Lexa

After I set up the flower delivery, I go into the office and send Julian an email containing everyone's names so that he can get the paperwork set up. I also inform him of Jose's issue with his Brazilian citizenship. He says that he will look into it and see what he can do. Just as I log out of the computer, I get yet another phone call. This time it is the one I have been waiting on, Clarke.

I answer, "Hello beautiful!"

"Hello yourself. I can't believe you sent flowers to me at work…"

I interrupt her, "I'm sorry if it bothers you…I-I didn't sign my name so that no one would know it was me or another woman. I-I just wanted…"

I can hear her laughing so I stop talking. She says, "Babe, it's fine. I'm just not used to someone caring enough to well, do something like this. I do have a question about the card though. What do you mean by, being your date to the UFC fight in Dubai?"

"Well…um, Dana called today to give me my final payout numbers for the fight and then he asked me if I would be up for a rematch against Julia at fight night in Dubai in a couple of weeks. So, I was wondering if you would be my date this time and not my doctor? Of course, that is contingent on if you say it is okay for me to take the fight. I haven't given a final answer yet because I wanted to talk to you first. So…"

"Cielo, thank you for asking me but you don't have to okay all your decisions with me. I don't want you to feel like you have to ask me for permission to do things. I want you to live your life the way you want to. I would just like to be included in your life as your partner. I would love to be your date to the fight. I just need to know the dates so that I can ask off from work."

"Awesome, I will call Dana back and find out the exact dates and let you know. Bellamy, O, Jose, Reed, Lo, Morrigan and I are going out to celebrate tonight. Do you think you can meet up with us after work?"

"I don't know. I've been slammed here but I will text you when I get off. I love you, Cielo."

"I love you too, Ya Amar."

I decide to go ahead and call Dana back and let him know that I will accept the fight. He answers, "Hey Stryker, I didn't expect to hear from you this quickly."

"Well, I talked with everyone and I will accept the fight. I just need to know the details of what I need to do."

He chuckles, "I will need you to come to Vegas week after next for another physical to make sure your hand has healed and then be in Dubai the week of the fight August 1-8. There will be a couple of fan events that you will be required to attend but other than that you are free to explore on your own."

"Alright, I'll see you week after next."

At the meeting with the attorney, Glenn Cantrell, said that with all the evidence and videos that we had it should be an open and shut case if it were to go to trial. The only thing is that since he is the mayor it will be a high-profile case and the rape will become public.

I reply, "No, I don't want Clarke to have to go through that. If it comes down to that, I will pay or do whatever as long as the rape isn't made public."

Mr. Cantrell says, "They are suing you for emotional distress causing PTSD and he is going to try filing charges for assault and battery with intent to kill along with threatening to kill him. The evidence is for protective self-defense against the assault and battery, but he may be able to get charges filed against you for threatening Finn's life because the threat was capture in the video. If you are charged you could spend between one to five years in jail."

Abby says, "How is that possible when Finn raped my daughter? All Lexa did was protect her and let him know what would happen if he tried anything else. If it comes down to it, we will go to trial. Lexa you are not going to jail."

"No Abby, I would rather go to jail that have Clarke have to go public with being raped by that asshole. I will not let him hurt her ever again even if it means going to jail."

He says, "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that. I will reach out to his people and see what they have to say."

Abby replies, "Fine, but I told him he needed to decide what he wanted to do by the end of the week, or we were going to the press."

Mr. Cantrell says, "Abby you can't go around making threats like that. It will only make things worse."

I say, "Mr. Cantrell, I'm willing to pay whatever is necessary to keep this from going to trial on the condition that Finn signs a nondisclosure agreement about the payout and the rape, and he is required to go to rehab for anger management and be required to register as a sex offender. I just want this to go away."

He says, "I understand and will let you know what I find out after speaking with their attorney."

"Thank you."

On the ride back, I ask Abby if she would take a look at the information on the computer about my blood work. She agrees and spends the next couple of hours reading through it.

Clarke

Today has been hectic! The ER is a mad house and people are simply crazy. At least that is the conclusion that I have come to today. Around noon, I get called to the nurse's station because I have a delivery. I have no idea who or what would be delivered to me at work. When I get to the desk, there is a bouquet of a dozen red roses with a card with my name on it. I can feel my cheeks turning pink as everyone is looking at me.

One of the nurses that I have become pretty close with, Lilian, says, "Aww, how sweet what's the occasion? Are they from your boyfriend? What's his name Finn?"

I reply, "They better not be from him! I broke up with him over two months ago because he was caught cheating. Besides, he never sent me flowers before."

One of the other nurses grabs the card off the flowers and reads it. The card reads, Ya Amar, would you do me the honor of being my date for the UFC fight in Dubai in three weeks? Love, Cielo.

Lilian and the other nurses look at me and say, "Who is Cielo and what does Ya Amar mean?"

I can feel my whole face turn red now as I answer, "Why are you all so interested in my love life all of a sudden? Ya Amar is Arabic for my moon."

Lilian replies, "It isn't often that flowers are delivered to an ER for anyone other than a patient and we are all romantics at heart so of course we are going to be interested. Now are you going to tell us who the new guy is?"

"No, not yet. It is still very new, and I can't believe they sent flowers." I'm not sure why I said they instead of she, but it just came out that way. I'm not embarrassed to be dating Lexa it's just well I've never dated another woman, and this is my place of work. I don't know! I say, "Excuse me while I go and make a call."

I find it cute how Lexa was rambling about the flowers and the find the fact that she wanted permission to fight from me adorable. On top of that, I can't believe that we are going to Dubai. She also asks me to go out with them tonight after work but I'm already feeling so tired and I don't know why. My phone rings and when I look at the screen, I see that it is my mom calling me.

I answer, "Hey mom, what's up?"

"Hey, I just left Lexa's after our meeting with Glenn Cantrell the attorney and I just thought you should know what he said."

"Okay, is it that bad?"

"Well, Lexa is determined to keep you and the rape out of the public. Glenn thinks it should be an open and shut case if it goes to trial. The only problem is Lexa doesn't want it to go to trial because that would make the rape public knowledge and she doesn't want you to have to go through that. Glenn said that he could probably get everything dropped outside of a trial except the fact that Lexa threatened to kill Finn. If she is convicted, she could serve one to five years in jail."

"What? No, I won't let her go to jail. I will be fine if we have to go to trial. I will call her."

"Glenn is going to reach out to Finn's attorney and test the waters. Lexa gave him an alternative that she is comfortable with if they will go for it, she wouldn't be charged. Honey, I really feel like she will do anything to keep you safe and that includes jail time."

"I know mom, that's what I'm afraid of. What was her offer?"

"She said she is willing to pay whatever is necessary to keep this from going to trial on the condition that Finn signs a nondisclosure agreement about the payout and the rape, and he is required to go to rehab for anger management and be required to register as a sex offender."

"Thanks for calling mom. I will talk to her."

I can't believe this crap. As much as I don't want people to know what happened to me, I will not let her go to jail in order to keep it a secret. I will call her after my shift and talk to her but right now I really need to get back to work.