As she closed her suitcase shut, I could sense the frustration rolling off her. It had been a long week and a half for both of us. I made sure she had protection detail on her every moment I wasn't with her. She was annoyed about it but wasn't willing to put up much of a fight about it. Especially after revealing to her about my previous book copycat.
The stalker hadn't done anything else since the office incident. However, I had insisted on the protection. Now with our trip, that didn't change what I wanted. I still needed protection for us even though it was supposed to be a romantic trip. I couldn't just ignore what we needed.
"Lucy-"
"Don't. You know what's wrong." She shuffled to her closet.
"It's not like I'm cancelling the trip."
She threw another bag on the bed and filled it with shoes. "You might as well. This isn't much of a better trade off."
"Lucy, how many times do I have to tell you this is necessary?"
She looked at me. "This was supposed to be a romantic getaway and now it's turned into a babysitting gig for you and your team."
"It is not."
"Isn't it? We might be the only two people in a room but we aren't going to be alone."
"It's not like they'll be able to hear us."
"Are you that naïve?" She angrily threw shoes in the bag. "Tony won't stop asking me for details."
I sighed. "I'll kill him."
"I've already had Gibbs knock him upside the head five times."
"Lucy, we can still have a good time."
"You switched our reservations from a log cabin to a freaking hotel room!"
"It's for our protection."
"Why can't you be enough to protect me?"
"Lucy, I am when I'm with you."
"Am I so defenseless to you? Am I that weak?"
"No but-"
"You still think of me when I was cowering for my life against Tyler. Don't you?"
"No!"
"Then why do they have to come?" she screamed.
"We've been over this!"
She held up a hand. "Forget it. I don't even want to go anymore."
I came up and pulled her close. "Lucy, I'm sorry."
"No you're not." She pushed me away.
I sighed running a hand through my hair. "What do you want me to do?"
"Tell them not to come."
"Who's going to protect you when I can't?"
"You have one damn book signing during this entire trip! You're supposed to be with me the rest of the time!" Tears ran down her face.
"What if this person attacks in the middle of the night? Or when we're defenseless?"
"It's our trip dammit!" She wiped away the tears but they kept streaming down her face. "You're supposed to do special trips with me. Alone."
"Lucy-"
"I'm done living like a prisoner." She fell on her bed and rolled away from me. "I can't…I can't live like this." She sobbed.
I laid down next to her and just held her. I hated this for her. I hated that it was because of me that she had to live like this. I knew her anxiety and fear was coming back full force. She was constantly having nightmares to the point she was afraid to sleep. No matter how much I tried to calm her, she was restless most nights. Last night I had to put sleeping pills in her tea just so she could rest.
"Why?" she sniffled. "Why us?"
I held her tighter. "I don't know."
"I just want this to end."
I kissed her head. "I would do anything to end this."
"Anything?" she whispered.
"If I knew how to make it end, I would."
She didn't say anything for a few moments. I could feel her body tense beneath me. I hoped she wouldn't bring up another crazy idea to lure this woman out.
"Isn't there any way to catch her?" she whispered.
"She knows that I have a book signing coming up. She'll be there. She'll be waiting for an opportunity."
She sighed. "She'll see the security detail."
"We'll figure something out."
She laced her fingers in mine. "I'm scared."
"I know." I turned her face to mine. "I promise I won't let her hurt you."
I kissed her gently. She turned towards me and pulled my body to hers.
"I'm still mad that Tony is coming."
"You can kick him in the balls."
She giggled. "Tempting."
My phone started ringing. I got up and walked to another room.
"McGee."
"We have a plan, Probie."