The night passed slowly, with Boyd refusing to leave Sin's side for longer than absolutely necessary. He was exhausted and his eyelids felt heavier by the hour but he would not go to sleep until he was certain Sin was safe from the drugs as well as someone trying to take him away. He was in a state of half-sleep himself, kneeling by the side of the couch with his head tilting further toward the ground when he heard talking on the other side of the door.

Boyd leaped to his feet suddenly, wavering a little, when Vivienne appeared in the doorway with a glacial expression and shut the door behind her. Perhaps due to Boyd's abrupt movement, Sin slipped half-awake and was just able to tangle his fingers in Boyd's sleeve helplessly. So startled by the touch that it distracted him from his mother, Boyd stared at Sin in wide-eyed confusion. Sin was only half-conscious but his glassy-eyed stare was locked on Boyd. "No," he murmured, the word drawn out almost sadly. "Don't go."

"I won't," Boyd told him honestly, sounding as surprised but sincere as he looked.

Either comforted by the answer or too tired to care, Sin's fingers dropped from Boyd's sleeve and he collapsed back onto the couch, apparently asleep before he even properly woke. Boyd stared at him for a long moment before turning to his mother, his expression turning remote.

She was watching the interaction with less warmth in her expression than would be found in the vacuum of space. "You are amazing, child," she said, and it was clear that she meant that as anything but a compliment. Her ice blue gaze dropped onto Sin, her expression unreadable, before she turned her full attention to Boyd.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Her voice remained cold as she slowly approached them, but Boyd stood his ground, did not change his expression from the narrow-eyed unreadable look he had perfected over the years. He did not answer her at first so she walked closer, stepped right into his personal space and stared at him as if she did not even have words, could not even bring herself to bother slapping him like before.

"Did you listen to nothing I said?" she demanded coldly, the iciness retreating in the face of her anger. "I told you what your reputation would bring you, yet you went and baited that idiot Harry anyway. Connors had many things to say when he informed me of your utter reckless stupidity, and I cannot say I disagree. What did you think this stunt would get you?"

Vivienne gestured to Sin curtly, though neither she nor Boyd looked away from each other. "Are you happy now? You threw your little tantrum and now it's all over. You embarrassed just about everyone with your behavior, unnecessarily endangered the entire Agency by dragging Vega around when, may I remind you, he is hardly to be trusted even when he is fully in control of his mind, and now you ripped down thousands of dollars worth of surveillance - and for what? Do you feel proud of your childish little adventure or did you just want attention?"

"That 'childish little adventure' should not have been possible if the safety measures in the building was truly as complete as it should be. The administration should consider it a free security survey," Boyd said calmly.

She stared at him for one long moment, her eyes narrowing. "You think you are clever now, I see. You're feeling cocky because you got away with one silly little thing, and now you suddenly have a backbone. How charming." There was almost a sneer in her words.

"I'm not clever, mother," Boyd said, a slight edge developing in his voice. "I'm just tired of letting stupidity exist around me. If something is ridiculous enough that it catches even my attention, then it likely needs to be stopped."

"Delusions of grandeur as well," she said dismissively and looked coolly over at Sin sprawled on the couch. "You will stop this idiocy at once. Sin will be returned to the box for the remainder of his punishment, and as for you," she lingered a distasteful look on her son's face, "we shall have to see what the appropriate measures to take will be." By her tone, it was clear it would not be pleasant.

Boyd stared at her and found to his surprise that he was not cowed by her words. With Sin lying so defenselessly behind him, after everything he did to get him out, did she truly think a few cold commands would make him change his mind?

"No," Boyd said, his heart speeding as he realized he was defying her for the first time.

Complete silence followed his word, and Vivienne continued to stare at Sin for one very long moment as if she could not quite believe her ears. Slowly, she turned unreadable blue eyes to Boyd. "What did you say?" There was something ominous in her demand.

"I said no," Boyd said, his head held high as he did not waver before her stare. "I won't let you take him."

"Well," Vivienne said with a disbelieving breath of a laugh, "it's not your choice, now, is it? I outrank you in every way possible and I am your mother. You will do what I say and he will be subject to my orders. End of story." She started to stride toward Sin, and though Boyd did not know what she intended he still moved so quickly that he suddenly appeared in front of her. She came to a stop and stared at him with that same intense, unnameable expression. "Get out of my way," she said coldly.

"No," Boyd said, his tone growing hard.

She stared at him with narrowing eyes then moved to go around him but he just stepped in her way. "Boyd," she warned lowly, "Get out of the way."

"No," Boyd repeated, and anger started to heat up his voice.

"Boyd," she said coldly, his very name becoming a command to listen to her.

Boyd's eyes narrowed and his back straightened. All the frustration, anger, pain, and sleep deprivation started to coalesce inside him, turning his determination into a cold knot of defiance in his stomach. "I said no and I meant it," he said heatedly. "Wait until Sin is coherent again and can be on his own and then rip me away if you find it so difficult to spend one fucking second of your life without reminding me how much I fucked everything up by fucking existing, but I won't leave his side before he's better!"

She stared at him, momentarily too surprised to respond. The iciness receded further and she seemed to be seeing him more fully for the first time in a long while. She seemed to recover herself quickly enough. "What the hell is your problem?" Vivienne demanded, her voice raising a notch in volume. "I told you to get out of my way and you will do so immediately!"

"No," Boyd said loudly, sounding outright angry now. His hands clenched into fists at his sides and he glared at her furiously. "Would you just listen to me for once? I'm telling you to leave him the fuck alone! I don't care anymore who it is; Marshal fucking Connors can come here and try to drag him back to that torture and I'll still say no. Being the woman who birthed me means jack shit if you never once cared about me as your son! What the hell makes you think you can tell me one day that I never should have fucking existed and then the next week order me around like I'm your little pet dog to take to the show? Make up your fucking mind what I mean to you and make both our lives easier!"

Her eyes widened just a little but he did not stop, did not give her a chance to answer.

Boyd narrowed his eyes and his tone completely hardened even as he spoke as if she were an idiot rookie who needed everything explained simply. "For now, let me make it clear to you. No, Vivienne, I will not move. No, Inspector, I will not move. No, Mother, I will not fucking move. You can do whatever the hell is in your twisted little mind to me later when Sin's capable of defending himself. But for now, when he's vulnerable like this, I'm not letting you or anyone else touch him! Am I being clear enough for you to understand or would you like me to submit a fucking report?"

She stared at him for so long that the silence was absolutely filled with tension. Boyd realized he was breathing a little heavily in fury, but in contrast she was completely still. He felt shaky and should have been unnerved by staring at the woman who had controlled him with her words for so long, but he realized in the last week that it just wasn't worth it anymore. She didn't have the same hold over him; his loyalty had slipped and twisted and now it was there still, but only barely. He did not want to betray her or anything, but he refused to let her have her way just because she said so.

The silence dragged and Boyd finally took a step back, tried to ease a little of the tension out of his posture even though he knew it was impossible. "When it comes to Sin, Mother," he said a little softer, a little more controlled, "I suppose I will just have to defy you."

Vivienne watched him for so long that it seemed she was analyzing his very soul. Her unreadable blue eyes turned to survey Sin for one very long, tense moment, before she finally tilted her head down with the slightest hint of consent. "Very well," she said, back to her perfectly composed calm. She turned on her heel and did not seem to notice Boyd's absolutely shocked expression that she agreed. "Vega has already served most of his punishment. I shall talk to Connors."

She stopped at the door and looked at Boyd with something that might have almost been approval or satisfaction. "Enjoy your moments of defiance, for I can promise you that there are few times I will allow you to speak to me that way. In this case, I happen to agree with your argument that he is hardly useful if he is non-functional. Just remember when everything comes crashing down around you that you were warned multiple times. We told you to stay away from him, but you did not. If you feel so strongly about protecting someone just because he protected you once but nearly killed you several times, then I must question the criteria you choose for your loyalty."

Boyd stared at her, still too surprised to be able to say much and she just shook her head to herself, as if he were too helpless to bother with. "I will see to it that you two are not disturbed so he can recover. I will have food and water sent as I'm certain you were too incompetent to plan that far ahead, and he rarely seems to bother with much beyond disgusting junk food."

Staring at her, Boyd was finally able to get out a stumbling, "Th-thank you... Mother..."

Raising one perfectly groomed blonde eyebrow, she looked at him as if she thought he was a complete idiot. But when she spoke it was almost offhanded and without any of the usual cruelty. "Do not misunderstand me, Boyd. I don't care about you. I just don't feel like waiting for your little pet to slowly recover, as would happen without proper nutrition. If you insist on barricading yourself in here to properly care for him, it will at least limit the number of days I must deal with your childish stupidity."

Boyd did not have a chance to reply before she turned and left the apartment without a second glance. He could hear her starting to explain that they were to remain undisturbed regardless of the rank of the person attempting to visit. The door shutting cut off her words mid-sentence, and Boyd was left staring in blank shock at nothing.

It took him a long time to think to glance at Sin in guilty paranoia that he woke him, but he still seemed to be unconscious despite the raised voices that had echoed around them just minutes earlier.

Telling his mother so many things he had not quite meant to say should have felt great, but he didn't particularly feel anything but tired and confused. He didn't regret anything he said, but he was still a bit surprised that he actually had spoken the words aloud and that they hadn't remained just in his mind. The adrenaline that had started pumping was gone now, making his limbs tingle. He realized as he wavered and the edge of his vision pulsed black that he was exhausted.

Even so, his mother had a good point. He took the time to scrounge together a sandwich that he flopped on a plate and set on the table near Sin's head with a large glass of water. He intended to write a note next to it to tell Sin to eat but in his tiredness he completely forgot that step. Boyd stood there, staring down at Sin's unconscious face and thought with distant sleepiness that Sin really was beautiful to look at, even though he looked horrible right now with the bruise and the ashen quality to his skin. His features were mesmerizing sometimes, though, and Boyd found himself running his fingers very lightly through his hair one last time. Sin mumbled something that was too slurred to understand and Boyd stumbled to the end of the couch and practically collapsed on the floor. He tried to watch Sin again just to make sure he was okay, but he could hardly stay awake. His eyelids felt heavy and his hearing muffled, and he watched Sin blankly for as long as he could.

Continue to Ch 21 ~ Aftermath