Kendall's P.O.V.
I hate walking into a room and the people in it, automatically stop talking. Like now. I know I was late, and I know I probably looked like a fucking mess. But I was a mess, to be fair. Everything that has happened with Steven, to several agents being killed, to the 16-year-old teenager Logan and I adopted just yesterday, was slowly starting to make me unraveled. Yesterday, after having a two hour longer meeting with Diana, Logan and I cleared out the room next door to Gabe's and bought a bunch of furniture to put inside it. We explained to Gabe he was going to have a buddy living next to him, who was a little older than him, and he was ecstatic. He helped us clean up the rest of the house, and by the end of the night, we were all happy, and content. Getting that call this morning that I needed to come into the office, to talk with none other than John Mitchell, was irritating and pissed me off. Being told Logan and Gabriel had to come with me, was worse. Actually, waking Gabe up at 6 was the worst part, but I didn't mind it so much now. I was holding Logan's hand in one, while Gabe clung to my other one skipping. It was funny…not 30 minutes ago, he was screaming and fighting Logan to not be woken up. Now, with a meal from McDonalds in his tummy, and the prospect of going shopping when we were done here made him completely different. Happy.
I let Gabe walk in before me but glanced around the room tensing up, after I pushed it open. Sitting, handcuffed to the table by his wrists and ankles, was John Mitchell. He had two armed agents beside him, both not looking happy. John's eyes first went to Gabe who, ran right in and went to James and Carlos who were sitting in two chairs up against the wall, sort of behind John. "Uncle's!" I felt Logan squeeze onto my hand as I let him walk past me, and I shut the door. I heard it lock into place and glanced to the two agents, with one of them clearing his throat and stepping away from John, to me.
"Diamond has already been filled in on everything. John is secured to the table but has requested that it is just your five in here with him. Diamond gave the okay." I nodded as he walked past me and looked at the second agent. He was double checking the cuffs on the old man, who was smiling small at Gabe who was now sitting on one of James's knees. I swallowed hard as the other agent walked past me, and not five seconds later, heard the door shut, and lock into place. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest and glared down at John who was still looking over at his grandson.
"He looks just like you Logan." I let my eyes wonder to Logan who was standing beside James, one hand on Gabe's head. "Does he know who I am?" Logan shook his head once and looked at me. He wasn't happy about this. He didn't want Gabe to ever meet John, because he didn't want John to disappoint Gabriel, like all the times he disappointed Logan. Promising he'd be a better man…promising he always be there for him. He never wanted Gabe to experience that. Yet here we were. "Hello Gabriel. My name is John."
"Hi John!" Gabe waved big making me smirk as he glanced back to his dad. "Daddy can we go now?" Logan chuckled looking to his dad and I cleared my throat.
"What do you want John? Why'd you have them call us in?" John turned slowly to me and motioned to the chair across from him smiling small.
"Do you remember when you and I had that friendly little chat last Saturday?" I rolled my eyes quickly yanking the chair out from under the table and sat down hard. I sat back crossing my arms over my chest again and stared blankly at John. "I told you to look into the people around you…your friends, and co-workers." I nodded watching James stand, handing Gabe down to Carlos, and walk to me. He stood right beside me making John look up at him. "I am man enough to admit, that you were right Kendall." He looked back down to me, and for the first time in a very long time, I saw John look…sincere. "You asked if I was still taking money from Russian thugs, and I told you no. Your gut instinct, again something I admire, steered you in the right direction."
"But we know now that Demetri's family isn't actually coming into the states. That it was something Steven made up." John glanced up to James slowly with both eyebrows raised and suddenly, what John was trying to tell us, hit me hard in the face.
"SO how else would John have known that?" I looked up at James who frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. I laughed and looked back to John, sitting up straight. "You were working for Steven?" I heard a gasp from Logan, and while John turned to him, I remained staring at John shaking my head. "So, let me see if I got all this right. You were taking orders from Steven, which was just orders from C.I.A. agents…you were getting threats from Carlos to do certain things, you wouldn't need to do, in terms of Demetri's family not coming into the states." John nodded sitting back and smiled at me, as I continued. "Please stop me if I'm wrong here John, but I don't think anyone ever threatened you, or your son and grandson. And I think you went to see Logan at work the other day, knowing full well James, or at least I would be there, and we'd take you in. You wanted us to arrest you, so we would come to work, and maybe question Steven so he could pull off what he did. You knew the whole time Steven was planning on breaking out, and that he had the help of several agents to do so. How does that sound John? Familiar?" John slowly looked down and folded his hands together on his lap. I stood up quick and looked at James. "He is to be put in solitary, with no communication from anyone, except you or I."
"Wait…" Logan moved forward quick and gave me a very pleading look. "Shouldn't he have the chance to explain?"
"Explain how four agents blood is now on his hands? Or that a very deranged, crazy, well trained prisoner is out of custody, running around, freely?" Logan sighed out and gently pushed James back, and then pushed me to the side. He took my seat and leaned forward staring at his dad.
"Why did you want me and Gabe here?" John looked up fast and also leaned forward. I quickly stepped forward and stood protectively beside Logan. "If everything Kendall said is true…why confess now? After almost a whole week of Steven being out? And why do it with Gabe and I here?"
"Because I can help find him." I watched James quickly take the seat beside Logan and also lean forward. "I know my track record is for shit. I know I've done very bad things in my life. I know I have to have a good time behind bars. But I know I can make some of it right by telling you all what I know about Steven's plan." I scoffed shaking my head and ignored the dirty looks I got from James and Logan. "And I figured…since this will probably be the last chance I have at getting to meet my grandson, I'd make my move." Logan sat up a little and tilted his head still looking at his dad. "Yes...everything Kendall said, is true. I was still working with Steven. He contacted me, via an agent Carson. He told me he would help me get out of the country undetected, and into a safe house, if I helped him out. That meant sending those horrible letters to Carlos and forcing him to threaten well…me." I looked over to Carlos who was staring at John with wide fearful eyes. It only further my anger. "Steven promised me you and Gabriel would not be hurt, or even touched. I believed him. He only had it out for Agent Knight and Diamond. He convinced me to get arrested by either one of you." He looked to James shrugging slightly. "With me in your custody, he figured you would both be here at one point and I would convince you guys to go talk to Steven who…well you know the rest." He sat back a little and sighed out looking down again. Again…he looked sincere, but I wasn't buying it just yet. "I will admit I was curious why he was so against you Diamond but then he informed me of the one-time fling between the two of you and…"
"Excuse me?" James stood up fast and turned to me. "What the fuck is he talking about?"
"You never told Kendall?" I saw Carlos get beside James quick but was slowly starting to let my vision get clouded with red. "Ken…when James cheated on me so many moons ago it was with…Steven." I kept my eyes locked on James even when I felt Logan put his hands on me, and tug gently.
"We can deal with that later, right? What is important right now, is that my dad can help us get Steven. Please let him help." I grabbed Logan gently and shoved him back, away from me. "Kendall please…"
"I had your back dude. I let you crash on my couch when Carlos kicked you out. I talked hours and hours with you about that shit…and you didn't find it important to tell me the reason you and Carlos almost divorced was because of my then boyfriend?"
"You guys hadn't started dating yet." His voice was low and quiet, but still echoed through my brain. "I fucked up okay…I was never in love with Steven. It was just a fuck up."
"Yeah that's why he's pretty pissed at you Agent Diamond." I snapped my head to John fast who smirked looking up at me. "It seems Steven never wanted to end up with you. He wanted James from the get-go. When James wouldn't leave his husband for him, he went to the next best thing. Which I guess is you."
"Dad, not helpful." I laughed turning away and put my hand son my hips walking to the door. "Kendall please just sit down and let him tell you what he knows so we can put Steven behind bars again. Please." I stopped right in front of the door and stared blankly at the metal of it. "Dad…what can you tell them, to help them?"
"Well for one, Steven hasn't been in the country for the last week. He got on a private jet, with at least 6 of those agents, and went back home to England to recoup. When he is comfortable with his plan he's coming back into the states and…I'm not sure what." I laughed loudly and turned quick. Logan shot back up from his seat and stood in front of James giving me a serious look.
"So, you woke us all up to tell us what exactly? Shit that I already knew, and that regardless of what you say, a whole lot of useless fucking information." John looked down and I could have sworn he was pouting. And then it hit me. "And the reason you wanted Logan here, was to make him feel bad, so he could talk James and I into helping you." Logan sighed out and sat back down leaning on the table facing his dad again. "James, I think…"
"It doesn't matter what you think." I stopped and looked to James who was standing up and pulling his phone out. "You remember when I got promoted and got put in charge of this building?" I raised my eyebrows as James got right in my face. "That means I call the shots. Not you." I felt my stomach twist as he pushed past me and went right to the door. I heard it open but not close. "Take Mr. Mitchell back to his cell and make sure no one…not one person besides myself, communicates with him in any way." I looked around the room, to see John slowly standing himself up still looking at me. Smirking. "When you want to tell me information I can use, let me know." James walked back in front of me, looking at John. "And if I find out you've lied to me, or have led us down any wrong road, I swear to you John, you will be put in solitary confinement and rot inside for the rest of your life. Understand?" John chuckled raising his wrists, as one of the agents started to detach him from the table, while the other worked on his ankles. We all watched in silence as John became detached and grabbed firmly by both agents. I crossed my arms over my chest as he started to walk out, past me, still fucking smirking.
"Bye John!" I snapped my head to Gabe who was running to Logan, raising his un-casted arm, waving big.
"Bye little Gabriel." John wiggled one finger at Gabe who held around Logan smiling big. "Call me if you need anything Logan. You know where to find me." I looked right to Logan who was smiling at his dad, as he held around Gabe. When I heard the door shut I tensed up seeing Carlos rush to James and shove him hard.
"Why would you keep him in the dark about Steven?" I sighed out hard and walked to the table, taking my seat again, sitting behind Logan. Gabe pushed off Logan and then pushed me back and climbed on my lap. I sat back and let him get himself comfortable on me, as he reached forward to play with the chains that were just holding his grandfather to the table. "And how can you just blindly trust John over your partner?" I laughed rubbing Gabe's back as someone, probably Logan, gripped the back of my neck. "Aren't you going to say anything Kendall?"
"I'm not the one who calls the shots. Not my place." Gabe jiggled the chain harshly making all sorts of noises. I remained staring at the back of his head as the hand on my neck gripped tighter.
"Well it's not." I looked up quick seeing James standing in front of me, on the other side of the table. "When you and I were partners, I let you take the lead a lot of the times. And in those times, we got ourselves into a world of shit."
"James…" Carlos put a hand on him, but James shoved him off, leaning forward on the table, locking eyes with me.
"I am going to do whatever it takes to bring Steven and those rouge agents in. With or without you behind me. You wanna be pissed off, be my guest. But don't interrupt my mission. And do not try to undermine me. Because I will put you on desk duty." James stood up straight fast and turned walking out of the room, slamming the door shut hard behind him. Gabe jumped and turned to it, but quickly went back to his play with the chain.
"Jesus Christ…I am so sorry Kendall. James has been rather uneasy since Steven got out. He's actually been a world class dickhead but…I didn't think he'd take it out on you, of all people."
"Well there is quite a mess to clean up. Everyone is under serious stress." I turned to look up to Logan who sighed out and looked at the watch on his wrist. "Robbie is going to be released from the hospital at 2 this afternoon. We need to get his room ready." I nodded as he looked over to Carlos, gently pulling Gabe off my lap. "If he's stuck at work all day, you are more than welcome to come hang out. Meet Robbie." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees as soon as Gabe got off. I put my head down and closed my eyes, feeling my world caving in. "Do…"
"Just give me a minute." There was a quick, soft sweet kiss to my open neck in the back that sort of made me feel better. "Carlos…can we talk?" It went quiet around me but there was one more kiss to my neck, a little longer and harder this time, before I heard Logan grunt.
"Gabe and I will go wonder around for a minute. Maybe calm James the hell down." I raised my head and turned it watching Logan walk to the door, Gabe on his hip. When they disappeared out the door, I turned back to Carlos who was sitting in the seat John was cuffed to. He leaned forward smiling small and I shook my head.
"Is that why you've always had some resentment towards me?" He laughed shaking his head and leaned forward even more.
"When James told me, he had an affair with some nerdy therapist at his work, I wanted to kill him. You remember that?" I nodded sitting back and he shrugged. "James told me his name and I grew to hate him. But when he told me the only reason he cheated was because he was going to mandatory sessions with Steven…and Steven somehow got in his head, I got over it. I know James didn't cheat because he didn't love me any less. But when he told me, he told you about Steven and then you turn around and start dating the guy…I don't know. I felt like you were trying to make a point. That you didn't care about my feelings or the fact that my husband already screwed him. I know you've always had James's back and I love you for that. I got used to the idea that, that meant on everything. Bro's before hoes type thing."
"It was never like that Los." He raised a hand and nodded. "I would have never dated Steven had I known…"
"I know Kendall. I mean…I know that now." I smirked slowly standing myself, seeing him do the same. "I'm sorry he snapped at you there…he is feeling a lot of guilt for those four agents being killed. And I know no one has said it, but I can see it in his eyes. He's blaming me for not coming to him sooner about the letters and threats I got." I shook my head as he walked around the table to me.
"It is not your fault Carlos. You did what you did because you wanted to protect your husband. It is not your fault."
"I know…but James told me the agents information that I gave to him…that was so he could bribe them into helping him. If I hadn't done that…" I quickly pulled Carlos into me and hugged around him, setting my chin on his head. "I just want this all to be over and done with. So, everything can go back to normal."
"It wont Los. Nothing will be the same again. Promise." He laughed under me holding me tighter. I felt the need to tell him I cared about him, and if anything went down between him and James, because of how James was acting, that he could call me, but nothing came out. Because the silence around us was far too comforting. I wanted to stay just like this. Maybe not even with Carlos. Just by myself so I could slowly destruct myself. It's what I did best.