Chapter 7

Dean woke up to a soft snore right beside him. He opened his eyes and stared at Lilly for a moment in disbelief. So this was true. Not a dream. Not a figment of his imagination or of his broken brain. Real. He stretched out his hand towards her peaceful face and traced the contours with his index finger.

Real.

She opened her eyes and he stopped with his finger right at her lips. She kissed it softly and smiled. "You slept." she told him and he nodded. "Yes, no nightmares." He pulled his hand back and sat up.

"I will get us some breakfast. After that I have to go out for a while." he explained and walked gloriously naked over to the bathroom. He left the door ajar and when Lilly heard the water running she got up and followed him, leaving her shirt on the floor after taking it off.

Dean stood under the hot spray, his eyes closed, and his hands on the wall when he felt Lilly's arms around his lower body. She stepped so close to him that their hips connected. He was getting hard just by her touch.

She kissed his back and knew the exact moment she noticed the huge scar on his right shoulder blade. She kissed him there, tracing the scarred flesh first with her finger and then with her tongue.

Next she traced the outline of his tattoo on the left shoulder blade. It was the SEAL insignia, and Roman and Seth had it as well.

He almost came just from this intimate touch and turned around grabbing her face in his big hands and planted a hot kiss on her lips.

"You drive me crazy doll with just your touch." he growled and Lilly smirked. "Imagine what I can do for you if you lift me up and let me slide down on you cock?" she teased and squealed when he picked her up and pushed her down on his throbbing cock without further notice.

She locked her eyes with his and rested her hands on his shoulders trying to rock up and down with his help. But it didn't take them long to find their release and Dean enjoyed watching her eyes, her pupils dilated at first then became big like little black saucers.

He put her back on her feet and his mood changed slightly. "We need to get ready." He told her and grabbed the soap.

XXX

Dean grabbed his wallet, his keys and put his leather jacket on. Lilly stood in the middle of his living room, her hair still wet from the shower since he had no hair dryer.

"I'll be back in ten. Again, don't open the door except for Charles. He tells you to leave you leave. You can trust the kid."

"Funny that you trust a gang member more than the police." "No common sense. Said gang member hates the police as much as we do right now. That's how I know he will keep you safe. Otherwise, stay away from the windows. I will be back shortly." He kissed her wet hair and left, waiting outside the door until he heard her locking it from the inside.

Outside Charles and his boys hang around. "Keep an eye on the place. I'll be right back. Cops come, you get her out of there and to safety, you got me?" "Got you Jon. We keep you safe you can count on us."

Dean nodded and went over to the little supermarket at the corner, grabbing some coffee, bagels, two apples and some orange juice. In under ten minutes he was back and knocked on the door.

"Open up doll." he called out and heard the locks turn and she opened the door for him. He put the coffee tray in her hands and walked in, closing the door behind himself.

"If I ever call out to you using your name, I am not alone and you should get the hell out of where ever I left you. Alright?" Lilly nodded. "Got it, Lilly bad, doll good." she saluted playfully. "Are you mocking the military woman?"

"No, I would never do that." Dean grabbed her and pulled her close. "You better not because they saved me." he mumbled and pressed his forehead to hers. "I am glad they did, and one day you need to tell me the whole story."

"Probably like...never. But right now let's have breakfast. I need to be downtown by 11 am to meet my brothers."

They had breakfast silently. Lilly had like three bagels, an apple and half of his which he offered to her generously.

"Okay, I will be a while. You have the gun, you lay low, and Charles will take care of you if something happens. I am sorry I have nothing here to entertain you."

Right, his apartment was bare. No TV, no radio, no computer.

"Can I go through your books?" she asked pointing to the stack of books by the wall.

"Be my guest. I will bring back two new burner cells. If anything happens I will contact Charles. Lay low Lilly. I'll be back in about three hours."

He wanted to walk out on her without kissing her goodbye, distancing himself from the intimate level they reached over the night.

"Jon, wait." she called out to him and he swore softly.

"You said I am just a job for you...before. And that you are just good at doing your job and that this you...Jon, is a fuck up. I trust both Dean and Jon to keep me safe and I get why you put some distance between us in order to do your job. But I just wanted to let you know, that I trust every facette of you to keep me safe and bring down those cops. I will give you the room you need but I will come after you once this is over, believe that."

Dean cursed in his head. This woman wouldn't listen to him. He told her there was nothing there for her to take care of, to fix or to love. Nothing. But she was determined to prove him wrong. Damn woman.

"Thank you but when this is over doll, this is over..." he pointed between the two of them "as well. No hard feelings, I told you. This is me. You are a good person and very brave but even your good soul can't safe what isn't there in me anymore. But I admire you for trying. When I walk out this door the last night ends and I have to be a professional again in order to keep you safe. So this is goodbye.." he turned but she pulled him back with so much force he was surprised for a moment.

Her lips landed on his and she kissed him feverishly, wrapping her hands around his neck. He couldn't deny the attraction or the sparks flying but it wasn't enough. He was too jaded to believe in love when his world revolved around pain, misery and death.

Carefully he pulled her off of him and put her back to her feet. "Lay low." he ordered her and left, again waiting for her to lock the door which she did after keeping him waiting for a couple of seconds. Sassy little doll he grinned slightly but became serious when he walked down the stairs to his car, again instructing Charles to keep an eye out.

Lilly walked back into the living room looking around. She sat down next to the books on the floor and went through them. She knew what she was getting into with Dean before she slept with him...twice. She knew that developing feelings for him would just lead to heartbreak on her side. Add the recent situation, that he was her protector, most of these feelings might just have developed because of the situation at hand. And would be gone in a couple of days. But browsing through his books and coming across George Orwell's Animal Farm, one of her favorite books as well, she knew that her feelings for him were true. But she didn't know if it was possible to save him, maybe he was right and he was beyond saving at this point.

Seth got a hot dog and offered it to Roman who just shook his head. "You said he got out of there unharmed. He will be here, we are five minutes early."

They were at Central Park, currently getting the hot dog for Seth and waiting for Dean to show up. This was their meeting place in case something went south.

"We are early because you wanted the stupid dog." Roman said and looked positively sick when Seth added a thick layer of mayo, ketchup und onions on top of it. The onions were his problem, he was no fan.

Seth just grinned and bit into his hot dog and moaned with delight and Roman had to look away.

"No date with Claire tonight?" Roman tried to tease back and now it was Seth turn to give him a look of annoyance. "What is it with you guys saying that Claire and I are a thing? We are not. End of story." "Sometimes you are blind Seth, she likes you, a lot. Make your fucking move already. All those puppy dog eyes her way are annoying."

Seth couldn't answer him because he was chewing on his hot dog.

"Hey."

Both men stopped and turned around towards Dean who wore sunglasses and a basecap. He took the sun glasses off and walked with them.

"Are you alright?" Roman asked and searched Dean's face for any sign of injury.

"Yeah. Lilly got shot in the vest. Nasty bruise but she will survive. Bloody cops have some IT guy in their pocket as well, otherwise they wouldn't have figured out the ruse so fast. You are being followed as well."

"Oh we know, but they have nothing on us." Seth said and even waved to the two Uniforms across the park who followed them here.

"They know we are onto them, we know they are onto us. This will get ugly." Dean promised.

"Agreed. Look Dean, Dani offered protection to Lilly from the US Marshalls. Maybe we should consider this." Roman told him carefully, his voice quiet and even.

Like expected Dean got mad. "I take care of her, I don't want the system to keep her safe. They will just fuck up. She stays with me until this is over." he told them in a low but furious voice.

"And after that?" Seth asked carefree while finishing his hot dog and Dean almost had his throat if Roman wouldn't have held him back.

"Okay, we get it. No Marshalls." Roman told his friend and Dean relaxed a little.

"Hello guys." All three turned around to find the Chief of Police in front of them. Dean tensed and Roman put a hand on his shoulder, while Seth stepped in front of him between them.

"What do you want?" he asked his father, nodding towards the file he had in his hand.

"I wanted to show you something interesting regarding the case."

He gave the file to Seth and he browsed through it, giving it to Roman next.

The eyes of the Samoan hardened and he gave the file to Dean.

If Roman looked pissed Dean looked ice cold and ready for murder.

Seth talked first."Those are the cops Lilly saw. They are dead? Seems like someone was taking care of some loose ends."

The Chiefs gaze landed on Dean and he nearly exploded. "What are you saying old man? Huh? That I killed them? That the lunatic took care of the problem the only way he knows?" Roman really had to put an arm around Dean, holding him back.

"They were executed. And yes, I think you did it. Just perfect that there was a thunderstorm last night, washing away all evidence."

"Were they killed before 1 am?" Dean asked and the Chief shook his head.

"Well, at 1 am, in the middle of the thunder storm I fucked Lilly's brains out. Later, the storm had calmed down by then, around 2.30 am maybe we went to bed, talked a little and I fell asleep. I am pretty sure she watched me sleeping for a while. I woke up beside her this morning around 7 am and we fucked again in the shower. You can check that with her. Happy now? Am I good to go? Because you are wasting your time accusing me. Find the real man behind this shit. God, sometimes I wonder how your son turned out so normal when you are such a fuck up. Tomorrow, usual spot. And bring no one to our meetings ever again." He warned his brothers and stormed off.

Seth and Roman shared a look. That was unexpected. The Chief was clearly embarrassed.

"Did you really think he would be so sloppy leaving them to be found? He is right with one thing. Find the real murderer and lock the whole cell away. Look into your IT department. They found Dean faster than expected. Do you job dad and don't run around accusing my friend."

Seth turned and walked away. Roman just looked at the old man. "Bad move Chief." He just commented and followed Seth.

Dean was furious. That old son of a bitch really accused him of a sloppy murder. Was he insane? If he would have killed them it would have been a) slowly b) painfully and c) you wouldn't find their bodies. That old bastard. He was a thorn in his side for thirty years. Oh yes, they went that far back. All the way back when he was three years old…

Dean returned to the apartment and grabbed his backpack full with things he got before the meeting. New burner phones. Food, Water, some new underwear for Lilly and a new shirt.

When he knocked on his door he was still aggravated and called out "Lilly…" and waited realizing seconds later that he had made a huge mistake. "Shit DOLL DOLL DOLL….It's just me DOLL. Open up."

For a long moment nothing happened. And then he heard the locks turn and found himself looking into the barrel of a gun, Lilly behind it.

She checked him out, noticed he was alone, and also saw the storm behind his eyes.

When she wanted to take the gun down he stopped her, stepping right in front of the muzzle so that it rested on his chest. He pushed her back inside the apartment that way and kicked the door shut. "Your hold is sloppy." He corrected it. "Your stance is sloppy." He kicked her feet further apart, left leg a little back. "You have a better stand that way. When you look for an area to target go for the upper body…" he took her hand in his and indicated his wide chest, "or the lower body." He showed her again. "The chance to hit something vital there is the highest. Breathe in and pull the trigger until the enemy doesn't move anymore." He put his index finger over hers over the trigger. Lilly looked terrified now.

"Do it Lilly. Shoot me. I swear it will be a no sin, because I am no saint. Shoot me I won't stop you. End my misery."

Lilly looked into his eyes. Still so troubled and furious. "What happened at your rendezvous?" She asked and he sighed. "The two cops you saw. They are dead. Killed. The Chief accused me, because apparently I am a fuck up and the first one that comes to mind. Thank God I was able to tell them that I have an alibi. Told them I fucked your brains out." He wanted to shock her but she took it in and simply asked "Did you tell them you did it twice?"

Now he laughed and took the gun out of her hand. "Yeah, I did because I am a son of a bitch."

He put the gun down on the counter not turning around again.

"Tell me why that man hates you so much." She pleaded him quietly but he shook his head no.

"No." He turned around again, more collected this time, the mask here wore on his face nearly all the time back in place. "But I tell you something else. Roman and Seth are looking into this case, the Chief has IA on it. We have to lay low for a little while longer. I brought you new underwear and a new shirt. Do you need anything else?"

Lilly sat down back on the couch, grabbing the book she had been reading before he came back. "No, I am good." She told him. Yes, she was a little sad that he didn't trust her enough to tell her about him but on the other hand she understood. They knew each for only 30 hours and whatever it was he was hiding, he hid it for a long time probably never telling anyone. So it was only logical that he wouldn't blurt out his past to her just like that.

Dean walked over to her and kneeled down beside her head.

"I told you this had to end doll. Don't pout now. Listen, I have to ask you something."

Lilly looked at him her expression blank. "The US Marshalls offered you protection. Witness Protection. It is their job to keep witnesses like you safe. You should consider taking the offer." Dean tried to sound reasonable but inside he broke. She would probably take the offer. What good had he done to her so far? She got hurt, he screwed her brains out and was now giving her the cold shoulder and he told her that there would never be anything more than that. She would be a fool not to take this opportunity to get away from him. And safe houses had at least cable tv…

"Do you want me to go? Dean?" Only now did he realize that he didn't hear her the first time because he was deep into thought.

"What? No doll. I just thought it would be for the best. They are pro's." "Are they? And what are you? Beside all the sad things you told me you are." Ouch. That cut deep.

"I will stay true to my word and see you through this. But this is your life, it is your decision who you trust." "Isn't that obvious by now? You are the scariest guy around, police and DA hate your guts so you did something right in the past. And I rather stay with the big bad I know than with a branch of the legal system I don't know and don't trust."

"The big bad? More like the resident lunatic. But okay, in that case I have a gift for you."

He walked over to his backpack and pulled out an iPad.

"Here, I picked that up. Let me set up the wlan quickly."

He pressed the tablet into her hands and walked into his room to set up the wlan router he also brought back here from his little detour to the office.

"Everything set. Welcome to the 21st century."

Lilly grinned, she couldn't help it. Dean tried his hardest to do right by her. "Thank you. But why don't you have any electronics here?"

"I am barely here and when I am here it is to lay low. I have another hide fully equipment by Roman with stuff every e-geek would come over. But this here is me. I told you."

"Yeah, you did. Thanks Dean." "You're welcome."

Back at the Ebony Tower Roman, Seth and Claire sat together in Seth office and studied the evidence they had gathered. Just 5 minutes ago the Chief had called to inform them, that IA had already an investigation running, and the names of the two cops popped up in that investigation. So they had a lead. But they didn't know who the asshole behind this ring of corrupt cops was.

"They have to smoke him out. He is getting desperate, killing his men. He will make another mistake. He is getting sloppy." Claire pointed out and glanced over at Seth who was rubbing his eyes.

"I made you an appointment with your optician three times already, why don't you go and get new contacts already?" Claire asked him, angry that he was so sloppy with his eyesight. "You train like three hours a day, you eat healthy 99% of the time but you don't take care of your eyes. I don't get it."

Seth looked at her baffled. "I never had time. And my eyes are fine. Just tired. Stop nagging Claire." He shot back defensively.

His eyesight wasn't what it used to be for 4 years. On his last mission as a SEAL things went wrong and an explosion had knocked him down, causing his retina to detach for the eye, doctors call it a retinal detachment. He had to wear contacts or glasses ever since and he was pretty vision impaired without them.

Roman in his chair chuckled and now the angry eyes of both Claire and Seth bore into him. "What is so funny? Did you talk to Dani today?" Roman sobered up. "No, it is not a good idea. We parted ways last night not in the best mood. She brought up THAT story again."

Seth put his head in his hands. "It was a freaking accident. She should let it rest already." "Like your father does?" Seth looked up. "We should all put the past aside for now and deal with the things on this table." Claire cut in. She didn't know what they were talking about, not all of it. Only tiny little pieces but even though she was curious they had a case and that was more important than things of the past.

Roman nodded. "You are right. Back to Lilly. I can't see what we can do to help the investigation at the moment. Your father tries to take that APB back with the video he has in his hands now and with the two cops dead. We should wait a little, give them a chance to figure that out on their own. Keep Lilly safe till then. Maybe one of us should release Dean of Bodyguard duties for the night."

Claire looked between the guys. "What happened last night?" Seth just gave her a pointed look. "No way! Good for him." She clapped her hands and now the men looked at each other. "She is special." Seth pointed out nodding to Claire and Roman said: "That's why we hired her. Why don't you two take over for the night protecting Lilly and I will hack me a police computer and check what IA has on those cops and maybe we have something to work with in the morning."

"You are sending Claire with me because you know Dean would rip my head of."

"And because Lilly might need a friendly face to talk to."

To be honest Roman wanted someone to check on Lilly, find out if she was okay, physically and emotionally.

"Look, I will give him the call. He texted me the number of his burner phone." With that Roman left the office to walk into his own office.

He closed the door, activated his electronics that would block any attempt to listen in on this call and he called Dean.