Michelle and Tony exchanged confused glances, and then Tony spoke up "Okay everyone, I don't know what the commotion is but back to work" Tony looked at Michelle and smiled warmly, and looking at the rest of CTU and rolling his eyes, making her laugh. Chloe whispered to Michelle "Its okay, you don't have to hide it, we know, you don't need to stay with him, were all behind you" Michelle frowned and headed up to Tony.
She walked in and started right away "What's this whole thing going on with this domestic violence suit against you?"
"What domestic violence suit?" he asked
"I don't know but people down there say they know about his domestic violence thing I am suing you for."
"What?" Tony said, "I'm lost"
"Chloe told me that everyone thinks you beat me up and I am suing you," she said
"Where did this come from?" Tony asked
"I don't know, thats what I'm saying, I know as much as you do..." Michelle said trailing off as she began to get lost in thought. "Chloe told me about it" She started, looking at Tony as he picked up his phone dialing her extension.
"Chloe, can you come up here please" Michelle watched Tony's face frown "Just get up here now Chloe" Tony said firmly.
Minutes later Chloe arrived in his office.
Chloe walked in with a stern strong look on her face "Stand back Michelle, I can take this"
Michelle had to bite her tongue.
"Tony first off I think it's wrong that you hurt Michelle and that you hurt her so bad that she fainted" Tony looked shocked "Yeah I saw the hospital records I am not stupid" with that she walked out proudly.
"What?" Tony and Michelle asked each other in unison as the door shut. "What is she goin on about? What hospital records? The only hospital records could be the ones from when Carrie went all psychotic," Tony said.
"I don't know but we need to find out how all of this got to CTU anyway" Michelle said
Michelle went down to her computer to check her medical records… then she realized what was going on. She ran back up to his office.
"Tony it's Trevor" Michelle said
"What?"
"I think Trevor is doing this, I looked at my medical records and the records say I went to the hospital a few days ago for passing out, with an unknown cause… 'probable emotion stress' "
"Wait so when you passed out at your party, Trevor made it seem like it was because of me being abusive towards you?" Tony asked, trying to understand it.
"Yes, I think so"
"Well, that'll be easy to prove, there were loads of witnesses at your party, besides, at the moment its all just rumors, nothing serious going on about it, so we just tell everyone what we know, and if worst comes to the worst at least we have witnesses" Tony explained.
"Okay" Michelle said, nodding her head - showing her understanding.
"I guess I'll just tell Chloe then" Michelle smiled
He chuckled "Yeah just tell Chloe and everyone else in CTU will know by the end of the day"
"By lunch" she added
"That Chloe O'Brian is a fast mover " they both erupted into laughter
"Talking to Chloe O'Brian is like talking into a microphone," they laughed harder.
"I'll see ya" Michelle said.
Michelle headed downstairs, and noticed a few men gathered together in what looked like cop outfits, cops? What were they doing here? CTU agents are higher up than them, so what business is it of theirs to come here?
Michelle headed down, and passed Chloe, "I need to talk to you in sec" And they she rushed straight off towards the cops.
"What's going on?" Michelle said to the men
"Are you Michelle Dessler?" they asked
"Yeah"
"We are glad to see that you are ok, where is Tony Almeida?"
Michelle sighed. "Look this is all a mistake okay, my ex boyfriend, fiancé, whatever, is just being silly pathetic and immature trying to frame my current boyfriend for being abusive - but its not true. Do I look like I've been abused!?" Michelle said.
"Yes ma'am we understand what your saying, but the thing is, most abused women don't admit to it… they suffer in silence. We're here to help."
"Okay you don't seem to be listening to me, I haven't been abused, especially not by Tony Almeida!" She began shouting.
"Well, yes, okay, whatever you say ma'am, but we still need to talk to him"
Michelle sighed, and flung her arms in the air, "Do I seriously look like I've been abused? I'm a federal agent! Do you think I'd suffer in silence? It used to be my job to help women like that!!!"
The men just tried to ignore her, and walk past, but Michelle was having none of it. "Well?" She yelled.
"Well yes actually you do look like an abuse victim… you have several bruises, hospital records, you're awfully stressed, it all fits," He explained.
Then she heard the most calming thing "It's ok Michelle" she looked up to the top of the stair and saw him, he started to walk down and the officers went right up to him.
"Tony Almeida we are gonna have to take you into custody as it seems you are a direct threat to Michelle Dessler's well-being" they took his arm.
"What!?" she yelled
"Tony Almeida you are under arrest, anything you say can and will be held against you…" they started to recite.
"Michelle, it'll all be sorted out. Just calm down sweetie" he said, but Michelle was not ready to let this go.
"Okay" She let out a deep breath, she wasn't going to yell, she was going to deal with this calm and professionally, like she always does, minus the incident with Tony in the hallway.
"Even if Tony was abusing me, which he's not. It would be up to me to press charges? Am I right?" She asked to officer.
"Yes in a way miss, but it seems your having a slight case of denial, because we have substantial evidence that your being abused" She sighed again, took a deep breath, calm Michelle, just stay calm.
"Who filed this suit?" she asked diplomatically.
"Your husband" they said confidently.
"Problem one" she said calmly then yelled "I'm not married!" she paused "Was his named Trevor Lawrence?" they nodded "There's your victim in denial!" her eyes were starting to tear she was so angry, and upset.
"Chelle calm down." her eyes soften and she looked at him… so much for staying calm.
"Okay" The officers said, and they walked a few meters away to talk to one another in private. They let Tony go, and he ran straight towards Michelle.
"Sweetheart, you didn't have to panic so much, it would have been sorted out eventually, they couldn't have sent me down for it" He said, "You said it yourself, Trevor was the one who planned it all" He laughed.
"I was trying to stay calm" She blushed.
"Yeah, well... you did a great job at it" He said a little too enthusiastically, and then he laughed, "Look Chelle, you cant always stay calm in situations, you can fall apart and panic sometimes, I'll be here to catch you" He said sweetly. And at that Michelle pulled him in for a sweet kiss.
By this time everyone in CTU was staring. The officers too. One of them walked over and tapped Tony on the shoulder. "Uh Mr. Almeida we are not gonna take you in right now but we do request that you stay in the Los Angeles area until this is taken to trial"
"OK, thank you officer" he said shaking his hand.
As he officers left, everyone still stood there, staring. "Okay people, You heard the officers, they're not taking me in..." He said. But nobody moved. "Okay, so back to work" He said firmly. And the office gossip began.
Tony smiled gently at Michelle and headed back to his office. She looked around realizing what scene she had just made, but it was worth it that he got to stay. She headed back over to her station, as she sat there staring at the screen she replayed that last few minutes over in her mind. She was interrupted by her phone ringing.
"Dessler"
"You look like a zombie," he said with a smile
"Yeah I probably do," she said smiling
"We have to go over filling old positions, and compile a list of interviewees," he said
"Ok, I'll meet you in the situation room"
Michelle walked into the situation room, she glanced around and took a seat and then asked, "Where are Chappelle and Jack?"
"Hey to you too" Tony smiled.
"Sorry, I just want to get this over and get you to myself" She whined.
"Really..." Tony said cheekily.
Michelle replied with a cheeky smile and a nod, "So where are they?" She asked again.
"Ah, yeah, they're not, coming, the rest of it is up to us" He said with a finalizing nod.
"Great" she said sitting down
"Ok so Jack just had to fill one major position which he has done with a woman named Chloe O'Brian," he said reading a paper in front of him.
"And what a catch she was" Michelle said rolling her eyes.
"She's good at what she does," Tony said
"How many major positions do we have to fill?"
"3" he said "But one I think I already have done"
"Who?" she asked
"Kim Bauer"
She raised her eyebrows, then her head, "Kim? Kim Bauer? Where did that come from, she's like, well..." Michelle shook her head, "I dunno, just a shock, I mean why does Kim want to work in a place that got her mom killed?" Michelle asked.
"Well I think a lot of it is Jacks doing - so he can look out for her more, but also she's quite good with computer skills, she enjoys it, and if it was me I'd want to help this place so that what happened to Kim didn't happen to anyone else, maybe that's what she's doing"
Michelle smiled, "Or maybe your reading too much into it and all she wants is revenge"
Tony rolled his eyes, "Someone needs to go home" She smiled at him,
"I'm fine" She announces.
"Uh huh" Tony says.
"Ok well I have three interviewees for the two positions remaining. There's this guy from FBI Gael Ortega, uh Adam Kauffman, and a James Radwell." he said looking up from the paper.
She rolled her eyes and the intercom came on "Tony I have a call for you on line 2" the woman said
"Ok thanks" he picked up the phone
"Hello again Tony" he heard a familiar voice say "Seems as though last time we spoke you didn't respect me." there was a pause "But now you know what I'm capable of" the line went dead. Tony looked over at an obviously bored Michelle and slowly hung up.
Michelle was still not really concentrating, that meeting was sooo boring it felt like her brain had turned to goo and dribbled out of her ear. But needless to say, she still noticed the pale color of Tony skin tone.
"Tony?" Michelle asked
Tony shook his head, looked at Michelle and said, "It was him"
"Who Trevor?" she said sitting straight up, suddenly interested. "What did he say? Talk to me"
"They are threatening me. They think they can take me to court and win, and if they have a good lawyer they might be able to" he said looking up at her.
"Oh my god" Michelle said putting her hand to her forehead "Trevor is a lawyer....and a good one at that"
"So what do we do?" Michelle asked, panicking again. Tony - obviously panicking too, seeing how it was life on the line, was trying to stay calm - for Michelle's sake.
"Uhm... Well, I don't know, maybe we should get in touch with the police and explain the phone call, they could check the logs..." Tony stopped himself. "Wait we're cops, practically, we'll just gather all the evidence to prove my innocence and Trevor is guilty, and give it in, play Trevor at his own game" Tony suggested.
Michelle smiled "Okay where do we start?"
"What? I have to come up with the plans too? It was my idea" He fake-whined. They both laughed. Of course they could get through this, their basic training was this sort of stuff.
"Ok well this shouldn't be too hard" Tony said
"You don't know Trevor" Michelle said becoming more serious "When he wants something he will stop at nothing to get it"
"Don't worry 'Chelle" he said putting his hand on top of hers "We have the truth on our side"
Michelle sighed and rolled her eyes, she knew she wasn't going to win, but she knew she right at the same time. "I need some air Tony, maybe its all signs we shouldn't be together, I mean first its not protocol, second Carrie goes psycho, then I collapse, then Trevor does this, it just seems like its never going to end!" Michelle cried, getting very frustrated. Tony just pulled her in very a comforting hug, to which she embraced back.
"It's like the whole world's against us! Why does this have to be so hard?"
"I don't know. All I know is I am willing to face anything with you because this just feels so right." he said.
"Why doesn't he just leave me alone?" she asked pulling away to look him in the eyes.
"I don't think he wants to let go" Tony said sadly
"But it's not his decision. I don't belong to him, he can't control Me." she was getting even more frustrated
"Alright I think we've had enough for today" he said pulling her up to stand "Lets get out of here" he said with a smile.
"Ok" she said
"I'll meet you in the car" he said as eh headed to his office to pack up.
Michelle hurried to her computer to log off and sign out. When she arrived at her computer she had new e-mail from treva220. Michelle rolled her eyes and opened it,
"I need to talk to you, you know what I can do so I suggest you come see me. I think I deserve one chance to talk to you considering you murdered my child, which can also come out in court, but it doesn't have to. I am not here to work against you just to make you realize your true feelings
-Trevor"
Michelle didn't feel anything for Trevor, well except for that pure hatred burning in her stomach, but as she read the email she realized she had a few unfallen tears in her eyes. She suspected it was because he brought up her child, their child - the way he put it, it wasn't like that, she didn't mean to hurt her baby. And as Michelle thought about that the
She wiped them away, pushed print, logged off and headed out the door, this was becoming too much. She got in the car keeping her head down.
"Ready to go?" Tony said happily, he turned to look at her and that's when he realized she was crying. "Michelle what happened?" she handed him the copy of the e-mail she had printed to him.
Michelle watched as Tony read the email, a look of pure hatred crossing his face. He put the email down, and looked at Michelle, taking her hand in his. "Chelle, I know this is horrible - but there is no need to worry, I'm here, I'll protect you, he cannot do a thing and plus this is evidence towards our charges against him" He explained. Michelle nodded, she felt better already Tony was right.
They started driving down the road when Michelle's phone rang. The number was unrecognized she answered "Dessler"
"Don't you mean Lawrence?"
"Trevor?"
"You get my e-mail?" he said ignoring her question
"Yes" Michelle cleared her throat, "I did"
"Good, then where shall we meet?" He asked smugly.
"Just leave me alone, were not meeting okay, I want nothing to do with you, so just leave me alone, if not leave Tony alone at least."
"Fine" Was all Trevor said, that definitely wasn't right.
"You'll back off?" I said in disbelief
"Let's just put it this way I'll keep my answer of 'yes' the way you keep yours," he said
"I had no idea what I was saying when I said yes, that's not fair, and it's not fair to Tony that...Trevor?...Trevor?" she snapped the phone shut "Damn it he hung up on me.. oh well at least I don't have to talk to him." She looked over at Tony who was concentrating on the road, she figured he must have known who it was so she stayed silent.
They sat in silence for a few minutes and as they pulled up, Tony turned towards me, "Look Chelle, I don't know what he said to you on the phone, but you look as white as a ghost, but all I'm saying is, don't worry about it he cant do anything" Tony assured Michelle. 'You don't quite know Trevor like I do' Michelle thought to herself.
Once they were in the house Tony began to talk again "Michelle you look terrified are you ok? You tired, hungry, thirsty?" he said
"No just terrified" she whispered. "Because this isn't over." Just then there was a knock at the door Tony answered it.
"Tony Almeida? Good. We are LAPD we came to take you in, our chief has overruled your previous officer's decision. I'll need you to come with me without argument. Anything you say can and will be..." the officer said.
"No you can't take him" Michelle said appearing in the doorway.
"We have orders to follow" the officer stated.
"Then take me too" the officer shook his head no but Michelle pressed on "Would you like me to go out and shoot someone first or are you gonna just take me?"
"Sorry ma'am you can't come too, this is official LAPD work"
She forced a fake laugh, "Yeah, sure, You take me, or I'll just follow you in, and believe me you'll let me in if you know what's good for you" Michelle threatened.
"Fine, take her with us" He said to his back up.
Once they were in the police car. Michelle reached for Tony's hand.
"No touching" the officer in the passenger seat said.
Michelle gave him an ugly look and said, "This is ridiculous Tony. It's not fair that Trevor can just make up stories and get his way, but don't worry I am not leaving your side. I am so sorry I got you in to this because if it wasn't for me-"
"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be so happy. I am happier in this situation with you rather than having a normal day without you. You're worth it and you don't have to come you… should go home and sleep."
"No, because I just know he'll come back and I don't know how far he's willing to go for-"
"Are you saying you feel he is a threat to your well-being" Tony said extra loud to ensure the officers could hear.
Michelle frowned, and then understood, "Yes, Tony I'm so worried, I can't go home, I don't know how far he'll go, who knows what he's capable of" Michelle said.
The second police officer turned and looked at the other trying to be discrete. Tony and Michelle pretended not to notice. "Sweetheart has he threatened you?"
"He keeps coming to my house demanding I come out, calling, me and sending me e-mails. He said 'you know what I can do' to me and I don't know what that is supposed to mean."
"Do you feel violated or uncomfortable?" Tony asked spoon-feeding her the lines the officers wanted to hear.
"Actually I am kinda scared" Michelle admitted looking down.
The police officers were pretending not to listen, but this did involve police, and this situation was something they felt they should help with, it was in fact part of there day to job.
So with that one of the police officers turned around, "Ma'am, I'm sorry we couldn't help but over hear that you feel scared and uncomfortable about this Trevor guy, its our protocol to now check this guy out, is that what you want?" Michelle looked over to Tony, Tony just stared back, and Michelle nodded at the officer.
The officer picked up his walkie-talkie and made the call to his office. As they rode the rest of the way they sat in silence. Tony and Michelle's eyes were locked; there was no need for words.
