*-*-*-*-*
Kate paced the small ten by ten foot square cell she was sharing with three other women. She couldn't understand how everything had gone so wrong. She had done what the angels couldn't she got back the eggs and they were safe and sound in their alarm protected by acrylic display cases but she was in jail. "How did it happen?" she asked herself sitting on the stained mattress of the small cot bolted to the wall.
"So sister, what ya in here for?" asked a large woman with a tattoo of a heart on her upper arm that read, "Kill or Be Killed".
"I don't know," said Kate softly. She really didn't understand how she could be held on anything having to do with Dylan. She hadn't taken her to the Chief and she hadn't locked her in a room. Actually as far as she knew the door to Dylan's room at the house had never been locked. "If anyone should be in here it should be that little angel for arson," she thought to herself.
A guard came entered the row of cells and walked up to the one in which Kate was sitting. "Hey," he yelled getting everyone's attention but the Russian woman's. "You with the accent," he said and then looked at his piece of paper, "and the long weird last name."
"I think he's talking to you," said the big woman to the newcomer. "Me?" asked Kate looking back and forth between her cellmate and the guard.
"Yeah you, you've got a visitor. Want me to show him in?" the guard asked. Kate nodded not sure who would be visiting her and was shocked to see Anthony being led in by the guard. "I'll be right over here," he said pointing to a metal folding chair in the corner near the door.
"Anthony!" she said approaching the bars. The other women in the cell gave a few cat calls in the back. "What are you doing here?" Anthony just looked at her with cold appraising eyes. He didn't want to be there; police stations made him uncomfortable but felt he should see her at least once more so he set aside his fear of them. "I didn't do anything that Dylan says I did. Honestly." He had his pad in his hand from when he was patted down before being allowed into the holding area. He pulled a pen from the leather loop inside the small binder and wrote, "So she was hallucinating?"
"No, I wouldn't say hallucinating but she was under great duress I'm sure from being in the clutches of that mad man. I know she is a professional but a situation like that could stress anyone. I'm sure she saw many things that weren't true and therefore said things that weren't true."
"So have you," he wrote.
"Well you are an ass." she started yelling then dropped her voice so her cellmates and the guard couldn't hear, "an assassin like you haven't."
Anthony couldn't see what his former profession had to do with her dishonesty, her scheming and her involvement with the Chief. He wrote again, "So you are trying to say you weren't involved with the Chief?"
"Exactly!" she cried then she paused, "well maybe not exactly. I was approached by a man who told me that the Chief had the eggs and was willing to give them back to me. If Dylan was there when I arrived that wasn't my fault. As far as I know she stole the eggs." Anger welled up inside of him at her even attempting to pin the stolen eggs on Dylan. That was the most outrageous thing he had heard. Had he not left his sword in the car he would have gladly stabbed her with it, Dimitri's niece or not. "And the taser?" he asked scribbling his question.
Kate paused. She had done that but it was her word against Dylan's and no one was alive who could say otherwise. "I know that one of the Chief's body guards used one on her." "And you?" he insisted. "I didn't do it Anthony, you have to believe me I love you, and I know you love me too:" How he would have loved to hear those words from her when he first met her and thought that she was what the world revolved around but now too many things had happened and he was in love with someone else. Someone whose honesty and integrity impressed him enough to be willing to leave the only life he knew behind. "I'm sorry Kate, I don't love you and never will," he wrote handing her the note. "You do, remember when we first met?" He didn't want to remember or think about that so turning on his heel he walked to the door and the guard happily let him out.
Kate crumpled onto the floor tears streaming down her face, heart broken. "What'd he do dump you?" asked the large tattooed woman, "If he dumps ya cause your in the slammer ya don't need him." Somehow Kate didn't find the other woman's words at all comforting and silently swore to make Dylan suffer.
*-*-*-*-*
Alex went home with Dylan after she gave her statement about the events at the Chief's and museum to the police. "Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you?" asked Alex. "I'll be fine or at least much better after a bath and a nap," said Dylan hugging her.
"Okay but remember dinner tonight with us. Jason will be back for the weekend and his flight comes later tonight."
"Are you sure he won't mind? He will probably be tired after the flight, and didn't he just leave yesterday for Costa Rica anyway?"
"He still thinks you are dead. I called him first thing this morning so he's flying home," said Alex a faint blush covering her cheeks. "He will be so happy to know you aren't," Smiling to herself Dylan settled in on the couch as Alex went to the door. "Alex wait," she called. "Can you stay just a little bit longer?" Turning from the door she went through the living room to the kitchen. "Of course I'll stay just let me make us some tea," she said filling the kettle with water and turning the stove on. She knew how Dylan had a hard time opening up so if she wanted to talk Alex wasn't going to stop her.
"Sounds good. Thanks for staying."
"It's no problem you know that. So how are you doing?"
"Honestly?" Dylan asked.
"Honestly."
"I don't know. Nothing like having your life flash in front of your eyes. I know we've been in life and death situations before but I don't think I've ever come as close as last night."
"Not when Knox shot you out the window?" Dylan shook her head. "Not even when Seamus had you on the rooftop?" asked Alex.
"No, not even then. I knew there was a chance I would go over but with you both there I didn't really think about it. Then Anthony." she faded off. "Well last night my life flashed before me and I knew what I wanted but now I'm not so sure."
"Can I ask what you wanted? Let me know if I'm being nosy," said Alex adjusting her position on the couch. Dylan was about to answer when the kettle whistled, "Hold that though Dyl, while I pour." Alex jumped up and went back to the kitchen. She poured the boiling water into two mugs spilling some when Dylan came up behind her and said, "You've got everything?"
"Yep no problems here. How much sugar?" Dylan held up two fingers. Alex plopped two lumps into the mug, handed it to Dylan with a spoon, quickly wiped the counter, and they went back into the living room. "So what did you decide you wanted?" she asked sitting in the arm chair.
"I decided I wanted Anthony." Alex looked at her like her revelation was a let down. "Hey well I had him for awhile and although it was good I never really trusted him then last night I learned I could. Yeah you and Nat were there for me too but come on, he put on normal clothes for me; blue jeans." They both giggled remembering how handsome yet slightly absurd he looked.
"So why do you think you don't want him now? Keep in mind I'm not his biggest fan but I support you no matter what Dylan. You and Nat are my best friends, more that that really, you are my sisters, so tell me." When Dylan didn't answer she asked, "Was it something Kate said?"
"How did you know?"
"I don't know. I guess I know you and after yesterday I feel that I sort of know him and I sort of know Kate, okay I don't know her, but I know her type and I can't stand them by the way." They both laughed. "So what did she say?"
Dylan paused not sure if she should say it. Part of her knew she was being silly but the other part didn't. "Kate said that Anthony told her she was good in bed. No, I take that back she said he told her she was "GREAT" in bed." She looked down into her cup of tea as though looking to find answers there. Then she bravely looked up to see what Alex would say. Alex removed her tea bag and took a sip. "So?" asked Dylan tired of the anticipation.
"It's too hot to drink yet." She replied. Dylan thought she was serious until she saw a tiny smile creep out from the edge of the cup. "Oh you mean about Kate and Anthony?" asked Alex feigning surprise. Dylan threw a couch pillow at her and they laughed. "I don't know what to say. I saw them when we walked in the museum today and she was all over him, but and get ready because it's a big but." Alex took a breath and continued, "BUT I was wrong about Anthony being involved in the theft of the eggs so I might be wrong about this."
"Yeah but Kate said." started Dylan and Alex cut her off by asking, "What has Anthony said?" Startled Dylan wasn't sure what to say. "Did you even ask him Dylan?" The red-head shook her head "no". "Are you afraid he will lie to you or are you afraid he will tell you the truth and you will have to stop holding him at arms length?" Dylan was surprised at her friend's brutal honesty. "Had she been holding Anthony at arms length?" she wondered. She had opened herself up to him more than she had other men in the past but Alex was right she was always afraid even with Anthony of being hurt and abandoned like her mother was. "I don't want to lecture you but you say you love him but you had as many thoughts about him being involved in this case as I did. One thing I've learned from my relationship with Jason is you have to trust the men you love even if they are jerks at times. After all they are still plain, ordinary men."
"I tried to believe him and I wanted to trust him that's why I didn't go to the police with the egg and the sword." She felt ashamed and a bit embarrassed that she couldn't see the things Alex was pointing out her. The Asian angel moved from the chair to the couch and sat next to Dylan putting her arm around her. "Listen I know it's hard but talk to him and let him talk to you, he does have a sexy voice."
"He spoke to you?" asked Dylan amazed.
Alex shrugged. "He does what he has to. Now you do what you have to," She looked at her watch. "Darn I have to go. I almost forgot I wanted to pick a new shirt up for Jason. He has tons but I'm sure he will notice the one I loaned your boyfriend is missing." Alex grabbed her bag and kissed Dylan on the cheek. "Later tonight, don't forget."
"I won't" said Dylan only half hearing her. "My boyfriend," she said softly to herself realizing that she had never really thought of him that way but more as a lover. A lover meant just sex, someone who was there to keep the bed warm at night but a boyfriend had a more comfortable relationship like quality to it.
As Alex opened the main door she came face to face with Anthony. "What are you doing here?" In his suit with his pad and pen available he reverted back to writing. "I'm not the bad guy." Looking at him doubtfully she said, "Maybe not but you were certainly with Kate soon enough after Dylan 'died'."
She had a point. He couldn't deny that. He hadn't meant to fall asleep at the old house but he had. There was nothing he could do about that now. "I'm not with her now," he wrote. "Probably because she is in jail," answered Alex. Although she wanted Dylan to be happy even if that meant being with the Thin Man she wanted to know his intentions and not see Dylan hurt again. Anthony jotted down another note, paused and wrote something else. Then he handed it to Alex pushing past her and up the stairs to Dylan's. Alex opened the note and read it out loud, "'It's none of your business but I didn't sleep with Kate. It doesn't matter if you believe me.'" Remembering what Natalie had told her on the ride to the museum, "You didn't see him last night he thought he lost another person he loved to fire. It was really hard on him," she watched him walk up the stairs and to herself thought, "I might actually believe you." She only hoped that Dylan would believe him too.
Kate paced the small ten by ten foot square cell she was sharing with three other women. She couldn't understand how everything had gone so wrong. She had done what the angels couldn't she got back the eggs and they were safe and sound in their alarm protected by acrylic display cases but she was in jail. "How did it happen?" she asked herself sitting on the stained mattress of the small cot bolted to the wall.
"So sister, what ya in here for?" asked a large woman with a tattoo of a heart on her upper arm that read, "Kill or Be Killed".
"I don't know," said Kate softly. She really didn't understand how she could be held on anything having to do with Dylan. She hadn't taken her to the Chief and she hadn't locked her in a room. Actually as far as she knew the door to Dylan's room at the house had never been locked. "If anyone should be in here it should be that little angel for arson," she thought to herself.
A guard came entered the row of cells and walked up to the one in which Kate was sitting. "Hey," he yelled getting everyone's attention but the Russian woman's. "You with the accent," he said and then looked at his piece of paper, "and the long weird last name."
"I think he's talking to you," said the big woman to the newcomer. "Me?" asked Kate looking back and forth between her cellmate and the guard.
"Yeah you, you've got a visitor. Want me to show him in?" the guard asked. Kate nodded not sure who would be visiting her and was shocked to see Anthony being led in by the guard. "I'll be right over here," he said pointing to a metal folding chair in the corner near the door.
"Anthony!" she said approaching the bars. The other women in the cell gave a few cat calls in the back. "What are you doing here?" Anthony just looked at her with cold appraising eyes. He didn't want to be there; police stations made him uncomfortable but felt he should see her at least once more so he set aside his fear of them. "I didn't do anything that Dylan says I did. Honestly." He had his pad in his hand from when he was patted down before being allowed into the holding area. He pulled a pen from the leather loop inside the small binder and wrote, "So she was hallucinating?"
"No, I wouldn't say hallucinating but she was under great duress I'm sure from being in the clutches of that mad man. I know she is a professional but a situation like that could stress anyone. I'm sure she saw many things that weren't true and therefore said things that weren't true."
"So have you," he wrote.
"Well you are an ass." she started yelling then dropped her voice so her cellmates and the guard couldn't hear, "an assassin like you haven't."
Anthony couldn't see what his former profession had to do with her dishonesty, her scheming and her involvement with the Chief. He wrote again, "So you are trying to say you weren't involved with the Chief?"
"Exactly!" she cried then she paused, "well maybe not exactly. I was approached by a man who told me that the Chief had the eggs and was willing to give them back to me. If Dylan was there when I arrived that wasn't my fault. As far as I know she stole the eggs." Anger welled up inside of him at her even attempting to pin the stolen eggs on Dylan. That was the most outrageous thing he had heard. Had he not left his sword in the car he would have gladly stabbed her with it, Dimitri's niece or not. "And the taser?" he asked scribbling his question.
Kate paused. She had done that but it was her word against Dylan's and no one was alive who could say otherwise. "I know that one of the Chief's body guards used one on her." "And you?" he insisted. "I didn't do it Anthony, you have to believe me I love you, and I know you love me too:" How he would have loved to hear those words from her when he first met her and thought that she was what the world revolved around but now too many things had happened and he was in love with someone else. Someone whose honesty and integrity impressed him enough to be willing to leave the only life he knew behind. "I'm sorry Kate, I don't love you and never will," he wrote handing her the note. "You do, remember when we first met?" He didn't want to remember or think about that so turning on his heel he walked to the door and the guard happily let him out.
Kate crumpled onto the floor tears streaming down her face, heart broken. "What'd he do dump you?" asked the large tattooed woman, "If he dumps ya cause your in the slammer ya don't need him." Somehow Kate didn't find the other woman's words at all comforting and silently swore to make Dylan suffer.
*-*-*-*-*
Alex went home with Dylan after she gave her statement about the events at the Chief's and museum to the police. "Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you?" asked Alex. "I'll be fine or at least much better after a bath and a nap," said Dylan hugging her.
"Okay but remember dinner tonight with us. Jason will be back for the weekend and his flight comes later tonight."
"Are you sure he won't mind? He will probably be tired after the flight, and didn't he just leave yesterday for Costa Rica anyway?"
"He still thinks you are dead. I called him first thing this morning so he's flying home," said Alex a faint blush covering her cheeks. "He will be so happy to know you aren't," Smiling to herself Dylan settled in on the couch as Alex went to the door. "Alex wait," she called. "Can you stay just a little bit longer?" Turning from the door she went through the living room to the kitchen. "Of course I'll stay just let me make us some tea," she said filling the kettle with water and turning the stove on. She knew how Dylan had a hard time opening up so if she wanted to talk Alex wasn't going to stop her.
"Sounds good. Thanks for staying."
"It's no problem you know that. So how are you doing?"
"Honestly?" Dylan asked.
"Honestly."
"I don't know. Nothing like having your life flash in front of your eyes. I know we've been in life and death situations before but I don't think I've ever come as close as last night."
"Not when Knox shot you out the window?" Dylan shook her head. "Not even when Seamus had you on the rooftop?" asked Alex.
"No, not even then. I knew there was a chance I would go over but with you both there I didn't really think about it. Then Anthony." she faded off. "Well last night my life flashed before me and I knew what I wanted but now I'm not so sure."
"Can I ask what you wanted? Let me know if I'm being nosy," said Alex adjusting her position on the couch. Dylan was about to answer when the kettle whistled, "Hold that though Dyl, while I pour." Alex jumped up and went back to the kitchen. She poured the boiling water into two mugs spilling some when Dylan came up behind her and said, "You've got everything?"
"Yep no problems here. How much sugar?" Dylan held up two fingers. Alex plopped two lumps into the mug, handed it to Dylan with a spoon, quickly wiped the counter, and they went back into the living room. "So what did you decide you wanted?" she asked sitting in the arm chair.
"I decided I wanted Anthony." Alex looked at her like her revelation was a let down. "Hey well I had him for awhile and although it was good I never really trusted him then last night I learned I could. Yeah you and Nat were there for me too but come on, he put on normal clothes for me; blue jeans." They both giggled remembering how handsome yet slightly absurd he looked.
"So why do you think you don't want him now? Keep in mind I'm not his biggest fan but I support you no matter what Dylan. You and Nat are my best friends, more that that really, you are my sisters, so tell me." When Dylan didn't answer she asked, "Was it something Kate said?"
"How did you know?"
"I don't know. I guess I know you and after yesterday I feel that I sort of know him and I sort of know Kate, okay I don't know her, but I know her type and I can't stand them by the way." They both laughed. "So what did she say?"
Dylan paused not sure if she should say it. Part of her knew she was being silly but the other part didn't. "Kate said that Anthony told her she was good in bed. No, I take that back she said he told her she was "GREAT" in bed." She looked down into her cup of tea as though looking to find answers there. Then she bravely looked up to see what Alex would say. Alex removed her tea bag and took a sip. "So?" asked Dylan tired of the anticipation.
"It's too hot to drink yet." She replied. Dylan thought she was serious until she saw a tiny smile creep out from the edge of the cup. "Oh you mean about Kate and Anthony?" asked Alex feigning surprise. Dylan threw a couch pillow at her and they laughed. "I don't know what to say. I saw them when we walked in the museum today and she was all over him, but and get ready because it's a big but." Alex took a breath and continued, "BUT I was wrong about Anthony being involved in the theft of the eggs so I might be wrong about this."
"Yeah but Kate said." started Dylan and Alex cut her off by asking, "What has Anthony said?" Startled Dylan wasn't sure what to say. "Did you even ask him Dylan?" The red-head shook her head "no". "Are you afraid he will lie to you or are you afraid he will tell you the truth and you will have to stop holding him at arms length?" Dylan was surprised at her friend's brutal honesty. "Had she been holding Anthony at arms length?" she wondered. She had opened herself up to him more than she had other men in the past but Alex was right she was always afraid even with Anthony of being hurt and abandoned like her mother was. "I don't want to lecture you but you say you love him but you had as many thoughts about him being involved in this case as I did. One thing I've learned from my relationship with Jason is you have to trust the men you love even if they are jerks at times. After all they are still plain, ordinary men."
"I tried to believe him and I wanted to trust him that's why I didn't go to the police with the egg and the sword." She felt ashamed and a bit embarrassed that she couldn't see the things Alex was pointing out her. The Asian angel moved from the chair to the couch and sat next to Dylan putting her arm around her. "Listen I know it's hard but talk to him and let him talk to you, he does have a sexy voice."
"He spoke to you?" asked Dylan amazed.
Alex shrugged. "He does what he has to. Now you do what you have to," She looked at her watch. "Darn I have to go. I almost forgot I wanted to pick a new shirt up for Jason. He has tons but I'm sure he will notice the one I loaned your boyfriend is missing." Alex grabbed her bag and kissed Dylan on the cheek. "Later tonight, don't forget."
"I won't" said Dylan only half hearing her. "My boyfriend," she said softly to herself realizing that she had never really thought of him that way but more as a lover. A lover meant just sex, someone who was there to keep the bed warm at night but a boyfriend had a more comfortable relationship like quality to it.
As Alex opened the main door she came face to face with Anthony. "What are you doing here?" In his suit with his pad and pen available he reverted back to writing. "I'm not the bad guy." Looking at him doubtfully she said, "Maybe not but you were certainly with Kate soon enough after Dylan 'died'."
She had a point. He couldn't deny that. He hadn't meant to fall asleep at the old house but he had. There was nothing he could do about that now. "I'm not with her now," he wrote. "Probably because she is in jail," answered Alex. Although she wanted Dylan to be happy even if that meant being with the Thin Man she wanted to know his intentions and not see Dylan hurt again. Anthony jotted down another note, paused and wrote something else. Then he handed it to Alex pushing past her and up the stairs to Dylan's. Alex opened the note and read it out loud, "'It's none of your business but I didn't sleep with Kate. It doesn't matter if you believe me.'" Remembering what Natalie had told her on the ride to the museum, "You didn't see him last night he thought he lost another person he loved to fire. It was really hard on him," she watched him walk up the stairs and to herself thought, "I might actually believe you." She only hoped that Dylan would believe him too.