CHAPTER 14

Arriving back at HQ, he walks inside to find it empty and a note left behind from Roy, Rebecca, and Samantha. The note reads, "Michael, I'm sorry to be the one to say this to you, but things have not gone how I had thought. Everything that has happened with the murders—the team, you, and Brooke—has been chaotic and gotten out of hand. From here, the fight and the missions will be your own. It's not you; it's us. I told you many times that this city is beyond saving, and I just can't keep fighting a losing battle for a city that will never change. Starting tomorrow, I am leaving Crystal City and never coming back. When I find where I need to be, I will call you, but if you choose to stay, then our partnership is over. I will always love you like a brother; you are my brother, but this is just something I can no longer take part in. I hope you understand, and I do understand if you decide to never speak to me or want to ever see me again. I wish you all the best. Best of luck now and always, Roy." Leaning on the table as he bows his head in shame, he crumbles up the note as he stands there in silence. Everything the team has worked so hard on—all the missions, all the cleaning they did to improve Crystal City—meant nothing. Michael looks up at the monitors as he throws the note away, then begins to go to work finding Brooke. Hacking into every camera, he reviews the footage as he finds Charlie's car and follows it through every street, every turn, and every direction until he sees it head up the hills, and that is all he can see. At the hideout, Brooke has been restrained tightly to a chair and tries to call for help, but her yells are muffled by tape covering her mouth. The door opens, and Charlie steps inside with Chris. The two men approach her as Chris rips the tape off her mouth, and she spits in his face, causing Chris to slap her.

Chris Reid: Next time, I will hurt you.

Brooke Cade: Oh yeah? How about untying me, and we'll see who hurts who?

Charlie Cooper: Quite a fiesty one.

Chris Reid: Yeah, if you only knew.

Brooke struggles to escape the ropes, but the knots are too tight for her to break free as Chris walks behind her to check and pulls them tighter to hurt her.

Chris Reid: You have yet to experience what pain is, Brooke.

Brooke Cade: What happened to you? Why are you doing this?

Chris Reid: Another one. Maybe there are some things about your boyfriend you don't know. The fact that he is the reason why Rebecca ditched me

Brooke Cade: You don't exactly have the best attitude. Ever think of that?

Chris Reid: I loved Rebecca with every bone in my body. I never raised a hand, nor did I ever raise my voice to her.

Brooke Cade: Once I get free, there won't be any bones left for you to have.

Chris Reid: I like it when you are fiesty.

Brooke Cade: You have yet to experience what my fiesty ass can do.

Chris Reid: Where is Rebecca? I thought she was with you.

Brooke Cade: Like, I will tell you a fucking thing.

Chris Reid: You will or I will start cutting all ten of your fingers off one at a time, slowly and painfully.

Brooke Cade: You can go to hell.

Taking out some tweezers, he grips one of Brooke's fingers and gives her one more chance to tell him where Rebecca is, but when she refuses, he cuts off her right index finger. Screaming in pain, blood oozes out as a sinister smile comes over Chris's face. Preparing his weapons, Michael arms himself with his two blades, two Glock handguns, as well as his signature Colt. 45s, star blades, and other gadgets. Smearing paint over his upper face and then the mask over it, he is suited up and prepares to leave when Clint returns with Elizabeth. An awkward tension comes over the room, and Elizabeth now knows who The Outlaw is. Not saying a word, Michael heads to leave when Clint stops him.

Clint Gallows: Stop. What I said earlier

Michael Monroe: You were right. Everything that has happened is my fault, but tonight I will make things right again. No more. After tonight, the team is done. Roy is gone, Yuri is gone, and I don't want to hold this over you anymore.

Clint Gallows: Michael, we started this together and we will finish it together. On our terms, not theirs. We made a vow to protect this city, and if Roy does not want to be part of that, then that is his choice and his alone. But I refuse to leave your side and let you go at this alone.

Michael Monroe: What are you saying?

Clint Gallows: With all those all-nighters I pulled, I was doing more besides working on those prints. I created a brand new suit for myself.

Clint shows Michael the red battle suit he made, much to Michael's surprise. He examines the suit and is amazed at how incredible it looks, then he notices the letters "EE."

Michael Monroe: What does "EE" stand for?

Clint Gallows: Eagle Eye

Michael Monroe: That's a mouthful.

Clint Gallows: It's not as catchy, but it'll work until I can find something permanent. Listen, Michael, I am truly sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you. None of this is your fault.

Michael takes a moment, then looks at Clint. Approaching him, he throws his arms around him and hugs him, forgiving him. The two men embrace as Elizabeth smiles, witnessing this happening.

Clint Gallows: Partners?

Clint extends his hand, and Michael shakes it, confirming their reformation as a team. With Clint suiting up and aiding Michael, Elizabeth stays to help navigate them to the hideout. Both roar through the streets of Crystal City as Michael turns on his radar while moving through traffic, just as Clint takes a different route. Brooke is strapped down to the same table by Charlie and Chris as she squirms and thrashes to free herself, to no avail. Her face is bloodied and bruised from being beaten as she spits the rag out of her mouth.

Charlie Cooper: I promise, this will not be over quickly. In fact, I am going to enjoy this as much as I did with the others.

Turning on a drill, Charlie drills into her left shin as she squirms, screaming in agony. Standing outside the room, both The Outlaw and Clint arrive, and Clint has Elizabeth cut the power inside. The power drills stop working as all the lights shut off, and Charlie wonders what is happening. Setting the tool down, he steps outside to see the thugs shining their flashlights everywhere, looking for the electric box. Using a grappling hook, The Outlaw pulls himself up top as Clint uses x-ray vision goggles that can help him see through walls and counts a total of ten bad guys. Standing on the roof, The Outlaw looks in through the roof window as he sees the thugs below. Carefully, he opens the window and lowers himself to the rafters while Clint plants a C4 on the door. When The Outlaw counts to three, Clint detonates the explosives, and the doors are blown off. Jumping down, The Outlaw engages the thugs as Clint joins in, and together, the two are able to overpower and defeat them. The Outlaw looks at Clint, impressed by his display of martial arts.

The Outlaw: You learn that during all-nighters, too?

Clint Gallows: I needed something to blow steam off.

Elizabeth Banks: Second floor Brooke is being held there, but Charlie and Chris are there.

Clint Gallows: Pick your target.