DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ASSASSINS CREED!

A Time to Love

Chapter 4

Gracia was drawn from her sleep by the sound of the outer door opening. She sat up quickly, adrenaline pouring into her system as she readied to defend herself, mentally preparing herself for the first. Reaching down quickly, she grabbed her heeled shoes, prepared to use them as weapons to defend herself if necessary.

"Hello?" The lights in the cell flickered on with the movement, making Gracia flinch as her eyes had to adjust quickly. When she opened her eyes again, she lowered her shoes. It was Lucy, the blonde woman from the 'Animus' session. But behind her was a man. Six foot, tanned, very handsome with a scar through his lip. "Lucy?"

"Venga con noi." (Come with us.)

She frowned in confusion at why Lucy was there, relieved that it was, in fact, just Lucy and relaxed with hearing her native tongue, she slipped her heels on, picked up her coat and bag and left the cell with them. "Cosa sta succedendo?" (What's happening?/What's going on?)

"Abbiamo bisogno di uscire." (We need to leave.)

"Che? Perché?" (What? Why?)

Lucy sighed. "We don't have time, I'll explain later."

She ran forward. Desmond gave a respectful nod to Gracia before gently putting his hand on the small of her back and nudging her forward. Incredibly confused and a little frightened, she obeyed, following Lucy out of the room with Desmond behind her. Lucy peeked into the corridor before opening the door wider and running out, the two of them following, Gracia running quite well in her heels. They got back to the elevator, Lucy typed in the code and they all stepped in. They rode in an uncomfortable silence until the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Revealing a dozen guards waiting for them.

Gracia froze in fright. It was safer in the damn cell! Desmond and Lucy ran forward, taking on the guards. Desmond only just managed, throwing wild punches that sometimes landed, sometimes missed. Whereas Lucy was taking down the men easily with almost no effort. Gracia stepped out of the elevator, holding her bag, ready to swing it if needs be. A man eyed her up and then ran over to her, making her heart pound blood and adrenaline through her system as she readied herself. Swinging her bag at the right moment, it hit him round the face, making him grunt. Taking advantage of his pause, she kneed him hard in the groin, making him groan loudly and fall to the floor. Looking around, she was relieved to see Lucy take down the final man.

"Okay, this way!" They ran over to a silver car, Desmond touching her arm gently, checking her for injuries. Lucy popped the trunk and stood next to it. "Get in."

Desmond looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "You're joking?"

"It's for your protection."

He sighed and climbed in, scooting back to allow Gracia to awkwardly climb in after him, taking a few seconds longer because of her tight skirt. She moved back against him, Desmond's arm almost instinctively going around her waist. She held her bag close to her chest.

"We're almost there." Lucy said softly, closing the trunk lid.

!"!

A few minutes into the drive, Desmond spoke up.

"You speak English?"

Gracia turned her head slightly. "A bit. I used to a long time ago but I have not spoken it much recently."

"Cool. I'm Desmond."

"Gracia." They awkwardly shook hands, laughing gently when they messed it up a few times but managed to do it eventually, his arm looping back around her waist. She paused a moment before speaking again. "What is going on, Desmond?"

He sighed. "Even if I spoke perfect Italian, it wouldn't make any sense."

"Please try." She pleaded, the adrenaline seeping out of her system, leaving her shaky and scared.

He sighed again. "You work for Abstergo?"

"I used to." She said sadly. "I only typed things."

"You were a secretary?"

"No, no. I was…Um…People wrote things and I typed them into a computer."

"Oh, I get it! So what happened?"

"I worked there for several weeks. And then today, I receive an email that tells me to see Mr Vidic and Lucy. I go to see them and there was this machine-"

"An Animus."

"Yes, Animus. Comunque (Anyway), I lay on this machine and…I do not know how to explain!"

"You felt like it was looking inside your head?" He finished for her, her head and hair moving as she nodded.

"They talk about my DNA, saying that it," She paused, trying to remember exactly what they had said. Even though she hadn't fully understood what they had said in English, she wanted to know if she recited it Desmond, whether or not he would be able to help, "'coincides with Subject Seventeen's during that period'. Do you know what they mean? I didn't understand their English."

Desmond sighed once more. "Yeah, I know what they mean. Because…I'm Subject Seventeen."

She turned her head. "What?"

"This is going to be a long ride…"

!"!

After several hours in the cramped trunk, the car finally stopped moving and the lid opened to reveal Lucy.

"Finally!" Desmond helped Gracia out the car by pushing against her ass. She didn't complain, instead simply chose to climb out silently, collecting her coat and bag whilst Desmond climbed out and stretched his neck. "Thanks for that, that was great! Shoved in a trunk, bouncing around. Loved it!" He grinned sarcastically.

"Come on." Lucy said abruptly, turning and walking away.

"Wanna tell us what's going on now?" He asked, leading Gracia after the blonde.

"There was a reason for the escape, Desmond."

"Figures."

"We need your help."

"For what? Another treasure hunt through time?"

Gracia hung back and listened to their conversation, trying to make sense of it. It was hard enough listening to a language she hadn't spoken in years, but when she heard what they were saying, she seriously doubted her language skills. Assassins? Templars? Was everything Desmond had told her in the car real? They walked through the warehouse, heading up a metal staircase until they came to a corridor. Desmond asked something about making an Assassin and Lucy turned around.

"Look, there's more to it than that but it'll have to wait. Trust me…Okay?"

Desmond looked thoughtful for a second before nodding. "Alright. I'm in."

"Really?" Lucy's eyes lit up. "You're sure?"

"I thought you'd be a little happier about this."

"Sorry, it's just…I spent the whole ride over here figuring out how I was going to convince you to do this."

"Save it. After what those Templars bastards put me through, I'm ready, willing and able."

Lucy smiled at him and gave him a hug. For some reason, it made Gracia a little jealous. Why, she'd only just met him! But he'd put his arm around her in the car, and it had felt…Right. Like he should do it all the time. "Thank you, Desmond." She said softly.

Gracia cleared her throat. "And me?"

Lucy looked a little awkward. "I guess this will take some explaining…"

"No need, I told her everything in the car." Desmond stated, touching Gracia's shoulder encouragingly.

Lucy gave her eye contact and asked, "Did you understand him? Do you want me to explain in Italian?"

"No, thank you, I think that I understand."

The blonde nodded. "Okay then. Let's head in."