This chapter could be triggering due to a scene that could be deemed scary.
Emily had screwed up again. This cold was causing her to not function at her highest level. She'd forgotten a simple task of picking up scarves the day before, and now she was running late for work. She would be incredibly lucky to not be on Miranda's chopping block when she got back. The only good thing was her cold seemed to be on the mend. Perhaps all the cold and sinus medication she was downing was finally working. Her phone started to ring as she hurried down the sidewalk with all the bags in her hand. Andy, of course. She answered.
"What?! I know I'm late..."
"Emily, there's something I need to tell you..."
"I forgot the bloody scarves," Emily went on, not hearing her. "I was supposed to get them yesterday. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I really need to..."
"This crowd is ridiculous," Emily was saying, more to herself than Andy. She pressed on.
...
Lee awoke strapped to a chair. Disoriented at first, he squinted up at the bright light that was hanging over his head. When his vision cleared, he noticed a laptop on the table in front of him and DeMarko standing in front of that.
"Good morning, sunshine," he said. Lee didn't respond. "I have had enough of you and your so called team harassing me. I knew right away who you were when you suddenly arrived into my circles. Don't look so surprised. Tell me where Barney is right now, and it all ends well for you."
"But not for him," Lee clarified.
"Well, that's my goal," DeMarko shrugged.
"I won't talk," Lee said firmly.
"I know. That's why I brought some incentive."
Lee felt nervous suddenly as DeMarko turned on the laptop screen. It was a live video feed of something. Lee peered at it. It seemed like a moving car, but he wasn't sure.
"Do you know where Emily Charlton is right now?" DeMarko asked. Lee's heart clenched. This couldn't be happening.
"I don't. We broke up months ago," he answered.
"It's too bad you couldn't make it work, but I know you still care about her right? I mean, who really ever gets over their ex?" DeMarko went on. He'd done his homework on Lee Christmas.
"Don't touch her," Lee warned.
"Or what? You gonna beat me up? Go ahead and try," DeMarko chuckled. "But no, I'm not going to do anything. My friend is. Watch." Lee was horrified to see Emily walking on the sidewalk carrying bags and talking on the phone.
"It's all in the timing, you see," DeMarko said. "That is the key factor in what we do to her next."
"She's not even with me anymore. She is not involved in this," Lee said, getting anxious. He worked to keep his tone level, though.
"But she will make you talk. That's the thing about having loved ones...they get used against you. It's why I have no one," DeMarko finished.
"It wouldn't matter if I told you. You'd still hurt her."
"Not as dumb as he looks, folks," DeMarko laughed. "But seriously, if you tell me, she gets to walk. I will also tell you who killed your parents."
Lee froze at this, unable to process the words DeMarko had just uttered. His parents had died in a tragic accident. They were not murdered. He looked at DeMarko.
"Ah, I see I have hit the spot. I guess I didn't really need to bother with her at all," DeMarko smirked.
"My parents died in an accident," Lee insisted.
"Did they, though?" DeMarko asked, tilting his head. "Did they really? Are you 100 percent sure about that?"
Lee felt he was being tricked, that it was all made up. Then again, what if it was the truth?
"You don't know your father, but he was like me and did some arms dealing back in the day. He tried to leave the bad life behind, but it caught up to him. Fortunately for you, you got to live. Now I see you spend your time as someone who is expendable. It's kind of ironic, isn't it? You work hard to take down people who were just like your old man."
"Shut up," Lee snarled. His mind was racing. His father had been a bad person? He tried to think, but his memories were not there. He wouldn't have understood at that young age anyway.
"Tick tock, Mr. Lee," DeMarko said, tapping his watch. "Barney. Where is he?"
"He'll find you first."
"All right. I guess I have to prove that I'm serious," DeMarko sighed. He brought the table and laptop closer to Lee as he spoke into his phone. Lee strained but couldn't get free. He couldn't keep his eyes off of Emily. She was clearly distracted on her phone. He hated that her work made her so distracted. Pay attention! he wanted to scream at her.
"This is gonna be good," DeMarko said, standing beside Lee, who turned his head to not watch. "Oh, no. You have to see this." DeMarko forced Lee's head back and held it still, aimed at the screen.
"I don't know where Barney is," Lee said. "I swear. Just...leave her alone."
"Too late."
The camera, which he now knew was inside a car, lurched forward as Emily stepped onto the road. He resisted screaming as the car slammed into her and sent her flying, but he felt like he was dying inside.
"Oh, and it will look like an accident too," Demarko tutted. "She was super distracted and didn't pay attention to the cars. Too bad."
"You son of a bitch," Lee snarled, fighting to get loose.
"All right. Well, we're done here I guess. So long, Mr. Lee," DeMarko said, walking out of the room. Lee counted to ten before getting onto his toes and inching his way to the wall. He repeatedly smashed the chair against it, feeling lucky that it was a wooden chair. After eleven hits, he was free, and he unraveled the ropes around his wrists and ankles. He went to the door, looking for a way to open it. It seemed to need a code. The laptop was still on the table, but it was disconnected now. He could still hear the screams of bystanders and the noise of Emily hitting the windshield in his mind. He was angry and scared and devastated. He had no idea if she was alive or dead. He'd failed to protect her. He wasn't even dating her and they still went after her. He didn't know what to do. He paced like a caged animal. He didn't know how long he was left in the room until the door clicked and opened. Lee grabbed a broken piece of the chair as a weapon and held it in front of him. He evened his breathing, prepared to fight his way out.
"Lee?" Barney's voice called. Lee lowered his arm and stepped into the light. "You all right?"
"They got her," Lee said, his voice hoarse.
"What? Who?"
"Emily. They...they may have just killed her because I wouldn't tell them how to find you."
Barney looked at the laptop, suddenly understanding what had happened in here, that they had made Lee watch.
"Well, I found them," he said. "I took care of DeMarko. He won't be bothering me or you anymore. We found his product. Wouldn't you know it, he keeps it close to him in his mansion."
"Shit, no!" Lee shouted, slamming his fist onto the table.
"What? What's wrong? He's dead...isn't that a good thing?" Barney asked, confused.
"He told me he knew who killed my parents."
"But...didn't they die in an accident?"
"He claims it wasn't. He says my father was an arms dealer...that...that he got killed..." Lee broke off. He was beginning to feel emotional. It was all too much, just too much. He saw Emily flying in his mind, and he choked a sob.
"Come on," Barney said, putting his arm around him and moving him to the door. "We'll check on Emily. Maybe it was a fake video."
"It wasn't," Lee shook his head. "It was real time. I saw it."
"Okay, well, maybe she didn't die. Maybe she's at the hospital."
"DeMarko's friend will get her. He's still there."
"We will find him. I've got photos of all DeMarko's men on file. He won't get far. He might even go into hiding."
"I gotta get home," Lee said, rushing down the halls with Barney on his heels. He didn't even register all the dead bodies on his way. He just had to get to Emily. He had to know if she was all right. He had to save her from the man who had just tried to kill her because he knew it wasn't over if Emily was still alive.
...
Emily opened her eyes in the hospital to find Eric sitting beside her.
"Hello," she said.
"Geez, Em, you scared me," Eric said, leaning in to see her fully.
"I'm all right."
"What were you doing that you couldn't see the car coming?" he asked.
"I was working. Andy was on the phone, and I just...I just didn't see it," she answered, sniffing.
"You're lucky to be alive," Eric said. "Mum was hysterical."
"You called her?!"
"I had to. I promised to call with serious events, and this is a serious event."
"What did she say?"
"She's coming to New York."
"She...she what?" Emily asked, stunned. Her mother never left England.
"She wants to make sure herself that you're okay. She doesn't seem to believe me," Eric sighed. Emily felt frustrated inside. She didn't want her mother. She wanted someone else. She wanted Lee. Eric reached to smooth her hair back.
"Rest up, okay?"
"Okay."
"I'm just gonna run out for something to eat." He was also going to try Lee again. He'd been calling him ever since he had been told about the accident, but Lee was not answering his phone.
"Okay," she nodded.
He patted her arm comfortingly before getting up and leaving. It wasn't too long after that when Andy arrived.
"My God, Emily, are you okay?" she asked.
"Clearly I've been better," Emily retorted. Andy leaned against the wall below the window, crossing her arms and looking at her. Emily found herself annoyed with her. She was annoyed with the entirety of her situation. Her leg was in a cast, and she would be that way for however long. She would not let it affect work. She couldn't afford to be off work.
"So what is it that you were so desperate to tell me?" Emily asked, remembering.
"Oh. Um...it's about...it's about Paris," Andy said hesitantly. Emily froze.
"What about it?" she asked carefully.
"Miranda wants me to go," Andy spilled.
"Excuse me?"
"She...she said she would fire me if I didn't say yes!"
"I don't care if she fired you or filleted you alive with a sharp knife! You should have said no!" Emily cried, feeling desolate inside. Must everything in her life be taken away from her?
"I'm so sorry..." Andy tried.
"No," Emily said, holding up her hand. A hospital worker came then with a tray of food, and Emily looked at him as he set it in front of her. She gave the tiniest of smiles before he left. Then she heaved a sigh. There was no point in not eating now was there? She actually found herself feeling hungry. Perhaps the bang on her head from the accident did something to her. They told her she was lucky she didn't have a concussion or worse. She grabbed the pudding and ripped the top off, digging the spoon into it. Lee would be so proud of her. Oh, God. Lee. Then she remembered Andy was still standing there.
"You know what burns my ass?" she asked. "Is that you were not interested in fashion at all. You wanted to be a journalist, and now you're going to Paris!"
"Emily..."
"And the clothes you're gonna get," Emily went on, feeling crushed inside. "Oh God. You don't deserve them. You drown yourself in carbs every single day for crying out loud! It's bollocks!"
"Emily," Andy tried again.
"Get out," Emily ordered. She shoved more pudding into her mouth.
"I'm really sorry."
"I said out!" Emily snapped. Andy bowed her head before walking out of the hospital room. Emily waited for her to be gone before she pinched her nose to stop from crying. All her hard work, and it was for nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"What's wrong?" Eric asked, returning. He had a sandwich in his hand from the hospital cafeteria.
"I'm not going to Paris," she sniffed.
"Well, I should say not. Look at you," Eric said, gesturing. "You just got hit by a car. You broke your leg. I don't think a doctor is gonna let you go anywhere anyw- hang on." He stopped his speech when he noticed she was holding a pudding in her hands. "Are you eating that? Or am I hallucinating?"
"Yes, I'm eating it," she snapped.
"That...that's fantastic," Eric said.
"Relax. It's a pudding not an entire platter of bread or something," she said, but she smiled a little. He reached to squeeze her arm lightly before sitting down beside her.
"Mum's on her flight. She'll be here early tomorrow morning."
"Fabulous," Emily sighed, finishing her pudding and reaching for the bread. Eric just smiled and didn't say anything. Seeing his sister eat again made him feel so relieved. He didn't mention that he had called Lee. He didn't want her to be disappointed if he didn't show. He was just glad she was okay.
...
Ten messages from Eric. Lee listened to them all, hearing the frantic sounds of Eric's voice in the first message to the ones later sounding a bit more calm and telling him that Emily was okay but "banged up" and to get his ass there soon to see her.
"Well?" Barney asked when Lee lowered his phone. He was wincing from the pain in his ribs, but he felt relieved.
"She's okay."
"Thank God for that."
"I gotta get there."
"I'm working on it. We've got a ways to go yet," Barney said. "This plane can only go so fast, you know."
"I know."
"She's okay, Lee. That should help you relax."
But it didn't. Lee still worried that something was going to happen to her since they hadn't found DeMarko's associate yet. He had studied the man's photo so he'd recognize him when he saw him. He was also thinking about his parents and what DeMarko had said. Now he'd never know. It made him feel so much worse about it all.
"Stop, Lee. Cool your brain off," Barney ordered. "I can see it going overtime right now."
Lee didn't answer. He rested his head on the window, looking straight ahead. He just wanted to get to New York.
...
It was late, almost four a.m., but Emily couldn't sleep. She was still upset from Andy telling her that she was going to Paris. Emily was still pissed that she had worked so hard, and Miranda dismissed her so easily. Also, she missed Lee so badly it hurt. She wondered where he was in that moment and if he was thinking of her. She was sitting in the lamplight thinking when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Em?"
She turned to face the doorway, confused. Had she conjured him there by just thinking about him? Or had she truly lost her mind?
"Lee?"
"Hey," he said, coming in and standing beside her. He took in the sight of her, the small bandage over her left eye, the large bruise on her right cheek, and the cast on her lower right leg. He hated seeing her hurt. He hated that he saw her get hurt. He was still full of rage from that.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. She noticed he looked a bit beat up, but she didn't comment on it.
"Eric called."
"And you came, just like that?" she said, surprised.
"Of course I came," he answered. "Em, I still care about you. I told you I always would."
She felt herself tearing up at this, but she swallowed it down.
"You're okay?" he asked. "They've said you're okay?"
"Yes. Apparently I could have broken my leg much worse, but it's bad enough to be in a cast for a bit. I think it's a bit dramatic and unnecessary but whatever. It doesn't even really hurt."
"Good. No strange visitors?"
"What? No."
"Good."
"Lee, what is going on?"
"Nothing. I'm just glad you're okay," he said, standing beside her and taking her hand in his. It felt so light. His touch stirred up her emotions again.
"I missed you," she managed to say.
"God, Em, I've missed you every day since I last saw you," he said, squeezing her hand. She held onto it hard back. He felt scared to see how thin she was. Eric hadn't been kidding. She really wasn't eating.
"I'm not going to Paris," she said. "Andy is."
"What?" Lee asked. "After all that?" Eric had told him about the upcoming trip and Emily's cheese diet.
"After all that," she confirmed. She knew Eric had told him.
"And how did this happen?" he asked, gesturing. It was best not to let on that he'd seen how it happened. He didn't want to scare her. She swallowed slowly.
"I was working. I...I didn't see the car..."
"Oh, Em," Lee said, exhaling hard. It didn't help that the driver was intentionally trying to hit her.
"But...I'm eating again," she told him.
"You are?"
"Yes."
Lee didn't know what to say, so he just squeezed her hand.
"Lee," she said.
"Yea?"
"I don't want to do this anymore."
"Do what?" he asked. He felt a bit nervous. What was she going to say next?
"Be without you," she answered.
"What are you saying, Em?"
"Please come home," she whispered. "I...I tried to work up the nerve to call you at least a thousand times after I saw you last, but I didn't know what to say, so I didn't."
"You could have said anything," he assured her. "I thought about calling you, but I didn't want you to worry about me."
"I'm sorry," she said. "I really am. This whole thing was stupid. It doesn't seem to matter if you're here or not, I still worry about you doing your job, so you might as well just be here. I really would like to try again, if you're willing. I really want to make this work. Please, Lee, come home."
Lee took her all in again, and he knew he would not say no. That and Emily was right. It didn't matter if they were together or apart as DeMarko just proved. She could be in danger again in the future, and he wanted to be one step ahead this time.
"Okay," he agreed. "If you want me to come home, I'll come home."
She nodded, still crying. He carefully got into the hospital bed beside her and held her close.
"And it wasn't all you," Lee said after a bit. "I should have insisted we figure it out instead of letting you walk away."
"Let's just forget it," she said. "We both made mistakes, but it doesn't change what happened."
"I know. I just...I regret it."
"Me too."
Lee felt her heart beating in his arms, and he felt himself relax a little. She was safe. He would keep her safe.
"I like being reminded of Dad," Emily whispered, remembering he'd mentioned that in the past. "Contrary to what you think."
"I know."
Emily finally felt tired. She closed her eyes, loving the feel of him next to her again. She loved him. She'd been hanging on to those words ever since she had seen him last but had been too afraid to say them out loud. Now seemed like the right time to finally release them.
"I love you," she said through her grogginess. Lee kissed the side of her head gently.
"I love you too."
Smiling, she fell asleep.
...
"Ahem," a voice said, making Emily open her eyes. It was bright outside, which indicated it was daytime. She looked at the female nurse standing in front of her with crossed arms. She felt Lee stir behind her.
"Hi," Emily said sweetly.
"Sir, you need to get out of the bed right now," the nurse ordered.
"Sorry," Lee said, carefully removing himself. He looked sheepish.
"Do not let me catch you doing that again," the nurse warned. She raised a brow at the state of his face but didn't ask questions.
"No ma'am," Lee shook his head. Emily worked hard to hide her laughter.
"And you, you think this is funny?" the nurse went on, pointing at Emily. "Do you realize the damage he could have done to you?"
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice catching.
"Mmhmmm." The nurse glared at her before going over her chart. Emily purposely did not look at Lee because she knew his face would make her start to laugh again.
"Breakfast in five," the nurse said after confirming Emily was stable.
"Thank you," Emily nodded. Once the nurse was gone, she started to snicker. Lee wasn't too long joining her.
"You just got told by Nurse Gina," Emily giggled.
"I did," he agreed.
"I hope they send me home soon," she sighed, calming down now. "I really do feel fine." A different nurse came in with food, and Emily's stomach growled.
"Oohh hospital food," Lee said, peeking at it. "So bland."
"Well, I imagine if you brought in that pizza you love so much they'd chase you out with sticks," she teased. Lee smiled at her, glad to see her eating.
"Who does jello in the morning?" she asked. "I mean, really."
"Clearly you do," Lee commented as she dug into it.
"I eat what is in front of me," she replied. "I don't have a choice."
"Darling!" Rosemary called, coming into the room suddenly. Lee snapped his head up to look at her. She looked exhausted from her flight.
"Hi, Mum," Emily said.
"Oh! You're eating!"
"Why is that the common theme from all of you?" Emily asked.
"It's just nice to see is all," Rosemary dismissed. "Eric said you were fading away."
"Well, Eric's a liar," Emily retorted. Rosemary went in to hug her then, and Emily felt a fondness for her mother in that moment. She cared enough to come all this way.
"I'm just gonna nip out and get something to eat and some coffee," Lee said.
"Hello, Lee," Rosemary said, hugging him next. She had heard about the break up from Eric, but she kept quiet about it since she knew how touchy Emily could get. She also hadn't wanted Emily to know her brother ratted her out. Now, though, she figured she could bring it up since it seemed Lee was back in the picture from the way the two of them were looking at each other.
"You're well?" Lee asked. He was grateful she didn't ask about his facial wounds.
"Oh, yes. Now go eat. I've got this shift covered."
"See you later," Lee said to Emily. He touched her arm lightly before leaving.
"Spill," Rosemary said once he was gone.
"About what?" Emily asked.
"Lee! Are you two back together as an item?"
"Mum!"
...
Emily was discharged later that day after they determined there was no internal bleeding or head trauma. They gave her crutches, which she hated.
"Crutches don't go with anything," she complained. Lee snorted.
"They go with your cast," he pointed out. She clipped him in the leg with her crutch fondly, making him laugh. Rosemary was back at the apartment cooking dinner. Lee had offered to bring her home. Eric had let him use the car while he took Shadow out for a walk.
"Ugh," Emily said, looking at it. "This is going to be difficult." The process of getting into the car was daunting.
"Not on my watch," Lee replied. In one effective swoop, he had her in his arms.
"Oh!" she cried, startled. He was deceptively strong, but then again, she wasn't very heavy. He set her inside and got her comfortable.
"You're lovely," she said, kissing him.
"I try," he smiled. She reluctantly released him and let him put her crutches in the back and get into the driver's seat. She examined him as they drove.
"So what happened?" she asked. He turned to look at her.
"With what?"
"You have a black eye, Lee," she pointed out. "Among other cuts, bruises, and things."
"Right."
"What happened?"
"My cover got blown. They didn't like me too much after that."
"Did Barney rescue you?" Emily asked.
"Yea," Lee answered. He gripped the wheel tightly in his hands. He couldn't tell her what DeMarko had done or that the person responsible for hitting her with the car was still out there.
"When do you have to go back to work?"
"Not for a bit."
"That's good."
"You better not be going back to work yet," Lee said, feeling as though that was her plan.
"I can't take time off," Emily argued on cue.
"Em, your leg is in a cast..."
"I can still sit at a desk," she insisted. "I told you it doesn't really hurt that much." Lee stopped himself from arguing with her further. If she felt she was able, then who was he to judge? He'd gone to work with worse injuries. He just worried about her. They got to the apartment, and he helped her out of the car. Rosemary greeted them at the apartment door when they got there.
"Lee, what happened?" she asked, finally noticing his face. She frowned. How had she missed that earlier?
"Just an accident at work," he replied. It was the truth at least.
"Maybe it's time to consider a different job?" she suggested.
"Maybe," he answered.
"Dinner is almost ready," Rosemary said, carrying on. "Eric is staying home tonight from work. It's going to be a nice little family meal."
"Thanks, Mum," Emily smiled. Lee got her set up on the couch before offering Rosemary help with dinner. She watched him laugh with her mother, and she watched Shadow go crazy at the sight of him when Eric brought him home from their walk. Emily felt at peace, and she never wanted to lose that feeling again.
...
Eric had given up his room for Rosemary to sleep in. He was on the couch, tossing and turning. Emily was lying in her bed and feeling cold. After a while, Lee crept in and tucked in behind her, his arm around her waist. They slept that way all night. In the morning, Emily heard her mother and Eric go out for a walk, which Emily took to mean they were going to give Emily and Lee some alone time. Lee stirred behind her and cleared his throat. Emily had never wanted him more. She went to kiss him.
"You're in a cast, Em," Lee said, laughing a little as she pulled at his shirt after a bit. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"It has been far too long," she insisted. "I don't care what my leg is in. The rest of me is not broken. It's only my lower leg anyway, and I told you, it doesn't even hurt...there are pain killers in me doing a wonderful job. Just slide it out of the way. It'll be fine."
"Em..."
"Lee, just do it," she ordered.
"Oh, now I'm convinced," he teased, but he propped himself up and removed his shirt for her.
"Good," she said, pulling him down on top of her. He avoided her right leg as best as he could.
"There's a price attached," he said after kissing her.
"What's that?"
"You have to take a week off of work."
"You're the most infuriating man I've ever met," she said, annoyed.
"Thank you," he grinned. "So what's it gonna be?"
Emily knew that if she picked work over him again, it would start up problems. Also, Miranda and Andy had left for Paris, so she could afford to miss work because Miranda wasn't there to rip her a new one for not coming in.
"You're very lucky I can't have sex with my job," she said after a moment. He burst out laughing.
"Time off then?" he asked once he stopped.
"Fine," she sighed, but she also smiled. He resumed kissing her fiercely. He was very careful with her, though, to prevent any further injuries or hurt her leg. As he kissed her, he never felt more sure of anything that he had made the right decision in coming back home to her.