Amy leaned back onto the wall in exhaustion. Forcing her body to move so quick at this condition was unimaginably excruciating. As the strength falters from her legs again, she gazes at the one who came to her rescue. Once she recognizes who it was, she gives a weak, relieved smile, before her body begins to drop to the floor...

- Floor 2B, continued -

Lucy Diamond discarded the hapless chair aside and dashed in quickly to grab a hold of Amy before she fell. Tears swelled up freely in her eyes as she clutched onto the blonde with grip born of excitement and concern. As soon as she felt her body stabilize, she lowered Amy down gently and allowed her to relax. Lucy then raised her hands and cupped the soft, tired cheeks. She looked at Amy's exasperated face with extreme worry.

"Amy! ...Amy! What happened to you? Talk to me!" Lucy pleaded breathlessly, but from the recent gash on Amy's shoulder, Lucy can guess getting here wasn't a pleasant journey for her.

Lucy's voice, one Amy has wanted to hear for so long a time, stirred Amy up to half-alertness. She smiles again. Tears proceed to cascade down her cheeks as she gazes at her. She has wished and prayed for this for so long, now it's happening, Amy wonders if her delirious mind is playing cruel tricks on her.

"...Lucy. ...Is it ...you?" Amy finally whimpers out the words, as she raises her heavy arm up to reach for her face.

Lucy sees this and she takes hold of the rising hand and places it over her own cheek, her hand caressing Amy's as she gently leans her face onto Amy's palm. "Yes! Yes it's me, baby... I'm here. I missed you so much!"

"I... missed you!" By now Amy's eyes and cheeks were completely soaked. She could feel about a hundred little watery droplets clump together under her jaw and slide to her chin, resulting in huge droplets falling to the floor.

Lucy pulls herself forward and it's the feeling of heaven as their lips meet. Amy's lips still felt every bit the same as how Lucy had remembered it, aside from a bit of added salt from the tears. The warmth, the desire, the need she felt from the blonde is still absolutely intoxicating. Resisting the temptation of completely losing herself here, Lucy finally breaks the kiss, and then lets herself breathe deeply as the physiological need for air catches up to her emotions. Their eyes meet, both wordlessly signaling to each other just how much they've craved this feeling for far too long, then they press onto each other and embrace in a desperate hold. Both sob into each other's shoulders as though they are clinging on for life.

"They... they told me... you died... I... I thought I'd lost you!" Amy mumbles with her face buried into Lucy's chin.

Lucy finally pulls back, both her hands in a protective but gentle hold over Amy's cheek and shoulder.

"It's okay... shh..." Lucy guides her thumb across Amy's lower lip. "We're together again. That's all that matters..." She leans in until their foreheads touch. "I love you so much."

Amy's face opens to the widest, happiest smile she's ever shown in the past few months. She whispers, "...I love you, Lucy."

Lucy couldn't help but to smile back as she brushes her own tears away. Her greatest fear during the last few months wasn't being locked up in prison for long term. It was either not being able to see Amy again or, despite how selfish it seemed, that Amy had already moved on...

- Imprisonment -

- Holding Cells, 8 hours ago -

As far as prisons go, it really isn't the worst place to be trapped in. Lucy thinks to herself as she sits on the bed, her back against the wall, looking around at the same room where she's been locked in for the past couple of months. Thinking useless thoughts was pretty much all she could do here, as they've placed only very basic needs within this large plastic shell. It was reasonably clean, and was spacious enough that she could pace around without feeling claustrophobic. The clear walls also gave the illusion of space, even though she was restricted within the confines of the 3-inch thick plastic dividers. She also thankfully had her own bathroom, which was the only place in the cell with painted walls and a painted ceiling. This gave the impression that it might be the only place she had access to that the several dozen cameras outside couldn't reach; although she was smart enough to know that it didn't mean she had any freedom while inside it.

Despite the relative comfort and cleanliness of her prison cell, it was tremendously difficult to prevent insanity to creep in to any degree. Trapped in the same sterile environment for such a length of time could take its toll on anybody's psychological balance, especially when the only people from the outside she is allowed to speak to are these uptight men in suits who would visit her every so often to ask her more idiotic questions about her former contacts and associates. Her response has always been the same, one truthful answer to their questions in exchange for one hour of seeing and talking with Amy Bradshaw. They always refused. They were waiting her out, believing she'll eventually cave in to the length of time being alone. But during the last visit, she had the feeling they were getting impatient, and that their tactics will likely escalate to something a bit more... severe, in order to force the information out of her.

Besides them, the only person she can talk to is whoever's in command up in the control room, watching her with the cameras. Lucy had no idea who this person is, only that he spoke through the speakers with a tone indicative that he was someone of relatively high position of authority.

The only thing that has been preserving Lucy's mental focus was the hope that she will eventually be reunited with the girl she fell in love with. It was out of the desperation of trying to get this girl back that resulted in her gaining the effects of a bullet ripping through her body, followed by 3 weeks in coma and then permanent residence in this maximum-security cell. As she has done countless times since she was thrown in here, she keeps thinking back to the time she last saw the stunning super-Agent.

" -----

I finally found her once I made my way over to a balcony I walked into. Amy looked simply dazzling, as she always does. She was speaking at center stage in a breathtaking blue dress, illuminated by a warm spotlight. The sight instantly made me forget that I was trying to run away from her angry ex-boyfriend, who seemed bent on putting a bullet in my head. The things she was saying about me, it was ...heartbreaking. But I knew ...I knew in my heart she didn't believe any of it.

Then, she looked up, and I catch her eye. In spite of what she just said, in spite of her continued rejection of me after returning to her friends, all I could do was smile at her. I just wanted to take her by the hand, bring her to wherever she wants to go, and hold her close. No amount of money or precious gems in this world can match the sheer gratification I get when she smiles that gorgeous smile of hers.

Then, to my unbelievable joy, she announces to the world that she wants to be with me, and that she's willing to sacrifice her career and the approval of her friends and family for me. I see the pain and uncertainty disappear from her eyes as she speaks. I stood there, mesmerized by the feeling of elation that is flooding through me right then.

Then it all crashed down in a deafening blast.

If I had died there, at least I would have died with the knowledge that she truly loved me, as I love her. I stumble and grasp the ledge as I look at her confused eyes from the distance. In my draining consciousness, I fall, and I hear her scream. It was a tormented, bloody scream. I knew then, I could not die that day. There was no chance in hell I was going to leave this world without having told her I love her. Somehow, I had to be strong, and hold on for her, and hold on for that joyful day to kiss those lips again...

----- "

Lucy's right hand migrates towards the top of her prison overalls, and she reaches underneath. The sensation still feels strange to her, as the fingers gently run over the knot of skin that lies to the right of her sternum, just below the collarbone. The shot missed her aorta by less than a centimeter. The wound no longer has that sore tenderness she felt underneath, but the skin still feels foreign there, as though they had grafted someone else's bullet exit wound onto her chest.

The intermittent alarm bell shakes Lucy from her thoughts. She turns her gaze towards the flashing blue light near the top of one of the walls. It was lunchtime, and so she knew she would have to follow the same ritual they've outlined for her three times per day. Slowly, she pulls herself out of the bed, and shuffles slowly over to the table. She sits down, and obediently rests her arms down the side of the steel chair that has been bolted to the floor. The magnets embedded within the chair are charged by remote control, and once activated, links with the large magnetic bracelets they locked onto her wrists. She hears that familiar beep, and quickly, the bracelets snap onto the side of the chair, effectively locking her arms into place. The server walks in with a tray, causing a brief electrical flash as he walks through the force field protecting the entrance to her cell. He walks over to the table and rests the tray down. He doesn't notice the glint in Lucy's eye as she focuses on the utensils placed neatly alongside the main plate.

The poor man didn't even know what was happening in the flurry of sudden movements until he found himself pinned down onto the table, his arms bent in a very painful position behind his back. He stopped breathing when he notices the plastic knife held precariously to his throat.

"If they refuse to let me go, I'm splitting your jugular open." Lucy gave a grim warning as she tightens her hold on her hostage. "This knife might be plastic, but I'm willing to bet it'll still do some major damage if used properly. And I'm telling you now, I am VERY good with knives."

Once Lucy is satisfied she's got a secure hold on her hostage, she raises her head and looks up towards the general direction of the cameras pointed above. "Hey assholes! Get me the hell out of here or you'll be taking him back to his family in a body bag."

There was no answer. The only sound Lucy hears is the short panicked gasps for breath from the man she has pinned down. This angered her further.

She shouts again. "Hey! Are you listening to me?"

Further silence, until finally, Lucy hears a slight static sound as the man in the control room starts to speak. It was the same seasoned, militaristic voice that ordered her compliance many times in the past. Lucy had hoped this would finally give her an advantage over the usually arrogant voice. But the tone of the answer Lucy received remained insolent.

"My, my, Lucy. How ever did you get out of the magnet restraints?" The voice asked curiously.

"It was only a matter of time before I figured out your third rate equipment," Lucy barked back.

The voice chuckled pompously. "I'm impressed, Lucy. Someone in our hardware department is getting fired today. In the meantime, why don't you drop that Dixie knife and eat your lunch like a good girl?"

Lucy's frustration continues to mount. After so much planning, not only are her actions not achieving the desired response, her captors are actually mocking her in the process. She continues, "Are you listening to me? Let me go or he dies!"

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy... you think this is all it takes for us to release you? We've been after you for years, Lucy. We're not about to let you go over some kitchen employee."

Lucy's eyes narrows, and digs the serrated portion of the plastic knife deeper into the neck of the shaking victim, causing him to quiver deeper in fear. "You have five seconds to shut off the force field!"

"He knew the risks when he was hired for the job. He even signed a waiver. Go ahead and kill him. The only thing that would change is you'll just have to cut your meatloaf with a bloodied knife. I'll leave you two to sort things out amongst yourselves. Now if you'll excuse me, my Filet Mignon is getting cold."

The sound of a thud followed by a short static buzz was a clear message to Lucy that the intercom has been turned off, thus signaling the end to the negotiations. Lucy just stands flabbergasted at the utter crassness of these people, even if an innocent life is at stake. And they had the nerve to call her the "ruthless criminal."

Dismayed at the turn of events, she suddenly remembers the shaking man she still has held up with a knife to his throat. A part of her wanted to kill him just out of frustration, to show that she is true to her words. But she knows herself too much to truly believe that to be a possibility. Despite her reputation, she would not kill a person just to prove a point.

With a quick push of her hands, Lucy releases the man from her grip and shoves him forward. "Get the hell out." She tried to sound indignant, trying to hide the hurt in her voice from her complete failure.

Still quivering like a frightened child, the server quickly stumbles over to the entrance and runs out, causing another flash as he crosses the force field.

Lucy turns around, walks back to the bed with her shoulders slumped, and sits down. She pulls herself back towards the wall, crosses her arms and sprawls her legs over the sheets. She wanted to scream. Scream so loud that hopefully Amy could hear, wherever she is. But she restrains herself from doing so and just continues to stare blankly. Despite her attempts to remain strong, moisture begins to swell into her eyes. One lone tear eventually spills down over a cheek. Miserable and dejected, she begins to wonder whether she will ever be able to look into the eyes of her Amy again...

- to be continued into present time -