A Matter of Trust

Chapter 3 Summary: Picks up right where Chapter 2 left off.

Pairings: Reece/OC

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC Ella. While my character is my own, I own nothing in the "Person of Interest" universe nor do I profit in any way from playing with the characters just for a little while. Person of Interest and the characters therein belong to CBS. Lucky them!
Author's Note: Please, please, please review! This is my very first PUBLISHED fanfic and I need constructive criticism to become a better writer.

Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed. They mean so much!

Rating for adult content, language and lemons in later chapters.

**I am trying to keep my fic running parallel with the series as much as possible but for the purposes of my little story…Reese will find out that Carter's number came up in a totally different time and place than in "Get Carter."

Chapter 3

Finch continuously glanced at the time on one of the many computer screens covering his large mahogany desk. It was almost time to go change out the IV bag for Ella. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he searched database after database that had any information on Ella before she disappeared off the grid in 1999. The complete lack of information made him think that whatever happened to her must have been pretty bad and whoever helped her must have been very good with computers. He wondered to himself if there was someone helping her then are they still in contact with her? If so, they might be missing her now and may even be trying to contact her. He glanced at the time again and rose from his chair to go check on Ella.

Finch entered the room quietly after noticing that both Ella and John were still asleep. He walked over to the IV stand behind John's chair and removed the empty saline bag. He replaced it with the new bag of antibiotics and started the drip. He looked over at Ella before he quietly left the room. He hoped the medicine would work quickly; he didn't like seeing the girl so ill. It made him very uncomfortable and brought back memories he would rather not revisit…

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Reese was startled awake out of a sound sleep. He didn't know how long he had been asleep or what had woke him up but he was now alert, his eyes performing a quick scan of the room. His eyes fell on the bed next to him and the woman lying in it. Ella.
He relaxed slightly when he heard the small noise coming from her and realized that must have been what had woke him. It was a small moan, maybe a whimper he wasn't quite sure how to describe it. The sound escaped her lips almost every time she exhaled. It sounded like she was in pain. He rose from the chair where he had slept without the slightest bit of discomfort which really surprised him after sleeping in anything other than a bed. He also took note of a blanket falling to the floor that he did not remember having the last time he was conscious. Finch...the thought brought a small smile to his lips and then he noticed the new bag of antibiotics hanging from the IV stand rather than the saline solution that would have needed to be changed hours ago; Something else that he would thank Finch for when he saw him.

Ella made the small noise again breaking into his thoughts. He realized then that he had released his hold on her hand. He wondered to himself when he had let go. He reached out and touched her forehead with the back of his fingers and lightly slid them down to her cheek. She was still very warm but he noticed a light sheen of sweat on her forehead glistening in the soft glow from the small lamp in the corner of the room. Her body seemed to be trying to break the fever. The moisture would help to cool down her temperature.

He pulled his hand back as she rolled towards him and curled her knees up almost into a fetal position. Reese adjusted the IV tubes so that she wasn't laying on them and then started stroking her hair. He didn't know what else to do; he felt completely helpless. She had received the saline to keep her hydrated and the antibiotics to help her body fight the infection but he couldn't do a damn thing to help her feel better now.

He continued stroking her head and slipped his other hand into hers. He felt a slight pressure on his fingers. Reese watched Ella's face patiently, hoping that she might wake up, if only for a short time. His patience was rewarded after a few minutes when she inhaled deeply and as she exhaled, slowly her eyes began to open. They opened and closed a few more times before she was able to open them enough to focus on anything.

Reese watched her in nervous anticipation hoping she would remember that she had asked him to be there…no, begged him to stay, but he was ready for her to go into full panic mode at the sight of him. She hadn't exactly been in her right mind the last time she spoke to him.

Ella's blue eyes rose to meet his. They were so bloodshot from the fever that he almost didn't notice the blue. Her brows drew together in a pained look.

"Did he follow me?" She whispered.

Definitely not what he had been expecting. He raised his brows in surprise.

"Did who follow you Ella?

She closed her eyes and frowned. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere safe." He answered.

She opened her eyes again as he continued.

"I brought you here when you fainted earlier." He paused. "You had a very high fever so I brought you here…to see a doctor."

"You…you brought me to a hospital?" Her eyes widened; taking on a slightly panicked look.

"No, this isn't a hospital."

Ella glanced down at her arm and saw the tube leading to the needle in her arm. "But…" she started and then noticed his hand around hers.

Reese released her hand. "I'm sorry. Before, when you were still awake…" He sighed. "You asked me to stay. Do you remember anything from earlier?"

She nodded, her head never leaving the pillow.

"I remember…you were following me." Her eyes flickered up to his and then narrowed. "John."

Hesitantly he answered her. "Yes."

In the next second Ella jerked back from him quickly and sat up. He watched her sway slightly. She put her hand down onto the bed to try and keep herself steady and raised her other arm between them. "Get away!" She yelled.

The IV tube swung frantically from her raised arm. Reese watched her eyes shift to her arm; he moved quickly grabbing her wrist before she could rip the IV needle out of her arm. She struggled trying to pull her arm back from his grip. "Stop!" She yelled. "Let go of me!" Ella struck out with her other arm landing a sharp blow to his sternum with the butt of her palm. It took him by surprise; enough so that she was almost able to land another before he had restrained that arm as well. He held them as gently as he could without letting her slip from his grip but he wouldn't call it easy.

"He sent you, didn't he?" She ground out as she continued to try and pull away from him. Her legs didn't seem to be working quite as well as her arms though so she wasn't able to get out of the bed or God forbid strike out at him with them.

"Please calm down. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Liar!" She yelled. She was still struggling but he could feel her strength waning. It wouldn't be long now before she lost it completely and collapsed.

"No one sent me Ella." Reese's soft voice raised only slightly for her to hear over her own struggles.

She paused to look up at him. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because Ella…" He started, and in a good-faith gesture let go of just one of her wrists. "…if I wanted to hurt you, there's nothing that you could have done to stop me."

Her mouth opened slightly as if to respond but didn't. He watched as a myriad of expressions crossed her face finally settling on confusion.

"Then why?" She glanced at his fingers still wrapped around her wrist. "Why were you following me? Why did you bring me…" She indicated the room with a shrug of her shoulder "…here?"

"I told you why I brought you here Ella. You needed a doctor." He said simply. He watched as she sighed and then her shoulders drooped. Her energy spent.

"I promise to answer your questions once you're feeling better and I have some questions for you as well. K?" She still didn't look comfortable with the situation but he knew the fight was over…for now.

"You should lay back and rest now." He adjusted the IV tube attached to her arm that he was still holding and then gently laid her arm down on the bed.

Ella glanced over at the IV stand as she lowered herself back down onto the bed.

"What's in it?" She asked.

"A broad spectrum antibiotic. The second round will be started sometime tomorrow and then I have some pills for you to start on in a couple of days."

Ella cocked an eyebrow up at him. "Where's the doctor?"

"She's already gone. After she had you stabilized she felt comfortable enough leaving you in our care."

"Our?" She immediately asked. That look of fear was back on her face.

"Yes, a friend Ella. His name is Harold…and there's no reason to be afraid, as you'll find out when you meet him."

She shook her head against the pillow and closed her eyes.

Reese laid his hand on her forehead lightly. "Are you all right?"

Ella opened her eyes and looked up at him. She just caught the concerned look on his face before it was gone. "Yeah, it's just…a lot to…" She sighed and closed her eyes.

"Process?" He finished for her.

"Yep." She whispered.

"I know. That's why I wanted to talk to you after you feel better. You need to concentrate on getting well right now." He reached down near her feet to the sheet and blanket and pulled them both over Ella. "And Ella…"

"Hmm?" She looked back up at him.

"I don't know who you're worried about find you but trust me, you're safe here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Ella watched as his expression took on a hard confidence that left no room for doubt that he was absolutely serious. She was…is safe with him…John.

Her eyes fluttered closed. "Thank you." She said softly before drifting off to sleep.

"You're Welcome." He whispered as he reached out and stroked her cheek once.

Reese turned when he heard a small noise at the door.

"Hello Harold."

Finch allowed a quick smile before walking across the room to stand beside Reese. "How's our patient Mr. Reese?"

"Resting again." He answered quietly. "We had a little chat before she passed out again. I told her about you…" Finch turned stiffly and looked up at Reese. Reese held up a palm to stop Finch from interrupting. "I told her your name and that you're a friend. She needed to know that she can trust you Finch because if I have to leave for any reason I didn't want her having another panic attack and hurting herself, or you." He raised his brows. "Good thing too Finch because she can pack quite a punch even as sick as she is."

"Indeed." Finch responded.

"Speaking of leaving Mr. Reese…funny that you should mention that."

"Why Finch, did another number come in?"

Finch frowned and looked quickly at Ella and then back up to Reese. "If you please, Mr. Reese." He said as he turned and walked towards the door.

Reese followed him out of the room and into the hall.

"I would really prefer not discussing anything about the Machine or numbers in front of anyone…even if they appear to be unconscious." Reese nodded once in compliance and Finch continued. "In answer to your question, yes, another number has come up and it's someone we know. Reese frowned in response. "Who is it Finch?"

Finch looked up at Reese as he answered. "It's our friend…Detective Carter."