Tyme Tryeth Troth Chapter 4: Breaking the Truce?

Alec drifted between unconsciousness and awareness. Subconsciously he knew he should wake up but the fierce pain that hungered for him just below the threshold kept him from doing so. But slowly the agony invaded his dreams and his sleep, and growing in intensity, it pushed him from his state of blissful ignorance back to reality. Dizziness swept over him the moment he woke, and a thousand needles seemed to stab his face at once. He winced and squirmed weakly on the bed he was lying on.

Where was he? What had happened? He should have an answer for both questions but whenever he tried to focus on it, it eluded him. Slowly voices penetrated the daze he was in and his heartbeat quickened when he realised that they did not speak English but Russian. He had been captured on a mission; he needed to escape! Alec struggled to get his bearing, to open his eyes and to move his hands. Panic was rising within him when he could not, and sweat broke from every pore.

"You're awake, aren't you?" one of the voices asked in Russian.

Alec stiffened when he realised he had been stupid enough to give away that he was not unconscious anymore.

"Relax, you're safe, you're safe. We tied you to the bed because once the painkillers wear off, you won't be able to hold still."

Tied? Painkillers? He increased his efforts to break free while the same voice continued to speak to him. The words made no sense, and his struggles grew more frantic when someone pressed his shoulders down onto the mattress.

"There, let me get these off."

A moment later his eyes were free of any cover but his eyelids were so heavy that he could barely open them. Someone, a woman, smiled down on him when he peered through his lashes or what was left of them…left of them? They weren't as thick as normal, he saw that, but that meant nothing to him. Confused he tried to look past the woman but his vision blurred and he could only guess that there was another woman, dressed in a white coat as well. He relaxed slightly, too tired to keep alert anyway.

"We bandaged your eyes as a precaution only. You have severely burned your face but fortunately the explosion did not damage your eyes."

Alec wanted to nod but could not find the strength. Speaking did not work either; his mouth was cottony and he had no feeling in most parts of his face and lips. Burns? He sucked in a sudden breath when comprehension hit him like a shock: the explosion at Archangel'sk and the pain caused by the flames which had claimed its price – nothing less than his flesh and blood. But he did not feel such intensive pain now…Was this reality?

Just as he was slipping back into unconsciousness, he heard a familiar voice say, "Wean him off the drugs! I need to talk to him."

Then Alec knew no more.

When Alec woke again, he instantly regretted it. Fierce pain spread from his face to every other part of his body. He gasped and clenched his fists around the bed sheets, struggling to cope with the horrible burning searing through him.

He did not know how long he had been lying there when the loud closing of a door alerted Alec that someone had entered, someone whose stride betrayed the person's anger raging beneath the surface. Whoever was approaching him was a possible threat. Instinct kicked in and screamed at him to get away or play dead. Alec kept still, just as years of training had taught him.

A harsh voice asked, "Why isn't he awake yet?"

Trevelyan could not understand the answer but he knew that person… The same person had been here earlier. It was vital that he talked to him. Alec forced his eyes open and stared into the hateful face of Ourumov.

"If it weren't for the wounds, I'd shoot you like the dog you are here and now! I'm suspended and facing an inquiry!" The Colonel gripped his shoulders and ripped him to a half-sitting position. "What game are you playing!"

Waves of pain and nausea coursed through Alec's body. Bile rose in his throat and the next moment he was retching.

"Damn!" Ourumov shoved him back onto the mattress. "Did you understand what I just said, you stupid idiot?"

"Bond." Trevelyan spat out between the heaves that shook his body. "It was Bond." Bitter, disbelieving laughter bubbled from his burned lips. "The bastard ruined everything."

Ourumov stared at him with contempt. Then he strode over to the door. When he turned once more, he said, "I promise you one thing, Trevelyan." His eyes glittered and a cold smile played around his lips. "You're going to make it up to me."

The door slammed shut, leaving Alec to ponder his words.