Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Thanks to Daniel's screwup, the path to the pit was easier to navigate with fewer guards. When he dropped inside the pit a few minutes later, the entire place was quiet.

He cringed internally, remembering having to hit his friends to escape them. When he got to his cell, he saw Kurt was out cold. He opened his cell door and saw the human huddled up under his blankets, sleeping.

He went to a corner of the room and emptied his stash in a corner. He then sat down on the bare floor turning his back to the items. He brought out the pen and paper, smoothing the folded piece over one thick thigh, he started to write to the White wolf, hoping to find an ally in the cousin he never met. And hoping his gut feeling was correct and that his cousin would come for him. He made the letter short and somewhat coded, in case his plans didn't work out. After that, he took another piece of paper and started to draw the house and grounds by memory. He was impressed he still knew how to draw. 'It had been one of his hobbies back when…' Angel paused and shook his head to dispel the thought.

Clenching his jaw, he concentrated on the task at hand, knowing he had little time left.

When he was done, he folded the letter and the map neatly. He then peeled off—on the back of the phones—the paper tape Nadia wrote the individual phone numbers on. He saved the number of the one he intended to keep in the one he wanted to send and tucked it in the folded letter.

Remembering the phone number Nadia wrote on his palm, he saved that too in the phone with him and slotted that in the lowest pocket of his cargo pants then stood up as he tucked the items in a small bag and put that too in another of his pockets.

Walking out of his cell, he heard Wolfe growl and then snarled but ignored him. The poor bastard was always experiencing some sort of a perpetual nightmare whether awake or asleep it didn't matter.

Angel went to open Kurt's cell door, waking him up. The other Were jerked up with a start, looking alarmed.

"Calm down, man," Angel said, watching him blink as he came into cognisance of his surroundings. He let out a groan, and sat down on the edge of his bed, raising his hands to cradle his head. Angel knew his head must be hammering like hell. He was quite familiar with all the after-effects. All the damn gadgets were tested on him first after all.

"Shit! Did I hurt you?! That fucking asshole! I am going to kill that fucker!" Kurt ranted in a low growl.

"No, you didn't hurt me, old man," Angel teased, enunciating the last part. Kurt sighed and chuckled despite himself. He then slowly dropped his hands from his head, assessing Angel. The side of his lips curled up in a sneer as he met his gaze. Angel tried not to laugh.

"You look and smell pretty good for a Were at death's door..." Kurt said.

"It will take an army of these pups to kill me, dear friend," Angel said. Kurt snorted. Angel chuckled. "Jokes aside, I need your help."

"With what?" Kurt asked, looking alert. Angel gestured to his cell. The other Were looked in the direction and saw Aaron. He slowly stood up. "You have a plan..." he said in total conviction. Angel nodded. "Now I know why you smell nice and look good. Idiot!" Kurt said with irritation. Angel laughed. "Be careful man, you will get her in trouble…"

"She is one of them. They can't hurt her, Kurt," he said.

"Whatever man. What do you want me to do? Just say the word."

"I need one more Were," Angel said and turned away.

"For what? You don't think I'm strong enough?" The other Were sounded offended.

"I know you are strong enough. I, however, need two pairs of hands, and you have one, my friend," Angel replied.

"Whoa, what do you intend to do?"

"You will see."

Angel walked out of Kurt's cell to Blaze and opened his door. The younger Were sprang up, snarling. Angel grinned.

"Well, good morning to you too, Blaze," he said. The other Were let out a relieved sigh.

"Sorry, I thought you were … you know…" Blaze said, sounding a tad embarrassed. The two shared a knowing look.

"I need your help with something quick…" Angel said.

"Tell me..."

"Come..." Angel urged and walked back to his cell. Blaze followed him.

Kurt, who was already in Angel's cell, went to pick up the bottle of Vodka tucked in the corner. He examined it, uncorked it and raised it to his lips, gulping down some.

"Damn! Please, share!" Blaze said, hurrying to his side. Kurt passed it to him.

"Easy with that. It has a purpose," Angel warned, gesturing to the human. The other two exchanged puzzled glances. Angel crouched beside the bed and shook Aaron awake. The other man flipped his eyelids open and jerked up upon seeing three tall muscled Weres in the cell with him. He eyed them all wearily.

"You okay, man?" Angel asked. Aaron gingerly nodded.

"Y -- yeah," he croaked. Angel nodded and gestured to Blaze to bring him the paper bag Nadia had packed some leftovers for him.

"Thanks," he said as Blaze handed it over. Angel opened the bag and brought out two neatly wrapped steaks. He passed them to Kurt and Blaze who immediately snatched them from him and ate it hurriedly. Aaron swallowed hard. Angel passed one to him too with a chocolate cupcake.

"Bless you, man!" Aaron said as he quickly took them and started to eat as fast as the Weres. Angel watched him eat. He then passed the Vodka to him. Aaron gulped hurriedly, causing the hot drink to go down the wrong pipe. He broke out in a coughing fit.

"Amateur…" Blaze said with disgust. Angel saw a ghost of a smile flash on Aaron's face. He took a sip out of the alcohol himself and waited for the human to finish eating. He then passed more of the drink to him, making sure he mellowed down.

"Hey, remember our agreement?" Angel said, gesturing to Kurt to stand by the head of the bed and Blaze at the foot of it.

"Y- yeah…" Aaron said in a frightened drawl.

"I need you to help me get a message to the leader of the Weres that took your boss."

"How?"

"Have you heard of human drug mules?"

"Uhm... yes…"

"You are going to help me be that to my people. You will get the message I intend to plant in you to the leader of the werewolves and use it to negotiate your boss's release. You make sure they have the message and tell them that I said they must let you and your boss go. Do you understand?"

"Yes… are you sure Rufus would not order for me to be killed once he saw me?"

"Dan was the problem and he is indisposed at the moment. Antonio Rufus is a little reasonable to deal with once we convinced him keeping you alive would favour him. Leave that to me. You just focus on your assignment. Do you get me?"

"Yes. T -- thank you."

"Good. Lie down."

"Umm… Are you a - a d -- doctor, man?" Aaron stuttered.

"I've spent enough time with one to know what to do. Trust me."

"Oh, God..." Aaron groaned. Angel passed the Vodka back to him, he took it and gulped more down his throat. Angel took the bottle from him and placed it down by the side of the bed, gesturing to Kurt and Blaze who now understood what was going on.

Blaze held Aaron by the leg, Kurt used a piece of fabric to cover his mouth and held down his arms. Angel peeled off the fabric covering his lower abdomen.

When Aaron started to shake uncontrollably, Angel leaned close to his face and said, "if I were you, I would hold still and shut my eyes." Aaron's eyes grew wider. And when Angel half-shifted to use the sharp nail of his index finger to outline the place he intended to cut open, Aaron yelped in pain. Kurt cursed. Blaze snapped at him to be a man. Angel tightened his fist and knocked him out. Blaze gasped in shock. Kurt busted out laughing.

"Quite some doctor you are, my friend," Kurt said.

Angel grunted and grumbled, "He was getting on my nerves."

He retraced the line, cutting deeper with his nail and finding it quite effective. He retrieved the surgical instruments used some of the vodka drink to sterilise them and made the incision again with a sharp blade. Blood pooled under Aaron. Angel ignored it and brought out the small transparent bag, tucking it inside Aaron.

"What’s in there?" Blaze asked in somewhat awe.

"A letter …" Kurt responded with a tinge of admiration..

"And a map and phone," Angel added, raising his eyes to meet Kurt’s gaze. The other Were grinned widely.

"I can't believe this is happening..." Kurt said in an emotional whisper.

"Do you think it might work? Anything could still go wrong," Blaze said. Kurt snorted. Angel chuckled as he slowly sewed Aaron up.

"Always the optimist, aren't you, pup?" Kurt said to Blaze in exasperation. Angel laughed.