Diedrich made an impulsive move for the stone startling everyone, especially Jon who was not a muscular trained black ops killer, and did not have the reaction speed nor instincts to respond appropriately.
Three guns went off, Jon screamed, Diedrich collapsed weakly grabbing for Jon as he collapsed heavily and passed out or died, Nicollette screamed and rushed over to him, Jon realized he was hit and bleeding but nobody could see his injury in the darkness.
Jon wanted to panic but he just injured or possibly killed Diedrich and Nicollette was better trained than his entire family combined. The only reason they are still alive is because Nicollette doesn't know she is a trained assassin, and is unarmed. Jon backed up slowly, he didn't want another person killed tonight, especially not someone just for being angry at their husband's killer. Jon replayed the scene from 12 seconds ago, he cringed, his gun flashed, Diedrich was sprayed with bullets from the front. He was a killer.
"I wish" "I wish" "I wish" Jon's mind tried to find a fix. He didn't die? The gun didn't go off? Then he is still a threat. His family had the skills they came in with? Then he is still dead but a half second sooner as his family reacts and its on his parent's or sibling's conscience.
"I wish I didn't get hit."
Jon didn't realize how close he was to passing out as his wound mended, the bullet evaporated as it never entered him. The whole family was screaming at Nicollette who was sobbing over the body of Diedrich. Some part of his brain tied to this new reality thought "fuck, he wasn't supposed to die unless necessary after we get the formula."
Jon's brain was suddenly riding on an oxygen high and able to perform better.
"I wish I was strong enough... and skilled enough, that I nonlethally disabled Diedrich without allowing any harm to come to myself or my family." he muttered while getting up, "yeah, that might... oh shit." He didn't mean to actually make the wish but his changing mental state was a distraction. The bullet holes unmade themselves repairing the floor, Diedrich's blood unpuddled on the floor, working its way back into his body.
Jon could feel his body growing and his clothes growing with him. Looking at what's going on, he saw with new clarity that this operation is a complete clusterfuck. "Beta, secure her. Alpha, secure him and make sure he's still breathing, Delta, Echo, identify the office, it's where we will start."
Knowledge from before he was a merc was getting fuzzy, but he did remember his dad had an office and ... The fear of a loved one being tortured is worse than the torture itself... Right. "Beta! Take her upstairs. Alpha, Watch him as I go with Beta."
"Yes Charlie." his dad replied.
Going upstairs Jon's new bulk was obvious as he could feel his muscles bounce and the stairs sagged with every step. Using the walkie talkie he barked at his siblings, "Delta, Echo, this is a small fucking house, Report!"
"First Floor Back Room Charlie", his sister sounded scared... of him. Part of him hated this, part of him was just doing his job.
"Alpha, deliver your package."
Getting to the master bedroom, Jon explained, in a calm and soothing voice, "We are just doing our job, and we're trying to be nice about it. I'm sorry for knocking your husband out. He came at me and I defended myself... but he's going to be okay. Do you understand so far."
She shook her head in agreement.
"Good. That was the easy part. The hard part comes next. I don't want to hurt you, but if you make me, I can make you suffer for real. I don't want that, your husband doesn't want that, and you don't want that. Can we all agree on that?"
She nodded and started to cry.
"Oh no sweetie, not yet. We need you to help convince your beloved that you're terrified for your life and in pain. If you do a good job, you might have a strained vocal chord. If you do a bad job... we might need the real thing and we all already agreed that none of us want that, right?"
She nodded.
"Okay, when you hear a number act scared, when you hear a letter act hurt. Number is?"
"Scared" she croaked.
"Very good. And letter is?"
"Hurt" she whispered.
"I know tonight has been a rough night for you, but you really are doing great, and you are going to save both of your lives in just a few short minutes here. This is almost over. Just a little really convincing acting and we will disappear, leave both of you alone, and never return, I promise. I really hope for your guys' sake that I don't see you again. Because that means we're falling back to plan b."
"Hey Beta, give her water if she needs it, she's been crying and is looking dehydrated."
Jon went downstairs Delta and Echo were standing around, "Search the flippin basement... do you know what you're even doing here? Idiots!"
Jon rounded the corner into what once was his father's study but now is Diedrich's. The man lay collapsed and unconscious on the floor, "I wish this guy would get up already, we need to get on with our night." Diedrich stirred, Jon smiled, "What perfect fucking luck." Jon grabbed the man by the hair and lifted his head making his torso supported only by his scalp. It surely hurt, but wasn't damaging. "We've asked nicely, I've already put you down once. I'll give you one last chance to answer. Where is the formula?"
"You'll just kill us." he whispered.
Jon sneered, "Of course, its our job. The only difference is what happens to your wife before she dies and of course, how long she suffers. Tell me what I asked for or I will let my man watching her do what he wants. Are you going to protect her to the extent you can?"
After a long pause Jon said, "I really wish you'd just tell us what we want to know."
Diedrich broke down crying, motioned to a picture on the wall and gave a combination to the safe hidden behind it, we pulled out a manilla folder, saw what we were looking for and I left the room calling Delta and Echo back up from the basement. "Get the vehicle, we're leaving." Jon said handing over the folder. At the bottom of the stairs he muttered. "I wish that both of the homeowners were as weak as they considered themselves to be and all training and skills they still have are transferred to my team."
"Alpha, bring your package, Beta, come downstairs. Sweetheart... I warned you not to let me see you again... Don't mess these last 45 seconds up, stay in the room and you can have your husband again, safe and sound..."
"You said you'd kill us." Diedrich said, still terrified.
"Alpha, Beta, get in the car." Jon turned to Diedrich "It's so much easier to convince you of what you already believe than to try to change your mind." Jon said coolly. "We've been sent here for paperwork." Jon raised his voice, "Oh and sweetheart! Your husband loves you enough that the threat of doing something to you was enough, we didn't even need your acting skills. I'm sure you would have been great though! I believed in you!"
Quiet sobs began coming from the bedroom... "My bad," Jon continued, "I thought we would need to pretend to hurt her to get you to give us the documents. I'm so sorry we scared her... well, go on, save her!"
Jon grabbed the wishing stone, "All of that was shit and I could have used you before traumatizing a woman... I wish that the two of them would know nothing abut this stone, and remember nothing about us visiting."
Instincts kicked in and Jon did not like who he became... when they get back to base he's going to need to try to figure more of this out... but for this second, his nerves are buzzing and he needs to sleep.
He slipped into the back seat, pulled off the baklava and immediately fell asleep.
