Helena closed her fist around her keys to keep them from jingling as she stuck one of them into the lock and quietly opened the door. With her pistol drawn, she circled to check the kitchen, it was empty aside from a pot of water that was boiling over and hissing on the stove. She turned the stove off and headed upstairs, avoiding the two steps she knew would creak.
It took all her willpower to not just shoot when she saw Michael, leaning over Hunnigan as she pushed her hands against his shoulders to keep him away. He was saying something about this time being different, that he'd take it slow and he'd be sweet. Hunnigan didn't understand what he meant and she didn't want to either. She twisted her hips and pushed her feet against his thighs, shoving him away from herself. When there was enough room, she pulled her legs back and kicked him in the chin, but instead of being completely stunned by it, he just got angry.
"Why do you have to be such a God damn bitch? Huh?" he growled and shoved his hand over Hunnigan's throat, his thumb digging into her jaw, the tips of his other fingers pushing into the sensitive flesh of the back of her neck, pinching on a muscle that seemed to be connected to everything because the pressure he caused sent a burning jolt of pain toward the top of her head and down to her shoulder blade.
Helena launched herself at Michael, impacting to his side with such force it threw them both off the bed and against the wooden railing which broke underneath their weight. They fell to the lower level, Michael landing back first onto the coffee table, crushing it underneath him. Michael broke Helena's fall, but she still got some of the wind knocked out of her and she needed to take a few seconds to recover, but thankfully, so did Michael.
Helena gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him up, holding onto him as she drew her left hand back and punched him repeatedly. When he raised his arms to shield his head, she delivered a series of hard punches into his torso in a quick staccato, ending it in a left hook to his ribs, delivering a livershot that left him complaining loudly in pain.
Helena reached for the coffee table's broken leg and grabbed it and raised it above her head, and the moment she was about to bash Michael's head in with it, Hunnigan grabbed her arm with both of her hands.
"Don't! You'll kill him and he's not worth going to jail for," she said as the yanked the piece of wood from Helena's hand and threw it aside.
"You're right... you're right," Helena muttered as she stood up slowly, still tempted to kick him, but he was already down, lying on his side and whining as he writhed in pain from the livershot.
Helena turned her full attention to Hunnigan and gently cupped her face in her hand. There was a small bruise on Hunnigan's jaw, it would probably get bigger before it got better.
"I'm not hurt, I'm just... startled," Hunnigan said, twisting her hands a little awkwardly because she wasn't sure what she was feeling or how she should be feeling even.
"Okay," Helena whispered, not asking more questions, not insisting anything to the contrary and Hunnigan clenched her teeth as she tried to push back the sobs that were rising up from her chest to her throat. She failed.
Helena put her arms around Hunnigan and pulled her into a tight embrace, covering the side of Hunnigan's face with gentle little kisses as she whispered every reassuring thing she could think of, and when she did that, Hunnigan actually believed it because she could tell Helena believed it too, somehow she always seemed to know that everything would be all right. Maybe that was because of her faith and her unrelenting belief that someone was always watching over her. Times like this, Hunnigan envied Helena's faith.
After the police officers Olivia had called to the scene had taken Michael into custody and after Helena and Hunnigan had given their statements about the incident, they headed over to Hunnigan's parents. The moment they entered the house, Alix pulled Hunnigan into a hug and held onto her so hard Hunnigan could swear she heard her ribs crack a little.
"Mom, I'm okay. It could've been a lot worse, thankfully it didn't get that far, everything's okay, really," Hunnigan said, quite frankly trying to convince herself of it more than she was trying to assure Alix at the moment.
"Good thing you were there," Lance said, reaching to put his hand onto Helena's shoulder and squeezed it.
"Well, actually, the credit for the swift rescue really goes to Olivia; she figured it out and called me to get back home," Helena said.
"Where is Dr. Brooks anyway?" Alix asked as she slowly pulled back from the hug, "I haven't seen her since..." she trailed off, trying to remember.
"...since she tried to analyze Lucy and got so scared she quit the Bureau," Hunnigan offered. While Olivia had never said quite as much, Hunnigan was convinced Lucy had been the last straw when she'd contemplated on whether to continue at the F.B.I. or not. The case involving Lucy had been the last one she'd worked for the agency.
"I'm sure she'll stop by," Hunnigan then said.
"Listen, I'm gonna go back home and pick up some things and clean up the place a bit, okay?" Helena then said and Hunnigan agreed.
"Uhm, could you give us a moment?" she then requested from her parents and they nodded, retreating into the living room to give them some privacy.
"Remember that hundred thousand bucks I mentioned I have saved up?" Hunnigan began and Helena nodded.
"How about we use that as a down payment for a house? I don't think I want to go back to the loft, not after everything that's gone wrong there recently," Hunnigan said in a quiet mutter and Helena smiled ruefully.
"Yeah, we can do that," she agreed and leaned to kiss Hunnigan's lips softly.
"I think I'll go take a shower and try to get some rest. I'll kick Lucy out of my room so we can stay there," Hunnigan then smirked a little and Helena chuckled.
"Okay, I'll be back soon and I'll bring your phone and laptop and some other stuff, all right?"
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Mom! A little privacy, thank you!" Hunnigan exclaimed when Alix burst into the room without knocking while Hunnigan was getting dressed after having taken a long, hot shower in an attempt to wash away the feeling of Michael's hands grabbing at her and banish the smell of him that somehow still felt like it was clinging to her.
"Oh, please, you're talking to the woman who breastfed you, changed your diapers and used to wipe your butt, not to mention I'm a medical professional, so I highly doubt you've got anything I haven't already seen," Alix dismissed with a shrug.
"I was adopted, how could you have breastfed me?" Hunnigan frowned and pulled on a T-shirt.
"Motherly love and determination, I willed myself to lactate just to feed my sweet baby angel, namely, you," Alix said dryly and Hunnigan narrowed her eyes at her.
"I was pregnant when we adopted you, but I miscarried and afterward I figured that since I could feed you then, why not," Alix explained.
"I didn't know you were expecting when you adopted me."
"Yes, well, why would you have?"
"...I'm sorry, I don't know what to say."
"Well, to be honest, this conversation is getting a little too frank for my liking also, so how about we talk about something else?" Alix smiled ruefully and put the fresh sheets she'd brought over onto the bed.
"As long as you won't ask me anything about Michael, then sure," Hunnigan said and went to make the bed.
"Just one question."
"All right, what?" Hunnigan sighed as she pulled the sheet from the bed and haphazardly folded it before dropping it onto the floor so that she could take it to laundry later.
"Did he rape you?"
"No, he didn't. I told you, it didn't get that far."
"I know what you said, but I also know that when it comes to things like that, women tend to lie because they're ashamed. Or because they're scared of their partner's reaction," Alix said and grabbed the other end of the sheet, helping Hunnigan stretch it neatly over the mattress.
"Yes, and considering how invasive even I felt all the questioning I went through afterward was, I can see why women who have actually gotten raped would rather pretend it never happened, but I'm telling you the truth, he didn't get that far. I'm sure that was his intention, but he..." Hunnigan tailed off and sucked in a shuddering breath.
"I got lucky. Olivia heard me drop the phone when he shoved his way into the apartment and Helena was nearby so she could get there before he... managed to get beyond dragging me upstairs. Then Helena turned up, beat the hell out of him and he was arrested, end of story," she then said, inhaled deeply through her nose and let it out in a slow exhale, the sudden urge to burst into tears slowly passing.
"All right. But you know you can talk to me about it if you want to," Alix said.
"I know I can, of course. But I don't really have much to say. Well, except..."
"Yes?"
"I'm just... stunned at how easily he overpowered me, I mean, I should know how to handle myself, even if he is a big guy. And still, I just froze. I don't understand why. I feel like I should've fought back, but instead I told myself that just let him do it and then it'll be over, and I don't know why I just... gave up like that!" Hunnigan said, tears of frustration brimming in her eyes as she slumped to sit on the edge of the bed.
"You didn't give up, you simply did the smart thing," Alix said and sat next to her, bringing her hand to softly touch Hunnigan's jaw and examined the bruising on her skin.
"...because judging from these, he could've very easily snapped your neck if you had pissed him off. I know you feel like you should've done more, but I'm telling you, you did the right thing," Alix said, put her arm around Hunnigan's shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
"You feel a little warm," she then said and put her palm over Hunnigan's forehead.
"I'm fine, mom," she chuckled through tears and sat up straight.
"Nope, I'm telling you, tomorrow you'll have a cold."
"How can you know?" Hunnigan scoffed and wiped her eyes.
"A mother knows," Alix shrugged as if that were the ultimate answer to everything.
"Now, get to bed," she then said and pulled the cover back.
"Fine, but only because choose to do so, not because you told me to," Hunnigan stated and settled to lie down and Alix promptly tucked her in like she were a child again, but today Hunnigan didn't mind it at all.
"I'll clear my schedule tomorrow so that I can look after you. I'll be on call in case of an emergency, but right now, you're my biggest emergency."
"How flattering," Hunnigan rolled her eyes, "I really don't want you to do that, I'm a big girl, I'll be fine."
"I do worry about you, Jimmy. And I don't care how tall you get, you're still my little girl and I worry about you. Now, get some sleep," Alix then said softly and kissed Hunnigan's forehead before getting up.
"Yes, ma'am," Hunnigan chuckled, "Good night, mom."
Helena had been chain smoking on the patio for almost an hour when Lucy went to her, nonchalantly lighting up as well.
"Did you steal my pack again?" Helena quirked an eyebrow when she noticed Lucy was holding a pack of the same brand Helena smoked.
"You forget, I am of age, I can buy my own," Lucy said and inhaled the smoke, "But I do give you some credit, I wouldn't have known I like these if I hadn't tried some from your pack."
"I'm flattered," Helena said sarcastically.
"Dad told me to come get you inside," Lucy then delivered the message she'd been sent to bring.
"Yeah, okay, in a minute."
"I'm really glad you were there earlier," Lucy then said, surprising Helena with her statement. The last time the subject of keeping Hunnigan safe had been the topic of conversation between the two of them, Lucy had made it clear she didn't trust Helena to protect her.
"But I can't believe you didn't kill him."
"Believe me, I wanted to and I would've if your sister hadn't stopped me. But she's right, killing him would've just landed me in prison, he's not worth that."
"Maybe. And maybe if and when he makes bail or something, he'll... get into an accident," Lucy said through her teeth, narrowing her eyes a little as she contemplated on going after him and Helena scoffed. She had no doubt Lucy meant what she said and she was certain Lucy had what it took to pull off something like that, and Helena realized that Lucy really could be very dangerous.
No wonder Olivia got scared trying to figure out what makes Lucy tick, Helena thought.
"If anyone's gonna kill that bastard, it'll be me," Lance said, making both of them jump a little at his sudden appearance. He took a seat on the outdoor sofa and handed Helena a beer.
"Thanks," she said and took a drink from the bottle.
"Dad, I want one too."
"Well, too bad, you can't have one. It's bad enough you've picked up smoking," Lance told her and she sighed.
"It's not like I'm really smoking-smoking, I'm just kind of... flirting with the idea," Lucy defended her vice.
"Go inside and help your mother clear the dishes, Helena and I've got some grown up-stuff to talk about."
"I am a grown up!"
"Now, Lucy!" he said sternly and Lucy seemed to shrink a little underneath his glare. Helena had to admit she herself would've shrunk as well had his glare been directed at her. She'd never seen him angry before, on the contrary, he seemed like the kind of a man who wasn't even capable of getting angry... which just made his anger scarier. Lucy put out her cigarette and went back inside, the look on her face making it clear she would've wanted to mutter something obscene, but didn't quite dare to.
"I'm not usually a violent guy, but if I could get my hands on that fucking piece of garbage, I'd rip his balls off with my bare hands," Lance said.
"I'd pay to see that," Helena agreed.
"That said, I don't think Ingrid needs a bunch of white knights right now. What she needs is to know she's loved and safe, you hear what I'm saying?" he then asked, turning to look at Helena.
"That I shouldn't go out looking for revenge because it would just make it all worse."
"Exactly. And the last thing she needs is to blame herself for what happened and in addition to that, blame herself for the fact that you... or I... did something stupid and got ourselves in trouble because of her. You know, since... it wouldn't be because of her. Am I making any sense?" Lance then asked.
"Yes, she probably already thinks she brought the assault on herself somehow, and that assault would also be what caused us to do stupid things," Helena summarized and Lance nodded, Helena's wording of it making more sense than his scattered thoughts had even if the principle was the same.
"I'll be honest with you, even though the worst didn't happen, I still feel like it did. And I don't know what to do about that. I mean, I should know, I've been a parent to kids who have been abused and hurt, kids like Lucy, but it's still... different."
"If you're looking for input from a stable, well-adjusted individual on how to deal with difficult things, I'm really not the right person to talk to," Helena said somewhat amusedly and Lance chuckled ruefully.
"I don't know what I'm looking for. You were there, what really happened?" he then asked quietly.
"You're not gonna wanna hear it."
"I know, but I need you to tell me anyway."
"If I'd gotten there a few minutes later, he would've raped her, that's a fact. But he didn't get that far, thank God. I don't know what happens to him next, but I do know he didn't get what he wanted, and that's a huge relief, and we should be grateful nothing worse happened and move on rather than keep reminding Ingrid about it by questioning her or... stuff," Helena said and Lance exhaled deeply, nodding his head a little.
"You're right. Good talk," he then chuckled a little and stood up, and Helena followed his example and stepped back inside the house.
"Actually, Lance, there's something else I've been meaning to talk to you about," she then said and he raised his eyebrows in a silent question.
"I'm kind of old-fashioned about some things and this is one of them, and I should've asked you before, but it was kind of an ex tempore-thing when it happened."
"What was?"
"I... asked Ingrid to marry me, and being the old-fashioned-type, I feel like I should've asked for your permission first."
"Damn right you should've!" he scoffed and Helena cleared her throat awkwardly. She hadn't expected quite this kind of a reaction.
"She's my baby girl and I sure as hell expect to have some say in who is good enough for her, especially when we're talking about something as big as marriage."
"I understand, and that's why I'm asking you about it and I'm sorry I didn't before, it's just... like I said, it just kind of happened."
"Well, it shouldn't 'just happen', you should do it properly and not just blurt it out in the heat of the moment, what kind of a proposal is that?" Lance scoffed and Helena would've wanted to answer, but couldn't find the words, instead she stood there, with her mouth open, feeling about as stupid as she was sure she looked right about now.
"Lance, stop bullying my future daughter-in-law," Alix scolded him as she came to Helena's rescue and Lance burst out laughing.
"What's... happening?" Helena stammered.
"I'm just messing with you," Lance chuckled.
"...what?"
"I'm joking, I'm not really mad at you, and I sure as hell wasn't expecting anyone to ever ask me permission to propose to my daughter, although I appreciate that," Lance elaborated.
"He was just imitating my father," Alix rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder.
"I was," Lance nodded, "I mean, imagine the grandson of an Irish immigrant facing off with a hoity-toity French-Canadian guy, it was a showdown worth seeing, and I bet I looked about as confused and terrified as you just did," he continued , still laughing a little bit.
"Yeah, I'm still kind of confused and terrified," Helena said awkwardly.
"Pay him no heed, he's just being childish," Alix said and put her arm around Helena's shoulders protectively.
"Hey, I do have one thing to say to this, in all seriousness," Lance then said.
"Which is..?"
"She's keeping her last name."
"Honey, your last name was a typo," Alix rolled her eyes and turned to Helena, "It was originally Hannigan, but someone messed up his grandparents' immigration papers," she explained.
"Yeah, which is what makes the name all the more important and special," Lance defended his legacy.
"I, uhm... Well, we hadn't discussed anything about stuff like that, and I had actually assumed she would keep her name," Helena stuttered a little. Now that she thought about it, she could barely even imagine Hunnigan being called by any other name, least of all Harper.
"In that case, you have my blessing," he smiled.
"As if they needed that," Alix rolled her eyes at him again.
"Come on, Ali, just let me enjoy a successful prank, you know I've only had one chance to do it before, and Nina's husband didn't even fall for it because that guy has no manners."
"You had your fun, Lancelot, now leave her alone so that we can discuss wedding plans," Alix ordered him gently.
"All right, just one more thing," Lance said and Helena braced herself. Lance put his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Welcome to the family."
