Hey everyone,
sorry for the delay! I've hit a major writing wall! Please send some motivational vibes my way, please! lol
I know it's shorter than normal but it's better than nothing, right?
Promise To Love Me, Even When You Hate Me.
Chapter 29.
Frankie sat down next to him and placed a hand on his knee causing him to flinch.
"So…"
He didn't respond, she frowned and punched him on the shoulder.
"You've got nothing to say about what you read?"
He let out a hiss and chucked the piece of paper that fell out the book at her, she read it an placed it on the table in front of him.
"So, what are you gonna do?"
He focused on the piece of paper hoping it would give him an answer, he shoved it aside and shook his head.
"Nothing…"
She gave him a shove and wrinkled her face.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, I don't think I can get past this! She's gone anyway, Mike said she went back to Melbourne."
"Something must have happened then, she said she wasn't going anywhere."
"Yeah, I know, see why I still can't trust her?"
Shaun knocked on Lisa's apartment door, he shifted on the spot unsure of how he was going to break the news.
Lisa sat on her couch watching TV, Grey's Anatomy played but she barely registered what was happening, all she could think about was Dylan.
Meredith Voice over: It's all anybody wants, right? A clean slate, a new beginning. Like that's gonna be any easier. Ask the guy pushing the boulder up the hill. Nothing is easy about starting over. Nothing at all.
She didn't hear Shaun knock, she was lost in her own thoughts. He pressed his ear against the door and frowned hearing the TV, he knocked again and called out.
"McDonald, open up, it's important."
She blinked a few times bringing herself back to reality, she stayed put for a moment, tempted to ignore him, but she knew it wasn't a good idea, her job was on the line. Shaun placed a smile on his face trying to act normal as she swung open the door.
"Boss..."
He stepped in the doorway trying to keep his upbeat mood.
"Sorry to interrupt your night..."
She flopped back on to the couch and turned off the TV.
"Yeah, sure, didn't you know I was expecting all my friends over for a welcome home party?"
Shaun ignored her sarcasm, he wasn't going to support her new self loathing attitude, especially when his news was going to make it worse.
"McDonald, I've got some, umm, information..."
She gave him her full attention hearing his strange tone, her eyes narrowed as she scanned his face her trying to guess whether it was good or bad news. Her face dropped, she could tell it wasn't good, he had the worst poker face.
"How bad?"
He exhaled sharply, Lisa let out a growl as she grew impatient, a thought crossed her mind.
"Wait, I'm fired, aren't I?"
He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat.
"Well, you were gonna quit..."
She lept up from the couch and paced erratically in front of him trying not to freak out.
"Shit, I mean, yeah, but if I quit at least I wasn't fried for, for breaking all the rules."
Shaun stood up in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders steadying her.
"Lis, wait, sorry, you're not fired."
She froze and shot him a pissed off look.
"What?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to soften the blow."
She gave him a shove, he couldn't help but laugh, he sat back down on the couch, she followed sensing it was still serious.
"Wait, soften the blow? What could be worse?"
He took a deep breath in worried about how she was going to react.
"It's Warren..."
"Oh, god, what has he done now?"
Shaun hesitated, he didn't want to tell her, but he had to.
"He's gone..."
Lisa tilted her head unsure whether she had heard correctly.
"What do you mean? Gone?"
"He escaped. We umm, we think he had help."
"Ah, okay, so what are you saying?"
"Well, we're just concerned about your safety, so, just as a precaution we're going to place you..."
She shook her head insistently knowing what he was about to say.
"Don't say it... please.."
"We're gonna place you in a safe house."
She sat there staring at him blankly hoping it was a dream, he waved his hand in front of her face.
"Lisa?"
"Shaun, please, look, just give me a gun, I'll be fine."
"Sorry, not my decision, and you're not really in a place to argue."
She knew there wasn't any way out of it, she sat there thinking of the last time she as in a safe house, it made her feel sick. Her last experience had led her to take the position in the N.I.I.D, something that had potentially ruined her life. Shaun was a little confused about her reaction, it wasn't permanent and it was for her safety.
"Where is it?"
"Umm, NSW, central coast... at least you'll be near the water?"
Lisa let out a scoff she wasn't in the mood for silver linings.
A few days later transport had been arranged, Shaun pulled up to a secluded property water's edge and nudged her in the passenger's seat.
"Wakey, Wakey..."
Lisa stretched her arms and looked around, she squinted, it was still dark but the sun was about to peak out from the horizon.
"Why did we have to leave in the middle of the night, and drive?"
Shaun rolled his eyes, she knew why, and he wasn't going to justify her question with an answer.
"So, there are only 2 people who know you're here, me and the director. I've got a new ID for you. Just be good, you'll put yourself, and others in danger if you don't cooperate."
She glanced down at the ID and snatched it from his grip as she exited the car, he shook his head and called out.
"I know how stubborn you can be McDonald!"
He got out the car and unloaded her suitcases, they wheeled them up the front path, she stopped him from opening the door.
"What if the director is involved?"
Shaun let out a huff, he couldn't know for sure, but they didn't have a choice but to trust him.
"Well, I'll be close by, so..."
"And what others would I be putting in danger?"
He plonked her suitcase at the front door and headed back down the path, she called out after him.
"Hey, where are you going? Aren't you gonna check the house for bad guys?"
He turned and laughed.
"Check your bag…"
She frowned and leaned down rummaging in her bag and pulled out a gun.
"Seriously? It's actually that bad?"
She looked back up waiting for an answer, but he was getting back into the car.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be back in an hour."
Lisa cautiously opened the door and flicked on the lights before entering, she cautiously peered in the door poking her head in. Letting out a scoff she shook her head at herself.
"Don't be stupid…"
She wheeled her suitcase into the first bedroom and sat on the bed, letting out a sigh she flopped back onto it and stared at the ceiling wondering how long she'd be stuck there.
She had just finished unpacking when she heard a car door slam, she peered out the window and saw Shaun unload a suitcase.
"God, he said he'd be close but don't tell me he's staying here like an overprotective father?"
She flopped back onto the couch and turned on the TV, she heard the door unlock and called out still focused on the TV.
"I hope you don't snore!"
"I know you do!"
She whipped her head around hearing a voice that didn't belong to Shaun, she stood up not knowing what to say.
"Dylan…"
He immediately looked away and made his way into the other bedroom, Shaun stepped into the living room and cleared his throat.
"Ah, surprise…"
She stormed up to him looking like she was going to rip his throat out. She clenched her jaw and spoke quietly so Dutchy couldn't overhear, but in a way he knew she was livid.
"Are, you, fucking, kidding, me?"
Shaun smiled nervously, his eyes darted around the room.
"Hey, I thought you'd be thanking me, might give you a chance to mend things."
"He hates me, Shaun, he said I destroyed him. I've hurt him enough, he needs to move on, please just take me somewhere else."
"I can't, sorry..."
Dylan cleared his throat as he made his way back out to the living room, Lisa froze and slowly turned and smiled.
Shaun walked over to the couch, he waved them over. They sat like school children waiting for instructions, he pulled two mobiles out of his pocket.
"There's a phone for each of you, for emergencies only, they're encrypted but you never know who Warren was working with. Only go out if..."
Lisa let out a huff and snatched the phone from his hand and interrupted.
"Only go out if we have to, no routines, no friendships, no habits, I know."
Dutchy frowned at her familiarity of the lecture. Shaun rolled his eyes as he handed Dylan his new ID, Lisa peered over his shoulder and let out a groan.
"Seriously, who's idea was that?"
She stormed off into her room and slammed the door, Dutchy shot a confused look on Shaun's direction.
"Ah, have a good night, I'll be in touch.."
Shaun made a quick exit, Dutchy turned on the TV letting out a sigh.
The next morning Lisa crept out f her room looking for any sign of Dylan, she jumped hearing him snoring on the couch.
She tiptoed over to the kitchen and turned on the kettle, she winced as it made its grumbling noises. Dutchy awoke and stretched forgetting where he was for a moment, he turned hearing the kettle and quickly looked away seeing Lisa.
She reached into the cupboard and pulled out two cups.
"Ah, you want a brew?"
He nodded ever so slightly not wanting to fully communicate with her.
She poured them both a cup and walked into the living room and sat as far away from him as possible sipping on her coffee. Dutchy took a mouthful and cringed as he burnt his tongue.
"Sorry, it's hot…"
He placed the cup back on the table and cleared his throat.
"Why did you get mad when you saw my new ID?"
Lisa walked over to her wallet and took out her ID and slapped it down in front of him. He examined it and frowned taking out his wallet, he pulled his from the card slot and placed it next to hers. His eyes darted back and forth from the names, he read his aloud.
"Sam Harvey."
Then hers.
"Amelia Harvey. We're siblings?"
Lisa raised her eyebrow.
"Not when they're Mr and Mrs..."
She snatched her ID back and shoved it back into her wallet.
They spent the rest of the afternoon in silence, neither of them had the guts to start a meaningful conversation about what had unfolded. Lisa didn't want to upset him further knowing the damage she had caused.
They sat on the couch like awkward strangers staring blankly at the TV, neither one of them registering what was on. Suddenly, Grey's Anatomy began to play, they both reached for the remote and snatched their hands away feeling each other's skin.
Catching each other's eye they shifted away one another, Lisa quickly snatched the remote and changed the channel, Dylan cleared his throat trying to avoid the awkwardness.
"How do you know so much about being in a safe house?"
She shrugged, he looked over to her knowing that she wasn't telling him something. She exhaled and placed he cup on the table.
"I've been in one before… after mum and dad were killed."
"So that wasn't just a story you made up…"
"You really think I'd make something like that up?"
He let out a hiss and folded his arms over his chest.
"At this point in time, yeah…"
Lisa broke eye contact, she knew she deserved that.
"I took this job in the N.I.I.D because of my past, they thought it would be a good idea cos I'd always be changing jobs and names. It was basically the same as being in Witness Protection, not creating relationships with anyone, staying under the radar."
He let out a scoff.
"Under the radar, a murder trial in your honour isn't exactly under the radar."
"I'm sorry…"
He let out another hiss and walked out to the backyard, Lisa ran her hands over her face, it wasn't going to be easy but at least he had initiated the conversation with her.
End Chapter 29.
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