Cut and Run 5 - Armed and Dangerous

They stood at the front of the car, Zane calm as he spoke, Ty gesticulating wildly instead of using words. They were discussing something quite heatedly.
    “What are they fighting about?”
    Julian could take his guesses. “I would say Grady wants to shoot me. Garrett is telling him no, too much paperwork. Then Grady will move on to how to get help. Garrett will suggest calling for a rental, Grady will be more… illegal, and likely want to go steal one.”
    Cameron laughed.
    “Listen, Cam. When I make my move, I want you to aim for the pressure points like I taught you and then run.”
    “Julian.”
    “I’m serious, love. These men are delivering us to our end. Either I’ll be killed, or I’ll be conscripted back into service, and either way, you won’t be allowed to come with me. Do you understand?”
    Cameron met his eyes, swallowing hard as he nodded.
    Julian let his eyes linger on his lover for a few moments, and then looked back at Ty and Zane. To his surprise, Ty had turned and was walking off across the white field of snow toward a side road on the other side of a fence.
    “I’ll be damned,” he whispered as he watched Ty put a hand on a fencepost and leap over the barbed wire.
    “What?”
    “He’s leaving.”
    The front door popped open and Zane slid into the passenger seat. He brought a gust of cold air with him before he shut the door.
    “You’re just going to let him walk off into the snow?” Cameron asked.
    “He’ll be back,” Zane assured them, as calm and steady as ever.
    Julian looked from him to the retreating figure of his partner in the distance. This hadn’t gone to plan at all. Julian had anticipated a rental being called, exchanging vehicles, the two agents being distracted and irritated enough that he could get the drop on them as he was transferred. He hadn’t expected Ty to storm off into the darkness alone.
    “Agent Garrett, while I don’t pretend to particularly like your partner, I have to express some concern over this plan.”
    “Your concern is noted,” Zane said, his voice stilted and curt.
    “It’s below freezing out there, Garrett.”
    “Julian,” Cameron whispered.
    Julian glanced at him and licked his lips, trying to force his shoulders to relax. He wanted to get away, but he didn’t want to be responsible for the death of either of these men. They were only doing as they’d been ordered, just like Julian had done for so many years.
    Zane turned his head to look back at them. “If either of you knew Ty like I do, you’d be more worried about us freezing than him.”
    An hour later, a pair of headlights flashed behind them, rousting all of them from a cold-induced doze. Julian craned his neck to watch the car approach. It slowed as it neared them, revealing itself to be a truck or SUV of some sort. Julian would have guessed it was an older vehicle from the shape of the headlights. The driver flashed the lights again before pulling up behind their sedan. The lights didn’t shut off, and Julian could barely make out the figure that stepped out of the SUV and walked toward them.
    Ty opened the driver’s side door and ducked in to look at them. “Got us a ride,” he said, voice hoarse and gruff.
    Zane got out of the car and slammed the door. The trunk opened, and Julian could feel them removing things from the back to transfer. Julian flexed his fingers, trying to get the blood pumping. If they could catch Ty and Zane by surprise now, after the effects of the cold had made them slower and less aware, then they might be able to take whatever vehicle Ty had found and make a clean getaway.
    His fingers were stiff and cold. His whole body was. He also realized, somewhat belatedly, that his mind wasn’t working at full speed either. Ty and Zane weren’t the only ones who’d gotten cold and sleepy.
    “Shit.”
    “What?” Cameron asked, his voice sluggish.
    “I’m afraid my plan has backfired. I didn’t expect the exchange to take so long.”
    “Are you cold?” Cameron whispered.
    The trunk slammed. Julian turned his head just in time to see Ty and Zane standing in the light of the headlights, Zane’s hands on Ty’s face. For a brief moment, Julian thought they were kissing. He closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened his eyes again, Zane was merely feeling Ty’s cheeks, apparently to check that he was warm.
    “I believe… I might be hallucinating,” Julian muttered as he tried to shift enough to get his blood flowing.
    Cameron