Chapter Text
“Aright, this is working boss. I’ve got enough Omega energy out of just these vials to power a battery for about fifteen minutes. It’s incredibly potent. Even this tiny amount—it’s incredible.”
“Excellent,” Herrick said, standing and stretching. Let’s take a break. Our patient probably needs one too.” He smirked, glancing over at Henry’s unconscious body.
He headed for the door but as he reached for the handle, it burst open with a clang. A henchman sailed through the open doorway, slamming into Herrick and knocking him to the ground. Ray stepped over the smashed door, slamming his fist into Science Guy, who had risen to his feet and reached for his weapon. Blood gushed from his nose as he hit the floor. Nurse Sharpe dropped her Pear pad and backed away with a frightened whimper. Ray kicked Herrick viciously in the face, knocking him out, then strode across the room and shoved Sharpe backwards into the corner. Her head slammed into the wall and she slumped to the floor.
“Jasper,” Ray put his finger to his ear. “What’s your position?”
Jasper burst into the room, pulling off his sleep mask. “Todas estan abajo. The building’s clear.”
“Good job son,” Ray said with a nod. “Come help me with this.”
Ray leaned over the gurney, staring at his former side kick with concern. Henry had not woken during the scuffle. He lay there, deathly pale and completely still, the only indication he was even alive the slow beep of the heart monitor he was hooked up to. Jasper ran over and began to carefully remove the wires and needles from Henry’s body while Ray ripped the restraints away angrily with the preternatural strength of a mother lifting a car off a baby.
“Jasper, grab that Pear pad and laptop and destroy any research you see. Don’t leave anything they could use. Then meet me at the van. Charlotte, call the cops— make sure they’re not dirty—and have them come pick up this trash.”
“On it,” Charlotte said from the van. “Is Henry…?”
“He’s alive, Ray said in a clipped tone. Then he grabbed the end of the gurney and began to push it out of the room.
****
“Is he okay?” Charlotte cried from the front seat as Ray pushed the gurney to a stop. He leaned over Henry and pushed the boy’s hair off his forehead.
“Hey kid. Kid, wake up, it’s me, it’s Ray. Wake up for me.” Ray gently tapped Henry’s cheek, noting his shallow breathing.
Jasper ran up beside them, with a bag full of vials and slides. “I smashed everything I could but thought it best to just take all this stuff so they couldn’t salvage anything.”
“Good thinking,” Ray said without tearing his eyes from Henry. The distant sound of sirens pierced the night. “Get in the van, we have to go.”
Ray gently slid his hands beneath Henry’s knees and shoulders and lifted him into his arms. He seemed to weigh nothing at all. Ray pushed down his anxiety as he clambered carefully into the back of the van and slid the door shut. He leaned against the back panel and pulled Henry into his lap, cradling his head as Charlotte floored it.
Jasper turned in the front seat and gazed anxiously back at them as Ray threaded his hands through Henry’s hair, arms tight around him as the van sped from the warehouse. Memories ran through Ray’s mind, Henry’s life flashing before his eyes; all the times Ray had almost lost him, all the times they had triumphed. The van rocked gently and Ray held on tight, making small, reassuring noises, quietly urging Henry to wake up as he fought back tears.
He had never felt fear like he had when Charlotte had called him yesterday with the news that Henry had been taken. Screw retirement—he had dropped everything and rushed to Dystopia on the fastest jet known to man. By the time he had arrived, Charlotte had tracked the tracer in Henry’s jacket, which his kidnappers had thankfully not been smart enough to dispose of. They had spent a few hours planning the breach and it had gone off without a hitch. Now Henry was back with them and safe. He just needed to wake up.
****
Henry stirred at last as they entered the Dystopia city limits. He felt the rocking motion of the van while still half conscious and stiffened in fear. He was back in the trunk. They were taking him to a new location. They were going to hurt him again. He heard a voice in his ear, soft and distant but familiar. The tone was soothing. Someone’s strong arms were wrapped around him and there was a gentle hand in his hair. Henry groaned softly and cracked his tired eyes open. He felt so weak and sick he didn’t think he could move if he tried so he really hoped he wouldn’t have to fight anyone. A blurry face appeared above him in the dim light. He knew that face…
“…Ray?” Henry’s voice came out as more of a croak, so weak it surprised him.
“Hey kid.” Ray stared down at him with so much relief in his face that Henry was shocked. Henry knew Ray cared for him but he’d never seen him look like that before. There was no trace of bravado or humor—just open emotion. Just love.
“We got you,” Ray assured him softly. “You’re safe.”
Realization sank in. Ray had come for him. He was safe. Tears sprang into Henry’s eyes and slid down his cheeks. Ray gathered him up like he was a child and held him tight to his chest and Henry clung onto him tiredly, unashamed to cry. He had thought…well, he had thought he was a goner, consigned to a short, painful future of torture and exploitation that would lead to terrible things for the world.
But it was okay now. He was okay. He was safe.
“We’re here too, Hen,” Jasper said from the front seat. Henry glanced up tiredly and saw Jasper beaming at him and Charlotte wiping her eyes as she drove. Henry smiled weakly, so grateful to them but too tired to voice it right now. He shut his eyes and let the rocking of the van and Ray’s embrace relax him as they wound through the city back towards their apartment.
“I thought you were retired,” Henry said to Ray at last, voice cracking from dehydration and exhaustion.
Ray started; he had thought Henry had fallen asleep. The he chuckled, his own voice cracking for different reasons. “Never for you Henry. I’ll always be there for you.”