Happy Halloween, Peter Kemp (Peter, Aly, Thomas, Daniel, Saul, Kali, Ryn)

[father-peter.livejournal.com]

Peter heard commotion outside his cell, but he didn't bother to look up. Someone was outside, which meant he wasn't alone. When they came inside, it wouldn't be nice. His relief at not being the last person alive on the planet was always short lived when it was followed by yet more torment.

The door opened and Peter still didn't look up. He didn't turn his head until he felt a gentle hand on his cheek. When he did turn to look, he opened his eyes and was very nearly blinded by the light emanating off whomever was above him. "Augh!" he moaned, squinting against the brilliance which at once began to dim. That was when he saw her.

Peter took in the beauty of his wife like a breath of fresh air after nearly dying of asphyxiation. "Aly!" he breathed her name, his face melting into an expression of relief and love. His wife was here, wings and glowing and all. "My Aly..." He was so relieved to see her, he was too distracted to see her relief.

"Oh, Peter..." Aly could have wept at the sight of him. He was visibly thinner, though he didn't look as bad as Tasha and Thomas had. It was obvious he'd at least had some sustenance. He was dirty and unshaven, his facial hair so long it was pretty much a beard. His chest had a burn wound on it, and his back was covered with healing lashes from a whip. "My poor Peter."

Peter didn't believe Aly was here. He was dreaming, of course. She was beautiful. And wet. Why was she wet...? "Aly. Wet." That was about all he could get out, though in his mind he had asked in a concerned voice, 'honey, you're soaking. Are you alright?'

"It's nothing," Aly whispered. He would find out soon enough anyway. "We need to get oyou out of here." Aly reached down to pull his wrist towards her, her fingers gently wrapping around his skinny arm. "Jesus, Peter, you're freezing." He pulled his arm away as if she had burned him.

"Ow...hot.."

"Sorry..." Aly inwardly cursed her angelic side for the first time ever. She wasn't used to her new powers, and in her worry for Peter being cold, she had probably superheated her own hands. "I didn't mean to." She turned down her powers a little, instead spreading them out so Peter had a warm little pocket of air around her to bask him. It elicited a lusty moan from his throat. It was the first warmth he had felt in three weeks. "I need to get you out of this. I promise not to hurt you again."

Peter still didn't believe she was here, though he was starting to come around because in his dreams Aly had been been dripping wet, nor had she ever burned him. He offered her his arm anyway, without hesitation. She was his wife, he trusted her. He watched as she picked the locks of his shackles and then called to someone for help. That was when he started to shake. Who else was here? And were they really here?!

"Aly...wass'happening?"

"We're taking you out of here, Peter. I'm sorry...it's not going to be easy..." They had to drag him for several miles and through almost a dozen obstacles to get him out.

"Out?" Peter whispered in awe. "Out?"

Aly's brow furrowed in worry. "Of course, Peter. Out. I can't carry you, but Thomas can."

"Thomas," Peter squeaked, hope buoying his heart so it was pounding against his chest. "Where?!"

"Right here, Peter," Thomas appeared in Peter's view, and he bent down to take Peter's hand in his. "Hey there. Here, drink this." Thomas handed Peter an opened bottle of water. "Do you need help?"

Peter shook his head and indeed he was able to drink without assistance, though his arm did shake a little, causing some to spill down the side of his face. He didn't care. He satiated his thirst and then tossed the empty bottle on to the floor of the cell. "Thank you," he breathed.

"You're welcome. There's food too, it's just...well, we have to get to it. Is it alright if I pick you up, Peter?" Thomas was trying to look Peter over at the same time as help him. Peter was usually stronger than he looked, but at the moment, he looked like he needed a good long stay in a hospital bed, and Thomas wasn't sure if he would be able to carry him all the way through the tunnel.

Peter nodded, and he allowed Thomas to help him stand. He was able to do so with help, so Thomas wouldn't need to carry him, at least not yet. His muscles protested the movement after lying still for so long, but that was precisely why Peter wanted to do this on his own. He wanted to move more than the six feet his chains had allowed. He wanted to walk. Away. He took several deep breaths, and he shivered now that he wasn't in Aly's warming aura any more. "How...?"

"We'll explain when we're out of here, Peter." Thomas supported Peter and together they headed toward the door Peter had been wanting to walk through for three weeks.

Peter's mind was rebelling against the idea of the reality of this once again, but he wanted it to be true so badly. "What day is it?"

"Halloween," Thomas replied quietly.

Peter let his eyes fall closed, knowing Thomas would guide him. "I didn't miss Rasputina's birthday."

"No, Peter."

"Are they all okay? My kids? Dragonetti said they were going to hurt my kids. He said they had Aly too." It was hard to talk, but it was easier than focusing on how hard it was to walk. Peter glanced at his wife who laid a reassuring hand on his arm. Peter felt warmth shoot through him that had nothing to do with angelic powers. God, he loved her.

"Everyone's fine, Peter," Aly assured him.

"Even Tasha?" Peter asked with concern.

"Even Tasha," Aly nodded.

Peter looked up at the stairs they were about to start climbing. "Oh shit."

"I got you," Thomas said quietly as they commenced their upward climb. Aly followed behind them to make sure they were safe. No one saw them until they reached Ryn, Kali and Saul guarding the stairs. It was then that Peter pulled on Thomas' hand.

"Stop! Wait, there's a...we have to find.." Peter pointed at the door they were passing. "Open that. There's someone...I think he's in there."

Saul didn't ask what Peter was on about. He had known the man long enough now to simply listen and do whatever Peter said. Peter often had reasons for things he didn't explain, but he was always fair and just and he didn't toss around orders randomly. Saul held his hand out and once Aly had relinquished the lock picker, Saul went to work. When the door swung open, Daniel was facing him and Saul frowned. They both stared at each other for a long time until Peter glanced in. "Are you him?" Peter asked. He had never seen Daniel without a hood on. Peter didn't elaborate and Daniel, who looked haggard and terrified, nodded.

That was good enough for Peter. Anyone else wouldn't have understood. "He has to come with us. C'mon. Up up. Get me the fuck out of here." Peter's voice had an edge of desperation it it then. He was starting to believe this was actually happening and if they didn't hurry, it never would.

Which was exactly what they did. As rescues went, once again it was hardly a battle like they had experienced before, though it wasn't as easy as springing Gavin had been. They passed three unconscious guards who offered no trouble, and several obstacles which offered a lot of trouble.

It was slow going, as Peter needed a lot of help and Saul had tied Daniel up and blindfolded him. Peter hadn't argued with that. The worst ordeal was the pool of water. Daniel had thought they were killing him and he had fought against it. And Peter was weak. Holding his breath for a minute nearly knocked him unconscious. On the other side of the pool, he lay on the floor of the tunnel, gasping for breath and shivering violently. At least now they could know they wouldn't be followed.

Aly turned to Thomas and then she leaned down to kiss Peter's cheek. "I'm so sorry it took us so long, Peter..."

Peter shook his head. He was shivering too much to say anything. He leaned up against her, and Aly released a warming aura again. The heat surrounded Peter like a cocoon. His exhausted body relaxed and he felt himself immediately drifting away from them. "No no, Peter. Stay awake. We're not done yet." Peter let out a whimper and Aly frowned cutely at him. "Come on, Honey. We have to get to the van and then we'll take you somewhere you can rest, okay?"

Peter nodded and he allowed himself to be pulled up again. How he finally made it out of the tunnel and the basement, he would never know. He was running off of pure adrenaline. When the first wave of fresh air hit him, he shivered deliciously. It felt incredible, even if he was freezing his tits off and the light was hurting his eyes.

Air.

He was helped into a van, and Peter swam in and out of consciousness, wrapped in a warm blanket while they drove towards Aly's fortress in the hills around Rome. Once there, Peter was helped to a bedroom where Thomas and Aly left the others alone. Saul disappeared with Daniel and Kali and Ryn kept each other company.

Thomas assisted Aly in getting Peter into some dry clothes, and then they sat up a heater so it would blow on Peter's bed. Peter let out another happy little moan of delight when the warm air hit him, and he smiled at them. "Warmth good," he mumbled, halfway asleep.

Thomas turned to Aly, still dripping wet himself. "We should let Abs know, Miss Aly. Darren and Evan can calm down then."

Peter opened his eyes at that, suddenly not feeling so sleepy. "Hmmm?"

"Nothing, Darling." Aly was stroking his face; watching his every move. She hadn't seen him in so long and now he was here and she couldn't quite believe it.

"Not nothing," Peter murmured. "What is it?"

Aly sighed. "Evan, Darren and Caoilfhionn have been...expressing their displeasure at your absence."

"They...are they alright?" Peter lifted his head to watch the expressions on Aly and Thomas' faces, even if he couldn't see them clearly. His eyesight was buggered. "Did they hurt anyone?"

"Darren almost broke Abby's arm, but she's okay. Razvan has been...wonderful." Thomas smiled. "It's alright, Peter. As soon as they know you're coming hom-"

"No." Peter shook his head firmly. "I have to go now. They won't believe Abby. They'll think she's placating them, and they might do worse than breaking an arm. We have to go now."

"Peter!" Aly was shocked and Peter felt bad for that. "You need to rest."

"Can't. Gotta do my job." Peter gave them both a faint smile and it was then he finally believed this was real. If it wasn't, he would be lying in bed right now, sleeping beside his naked wife. Or taking a shower. He really wanted to take a shower... Real life slapping him in the face was, perhaps, the most wonderful thing he had experienced in a long time. And immediately he burst into tears.

In seconds, Peter was in the arms of his wife and best friend; an impossible tangle of love he was quite sure he never wanted to separate himself from. Loud sobs broke out of his tightly clamped throat, but he had never felt so relieved in his life. He leaned against them, letting them take his weight even though it hurt him to do so. "I love you," he whispered to both of them. "I love you. Please. Take me home."

Aly pulled away, wiping at her eyes. She nodded, reluctantly, and she picked up his hand to kiss. His wrist bore the mark of being encased in shackles for weeks, and she kissed that too. "Alright, Peter. But you need to eat before we leave."

Peter wasn't about to argue with that. "I want a shower too. And to brush my teeth. And I want to shave. I probably look like a mountain man." He sniffed and leaned his head against Aly. "Light hurts my eyes."

"We'll get you sunglasses, like Shaft."

"Or Adrian," Peter suggested. Peter was a big fan of Spectre's music, and the mention of his husband made Thomas grin.

"He'll like that. I'll go let the rest of them know we're heading off. And I'll contact Svetlana and get you something to eat."

Thomas left them alone, and Peter looked back at his wife. She was kind enough not to mention the fact that he had jumped slightly at Svetlana's name. Instead, she put her hands on either side of Peter's thin face. "I missed you so much." She was clearly struggling with asking him what he had gone through. But Peter was one who kept it to himself until he was ready, much like Thomas. He wouldn't tell until he wanted to. "We both did."

Peter leaned his forehead against hers. She had no idea... He didn't point that out, however. He just held on to her, and enjoyed the feeling of her holding him back. Finally, he spoke up. "They won't take this sitting down."

"Doesn't matter," Aly whispered. "We'll beat them. Every single time."

Peter nodded, but he felt tumultuous inside. Sure, they beat them every time. But at what cost? Even without Peter in their dungeon, they were starting something. And Peter didn't know if he would be able to stop it this time.