If you wanted to go out sometime...
I won't let you lie for me.
I love you so much.
Tony don't let them do this...
I won't give up on you!
I'm sorry, Tony I'm so sorry...
"Tony..."
"Michelle..."
"Hello Tony."
"Michelle."
He didn't know how they were able to get any actual work done. The tension between them was so strong that he often found himself fighting for breath if he so much as looked at her face. So he kept his head down, kept focussed, doing his very best not to think about who it was that he was working so closely with again after... well, after everything. Prison, her leaving him... a life that was missing everything that had ever meant anything to him.
He was so glad when the work was done and he could finally let it all out. He made little effort to go peacefully and leave her alone... he was getting himself a coffee when she walked into the room and they were shouting at each other before he could quite see it coming.
"I never would've thought you could be so heartless!"
"Well what was I supposed to do!"
"I'm sorry." Tears in her eyes.
"No, Michelle..." Voice breaking.
And then, suddenly, kissing. Pushing her against the door, telling himself he can't, mustn't, shouldn't, but not able to help himself, tearing at her clothes while she pulled at his.
They pressed against each other just that little bit too viciously, all their pent-up anger trying to express itself at once, and he could feel her tears on his neck.
And "I'm sorry, Tony I'm so sorry..." over and over, even as his mouth burrowed into her neck and his teeth broke her skin, and he hit his wrist on the door's hinges and drew blood and somehow didn't care.
"I'm sorry..." Just a whisper now.
"No!" Crying out.
Then... back to work.
"Michelle, we need you to..."
"Yes, of course."
"Tony, would you..."
"Yeah, sure."
But there was that small, uncertain smile before she left that made his heart jump like it hadn't done since she'd said she would marry him.
He could hear her voice over the phone, reporting in, and was sure there was something different there than there had been earlier today; something familiar and warm.
He kept biting his lip, trying not to grin.
And then... something wrong. A surprised shriek and then nothing else.
And panic like he hadn't felt since he'd seen Saunders' henchman hold a knife to her throat.
Hours later, when they found her, she was already broken. Tortured, for information she didn't even have. On the cold concrete floor in a small, bare room, lying crying. Bleeding.
Dying.
She looks up at him, she doesn't blink, but she's still alive, she's still alive, she's still alive...
I'm sorry, Tony I'm so sorry...
Blood, too much blood, flowing from cuts, dribbling from her mouth, but she's still alive, she's still alive, still alive...
I won't give up on you!
Skin too pale, too cold, but she's still alive, she's still alive...
Tony don't let them do this...
Don't let her die, can't let her die, she's still alive, still alive...
I love you so much.
Tears falling from his face to hers and she doesn't react, but she's still alive...
I won't let you lie for me.
Still alive...
If you wanted to go out sometime...
Light, behind her eyes.
Goes out.
End