Chapter 25

11/9/2013

23:00

Bronx, New York, USA

Shaun stared wide-eyed as Rebecca opened the door to the interview room he was being held in. The police had grilled him for hours, and he'd been half afraid the detective who'd threatened to put him in prison was coming back.

Rebecca was dressed in a deliberately skimpy outfit, wiping off the blade of a knife before putting it back under her jacket. She quickly picked the lock on the handcuffs they'd cuffed to a bar on the table, leaning over them for a moment and muttering curses about cheap locks.

Shaun found himself looking directly into her assets, on full display inches from his face.

"B...Becca?" he managed to say, suddenly breathless.

Rebecca muttered a final curse as the lock clicked. "C'mon Shaun. We have a few minutes before they come back in."

Shaun followed her out of the room, his eyes almost bugging out of his head entirely as he spotted Lucy, dressed in similar attire to Rebecca, wearing a dark wig. "What...what on Earth...why are you two dressed like...uh?" Rebecca rolled her eyes. "How the heck do you think we got into a police station, Shaun? We got arrested."

They all turned at a shout. "Stop right there!"

Rebecca muttered a curse, and Lucy's throwing knife whistled through the air, killing the man before he could draw his gun. "Come on!"

The Assassins ran for the doorway, and Lucy stumbled as the sound of gunfire echoed behind them.

"Luce!" Rebecca cried, and Shaun saw Lucy stumble again, her hand pressed to her side. "Go!" she cried, and Harlan broke away from them, dragging Lucy towards the van.

"Des will kill me if we leave you here!" he snarled.

Shaun took the driver's seat, the tires screeching on the pavement as they pulled away from the police station.

Lucy grimaced as Rebecca grimly checked out the wound. "It's nothing," she gasped, and Rebecca shook her head. "You got really lucky Luce...it looks like a clean hit."

Rebecca put pressure on the wound, the gauze soaking through with Lucy's blood.

Shaun was pale as he weaved through the streets towards the hideout.

"Is she going to be okay?" he demanded, and Rebecca sighed. "She'll be alright if we can get her to Trish. So stop talking and step on it."

Harlan eyed Lucy and Rebecca. "Where's John and Michael?" Rebecca smirked. "Oh they're away safe. Our original cover didn't work...so they set up a...distraction a few blocks away. I got a text from John they're back at the hideout."

They nodded, and Rebecca's gaze went back to Lucy. Her blue eyes were rolling back into her head, and Rebecca cursed. "She's going into shock. Luce...hey Luce, stay awake, huh?"

Lucy passed out, and Rebecca looked at Harlan. Shaun didn't need any more encouragement to drive faster.

Christine watched as Desmond climbed the walls of the hideout – quite literally. His movements were fluid and practiced, and she found herself watching him leap from catwalk to catwalk with effortless grace.

After a moment, she was startled to see another form join Desmond's. A tall, bearded man wrapped in black robes was suddenly following Desmond, his leather boots silent on the metal. Christine drew in her breath to warn Desmond as she saw the man's movements slow to a predatory crouch.

"Ezio wouldn't hurt Desmond. Watch."

To Christine's shock, Desmond leapt from the catwalks, his body twisting in mid-air, his hands catching the edge of an adjoining platform, and the other man's black robes streamed behind him as he followed Desmond. A strange game of chase played out before her eyes, and she saw Desmond's golden gaze glittering with amusement as he yelled something in a language she'd never heard him speak before – something that was clearly a taunt, for the black-robed man's gaze narrowed, a grin appearing on his face.

Desmond was forced to move faster now, as the black-robed man expertly cornered him on a high catwalk. The man in black robes said something to Desmond, and Desmond grinned. Christine could not stop her gasp as Desmond stepped off the ledge of the catwalk, his back arching into a swan dive. He landed on his feet and one hand in a pile of mats that had apparently been laid down for that purpose.

Dust rose in clouds above him as he got up from the mats, and Christine heard him cough a little and then immediately rolled out of the way as the black-robed man landed where he had been seconds before.

Christine watched as Desmond offered the black-robed man a hand, pulling him to his feet. William motioned them over, and Christine saw the man's dark eyes widen at seeing her, his expression first shocked and then sorrowful. Desmond stopped, saying something quietly to the man, whose gaze didn't leave her face. He muttered something and between one breath and the next, he was gone as if he'd never been, and Desmond stood alone.

Desmond's gaze was a little sad as he looked at where the other man had stood a moment before. Christine finally found her voice as she said, "Who was that? And why was he staring at me like that?" Desmond's voice was soft as he said, "His name is Ezio Auditore da Firenze. He's my ancestor, and he said you remind him a great deal of a woman he'd once loved and...lost." Desmond's gaze met hers, and she was shocked to see the sadness in his face. "Her name was Cristina, too."

Christine swallowed. "If he's your ancestor, doesn't that mean he's dead?"

Desmond sighed. "That's a long...yeah. For now just accept that he and another of my ancestors are able to appear when they want...as long as I'm awake."

There was a noise near the entrance, and Rebecca's voice called, "Trish! Lucy's been shot!"

Christine saw Desmond freeze in horror, and in an instant he was gone, running for the entrance where Rebecca and a tall man wearing a hood were helping in Lucy, whose abdomen was coated in red. The other Assassins who'd arrived earlier – Christine frowned as she tried to remember their names – Mike and John – ran over to help them.

The doctor made her way over to the group, her tone businesslike. "Get her on the stretcher. Juhani, bring me the silver tray over there."

Wordlessly, the big blonde Templar obeyed the order, passing the tray to Trish.

The doctor looked at Desmond, her gaze narrow.

"Desmond, I know you're worried about her, but I can't help her if you don't move."

Juhani took Desmond's arm. "She's right. Let her work. Her bedside manner is terrible if you make her nervous." Trish directed a scowl at the blonde man. "I was not nervous! Now shut up and let me get this bleeding stopped."

Juhani led Desmond towards William and Christine. Ansa ran up to Juhani, tugging on his hand. "Daddy! Come see!" She'd picked up enough English words in the weeks since they'd rescued Juhani to be understood, and she took every opportunity to use her new vocabulary.

Juhani shrugged helplessly at them as he was led away. Christine frowned after him. "That guy looks like he could rip a tree in half and pick his teeth with it, and yet he dotes on his little girl."

Desmond's voice was quiet as he said, "Juhani would give his life for his daughter. He almost did. Trish saved his life when the Templars turned on him."

William snorted. "I still don't like him Des. If nothing else, he's a bad influence."

Desmond rolled his eyes.

"Right Dad, cause he's totally gonna dare me to do drugs behind the gym."

William frowned. "Don't be sarcastic, Desmond, you know what I meant."

Desmond growled. "You once told me a stupid question deserves a stupid response. See, I didn't totally forget everything you used to tell me."

His gaze went to the stretcher as Lucy groaned, her body arching. "John, Michael, get over here and hold her down so I can get the bullet out." Desmond started to move, and Trish pointed the bloody end of a scalpel at him. "You don't move."

Desmond froze, his gaze going to Lucy, and Christine saw his fists clench. She put her hand on his tensed shoulder, the muscles beneath her hand hard as rock.

"C'mon Des."

After a few minutes, Trish came over, pulling down her mask and wiping her bloodied hands on a rag.

"She'll be okay, Des. I got the bullet out, and it was a clean hit to the chest, the bullet grazed her ribs. No internal bleeding though she's not going to be moving around much for a few weeks, if she heals half as fast as the rest you people."

Desmond's gaze flickered to her. "Can I see her?"

Trish nodded. "Just don't excite her, or I'll be re-doing her stitches. Speaking of which, where is Juhani?"

Desmond gestured in the direction Ansa had led the big Templar.

"Ansa led him that way."

William cleared his throat. "I'll...show you, Trish." Trish and William wandered off in the direction the Templar and his daughter had gone, and Desmond was alone with Christine.

Desmond turned to leave, and Christine's hand stopped him.

"Des...wait."

Desmond paused, his arm strained against her grasp. "Chris..." Christine's gaze became hard. "You heard...Trish. She'll be okay." Desmond swallowed, his gaze flickering longingly over to the stretcher Lucy lay on, her regular breathing indicating she slept, John and Michael having taken up watch positions at the entrances.

"But..."

Christine pulled on Desmond more firmly.

"Des, I know you want to go check on her, but she'll be fine for a few minutes for us to talk, and I know you're avoiding me."

Desmond reluctantly turned towards her, his gaze suddenly tired.

"What do you want?"

Christine frowned. "I don't really understand any of this...Assassin or Templar business you've gotten mixed up in Des. Your Dad says you're an Assassin, but what does that mean? Does it mean you kill people for money or something...like that guy in the bar?"

Desmond sighed. "Yes and no. We kill when it's necessary, Chris. The Templars are after us, and they control the government. The guy we're currently after is the head of the whole thing. He used to be Juhani's boss."

Christine's eyes narrowed. "That's another thing I don't get. Your Dad said Assassins and Templars have hated each other for … centuries, but you seem to be pretty chummy with the blond guy."

Desmond frowned.

"Juhani's a Templar. They screwed him pretty hard, and he almost died. After that, he stayed with us. We're all in the same boat...the Templars want us dead...or in Kyle's case, something worse."

Desmond glanced over at his son, and Christine stared as an old man dressed in robes similar to the other man's appeared to pick up the baby, rocking him gently and speaking to him in another language she couldn't understand.

Christine growled. "I don't get any of this Des...weird guys in robes and killing and...it all seems so complicated. And who's she? She hasn't come to talk to me since I got here, but her stare creeps me out." She gestured at Minerva, who'd appeared next to Altair, smiling down at Kyle. They both frequently doted on the boy, and Desmond saw Minerva's eyes narrow as she saw Christine's gaze on her.

Desmond sighed. "Her name is Minerva...and as to who she is...you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Suffice it to say, she's not someone you want to piss off."

Christine shook her head.

"Des..." Her gaze softened. "You're like a different person." Desmond stiffened as her hand touched his face, and his eyes glinted as he moved away.

"I told you before, don't do that."

Christine snarled. "What happened to you Des? What happened to … us? Don't you care about me at all?"

Desmond frowned. "Yes, of course I care about you..." His gaze darkened. "But not like that. I'm sorry." Christine eyed him. "No, you're not. You never were a good liar, Des. So what we had before...before all this...it didn't mean anything to you?"

Desmond growled, his gaze going to Lucy's still form, and his jaw worked as he said, "Chris...at the time...it meant something. Now...I have a wife and kid. I have a responsibility to the Assassins...to the world." He closed his eyes.

"Things aren't like they were...and they won't ever be again. Those times at the bar were some of the easiest in my life. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that life." Desmond's eyes opened, and Christine saw resolve in them.

"But I can't move backwards, Chris, and I don't regret the life I have now, no matter how hard it's been sometimes. My life before might have been easier with less to worry about, but I've never been happier since Lucy and I were married...since Ky was born."

Christine was silent, and Desmond sighed.

"I know hearing that doesn't help you feel better, Chris...and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I dragged you into this. But we still need your help, if you're willing to give it. And if you're not...I can make you forget all this. You can go back, if you want me to make it so."

Christine shook her head angrily.

"I'll help you Des. All this obviously means a lot to you, since that's the most I've heard you say that didn't contain at least four cuss words. But I don't ever want to hear you talk about using that...power of yours on me again."

Desmond nodded, his expression relieved. "Thanks, Chris."

Christine nodded, looking towards Lucy as she moaned softly. "Des?"

"Go to her Des...she needs you."

Desmond didn't look back as he went to Lucy's side, his hand taking hers, his voice whispering into her ear. She saw him mouth the words she'd wanted him to say to her since the moment she'd met him, and she managed to keep her brave front up long enough to get outside so she could cry.

A/N: Yeah...I feel sorry for Christine, but she's not for Des. Also, for those of you wondering...yes, she is related to the other Cristina.