IT'S FINALLY HERE. The long awaited murder family au that I promised back in February is finally in motion. This chapter takes place seven months after Jessica killed Endicott and from here we're completely throwing out the canon arc of season 2. This is the direct response to my first fic of the series Playtime's Over, which acts as a prologue to this AU. I hope y'all enjoy this first chapter and I'm so excited to jump into this new story with y'all.
It had been seven months. Seven months since Gil was stabbed, seven months since her family was irreparably torn to shreds, seven months since Nicolas Endicott died.
Since Jessica killed him.
Her life settles back into normal with far too much ease. She takes the role as Gil's caretaker, nursing him back from his injury. He stays with her longer than either of them expected. Ainsley moves back in after the incident. If she suspects anything, she doesn't tip her hand.
Jessica taught her far too well to give away information too carelessly.
Malcolm, however.
He's absolutely beside himself. The longer time stretches, the longer they go without hearing from a dead man. The more it hurts him. The more she hurts him.
She wonders when is the last time he had slept for more than 2 hour increments. He hasn't sat down and had a proper meal with them since. She doubts he's feeding himself properly. If hearing from Gil is any indication, he's just as bad at work too. Falling asleep on the job, springing up in a terror, excessive use of his favorite phrase I'm fine.
Guilt gnaws at her stomach every time she looks at him.
She arrives at the hospital again, hours after. Eyes more vacant than when she left.
It changes the second Ainsley crashes into her arms. "Mom, thank god." She returns the hug, squeezing her daughter close with all her might. Knowing she's safe, that they both are safe. It almost loosens the tension in her chest. "Malcolm's with Gil. He's ok, surgery had some complications but it'll just be a longer recovery. He's going to make it."
She lets out a breath, at least something is going right. Less so than Adolpho who's cleaning the house as they speak. Ridding of the blood stained rug before any of them are the wiser. "Thank god."
"What happened? I thought-" Her voice catches in her throat and Jessica pulls back. Sure enough Ainsley's bottom lip quivers.
"I was not letting Nicolas Endicott take our family down. Certainly not me." She strokes her chin with the best comforting grin she can muster. "I kept him busy long enough. I was trying to get authorities there but I couldn't just reach for a phone." She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "He got away before I could. I actually believe I managed to scare him."
Ainsley's smile tells her enough. She believes the story. Malcolm will be a harder sell. "He's running?"
"For now."
"Good. We'll be ready when he comes back." She kisses Ainsley on the forehead, the weight of lying to her settling into her bones. He won't be back. Not now. Not ever.
"Mom." Malcolm's voice cuts her spiraling thoughts. He's wrapping his arms around the both of them before she can even turn to face him. She frees her arm from between them, looping it around his shoulders. She clutches the back of his coat holding both of her children close.
If she'd just been a second too late. If she'd have hesitated.
But she didn't.
Malcolm breaks the embrace first. Eyes already ablaze with questions. "Where is Endicott?"
It only got worse. Constant questions forcing her to recall the night over and over. Dani, JT, hell even Gil had questioned her when he was finally cleared to return to duty again. All worried about the lingering threat, all more worried about Malcolm unraveling at the seams.
Her fingers hover over the phone. One call.
An anonymous tip.
This could all be over with. She could end the agony after all this time.
One call.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The knock startles her. She'd been waiting for it, waiting for him. Yet, ever since Endicott she jumps at loud noises. She's good at masking it, for others. When she's alone it's harder. She gets stuck into a whirlpool of thoughts and-
"Gil." She smiles at him when she opens the door. "I didn't know you were coming, I would have put on something nicer."
"You look beautiful, Jess." Her chest swells with the compliment. They put this on hold while he recovered. Despite the many times she'd helped him up, how many times she fell asleep beside him. They hadn't moved past the first kiss. God she desperately wanted to move forwards.
"What brings you here unannounced?" She knows exactly why. She's been waiting for the news to circulate.
"Have you watched Ainsley's broadcast?"
"No?" She hadn't. It hurt too much. She tried. Yet the second Ainsley's face appeared, glee filled eyes and a dazzling smile, she clicked the television off.
She would be happy, Jessica thinks. Happy that the man who haunted her family for the past 7 months is dead. Finally found and free of the fear he carried in his grasp. "Jess,"
"Gil." She takes a breath. "You found him, didn't you?"
He nods in confirmation. Jessica wishes she could say she was faking her reaction, exaggerating it somehow. Yet the fear is too real, her relief that the secret is finally out is too real. "A camper called in skeletal remains at a clearing a couple of hours from here. We ran the dental records, they're a match for Nicholas Endicott."
"He's dead." It's not a question.
"Yes. I wanted to get the news to you before you saw anything."
"Thank you, Gil." It hurts when he looks at her like she's bound to shatter. His movements are careful when his hands settle on her shoulders. "How's Malcolm?"
"He's gonna be ok." She smiles sadly. That's not entirely true. They both know it. "He's relieved. He can finally take a breath for the first time in months." He won't. He doesn't know how to. Gil's hands run down her arms until he is holding hers. His touch sends a shiver up her spine. "It's over Jess."
His words make her breath catch in her throat. For months she'd worried, she paced, sprung up from nightmares. He'd witnessed it all. He pulls her to him, his arms wrapping tightly around her and everything gives. Tears she didn't know were there slid down her cheeks as she buried her face in his shoulder.
"It's over." He repeats, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. She wants to tell him. She wants to tell him so badly that for her, it will never be over. The smell of smoke lingered on her with every passing breath. His unseeing eyes watched her in every reflection.
As her shoulders shake, Gil holds her tighter. As if trying desperately to hold her together.
And she thinks this could be enough.