Chapter twenty nine
"In recent years, Christian Grey and his young family have seen a massive influx of popularity, particularly after the birth of baby Teddy," the news anchor smiled, chatting to a group of women around a table. Gossiping women, Sawyer thought as he got dressed for this.
"They've been branded Seattle's Royal family, Christian Grey donating more money to the impoverished than most other successful businessmen," Gossiping Woman 1 said, clasping her hands excitedly, "In fact, in recent years, Grey has been linked to the British royal family. Does that mean play dates between Teddy and the Prince and Princess? Ooooooh!"
Anchor woman smiled and nodded, "It's amazing how news of his being well and alive and on his way home have affected the markets already! The dollar is up again and so are the value of shares linked to GEH. Grey is truly an influential man-"
"Plus he is gorgeous," Gossiping Woman 2 interrupted, lowering the tone completely. The audience laughed, Sawyer just glared, scratching his balls as he hunted for his lucky pants, "And his wife; stunning. They're really a beautiful family."
The audience clap in agreement, for fuck sake.
The anchor woman politely intervened once more to report that a 'welcome party' had gathered of Christian Grey's charity benefactors wanting to welcome the 'American hero' home.
Sawyer never got a welcome home like that, he grumbled, finding his lucky pants and then slipping them on. He grabbed his suit pants next before putting on his last ironed shirt; thank you Gail. Heading downstairs, he met Reynolds looking as smart as ever, their three SEAL friends and the Two Marines who Luke had managed to source and also a few of Reynolds friends from the FBI.
"Is everyone aware of the plan?" Luke asked firmly, seeing Ana and Craig in the kitchen behind the group.
A unanimous 'Yes, chief' sounded.
God, Luke hadn't been called Chief since he was in the Seal Teams. Felt kinda nice…and kinda terrifying.
Felicity, the head of the little entourage of FBI agents, smiled slyly over towards him, "Ready, Luke?"
Luke had cast an eye over her and, yeah, he thought she was pretty. Her hair was a little bushy and scraped back off her forehead too tightly, but he'd certainly fucked worse. He liked her eyes, dark brown, almost black; they were surreal. Twin them with her figure and…yeah he'd go there for sure.
"I'm always prepared; it's the SEAL in me," Luke said with a lower tone than he'd normally use to emphasise both his manliness and his alpha-male dominance.
"Right," Luke finally nodded, addressing the group, "Lets pile into the SUVs. Remember, do not engage in conversation and please at give warning before punching someone." He added, then cast a look over to the worried Mrs Grey. He didn't offer her a smile because he knew it would do nothing to ease her nerves. Instead, he focused on the job; bringing her husband home to her and his kids.
"I'll bring up the rear," Reynolds said, not going in the SUVs with the other guards. That wasn't part of the plan.
"Good, keep in contact," Luke nodded and led the way into the awaiting cars, glad he'd remembered his gloves as he stepped out into the freezing cold Seattle winter.
.
Ten minutes later,
Sea-tac,
Seattle.
Luke couldn't believe the sight before him; there were hundreds of press but equally as many well-wishers out to welcome home their beloved Grey. It just showed how influential a person with money could become, Luke thought. Grey's charity work had obviously left a vulnerable group in society in his awe.
Luke noticed a couple of members from Wheelies, a group of teenage wheelchair basketball players who received wheelchairs at discounted prices through Grey's trust fund, their court actually belonging to one of the many buildings GEH owned throughout the city. Luke saw those teens waving signs of Welcome Home, a few even going as far as to wave at Luke as they recognised Grey's usual security detail.
Over to the far side was members of a second group which benefited from Grey's Trust; a women's only shelter. Luke wasn't really allowed into the building; it was a safe place for women and children only. Jason went in with Grey very rarely, Grey normally too busy himself to visit every single benefitting charity.
Food banks, soup kitchens, inner city clubs for low income children…Luke was so touched to see how many people had come to wave their man home. It was inconvenient as hell but touching. It gave him the warm gooey feeling inside his stomach.
"Right, please reframe from hitting the fans," Luke clarified, "The Press, sure, fuck them. But not the fans."
"Aye, Chief," the call came again as they climbed out at the door of the airport, the lurking cameras and paparazzi watching and waiting, taking photographs of Sawyer out of habit; they no doubt expected Mrs Grey to come out of the SUV if Luke was present.
Not today, Luke smirked, marching inside where they were met by airport security and led to a place they could meet Grey.
"Get Grey straight to the hospital," Luke reminded them, "I'll linger and get Captain Urquhart and Shirley off safely away from the mobs. But Grey is the priority and Grey needs to go to hospital ASAP."
Right on cue, Grey appeared, escorted by two security guards as he walked slowly into the airport from the runway.
Grey! Grey! Grey! Over here Grey! Christian! Mr Grey! Grey! Grey!
"Mr Grey," Luke called over the paparazzi's shouting. Grey's suit blazer was over his head so no one could see his face. Thank fuck. His shoes were polished neatly, his formal charcoal trousers were pressed and neat, no doubt thanks to Gail.
God, Luke loved that woman.
"Lets get you home, Mr Grey," Felicity, the FBI agent called, placing her hand on Grey's back whilst the men all formulated a tight circle around him.
Grey! Grey! Grey! Over here Grey! Christian! Mr Grey! Grey! Grey!
The paparazzi began flashing their lights everywhere, and at everyone. Luke was dazzled but at no point did he stop pushing his way through the crowd to get back to the SUV and get Grey to safety. The lights flashing reminded Luke of nights in a crossfire when he was in the SEAL teams himself.
Flash. Flash. Bang. Bang. Shot. Shot.
It angered him greatly; inconsiderate bastardly pricks had no idea what Ryan and Grey had gone through; to show up in their hundreds and flash lights in their face was simply barbaric to Luke.
"Back off!" Luke warned as the media got touchy and someone made to grab the coat covering Grey's face from the entire crowd, "Back the fuck off! Back off! Before I rip that fucking camera out your hands and up your fucking arse."
When his threat went completely ignored and Luke was flashed by the cunt right in the face, he puffed out his chest and shoved the pap hard, breaking formation around Grey for a mere second to make an example of said pap. Grabbing the guy's camera, Luke chucked it to the floor before going back to his spot and continuing to shove his way with the others towards the car before he got violent.
He hated the media.
Only a few more yards, Luke thought, seeing Grey's fans waving excitedly towards them. God, Luke felt like a dick head; these people had braved the cold to see Grey home but they had no time to stop. Grey had to get to safety and to get to the hospital to be checked out.
Grey! Grey! Grey! Over here Grey! Christian! Mr Grey! Grey! Grey
"Mr Grey, how did you-"
"No comment," one of the Marines snapped and shoved the guy back too, a small riot breaking out between the two men. The pap threw a punch and, typical marine, he threw one back which actually struck.
Fuck.
Grey! Grey! Grey! Over here Grey! Christian! Mr Grey! Grey! Grey
"Move Mr Grey!" Luke shouted over the noise as the second marine stopped to help his companion defuse the tense situation.
Grey moved, being led by Felicity quickly and as swiftly as he could be. Finally, they reached the SUVs, Luke running ahead and opening the door for them whilst Felicity barged in with Grey, a second FBI agent beside him and one of the SEAL helpers jumping into the front to drive for Luke, "Get Grey gone!"
Grey! Grey! Grey! Over here Grey! Christian! Mr Grey! Grey! Grey
Luke slammed the door shut and helped the Marines and the remaining SEALs formulate a human barricade to prevent them from blocking the car. Eventually the SEAL had the engine going, revving it and driving past as quickly as he could without endangering the lives of those stupid enough to come between a SEAL and his mission objective; get Grey to the hospital.
"I'll get the others off the plane," Luke ordered the remaining men, the media shamelessly chasing after the SUV on foot to try and get at least one photo of Grey without the jacket over his head, hiding him from the world.
"Will we get you at the hospital?" Manny, one of the SEALs, asked, shouting over the noise of the crowd.
"Yes," Luke nodded, "To cover the baby. It's visiting hours now. Remember, they're taking Grey to another hospital so don't follow him. You remember which has Phoebe in it?" he explained, knowing the retired old doorman, Mr Kowalski just wouldn't be able to cope with the demands of a media mob.
"Aye, Chief, I know which hospital to go to," Manny nodded, turning to the two Marines and the remaining FBI, "Lets go! Into the SUV!"
Luke squeezed his way through the crowd and headed back towards the airport. It was noticeably quieter now that the media had gone outside to try and capture photos of Grey. Parasites.
Luke spat on the floor just before going into the warmth, adjusting his tie and hair as he approached the Arrivals bay, standing patiently for the Captain and Shirley to appear so he could escort them to safety…
.
Meanwhile…
In the SUV,
On route for hospital,
Seattle.
.
Felicity checked her phone, seeing a text from Reynolds;
'You're clear. Keep going forward. Go to General Hospital, NOT Phoebe's hospital. Reply to confirm you understand.'
Thank Jesus for that…
'Roger that, Reynolds.' She text him back.
"Reynolds says we've shaken off our tail," Felicity called to the driver, sitting back with a sigh. That hadn't been the hardest job of her career but, considering she was supposed to be on holiday, it hadn't exactly been peaceful and stress free, "You can take the jacket off you head."
"I think I'll need help," came the voice underneath the charcoal grey suit; Christian Grey's signature outfit, "My wrist is really sore, ma'am."
Felicity nodded and slowly, she removed the jacket from the man's shoulders, and was greeted by an oddly handsome young man.
Sawyer had informed her that he was ex Ranger but he looked so innocent with a wide and bright Boy Scout smile, freckles speckled across his cheeks.
"Thank you, ma'am," the man smiled, tenderly holding his wrist for support, "I had to remove my cast to make it convincing but it's caused me to move it when it's still supposed to be healing."
"You did fantastically…Ryans, is it?" Felicity asked.
"Ryan, ma'am. Well no, technically I'm Jonathan Ryans but Ryan, singular, is what I tend to get called," the man explained, giving her that adorable smile. Now that he was sat up and straight, it was very clear to see that Grey's suit barely fitted him; the buttons were straining on the white shirt, his thighs bulging in the suit.
He kicked off Grey's brogues with a low moan, Felicity watching as he flexed his toes, "Grey's an eleven, I'm a twelve and a half," he explained.
"Are those Iron man socks?" Felicity asked curiously, staring at the man's large feet.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," Ryan chuckled, "My Secret Santa got me Avenger socks and a Batman logo," he explained, "I think I got the best gift to be fair. Luke got a t-shirt that says 'Bring Back Fingering 2016' which is also pretty funny too," he said, then caught himself, "Unless you think that's offensive. I suppose a woman might find that offensive. I'm a feminist."
Felicity laughed; god, Luke was right. The guy was a fucking virgin.
"It's fine," she waved his awkwardness away, looking at his feet, "I'm more of a Captain America girl myself."
"You're wrong," Ryan laughed, "It's Tony Stark all the way. He's the man!"
Felicity laughed as, in his excitement, he jarred his painful wrist, "Here," she called, taking her blouse off and fashioning a sling out of it, thankful she had her thermals on underneath, "Hold still."
"O-okay," Ryan told her, watching her intently as she tied her blouse sleeves behind his neck, his head bowed towards her chest to allow her to see what she was doing. Satisfied that it was secure enough, she then helped Ryan guide his injured wrist into his new sling, "It smells like your perfume." He observed, flushed behind his freckles, "Thanks."
Beside him, the other FBI agent was rolling his eyes, no doubt finding his innocence hilarious. Felicity rather liked it. He was sweet, unlike Luke fucking Sawyer who thought he was like Don Juan's hotter brother.
She noticed Ryan squirming a little to get comfortable in his tight clothes before he finally coughed, "Excuse me, ma'am," he said, using his good hand to unbuckle his trousers, "I'm losing circulation below my waist," he laughed, "I'm a fat bastard compared to the boss," he laughed it off, zipping down his fly before quickly covering his lap with Grey's blazer, "So much better," he sighed, laying his head back against the car seat.
"Let it go, let it go," he hummed then, staring out of the window with a loving expression, "God bless the USA."
So where's Christian? Next half to come (:
I always imagined Christian and his family (Ana, Ted and Pheob) to be a little like the Royal Family to an extent; After his traumatic childhood I can imagine Grey doing a lot of charity work in the city which I reckon people would love him for. I think his impact on the world financial market would make him a target for the media, hence the heavy and desperate paparazzi in this chapter.
Others may not agree but that's how I imagined his future becoming; Ana giving him the confidence to be more public with his goodness.
Hope you enjoyed this half! I'm off for a drink!
