I do not own Fifty Shades Trilogy
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I'd move heaven and earth
...
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"Arlington National cemetery?" she questioned.
As those three words tumbled from her lips, a chill went up and down Ana's spine, the feeling in the pit of her stomach nauseating.
"Why? What would he be doing there?" she asked, and gave Elliot a questioning look.
He cleared his throat and tried to explain, but wasn't able to right then.
Ana shook her head and huffed impatiently." Please, tell me... what would he be doing there?"
"Elliot? What did mom say to you?" Mia then asked, her eyes filling with tears again.
"Sam... Sam's buried there, remember?"
Ana noticed then how the expression on Mia's face changed from confusion to realization." Oh, Sam..."
"Seriously?" Ana said, annoyed by the siblings." I have no idea what's going on and who the hell Sam is, you tw..." she began, but Elliot cut her off.
"Sam was his best friend... in the NAVY" he explained, his throat closing up." Christian was a NAVY SEAL medic..."
It was then, when the wheels in Ana's head began to turn.
"Oohhh, now I understand..." she uttered, while putting two and two together, her heart contracting inside her chest, the ache unbearable.
Christian screaming in his sleep, telling someone to put their weapon down, they were all memories... not just nightmares...
As Elliot watched this stranger, he felt jealous of her. Why was she the one his little brother turned to in his time of need, and not him?
"I'm his big brother, and I've always protected Christian since he was a little boy!" he had told his mother, when she had asked him and Mia to ask Ana for help.
He just couldn't understand why everyone thought so highly of this 'stranger'.
"What are we gonna do now?" Mia said, and gave Ana a questioning look.
In response, Ana swallowed the huge lump that had formed in her throat, and let out a deep breath." We're going to the cemetery" she replied without hesitation." We're going to help Christian"
"What about your art exhibition? Are you just gonna up and leave your guests?" Elliot said, while giving her a disapproving look." You can stay... Mia and I will help our brother"
In response, Mia furrowed her brows, not understanding why her big brother was acting this way." But... but, mom thinks that Ana is the one who would be able to get through to Christian... why would she not go with us?"
It was then, when it dawned on Ana that Christian's big brother wasn't so fond of her...
'He seems to dislike me... a lot. Was this jealousy?' was what she thought.
"What do you say, Ana?" she heard Elliot say, his gaze on her, anything but friendly." WE are his family, will you let us handle this?"
In response, she narrowed her eyes, her head shaking." NO, I will go with you two and help MY friend"
"Oh, good" Mia said, while giving Ana a relieved look." Let's go, we can use the company's private jet... that way we can arrive before Christian"
.
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First, Ana spoke to Sean and Gia, asking them to help her with her clients/ potential clients.
Sean was a bit reluctant, because this was a huge responsibility, but eventually agreed to take over for Ana.
Then, Ana apologized to her guests and clients, telling them that she had to leave.
"Have a great time, enjoy the food, the drinks and my work of course... my assistant Sean McNamara will assist you with anything" Ana had told them, and then left in the middle of her very own art exhibition.
There was no time to change, so here Ana was still in that dress that Christian had bought for her, when they were in that little town in Oregon.
As she clutched her handbag tightly, looking down at Seattle at night, while being high up in the sky, Ana felt her heart implode inside her chest for Christian.
He must be going through a horrible time right now, but she wasn't there to help him.
Her heart ached, and she wondered how she could help him, when they finally found him.
What will she say? What can she say? Will Christian accept her help? Will he push her away? Ana wasn't sure, and tried with all her might to keep her emotions in check, but without her accord, a tear rolled down her cheek.
'You've done so much for me, Christian... saved my life twice, taken care of my injuries even though I was a very stubborn patient. Don't you worry, I will NOT abandon you in your time of need' were the words that swirled around in her head right then.' And no one... no one will get in my way.'
Not even your own flesh and blood...
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~ The NEXT day ~
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It was quite early, when Christian arrived at the cemetery.
As he looked up at the sky, he felt all kinds of emotions washing over him, too overwhelming for his heart to take.
It was going to be a sunny day, a contrast to how he was feeling at the moment.
After stepping out of the shuttle, he followed the instructions he received, and walked to his destination.
As he got closer, Christian tried to calm himself down, but he struggled tremendously. His mind was a jumbled mess again, the haunting images from that fateful day, mixing with events from the last few weeks.
Sam... Sam screaming at him to take cover...
Ana kissing him passionately...
The child soldier shooting at Sam and their crew...
A smiling Ana making a drawing of him...
Watching a lifeless Sam sinking to the ground...
An injured Ana lying in the ditch...
Daisy jumping happily onto his lap on the couch...
Christian aiming his rifle at the child soldier... and then, him pulling the trigger with tears in his eyes.
His eyes fluttered shut, as those images haunted and plagued him once again, a panic attack only a few seconds away...
At that moment, he was unable to make out what happened just weeks ago, and what had happened years ago, his mind driving him completely mad!
His whole body shook, when he finally reached Sam's grave. And as he grabbed the photo from his jacket pocket with a trembling hand, Christian wasn't sure if he wanted to go on.
A loud sob escaped his lips, as he placed the photo of him and Sam on the grave.
"I'm so sorry, Sam... so sorry." Christian uttered, as tears finally streamed down his face." I wish you had survived instead of me"
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.
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From a distance, Ana watched as Christian sank to the ground.
Her heart bled, as she saw how broken he looked compared to just 12 hours ago, when they had plans to celebrate, after her art exhibition.
"Christian," she uttered, and wanted nothing more than to run over to him and comfort him.
However, Elliot had decided that he should be the one to talk and comfort his little brother, not Ana.
She was about to protest, but it was then when Elliot gave her a warning look." I'm his big brother... who are you to him?"
And then, he walked with huge strides towards Christian, leaving a dumbfounded Mia and an angry Ana at their spot.
"What the FUCK is wrong with him?" Ana said, her voice a pitch lower than usual.
Mia shook her head in response." I don't know... he is being a real asshole right now" she answered, giving Ana an apologetic look." Sorry"
Ana huffed in response, and asked." Is he jealous of me?!"
Mia was just about to reply, when she and Ana noticed that Elliot had reached Christian." Let's just hope my brother can help Christian"
Ana was holding her breath, hoping and praying that Christian would come around and accept his big brother's help.
However, at one point she and Mia noticed how Christian was pushing Elliot away.
"Oh, noooo" Mia sobbed, when Elliot gave her a sad look, his head shaking.
It was then, when Mia's phone buzzed.
'He doesn't want my help. Let Ana give it a try.' he texted her.
"Well, what did he text you?" Ana asked impatiently, her hand on Mia's.
"He asks if you could give it a try?" Mia replied, eyes locked onto Ana's.
She nodded without hesitation." Of course... for Christian, anything..." she told Mia.
As she closed the huge gap between her and Christian, her heart thumped wildly against her chest.
Ana was so scared... what if she couldn't help him? What if Elliot was right?
But just as those doubts entered her mind, that voice in her head dismissed them just as fast.
NO... Elliot isn't right." I DO belong in Christian's life... I may not be his flesh and blood, but I would do anything, ANYTHING for him, even overcome my own fear and insecurities... for him, Christian." she whispered, and finally closed the gap between them.
Ana knelled right in front of him, and lovingly placed a hand on his cheek." Christian?" she uttered, and when he turned his face, their eyes locking, Ana felt as if her heart was being ripped apart, the pain unbearable.
"Hey," she began, but stopped, her tears blurring her vision, because of what she was seeing in his beautiful, gray eyes.
She looked at him, and saw his handsome face, but there was nothing in those eyes... it was all gone. It's like he had given up life itself.
A soft sob escaped her lips, tears spilling uncontrollably from her eyes, but that voice in her head reminded her that she was here to help him, and not to break down in front of him. Ana closed her eyes, and as a wonderful image played in her head, an image of her and Christian together, of him posing for her, while she drew him, she found her courage and strength again.
"Christian," Ana said, and lovingly cupped his face with both hands." What do you want? Tell me... what do you want right now."
As he sat on the ground, and Ana still kneeling in front of him, he shook his head." I cannot go on..."
Those words tore at her heart and soul, and yet she swallowed her tears and continued, hands still on his face." Do you wanna go somewhere?" she asked, in such a gentle tone, her gaze on him loving." Tell me, where do you wanna go. I'll bring you there... where ever you want."
In response, Christian broke eye contact and stared at the horizon.
A stubborn tear fell down Ana's cheeks, because she barely knew what she was doing... how can she help him, if he doesn't want to be helped?
And yet, she pushed forward, and with teary eyes, grabbed him by the hand." Let's go... just, get out of here..." she tried.
"I don't wanna leave Sam behind" he finally said, and turned his face to lock his eyes onto Ana's." I cannot abandon my best friend... not again"
As those words tumbled from his pale lips, she felt absolutely defeated.
What more could she, Anastasia Steele, say or do to make this better for him? She wasn't a professional!
He was suffering immensely, but here she was, powerless, unable to get through to him.
Christian was inconsolable...
As, tears pooled in her eyes, Ana tried again. When she needed a helping hand, Christian was the one who had stuck by her, even while giving her that cold, unforgiving look, even when she was just a 'stranger' to him.
He did not leave her behind... she sure as hell won't abandon him, when he needed her the most.
"Hey," she whispered, and intertwined their fingers together." You wanna tell me about Sam?"
At first, Christian shook his head.
"Oh, come on... I've told you all about Sean and Gia and even about one of my exes..." She insisted." Surely, you can tell me how you and Sam met?"
He swallowed hard, tears pooling in his eyes." I met him at basic training"
Ana smiled through her tears." Yeah?" she uttered." You became best friends immediately?"
"No, Sam was a pain in the ass, when we first met." Christian replied, while staring at the horizon." He was a total douche"
She smiled at that." Really? Then when did you become best friends?"
"When I saved his sorry ass... he got stabbed in the gut on our second mission"
At saying that, the corners of Christian's mouth curled upwards into a small smile.
"And that's when you became friends?" Ana questioned, and felt how he gripped her hand oh so tightly.
He nodded, and said." Yes, he apologized and all, after the incident..."
"Did you accept his apology?"
"No, not right away" Ana heard him say, noticing the dim light in his gray eyes.
"But you did, eventually?"
He nodded in response, and whispered." I want this to stop... this heart-wrenching ache in my heart, Ana..." Christian uttered, while giving her a desperate look." Take it away, please? Can you? Take my pain away?"
As those gut-wrenching words reached Ana's ears, her whole body trembled, her heart contracting inside her chest, the feeling horrible.
"I would do anything, Christian... I'd move heaven and earth, if only I could take just a tad of your pain away," She declared, her teary eyes locked onto his." But please, will you let me in? Do not shut me out..."
Christian's eyes watered, and then he grabbed her face." Help me, Ana..." he pleaded, while giving her a devastating look.
"I'd do anything to help you, Christian..."
At the moment, Ana felt as if the atmosphere had caught fire.
Here he was, the man who had saved her life more than once, desperately asking her for help, and her mind was utterly, and completely blank...
Fuck!
She wanted to help him so badly, but she had no idea how.
However, Ana wasn't the kind of person to just give up... especially not on the one she had fallen in love with.
It was then, when she remembered something she made, weeks ago. She then grabbed it from her purse.
It was a page from a small notebook, folded in two, so Ana opened it and showed it to him.
"Christian?" she uttered, and caressed his left cheek with one hand." Do you wanna go here?"
His eyes landed on it, and in response, he furrowed his brows. After a little while, he whispered." Home"
Ana's heart melted, her heart jumping up, tears flowing down her cheeks once more." Yes... it... it's home," she uttered." Where you found me... where our paths crossed f- for the first time, r'member?"
In response, he nodded, and placed a hand over Ana's heart. As a tear rolled down his cheek, he begged." T- take me home?"
Note: So, what do you think of this chapter? Will they go home? Or will some people( meaning Elliot, maybe also another family member) become an obstacle and stand in their way?
Thank you so much for reading my work, and the amazing reviews/ feedback.
Leave me your thoughts in a review? ;)
Till the next one,
J