A/N: Updated version, with less mistakes and a few sentences and words changed, nothing major thou. 01-08-04
The darkness within
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the movies: Charlie's Angels and Charlie's Angels: Full throttle. I wrote it just for fun. (The unrated-version is different - it does not match with this story)
Chapter 1: Facing reality
Dylan felt relieved and happy, everything had turned out right. Well not everything, but she tried not to think about that. It was party time. Seamus was gone, Madison beaten and the case solved. She should be happy and she was at first. Seated next to Max in the first row of the lower balcony, she waited for the movie to begin.
The red headed angel had no real interest in Maximum Extreme 2, but it would be fun to watch Jason - or more likely his stuntmen - do all the things they did on their regular cases. 'At least they are happy and Jason does not mind being crashed into the pavement once in a while', she thought watching the couple. Alex and Jason were still standing and the action star smiled towards the incoming guests with his perfect, white teeth holding Alex around her waist.
Natalie was leaning onto Pete, the pain from her wound was still bothering her, but she hid it as good as she could. Luckily the two lovebirds had a two-seater - or more likely each other. Only Max kept Dylan from feeling alone. The young boy was asking many questions about Jason, the movie and their job. Then his questions included the HALO case. "I bet she looked really stupid, when she saw the empty roof", Max said. He knew the basics from Bosley and know he was curious how it actually worked out.
"Yeah, she did", Dylan told him. "Everything would have gone smoothly - hadn't the O'Gradys showed up…" The last word came out easily, but then she stopped.
"But you got them - you got your …", Max pressed her on. He probably had not inquired, had he known how Dylan would re-act. Her suddenly pale face made him look at her with great concern. The redheaded angel remembered what she had tried to forget. She felt the shock as Seamus appeared out of the sudden on the roof, starting to shoot. His men swarming the place. Seamus almost tossing her of the roof.
How the silent assassin had saved her. She remembered lying there on the barbed wire feeling the heat of the light bulbs, then Seamus releasing her only to go over seconds later. How the Thin Man had pulled her back. Holding her firmly. At first she had not known what to think, she looked at his face bearing that wild aggressive look. Which softened as he realised that she was not fighting and instead holding on to him.
Dylan was not able to think how it all came to happen, what she was feeling for what reasons, but she remembered that wild, passionate kiss and his scream - she never would be able to forget that.
"Excuse me" she said loud enough for Jason and Alex to hear, then Dylan jumped on to the railings. The other guests looked at her shocked, but before they were able to say something she was out and went down the stairs. Hopefully the others thought that she was just heading to the restrooms. She did not want to spoil the party for her team.
Dylan reached the foyer. Outside was still the mass that had not been lucky enough to get tickets. Yet their were so happy. All she was able to do was feeling miserable. It seemed so natural to dress up and attend the premier, celebrate their victory, but now Dylan was truly ashamed of herself. If not for the thin man - or Anthony, as the nuns had named him - she would had been dead. He saved her, all she was doing was losing herself in this wonderful moment.
Dylan felt she should have seen Seamus. She blamed herself for being so careless. Most of all she blamed herself for not going into that alley - not paying a single thought to him after beating Madison. 'It is no use - he is dead, you don't help anyone by reproaching yourself', she thought. 'Go back there and smile for your friends. You can cry later.'
She seldom felt the need for tears and it confused her even more. What really had happened on that roof? 'Get a grip on yourself, girl.' The thin man was an assassin, he tried to kill them more than once, he had witnessed Knox attempt to kill her. She could not probably been attracted to him. It did not work that way. First they seemed perfect, then she slept with them and then they turned out to be killers!
She was nervously making fists as she heard a voice calling her name. "Miss Sanders?" Dylan turned and saw the detective that already had questioned them after the Emmers incident at the Coal Bowl. "Detective Thompson?" she barely remembered his name. Definitely not her type, and not only because of the ring on his finger. The policeman reminded her of Chad. If she had to hear the word Starfish one more time, the angel might do something very impolite to the person saying it.
"It's Detective Thompsen" he replied smiling. "You and your friends helped out the FBI again, but there are some questions concerning several dead bodies, that had been dropped of a roof. We know that you had an agreement to take care of that Miss Lee, but we still need your statements and help identifying the bodies."
Dylan nodded: "I understand, but would you mind if my colleagues come in tomorrow?"
"Of course", he said slightly surprised, realising that the woman wanted to go with him right now. Thompsen did not know what to say. He was prepared to ask the three detectives, after the premiere, thus getting a chance to actually attend it. He sighed silently and hoped that he would get his hands on an autograph of Jason Gibbons, who was involved with one of Charles Townsend's private investigators or angels as the secretive millionaire used to called them.
Detective Thompsen never had talked to him, but he knew that Townsend had good connections in the government, money like sand on the beach and the habit to remain a voice. So probably he should be glad that he found one of the angels willing to help him out so fast. They went out to the back to avoid the crowd outside and the detective lead her to this car. He soon realised that the young woman was quite upset by something.
"Care to tell me what happened on that roof?" he asked hoping that she would not insist on a lawyer, but he had never heard that Charlie's Angels had the need for one.
Dylan sighed, she did not want to tell this over and over again so she told Thompsen, that she would like to wait for the official statement. After a moment of silence she suddenly realised that she had to inform Alex and Natalie she was going. Pulling out her cellular, she explained that to the detective and started to write an SMS to her friends. Nat, Alex - I met Det. Thompson, I agreed to help him identifying the bodies that fell off the roof. Enjoy the movie, D
The movie was most likely past the opening sequence as they reached the hospital. The detective lead her down to the morgue. On the way Dylan froze as she saw Seamus cousin Troy walking past them. He was but a bit smaller than Seamus, but had a lot more weight on his chest. Unfortunately most of it not fat. His light green eyes had a vicious glare, but he said nothing. Dylan turned her head and observed, but he vanished upstairs. Thompsen felt her unease. "Don't worry there are too many cops and FBI agent around, he won't dare to harm you."
The angel nodded: "Let me guess - he just identified Seamus O'Grady."
"No, he - donated blood for him", the detective said slowly and Dylan stared at him, before she yelled furious: "You mean that bastard survived the fall?!?" Dylan felt loosing her ground, that could not be!
Thompsen looked worried at Dylan, he had heard rumours that Seamus O'Grady was after her. He had expected that she was afraid of the Irish, but the girl radiated a loathing that made Thompsen wonder what was really the story behind those rumours. "I'm afraid so", he said meaning it that way. Too often the police-man had seen the mischief men like the Irish mobster had caused. "He is in bad shape, they are operating him right now … the lucky bastard fell on one of the other bodies, impaling himself, but a nearby patrol found him and rescued him before that letter crashed on top of him."
Dylan needed to breathe, she heaved violently still feeling the floor turning around her. Only Thompsen's strong arms supporting her shoulders prevented her from falling as she fainted. It was only for a few seconds, but the angel could not bear the thought that her personal demon was still alive. Even injured he was a thread having thugs carrying out his hideous revenge plots. The detective helped her on one of the visitor-chairs and went to get some water for her.
"Maybe we should do this tomorrow" Thompsen kindly suggested handing her the small beaker. "I'll drive you home."
"No" Dylan replied firmly. She would not be weak again, not because of Seamus. She was strong and there was no need to be so overwhelmed. "I identify the bodies!" Part of her wanted to ask whether there was another survivor, but she knew that it was not possible. The blade had gone right through the heart. She had know that this was the Thin Man's end the very moment. She remembered her horror, how mortified her "No" had sounded and the satisfaction in O'Grady's face.
He knew he had hurt her and Dylan was surprised how much it had hurt. Had anyone told her after the Knox case that she would one day be crying because the Creepy Thin Man was dead, she would have laughed about it. Thinking about that she wondered how he had survived the missile. Wondered whether Vivian also made it. Strange the police report had mentioned to bodies being ripped apart by the explosion.
Dylan stood up to underline that she was sincere about going through with this. Thompsen was concerned, but led her on. The morgue was cool and all the tables had a body bag on them. 'Were all those victims from the roof?' she thought. Alex had mentioned that she sent one of the thugs flying, but so many? The redheaded angel curled some of her hair than stopping herself.
Detective Thompsen went to the fifth table from here and told her that actually all the Irish had been identified and only the man Seamus had been dropped on remained a mystery. She felt a painful nausea in her stomach as she approached the table. The coroner stepped towards them and opened the zipper revealing the Thin Mans now even paler face. She saw that the back of his head was covered with blood, probably cracked open as he hit the street.
Too shocked to cry as the last silly peace of hope was swept away right before her eyes she nodded and the coroner closed the bag.
"Did you know him?" the detective asked with soft voice.
"He saved my life, Seamus was … about to throw me over, but he stopped him." She felt so sad, also being an assassin, that had tried to kill them, aiding Knox as he was after Charlie, he did not deserved this. He had saved Max and he saved her. Thompsen wondered, but he remained silent. As he suddenly recalled something. He asked for the report and read the line that listed the items found with the body. 'A strain of red hair' he read suddenly suspecting a deeper involvement.
That brought the detective back: "We found no papers with him. What can you tell us about him? Do you know who stabbed and throw him over?" The angel looked at him, dealing with the fact that the man who had kissed her with more passion than any men before lay dead and shattered before her.
"Seamus - he took .. he stabbed him and then he fell over…", she covered her eyes.
"You should know he was most certainly dead before he hit the ground", a soft male voice said. It belonged to a Dr. L. Richardson - according to his name tag. If that was an attempt to comfort her, it did not work at all.
"Can we go outside?", Dylan asked with her voice fading. Thompsen agreed and she told him everything about the Thin Man except his involvement in the Knox Case and Emmer's death. She saw no need to do so, now that he was dead. It was luck that they only reported after a case was closed. A simple precaution to stop the police from interfering with their work.
"Dylan?"
The angel looked up to discover Alex walking down the corridor looking for her. As she saw Dylan, she ran towards her, hugging her friend tightly. "What are you doing here all alone?", she wanted to know.
"I'm sorry, I did not wanted to spoil the premiere, you should have stayed", she explained to the Asian angel.
"Nonsense," Alex declared. "The premiere is nothing, if you needed to do this, we would have come along!"
"Is Nat here, too? The O'Gradys are all over the place!" Dylan was halfway up to go and search for the third angel as Alex stopped her. "No, she is still in the first row, in Pete's arms and probably dreaming about dancing!"
Dylan took her seat again. That was relieving. She managed her first shy smile picturing Nat asleep right next to the star of this evening, but she had been injured worst of all and lost a lot of blood. She deserved a break. "So what happened here?", Alex asked again.
"I identified him!" she said with her dried out voice, causing Thompsen to leave earshot and get another glass of water for the girl.
Alex was not nearly as moved by the death of their old adversary, but he had saved her life, too. She had seen him with Dylan heard her friend scream in agony as she watched him falling over the rapier stuck in his heart. "You should have taken me with you", then she said. "Strange, he tried to kill us and now he saved us." Then she paused as Thompsen came back.
Dylan thanked him for the water and introduced them.
"Yes, I have talked to Miss Munday earlier this night", he gave her a nod.
"Well, Detective, I drive my friend home, we come by tomorrow, I assume that it can wait until then", Alex decided. "After all they are all dead."
"No", Dylan interrupted and looked at Alex. "Seamus is alive! They are operating him right now!"
"Oh boy!", Alex was definitely very unhappy. "Well I guess I stay with you then, for this night. I'd take you to my place, but Jason is probably still mad at me."
That was news. Jason mad at Alex, after all that had happened. "What did you did you do?"
"I could not stop laughing, the movie was so ridiculous - you should have seen the stunts. Even for 'Matrix' they would have been exaggerated. So I went outside and got your message. Alex gave Dylan at least a little comfort.
"Ok ladies, I see you then tomorrow." Thompsen said his goodbyes and returned to the morgue. What a night not one autograph and he needed three, two for his children and one for his wife. Maybe tomorrow he could ask Miss Munday.
Alex lead, her arm still around Dylan's waste, the way to her car. Then she drove home to Dylan's small apartment. "Wow, untidier than the last time I was here", she told her friend.
"So what?", the red headed angel asked.
"I was just astonished, I did not thought it to be possible."
Dylan rolled her eyes. At least Seamus had not been able to harm them. She would have gone crazy if anything had happened to her friends. The angels were like soul-sisters, connected in a way none of them could explain with words. It was there and it did not require an explanation. They were a team, they were Charlie's Angels. Only together they had been able to defeat Madison.
The darkness within
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the movies: Charlie's Angels and Charlie's Angels: Full throttle. I wrote it just for fun. (The unrated-version is different - it does not match with this story)
Chapter 1: Facing reality
Dylan felt relieved and happy, everything had turned out right. Well not everything, but she tried not to think about that. It was party time. Seamus was gone, Madison beaten and the case solved. She should be happy and she was at first. Seated next to Max in the first row of the lower balcony, she waited for the movie to begin.
The red headed angel had no real interest in Maximum Extreme 2, but it would be fun to watch Jason - or more likely his stuntmen - do all the things they did on their regular cases. 'At least they are happy and Jason does not mind being crashed into the pavement once in a while', she thought watching the couple. Alex and Jason were still standing and the action star smiled towards the incoming guests with his perfect, white teeth holding Alex around her waist.
Natalie was leaning onto Pete, the pain from her wound was still bothering her, but she hid it as good as she could. Luckily the two lovebirds had a two-seater - or more likely each other. Only Max kept Dylan from feeling alone. The young boy was asking many questions about Jason, the movie and their job. Then his questions included the HALO case. "I bet she looked really stupid, when she saw the empty roof", Max said. He knew the basics from Bosley and know he was curious how it actually worked out.
"Yeah, she did", Dylan told him. "Everything would have gone smoothly - hadn't the O'Gradys showed up…" The last word came out easily, but then she stopped.
"But you got them - you got your …", Max pressed her on. He probably had not inquired, had he known how Dylan would re-act. Her suddenly pale face made him look at her with great concern. The redheaded angel remembered what she had tried to forget. She felt the shock as Seamus appeared out of the sudden on the roof, starting to shoot. His men swarming the place. Seamus almost tossing her of the roof.
How the silent assassin had saved her. She remembered lying there on the barbed wire feeling the heat of the light bulbs, then Seamus releasing her only to go over seconds later. How the Thin Man had pulled her back. Holding her firmly. At first she had not known what to think, she looked at his face bearing that wild aggressive look. Which softened as he realised that she was not fighting and instead holding on to him.
Dylan was not able to think how it all came to happen, what she was feeling for what reasons, but she remembered that wild, passionate kiss and his scream - she never would be able to forget that.
"Excuse me" she said loud enough for Jason and Alex to hear, then Dylan jumped on to the railings. The other guests looked at her shocked, but before they were able to say something she was out and went down the stairs. Hopefully the others thought that she was just heading to the restrooms. She did not want to spoil the party for her team.
Dylan reached the foyer. Outside was still the mass that had not been lucky enough to get tickets. Yet their were so happy. All she was able to do was feeling miserable. It seemed so natural to dress up and attend the premier, celebrate their victory, but now Dylan was truly ashamed of herself. If not for the thin man - or Anthony, as the nuns had named him - she would had been dead. He saved her, all she was doing was losing herself in this wonderful moment.
Dylan felt she should have seen Seamus. She blamed herself for being so careless. Most of all she blamed herself for not going into that alley - not paying a single thought to him after beating Madison. 'It is no use - he is dead, you don't help anyone by reproaching yourself', she thought. 'Go back there and smile for your friends. You can cry later.'
She seldom felt the need for tears and it confused her even more. What really had happened on that roof? 'Get a grip on yourself, girl.' The thin man was an assassin, he tried to kill them more than once, he had witnessed Knox attempt to kill her. She could not probably been attracted to him. It did not work that way. First they seemed perfect, then she slept with them and then they turned out to be killers!
She was nervously making fists as she heard a voice calling her name. "Miss Sanders?" Dylan turned and saw the detective that already had questioned them after the Emmers incident at the Coal Bowl. "Detective Thompson?" she barely remembered his name. Definitely not her type, and not only because of the ring on his finger. The policeman reminded her of Chad. If she had to hear the word Starfish one more time, the angel might do something very impolite to the person saying it.
"It's Detective Thompsen" he replied smiling. "You and your friends helped out the FBI again, but there are some questions concerning several dead bodies, that had been dropped of a roof. We know that you had an agreement to take care of that Miss Lee, but we still need your statements and help identifying the bodies."
Dylan nodded: "I understand, but would you mind if my colleagues come in tomorrow?"
"Of course", he said slightly surprised, realising that the woman wanted to go with him right now. Thompsen did not know what to say. He was prepared to ask the three detectives, after the premiere, thus getting a chance to actually attend it. He sighed silently and hoped that he would get his hands on an autograph of Jason Gibbons, who was involved with one of Charles Townsend's private investigators or angels as the secretive millionaire used to called them.
Detective Thompsen never had talked to him, but he knew that Townsend had good connections in the government, money like sand on the beach and the habit to remain a voice. So probably he should be glad that he found one of the angels willing to help him out so fast. They went out to the back to avoid the crowd outside and the detective lead her to this car. He soon realised that the young woman was quite upset by something.
"Care to tell me what happened on that roof?" he asked hoping that she would not insist on a lawyer, but he had never heard that Charlie's Angels had the need for one.
Dylan sighed, she did not want to tell this over and over again so she told Thompsen, that she would like to wait for the official statement. After a moment of silence she suddenly realised that she had to inform Alex and Natalie she was going. Pulling out her cellular, she explained that to the detective and started to write an SMS to her friends. Nat, Alex - I met Det. Thompson, I agreed to help him identifying the bodies that fell off the roof. Enjoy the movie, D
The movie was most likely past the opening sequence as they reached the hospital. The detective lead her down to the morgue. On the way Dylan froze as she saw Seamus cousin Troy walking past them. He was but a bit smaller than Seamus, but had a lot more weight on his chest. Unfortunately most of it not fat. His light green eyes had a vicious glare, but he said nothing. Dylan turned her head and observed, but he vanished upstairs. Thompsen felt her unease. "Don't worry there are too many cops and FBI agent around, he won't dare to harm you."
The angel nodded: "Let me guess - he just identified Seamus O'Grady."
"No, he - donated blood for him", the detective said slowly and Dylan stared at him, before she yelled furious: "You mean that bastard survived the fall?!?" Dylan felt loosing her ground, that could not be!
Thompsen looked worried at Dylan, he had heard rumours that Seamus O'Grady was after her. He had expected that she was afraid of the Irish, but the girl radiated a loathing that made Thompsen wonder what was really the story behind those rumours. "I'm afraid so", he said meaning it that way. Too often the police-man had seen the mischief men like the Irish mobster had caused. "He is in bad shape, they are operating him right now … the lucky bastard fell on one of the other bodies, impaling himself, but a nearby patrol found him and rescued him before that letter crashed on top of him."
Dylan needed to breathe, she heaved violently still feeling the floor turning around her. Only Thompsen's strong arms supporting her shoulders prevented her from falling as she fainted. It was only for a few seconds, but the angel could not bear the thought that her personal demon was still alive. Even injured he was a thread having thugs carrying out his hideous revenge plots. The detective helped her on one of the visitor-chairs and went to get some water for her.
"Maybe we should do this tomorrow" Thompsen kindly suggested handing her the small beaker. "I'll drive you home."
"No" Dylan replied firmly. She would not be weak again, not because of Seamus. She was strong and there was no need to be so overwhelmed. "I identify the bodies!" Part of her wanted to ask whether there was another survivor, but she knew that it was not possible. The blade had gone right through the heart. She had know that this was the Thin Man's end the very moment. She remembered her horror, how mortified her "No" had sounded and the satisfaction in O'Grady's face.
He knew he had hurt her and Dylan was surprised how much it had hurt. Had anyone told her after the Knox case that she would one day be crying because the Creepy Thin Man was dead, she would have laughed about it. Thinking about that she wondered how he had survived the missile. Wondered whether Vivian also made it. Strange the police report had mentioned to bodies being ripped apart by the explosion.
Dylan stood up to underline that she was sincere about going through with this. Thompsen was concerned, but led her on. The morgue was cool and all the tables had a body bag on them. 'Were all those victims from the roof?' she thought. Alex had mentioned that she sent one of the thugs flying, but so many? The redheaded angel curled some of her hair than stopping herself.
Detective Thompsen went to the fifth table from here and told her that actually all the Irish had been identified and only the man Seamus had been dropped on remained a mystery. She felt a painful nausea in her stomach as she approached the table. The coroner stepped towards them and opened the zipper revealing the Thin Mans now even paler face. She saw that the back of his head was covered with blood, probably cracked open as he hit the street.
Too shocked to cry as the last silly peace of hope was swept away right before her eyes she nodded and the coroner closed the bag.
"Did you know him?" the detective asked with soft voice.
"He saved my life, Seamus was … about to throw me over, but he stopped him." She felt so sad, also being an assassin, that had tried to kill them, aiding Knox as he was after Charlie, he did not deserved this. He had saved Max and he saved her. Thompsen wondered, but he remained silent. As he suddenly recalled something. He asked for the report and read the line that listed the items found with the body. 'A strain of red hair' he read suddenly suspecting a deeper involvement.
That brought the detective back: "We found no papers with him. What can you tell us about him? Do you know who stabbed and throw him over?" The angel looked at him, dealing with the fact that the man who had kissed her with more passion than any men before lay dead and shattered before her.
"Seamus - he took .. he stabbed him and then he fell over…", she covered her eyes.
"You should know he was most certainly dead before he hit the ground", a soft male voice said. It belonged to a Dr. L. Richardson - according to his name tag. If that was an attempt to comfort her, it did not work at all.
"Can we go outside?", Dylan asked with her voice fading. Thompsen agreed and she told him everything about the Thin Man except his involvement in the Knox Case and Emmer's death. She saw no need to do so, now that he was dead. It was luck that they only reported after a case was closed. A simple precaution to stop the police from interfering with their work.
"Dylan?"
The angel looked up to discover Alex walking down the corridor looking for her. As she saw Dylan, she ran towards her, hugging her friend tightly. "What are you doing here all alone?", she wanted to know.
"I'm sorry, I did not wanted to spoil the premiere, you should have stayed", she explained to the Asian angel.
"Nonsense," Alex declared. "The premiere is nothing, if you needed to do this, we would have come along!"
"Is Nat here, too? The O'Gradys are all over the place!" Dylan was halfway up to go and search for the third angel as Alex stopped her. "No, she is still in the first row, in Pete's arms and probably dreaming about dancing!"
Dylan took her seat again. That was relieving. She managed her first shy smile picturing Nat asleep right next to the star of this evening, but she had been injured worst of all and lost a lot of blood. She deserved a break. "So what happened here?", Alex asked again.
"I identified him!" she said with her dried out voice, causing Thompsen to leave earshot and get another glass of water for the girl.
Alex was not nearly as moved by the death of their old adversary, but he had saved her life, too. She had seen him with Dylan heard her friend scream in agony as she watched him falling over the rapier stuck in his heart. "You should have taken me with you", then she said. "Strange, he tried to kill us and now he saved us." Then she paused as Thompsen came back.
Dylan thanked him for the water and introduced them.
"Yes, I have talked to Miss Munday earlier this night", he gave her a nod.
"Well, Detective, I drive my friend home, we come by tomorrow, I assume that it can wait until then", Alex decided. "After all they are all dead."
"No", Dylan interrupted and looked at Alex. "Seamus is alive! They are operating him right now!"
"Oh boy!", Alex was definitely very unhappy. "Well I guess I stay with you then, for this night. I'd take you to my place, but Jason is probably still mad at me."
That was news. Jason mad at Alex, after all that had happened. "What did you did you do?"
"I could not stop laughing, the movie was so ridiculous - you should have seen the stunts. Even for 'Matrix' they would have been exaggerated. So I went outside and got your message. Alex gave Dylan at least a little comfort.
"Ok ladies, I see you then tomorrow." Thompsen said his goodbyes and returned to the morgue. What a night not one autograph and he needed three, two for his children and one for his wife. Maybe tomorrow he could ask Miss Munday.
Alex lead, her arm still around Dylan's waste, the way to her car. Then she drove home to Dylan's small apartment. "Wow, untidier than the last time I was here", she told her friend.
"So what?", the red headed angel asked.
"I was just astonished, I did not thought it to be possible."
Dylan rolled her eyes. At least Seamus had not been able to harm them. She would have gone crazy if anything had happened to her friends. The angels were like soul-sisters, connected in a way none of them could explain with words. It was there and it did not require an explanation. They were a team, they were Charlie's Angels. Only together they had been able to defeat Madison.
