Ryan entered the block alone with Michael, Dr Loomis assured him that he was safe. Ryan knew he had to trust his boss, but despite how he'd been treating Hayward, Myers was still a killer. But as they entered the block Myers stopped. Ryan didn't try to make him move; he didn't want to endanger his life. First he'd ask him. Force was a last resort with this man. He turned to look at Myers and was shocked at what he saw. The serial killer was looking right at him and was that just a hint of… What? Kindness? Respect? In his gaze.
The young guard looked into the eyes of the killer who had to be around the same age as him, maybe a little older and felt as if he was pinned under that intense gaze. He mentally shook himself, reminding himself who the guard was here. But right at that moment, it felt as if Myers had the control, not him, none of his equipment or training would save him from this man. He blinked. Damn this man made him nervous. He swallowed and heard his throat audibly click. Damn. Talk about making it obvious Jenkins…
It was then Ryan felt the killer actually lay a gentle hand on his arm. His first feeling was panic. Was he about to be killed, or at least would Myers try? He was alone with him after all. But the hand didn't move, harden or make any hostile movements. Slowly, Ryan relaxed a little. This was insane! Was Myers trying to reassure him that he was safe? He took a deep breath. Damn he makes me nervous, Ryan thought. Come on man! You signed up for this! Do your damn job! You could've lost it a few days ago, but you didn't! Somehow, Michael Myers could detect his nerves. Ryan had always suspected Myers was no normal man and this just proved it. He offered the killer a small smile, trying to get himself back in guard mode. He'd momentarily lost it under that gaze and his defences had been down. Damn he'd been such an easy target in those few seconds, yet Myers hadn't tried to kill him. "Come on Mr. Myers," Ryan said softly, his voice steady. Good. "Let's go?" Ryan did notice he'd said "Mr." which normally wasn't used. He'd also asked. Normally a guard would just snap, "move it Myers," or something to that effect. He hadn't. Was it because it was clear Myers was trying to tell him something? He smiled again at the killer, trying to encourage him to keep moving. Ryan could hardly believe what happened then. Myers held out his hand. Ryan just looked at it for a second, shocked. Should he take it? What if the killer was using it as a false sense of security? Ryan shook that off. No. There were cameras, alarm buttons everywhere and his radio battery was full. This time, he scoffed. To save your own life. Slowly, the young guard finally took the offered hand of the notorious masked serial killer.
Ryan and Myers had just reached Myers' cell when the block doors opened again. Another guard entered, escorting Derek Chancer in. Ryan looked away. Fucker. He wasn't aware he'd tensed until yet again Myers touched his arm. Ryan hated Chancer. Actually hated him. It wasn't just because of what'd happened with Rick either. This man had killed, raped and tortured so many women. The guard escorting him was Sean, one of the newer ones on the ward. He was still on probation. Ryan didn't know him very well.
"Move it Chancer!" Sean snapped. Straight into offensive mode. Ryan inwardly shook his head. No man, too fast. Dr Loomis had asked the guards to help Sean and Ryan would point this out to him when they were alone. Go gentle first. Don't push these guys, certainly not the dangerous ones like him or Michael Myers.
Chancer's face broke into an evil grin. Ryan knew the other man knew Sean was the new guy and wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of it. Shit, he thought. "Mr. Myers," he murmured quietly to the killer. "I have to help Sean. Are you…" Ryan knew by the time another guard arrived; Chancer could've attacked? Myers gave him a single nod, stepping into his cell. Ryan couldn't yet lock the door; he didn't even have time to press the button. He headed quickly over to the 2 men.
"How's your battery today, you ugly fucker?" Chancer jeered at him. The first words Ryan had ever heard him speak. He forced himself not to shiver and ignored the spiteful comment, even if it did make anger surge up inside him. Hold on to it, he shouted at himself. Don't let him see it. That'll just amuse the prick.
"Let's go Mr. Chancer," Ryan said, reaching for Chancer's chains. The other man just smirked at him. Ryan stepped up beside Sean and made to grab Chancer. Both of them tried to make Chancer move back towards his cell, but despite his size, he was strong. He attempted to resist both guards. That was when the door opened and Jack ran in. How the hell? Ryan wondered. How had he known they needed help? Jack was beside them in a second. "Don't make us ask you again," he snapped, seeming totally unafraid of the women killer. "Move, or we use force!"
That was when all 3 guards heard calm, measured breathing. Michael Myers was standing right behind them. Ryan felt his heart skip a beat. This could be bad. Not for Myers, but Chancer. Myers could kill him with one finger. He knew he and his colleagues had to regain control and fast. Or they would have another death on their hands. "Michael Myers," Chancer breathed, as the 2 killers looked at each other. Was it Ryan's imagination, or had the notorious women killer just shivered? Sean and Jack grabbed Chancer again and it appeared he was too shocked to resist now. They dragged him into his cell, unshackled him as fast as they could, and then locked his cell. Once he was secure, all 3 guards turned to Myers.
"Thanks," Jack gave the killer a small smile. "You certainly gave him a scare." Ryan couldn't stop a small grin too. There was absolutely no emotion on Myers' face, but all 3 guards would swear he'd just nodded to them very slightly.
"I hate that little fucker," Sean said quietly. They were now standing by Myers' cell which Ryan had just locked after unshackling him. They were speaking quietly so Chancer couldn't hear, with Danielle's cell between Myers' and his. "He killed a friend of mine."
"I'm sorry," Jack and Ryan said together. Sean smiled a little. "Thanks."
"Does Dr Loomis know?" Jack asked. Sean nodded. "Yeah, I had to tell him. He knows. But thanks for your concern."
"Just one bit of advice," Ryan murmured. "Don't go straight into the "move" offensive. Not with guys like him. Try to ask the first time. I know you don't like him; I think it's fair to say none of us do, but ask nicely and they may be more… receptive to your instructions."
"I don't want to ask him anything nicely," Sean growled. "Except perhaps to die." Ryan nodded in sympathy. "I know. He killed so many women, I get it."
"What the hell are they doing?" Sean asked. "Putting a totally blind woman right next to him? Utterly insane! That's fucking suicide!"
"Trusting us it seems," Ryan said. "I for one will make damn sure Danielle is in no danger from him." He looked up and his and Myers' gaze locked. "Although," he added. "When it comes to caring for Danielle, we're not alone."
Danielle was currently in her session with Dr Stark and it appeared Sean didn't know Michael was protecting her, and that they were sharing a cell. Not my place to tell him, Ryan thought. Sean will find out somehow.
…
Joanne finally reached his house and left her car, locking it. She wasn't surprised to find her legs were shaking a little. So much could change tonight, but would it? Damn, she hoped so, but in a positive way. Reaching the door, she rang the doorbell. They'd even given each other a key to their houses in case of an emergency, but she wouldn't just walk in. Her heart was pounding. She felt like a teenager on her first date. She wanted him to be the last man she dated. She wanted to be his forever. The door finally opened and there he was. Joanne's heart nearly stopped. The bandage around his neck was huge. She felt sympathy for him and hatred for Chancer rush through her. All day while in court she'd tried to stay professional, to not think about tonight and now here she was.
"Hey Jo," Rick smiled at her. "Nice to see you. How are you? Come in."
"How am I?" She stared at him incredulously as she stepped inside and he closed his front door. "Rick, I'm not the one who nearly got strangled to death!"
"Ah, but it doesn't stop me from asking, does it?" He smiled at her and Joanne nearly swooned. His smile always knocked her off her feet and since her feelings for him had grown, that hadn't changed, it'd only got worse. They headed into the living room and she put his chocolates and wine on the coffee table, having left hers in the car, just in case. "How are you, seriously?" She asked him as she sat on the sofa opposite him. She wanted to sit next to him but was worried that if she did, she wouldn't be able to stop herself.
"You know me," that smile again. Joanne drew in a breath. She loved Rick Evans and tonight she was going to tell him. "Strong painkillers and some rest and I'll be right as rain. I would ask you this though. Can you take this into work with you tomorrow?" He handed her a wrapped gift. "It's a thank you gift to Michael. If he hadn't…" He trailed off.
"No problem," Joanne smiled, putting the package into her bag.
"Thanks," he smiled at her again. "Thanks for my chocolates and wine, you shouldn't have you naughty girl! So how are you, Joanne? How was today?"
Joanne rubbed her forehead. "I'm fine, thanks." Joanne noticed that while his voice was still a little hoarse, it was still the soft, and captivating voice that she loved. "Have you had dinner yet?" She asked him.
"No. When you texted to say you were coming, I decided to wait for you. Do you want dinner to have with me?"
HELL YES! Screamed her heart. She smiled. "This another frate?"
He laughed. "Of course, if you want it to be."
No, she thought. I want it to be a date without the friend part! Then just tell him! She shouted at herself. Do it! You and Charlotte have been nagging Danielle all day to, so don't you be a hypocrite now! And don't use the wine to help you either! Use some good old' girl courage! "I'd love that," she smiled at him. "Very much. But I do have something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Go for it," he said instantly. "I'm all ears for you Jo, you know that. Always will be."
Even after this? She thought. Damn I hope so… I love you Rick Evans! Now she finally did move to sit next to him, she couldn't stop herself. Rick smiled at her again and placed an arm around her shoulders. He did this a lot so she tried desperately not to read more into it than there was, in case there in fact, wasn't. She took a deep breath and leaned into his shoulder, carefully so as not to touch his bruised neck.
"I'm not made of glass," Rick quipped and Joanne couldn't stop a laugh. Yet another reason she loved this man. He tightened his arm around her. "Before you start, shall we order food?" Joanne privately didn't think she'd be able to eat anything right now, it felt like she had butterflies in her stomach. But she nodded. "This may take a while," she grinned. Now she really was feeling nervous, worse than before she came over.
"The usual?" Rick asked, picking up his phone.
"Of course," she grinned genuinely now. They had a favourite pizza place that they ordered from when they had dinner at his house. Once Rick had ordered she saw him silence his phone and her heart swelled even further. She'd already done the same with hers before she arrived. "Rick," she started. She couldn't procrastinate any further, this was it. It was time. Make or break. "I need to tell you something."
"Of course, anything. Are you ok?"
He hasn't got a clue, Joanne thought. Not a clue. He doesn't know what's about to hit him. Here he is worrying if I'm ok when he's the one who nearly died! "I'm fine," she said. "Honestly. Can I just ask one tiny favour?"
"Anything."
"Please don't speak until I'm done?" Because if you do I just might lose my nerve, she thought.
Rick mimed sealing his lips and Joanne chuckled. "I won't say a word," he said, totally serious. "You have the floor, Jo."
"Thanks. I've wanted to tell you this for a while now, but wasn't sure how. I'm still not sure how to find the words for this. You've been my friend for years now, ever since we started working together, and as a result you know me a lot better than most people do. I just don't know how to say this to you. Rick, I've fallen in love with you. There's no other way I can say this, just bluntly and truthfully. You've been such a good friend to me, so kind, caring and funny. You've helped me through a lot of scrapes both at work and personally. But Rick, I need... want more with you. I could hardly believe it when I found out that you don't have a woman in your life. I kept asking myself why not? No disrespect to Danielle, but are they blind? You're gorgeous, and kind, just to name a few. But if no other woman has gotten here first, then I want to be at the front of the queue. I fell in love with you over the last few months, and after what happened 2 days ago, I felt like it was time to tell you. I almost lost you and it nearly killed me. It would've broken my heart! It's made me realise just how short life is. I couldn't wait any longer. I love our Frates, but I want dates, without the friend part attached to them! If you'll let me, I want to be with you - for life."
There was a moment of silence before Rick turned her to face him and his other arm wrapped around her. Joanne held her breath, desperately trying not to hope. "I don't have a woman in my life," he said quietly, close to her ear. "Because I never met one I wanted to be with. Not…" He pulled her tightly against him. "Until now." Then finally, at long last for Joanne, their lips met. They kissed once, twice. Joanne put her arms around his neck, then quickly stopped herself. "Hey," Rick murmured. "It's ok." Carefully, she did so, as they started kissing with more fervour. Joanne could hardly believe it. That extra box of chocolates and bottle of wine could stay in the car. She cried tears of happiness and Rick wiped them away with his thumb.
"I'm sorry," she said eventually, her voice wavering. "I've just wanted this for so long. You make me so happy Rick and I was desperate to tell you that I love you and want to be with you, if you'll have me. I just didn't know how and felt like a schoolgirl on a damn first date. I was so nervous."
Rick softly chuckled, before pulling Joanne into his lap and held her tightly, kissing her again. "To tell you the truth? I've wanted to ask you out, on a real date, since you told me that Ian left you."
"That prick," Joanne muttered. "To be honest Rick, so did I. I just… Wasn't sure how. But I wish you had." Rick kissed her again. Glancing out the window, Joanne saw a car pull up and knew their food had arrived. Sure enough seconds later, the doorbell rang. Rick took the delivery, and came back to join her. Sitting back at her side, he put his arm around her. "Shall we?" He asked, cracking open the wine. Joanne wanted to cry; she was so happy. "Yes."
"Hey," Rick smiled at her, wiping away her new tears. "Don't cry Jo."
"I'm just so happy," she admitted. "I just wish I'd told you this ages ago."
"I could say the same, but you have now babe," Rick kissed her again and Joanne's heart almost stopped. He'd never called her babe before and God she loved it! "So, toast to our future?"
They clinked glasses and drank, before the new lovers started eating. It was only then Joanne realised how hungry she actually was, as she sat there in the arms of her now boyfriend. Joanne Turner had never felt happier in her life.