Chapter 21: The long road Home

'She's not talking, say something to her!'

'Like what? Sorry, you had to kill someone?! We just need to get her out of this cursed place!' Anders could feel his heart racing as Fili argued again, but he ignored him. He'd argue later, but if he stopped and tried to talk to her now, they could very well still be caught and the last thing he needed was more thugs.

Anders had walked quickly when they left the building. Then to the stairwell and then, trying to act as casually as he could, lead her down and out into the street. He did this with Den sobbing and holding onto him tightly, afraid to let him go.

They were lucky. No one seemed to be on the street near them and he hurried them back to his car.

He made sure to calm himself before he drove, knowing a car accident was not something either of them needed right now.

He went slower this time and whenever he had to stop for a traffic light, he turned to look at her.

She whimpered and quivered and pulled his jacket tighter around her.

"Den, are you alright?"

All she could do was shake her head and cry some more.

'Stupid question really, of course, she isn't. She's never...she's never killed someone before.'

'Neither have I,' Anders gulped nervously and thought back to all the times he and his family had to cover up something that had been caused by the Gods doings.

But Den...Den hadn't been there for that. She had no experience with death and now she'd taken a man's life to save Anders.

If she hadn't picked up the gun...Anders could have very well been dead.

Once he arrived at her pub and apartment, she was still in the same condition. Even getting her back out of the car, she leaned heavily against Anders as though exhausted.

He merely bent down and scooped her up, his arms around her waist and legs. She was silent and in shock, but she still buried into him, her hands holding his neck tightly. He could feel her shaking.

"Anders," she whispered, his name being the first thing she had said since leaving the apartment.

"It's alright. You're home," he soothed her as he made his way upstairs. He was pleased the pub was closed today, but he almost wished Jane was here. Navigating the locked door was a little tricky with Den, but she co-operated when he asked her where she kept her spare key.

Once inside, he went to deposit her down on the couch, but she had such a grip on him, he had to sit himself down with her on his lap.

"Den, I'm going to run you a bath. We both need to wash," he pressed little kisses against her hair and it wasn't until they were alone and in the quiet did it dawn on him.

He could have lost her. Manny was truly a monster, Azog in disguise and he would have killed her without hesitation. Or used her until she was nothing more than his plaything.

She'd gone there for whatever reason, but it didn't matter now.

She was in his arms, alive.

He squeezed her a little tighter and felt no shame as he began to cry. The bath could wait for a bit.

"I love you," his hands moved to cup her face, forcing her to look at him, "I love you so much. It'll be alright. It will be."

Den seemed to sob harder, but it actually appeared she was taking his words in. Her hands grabbed it his shoulders and desperately tried to pull him closer.

"Stay with me," she said before burying her against his neck.

"I promise. I'm here and I'm not leaving."

A short while later...

Anders had carried her back through her apartment and laid her down on her bed.

"I'm going to run a bath. You rest and I'll come back and get you," he smoothed back her hair, grimacing at the bruises and scratches she'd sustained in her fight.

She nodded and curled up on her side, her hands gripping her bedcovers as they had been gripping the front of his shirt.

He moved quickly into her bathroom and turned the light on and just before he got to the bathtub, he caught sight of himself in the mirror.

He thought Den had taken the brunt of Manny's attacks, but he had his fair share of bruises too. His eye was bloodshot and his lip was split and his shirt...he had to quickly turn away and tried not to look down.

Manny's blood had gotten onto him after all and there was a deep stain over his chest.

Without looking, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it into the corner. It was ruined anyway and he'd deal with it later.

He ran the bath and fished around under her sink, finding soap, a flannel, and even a small first aid kit. He supposed he'd have a go at treating her wounds even though he hated the sight of blood. But for her, he'd swallow down his fear.

Once the bath was filled with a sweet citrus scent, he went back into her bedroom and got down beside her bed.

She looked at him as the back of his hand moved over her cheek as gently as he could.

"Come on," he urged her and like a child, she allowed him to pull her up and out of the bed.

Not caring for modesty, she made to pull her shirt over her head but winced as she raised her arm.

Her small cry of pain had him reaching out and gently taking the material in his hand.

"Let me help," as carefully as he could, he pulled the material away from her arm, and as he helped pull it over her head, he saw the reason for her pain.

Most of her upper torso, shoulders, and arms were covered in horrible ugly bruises, and scratches that looked suspiciously like claw marks.

His blood boiled and he tossed her shirt down on the floor next to his. But he calmed himself when he saw just how much distress she was in, even struggling with the button on her jeans.

He stepped closer and reached out, his hands clasping her wrists.

He said no words, but she knew he was only trying to help and let him continue undressing her. Trying to help her.

He pulled off her jeans and helped her kick them off.

"In you get," he guided her to the tub and helped her step in. Once she sat down, he decided to even it out since she was in her underwear.

He stood up and quickly pulled off his own jeans, stripping down to only his boxers.

He crouched down beside the tub and gently wet the flannel, dabbing at the bruises on her skin.

"Let me know if I hurt you too much."

By this point, Den's tears had stopped, but she was almost catatonic and just seemed to stare at the bathwater as she hugged her knees.

Cleaning away the dirt and grime was easy, but Anders knew she must be in agony and no amount of plasters or bandages from her first aid kit would help. He couldn't take either of them to the hospital but...he supposed he could call a friend.

As the flannel moved over her shoulders, he realised that even Fili had gone silent.

And he hated it.

He hated knowing she was in pain and suffering but he'd be damned if he didn't try to help.

"I wish- I wish I knew what to say to make it better. Please...Den, talk to me," when he shut his eyes, he suddenly felt Fili grow stronger inside of him and said, "Dru. Maralmizi."

Den's eyes widened and it was almost as though somebody had thrown cold water over her.

Inside of her, Dru let out a noise that was a cross between a sob and a laugh. That one word in her language meant so much to both of them.

She turned to Anders and allowed Dru her chance to reply.

"Maralmizu...he's gone," her tears came again and this time, it was only Den talking, "he's finally gone."

Anders reached forward and whilst it was a little awkward and uncomfortable, pulled her into his arms and held her close.

She kept repeating 'he's gone' like a mantra and whilst she had been horrified at the life she took, she now was free of Manny. For good.

"He was going to kill you," she held Anders close, her fingers gripping his hair, "he was going to take you from me again. I went there with a knife...I went to kill him! I couldn't-I couldn't let him take you from me and then the other one...it wasn't supposed to be this way."

"You saved my life," he pressed kisses against her neck and the side of her face, overjoyed that she was talking, "and I killed him for you and-and I would do it again."

She pulled back to look in his face, finally taking in the damage that Manny and the other thug had inflicted on him.

"Oh," she sobbed and gently stroked the unmarked skin below his eye, "you're hurt."

"So are you," he turned his head and pressed a kiss against her palm, "but we're going to clean up and I'll call for help. Alright?"

Finally, having been shaking out of her stupor, she seemed to actually be capable of doing things again.

Despite his protests, she pulled him into her small tub and kneeled with him as she began to wet and clean his wounds.

Once they were both satisfied that they were as clean as they were going to get and that they were in need of treatment, that left only one other thing.

As Anders turned to look at the discarded clothes, he got an idea.

"Do you have a trashcan?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Den was waiting patiently in her own bed, with a fresh change of clothes on when the knock came.

"Hi?" Michelle called out as she came in through her door, a polite and sympathetic smile on her face, "Anders said you needed someone to look at you?"

Den was so exhausted, that the thought of her current partner's Ex being in her bedroom, treating her wounds, and undressing her just wasn't that big a deal.

After bathing, they'd removed themselves into Den's apartment and as she dressed, he made a few calls.

One had been to his brothers to bring him a spare change of clothes and the other had been to Michelle.

The boys (minus Ty) had turned up and seeing the state their brother was in, hurriedly demanded answers.

But once he'd filled them in, they almost regretted asking.

Still, they were there to help in whatever way they could, and since they couldn't go back to the crime scene at so late in the hour, decided to help burn the evidence in the trashcan Den had pointed them to out front.

Anders had hurriedly grabbed the clothes they had worn that day and leaving her to wait for Michelle, went out with them.

So, here she was with the woman she knew Anders had had a fling with. Or a complicated 'fuck buddy' sort of relationship.

And she didn't really care, as long as she didn't have internal bleeding (as Anders had worried about).

"Up you get, let's see with the light on," Michelle flickered on the overhead light and seeing she was going to need more, went to Den's lamp and switched that on also.

Den hadn't even realised how late it was until the lights came on and they almost hurt her eyes.

But she sat up obediently and pushed off the blanket that Anders had tucked over her.

"Oh, nasty," Michelle hissed as she sat down in front of Den, looking over the bruises and scratches on her, "you look like you belong in a boxing photo."

Den didn't even have the energy to politely smile or nod her head, but Michelle could see that she wasn't about to be completely uncooperative.

Den was, in fact, a perfect patient, answering questions as best she could and moving what way she needed to go, and holding down bandages when asked to.

As Michelle wrapped the bandage of her arm where the nail indents from Manny lay, she broke the awkward silence that had settled between them.

"I never actually apologised to you about the first time we met. He's never actually had anyone else there and-"

"Stop, you don't have to," Den looked away, not wanting an argument to happen when she really didn't need it, "it's fine. It's in the past."

"True. But I do need to tell you something...Anders is a completely different man having met you," she sighed softly and Den found herself listening to her confession, "for a few years, we'd been teasing one another, going back and forth. At one point, we completely forgot about one another and I ended up dating Mike. Then we broke it off and I and Anders became...well, friends with-"

"Please," Den groaned and covered her face, but Michelle didn't stop.

"-needs. But we weren't ever going to make it as a couple, even before Bragi left him. He seemed so lost once they all left and it changed him. And then you appeared and suddenly...there was this whole new person. And...I know you've been told this before but," Michelle's hand rested tenderly over the now tied bandage as she looked deep into Den's eyes, "you have been so good for him. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. He's so much less an arsehole now."

Den felt a small bubble of amusement threaten to pop inside of her, but she merely nodded her head.

Was this...were she and Michelle actually bounding?

Despite their first meeting, she had to admit she actually DID like the woman. She looked like she took no shit.

But then...Den was curious about one thing.

"What Goddess were you?" She asked and Michelle winked at her.

"Sjöfn. And don't bother asking how to spell it, no one could pronounce it even when written down," Michelle's fingers lingered a little longer on Den's arm as she explained, "I was minor Goddess. Except, when I had Yggdrasil I was suddenly promoted to 'everyone goes to Michelle, she can heal all'. I was also the Goddess of love...well, sex really."

"What, like you seduced guys?" Den shrugged and Michelle winked at her again.

"And women."

"Oh."

Suddenly, the silence didn't seem quite so awkward after that.

Xx Anders xX

"Oi, no you fucking don't!"

Anders turned towards the voice that had called him and watched as Michelle tossed a rolled bandage at him, one that he JUST had enough time to catch.

"You fucking sit on that couch and let me treat you. You might have done some damage to that eye and whatever trash you need to take out can wait."

It was well known that Anders did not like blood.

But he also did not like Doctors.

He also did not like hospitals, which is what Michelle threatened him with and told him, "if you don't sit your arse down and you go blind in one eye, I'm dragging you to hospital by your feet. And your girlfriend will willingly help."

He'd sat down and allowed her to look over his injuries, most of the concentration being given to his face and specifically the 'gammy eye'.

As she was shining a light in and out of it, checking the damage to his eyeball, she couldn't help but impart some of her own wisdom on him.

"I like Den. She may have gone through shit, but she's strong. We might still be able to be friends after this."

Anders restrained himself from rolling his eyes. Especially since one of them hurt like hell.

"I don't think my Ex and my girlfriend getting together to have sleepovers is a likely outcome."

"No, not sleepovers...but you're imagining it a little bit now, aren't you? Doing each other's hair, pillow fights in our undies?"

Anders really hated how easy Michelle could read him sometimes.

"Look," she put down the small torch and began to tidy up her first aid bag, "she's good for you. I'm actually really glad you and I didn't work out. You changed quite a bit after Bragi left and...it was definitely for the better."

Her hand came to rest over his and she smiled, almost sweetly.

"I'm not going to get you or any of the Johnson boys out of my life...and I'm glad for that. Gods or not, you're actually pretty decent," when she stood up and looked down at him, she decided one last tease wouldn't hurt, "and keep your girlfriend happy. If you don't, I'll happily volunteer."

She turned and left him on the couch, slightly stumped at her bravado.

'Did she just declare her intentions to steal Den?'

'Yes,' Fili replied.

'And you're trying not to picture those sleepovers too?'

'No, I'm picturing them.'

Anders couldn't help but smile. He and Fili may have been opposites in some ways, but they were similar where it counted.

Once his brothers and Michelle had left, with the orders to rest and contact them tomorrow for a proper talk about everything, that just left him and Den in her flat.

And whilst he could have been polite and told her he would leave her alone for the night, that wouldn't happen.

He promised her he would stay and besides, he didn't want to go.

He wandered back into her room and found her wide awake, on top of her covers with the blanket over her legs and hips.

"Hi," he leaned against the doorway and asked, "are you hungry?"

"No. Not really," her hand came out and gently stroked the empty space beside her, "come to bed?"

Anders nodded and quickly shut off the lights in her room. The day had turned to night, but it was still early. They could sleep for a bit before he could get some food into her.

He climbed in next to her and she pulled the blanket up and over him. Their arms went around the other and they just held on.

His lips pressed against her forehead, trying to be gentle as he remembered where her bruises were.

But she didn't seem to mind at all and pressed kisses back against him.

He didn't know how long they laid there for, but a slight vibration in his pocket alerted him to a sudden message.

He pulled out his phone, flipped it open, and as it popped up on his screen, Den caught sight of his first proper smile of the day.

"What is it?"

He moved the phone down and showed her the screen.

"I'm an Uncle. To a little boy."

The image on the screen was of Ty, Dawn, and their newborn son between them.

After everything that had happened that day...Den had to smile.

She was full of such hope.

Yes, she had to kill a man but...Anders was safe. As was his family. As was she.

She'd just have to wait and see what tomorrow would bring but despite her sadness, she did feel that little ray of hope inside of her.