"Close Protection"
Disclaimer – As usual I own nothing but a large amount of debt, a severe lack of talent and a distinct lack of awesomeness!
Certainly nothing to do with Skins, (which still makes me very upset but not as much as before).
Authors Note – and here we are again, wow either I don't post on schedule or these weeks keep getting shorted (-: (Yeah I know it's the former and not the latter, though as Spring is arriving the days do feel a bit longer).
Anyways, Skins has finished and I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief and get back to my favourite set of characters; all of them!
Enjoy this chapter, one more to go and we're off to America, hope those of you that need them have got your passports sorted, if not this is nearly your last chance!
Hope you enjoy this one, if ImagineAlex hasn't fried your brains as much as she's fried mine recently! (BTW if you're not reading Back to Front then you're either very late or very sad...be the former, not the latter, and get over there and prepare to be wowed, and I mean wowed!)
Chapter 36 – Personal and Professional
April left us in a blur of a lot more meetings and a lot less 'dates'. Emily and I fell into what was actually quite an easy pattern, the only 'trouble' was, that despite the fact that we saw each other every day, we didn't have time to 'see' each other. With her busy schedule and my sessions with Joanna we never really had any time 'together'. Still this isn't a bad thing really, we had been pretty intense in a very short period of time and I think we both knew it had to cool down.
It also wasn't a bad thing because I had a of things to think about, an awful lot of things to think about.
The evening of my epiphany had resulted in me sitting on Emily's sofa wrapped up in her arms spilling my guts to her about what I'd discovered. She hadn't said much, just nodded and squeezed and patted and kissed my head as we went along the memory path that I'd finally broken through.
It was a strange realisation; that I hadn't got Paul killed, that it wasn't my actions in letting him take my turn that resulted in that snipers bullet ending his life. The thing was, despite the realisation it wasn't getting any easier; his accusing face reappearing in my dreams that night.
"It won't happen overnight Naomi," Joanna had told me in my next session; the one that took place the day after, the day after I woke up screaming on Emily's couch, a blanket pulled over me. "The brain is a funny thing, you've spent all this time blaming yourself, believing your memory of what happened was the truth. That belief has shaped your life for the last few years and it won't just go away like that.
She was right as well, it hadn't; and neither had the guilt over everyone else, my nights being haunted by the nightmares once more, the same old faces, the same old accusations; the same old guilt.
Thinking about things seemed to be making them worse, and I'd been thinking about things a lot.
Still, I was making progress according to Joanna, whatever progress meant. From what I could tell progress meant a barrage of sleepless nights and tired days.
o+o+o
May pretty much brought more of the same, more therapy, more nightmares and less Emily; personally that was. We still were glued together professionally; and that was just how I wanted it. I wanted to make sure she was safe more than ever now, and I had a real, completely justifiable, reason for doing so.
"Naomi," Rob had said to me one day as I stood outside the boardroom waiting for Emily's meeting to finish. "Can I have a quick word with you, it's about Emily and it's important."
I have to admit to my heart racing like mad as I nodded at the CPO that had accompanied him to presumably take my place. Emily hadn't told Rob about me and her, and I wondered for a second if somehow he'd discovered her dirty little secret; AKA, me.
"Take a look at these," he said tossing a stack of papers in front of me as I walked up to his desk. Rob turned his back on me as I picked them up. He stood looking out of the window at the City skyline, hands twitching behind his back as I leafed through the documents.
"Have you told anyone about these?" I asked putting down the mail that was addressed to him and Emily.
"Not a soul, not even Emily, James recommended someone checking through our mail before it arrives just in case, well just in case this sort of thing happened. I have to admit this is just some of what we've received; I had the rest boxed up and put away, it's been arriving for ages."
I could have strangled him with my bare hands right there and then. I had, in my fingers, some of the most worrying hate mail I'd ever seen. Not one member of the family had been excluded from the bile, not even Jenna; but they'd all been directed at Rob or Emily. Detailed descriptions of what would happen to them or their family if they didn't stop trading with 'the enemies of Islam'.
"You need to report these letters to the police Rob, you can't just hide them, they're evidence."
"They know Naomi, they just don't seem very interested in it all right now."
"But after that attack on Miss Fitch..."
"They believe it was a one off and that the individuals concerned have gone to ground now that you people have been employed. They think this is all copycat stuff." He turned from the window to look at me and grimaced, his face twisting as he fought back a comment. Finally he got himself under control.
"The police are a waste of time Naomi, that's why I'm telling you. I've called your boss over this morning to discuss things, but I wanted to let you know first. How serious do you think this is?"
"Serious Rob, serious enough for me to be worried about Miss Fitch's safety, and that of all of you," I added quickly, hoping that he hadn't spotted my slip. "The guys at the office ran a threat assessment the other day and the opinion is that that a credible threat exists still. This adds fuel to that fire, this scares me a little bit more with those photographs that arrived the other week."
"What about this weekend?" Rob asked staring at me as if I would have all the answers for him. "Do you think this will have an effect on Jenna's little family gathering?"
"I don't know Rob," I replied truthfully. "I really don't know."
o+o+o
"Well; I think, with some extra, added precautions, there's not a problem having you all at the house Mr Fitch." JJ said softly as he placed down the letters on the conference table. "I think we just need to be a little more vigilant and perhaps put a few more people around, alert the police, things like that. This shouldn't be any reason for your family not to get together."
We were sat in the conference room, my request to Rob to discuss this with his daughter finally being accepted. Emily was fidgeting in a seat next to her father looking uncomfortably at the letters that JJ had put down.
"What about the photos from the last time LT," I asked, "they were taken pretty close to the grounds. Did the police find anything useful there?"
"They didn't Sarge, and they think, like we do, that if they had wanted Emily or Jenna dead they would have shot one of them then while it was easy. Probably Emily as she seems to be the main target after you Mr Fitch, and you weren't there."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence JJ." Emily said smiling, but knotting her fingers in a way I'd discovered meant she was nervous. "It's so nice to know that they want to kill me after daddy here."
"That's not what I meant Emily, what I meant was Mr Fitch here is the main target for their attentions, but that you would..."
" I think Miss Fitch gets the message, LT," I interrupted. "Basically the whole family are still in danger and we need to step up security when they're all together. What about when we get to the States LT?"
JJ paused for a second and rifled through his briefcase, finally extracting a document and handing it to me. As I read I heard him giving the Fitch's a quick précis of what it said.
"On behalf of Fitch Industries, James has been in contact with some friends at the Department of Homeland Security. They believe the threat level is very low, they have no reports of 'Khuddam-ul-Islam' operating in the United States and the security for the Arms Expo will be very high anyway as it's considered to be a sensitive target."
"All us military buyers in one place all together, "Rob joked trying to put a brave face on things. "Not to mention all us evil Arms Magnates."
'Yeah,' I thought to myself as I read the confidential document; 'I bet some of those 'Evil Arms Magnates' that are selling arms there deal with those fuckers as well, or twats like them.'
"So Emily and Katie will be safe in America?" Rob asked quickly.
"The threat will certainly be lower than in the UK," JJ replied calmly, folding up the letter and tucking it away as I handed it back to him.
"Right, that's very reassuring. However there is still the threat of these nutters whist we're all here. Naomi I need you to do something for me until we know that the situation has changed. I'd like you to move in to the St John's Wood flat with Emily, I would feel a lot happier knowing that you were near her all the time after receiving these."
I felt Emily's eyes flick to mine and then straight across to her fathers and I saw her hands clench into fists and her face turn red.
"I'm not sure that's a..." I started, not getting far before Emily erupted.
"What the hell daddy, you can't just ask that of Naomi here, that's totally out of order; and what about me? Do I not get a say in who lives in my flat."
"I bought you that flat Emily so no, I want Naomi staying with you. I'm paying James Cook a shitload of money to protect you and my family and if I want round the clock protection that's what I'll get. JJ I hope you'll assist Naomi in making that happen, for Katie and James too."
Emily stared daggers at him and then got up out of her chair, crossed the room, nodding at JJ in passing and left. I got up and went to follow her, only to feel Rob's large hand latch onto my arm as he stopped me in my tracks.
"One second if you would Naomi please," he said softly. "Mr Jones would you excuse me for a second, I would like to have a private word with Naomi?"
"Of course, I'll be outside," JJ said as he headed for the door; as it closed behind him Rob sat down in one of the conference room chairs.
"You may have noticed Naomi, that Emsy and I don't always get along," he held up his hand as I went to speak, causing me to fall silent. "No, it's true. If I'm honest I'd admit that she hates me most of the time because I can't help being a bastard to her. You see, I know a father isn't supposed to have favourites, but Emsy has always been my favourite daughter. She's special; she's clever, artistic, talented. She's the one that's really made this business since she came to work here. I pushed her into being a success, sometimes I think I pushed her, keep on pushing her, a bit too hard."
He paused and rubbed his hand across his eyes, suddenly looking nothing like the arms dealing, arrogant fucker that he came across as; suddenly looking to me like a tired father who had lost his way.
"I can't change how Emsy feels about me Naomi, there's far too much water under both our bridges for that; so I let her hate me, because it makes her feel better. All I ever wanted was the best for my family Naomi, especially Emily; so I'm asking you please, convince her to let you stay at the flat. Since the moment you burst into my study at Larkhall, I knew you were going to be the one to keep her safe. I trust you Naomi so please, do what ever you can to keep my little girl safe."
I nodded curtly, getting a broad white toothed grin from the old fraud. I have no idea if he's playing me, but he at least at that very moment he seemed genuine. I might not like him for what he is and what he's done to Emily, but I had a grudging respect for his admission.
"I'd better go and check on Miss Fitch," I said, grabbing onto my professionalism with both hands and holding it firm.
"Thank you Naomi," he said softly before clearing his throat and reverting to type. "Now would you send that Jones boy in, so I can check on his security arrangements for the weekend bash."
o+o+o
I knocked on the door to Emily's office, and waited for her to call me in; not wanting to raise the tension any further. She'd looked fucking furious when she'd walked out of the Boardroom, so much so I was actually a little apprehensive about speaking to her.
"Come in Naomi," I heard call out and opened the door and stepped into the room making sure the door closed firmly behind me and turning to see her sat behind her desk, swinging on me huge leather chair.
"How did you..." I started, only to be interrupted.
"It was your knock Nomi, you knock like you're jumping to attention, one knock and then two quick knocks, like this;" knock...knockknock.
Her knuckles resounded off her wooden desk as she smiled at me knowingly. "You always knock like that you know? and it's always so fucking military as well, like you're yelling at a new recruit with that knock; knock...knockknock, always the same, every time. Actually the first one usually scares the shit out of me if I'm honest; but I always know it's you when the second two come along."
"You shouldn't take the risk of just assuming Emily, what if it was someone impersonating me?"
"Then they probably wouldn't knock would they? It's not as if my office door is even locked and even if it was, it's only an office door," she said reasonably, "I'm sure you could get in here with just a kick." I had to admit that she had me there.
"No, that's probably true." I replied, as if thinking about it seriously, "kicking in doors is a speciality of mine, though I hope I never have to do it to one of yours, I don't think you'd appreciate the flash bang that follows."
"You know all my doors are open to you Nomi, it might even be fun to have you kick one of them down once, or maybe twice. Especially if you're in some sort of uniform."
"Emily Fitch!" I exclaimed haughtily, playing along with the game.
"Oh come on Nomi, you're telling me you've never used your uniform to spice things up a bit now and again?"
I grinned at the sly wink she gave me, acknowledging her victory. Grinning cheekily back, Emily waved me to sit down on the sofa I'd had lunch on the first time I'd been in her office. Another home from home now, not that I actually had a home.
"Look Emily," I started as I sat down on the cold leather. "I know that Rob was a bit..."
"Controlling, domineering, shitty, totally fucking out of line?" She finished for me.
"Well I was going to say abrupt actually, but I was going to add that I think he has your best interests at heart."
"I know," she sighed kicking her heels up onto the desk and swinging back on her chair. "It's just he's such a fucking cunt, you know?"
I looked at her as she sat sliding down into in her chair, I was actually shocked by the language, but then I guess that was the point. She'd used that word to shock me, using it to express her true feelings for her father; I sat there silently not wanting to comment, knowing somehow that she neither wanted, nor needed me to. Knowing that she just needed me to be there for her, to listen. Then suddenly with a jolt she sat up in the chair and grabbed her phone.
"You want to go out for lunch today Naomi? I'm suddenly starving, I've got a conference call in five minutes and then I'm free for the afternoon. I fancy lunch and then some retail therapy for my trip, I think I deserve it."
I shrugged and then grinned at her. "I believe I'm at your beck and call Miss Fitch," I told her resulting in a goofy smile.
"Yeah you are Miss Campbell, and that's just how I like it."
o+o+o
We had lunch over in Knightsbridge; in one of those restaurants that appear and disappear with alarming regularity due to their high prices and even higher rents. Amazingly what we ate was pretty good, even if I did spend most of the chuckling cruelly at Emily's attempts to eat her tuna salad with her plaster clad hand.
"You're supposed to be more sympathetic Naomi Campbell, she announced as I sniffed back a laugh as another forkful of food ended up back in the bowl.
"I'm on the clock Miss Fitch," I told her. "I don't have to be anything but your CPO."
"Well you should be more professional then Miss Campbell, and show a bit more respect to your employer and her difficulties. Especially as this," she held up her wrist, "is totally your fault!"
"Yes Miss Fitch," I replied, placing my hands into my lap and faking an ashamed look like a chastened servant. "It won't happen again Miss Fitch. Would you like me to cut up your tuna Miss Fitch?"
"I'd like you to stop calling me Miss Fitch you cow," she replied her face breaking into a broad smile, "and pour me a bloody drink. I think I'm going to need it if I've got to put up with your glum 'I hate shopping' face all afternoon."
"I will do my best to ensure you see nothing but my most impassive, CPO face Miss Fitch." I said pulling out my sunglasses and placing them onto the table. "I shall hide my frustrations behind my sunglasses and scare off your admirers with my stern looks."
"You have frustrations Naomi?" she asked cheekily doing that 'I think she's flirting' thing again.
"Only when shopping Miss Fitch," I told her, "I hate shopping, remember?"
She winked at me and shovelled a forkful of tuna and green stuff into her mouth, I took a bite out of the wrap I'd ordered and tried to ignore her. Our eyes met as we chewed and hers twinkled happily at me causing me to smile.
"Where's that impassive face now Miss Campbell?"
"I'm eating Miss Fitch, it's the only pleasure I get with my slave driver of a boss."
"Talking of slave driver bosses," she said waving her fork about as she spoke. "We need to talk about Dad's request."
"I think it's a bad idea," I told her firmly, knowing that was what she wanted to hear.
"I don't," she said tapping her plate with her fork as she stabbed at her lunch, stacking up the salad along the prongs of the fork, finishing it off with a large chunk of the red fish.
"I thought you hated the idea," I replied, looking at her in shock. "When Rob mentioned it, it looked like you were going to explode."
"No Naomi, I just don't like being told what I have to do, least of all by my fucking father; but you have to admit that it does make sense. Even mum suggested you should move in to the flat. Like she said, that way you're close if I need you; professionally and personally."
"That's why I think it's a bad idea Ems. I really don't think me moving into your place would be good for either part of our relationship."
She eyed me appraisingly as she chewed on the mouthful of food that she'd taken whilst I was speaking, finally raising an eyebrow as she swallowed.
"Relationship?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah," I answered deciding to be brave, "relationship. Professional and personal."
Emily's smile was like the dawning of the sun, a look of pure pleasure seemed to wash over her face and she stared at me so hard it left me torn between wanting to grab her and kiss her, or run like hell.
"I could kiss you to death right now Naomi Campbell, if you weren't on duty; you know that?."
"Then it's probably just as well I am Miss Fitch, I'm not keen on fishy breath."
"Shut up!" she said throwing her napkin at me.
"Yes Miss Fitch."
We finished lunch with a promise to discuss the whole 'moving into the flat situation' when we got back from America, there wasn't enough time to consider the logistics of it really. Tomorrow night we were leaving for Fitch Manor for the extended weekend and after that we'd be flying to the States for the Expo. This would be a big step, both professionally and personally; and even though we weren't moving in together in the personal sense, it was still a massive step for me. I'd never not had my own place, my own refuge to run to when things got difficult.
The thought of it had scared me so much I'd spent the entire session that night discussing it with Joanna.
I still didn't have a satisfactory resolution.
I doubted I ever would, not until it happened and perhaps not even then. I'm pretty sure I'd always need a lifeline, always need an escape route; even from her.
o+o+o
Thursday afternoon found me driving the Fitch's Range Rover back to their country home. My replacement car was apparently arriving when Emily and I would be in America and it was a useful time to drop it off. Despite the huge size and an engine that was making the oil companies millions all on its own, I was going to miss the old bus, it really was a luxurious ride, far nicer than my experiences of the Land Rover brand in the Army.
As I drove along the M4 back toward Bath Emily chirped away next to me, either chatting about nothing in particular or singing along with whatever was playing on the radio. It was nice, it was comfortable and it was made the more easier because Emily's meetings were now over, everything was set up and done; next stop the Expo, well after the four days I would have to endure at Larkhall House that is.
Jenna had arranged the big family get together, JJ had arranged the security and Emily had arranged some kind of surprise for me, though she was refusing to tell me what it was.
"No," she'd said exasperatedly over dinner the evening before when I'd casually slipped the question into the conversation again. "Naomi I am not telling you what your surprise is, now will you leave it alone?"
"I hate an unsatisfied curiosity Ems, this is positively killing me you know."
"Well it'll have to carry on killing you babe," she replied with a wicked glint in her brown eyes, "because I'm not telling you."
She'd refused to discuss the surprise any further, despite my playful threats of torture and death; and eventually I'd given up and stewed in silence. This had continued between us off and on for most of the next day, until we'd got into the car that was, which was when she began singing along to the radio.
Finally, I'd admitted defeat. She wasn't going to crack, and I didn't have the heart to turn my full investigators skills onto her. If it meant that much to her to keep it a secret, 'd decided that I could hold out for the next hour or so until we get there.
Happily for me, apart from Emily's terrible singing, the journey was uneventful, and pretty soon I was pulling up on the broad gravel driveway of Fitch Manor and smiling as Emily bounded out of her seat and ran up the steps of their home to drag her mother into a big hug. Jenna waved at me as Emily gripped her and I raised a finger from the steering wheel in salute.
"Mrs Fitch has asked me to inform you that you are in Miss Katie's old room again Miss Campbell," Andrew said stiffly as he approached the vehicle. "I will have your bags taken up immediately."
"Thanks Andrew," I said, ignoring the formality. "Where do you want me to park this thing, I'm returning it today."
"I will deal with it Miss; Mrs Fitch would like to speak to you in the reception room."
I handed over the keys and made my way up the steps to the house, wondering which of the rooms was the reception room. Thankfully I heard Jenna call me from a room to my right and I walked in to see her and Emily sat on a sofa.
"Come in Naomi, sit down and I'll pour us some drinks," Jenna said, leaning forward to the silver coffee pot on the table.
"I could do with checking in with whomever's on duty Jenna," I told her quickly, knowing that my duty lay elsewhere. "But thank you. Besides, I'm sure you and Emily would like some time together alone"
Jenna looked at me and pursed her lips but finally nodded understandingly. "Do what you need to do Naomi, I'm going to take Emily here down to the south gardens after we've had a drink and a chat, I'd appreciate it if you'd join us when you're done."
"Certainly," I replied. "I don't think I'll be too long, I just want to get up to speed with the team and make sure we're ok?"
"Naomi, I've had Andrew put a change of clothes I ordered for you in your room," Jenna said, casually pouring herself an Emily a coffee from the cafetiere that sat in front of them. "I think you should get changed before you come down to join us. I'd hate for you to ruin your work clothes on my behalf."
I smiled and nodded my thanks and left the room, leaving mother and daughter to their chatting. Half an hour later I was happy, reassured that the guys were still doing a good job and impressed with the trainee that Andy had recommended, Karen, who was working the camera station today. Finally I made my way into my, or rather Katie's, room and started unpacking my gear to get it out of the way; It didn't take long for me to stuff things into drawers and onto hangers and then I kicked my bags under the bed and looked to see what Jenna was on about.
I stared at the clothes that had been folded and placed on my bed in some surprise; they were definitely not what I was expecting. Stripping down to my underwear I picked up the jet black pair of combat trousers and pulled them on, slipping the black thin weave jumper on and tucking it in as I zipped them closed. The next item of clothing was a light tactical vest, with a pouch at the side that looked like it would nicely hold rifle or shotgun rounds. Jenna had obviously decided to treat me so I could help her shoot again; and I wondered if she'd bought a matching outfit for herself.
I had a slight grin on my face as I caught a look of myself in the mirror as I pulled on the combat boots that had been placed out for me as well. I looked like I was preparing for a tactical ops mission and it made me feel really good to be wearing something that looked like a uniform again. I'd even missed the cold feeling of a new pair of boots, though these were nothing like the ones I'd been issued by Her Majesty's Quartermaster stores, these felt like a second layer of skin, light, soft and very, very comfortable.
Standing up and doing my traditional bounce on my heels to settle my kit, I grinned at myself once more in the mirror, pulled what I could of my hair into a short pony tail and headed downstairs and out towards the back gardens. What I saw when I got there caused me to stop and take a second glance. Part of Jenna's shooting field had been turned into a proper shooting range, pop up targets with sandbags and barrels for cover. Someone had really done a number on the place, and I had an inkling as to whom, and who for.
"Naomi," Jenna said as I walked over to her, you look very smart like that, doesn't she Emily?"
"Oh yeah Mum, very smart."
Ems looked me up and down behind her mother's back and licked her lips, very deliberately making she she'd caught my eye before she did so.
"Thanks, it feels good to get out of a suit and into some proper working clothes," I said ignoring Emily's teasing. "What's all this then?"
"We've borrowed some kit of a contact of mine," Emily said standing and turning her back on me.
"That's right," Jenna added, "We thought you'd want to get in some practice before the competition, well actually Emily and I thought you should. We really want you to beat James," she added conspiratorially.
"Yeah, so with this in mind we got you this," Emily said, turning around with a funny looking rifle in her hands, "something to practice with out there."
I flinched as the barrel turned in my direction and to my horror heard a loud series of bangs and felt a twin impact in my leg, right in the spot where the first round had hit me in Gereshk. As a sharp pain lanced through my body, I heard Emily's cries of apologies drowned in the flashback of that terrible moment and then the world went black.