Love's Guard
By Cheeya
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to me but they are based upon two Xenaverse characters that we know and love. No copyright infringement was intended.
Love/Sex: This story is a work of alternative uber fiction and contains scenes of love between two consenting adults of the same gender throughout. If you're too young to read this, if it offends you or if it's illegal where you live, please don't read any further.
Language: Yes and often enough.
Dedication: For Caz. I hope you enjoy this! Also, a special dedication to Sham... one uber-Eph story in lieu of Easter egg, as promised!
Archiving: Go ahead but let me know at the address below. I'll get a kick outta it ;-)
Bard's Note: This is the conclusion of a five part tale. I hope you enjoy it!
Comments/constructive criticism to cheeya@xenafan.com the rest of my fan fiction/poetry can be found at http://www.geocities.com/cheeya_2000
Part 5
Gazing out the window of her black limousine, Ariana Strand watched the lights flash by. Tonight was the big night... the 74th annual Academy Awards.
"Nervous?"
Ari shrugged a little and smiled as she entwined her fingers with her lover's.
"A little, I guess. This is where I've wanted to be since I was a little girl." She sighed then. "I think my priorities have changed though. I'm finding I don't really care about whether I win or not. All I want is for us all to get through this safely and catch this sorry son-of-a-bitch."
Dylan McLachlin nodded her agreement as she lifted her arm and settled it around the younger woman's shoulders.
"Everyone's in place. Steph is gonna be on your tail the whole night. She's even going out on stage with you."
Blonde eyebrows lifted. "Do you really think that's necessary, Dylan?"
The bodyguard nodded slowly. "Yes," she replied honestly. "I think it's imperative." Even as she said the words, a feeling of dread seeped into her chest. Her heart began to hammer and she made herself take slow, even breaths. Dammit, McLachlin. Sort yourself out before you panic Ari! Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the feeling of Ari's fingers curled around her hand; the light pressure of the actress body against her shoulder and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. The tall woman leaned in a little closer to breathe in her lover's ear. "I love you and I'm proud of you," she said softly. "We're going to get this guy and sort everything out tonight."
"I know. Thank you, Dylan."
The bodyguard was just about to reply when her head suddenly tilted a little and she listened to the radio traffic.
"Steph," she said softly into her sleeve microphone. "Tell the driver to pull right up to the door. I want a straight, quick walk up the red carpet, got me?"
"Gotcha," Steph's voice came back in her ear. Dylan smiled as she watched the world famous Ariana Strand pull nervously at her hair and then fix her dress.
"You look beautiful." She smiled at the grin of delight she received. "It's show time, Sweetheart. Ready?"
Ari sucked it up and straightened her shoulders, missing the comforting weight of Dylan's arm.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied with a firm nod just as the limo door swept open. It was Joe and he offered his hand to help the blonde actress out of the car. "Thank you," she replied and stepped out of the car, immediately noting that the tall man put himself between her and the crowd. Dylan quickly followed suit and, as they walked the short section of red carpet to the main entrance of the theatre, Martin appeared.
"We've done a complete sweep of the area," he reported softly to Dylan. "Nothing out of the ordinary has been observed."
Dylan nodded. "Good. You and Joe keep up with the patrols. Are Karl and Paul inside?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Martin replied. "They're front and back of your seat positions. Steph will be sitting right next to Ari... on the other side to you, of course." His face told Dylan that he thought he'd said something wrong. She chuckled.
"Thanks, Martin. I'm very glad everything is going to plan. The smoother, the better, as they say." Then her face turned serious. "I need you all to take care of her for me if something happens and I can't be there."
The tall man nodded, his jaw locked in steely resolve much as Dylan's was. "We'll do our best," he promised before lengthening his stride to catch up with Joe and Ari. Steph was suddenly at her friend's side.
"Doing ok?" she asked as she noticed the lines of tension in the tall, dark woman's face. Dylan laughed softly.
"I'm terrified and I didn't get a wink of sleep last night. I've been better." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Make sure you stay on Ari, ok?"
"Of course," the curly haired blonde replied.
Standing at the door of the theatre, Ari took a moment to savour the feeling of being at the Oscars. She'd been at the ceremony the year before, but this was her first nomination and it felt different being here... more special, somehow. Her senses tingled as they struggled to process the bombardment of emotion she felt... happiness, fear, hope and love... all in one swoop. Please, God, just let me get out of this alive with Dylan by my side. A dapper, fresh-faced usher approached and, even though he recognised her, he asked to see her invitation. Dylan's eyebrow lifted as she regarded the man. Her stare intensified until he was so uncomfortable that he just waved them into the auditorium. The blonde looked back at her lover and rolled her eyes in an exasperated fashion but she chuckled when piercing blue eyes just widened in feigned innocence.
"Shall we?" she asked, taking Dylan's hand and tugging on it. Immediately, a flurry of cameras flashed. The bodyguard actually smiled as she posed for a picture with her actress lover and they stopped for a moment to answer a few questions.
"Ms Strand, is it true that you and Dylan McLachlin are actually seeing each other?" one reporter asked, his voice recorder stretched out.
Ari looked up at Dylan who smiled and nodded slightly. "Yes, yes it is," the blonde replied. "Dylan and I are in a relationship."
"Why all the secrecy prior to this?" he went on.
Dylan actually smiled. "As you know, I am Ms Strand's bodyguard. Mixing business with pleasure is not normally a good idea but..." She smiled down at her petite lover who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "I really didn't have much choice."
"Ms Strand forces you to have a relationship with her?" the reporter's voice had turned sceptical.
"No," Dylan replied, wondering if this guy actually had a brain under all that hair gel. "I had no choice because I fell in love with her. Thank you, that's all."
Amid a flurry of camera flashes and further questioning, the two women made their way to their seats. Steph slipped in first, followed by Ari, followed by Dylan. The tall bodyguard was dressed in a tuxedo, as it was better suited to her role than a dress. As she sat, she felt the light pressure of her shoulder holster pressing into her side so she shifted a little in her seat, crossing her legs and getting comfortable. Then she spoke into her sleeve mic.
"Report."
"Joe and Martin, in position in lobby and on external perimeter. Nothing out of the ordinary to report. Out."
"Paul and Karl in position in auditorium. Continuous rounds of the hall are in progress. Nothing out of the ordinary to report."
"Acknowledged." Dylan glanced at Ari, noting the concerned look on her face. "Everything's ok," she said softly. Ari took a deep breath, held it a moment and then released it slowly, nodding her understanding. She wrapped her hand around her bodyguard's.
"Dylan, are you scared?"
Truth or lie? Truth. "Yeah but I have faith in my guys."
Ari smiled tenderly. "I have faith in you."
Blue eyes closed in silent thankfulness and Dylan briefly squeezed her partner's hand. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Ari was third in the line up to present the award for Best Actor in a Supporting role and a few minutes before she was due on stage, the usher came to get her. Dylan and Steph rose with her, Steph following to accompany her on stage and Dylan moving along the aisle to the front of the stage.
"Ok," she said into her sleeve mic. "Ari's up in five. I want everyone in the auditorium and all eyes open for anything out of the ordinary."
Dylan paced up and down in front of the stage. She was full of energy and adrenaline pumped through her veins, giving her an edge that she had learned to trust. Her instincts were on full alert and her eyes darted continuously, effortlessly taking in faces and details. Then the crowd began to applause and Ari stepped onto the stage. For a moment, Dylan was frozen with awe. Once again, she was witnessing the personality and stage presence of Ariana Strand. Her public persona was powerful, yet warm and her smile seemed to light the whole stage. The bodyguard watched as Steph, who was also dressed in a tux, stayed at Ari side, her eyes constantly on the move and her hand on the actress' back.
"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen," Ari began without a trace of nervousness. Steph was only one who could tell she was shaking with fear. "A movie couldn't be a success without the wonderful contribution by supporting actors and actresses. Tonight, I'm here to present the award for outstanding performance by a supporting actor. Here are the nominations..."
Dylan's eyes swept the auditorium, her heart pounding in her chest as she listened to the radio traffic. Her guys constantly reported in, noting everything they saw that could be a possible threat. Just then, Dylan spotted something...
"And the winner is..." Ari felt a thrill of excitement run through her as she slid her finger under the closure on the envelope. It popped open and she slid the card out. A grin lit her face. The supporting actor for her own film had won. "Michael Canton!"
The audience exploded into cheers and applause, almost startling Dylan with it's enthusiasm. She saw Canton hugging his family and making his way to the stage, his face flushed with emotion. Ari's eyes were on him and she was clapping with delight but Dylan was treading her way through people as she moved. She wasn't sure what she'd seen but she had to check it out.
"Out of the way," she growled as she pushed her way through happy well-wishers. She glanced back at the stage and saw Steph watching her. She spoke into her mic. "Steph, get Ari off the stage now." The blonde bodyguard nodded and tugged on Ari's arm.
"We have to go," she said.
"Bu.."
"Come on!"
Steph spun Ari around by the arm and they'd started toward the wings when the actress felt her escort's steps falter.
"Steph? What..." The blonde's eyes widened and she tried to catch her as Steph's knees buckled. They sank to the ground together. "No! Steph!" Ari yelled and then looked around her frantically. "DYLAN!"
Something made Dylan stop and she turned to look at the stage. Her heart hit her shoes when she saw Ari on the floor of the stage, cradling Steph's body.
"No," she whispered and her feet were instantly moving her. "Agent down," she yelled into her mic as she raced for the stage, barrelling along the aisle. A security man tried to stop her approach but she slammed into him, barely missing a step as she leapt onto the stage and skidded to a halt by her lover and her friend.
"Dylan..." Ari whispered, her eyes wide and terrified. The bodyguard suddenly realised that her team was surrounding them.
"Get Ari out of here," she barked, knowing that the limo was already pulling up at the back door as her agents protected her lover. Her eyes briefly met Ari's.
"Dylan, I can't," she pleaded but frightened blue eyes gentled.
"Go. I need you to be safe," the bodyguard said. Ari finally nodded and allowed herself to be hustled to her limo. Dylan, kneeling by Steph's side, gently stroked her cheek. The blonde bodyguard was barely conscious.
"Dyl... Dylan," she croaked and the dark woman leaned in close. "Silencer," Steph said softly. "Never even saw it coming. I'm sorry I fucked up."
"No," Dylan replied vehemently. "If you hadn't been there, Ari would be dead. You saved her life."
A hint of a smile crossed Steph's face. "Take good care of her. I won't be around to help you."
"Don't say that," the dark woman replied as tears streamed down her face. "You're gonna be fine."
"Bullshit, but thanks." Steph's eyes lifted to capture shimmering blue. "I've always loved you," she whispered as a trickle of blood crept from her mouth, down her cheek and into the soft hair at her temple.
Dylan brushed an errant lock of hair back from her friend's eyes. "I know," she replied. "I'm sorry, Steph."
The curly haired blonde grasped her ex-lover's hand and squeezed. "She needs you. Don't let her go."
Dylan wiped the tears from her face as she nodded. "Never." Then she bowed her head and placed a kiss on her friend's forehead as the grip faded to nothing.
But, instead of grief, anger filled Dylan's heart and a deep growl formed in her chest as she pushed herself to her feet. She knew what she'd seen only moments prior to Steph's shooting. She lifted her mic to her mouth.
"Tom's here. I want him stopped. Shoot him if you have to."
Just then, a voice came back to her.
"Dylan, it's Martin. It's too late. He has Ari."
"WHAT?!" The bodyguard's voice cracked. "Oh God!"
Then she was moving again, this time to the rear of the building.
~*~
Ari wrapped her arms around herself as her body shook under the weight of Steph's shooting. Ari didn't really care that the bullet had been meant for her own body but the thought that someone had been hurt in her place upset her terribly. And Dylan. The haunted look on Dylan's face had almost broken her heart.
"Don't worry, Ms Strand, I'll get you to safety," came a voice from the front seat. The actress nodded but then she leaned forward to see who it was.
"Tom? I thought you were staying at the estate." She frowned a little in confusion as she thought back to Dylan's plan. The older agent smiled as he looked at her through the rear view mirror.
"There was a change of plan. Everything's ok. We're working on plan B here."
Ari leaned back into the leather of the seat and sighed. Something was wrong and she knew it. But she couldn't exactly put her finger on what it was.
~*~
"What the fucking hell happened?!" Dylan yelled as she grabbed Martin by the front of his shirt and shoved him against the hard red brick of the theatre's back wall.
"I..."
"I don't want fucking excuses! Just tell me what the hell happened!" The clenching of Dylan's jaw was audible as she pulled him forward and then shoved him back again.
"Dylan!" Joe grabbed his boss around the waist and pulled her away. "Stop it!"
"Where the fuck is she?!" the tall bodyguard asked, tears swimming in her blue eyes.
Joe took her gently by the shoulders and ducked his head a little to look into her eyes.
"There was nothing we could do," he said softly. "We got her into the car and shut the door. Martin was just about to get in the other side when the car sped away. We found our driver lying unconscious on the ground a ways up the alley. When he came 'round, he said that Tom had jumped him."
Dylan pulled away and holstered her gun, tugging a little on her jacket as she tried to control her anger. Tom. It all fell into place. The bullet was meant for Steph, not Ari as she originally thought. Tom had wanted to get Ari into the car so he could take her away... alive. But why?
"Alright," she said softly. Then she turned to Martin, an apologetic look on her face. He shook his head and smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Forget it," he replied and she nodded gratefully.
"Let's get moving everyone. I want the limo found," she said. Then she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialled. "Marlene, it's Dylan. Ari's been kidnapped."
~*~
"Alright, we're here," Tom said cheerfully as he opened his door and stepped out of the car. Ari looked out the window.
"Hey, wait a minute! This isn't..."
She didn't even get to finish her sentence. Tom had opened the passenger door and clamped a piece of cloth over her mouth. She felt herself grow drowsy. As her world faded into darkness a strange thought floated through her mind. Chloroform? This is like a bad movie...
~*~
Marlene walked slowly along the hall to her daughter's private living room. She sighed, looking down at the steaming mug of coffee in her hand and hoped she was making the right decision. She pushed the door open and peeked inside. The room was dim... almost dark... and she could barely make out the tall form standing motionless, silhouetted in the large window. She slowly approached the figure and took a spot beside it, looking up into the tear-streaked face of her daughter's lover.
"Ari told me once that she was afraid she'd never find someone to love but I think her greatest fear was that she'd never find someone to love her." Dylan's eyes closed and she inhaled slowly. "She told me about you the very first day she met you. She ranted and bitched but after I saw you two together for the first time in my restaurant, I knew why she'd acted the way she did. She was in love with you. I could tell by the way she was looking at you. I'd never seen her look at anyone else that way."
"I loved her then too. Now, I love her more than ever."
"I know you did and I thought you were a fool for fighting it. I could see the pain in your eyes."
"What if I can't find her?" Dylan's voice was low and strained. "I don't think I could live without her."
Marlene reached out and wrapped her arm around the tall woman's waist, pulling her closer and leaning against her.
"You'll find her. Soulmates can never be parted."
"Soulmates?" The bodyguard started with surprise. "Damn... I... Do you really think that we're...?"
"Yes, I do. Now go and find her Dylan. Let your heart guide you."
The tall, dark bodyguard set her jaw in determination and nodded seriously.
"I will find her."
~*~
A soft moan caught her attention as she sat reading the latest Stephen King novel and she scowled, wishing that she didn't have to face the woman who had ruined her.
"Nice dress," she commented as a pair of sea green eyes slowly focused on her. "Armani?"
"Who are you?" Ari's voice was scratchy and her tongue felt too big for her mouth. She licked dry lips and fought a sudden wave of nausea as she tried to sit up.
"You're looking a little green there, dear. Careful not to puke on that dress."
"Fuck you," Ari growled in a fairly good approximation of Dylan's 'tough girl' tone.
"You've already done that... well, not literally, but in the sense of ruining my career, you fucked me over big time."
The actress narrowed her eyes, squinting in the bright sunlight that was streaming into her face from the window.
"Angela?" she asked tentatively. The woman's voice was familiar and a memory of long ago tried to surface.
"I see you remember me."
"I don't understand," Ari replied. Her forehead furrowed into a frown but her mind was still too groggy from the chloroform to supply her with the correct information. The woman stood and walked across the room to grab Ari by the face, digging her fingers into her cheeks mercilessly.
"I'll make you understand," she said menacingly. "April 3rd nineteen ninety-six, Ariana Strand and Angela Fusciardi audition for the lead role in a television sit-com about a young woman sharing a college dorm with four other people. Ariana Strand auditions last and suggests that they make the character gay to draw in homosexual viewers and since she's gay... and out about it... offers to play the part no problem, including naked sex scenes when required." She paused to gauge Ari's reaction but the actress' face remained impassive. Years of acting had taught her how to express, or hide, her emotions.
"And?"
"And? What do you mean 'and?'. You stole my big part. That role was written for me until you came and stole it!"
"I didn't steal your role, Angela," Ari replied softly. "I was lucky to get it."
"I know you were," the other woman snapped. "If I'd got it, it would be the one nominated for the Oscar right now."
No you wouldn't. You couldn't act for shit back then and I doubt you've improved. "Maybe... but what has this got to do with me? Why am I here?" Ari asked.
To her surprise, Angela laughed. "Why, I'm going to kill you, Ariana, and I'm going to take over."
"You can't just take over my life!" the blonde replied incredulously.
"Why not?" Angela asked. "You know, I think the first thing I'll do is screw that gorgeous brunette you call a bodyguard."
Ari sprang up from the bed, ignoring the dizziness and nausea as she balled her fists at her sides. "You keep your fucking hands off her!"
"Ooooooh! So the stories are true then. You are fucking the bodyguard. Oh how clichéd, Ariana."
"You're insane," the blonde replied incredulously. "You've lost it. You're a psycho bitch!"
A wicked chuckle was the reply she received. Angela reached behind her. "Never insult a woman with a gun and an itchy trigger finger." She pulled her hand back and pointed a Glock at the actress' head. "Say goodbye, Ariana Strand. I'll make sure that Dylan isn't too broken hearted."
"She wouldn't touch you with a barge pole, you pathetic excuse for an actress wannabe."
Brown eyes narrowed. "For that, you're dying slow." Angela lowered the gun and pointed it at Ari's stomach. The actress stood unflinchingly. She wasn't going to beg for her life. She was going to die with dignity. She saw Angela's fingers tighten around the trigger and said goodbye to the love of her life.
Be safe, Dylan. I'll always be with you. I love you...
~*~
Dylan was just about to get into her car when a voice from the house startled her.
"DYLAN!!" She paused, half in and half out of the car as Martin appeared at the door. "Wait! You're not going to believe this!"
"What?" Dylan pulled her leg back and strode to the steps to meet him.
"Karl just called from the hospital. The paramedics were able to bring Steph back. She's alive and she gonna be fine."
"Alive?" Dylan's mouth was hanging open with shock. "I... I can't believe it," she finally whispered, a huge grin spreading across her face.
"I also have more good news. The police have found Tom and the limo in the warehouse area of town. It's a big area but at least now we have an idea where to look."
"Have they questioned Tom yet?" Dylan asked, her dark eyebrow lifting in question.
Martin shook his head. "Nope, not yet."
Dylan smiled grimly. "Good, I want to ask him where my girl is. Let's go."
"But..." Martin began to protest but instead, ran into the house to grab his coat and then joined his boss in the car. All the way to the police station, Dylan went through what she wanted to say to Tom. She couldn't understand why he'd want to hurt Ari. He'd always been a loyal member of her team and she'd trusted him as much as the others. After the paint incident in Ari's room, she'd had her suspicions but could never really find any evidence against anyone on her team.
"Let me do the talking," she said as they pulled into the parking lot of the station. Martin nodded and Dylan took a moment to take a steadying breath and run her fingers through her dark hair. She'd changed out of her tux into a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. She grabbed her leather jacket from the back seat and then got out of the car. Martin was standing on the other side of the vehicle, waiting for her.
"Boss, don't do anything you can be charged for," he warned her and she chuckled a little.
"I won't. I'm going to use my wit and charm," she replied. He snickered but didn't offer the comment that was on the tip of his tongue. Dylan rolled her eyes. "You're right. What wit and charm? Come on."
The tall man followed his boss into the building and they waited to be seen by the detective working on the case. A bear of a man approached them a few moments later and offered his hand.
"Ford Walsh," he said in a deep baritone voice. "I've heard a lot about you, Ms McLachlin."
"It's Dylan and I hope it was all good," the bodyguard replied. "I need to speak to my man. He's the only one who knows where A... Ms Strand is."
Walsh nodded. If he knew about Dylan's relationship to the kidnapped woman, he didn't indicate it. "Follow me. He's been keeping his mouth shut. Maybe he'll open up to you."
Dylan unconsciously flexed her hands. "Oh, I guarantee he'll open up to me," she muttered as they reached the door of the interview room. The cop paused briefly and smiled.
"You used to be Secret Service, didn't you?" he asked.
Dylan's eyebrow arched and she nodded. "Yeah. Retired almost six years ago."
"I thought I knew you. You were on Banes' detail weren't you? The day he was shot at and that young agent got killed?"
Even now, Dylan's heart clenched in her chest. "Yeah," she said softly. "How'd you know about that?"
"I was there that day. I was one of the officers assigned to crowd control. Damn, Dylan, to this day, the speed with which you responded astounds me."
"I wasn't quick enough. My partner died," the bodyguard replied. Ford just nodded and opened the door of the interview room.
"He's all yours."
Dylan stepped through the door and met suddenly apprehensive brown eyes.
"Hello, Tom." She walked slowly across the room and leaned on the table, bringing her eyes level with his. She stared at him for a long moment before speaking slowly and precisely. "You have two choices. One: you tell me where Ari is and I won't kill you, and two: you don't tell me where Ari is and I draw my gun and shoot you point blank in the stomach." She saw his throat move in a convulsive swallow as she drew her gun from the holster at the small of her back. "You have three seconds." He started to shake under the weight of her stare. "One..." She thumbed the safety off. "Two..." She lowered the weapon and pressed it against his abdomen. "Th..."
"WAIT!" Tom's voice was shaking. "She's at the old film studio near where you picked me up. She's being held by a woman called Angela Fusciardi."
Dylan nodded once and then straightened. "I don't know why you chose to betray us, Tom, but I hope it was worth it."
The ex-bodyguard's eyes dropped to stare at his folded hands, resting on the tabletop.
"Angela Fusciardi is my wife."
Dylan swallowed as she acknowledged his words. "Condolences." Then she turned on her heel and strode out the door, tucking her gun back into her holster.
"Fuck, Boss," Martin said in awe as he trotted after her. "You wouldn't really have shot him, would ya?"
The tall, dark bodyguard pinned him with a cold, blue gaze. "Yes, I would."
And Martin didn't doubt it.
~*~
"Don't you argue with me. This is my op."
Ford Walsh held a hand up to forestall the string of expletives that were about to burst forth from Dylan's mouth.
"Bu..."
"Dylan, shut it. You can go in but you take my orders."
After a brief hesitation, the bodyguard nodded. "Alright. Send your guys in. I'll be right behind them." Dylan exhaled shakily as the SWAT team made their way silently along the exterior wall of the building. She pulled her piece, checked the clip and then tucked it into the front waistband of her jeans. Then, staying low, she ran to join the end of the line of officers. After a short moment of waiting, the door was opened and the team slipped inside the building, into the dust and almost darkness of another world.
Dylan inhaled, then exhaled, extending her senses to try to pinpoint her lover's location. "This way," she finally whispered, pointing at the ladder and then above her to the metal catwalk.
"Ma'am," the team leader replied. "You can't go up there."
Dylan leaned toward him. "What's your name?"
"Roberts, Logan," he replied.
"Well, Logan, if the woman you loved more than life itself was in this building and you could feel where she was, would you sit on your ass and do nothing or would you follow your damn instincts and get her out?"
He blinked. "I... um..." Then he squared his shoulder and nodded. "Lead the way." Dylan saw the grudging respect in his eyes and smiled briefly.
"Thanks. Follow me." One by one, the team climbed the ladder to the catwalk. It extended across the building in a zigzag pattern, finally stopping on the far wall. In the very dim light, even Dylan's exceptional eyesight could only barely make out the door set into the wall. She pointed. "There. That door."
"Ma'am, crossing that bridge will leave us very exposed," Roberts commented with a wave of his gun.
"I know," came the tight answer. "That's why I'm going alone."
"Bu..."
"No arguments. I'm not risking anyone else."
With that, Dylan rose from her crouch and sprinted lightly across the catwalk toward the door. She was almost surprised to make it all the way without incident and she took slow, deep breaths to calm her pounding heart as she pressed her back against the cool concrete wall. Sweat suddenly stung her eyes and she raised her arm to swipe her forehead with her sleeve. Despite the cool evening, she could feel trickles of perspiration move slowly between her shoulder blades and down to the small of her back. She ignored the feeling and slowly inched her way along the wall to the door. She risked a look through the window, cursing silently when she realised it had been painted black. Dylan flexed her fingers, reaffirmed her grip on her gun and reached out to grasp the doorknob. It moved easily under her hand and she inched the door open, releasing a tiny shaft of light into the darkness of the warehouse building. She immediately heard voices.
"Ooooooh! So the stories are true then. You are fucking the bodyguard. Oh how clichéd, Ariana."
"You're insane. You've lost it. You're a psycho bitch!"
A wicked chuckle. "Never insult a woman with a gun and an itchy trigger finger. Say goodbye, Ariana Strand. I'll make sure that Dylan isn't too broken hearted."
"She wouldn't touch you with a barge pole, you pathetic excuse for an actress wannabe."
"For that, you're dying slow."
Dylan heard the click of a gun being cocked and her heart almost hammer out of her chest with fear.
"NO!" The tall, dark bodyguard burst through the door, frightening the woman pointing a Glock at Ari's stomach. Angela whirled and fired two rounds but Dylan dove on her and took her down in a tangle of limbs. The actress screamed under the weight of her attacker and instinctually brought the gun around to point it in the bodyguard's face. Dylan immediately grabbed the gun and forced the muzzle away from her face, at the same time, digging her elbow into the actress' stomach. With a grunt and a whoosh of air, Angela dropped the gun and tried to roll into a ball, desperate to pull a breath into her lungs.
"Dylan!" Ari cried as she took a step forward but the bodyguard was pinning her lover's kidnapper to the ground, a feral, predatory expression on her face. Cold blue eyes snapped up to look at her.
"Stay back," the bodyguard growled. "This is going to be messy." She knelt on Angela's arms and reached over to pick up her gun. "Tell me, Angela. Would you like to die fast or slow?" Very slowly, she drew the muzzle of the gun down from the terrified woman's temple, down her face and neck, over her right breast and pressed it against her stomach. "How does it feel? How does it feel to know that you've got only thirty seconds to live?" Dylan pressed the gun a little harder. "How does it feel to have the tables turned?" She glanced up at Ari whose face was fearful.
"Dylan," she said softly but the bodyguard just grinned up at her.
"You might not want to watch." Then she looked Angela in the eye. "Time's just run out."
The actress squeezed her eyes tightly shut and whimpered as Dylan leaned forward. The gun pressed even harder into her stomach and she screamed and jolted suddenly as a loud... voice sounded right in her ear.
"BANG!!" Dylan yelled before slowly standing and shaking her head at the woman sobbing helplessly on the floor. "Stupid bitch." Then she turned, only to be pounced upon by five and a half feet of trembling blonde. The bodyguard wrapped her arms around her lover and just held her, feeling the warmth of their love soothing the knots coiled in her stomach. She exhaled shakily, worried that she might pass out from relief and tightened her grip. "Ok, I've got you," she whispered. "I love you." Dylan rocked Ari gently as the young actress crumbled into hitching sobs. "Alright," she soothed. "Everything's ok now. I'm here."
Between sobs, a tiny voice made it's way to Dylan's ears. "Thank you."
"I have even better news," Dylan replied with a little smile. "Steph made it. She's gonna be ok."
"Thank God," Ari whispered and squeezed her lover hard. It was only when she heard the hard inhalation that she pulled back and looked her partner over. A bloodstain was winding its way down the tall woman's sleeve and blood was dripping off her fingers. "Shit, Dylan! You're hurt!"
"It's just a flesh wound," the bodyguard replied wearily. "It's not serious."
Sea green eyes gentled as they gazed up into sparkling pools of blue. "You dove in front of a bullet for me."
Dylan chuckled a little as she leaned against her petite partner.
"Not quite," she replied, her dark eyebrow lifted self- deprecatingly. "So... um... was I as good as Kevin Costner?"
Ari grinned as the SWAT team hauled her kidnapper out the door and wrapped an arm around her tall lover. She led her slowly out of the room and onto the catwalk. "You were better."
"Heh."
Dylan dropped her good arm over the blonde's shoulders. "Let's see what we can get up to at the ranch," she replied. "I need a vacation."
Ari rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Me too."
~*~
"How does this feel?" Ari gently traced the fine hairs on her lover's arm, careful to avoid the still healing wound.
"Pretty damn good," Dylan replied with a small sigh. They were relaxing under a large oak tree, the bodyguard with her back resting against the thick, scratchy bark and Ari sitting between her lover's long, denim-covered legs and leaning back against her chest. The dark woman tightened her arms around her petite partner, gently kissing her temple as the cool breeze lifted their hair. "How does it feel to be a famous Oscar winning actress?"
"Pretty damn good," Ari replied. "Jesus, Dylan, after everything we've been through, winning that damn Oscar almost pales into insignificance." Then she blushed a little as a dark eyebrow shot up. "Alright, it's a huge 'almost'," she admitted with a wry grin.
Dylan chuckled and rested her head back against the tree trunk, savouring the feeling of just being alone with the woman she loved. Ari turned a little and rested her head against a broad shoulder. There was quiet for a long moment. Nothing disturbed the peaceful sounds of their horses grazing nearby or the wind moving through the grass until...
"Dylan?"
"Hm?"
"I bought something yesterday that you might like."
"You did, huh?" A blue eye opened lazily. "What is it?"
Ari fished in her pocket for a moment and then pulled something black and lacy out, dangling it on front of the bodyguard's nose. Dark eyebrows almost disappeared into Dylan's hairline.
"A thong?" she asked with a slow grin.
"Mmhm," Ari nodded. Then she leaned in and captured a tasty earlobe. "And guess what?" she whispered. The dark woman shivered as goose bumps rose over her skin.
"What?" she growled.
"I'm wearing one just like it... only in red..." A loud moan ended in a rough growl as Dylan pounced on her lover and rolled them into tall, sweet-smelling grass but before she could possess soft, beckoning, red lips, gentle fingers caressed her face. Ari smiled, an eternity of love shining in her eyes. "I love you more than anything or anyone on this earth," she whispered. Dylan sighed, words escaping her as she gazed at the other half of her soul. She finally just hugged her partner close.
"I love you too."
Then she allowed herself that kiss and surrendered... without hesitation... to the gentle touch of her heart's desire.
The End