Disclaimer: I do not own Fifty Shades Trilogy

Chapter 21

Consumed by agony

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While holding Christian's sister in her arms though, Ana thought about what had happened to Carrick, making her skin crawl. "I'm here for you, sweetie... I am here for you..." she whispered.

At that very moment, Ana felt so powerless. And with it, she felt such a numbness like never before...

~ Approximately an hour later ~

Ana was looking out the window, and felt the sun warming up both her cheeks. As a sigh escaped her lips, she walked over to the coffee table and grabbed her phone.

"Where are they?" Ana muttered under her breath, and checked her phone once more.

At that moment she felt exhaustion take over her whole body, because she hadn't slept for at least 14 hours now. However, her mind─ oh her mind, refused to rest until she received confirmation from the FBI that her mom and father were safe.

"Miss Steele… you in there?" She heard a male voice say from the other side of the bedroom door." May I come in? I've got news about your parents..."

As those words reached her ears, Ana sprung to life and reached the door in a flash." Are they safe? Where are they? Can I see them?" She asked Special Agent Sawyer, after opening the door.

"One question at a time, Miss Steele." He remarked, then nodded." Yes, they are safe... for now they both are in one of our safe houses, and you can see them, when the time is right"

Ana's eyes automatically filled with tears, when she heard the good news." Than... thank you, Special agent Sawyer... you don't know how..." She began, but was unable to continue.

At the moment all kinds of emotions washed over her. Relief, because both her parents were alive and safe, but also guilt and sadness because Christian's father was still in critical condition. The surgeons who had operated on him had done all they could, but only time will tell if he'll make it... or not.

It had been very difficult for Ana, consoling Mia earlier, because the guilt was continuously consuming her from the inside out. However, it was more important to her to be there for Christian's sister. So, instead of locking herself up in the bedroom, letting fear and guilt get in the way, Ana took a risk and had knocked on Mia's door.

"Yes, I do understand, Miss Steele..." Sawyer pointed out." We're going to make sure that what happened to Carrick Grey, won't happen again... We will keep all of you safe, I give you my word..."

At hearing that, Ana carefully placed a hand on his upper arm." Thank you... and Special agent Sawyer, I'm so sorry..." she began, and paused for a few moments, swallowing her tears." I'm so very sorry about both your colleagues..."

Sawyer cleared his throat, and took a deep breath." Thank you, Miss Steele" he replied.

Ana observed the man who stood in front of her and saw the pain in his eyes.

He was hurting obviously, but he attempted to stay professional and added." Special agents Torres and Powell were killed in the line of duty... they died, because they wanted to save Carrick Grey's life... they're heroes"

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Special agent." Ana said with a small voice.

He exhaled and nodded." I honestly hope that Carrick Grey makes it, Miss Steele." Sawyer confessed." Cause if he does survive 'El Diablo's' attack... then uhmm... then my colleagues didn't die for nothing..."

His words made such an impact on Ana, the agony in Sawyer's voice so evident and clear. That made her feel numb all over again.

And even though she knew damn well the answers to her next questions would tear at her heart and soul, Ana asked." Who did Torres and Powell leave behind, Special agent? Were they married? Did they have kids?"

At hearing that, Sawyer clenched both his hands into fists, and replied." Torres is survived by a wife and their 9 month old daughter, while Powell leaves behind a wife and three sons."

As Sawyer's words reached her ears, Ana stood there speechless and motionless, her mind totally blank all of a sudden…

This was horrible! She couldn't stomach the information and had to excuse herself immediately." So Sorry, Special agent." Ana said, and disappeared into the bathroom.

With shaking hands, Ana stood in front of the mirror, while attempting to open the faucet.

It was then, when she heard a soft knock on the bathroom door."Hey, Ana..." Mia said, and entered the bathroom.

"Hi, Mia" Ana replied, still attempting to turn on the God damned faucet! However, her hands were trembling so much, making it very difficult to execute that simple task.

Mia noticed it, and assisted Ana."Here you go" Christian's sister said.

Ana wasn't able to push back the tears, and without her accord tears had rolled down her cheeks." Tha... thank you, sweetie" She was able to say and washed her face.

"Need anything else, Ana?" Mia asked worriedly, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Ana shook her head at that." No, thanks" She replied, and grabbed a towel with trembling fingers.

"Do you need Christian? Should I call him for you?" Mia asked, and attempted to catch Ana's gaze.

However, Ana shook her head fiercely." No... he's speaking with your mom and Elliot" She pointed out." I'll be fine... aren't you gonna go see your mom? Not so long ago you were so impatient about finally seeing her. Why are you hiding here?"

Mia had tears in her eyes, and nodded." I did see uhmm, my brothers. And about my mom. Well, I will... I just don't" She started." I'm not sure I'm ready to see her yet... I haven't seen her in like so many years... And my dad, he was no saint, but..."

At this point tears had rolled down Mia's face again.

Ana looked at her, tears pooling in her own blue eyes." Go on... she needs you" Ana advised, and grabbed both her hands." Your mom needs you now, more than ever"

As loud sobs escaped Mia's lips, Ana pulled her into a tight hug."I don't think I can face her, Ana... she left us, when I was so young..." Mia confessed."When she left us, my brothers and I had to take care of each other. I used to hate her for that, Ana! I used to be so angry about it and wished her ill... she left us and didn't care about abandoning her three kids... my dad was messed up, but he was still in our lives"

As those words reached her ears, Ana pulled away gently from the hug and looked at Mia with teary eyes." I know it hurts, Mia... our parents... they uhmm, they have done unthinkable things" she pointed out, also referring to her own mom keeping quiet about Shawn's horrible death and protecting her lover, the senator, for so many years." They are so flawed and have faults, but no matter what, they're still our parents... and I know you love her. So please, go and see your mom... talk to her. I know you miss her a lot"

After her sobs have subsided a bit, Mia nodded and said." You're right"

"Ana, will you be OK? Should I ask..." Mia began, but Ana cut her off gently.

" I'll be fine. You go have your family reunion... you four need each other now" Ana stated, and squeezed her hand lightly.

At that, Mia gave Ana a regretful look." I'm so sorry, Ana... for giving you crap, when all you wanted was to help Christian get better... was to help him walk again"

Ana shook her head." It's fine, Mia... you were just being the protective little sister you've always been" She pointed out." Like you said... for years you, Elliot and Christian took care of each other... so I do understand why you acted the way you acted...it was you protecting your big brother's heart"

Mia sighed and cleared her throat." I should've know that y..." She began, but was interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door.

"Mia? Ana? Where are you guys?"

It was Christian.

As she heard his voice, Ana's heart almost skipped a beat.

"We're just having a girl to girl talk, big bro." Mia said, after swinging the door open.

Christian smiled at that, and moved swiftly with his wheelchair to close the small gap between him and Mia." Come here, little sis... give your big brother one more hug..." he insisted.

Mia smiled and did as he asked."Hey, why are you so possessive all of a sudden... you just hugged me like 10 seconds ago" she teased.

"Shut up, and give me a proper hug." He demanded, and then locked eyes with Ana after they pulled away from the hug.

Mia noticed it, and said." So... I'm gonna go now... give you two some privacy"

Within seconds Mia was out the bathroom.

Then Ana and Christian also got out of there and entered the bedroom.

After a few moments, he looked up at Ana, and noticed that she had been crying." You OK, sweetie?" he asked, very concerned.

"How is your dad doing?" she asked.

At hearing Ana mentioning his father, Christian swallowed the huge lump that had formed in his throat." Special agent Sawyer has informed us that his condition is the same... there's no change"

Ana looked at him with teary eyes, and whispered." I'm so sorry, Christian... I wish that I told you sooner... it's all my f..." She began, but he fiercely shook his head.

"No, sweetie. This is not on you... 'El Diablo' did this! OK? 'El Diablo' and Senator Murphy are the ones responsible" he insisted, and grabbed her hand gently.

Ana couldn't help, but to feel guilty and turned her face away from him." Two agents are dead and your da- your father is in critical condition... I can't, I just can't, Christian! It hurts too much!"

While watching the woman he loved, it hurt Christian so badly, seeing her in agony." Come here" he said and squeezed her hand lightly.

As their eyes met, Christian felt so overwhelmed by emotions." Ana?" he pleaded.

She closed the small gap between them, and then he gently pulled her towards him.

(Ana was still on her feet and he was seated in his wheelchair.) As her body shook from her soft sobs, his head gently landed on Ana's tummy, while he lovingly interlaced their fingers and whispered." My father is a strong man, sweetie... he'll be fine. Please, don't you worry about him."

God, she missed him so much! They were apart for barely 24 hours and here she was, needing Christian so much like never before.

'God, I love this man so so much! Don't you dare take him away from me, please!' Ana prayed, as she lovingly ran her hand through his soft hair.

With her eyes closed, Ana whispered." I love you so much, Christian... so so much"

He gently pulled back from their intimate embrace, and looked up at her." I love you too, my sweet, beautiful Ana... tell me that you'll never leave me again" he demanded, his eyes locked onto hers, and voice so pleading.

He wiped away her tears and patiently waited for her reply. Ana nodded and was just about to answer, when they heard a voice say.

"So... you are Ana?!"

At hearing that, Christian and Ana were both startled and automatically looked in the direction of the one who spoke.

"And YOUR mother was a witness, when my baby boy was run over by that monster Murphy?!" Grace accused, her voice very shaky, while tears streamed down her face." And she did nothing! Your mother protected that monster and kept Shawn's death a secret?!"

With wide eyes, Ana looked at Christian's mother, unable to react to her comments.

"Mom... we agreed that you were gonna get some rest... Please, let's talk about this later in the evening. Right now you need the rest," Christian tried, but it was no use.

Grace was consumed by such agony and pain to even care what her son had to say. Finding out what really happened to Shawn broke her heart all over again, and at the moment she just desperately needed someone to blame." This is all your family's fault!" She hissed, and threw a deadly glare at Ana.

Christian held his right hand up, and attempted to calm his mother down." Mom, please... please, don't" he pleaded, and automatically grabbed Ana's hand to protect her.

His mom noticed that act, and that's when she totally lost it...

Ana watched in horror, as Grace threw daggers with her eyes at her.

Then Christian's mom stormed towards Ana." Get your filthy hands off of my son!"

Note: Firstly, OH MY God... What do you all think of Grace's reaction? :( :(

Secondly, I want to apologize for my absence.

My laptop crashed and then life and work were in the way. So sorry, you all.

But I can assure you I will be updating all my stories these upcoming weeks.

I have not abandoned them.

And I wanted to react to a lovely reviewer, NikkiG26, who asked why it took them so long to get all of them to the safe house.

Well, the safe house is not in the Seattle area. It's out of state. ;)

And to mysticeyes1 : I hope you know that your reviews crack me up. Yes, I need help with my kids... haha. :)

So... this was chapter 21, my wonderful readers.

Hit me with your thoughts?

Thank you in advance, you all.

REVIEW! ;) REVIEW...

Thank you all so much for reading and the awesome support.

You all totally ROCK!

Till the next one,

J