Chapter 9: Intel
Elliot has kept his promise to protect and assist Ana, for that alone Christian makes sure every operation under his command goes off without a hitch. In the past month alone, the Phoenix Abolitionists have freed five encampments, four of which were labor camps and one a bandit haven. Under Christian's watchful eye, the civilians and recruits are in good hands. He would live up to the positive history the term "abolitionist" should have.
Christian receives intel that Ana has decided on residency in Washington. With his influence, he arranges an apartment for her and occupation with the explicit instruction to not inform her of his involvement. She may have not accepted the arrangement if she knew.
He's currently reading the past month's report from their ground contact in Washington, Lieutenant Welch. He appreciated the meticulous day-by-day summaries at the end of the month, albeit wished he could see Ms. Steele with his own eyes.
SUBJECT #531: ANASTASIA STEELE
DATE FORWARDED: APRIL 31st, 2043
INTEL REPORT
DATE(S) OF INTEL COLLECTION: APRIL 1-31, 2043
4/1: SUBJECT TRAVELING ON FOOT, 15 MILES WEST OF NEW SALEM, ND
4/2: SUBJECT TRAVELING ON FOOT, ARRIVAL TO GLADSTONE, ND CONFIRMED
4/3: TRAVELING PARTY JOINED IN GLADSTONE, ND. SUBJECT ON 2017 PICK-UP TRUCK WITH PARTY OF 5
4/4 - 4/8: SUBJECT TRAVELS TO BELFAIR, WA ON VEHICLE
4/9: SUBJECT PROVIDED LIVING QUARTERS (NE CLIFTON LANE, APT #11) KATHERINE KAVANAGH ASSIGNED AS MENTOR/TOUR GUIDE. RETURNS TO LIVING QUARTERS 1900.
4/10: SUBJECT ATTENDS ORIENTATION AT BELFAIR ST CLINIC. SUBJECT ASSIGNED OCCUPATION (MEDICAL ASSISTANT). RETURNS TO LIVING QUARTERS 2100.
4/11: SUBJECT CONTINUES ORIENTATION. SUBJECT REQUESTS COMMS USE AT 2000. RADIO SIGNAL TO RUSHMERE, RECIPIENT: ETHAN (LAST NAME UKNOWN). RECORDING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, CONTACT LT. WELCH.
…
Christian pauses at the January 11th report. What's this? She's still communicating with Rushmere? He should be concerned about the information being exchanged, but his heart begins beating faster when he realizes he has the opportunity to hear her voice again. Radioing in, he requests a meeting over the channels with Welch ASAP.
In the meantime, he knows Elliot will be here any minute to discuss upcoming operations for the month. He combs over his map and takes a few notes before Elliot arrives fashionably late.
"Colonel Grey." Elliot smirks. Christian can tell he savors calling him the title. I'm just a pawn in his world.
"General." Christian stands and gives a halfhearted salute. He was already tired of the militia's formalities but went through the motions anyways.
Elliot takes a seat after Christian hands him a manila envelope.
"Our January operations report. We can discuss February."
Elliot waves Christian off, "I trust you. Just give me the briefing documents and we'll be done with it."
Christian stops, he expected this to be a lengthy meeting. He reaches for the stack of briefs and stuffs it into an envelope, "As you wish."
"I want to hear about you instead. How have my scouts been in Washington?" Elliot folds his right leg over his left, settling in.
The words bring new meaning to the appointment, Christian proceeds with caution, "Very informative. I just received April's intel summary today, thank you."
"Glad to hear it. Welch has been a very useful resource in the past." Elliot looks directly at Christian now, "How long can I expect this arrangement to go on for?"
Christian is confused by the question, this was their sole agreement, "Is there a problem?"
"Not at all. What I'm saying is, what is your goal here? Do you plan to have Ana shadowed for the foreseeable future?" These questions are important to understand Christian's commitment to the P.A. cause. If Ana is a temporary infatuation, Christian's motivations are questionable at best.
What do I want? Christian can see now that he, the strategist, has no plan. He hadn't considered a goal besides Ana's immediate safety and health. She had said goodbye and left him in a black pit of despair. He didn't want to be swallowed whole by the darkness.
"What are you looking for?" Elliot cuts through Christian's thoughts, "If it's sex, there are countless women across the continent Christian. Beautiful women, capable women."
"It's not the sex." Although the nights with her was something he craved on a daily basis, maybe even needed… he makes amends, "It's not just the sex."
"A family then?"
Me? A family? "No," Christian looks past Elliot, "I just want her."
A thought comes to mind as Elliot tries to find the root of Christian's motivations, "Did you get her pregnant?" He hadn't thought about it before, but with Christian's confirmation about their sex lives, maybe his connection to her wasn't purely an infatuation, but paternal.
Christian pales. He truly did not know if she was and it scared him to think it was a possibility. What would he do? What would Ana do? His desolate childhood left him disgusted by parenthood, but that was only his experience. He imagined Ana would be a good mother. Would I be a good father?
"I don't know." Christian admits.
In their many years working together, Elliot has witnessed Christian's inability to commit to a relationship. He didn't recognize the Christian he saw in front of him today. He can't see the appeal of pining after a woman who didn't even want him, "You told me she wants nothing to do with you."
"I hurt her." Christian defends Ana's actions, although the truth of his words stings.
Elliot chuckles, "Sounds like any long-term relationship. Ask her for forgiveness."
"We killed her father."
Elliot's smile fades. He could see where the problem was. "When?"
"Virginia, the party transporting medical equipment that we wiped out. Her father was a doctor."
No further explanation is needed. Elliot had received word of the disastrous event. Captain Deacon had cited the party as hostile, but he was not there to witness it. It could have gone a million different ways. Such a tragedy that Christian was directly involved in… Even Elliot has his doubts about rekindling such a relationship, "What are you doing Christian?"
"I'll contact her this week."
"And if she rejects you?"
He doesn't want to consider the possibility, but relents, "I'll leave her be." He doesn't mention that he would still want her protected, but that was for another time.
Elliot is somewhat mollified when he leaves. Christian knows he only has a limited time to give him an update. Christian gets Welch over the radio to request the Washington recording of Ana.
"Colonel, I can play it over the radio, if you would like a copy we can have it sent. " Welch speaks to Christian over the radio.
Christian thinks for a moment, but he's too impatient to wait, "Let me hear it first."
Welch presses play, broadcasting Ana's conversation.
"This is Anastasia Steele, calling into Rushmere for one José Rodriguez."
He melts at the sound of her voice. Even through the static, he is moved.
"Ana?"
"Yes, this is Ana. Is this José?"
"No, this is Ethan. Ana, where the hell have you been? Did you make it to Duluth?"
"Yes."
"Are you hurt?"
Christian is on the edge of his seat, he knows he had intel reports on her physical condition but is curious about her own answer.
"No."
Initially, Christian is hurt by the answer. Day in and day out, he has lived in an endless hell and here she is untouched.
"Ana, what happened? I'm grasping at straws here. José and Remington are already heading out to Duluth to search for you. They thought Christian might've done something to you."
The mention of his own name distracts Christian again. Done something to Ana? Ethan clearly had no understanding of his connection to her. That was unthinkable. Then there was the other matter, he now knew he had two men after him. He would have to see to it that they weren't harmed.
"The trade was successful, there should be a delivery coming soon. But I messed up Ethan, Christian…"
Hearing his name on her lips, Christian nearly gasps.
"You didn't kill him? Did he hurt you?"
"No, but I know what happened in Vermont now. I'm sorry Ethan, nobody survived."
"Why didn't you do it then?"
Why didn't you Ana? Christian thinks. He deserved it. He knew that.
"Ethan don't hurt him. Tell José and Remi to leave him alone."
Christian doesn't quite get Ana's request; she was still making moves to protect him. Maybe they did have a chance after all. Maybe she cared enough about him to meet him again.
"What? You're the best of pals now? Is that where you are? Sleeping with him?"
"Ethan. Please don't. He's not with me, I'm in Washington. I haven't seen him since Duluth."
"We shouldn't have let you go. I should've fucking knew it. Where is he then?"
Ethan's tone with Ana puts him in a foul mood. His once passive view of the man has now turned hostile. He has no right speaking to Ana like this. The thought that she could regret their first night together pains him.
"Don't hurt him Ethan, please. He quit P.A. years ago, he regrets it."
"I don't know how you can live with yourself, covering for a sociopath. You're a disgrace to your father's memory. Don't bother radioing back."
Christian has been called worse things than a sociopath, it doesn't faze him one bit. Except Ana assumed he was done with P.A.; it can't be good if she figures it out.
"I'm sorry Ethan. Goodbye."
He can hear a silent sob over the airway, and it takes everything in his power not to run towards the nearest vehicle and start driving to Washington right now. The conversation sealed his resolve. He would attempt to contact her.
Welch pipes up, breaking Christian from his trance, "Again Colonel?"
"No. Send me a copy."
"Yes Sir."
"And one other thing Lieutenant," Christian stands from his seat, "I need Ms. Steele to take a pregnancy test. Discreetly, no word that it was my request. Maybe have that clinic she works for administer it as a requirement. If they don't have the supplies, send a work order our way. I'm sure we can acquire some. Let me know the results as soon as possible."
"Of course, Sir."
"Dismissed."
Ana tried radioing every town available on the route to Duluth but had no luck reaching Remi or José. Her only choice would be to radio Christian himself now to warn him of the impending threat. She made her decision to not harm Christian long ago and found herself making the same choice over and over.
Except when she radios Duluth, she discovers he isn't there. Three lives were in danger because of her recklessness. It's not just Christian she's concerned for, José and Remi were dear friends. Having their lives taken on her behalf was an unbearable thought. She hoped Christian had the sense and opportunity to leave them be.
For the remainder of the day, she continues her volunteer work distractedly at the town's clinic. It wasn't too busy and she found the simple scrapes and common colds to be easy to handle, but dull work. Although, she found it off-putting when her supervisor requested a pregnancy test. "Standard procedure" is what she said. What clinic has a pregnancy test as standard procedure? A drug test sure, but pregnancy?
She finds the practice ridiculous, but when thinking of the timeline within the past two months she blushes. There was no protection when she had sex with Christian. She didn't feel sick, and hadn't noticed a change in her eating habits. Physically her stomach didn't feel or look different. However, there was still a possibility. She reluctantly obliged.
Back at her apartment, she hears a knock on her door before dinner. She cracks her door open and looks outside. She sees two guards she recognizes from the comm station.
"Ms. Steele? We have a contact trying to reach you at our radio."
Ana opens the door fully now, "A contact?"
"Mr. Grey."
Ana hesitates. She contemplates saying no, but remembers the urgency of her message, "Please give me a moment, I need to get my jacket."
Together, they walk over to the comm station where Ana is given a seat at the main desk.
"This is Captain Taylor, radioing in for Colonel Grey. We have Anastasia Steele here."
Ana bristles. Colonel Grey and this man here is a Captain? Of what?
"Thank you, Taylor. Put her on."
It's Christian. Ana grips the edge of her shirt anxiously while Taylor slides the microphone towards her.
"Ms. Steele." Taylor prompts.
"Ana?" She hears Christian now, his tone is hopeful.
"Christian." Ana breathes.
"It's good to hear you." Christian sighs, "I needed to talk with you."
"How did you know where to find me?" Ana remembers radioing Duluth; she wasn't sure where to go from there.
"It's part of the job." Christian answers evasively.
"Listen Christian, before you start," Ana speaks quickly, "José and Remi are looking for you."
Christian dismisses this worry, "I am well protected, thank you Ms. Steele."
Ana waits for him to ask more, but he doesn't seem concerned in the least.
Protected? He's a Colonel. Ana recalls, "Are you in a militia again?"
Christian didn't expect to dodge questions so soon into their discussion, this was supposed to be a pleasing reunion.
"The Abolitionists… they recruited me back."
Ana's heart sinks.
Christian becomes increasingly nervous as her silence continues, "Ana?"
"I have to go Christian." Ana sits up and turns away. She sees Taylor shifting nervously at the door.
Despite him not being there, Christian jumps from his seat as if reaching to stop her, "Wait Ana, it was all for you."
"For me? Is this a twisted joke?" Ana can't believe what she's hearing.
"Ana, they promised me your safety. In exchange, I promise you, I'm doing this as ethically as possible. No stealing. No innocent lives are being taken." Christian conveniently leaves out the other conveniences he gave her… and the spies. He can't believe he used the words "innocent lives", but he thinks back to Ana's core issue with his deeds, "Ana, we're targeting bandits and slave camps."
"I'm tired Christian."
Christian knows the double-meaning all too well, "Ana, I'm trying. I'll do anything you need me to. Let me see you again."
Ana sinks into her chair, "We shouldn't."
"You told me you loved me. Is it still true?"
Ana hates it, but knows it's still there, "I do, but it's not right."
"We decide what's right for us Ana, not the world." This is his one shot, he needs to convince her that this is what they both want, what they both need.
"And if I say I'll try?"
"I will be there as soon as I can."
"What about P.A.?"
"I can negotiate Ana; it may be a few days."
Ana closes her eyes, "I want us to negotiate."
"Of course. Anything." His response is automatic.
"Not over the radio." Ana spares Taylor a glance.
"Give me a week at most. I'll be there."
"Okay."
"Ana, I love you."
Ana struggles but doesn't want to continue being unnecessarily cold. The words leave her lips, "I love you too Christian."
This talk has gone beyond Christian's expectations. Relief floods him, they could make this work. As long as she's willing.
A/N: One more chapter to go! Thank you lovelies.