Chapter 12: Chokehold

Sorry for the delay, I hope this chapter makes up for it!

I don't own any of the characters from the movie, The Covenant!

Please, review! I would appreciate any feedback.


Annie sighed as she parked her car outside the weather beaten white house that she once called home. She saw a light on inside the living room window that clearly indicated that her parents were awake and presumably waiting up to bombard her with questions.

Annie had called them to let them know that she was coming to stay with them for the remainder of the weekend and when they had asked about Reid, Annie mumbled something about him being too busy to come over, and then she made some excuse about having to get off the phone.

Annie sat in her car and attempted to muster up the courage to the leave the protection of her car and face her parents. Annie hesitated then pulled the keys from her ignition and made her way up the cracked and weed overgrown sidewalk to the storm door and quickly opened it.

Her parents were sitting together on the couch watching their weekly program, but their heads turned instantly in Annie's direction when she came through the door.

"Annie!" her mother exclaimed as she stood. Annie's mother was a thin, blonde woman who was short in stature, stood on her tip toes to wrap her arms around her daughter's taller frame.

In face most people wondered where Annie got her looks from until they met her father, who like Annie, had wavy auburn hair, same olive skin tone, and a deep laugh that resonated in your bones.

"Hi, daddy," Annie stated over her mother's shoulder.

He placed his hand on the back of the couch and turned in her direction, "You okay?" he asked. "Annie Mae?"

Annie cringed inwardly at the use of her middle name. "I'm fine, dad, why?" Annie asked removing herself from her mother's grip and noticing her watery eyes asked "Okay, what's going on?" she paused, "I haven't even told you why I'm here yet!"

"Oh, honey" her mother said reaching up to stroke her hair. "You don't need to, Reid already did."

"What?" Annie looked between her parents questioningly.

It was a moment before either of them spoke. "Reid showed up a few hours ago, told us what happened between the two of you" her father stood and gestured to her hand, which Annie then hid behind her back, "and about the guy who has been harassing you at work."

Annie sighed, "I was going to tell you, he shouldn't have been here."

"Well, I think your father took care of that-"

Annie turned to her father, "What did you do?"

"Nothing, really." He shrugged.

"Jim..." her mother chastised.

"Maggie…" he admonished.

"Guys, what happened?!"

"Well, Reid stopped by," her mother began, "to explain that he was worried about you and this man that's been giving you a hard time at work," she cleared her throat. "Then he told us about his poor decision and your father may have thrown him out the door and threatened to kill him if he ever showed his face again."

Annie turned to her father open mouthed. She had had awful boyfriends in the past, but her dad have never done anything like that before no matter how bad they were.

"I've had crappy boyfriends before, what made you act that way this time?"

"Reid's different than your other boyfriends," he replied pacing in front of the couch.

"Huh?" Annie asked bewildered.

"Jim!" Annie turned to face her mother.

"She's going to find out eventually, Maggie." He replied.

"What will I find out eventually?"

"Reid dropped by a few weeks back to ask our permission to marry you, brought the ring and everything." Her dad spit that latter part of the sentence out as if it tasted bitter.

Her breathing hitched in her throat and she sunk into the rocking chair nearest to her and buried her face in her hands.

"Annie, I'm so sorry, sweetheart." Her dad came to stand behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I am just so angry for you, right now!"

She sighed and leaned back, she knew that he was just trying to help her, but at the same time Annie was devastated by this news and all she wanted to do at this point was to crawl into her bed and sleep for the next forty eight hours.

"Yeah, I know dad."

Her mom, basically reading her thoughts like she always does, said, "Go get some rest, baby." She kissed the top of her head. "Your bed is already made up for you."

"Thanks, guys." Annie replied and turned to head up the stairs.

"Sleep well, Annie Mae." Her dad smiled in her direction. "I'll be down here with Winchester tonight," he gestured to the rifle located in his gun case.

"What's that for? Reid or the guy giving me problems at work?" Annie asked pausing on the steps.

"Haven't decided yet, I'll let you know." He grinned and sent a wink in her direction.

Annie continued then stopped at the top of the stairs upon hearing her parents whispering excitedly.

"It's such a shame," her mother stated. "I really saw the two of them together. Call it mothers intuition, but I was comfortable with them together. That ring was absolutely gorgeous, too." She sighed.

Annie had a sudden pain in her chest that felt like a hot knife was being twisted into her heart.

"Yeah, well apparently we were both wrong, I was the who told him that he was a part of our family now and that I thought he would make a great father for him and Annie's children, then he goes and pulls this crap."

Annie pushed herself off the wall and continued to her room. She flicked the light switch on in her room, tugged her jacket off and tossed it onto the floor, kicked her shoes off, then laid on her bed; just staring up at the ceiling fan spinning in circles. She have been so tired before, but now she just felt a shallow empty ache in her chest that did nothing to calm her into sleep.

She was disrupted from her thoughts when she heard a fait tink tink against the glass of her window. Swinging her feet over the bed, she shuffled across the floor to the window.

She flipped the latch and pulled the window open in one swift movement, but saw nothing on the ground below her.

"Annie," a voice to her left spoke, starting a yelp out of her and causing her to jerk her head upward right into the window.

The person attached to the voice followed Annie into the room where she now sat rubbing the forming bump on her head.

"I was going to tell not to scream." He stated leaning against her desk where she once did homework.

"You're lucky I didn't shoot you, Reid!"

He laughed a quick dry laugh.

"What?" she asked.

"I just know that you're serious about that statement, that's all."

"Reid, what are you doing here?

"I'm worried about you, Annie."

"How many times do I have to tell you?-"

"I know, I know, you can take care of yourself, but Annie this is different. Chase is different than your average criminal."

"Yeah, well, you didn't seem to concerned about me last night/"

"She's got you there, Garwin."

Annie jerked and saw Chase leaning against her open window.

Then several things happened all at once, Reid grabbed her and shoved her behind him, but not before she caught a glimpse of their black eyes.

Reid flicked his hand out to the side and a strange ball of energy formed in his hand; then Chase with a flick of his wrist sent Reid head over feet knocking Annie over in the process.

Annie reacted quickly and her hand went to her gun, when Annie felt a strong hand on her shoulder grip her and fling her onto her bed. Annie landed firmly, but she did not deter from reaching for her gun, she rose to her knees and drew her weapon quickly pointing it at Chase.

"Get out of my parents' house now or I'll kill you where you stand."

She knew that her parents must have heard that commotion and was expecting them to come through the door at any moment.

"Don't worry, Annie, I took care of dear old mom and dad. They won't be bothered by this racket."

Annie, with her gun still drawn, moved to stand in front of Reid.

"What did you do to my parents?" she asked nudging Reid, trying to get him to stand up. The hit Chase gave him made him a bit woozy and he was having trouble getting up.

"Annie, go check on your parents, I can take care of this."

"Reid, you can barely stand, if I leave he'll kill you."

"No, he won't" Reid responded quickly.

"Yes, I will." Chase replied

Reid rose to his feet, his eyes still black whereas Chase's had gone back to normal.

"You know most people would be running to check on their parents by now."

"You didn't hurt my parents, they don't mean enough to you to actually take any interest in them."

"Well, you're right about them not meaning anything to me, but I've killed people for less than that." He smiled a ghostly smile that chilled Annie to the bone.

Annie didn't have time to think she just raised her gun and shot in his direction. Annie felt something slam into her chest that knocked her back against Reid and try as she might, she just couldn't keep her footing and she tumbled to the with Reid holding on to her as they fell.

Annie felt Reid's arms tighten around her as he moved to pull her underneath him, putting himself between her and Chase. A second later Reid was ripped from Annie and tossed across the room, Chase glanced down at Annie, his eyes black as night, and gripped her hair tightly, pulling her to her feet.

Annie winced at the pain in her head and sucked in a breath when she felt herself slammed against Chase's chest.

"That hurt's, Annie, I thought we were becoming friends, but I will say I'm actually impressed you had the guts to use it." Chase motioned to the gun that now laid on the floor near Reid who was now standing and glaring in their direction.

"Let her go, Chase." Reid said quietly. "Now."

Chase laughed and with a click of his tongue said, "Reid, you just don't get it do you?" he paused. "You have what I want, now I have what you want." He leaned in close to Annie's face and drew his tongue across her cheek.

Annie grimaced, but locked eyes with Reid. Reid and Annie were known for having silent conversations with each other and in that moment Annie knew exactly what Reid had wanted her to do.

Before Chase had the chance to react Annie quickly drew her arm forward and snapped her elbow back into his stomach and he instantly released her; she threw herself forward to her gun, and rolled quickly to her back, only to see him flying backwards through the window.

Annie turned to see Reid's hand raised in that direction and his eyes fade back to normal. He started toward her, but she quickly picked herself up and ignored his outstretched hand.

"I need to see my parents." She turned and fled the room with Reid hot at her heels.

She made her way down the stairs and found her parents seemingly asleep on the couch.

"Daddy," Annie said quietly, grasping his hand and shaking it gently.

Annie felt him stir underneath her touch and breathed a sigh of relief. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

"Annie?" he asked bewildered.

She threw her arms around him quickly, "You're okay!" she cried.

"Well, of course I am. Your mom and I fell asleep," he laughed. "Maggie! Wake up!"

Annie turned to see her mom startle awake with a snort

"Your daughter was worried about us" he stated.

"What heavens for?"

Annie's dad shrugged his shoulders in his wife's direction. A throat cleared behind them, prompting Annie's father to stand quickly.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Her father started towards Reid with an angry look.

"Dad!" Annie started, but stopped when she saw Reid's eyes fade to black.

"Mr. and Mrs. Davies," Reid began. "You're going to go back to sleep and remember nothing about this moment."

"Yes, alright." Her mother replied in a stoic voice.

"Put them back in their bed, my dad's back…"

Reid didn't bother turning toward Annie, "You will head to bed now and sleep then wake up tomorrow morning feeling refreshed, happy, and you will make Annie waffles in the morning."

Annie slapped Reid on the arm for that last statement, but he just gave her a smirk in response. Her parents then turned and headed for the stairs. Annie watched them go, then turned back to Reid.

"Well, I think you're going to be okay now." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Okay, I'll let you get some sleep."

"You think I'm going to be able to sleep now?"

"Don't worry, I'll be outside, you'll be fine. I'll go call the guys."

Annie beginning to lose her patience with Reid at this point, "You're an idiot you know that?"

"Excuse me? I just saved your life!"

"And I did what? Stand there like a damsel in distress crying?"

"No-"

"Shut up, Reid!" she shouted. "You're an idiot because you were going to propose without telling me this huge secret you have and then you cheat on me with your slutty secretary, idiot!"

"Idiot?"

"All the other words I was thinking of are not allowed under my parent's roof…"

Reid sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Annie crossed her arms in front of herself and shuffled her feet. She glanced up when she heard him laugh.

"What?"

"I wasn't even positive you would say yes or not."

Annie whispered, "It would have been yes, just so you know."

They paused and glanced at each other, having one of those wordless conversations again.

"Alright," he said. "I'll leave you alone."

"You can stay here if you want." Annie was slightly terrified to be sleeping alone at this current moment. Reid turned quickly, "Don't get too excited you get the floor."

"I can do that." He smiled at her.

Annie turned to grab extra blankets and pillows from the couch and moved to head up the stairs with Reid following behind her.

This was sure to be an interesting night for the both of them.